Heroes of Millaine IC 2 - Coming Soon to a Theater Near You!

[Zelphas]

Lucas follows behind the rest of the group as they move through the complex. So far, it will be a simple matter to edit me out of the final production, he considers quietly to himself. I'm just the coordinator, after all; I should be able to--

Then they enter the final room, and Lucas sees the Heroes of Millaine. And it stops being a script.

Lucas knew the seriousness of the situation, of course. He had joined the mission in order to make sure Darla was safe, to see her safe with his own eyes. He knew that they, a ragtag group of mostly minor talents (with his the most minor of all), were going into a fight with people far more powerful than they, and only the distraction of SIDE pounding on the front door gave them a chance to sneak in and free the Heroes without being captured or killed themselves. It was just... the entire setup, and the fight from earlier, had been so cinematic, that his director's mind had begun to fall back into storyboarding, making jokes, putting obstacles between his thoughts and the horrors they might come upon.

Looking at the Heroes of Millaine now, the illusion is shattered. They are in far better shape than they could have been, but still, they were brought low by the very same people who now stood before their sad little group. For the first time, Lucas wonders what he's doing here. He's a director, for crying out loud; he doesn't do... this. In both the last fights he participated in, his focus had been on getting away, removing himself as an obstacle so that Darla and more competent people could focus on fighting the bad guys. Why did he think it was a good idea to run into the fight now?

The woman before them speaks, she gestures and--pain. The agony courses through Lucas' bones, nearly driving him back out of the room with its sheer existence within him. He feels it chip away at his defenses, leaving him weakened, shaking...

...with rage. This is NOT how this script will be written, with him succumbing to the first blow of some trumped-up invader who DARED to strike at the Heroes of Millaine.

In a flash, every other member of the team sees the battlefield overlaid with a series of multicolored arrows and lines, each color marked with the name of one of the team, showing them exactly how to strike at the scarred woman in front of them. Luisa receives even more information--a scrolling list of momentum, force, acceleration... everything the robot woman needs to turn her current strike into an even more devastating blow.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move Action: Not running.

Free Action: Expertise (Medicine) on the tubes and wires on the Heroes (trying to see how to wake them): (1d20+8)[12] If another Expertise roll applies, the result is the same.

Standard Action: Use a Hero Point for Direct Tactics: (1d20+13)[24] Giving the bonus on Attack rolls vs. the Pain Lady. +5 on Attack Rolls. Power Attack to your heart's content!

Extra Effort: Use a Hero Point on Direct Action: Luisa gets another Standard Action this round.

Status: -1 Fortitude (Heals 1), Fatigued next turn.

[Capt. Infinity]

Luisa's foot gets planted firmly in the Pain Controller's chest, but she only flinches slightly in response. Luisa's eyes narrow. "Evidently, I must've missed anything vital. I do so apologize. Please, allow me a do-over. And would you kindly go down this time?" The android asks politely, before whirring around on her heel to strike the woman under her ribcage on her other side, this time hoping to make something well and truly break.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move Action: She's good.
Standard Action: Structural Integrity Compromise, Power Attacking for 5. On a hit, DC 30 Fortitude against Damage, and DC 20 Fortitude against Weaken Toughness. Defended this round: (1d20+10)[24]

[Hyperbolic sine]

Beth bited on her lip to suffocate a scream. The pain was unlike anything she ever felt, every single cell of her body was telling her to flee and free herself from that agony.

And yet, she endured. They were that close to saving the Heroes of Millaine, to save Declan, and she would not be the one to abandon everything for cowardice.

Yanking away the scourge before it could coil around her the powerhouse leaped in front of the pain controller, following Lucas' phantom arrows to strike where she was most vulnerable with a mightly blow and then using all four of her mechanical arms to try and restrain her.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move: S6->M5
Standard: attack Joslyn with Staggering Strike (+5 from Aid) at (1d20+9)[12] (on a miss, HP reroll (1d10+14)[19] (1d2)[2]), Toughness DC 27 vs Damage and Fortitude DC 22 vs Vulnerable/Stunned/Incapacitated, then Strength or Dodge DC 26 (+4 from Extra Limbs) vs Fast Grab (Escape @-5).

[manwithaplan]

She screamed as the pain, and for a single moment Suzanne's entire psyche crumbled and she was ready to lose consciousness. But then she saw where they were.

He was right there.

