Team Rocket: How the Muk are They Still Alive?

[Esprit15]

You're right, I don't believe it. But as the alternate explanation is that it just appeared on its own, I'll take your explanation.

You're better? That's great! Well if you're letting us all out, I'm the only one in my direction as far as I can tell, or at least nobody is between us. Don't know where in the facility I am exactly.

[Arcran]

"...Look, you really need to stop making that face. I know you probably think it's intimidating, but honestly, it looks like you got your metapod to use harden while you were doing this muk, if you know what I mean. Speaking of which, let me guess, you cut their limbs off and generally mutilated them, didn't you. Or did you attach them to magnezones? I assume you don't have an electric tangrowth. Or anyone who knows how to carve bone on a living subject. Oh, or jigglypuff that put people to sleep before harvesting organs. Those guys sucked."
He nods and shakes his head, making general notes in his head.

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Anni's face turns dark. Not dark in expression; it's as if some great shadow actually possess his face. A burst of purple energy flies from his hand, throwing you into the back wall. As you lay dazed, he runs over and starts slamming his fist into you. It hurts; that's for sure.

You think you're so funny, don't you? How about you come with me; I have something to show you.

He leaves the room. Two guards come in; one grabs an arm, hefting you up, the other grabs your shoulder. They hold tightly, not giving you much room to maneuver your arms as they guide you down the corridor.

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56 from the ball.
41 from being beaten.

Well, at least Elly is okay. Though I still need to kill Anni to stop him. But that can wait. We'll get you soon. Romeo grabs one of the potions and uses it on Elly, trying to mke her feel a little better. If Gerald went crazy when someone hurt his dog, Romeo instead went cold with fury. Just like if someone had hurt Alana, he was calm. But his calmness didn't mean he wasn't angry. It just meant he was calculating how to use his knowledge of the human body to tear Anni apart, piece by piece. No one muks with his family like this. Cresselia was right. He was a beast that needed putting down for the greater good.

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potion on Elly: [roll0] hp regained.

'Now then girl, lets go see if me and you can save the others. But first, we have a gift from a friend to try out.' Romeo pulled out the chain and gulped. Even if it was Cresselia, he had no idea what it would to to Elly. But without it, they might not have the strength to escape. So he did what he had to do, and took off her Normal Booster necklace and placed the chain on her.

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As you put the necklace on Elly, it is absorbed into her body. She starts to glow brighter and brighter; a white, pure light. Eventually you are forced to look away, the light burning your eyes. When you look back, Elly is changed. Instead of the black, yellow ringed creature you have come to recognize, there is now a smaller, lithe purple Pokemon. Its forked tail twirls expectantly and a small red jewel dots its forehead. A small crescent moon lies on her left hip, glowing softly.

Romeo? the new Elly says into your mind, looking over her new body. What just happened?

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Elly has become an Espeon! You may completely restat her, although you'll want to keep the Umbreon sheet. She has a few new tricks, but those will be detailed at a later time.

Cheeky bastard. Ethan tries to time his attacks in a code, much like how Mjolnir had been communicated. Punches for dots, kicks for dash. Hopefully, the Rotom picked up on the pattern. Kick, punch, kick, kick, pause, punch, pause, punch, punch, punch. Yes.

He repeated the pattern, including an extra long pause after the sequence ended.

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[roll0]

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It takes a few tries, but eventually you manage to pull off the combo; the damn Rotom keeps interrupting them with attacks. After you pull off the combo, the fight stops for a second. The other fighter leaps forward, knocking you out. As the screen says winning, you feel a surge of electricity flow between the pad and your glasses. A second later, you feel it jump out, flying towards the wall. About fifteen seconds later, the Rotom comes back.

On your pad, Wooper Looper begins to play.

[IrnBruAddict]

Honestly, I'm just as confused as you are. Arte, any thoughts on the matter?

