M&M 3e Golden Age Villainy (Group 1)

Mutants and Masterminds 3e Villains Campaign- The Golden Age

Caper 1: An Affair to Remember
The opening of the National Metahuman Cultural Museum, right here in Boston is slated to be one of the biggest events of the season! An elegant structure of glass and marble, it's construction has been one of the highlights of revitalization efforts for this city in recent memory, a combined effort by ordinary citizens, government officials, the academic community and of course, the Superhuman Heroes and Heroines who have made this new age possible, and now, finally, the opening night is upon us! The museum atrium an bottom floor will be open to all, while invitational receptions are being held on the second floor and guided tours being given both to invitees and anyone willing to stand in line around the block, to see the various tributes, awards, collections, works of art, and marvelous technological wonders that mark the combined history of the evolution of Superheroes in society since the 1920s! Food, drinks, priceless antiquities, works of art and scientific marvels, what could possibly be missing from this most celebratory occasion?

But you know exactly what's missing. All this glory, laud and honor for the superheroes of the past 100 years and there's not a single supervillain featured in anything more than a footnote. Dozens of super heroes with their own personalized exhibits and the villains who made it all possible are relegated to a triviality, as if their defeat was inevitable, their contributions, meaningless. Well, that's all about to change . . .

Each of you has been contacted, contracted, or otherwise engaged to do a various task, and for all you know, you're the only one there with ulterior motives. All you have to do, is figure out how to get in, fulfill your objective, and get away, as cleanly or blatantly as you like . . . if everything goes according to plan, that is.

Quantum:

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You have been contacted by a mysterious third party, informing you of the event at the Gala and that one or two of your old colleagues from your days as Electris will be in attendance. Furthermore, an exihibit dedicated to the Defeat of Doktor Mindbreaker is on display on the second floor, and this third party thought you might be very much interested in defacing, destroying or otherwise embarrassing all the involved parties: the museum and your former team mates.

Insurgent:

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While the museum's various exhibits are obviously fraudulent manipulations of the facts, it has been made known to you by a third party that the museum's archives in the basement do hold substantial value as their are many sealed and confidential records which are currently in the museum's vault, particularly those surrounding the two heroes Apparition, and Shade, that might lead to information on their current whereabouts . . .

Agent Beta:

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You have been contracted through the usual channels to perform a certain task at the opening of the museum. Apparently, someone would like a specific exhibit dedicated to the founding of the DSS and it's honorable work to be reduced to ashes, and believes that given your history with the organization, you're just the man to do it.

Jackknife:

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While the opening of the museum obviously displays many a superhero and heroine in their prime, their are two names which seem to be conspicuously left off any lists or out of any exhibits. Your parents. A shadowy third party claiming to share your goals has suggested that perhaps everyone at the event be reminded, quite publically, of what has made this Golden Age possible . . . Desolate. Your objective, is to upload a virus into the Museum's computer network that will play havoc with the security systems, turning the museum itself into a prison for all those trapped inside.

The guided tours have been well choreographed, a successive series of groups making their way around the exhibits on their own unique routes. It keeps the lines moving, makes sure the most number of people get through in the shortest amount of time, and allows the guides to spend however much time on each exhibit as required by the curiosity of the guests.

It also makes it almost impossible for any security to keep a proper eye on any particular individual for more than a few moments, due to the constant through-traffic. Such a blatant weakness in the security system would not be tolerated at a secure location, but fortunately, a museum typically has other things on their mind.

With one of the groups making it's way around is a particular man. He doesn't stand out in any particular fashion - clean shaven, reasonably well dressed, short black hair neatly combed. He listens to the tour guide politely, asks a question of two here and there... in other words, he's perfectly normal. Maybe he looks around more often than some of the other guests, but that's to be expected - who wouldn't want to get a good look at all these exhibits, and maybe catch a glimpse of a super-hero or two here to cut the proverbial red tape. That he marks each and every security guard and camera when he looks around is purely coincidental, if it's noted at all.

As the tour reached it's halfway point, Nicodemus Tyllerton allowed himself a small smile. He was ready - his car was parked nearby, in a place without any particular obstructions to the getaway route. He'd had a good look at the architectural plans for this place in the city office, and confirmed it with the helpful in-building maps. Everything is in place. All he needs now is his opportunity.

It was never the easiest the sneak tech into something like this. Even the simplest security usually recognised something was wrong when someone walked in with body armour. Luckily, The PHANTASM armour that Timothy Masters had acquired made such a task simple. He simply took advantage of the suit's stealth capabilities to walk in invisible, and phase through walls when needed.

