Adamant - Phase 10
A frustrated growl left Adamant's lips when her blow missed its intended target; it had the right snap in the air - but had failed to make contact.  Useless, if you can't connect ... Ashley could hear her old sensei's chiding timbre in the back of her mind.  The blonde heroine sought to channel the emotion and redoubled her efforts.

She kept up her defensive posture, knowing that it was likely the individual she'd previously hit was already recovered and rejoining the fight.  Her hopes to end this melee quickly was not going as planned.  But what fight ever went as planned?  A perfect plan never survived contact with the enemy; so, like with any cage match, Ashley went back to basics.  Her feet kept moving, shifting to keep her center of balance stable while her left hand resumed guard duty fending off blows even as her torso twisted to compensate for spacing and generate power.

"Where does the power come from?" she muttered softly to herself, leaving the silent rejoinder to resonate in her skull, It comes from within ..."  Adamant's right hand shot out towards her opponent at the right end of semi-circle starting to gather around her.  In her peripheral vision, she could see the thug that she'd previously hit still positioned there - and facing her now.

It didn't have the same power as her previous two blows, but by relaxing the tension in her shoulder and fist - and letting her many hours of practice inform the technique, Adamant hoped to strike true.  With so many opponents around, a flurry of blows that connected was likely better than a few more powerful shots that missed.  It kept them occupied.  The fight was certainly keeping her occupied.

---

OOC:  Okay, Adamant will remain in hex 2604 and another Defensive Strike (this time on the - previously-hit, I believe - thug in hex 2705) [5 END].  All 3 combat levels are still in DCV:

15:19, Today: Adamant rolled 7 (with 1 body) using 3 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 1, 5, 1.  Attack:  Mutant Thug @ 2705. – 7
15:20, Today: Adamant rolled 29 (with 7 body) using 10 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 4, 2, 4, 1, 1, 5, 5, 1, 4, 2.  Damage:  Mutant Thug @ 2705. – 29
15:21, Today: Adamant rolled 5 (with 1 body) using 1 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 5.  Damage:  Mutant Thug @ 2705 (1d6 = half-die). – 5
15:21, Today: Adamant rolled 11 (with 3 body) using 3 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 6, 1, 4.  Knockback:  vs Mutant Thug @ 2705. – 11

Hopefully, that '7' hits (should hit a DCV of 12 or lower), with 32 STUN and 9 BODY with no Knockback (again).

Adamant's stats (Post Phase-10 Actions)  (OCV: 8; DCV: 13):

	Base	Used	Recovered	Current
END	56	40	17	33
STUN	56	18	0	38
BODY	15	0	0	15

Phase 10
The thief's attack slams into Mo'in's cloak like a fist slamming into a pillow. Mo'in stoically accepts the blow, but does slow down. Again, Mo'in reaches with his will and tries to gather some bit of information to tag the thief.

OOC: drop from noncombat movement and half move to keep target in sight then attempt to read surFace thoughts (name, identity, etc) with Telepathy
attack roll is 11 with ECV 6, effect roll is 15

Adamant spins on her heel and returns to batter her first target who had only just shaken off the rattling she had previously given him. He clearly hadn't learnt the lesson of her strength and speed as he tried to catch her in a crude flailing block. He didn't really stand much of a chance and was pivoted fully about by the shoulder blow you delivered. He went down with a spray of phlegm escaping his slovenly maw and spattering Adamant's costume as he collapsed onto the floor.



Mo'in circles the Thief away from the main combat but has lost some height since having taken off and that has left him somewhat vulnerable to someone he seems to have infuriated, the thief chooses him as the harder target despite Chrome now being close at hand. She pounces from the ground to acrobatically bounce from the nearby wall and launch herself through to air at Mo'in to kick him.

"Stay out of my mind cloak boy!"

<<5 STUN makes it through your force field>>


Jack continues his brawl with the enemy that is trying to fend off both him and the Shade.


<<We are at the top of 12 with Adamant again which promises to be a busy one>>
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:09, Mon 07 Oct.