Romeo looks over her new body. He runs his hand over her new legs and her tails. Yep, her entire body was different. Hmm, no matter how I look at things, you are an Espeon. How is it? Can you use your new powers well? But how to test them?

Elly, try and read the mind of the guard outside the door. While Elly does that, Romeo loots the knocked out guard, taking his gun, then sorting through the balls, trying to figure out which ball was what pokemon. He needed to find his team and Sparky first of all.

[Esprit15]

Well my family worshipped a couple of the gods. Darkrai, Kyurem and Giratina, mostly. Don't know much about Crescellia. I suppose if what you said is true, Crescellia might have blessed that charm you got, and a way it manifests is by changing Elly into a lighter form. As to her interst in you, no clue. Benevolent gods like kind people, maybe? Not sure why she'd take an interest in a Rocket recruit though. Especially a Mewish one. Artemis thinks on the matter. Could have sworn that those were just stories and such. She tries to remember anything that her parents had told her back home about Darkrai and Crescellia.

[Eshkigal]

Unfortunately, by the time they get to him, he's already hit the floor, face broken from the beating and blood staining the wall behind him. Blood is pooling from his likely broken nose and gashes on the back of his head, running through his already red hair, and he's just out like a light.

(He only has 80 HP. Currently at-17)

[MesiDoomstalker]

Wooper looper? Wooper... Looper... Looper... Loop. Video loop. Void your fast. Did you download all these games? Not important. Did you find anything while you were in there?

[Arcran]

Honestly, I'm just as confused as you are. Arte, any thoughts on the matter?

Romeo looks over her new body. He runs his hand over her new legs and her tails. Yep, her entire body was different. Hmm, no matter how I look at things, you are an Espeon. How is it? Can you use your new powers well? But how to test them?

Elly, try and read the mind of the guard outside the door. While Elly does that, Romeo loots the knocked out guard, taking his gun, then sorting through the balls, trying to figure out which ball was what pokemon. He needed to find his team and Sparky first of all.

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It doesn't take long before you have your Pokemon; your entire team found and accounted for. Sparky is a quick find too; it only takes a few minutes and you have it.

Ok, Elly "says", jewel glowing softly on her head.

ROMEO! He's coming in! you hear just as the door starts to open.

Well my family worshipped a couple of the gods. Darkrai, Kyurem and Giratina, mostly. Don't know much about Crescellia. I suppose if what you said is true, Crescellia might have blessed that charm you got, and a way it manifests is by changing Elly into a lighter form. As to her interst in you, no clue. Benevolent gods like kind people, maybe? Not sure why she'd take an interest in a Rocket recruit though. Especially a Mewish one. Artemis thinks on the matter. Could have sworn that those were just stories and such. She tries to remember anything that her parents had told her back home about Darkrai and Crescellia.

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You don't remember much; Darkrai was the god of darkness, nightmares, and fear, and was generally linked to eclipses while Cressalia was love, hope, and other such "nice" things. The moon was commonly her domain. The two were competing entities, often using mortals as tools in their divine struggle.

Unfortunately, by the time they get to him, he's already hit the floor, face broken from the beating and blood staining the wall behind him. Blood is pooling from his likely broken nose and gashes on the back of his head, running through his already red hair, and he's just out like a light.

(He only has 80 HP. Currently at-17)

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You awake some time later in a dark room. You're up against a wall; your good arm is bound to it by your wrist, your ankles, and one last restraint across your chest. They're old school; just straight up leather straps with hooks.

Mr. Slate, you're awake I see, you hear from an indescribable point in the shadows.

Wooper looper? Wooper... Looper... Looper... Loop. Video loop. Void your fast. Did you download all these games? Not important. Did you find anything while you were in there?

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Static comes over the microphone in the pad.

I just put the thing on a loop. I didn't hack into their stuff, you hear in a staticy, monotone voice that sounds vaguely female. I guess I could do that though, the voice says, somehow carrying derision even through the sarcasm.