And now Timothy Masters - no, he should call himself Insurgent while in action. You never knew when one of the 'heroes' had a psychic ripping out secrets from the innocent populace - Insurgent needed to find a security checkpoint, hopefully without guards, so that he could quickly hack into the computer and get the necessary security detail.

Then, he could prove the real truth. Not the 'truth' that the superheroes told, where each individual fact had been cleaned and sanitized to the point where it barely resembled the actual events. In fact, even with the relatively little that Insurgent knew, he could spot dozens of the little lies that gave the 'heroes' the ability to deceive the whole population.

Somehow, even if someone's world has been broken to pieces, they are at times able to gather the pieces back up, dust themselves off and resume their journey on the twisting path of life. Only, when trying to put the world back together, most make an elementary mistake: they use glue to do the job. Of course, their world is whole after it, but the fractures will always be there, and they will never go away. Some inviduals, on the other hand, try to forge their world whole again: the process can be prolonged and agonizing, but in the end it tends to work better. Said world will not be quite like the last, and it will have it's imperfections, but in the end these few inviduals will likely be better off.

Jackknife, also occassionally known as Elijah Warren, is one of the people who have chosen to go through with reforging... And although the process has been long, difficult and painful, he is indeed better off than most who have faced the situations he has. Well, at least so the supervillain himself thinks, and it can be very difficult to convince him otherwise.

Currently, he is crouching on the rooftop of nearby house, taking note of opportunities revealed to him by his psychic-boosted sight and enhancements provided by the heads-up display of his suit. It seems that the opening of the museum is not lacking in guests nor in security, but it does not concern him overtly much: he is not here to be very subtle. Indeed, he has always favoured decisive actions over careful words.

Streching slightly and pulling the hood of his longcoat up, Jackknife redirects the flow of psychic energy going through himself... And suddenly leaps up in the air, easily clearing the distance between the buildings. It is about time for him to get to work... And if he has memorized the patrol route of the security guards properly, one should be arriving shortly to check the balcony he was headed to.

Or well, not exactly... If one wants to get technical about it, he is heading slightly above said balcony. "Death from above" is one of phrases that all combatants eventually come to respect, and he believes it to be the most effective tactic in this particular case.

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First scouting the entrances and guards out with Third Eye (should reveal any illusions and spot enemies even in cover, and in pitch black), and then switching to Leap of Faith afterwards to clear the distance between buildings and to land to ledge above the balcony he has decided to be optimal entry point. Afterwards, he goes for Mental Camouflage to turn momentarily invisible and equips Monomolecular blade, waiting for security guard to show up.

[roll0] (Acrobatics check)

While the others had chosen more over measures for entrance into the museum, Quantum had instead delivered herself full costume to the event that celebrated costumes.

Her set of clothes, cape, cowl and mask were on and for all to see From her nose down was obscured by the metal of a gas-mask while the rest of her features were hidden within the shadow of a hood. A royal purple cape cascaded down her back while her lithe body was bedecked in stretched, black polymers that sifted from practical plates to displays of connected hexagonal patterns. The boots that she wore were equally sturdy and layered with thick rubber.

Under any other circumstances Quantm would have stood out like a sore thumb in a purple cape: but here, amongst dozens of cosplayers depicting both their favorite heroes and their private fantasies, she didn't look a beat out of place. As far as the world was concerned she was just another weirdo cosplayer. Like all the others who had arrived dressed in some ornate display of dedication she had been frisked,but, naturally, the guards had found nothing. The scores of stainless-steel ballbearings that were woven into the trimming of her cape were just a pretty decoration, after all.

Free to move anywhere she pleased and with her identity obsfucated against the outside world, the former heroine had stopped and stared at an exhibit that celebrated the relatively bloodless disarment of a rebel group in Africa. It was an event that she had been a participated in: one of her first in the field.

The canvas was enormous in its scope, both physical and metaphysical. Across its expanse was a collage of blurred emerald trees seas of dark, featureless faces. Superheroes had been there too, but the artist had rescinded them to a supportive role. They were the auxilaries the people needed.

Quantum reached out gently to place a gloved hand against the display. The ex-heroine felt a wave of humidity slither across her shoulders to take her straight back to that time. She gently dragged her fingers across the painting as recollections and names past, voices, people and gunfire cluttered the back of her head to accentuate her private recollection...

Swiftly wretching her hand away, Quantum stepped back with a fresh zeal in her eyes before taking the big picture in with sweeping glances. This depiction no longer pleased her. Furrowing her brow, Quantum turned her back on the exhibit and marched away. She hadn't come here with a rose for old ghosts, instead she'd brought a shovel.