Still just flying but at least now she is close enough to see people.

Still non combat

Phase 12
Mo'in finally has the target close enough, hesitation is unnecessary. Focusing his will on the physical rather than the mental, Mo'in reaches out with his telekinesis to grab the burglar. Once 'in hand' (so to speak), Mo'in will turn around and head back to the ceremony. "I'm sorry, I can't permit the chaos. If I can bring more order into this society, perhaps the life I've lived doesn't have to happen."

OOC: well, so that's what it looks like
OCV 6, attack roll to grab target is 3
that's three more personal END, six more reserve END, STUN reduced as well

Endurance	Used	Recovered	Current
35	14	7	28
Endurance Reserve	Used	Recovered	Current
50	29	5	26
STUN	Lost	Recovered	Current
30	11	1	20
BODY	Lost	Recovered	Current
10	0	0	10

Adamant - Phase 12
A more feral growl left Adamant's lips after the satisfying impact on the opponent to her right.  The splatter was unfortunate and unexpected though and would have caused the blonde heroine some consternation, if three more grotesque abominations weren't still attacking her.

Ashley's stance remained guarded.  She pulled her right hand back in close to her body and her feet and weight shifted to back to her left arm so that she could better engage and fend off the other three deformed men.  "You blokes just can't take a hint, eh?" Adamant quipped, even as her left shoulder dipped again.  Her blonde braid whipped around as she parried an incoming jab from one of the unnaturally large arms of the attacker on the left before letting her right hand fly.

She could see the opening that the man in the middle offered and her right hand darted out with one of her signature jabs.  Though Adamant was now able to lift over forty tons - and thus, could literally hit like a Mack truck; she'd always prided herself on her technique when younger (and less physically endowed).  A well-placed blow was often more effective than raw power.  And that technique was on display here.

But raw power was pretty fun, too; and it was rare that she could cut loose.  But these guys seemed to be able to take the beating.  So, Ashley relished the chance ... "Challenge accepted..." the tall blonde muttered even as she unleashed the devastating right-handed blow, her gloved knuckles driving forward.  An unstoppable force, preferably coupled with undeniable accuracy.

---

OOC:  Okay, Adamant will remain in hex 2604, but turn to face hex 2603 (and its occupant) and do another Defensive Strike (this time on the - previously-missed, I believe - thug in hex 2603) [5 END].  All 3 combat levels are still in DCV:

22:23, Today: Adamant rolled 9 (with 3 body) using 3 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 1, 2, 6.  Attack:  Mutant Thug @ 2603. – 9
22:24, Today: Adamant rolled 43 (with 11 body) using 10 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 6,5,5,5,1,3,6,6,5,1.  Damage:  Mutant Thug @ 2603. – 43
22:25, Today: Adamant rolled 2 (with 1 body) using 1 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 2.  Damage:  Mutant Thug @ 2603 (1d6 = half-die). – 2
22:25, Today: Adamant rolled 12 (with 3 body) using 3 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 3, 4, 5.  Knockback:  vs Mutant Thug @ 2603. – 12

Hopefully, that '9' hits (should hit a DCV of 10 or lower), with 44 STUN and 11 BODY with no Knockback (yet again).

Adamant's stats (Post Phase-12 Actions)  (OCV: 8; DCV: 13):

	Base	Used	Recovered	Current
END	56	45	17	28
STUN	56	18	0	38
BODY	15	0	0	15

Adamant is entirely outclassing these thugs and it seems quite dubious they have any sort of training, the nuance of her southpaw defense paired with a thunderous right hook is entirely lost of her target as he attempts again to dive out the way again but is expected and preempted. All the power she mustered in her fist gets solidly imparted into his midriff folding him neatly around her fist and then into a groaning ball as he drops to the ground like a rock.


<<Shade's 12>>
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:35, Wed 09 Oct.

Shade almost grimaced at the poor strike he landed on the goon before him. Sure, it had apparently hurt, but it didn't quite have the impact he was hoping. Still, the entire fracas was having its purpose: to keep Mo'in and Chrome in the chase while the rest of the team kept the "distraction" from being too, well, distracting.