[Esprit15]

There were a few stories of them using mortals in divine struggles between them. It tended to not end well for one or both mortals. I'd be careful. Careful of... That would explain the massacre in Saffron being excessive. Wait, shouldn't I be keeping an eye on the guy? He'd feel you keeping a tab on him just as you noticed him. Self preservation. Self preservation might mean keeping an eye on Romeo and warning him of people who would kill him in an instant. And if he goes to pick off the meddling psychic girl before he returns to his other prey? I stand a better chance than Romeo. Romeo has mons. And so does the killer. ...

Well like I said, I'll help any way I can from here. One guard she could handle. Two would be tough, but doable on their own. The problem was the other ones that the facility was crawling with, and the low odds that any of them had much medicine on them in case of injury... Eh, worth asking. If you got out, you have to have taken a guard or two out. What all do they care on their persons?

[Eshkigal]

Gerald shakes his head a bit, still ringing from the blows given. He lets his good arm go slack, while trying to get it able to slip out. He responds with a scratchy voice, taste of his own blood in his mouth.
"...Too far?"
He closes his eyes. Nothing around to see anyway, may as well.
(1d20+5)[13]-try to free up the only arm without being noticed.

[IrnBruAddict]

Romeo releases Sparky on his shoulder. Well, now's as good a time as any to try out your new moves.

Psybeam on the guard as soon as he steps in.

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(1d20)[18], base 2, confuses on 19-20
(3d10+32)[50], fire type physical damage, hits everything in a 1m column

[MesiDoomstalker]

Not necessary, not yet at least. I want them to trust me, and having a pokemon, even a wild one, snooping in their system won't help at all. I do have one question. Well a few, but the first most important. Why are you helping me? I was bluffing. After a moment of thought. Oh, and I apologize for misunderstanding you and yoru intentions earlier. It was my mistake. I'm sorry.

[Arcran]

Gerald shakes his head a bit, still ringing from the blows given. He lets his good arm go slack, while trying to get it able to slip out. He responds with a scratchy voice, taste of his own blood in his mouth.
"...Too far?"
He closes his eyes. Nothing around to see anyway, may as well.
[roll0]-try to free up the only arm without being noticed.

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Too far? Oh no, you're just far enough, he says, some lights coming on. They highlight around you to reveal a grisly sight.

All around the room are cages full of people. Trapped, like animals. They don't do anything; they just sit there, a dead look on their face, but they're very much alive. There has to be at least thirty of them; all in cages, all with the same dead look. You recognize one from the Team Rocket base; he had been gearing up when you left. Now he sits there with a dead look in his eyes, gently rocking back and forth.

Seem them? he says, a sick grin on his face. They thought they'd try to resist too. That one, he says, gesturing to a woman, actually had the nerve to throw a punch. So here's your last chance. Give me some reason to let you live a minute longer with you mind in tact. Please, humor me, he says, putting on a pair of black gloves.

Romeo releases Sparky on his shoulder. Well, now's as good a time as any to try out your new moves.

Psybeam on the guard as soon as he steps in.

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[roll0], base 2, confuses on 19-20
[roll1], fire type physical damage, hits everything in a 1m column

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The wave of energy knocks the man back, not even giving him a chance to curse. The attack doesn't drop him though, and he quickly regains his composure. He pulls out his gun and reaches for his walkie talkie.....

Not necessary, not yet at least. I want them to trust me, and having a pokemon, even a wild one, snooping in their system won't help at all. I do have one question. Well a few, but the first most important. Why are you helping me? I was bluffing. After a moment of thought. Oh, and I apologize for misunderstanding you and yoru intentions earlier. It was my mistake. I'm sorry.

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Why do I help you? the Rotom says in the same female voice. I was bored. You really need to get some more movies on there. You should just give me your card so I can get them myself. I promise there will only be a little porn.