Having broken off from his tour group to join the minglers and the more studious onlookers on the second floor, Nicodemus still blends nicely into the crowd, as does Quantum as she makes her way upstairs. There's a blend of finery and various tribute costumes at the event, and even a few retired capes who are wearing the old dress uniform. Unknowing of their mutual goals, the two pass by each other on route to their separate objectives, which present themselves quite readily after only a moment or two of searching.

The Defeat of Doktor Mindbreaker! is a full scale exhibit, filling an alcove recessed into the wall, with several artifacts from the aftermath of the battle, screens programmed to display the live news feeds on loop, and an artistic display featuring an assembly of characitures of those heroes who participated in the battle, highly stylized and more than a little larger than life. Beneath the showy and opulent display there is a small bronze placard that reads 'In memoriam- Danica Rineheart, Mistress of Magnetism'. Quantum's reverie of the shrine to her own death is briefly interrupted however by a small cough from close behind her. "Excuse me, is that an Electris tribute costume?" The man asking the question appears to be recently past middle age, his hair is darkly silvered and just starting to recede. "It just seems a little . . . showy is all. Maybe even a little presumptuous, to depict her differently after . . . " his speech slows in its tracks.

Across the hall, not thirty feet away, there is a large, patriotic display with gently thrumming music depicting the founding of the DSS and nearby, it's sister organization the MHAA. Both exhibits are proud displays of metahumans and normal folk working side by side for a better tomorrow, and there is a brief history and description of the founding of the DSS along with it's inner circle of founding members, plus the politicians (who remain in office much longer than their hero counterparts remained active) who 'Made this vision of a safer world, possible.'

Meanwhile, both Jackknife and Insurgent have managed a successful incursion into the museum for now. Insurgent's Phantasm suit allows him to easily slip undetected into the Museum's basement, where the archive and records are housed, but here he confronts his first difficulty. The walls downstairs are reinforced, and there is clear electromagnetic interference from a Faraday cage embedded in the walls at the main security check point, likely to prevent emp or other harmful electromagnetic devices, but also rendering it impervious to his phasing abilities. Two armed, but evidently relaxed guards are at the security substation at the base of the stairs and elevator, but he'll need to get past them to reach the archives office.

Jackknife's guard arrives right on schedule, checking the balcony, and leaning over the guard rail briefly to admire the few of the spotlights and nice cars and beautiful people going and coming from the museum . . .

Nicodemus studied the exhibit for a few long moments, lost in memories. He certainly couldn't deny that he'd found the work he used to do for them rather enjoyable. Still, he was a mercenary soul, and the DSS simply hadn't really paid enough to justify dealing with all the red tape. And speaking of mercenary work, it was time to do what he'd been contracted to do.

Still... might as well leave a calling card of sorts. It took him barely an instant to locate the small security camera up here, looking over the exhibits. He doubted anyone was paying really close attention to the feed right now, but when the investigation team went back over the evidence after the event, they'd be certain to have a proper look at it.

Slowly, he turned to regard the camera, letting it get a good look at his features. He grinned up at it, winked, and then turned back to the exhibit. Small tongues of flame formed in the palm of his hands, extending to crawl gently up his forearms as he took a deep breath.

"Show time."

The pillar of flames that burst from his suddenly outstretched hands are a vivid orange, almost unnaturally bright as it tears through the air and slams into the display. The air fills with the sound of roaring flames as the entire thing immolates in a massive conflagration.

Smiling, his arms still wreathed in flames, Nicodemus turned away from the ferociously burning exhibit and vaulted casually over the balcony. He dropped into the atrium below like a stone, and all around him, the panic began.

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Using the Flamethrower variant of my pyrokinetic abilities to hit the display and only the display, and the leaping power to avoid taking any damage for throwing myself off the balcony.

The Impervious protection aspect of my telekinetic array is being activated as well.

If the guard would look up and would have senses even beyond those of superhumans, he would see Jackknife draw curving sword from sheath belted across his back. The blade is so sharp that the very air before it seems to be sliced for split second, creating faintest of whispers. But alas, he does not, and as a result the supervillain is free to act with advantage of surprise.

Letting himself drop from the ledge right above the guard, Jackknife aims the blade at the base of guard's spine, his sword held in reverse grip with both hands on the hilt to allow it to benefit from the additional power of the short fall. This blade is one he has gone to great lenghts to hone to perfection, and should slice through human body like hot knife through butter.

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Attacking the guard with Monomolecular Blade and using Clean Cut just to make sure. Whatever defences he might have propably won't be enough to stop this strike.