But so far, while these fellas had not exactly proven effective in a fight, they were still taking time to actually knock out.

Shade nodded to Manifold as she joined her machine into the fray. He understood he had to reposition in order to make sure no one in his team was accidentally hit with by a knocked out goon. He quickly took an account of the situation, and changed targets by simply stepping into the extended group and turning to the goon on his left while keeping his guard high on his right. A swift kick to his new target's mid-section signaled his satisfaction with his choices.

"Hey You! What do you think of... THIS!"

OOC:
Turn 2, Phase 12: Half Move Walking (1 END) just one hex to his SW, Hex 2804
Combat Skill Levels: + 2 OCV, +1 DCV, as usual for now.

Attacking with Martial Strike and Fists of Shadow on goon SW of Jack (Hex 2705): 3 END
16:54, Today: The Shade rolled 10 using 3d6 ((5,2,3)). Assuming no other modifiers that ought to hit DCV 10.

Damage: 8D6
16:55, Today: The Shade rolled 24 (with 7 body) using 8 with the Hero (Champions) system ((3, 3, 1, 3, 6, 5, 1, 2)).
Reasonable strike.

Knockback Roll:
16:56, Today: The Shade rolled 14 using 3d6 ((5,5,4)).
Again, goon remains in place. This should be pretty standard considering it is a martial maneuver.

BODY  : 12/12     STUN  : 39/39     END   : 33/50
OCV   :  9/ 7     DCV   : 10/ 7
PD/rPD: 20/ 0     ED/rED: 20/ 0

Caught between The Shade and Adamant the swollen swine keeps his eye on the blonde column of muscle and pays the price for it when caught in the small of the back by a shadowy kick which staggers him. If he has any thoughts on your collective banter his editorial is condensed to a single incoherent roar of rage as he turns to his new tormentor. None of the anger has dimmed in his bloodshot eyes as he throws wild haymakers at you, probably more by persistence and luck than by any skill he manages to make at least one good connection despite your evasive skills.

Against most mortals it would be a devastating blow but as The Shade you all but shrug it off.
<<1 STUN after defenses and nothing else besides>>

Though the one boxing with Adamant has no more luck than before in hitting the talented brawler, Jack is finally caught by his sparring partner. He stays in the fight and within seconds is laughing again but there was an initial moment when pain broke his smile.

<<Manifold's 12>>


((Cover your dice, here come the grab mechanics! HERO system isn't too bad tbh and we were waiting for the first 3. I almost feel like giving bonus XP for the lucky one... almost.))

The woman was on her way back to ground when Mo'in easily plucks her from the air using his unseen powers of the mind and turns back towards the group as she writhes apparently helpless in nothingness below him.

<<Chrome's 12>>



Adaptrix makes 15" from the top of the map.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:18, Wed 09 Oct.

Chrome saw that Mo'in had caught up to the fleeing thief - or at least his power had! Metallic-covered eyebrows rose up as the woman - he thought it was a woman at least - rose up in the air and struggled against...nothing? Something?

"Ha! Good job, Mo'in! Finally slowed 'em down!"

He gave a nod to himself. That was good, but the thief was slippery and elusive. "Lemme see if I can help..."

He stretched out one hand towards the woman as well. He wanted to help - at least, that's what he tried to tell himself. He tried to use his power to wrap her up and keep her from getting away, even more than she already was.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:03, Thu 10 Oct.

Breathing heavy, Manifold skidded to a stop and had been preparing to golf the minion between her and Adamant into his partner...when Adamant doubled him over and dropped him to the ground.

The first thought that surged through her adrenaline-fueled mind was Alright, all the easier to hit!... quickly followed by Wait, what if he's *really* hurt?.  A nauseating wave surge through her, visions of the crumpled form in front of her splattered on the end of her hammer.  Suppressing a shudder, she risked a glance at the broader field, and seeing at least three opponents down already, she shouted into the chaos:  "HEY, JUST HOW TOUGH *ARE* THESE GUYS?"