And yes, you should be sorry. I thought you were intelligent. Apparently my cursory assessment was incomplete.

You sure you don't want me to snoop around? Fry a few outlets? Flood the bathroom?

[MesiDoomstalker]

Snooping would be useful. More information the better. But staying out of sight and unnoticed is the key. If you muk with something, do it sparingly and on something minor. You can muk up something big when we break for it. And as an after thought. I'll get more movies when we get out of here.

[Eshkigal]

"Huh...looks like nightmare smoke. Used to take that stuff for a good night's sleep. Anyway...I can make robotic limbs and higher tech given a chance? I don't know. Because you want to see me break. Because I insulted you enough to make you ready to snap and show your true self. Frankly, even if I did anything like agree with you, I failed. I didn't bring you back. They're likely going to do their own version of terrible things to me."
He looks around.
"So, as a dying request, what exactly did you do, anyway? While it looks similar, nightmare smoke would take too long..."

[Esprit15]

Artemis gets fidgety as she learns that there are others of the team alive and actually getting around. Hm, there was that wall section that seemed weak... Artemis grabs the dented chair. Ought to be hard enough to break a bit of wall before breaking. She takes a few swings at the weaker section of wall from earlier.

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STR: (1d20+3)[9]

[IrnBruAddict]

Romeo body slams into the guy, trying to knock the radio out his hand. At the same time, he orders Sparky to T-Wave the man.

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Dex check to knock the Radio away: (1d20+2)[5] (if it's STR instead, change the +2 to -4)

Sparky uses Thunder-Wave, auto hits and paralyses

[Arcran]

Snooping would be useful. More information the better. But staying out of sight and unnoticed is the key. If you muk with something, do it sparingly and on something minor. You can muk up something big when we break for it. And as an after thought. I'll get more movies when we get out of here.

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Okie dokie boss, the Rotom says, disappearing from the pad into the camera. A few minutes later, it returns.

A man appears to be making out with the team cripple. He does not seem to enjoy it. Shall I intervene?

"Huh...looks like nightmare smoke. Used to take that stuff for a good night's sleep. Anyway...I can make robotic limbs and higher tech given a chance? I don't know. Because you want to see me break. Because I insulted you enough to make you ready to snap and show your true self. Frankly, even if I did anything like agree with you, I failed. I didn't bring you back. They're likely going to do their own version of terrible things to me."
He looks around.
"So, as a dying request, what exactly did you do, anyway? While it looks similar, nightmare smoke would take too long..."

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Nightmare smoke? he says with a chuckle. Please. That stuff is barely good for giving a grown man nightmares. Trust me, this is far better. Darkrai sends his regards, he says. Before he you can respond he walks over, leans in...

And clamps his mouth on yours.

Shock gives way to horror as you start to feel something wrong. Your very being, your very essence, was being drained away. You try to cling desperately to cling to memories, however painful they may be. You try to scream, but find yourself unable to. Your childhood memories, your tortures, your pains; leaving your body, going into him. It feels like it goes on forever; finally, he lets go.

Father Darkrai, he mutters, gasping for breath. You.... You're memories... he says, trailing off for a second. Give me a minute. I just need a minute, he says, seemingly about to pass out.

You try to wrack your memory for your past. Your Pokemon? Static? Spinner? Sparky. Sparky was right. Your name. Jeremiah. Joseph? Gerard? Gerald. Gerald was right. As you try to cling to memories, you hear hooting to the left. Two ape-like Pokemon, covered in cuts and hands soaked in blood, rattle an electronic cage. Probably some sort of interrogation thing.

Artemis gets fidgety as she learns that there are others of the team alive and actually getting around. Hm, there was that wall section that seemed weak... Artemis grabs the dented chair. Ought to be hard enough to break a bit of wall before breaking. She takes a few swings at the weaker section of wall from earlier.