[roll0] (To hit)

I am not quite sure how wounding rolls are handled in M&M yet, but since he is propably just a henchman I don't think it is entirely necessary for now anyway...

If the guard dies from this, Jackknife nabs whatever passcards and communication devices he might have before moving on, still invisible.

Quantum had moved from the earlier exhibit to stand in front of the marker of her tomb: the defeat of Doktor Mindbreaker!

Standing amidst the utilities of memorial decoration drew Quantums attention to a time of simpler motivations and intent. The human spirit was capable of moving with great veracity in the pursuit of ideals and absorbing the punishment necessary to overcome the obstacles that were placed before it. Electris had known this as well as anyone could, if not in articulation than at least in the sacrifices demanded by victory.

Dragging her eyes across the artifacts of a different time elicited sensations across Quantums body she believed she had once buried. The neurons of her synapses flared ever so slightly at the recollection of Doktor Mindbreakers influence; her shoulders twitched with the stress of her magnetic powers holding back rank after rank of robotic minions; her bones ached at the memory of calcification of electrical punishment inflicted at even times of minor failure. The most prominent of these recollections, however, was that of awakening years in the aftermath of her sacrifice and abandonment to claw her way out of the coffin that marked the grave of her misguided beliefs.

Quantums new motivation had been built upon this resentful, bitter foundation. She had paid the ultimate sacrifice and yet this was how the world paid its respect: a token statue and a pitiful plaque.

The larger-than-life depictions wasn't a stylish thank you; it was a romanticised mockery. Quantum felt the heat-wave smoldering up her neck -

"Excuse me, is that an Electris tribute costume?"

The words tore Quantums stewing away from the exhibit and to a balding, middle-aged man behind her. The villainess turned only her head to stare over her shoulder at the man: the only human features of her visible were the two eyes that glared daggers. Her mouth was hidden beneath the jagged, metal gas-mask that clasped her jaw.

"It just seems a little . . . showy is all. Maybe even a little presumptuous, to depict her differently after . . . "

For the briefest of seconds Quantum did not know how to react. The mans ignorance of what he spoke caused a spike in her ire...yet she could detect his intention of preserving some sort of respect for the woman he only knew as Electris. She was not yet far removed enough from humanity to dismiss this unwitting token of gratitude.

An abrupt explosion from across the hall-way relinquished any responsibility of her to react. A fireball engulfed an exhibit and discharged a searing heat-wave that washed over everyone present and sent civilians screaming in all directions. Quantums inquirer did what all civilians did in this situation: he panicked and bolted.

"Not presumptuous." Quantum stated to herself as she turned her head back to face the exhibit of Doktor Mindbreaker! The mask she wore across her mouth deepened and distorted her voice into something only bare recognisable as feminine.

"Rather fitting."

The stainless steel beads that lined her cape were surreptitiously plucked from their positions by invisible forces and swirled upwards to coalesce in Quantums outstretched palm.

The stampeding crowd around her didn't even realise they were surging about a potential 360' claymore mine.

OOC:

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Drawing up Equipment 1, packets of stainless steel ball-bearings, and readying action.

Insurgent looked at the two guards. He knew he had a way with words, but not with lying. He was unlikely to be able to persuade them that he was a hypocrite... a hero successfully. And a more diplomatic approach was unlikely to go well when he was dressed in body armour and armed. However, that still left attack.

Insurgent, safe with the knowledge that he was both invisible and insubstantial, sneaked behind the two guards. Then, turning solid but not visible, he attacked one guard with his quarterstaff, hoping to quickly take him down and move onto the next.

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Stealth roll [roll0]
Attack roll [roll1]

With Jackknife only a shadow within a shadow to his senses, the security guard doesn't so much as blink before the silent assassin drops down, the mono-molecular edge of his blade sliding neatly between his vertebrae and severing all synaptic function below the neck. Death is near immediate, and the guard slumps down on the balcony with the same look of serene admiration on his face, the first in what could quickly become many victims.

In the basement, Insurgent's surprise attack renders the first security guard unconscious with a vicious blow to the back of the head. The second guard rounds staring uncomprehendingly at the shimmer of air which has just incapacitated his compatriot hand fumbling at the taser on his waist even as his other hand reaches for the alarm . . .

The sudden torrent of flame in the 2nd floor however is loud and large enough to draw the attention of everyone in the building however, and again as the lights flicker and the fire suppression system activates. Though the exhibit is already a smoldering ruin, the anaerobic foam directed towards the flames prevents any further damage to the structure or building. Security guards and tuxedo clad body guards rush to the scene and to their charges as the panic begins to fade, almost as quickly as it began, though their is a wide ring around Tyllerton down on the main promenade where the buffet is set up and the string quartet has stopped playing, staring aghast at the man who has dropped down nearly 40ft in front of them.