She wrenched her attention to the other, more vertical, combatants, and her decision was all but made for her:  one that was still standing and swinging had just connected  -  significantly  -  with ....ahhh...Spring-something-something...Spring-Jack? Jack-in-the-Box? Fuckit - my Teammate 'Jack'.... Jack.

Using the stance and momentum she'd set for her tee-time on the goon in front of her (2603), she initiated a deep back-swing and brought her hammer around in a spinning upcut  -  that *passed over* the crumpled form.  Crunching the angles as she moved, she spun in a near pirouette, the hammer now executing an intricate kata-like form that was as beautiful  -  and complex  -  as any fluid-dynamic, and mid-form she stepped to her left and directed the now, again, upper-cutting weapon at the foe in front of Jack (hex 2803), hoping to knock him down the street a bit, into that tree on the corner (the direction of hex 3107).  We don't need any reckless property distruction before we've even stepped foot in our Base....


[OOC -  Manifold attacks the opponent in hex 2803, putting all of her +1 HTH into the attack, and exerting full strength, in the hopes of clearing him out of the fight for a round or two.
Final OCV / DCV:  6, 5

11:02, Today: Manifold rolled 13 (with 4 body) using 3 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 6, 6, 1.  Attack roll on goon in hex 2803

Welp....11+6=17, minus 13 rolled...= I hit a DCV of 4 or less.  (Not much point in rolling damage if there's no damage to roll.  Lmk, eh?)]


Phase 12 END expenditure and status

Endurance	Used	Recovery	Recovered	Current
26	24	8	0	02
Endurance Reserve	Used	Recovery	Recovered	Current
60	32	10	0	28
STUN	Lost	Recovery	Recovered	Current
31	0	8	0	31
BODY	Lost	Recovery	Recovered	Current
10	0	8	0	10

As some sort of recognition dawns on him, Mo'in turns skyward and climbs, bleeding velocity and turning the thief where he could retrieve the box from her pouches. He had somehow felt the thief squirm to get away and had kept his mental grip tighter than he was wont to, but the thief was a minor part of his mission. Getting the box was his priority.

OOC:Mo'in rolled 24 (with 8 body) using 6 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 6, 3, 2, 4, 6, 3 in his STR roll to hold thief. – 24
He's using his TK to manipulate what he holds to get the box from the offender.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:22, Fri 11 Oct.

The complex patterns of Manifold's hammer flow through the air uninterrupted by connection with any (roughly) human forms as the surrounded mutated thug still has the wherewithal to duck out of the way of a hammer, especially on being wielded by someone in some sort of armour. Alas, to guess from his snarled expression he has no appreciation for the beauty of the effort or the training required to pull it off.

Despite being outnumbered and clearly outclassed the three left at various stage of being on their feet don't seem any less aggressive and essentially feral than when first they hove into view. This fight is going to go on until you put them down it seems.

<<Everyone take a post 12 REC and then we are back round to Adamant's 3>>

Jack does his part and the rest is over to you! In the background you can see -


Mo'in manages to keep his mental hold on the slippery felon but the ground is getting slowly closer as he gently looses altitude in the glide. Not that the thief held in his invisible bonds below him would have been free once on the ground but it might have made it easier for her.

Chrome's assistance in that regard is well timed as the metal chains about his arms snake through the air to wrap around the woman's torso.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:45, Fri 11 Oct.

In reply to The Living Tribunal (msg # 166):

OOC:  quoting Living Tribunal: "Despite being outnumbered and clearly outclassed the three left at various stage of being on their feet don't seem any less aggressive and essentially feral than when first they hove into view. This fight is going to go on until you put them down it seems"

Does that mean they are still down, that they have taken their 12 to stand up, or something else?  I'm not sure how to interpret this  -  the 'dizzy face' icons are still over the characters, which I take to mean "down, but still conscious".

Adamant - Phase 3
Adamant took a deep breath after her last blow landed squarely.  The arrival of Manifold made the odds  even better.  Her feet danced slightly, as she turned to face the opponent to her right.  Her torso twisted and her head bobbed, causing the blonde braid on her head to swish and jump over her shoulder.  Her right hand pulled in even as her elbow moved to a guarded position.