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STR: [roll0]

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Eventually you've chipped a good sized hole in the wall. It's more of a large dent than a real hole, but it works. As you hit though, you eventually hit harder and harder stone, bending and warping the chair more. One last hit breaks the metal, leaving you with a jagged edged seat.

As you stop, you hear a gunshot.

Romeo body slams into the guy, trying to knock the radio out his hand. At the same time, he orders Sparky to T-Wave the man.

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Dex check to knock the Radio away: [roll0] (if it's STR instead, change the +2 to -4)

Sparky uses Thunder-Wave, auto hits and paralyses

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You barely manage to knock the radio away; it scatters across the floor. He still has his gun though and, fighting through the Paralysis, lifts his gun, firing. His aim is thrown off by the waves of electricity, but he still hits you square in the thigh. The gunshot seems to reverberate throughout the complex, carrying far louder than it should have.

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28 damage.

[MesiDoomstalker]

While amusing, yes. Not sure what he is up to, but I doubt its for Gerald's own good. Thank you. Hope. That is all he has right now.

[Eshkigal]

"Haaa...Sp...Sparky, I'm...I'm sorry...Si...what was her name...R...something...I...oh gods...you took their faces..."
He shakes his head, strange water leaking from his eyes. Were...he thought he couldn't cry any more...
He then hacks, spitting up some blood, and shakes his head some more.
"What's...what's stopping you? Thought I was...was just making muk up? Had a story before...something...something asked and they died..."

[Esprit15]

****. What did that boy do now. Artemis looks at all the minds in range, trying to get an idea of how the facility was reacting to the gunshot going off.

...

Badly. The facility was reacting very badly to it. She knocks on her door to get the guard's attention. "Excuse me? What was that noise? It sounded like gunfire, but that shouldn't be happening in the halls. What's going on?" She starts pounding on the door frantically, concern becoming evident in her voice as she finishes speaking.

[hustlertwo]

Paul, his bravado faltering in the face of potentially losing one of his Pokemon, lifts the rest of the roasted bird and places it on the floor next to the scrawny rodent. Take it all to them, little one.

He then perks up a bit.

Family? Can you bring them here to eat? Perhaps there will be enough to help extricate me from this mess.

[IrnBruAddict]

Romeo shrugs off the hit, and moves back, shooting the pistol he looted before. 'Again Elly.' The new Espeon releases another beam of psychic energy from her mouth and blasts the guy.

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Arms Attack: (1d20)[20] base 6
(1d10+6)[12] + whatever level bonus

Psybeam: (1d20)[8], base 2, confuses on 19-20
(3d10+32)[41], psychic special damage

[IrnBruAddict]

and the crit damage:

(1d10+4)[5]

[Arcran]

While amusing, yes. Not sure what he is up to, but I doubt its for Gerald's own good. Thank you. Hope. That is all he has right now.

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You're the Rotom ATM.

As you travel through the wires back to the strange scene, you arrive just in time to see the man clamp on to the other guy again. The good guy starts flailing against his restraints instantly. You have a great view from here. You don't see much; there's some lights you could mess with, various computers, and what looks like an electronic gate. Inside are two Pokemon, although they have leashes on. There also are a handful of electronic torture tools; a drill, tiny saw, and tazer stand out.

The restraints on the other man are old school; not possessable, unfortunately.

"Haaa...Sp...Sparky, I'm...I'm sorry...Si...what was her name...R...something...I...oh gods...you took their faces..."
He shakes his head, strange water leaking from his eyes. Were...he thought he couldn't cry any more...
He then hacks, spitting up some blood, and shakes his head some more.
"What's...what's stopping you? Thought I was...was just making muk up? Had a story before...something...something asked and they died..."

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For a long time he simply sits there, trying to recover before he finally starts to act.

What's stopping me? You're a psychopath, that's why. How many people have died? he mutters, looking at you in shock. Don't answer that. I'll know in about twenty seconds, he says, clamping onto your mouth. You start to flail as your last memories start to fade.