A few onlookers are staring at Quantum now, and her levitating blades, but they do not seem to know how to react, and remain perfectly still, though most are not paying attention to her and instead staring down over the banister to where Nicodemus has just dropped.

Nicodemus rises from his crouch, a rather vicious smile on his face as he surveys the staring crowds.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Sorry to disturb your little gathering, but I simply couldn't let such a display of bias stand. he says into the stunned quiet. "All this pomp and ceremony celebrating the heroes of the world, and not a single decent tribute to the villains who made their legacies possible? Tsk tsk. So, I thought I'd make my own."

As he speaks, the air throughout the entire museum begins to heat up. At first it is merely uncomfortable, like a hot summer's day. Then it is stifling, as though the region had been relocated to the middle of the desert. Within the space of moments, it is almost unbearable, like the heat at the volcanos edge, buffeting the attendees with sheer thermal energy. Sweat pours down exposed faces, and individual pieces of paper begin to catch alight.

"In about, oh, three minutes, I am going to burn this entire building to the ground." Nicodemus, the only individual present who doesn't seem at all discomforted, continues. He extends his arms out to either side, and the tongues of raw fire seem to enlarge, until he is almost entirely swathed in a cloak of flame.

"I would suggest running."

Calmly pulling the blade from neat wound he has cut into the man's spine, Jackknife wipes the instrument on death carefully on the corpse's shirt before re-sheathing it and bowing his head slightly. "I apologize: you were unlucky" he says quietly in genuinely regretful tone before quickly searching the man for communication devices, keycards and other useful items.

Done with the split-second task, he pulls simple dagger from his belt with one hand and serrated throwing blade from one of the many throwing knife sheathes in the depths of his longcoat. Thus armed and ready to inflict more surprise attacks on unsuspecting guards, Jackknife moves inside the museum, heading towards the nearest door that instructs everyone but authorized personell to stay out. If he goes that way, he is sure to run into some vital system..

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Keeping the invisibility on and switching arnament to throwing blade and dagger.

Quantum takes advantage of the display going on behind her to ensure that her task is done.

The murder of these people was not her concern, nor really her desire.

Around Quantum's body flickered to life a semi-transperant electrical shield, it's tendrils writhing in a sphere about her body to protect her from harm. The civilians still surrounding her jolted backwards in fright.

The supervillainess then opened her palm: the large collection of steel ball-bearings within were shot from her open hand as if propelled by a explosion of magnetic power. The beads became a a cloud of blurred, silvery tracer's that ricochet around the exhibit with a ear-piercing whining of split air. As a swarm of little metal hornets piercing through any non-metal object it struck with the sound of a thousand gunshots, glass displays smashed and collapsed, plastic decorations were torn into shreds while the surrounding walls were riddled with hundreds of impact craters before immediately, at once, the lethal mass impacted upon the central display of Docktor Mindbreaker! where they swarmed over the central dais and arranged themselves into position beneath the direction of their owner.

The civilians were left unharmed: Quantums control over magnetism was too accurate to incur any damage she did not want to inflict. The screaming masses that hit the ground and ducked, however, provided her body with an acceptable barrier between herself and any guards.

Satisfied with the leverage, Quantum stretched a hand towards the display and clenched her fist. A baritone whine reverberated from her position to join the dull shaking of the ground. The floor quaked as the enormous weight of the exhibit shifted and contorted before the whine of tortured metal announced its upliftment into the air...

OOC:

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- Save against Nico's environmental condition: 1d20+7=18
- The explosion of ball-bearings was completey aesthetic, no rules incurred. (officially anyway)
- Using the ball-bearings as Elognated Extra Limbs along with Move Object to wrap around the main, central Doktor Mindbreaker exhibit and hoist it into the air. I'm not sure if I have to roll to hit a stationary object, but any grappling (via the resistance of its weight) will have to beat Quantums grapple of 33 to escape: 38 next round if it doesn't via Improved Hold.
- If it doesn't beat her grapple, then she'll use her move action to hoist it into the air

Insurgent had no idea what exactly was happening up stairs, but he was thankful that it would provide him with the necessary distraction to do his job.

First priority, though, was taking out the other guard. He moved as quickly as he could to make the next attack, attempting to abuse his ability to turn insubstantial to provide him with the large array of movement he needed to attack quickly, even in an enclosed space. Only when it was about to hit did Insurgent make his blade solid again

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Initiative: [roll0]
Attack Roll: [roll1]