Her left hand darted out where Ashley thought she saw an opening in her enemy's defenses.  But it was a clumsily executed strike.  Whether if was the distraction of the dope-ass looking powered armour arriving or a cockiness that the fight was more fully in hand and she was feeling good, Ashley's left handed jab went way wide of its intended target.  The blonde heroine knew it had gone astray even before she'd fully extended her arm; her knuckles not connecting with anything substantive and the desired snap missing from the blow.  It was poor technique and she knew it.

A light, frustrated growl escaped her lips even as Adamant muttered under her breath, "Focus, girl ... what the bloody hell is wrong with you?"  Sometimes the young blonde heroine could be her own worst enemy.

---

OOC:  Okay, Adamant will remain in hex 2604, but turn to face hex 2504 (and its occupant) and do another Defensive Strike (vs the deformed thug in hex 2504) [5 END].  All 3 combat levels remain in DCV:

09:25, Today: Adamant rolled 16 (with 4 body) using 3 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 5, 5, 6.  Attack:  Deformed Mook @ 2504. – 16

I suspect that '16' misses (should only hit a DCV of 3 or lower).  It would have been a great start if it had been part of a damage roll; but, it wasn't a damage roll so, I won't bother rolling the actual damage (unless the Living Tribunal tells me otherwise).

Adamant's stats (Post Phase-3 Actions)  (OCV: 8; DCV: 13):

	Base	Used/ Lost	Recovered	Current
END	56	50	34	40
STUN	56	18	17	55
BODY	15	0	0	15

((Three are still standing and have been hit various amounts. They are without the yellow mark. They would have had a post 12 REC yes.

Three are on the floor since having been hit enough to not get up. They have yellow icons on them. You can make a skill roll to try and guess their cognitive status. They certainly weren’t just CON stunned.

The main point of the statement was that despite having about half their number apparently taken down in about 12 seconds they aren’t backing down, looking defensive or even pausing))
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:12, Fri 11 Oct.

Turn 3, Phase 3

The Shade was almost dumbstruck at the Manifold's near-poetic swinging of her massive hammer. It arced around her and turned to her target in an almost loving fashion, and even though it missed, it was still a sight that stuck with him for a few moments. He could not fathom just how much effort and training it would have had taken her to get that maneuver developed to such perfection.

"Hat's off to you, Manifold. That was amazing."

But he could ill afford to fawn over his new teammate's skills as the fray was still ongoing, albeit decidedly in their favor now. The goon before him had just managed to land a blow on him, but it simply could not break through his defenses in any significant way. He was grateful for his enhanced toughness, a feature that had kept him from succumbing to many confrontations. He managed to take a quick breather, and felt much more energized.

With Adamant and Manifold alongside him here, he realized this fight would soon be over. He continued his assault on the goon before him. He taunted and jabbed, feinting to the left, then aiming a hard fist to his target's right side.

"Now, now... this is isn't nice."

OOC:
Post Segment 12 Recovery: +15 END, +1 STN

Turn 3, Phase 3: No Movement, continuing to fight goon on hex 2704.
Combat Skill Levels: + 2 OCV, +1 DCV

Attacking with Martial Strike and Fists of Shadow on goon NW of Jack (Hex 2704): 3 END
12:28, Today: The Shade rolled 7 using 3d6 ((2,4,1)).
Nice hit. Assuming no other modifiers it ought to hit DCV 13.

Damage: 8D6
12:32, Today: The Shade rolled 26 (with 7 body) using 8 with the Hero (Champions) system ((4, 1, 5, 6, 5, 2, 1, 2)).
Acceptable, good hit.

Knockback Roll:
12:33, Today: The Shade rolled 16 using 3d6 ((6,5,5)).
No knockback.