****. What did that boy do now. Artemis looks at all the minds in range, trying to get an idea of how the facility was reacting to the gunshot going off.

...

Badly. The facility was reacting very badly to it. She knocks on her door to get the guard's attention. "Excuse me? What was that noise? It sounded like gunfire, but that shouldn't be happening in the halls. What's going on?" She starts pounding on the door frantically, concern becoming evident in her voice as she finishes speaking.

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As you ask, a second shot sounds.

"Get away from the door," the man says, resting his hand on it as he points his handgun through a slit. He doesn't open it though.

"Get back or I shoot. Jakob, what the muk is going on out there?"

Paul, his bravado faltering in the face of potentially losing one of his Pokemon, lifts the rest of the roasted bird and places it on the floor next to the scrawny rodent. Take it all to them, little one.

He then perks up a bit.

Family? Can you bring them here to eat? Perhaps there will be enough to help extricate me from this mess.

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The Rattata answers in the positive. It dashes off and a few seconds later there are six more of the little critters, all tearing at the meat. Most seem even weaker than the one you met, although one is much larger with its fur just starting to brown, likely meaning evolution.

While the rats are still in the wall, another gunshot sounds. You can hear guards running down the hall.

Romeo shrugs off the hit, and moves back, shooting the pistol he looted before. 'Again Elly.' The new Espeon releases another beam of psychic energy from her mouth and blasts the guy.

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Arms Attack: [roll0] base 6
[roll1] + whatever level bonus

Psybeam: [roll2], base 2, confuses on 19-20
[roll3], psychic special damage

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Your shot tears through the man's shoulder. Elly's blast catches him as he turns back, throwing him out of the room. You can hear shouts and the stomping of boots down the hall.

Romeo, seven of them. We need to figure something out.

As you plant on your leg to run, you almost collapse. The shot had hurt your leg badly; running would hurt.

[MesiDoomstalker]

Oh yay! New toys! C'mere you electric beauty! The Rotom jumps into the Tazer, possessing it. Raising up, sparks fly from the electrodes. Suck electricity Creepy Kissing man!

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T-wave'd the bastard! And by Bastard, I mean McMurder.

[Arcran]

Oh yay! New toys! C'mere you electric beauty! The Rotom jumps into the Tazer, possessing it. Raising up, sparks fly from the electrodes. Suck electricity Creepy Kissing man!

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T-wave'd the bastard! And by Bastard, I mean McMurder.

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Anni surges backward, curing as the waves roll over him. He looks desperately to find the offender, ball of energy glowing as electricity courses over him.

Gerald

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You feel a shock only to have Anni pull away. You are barely conscious; barely able to remember your own name. The world seems to be moving through a fog.

[Eshkigal]

Something...something bad was happening. Struggle. Struggle. It hurts...struggle anyway. Why? Don't know. Don't know. Get off. Get out. Get away. He tries to get his arm out...please...whatever things are, please...
(1d20+5)[23]-dex to slip out of the binds

[Esprit15]

Okay, that's it. Artemis glares towards the man and walks towards him and through the wall. **** you, I'll walk where I want to walk. As she clears the door, she proceeds to book it down the hall as fast as she can go, heading for Romeo. You seem panicked. Need a bit of help?

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More Phasing! 104/124
Note: Overland is 6, as opposed to the normal 5

[MesiDoomstalker]

Time for a new location. The Rotom de-possesses the tazer, using his regained ghostly visage to render himself invisible. He floats, slowly, towards the cage.

[IrnBruAddict]

I got a plan, and I have our stuff Arte. Get to me.

Romeo inticates a large selection of balls on the wall that he didn't recognize. Elly, float those over to the guys coming at us. Hope a little chaos can hold them off for a bit. He limps over to his gear and opens his medcase, treating his wounds.

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Romeo uses Treat Light Wounds on himself. Gains 20 hp back and hopefully fixes his leg.