Copycat, and everybody else on the team, were right there in reach. She'd been held down by the understanding that maybe they had bitten off more than they could chew. And yet, there they were. All they had to do and take down these two, and they actually would have saved the Heroes of Millaine.

It wasn't impossible. That was good enough.

Suzanne immediately began to move in, following Luisa and Beth to strike Joselyn. She couldn't really fight as well as them, she realised, but who was she not to try? Coming into range of the torturer, she stuck out two freezing cold hands, trying to grab her from behind on each shoulder and numb her into an ice cube.

Spoiler: Actions

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Move: Fly to K4.
Standard: Frozen Grasp on Joselyn, Power Attack 2. Attack (1d20+13)[21] for DC 27 Fortitude against Damage, as well as DC 22 Fortitude against Vulnerable/Defenseless/Paralyzed and Weaken Fighting.
Extra Effort Standard: Moar! Frozen Grasp on Joselyn, Power Attack 2. Attack (1d20+13)[27] for DC 27 Fortitude against Damage, as well as DC 22 Fortitude against Vulnerable/Defenseless/Paralyzed and Weaken Fighting.

Status: Fatigued, Exhausted next turn.

[Llyarden]

Emily gritted her teeth as the barbed scourge tore gouges down her bark armour, binding her in place. But she didn't cry out, and she didn't fall. "Not now..." she whispered, ever so quietly, to herself more than anyone else. "We're so close..."

And she had enough leeway to stretch out a hand.

She wondered why she'd never thought of it before. For a long time she'd been able to absorb herself into plants and travel through them at lightning speed; it was one of the first powers she'd developed. Creating plants out of thin air had come a close second.

It was only logical that she combined the two.

The vines coating Emily's body began to uncoil again, spiralling out between the wires of the scourge. This time, though, they didn't leave her body behind.

A few seconds later, Emily reappeared by the bed that was holding Sean, staggering slightly and grabbing hold of the bed to support herself as she readjusted to having a body again, looking down at the assorted leads and IVs that were around him. She had no idea what most of them were doing, and some logical part of her opined that ripping them all out haphazardly might do more harm than anything else.

She ignored it and sent a thorned vine to slash through the cables.

Spoiler: OOC

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Extra Effort: Power Stunt from Dryad's Step: Teleport 3, Change Direction, Change Velocity, Increased Mass 3, Precise, Turnabout, Quirk (functions as normal movement)*

*This would normally be a Limit, but in the current situation I figured it only counts as a quirk, and that only because the enemies might have a Create power of their own.

Move: Teleport out of the grab and into R8.
Standard: Remove the assorted medical cables from Sean.

Status: 1 Bruise (regenerates next round), Fatigued next round (and probably about to draw all the aggro.)

[Quellian-dyrae]

Round 2

Under Lucas' direction, the team crashed down upon the military-trained Dreamer as if they had been fighting side-by-side all their lives. Blow after rapid blow from Luisa broke through her trained guard, and while she was busy trying to find her footing there, Suzanne hit her with two bitter blasts of cold. Beth came in with a crushing blow, but the summon suddenly appeared in her way, taking the hit for her.

But despite Suzanne and Luisa's attacks, the Haptaran dream soldier did not fall. She was clearly injured, but she didn't seem to be much slowed by it.

If anything, it only made her angry.

"Oh, he won't wake up in time to save you, foolish girl!" she remarked coldly to Emily, before pointing a finger at Luisa, focusing her powers fully upon her.

The summon, meanwhile, gave Suzanne a sudden, sickly-delighted smile and swung her scourge, a cruel lash designed more to agonize through raking barbs than injure through blunt impact.

Spoiler

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Joslyn:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Agonize on Luisa. Perception-range attack. Fortitude DC 21 vs. Cumulative Impaired/Disabled/Incapacitated Affliction.
End of Turn: "Regenerates" one Bruise.

Torturer:
Move: Startle Suzanne at -5 at (1d20+13)[19]. Insight, Intimidation, or Will or be Vulnerable against her next attack.
Standard: Attack Suzanne with Cruel Lash at (1d20+12)[27]. On a hit, Toughness DC 27 vs. Damage, Fortitude DC 22 vs. Cumulative Impaired/Disabled/Incapacitated Affliction, and Strength or Dodge DC 27 vs. Fast Grab. Hits either way

Current Status

Map

All PCs are on turn.