BODY  : 12/12     STUN  : 39/39     END   : 45/50
OCV   :  9/ 7     DCV   : 10/ 7
PD/rPD: 20/ 0     ED/rED: 20/ 0

Between maneuvering the thief in his TK grasp and gently modifying his own trajectory, Mo'in works at reaching a point where he can use his hands on the thief. Maintaining his TK grasp, he reaches out and tries to snatch the thief's grapple gun away.

OOC: Disarm maneuver (-2 OCV), OCV 6, rolled 7, STR roll for disarm was eleven with two body

15:39, Today: Mo'in Laggo rolled 11 (with 2 body) using 3 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 5, 5, 1.  STR roll for disarm. – 11

15:33, Today: Mo'in Laggo rolled 7 (with 3 body) using 3 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 3, 2, 2.  grab thief's grapple. – 7

phase 3 again.

Adaptrix still going full out to get there, tries to decide if she still needs the height or if she can go down and maybe get a little more speed from it.


Basically non combat to whatever height seems the best.

I would say you can do a dive if you want to at the normal 1" extra speed for 1" lost in height though do remember you have to slow down again (5" per hex) unless you intend to run into someone. Let me know how much altitude you want to loose and which hex on the map you are aiming for in general.

well as i was 25" up and 15 inches away, Assuming that there is not a reason to stay high as i was so -10' height leaving me 15" high and about 2506 i think as i dont think i can descend for speed faster than i can fly.

Adamant's conservative efforts cost her another human connection as the focus of her ire ducked unnecessarily under the errant left and launched a counter attack with a very telegraphed uppercut aimed at her jaw. Her braid wafted through the air again as she pulled back her head well before there was any real danger of being hit. There is a strange hint of a smile on the brutes face despite his fist ploughing through thin air as suddenly... ((PER roll please from Adamant))

---

Mere feet away Shade bamboozles the large man who finally uses something roughly the shape of human vocabulary when replying a garbled bass "Huh?" to your patter and glaring briefly left where he clearly thought you would jink to. When you come in with a right it neatly rockets in and cracks his neck to the side like an overzealous chiropractor. He staggers unsteadily on his feet, overbalancing drunkenly one way and then the other on legs undersized for his upper body. In other circumstances it could be comical.

The last of a cavalry arrives as Adaptrix comes to a hover high in the air to survey the scene like a general.

<<Manifold's Phase 3 but you may want to hold off a little longer to resolve what is going on with Adamant's scuffle as it may cause you to adjust plans>>



As Mo'in reels in the chained thief she makes another sudden effort to part wriggle and part force her way clear. She proves a slippery fish indeed by somehow playing the chains off against the mental force and slipping free of both leaving the metal hovering in the air as she drops fluidly towards the ground.

All is not back to square one however as Mo'in is able to reach out and pull free the grapnel that was holstered at her belt, it zips through the air to his physical hand and the thief shows more of her catlike agility by twisting mid fall to stick her tongue out at him before turning again to a rolled landing that maintains the elegance and poise that has been the hallmarks of all her movements. She has no grapnels left it would seem as the holsters on both hips are now empty.

<<Chrome's Phase 4>>

In the most serious dance of combat, all of Adamant's instincts told her to keep moving.  Her head was on a swivel, as the tall, blonde pugilist knew that a blow could come from any direction.  Ashley tried to remain focused on her opponent and his ungainly movements ... but, what was with that goofy smile ...

---

OOC: Ask and ye shall receive!  One PER check coming right up:

17:40, Today: Adamant rolled 12 (with 3 body) using 3 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 1, 5, 6.  Perception (PER) check (TN: 12):  In the middle of a fight?!? – 12

And... that '12' passes if there are no other penalties to her PER check.

Chrome let out a sigh. Somehow, apparently, his attempt to help capture the thief even more ended up enabling the thief to get free of both of them. And he didn't want to just start beating the thief or 'shooting' them. He wasn't sure why but it felt...unsporting since they hadn't been violent thus far.

He narrowed his eyes once more. "Please stop before you get hurt, lady thief. You're already a blemish on our first day, don't make it worse."

The chain shot forward again to attempt to wrap her up once more and stop her from moving.