[Llyarden]

Emily's heart sank when Sean didn't stir, and at the woman's sheer confidence and certainty that he wouldn't. But it was that same arrogance that made her draw herself up and glare straight back at the woman and her summon (though she was glad of being able to support herself by leaning on the bed). "You know the thing about the Heroes of Millaine?" she asked, the last of the damage the scourge had done to her bark armour sealing up "Sure, maybe you can beat them down."

She reached down to lay a hand on Sean's forehead, a green glow issuing from her entire body as the scent of cherry blossom filled the air.

"But they always win."

Spoiler: OOC

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Move: Switch to and activate Healing Nectar.
Standard: Counter the drug on Sean: (1d20+9)[14]. On a failure, HP reroll at (1d20+9)[13]. Dice you are ruining my dramatic moment. Stop it. +10 for Imp. Roll on the second roll for 23.
End of Turn: Regenerates a bruise.

Status: Fatigued.

[Zelphas]

Lucas' lips curl up into a wolfish smile as Emily makes her pronouncement... and Sean begins to stir. Who am I kidding? I don't write the scripts... they do.

Good to have you back, Sean, he sends to the waking Hero, linking him to the mental connection immediately. All right, everyone, keep up the attack, but new priority: keep Emily safe. Emily, you know what to do; wake up the rest of the Heroes, and then we can all stand back and watch. As he speaks, information floods the brains of everyone in the mental link, painting the room in shades of red and blue: danger zones of attack based on the strikes seen thus far from the summon, and safe zones to move to in the event of such attack.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move Action: Nowhere to go.

Standard Action: Spend a Hero Point for Direct Tactics. (1d20+13)[33] Bonus goes to defense against the Summon's next attack. Well okay then, RNG... +5 to everyone's defense against Leatherganger.

[Capt. Infinity]

Luisa Nym was having a rather strange day. Her boyfriend was kidnapped, she'd somehow uncovered that the secret to combat optimization was through raw politeness, and now she was having trouble identifying literally anything to do with the concept of Intravenous Medication. Finding herself without many personal options, she simply smiled at Emily's success in awakening Sean, and moved forward with the advice admitted by Lucas.

The android smiled at the pain controller, her body already muting all the agonizing pangs she sent her way. "Perhaps you didn't get the memo. I am Luisa Nym. Former Dreamcatcher automaton formerly in the employ of Dr. Adair Gaertner. So long as I am present, nobody will require saving. Nobody needs to be saved from that which is my prey. Now be a good quarry and die... Please." The robotic woman growls, before unleashing an onslaught of blows upon the Torturous Dreamer.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move Action: Feint Joselyn at -5: (1d20+10)[17]
Standard Action: Structural Integrity Compromise, Power Attacking for 5, All-Out Attacking for 5. On a hit, DC 30 Fortitude save against Damage, and DC 25 Fortitude save against Weaken Toughness. Defence at -5 this round. Defended this round: (1d20+10)[26]

[Hyperbolic sine]

Beth was quite sure she would have, if not hurt, at least managed to restrain the pain controller, but the summon got in the way and didn't even flinch from the impact. It...wasn't fair.

But real battles aren't fair. If something didn't work, you just had to switch tactics, and now that Emily was waking up the Heroes she just had to buy her time.

She couldn't let herself be disheartened. Facing the enemy in front of her with a fearsome countenance, she swinged her fist...and hit the ground, compressing air into a shockwave and causing a portion of the floor to tremble as if because of an earthquake.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move: Startle on Joselyn at (1d20+18)[22]
Standard: Earthquake Blow as a 60' cone on Joselyn*, Dodge DC 18 for half, Toughness DC 23/19 vs Damage, Prowess DC 18/14 vs Dazed+Vulnerable/Stunned+Defenseless (Overcome by Fort) and Trip DC 18/14.

Also I'll probably Extra Effort something, depending on the results.

*but if I can get the Torturer (and perhaps some achinery?) too without hitting any allies all the better.

[manwithaplan]

Suzanne grinned back at the summon, and as its lash swung in she hardened her ice armour right in the spot it was trying to strike. It dug right in and tried to rake her, but only managed to remove several chunks of ice from her exterior plating. Then she fought back, reaching forward with both hands and blasting both the summon and its master with dual waves of freezing snow. It was something she had learned from Tom; a second hand had always seemed silly when her powers weren't linked to her limbs and were outputting the same amount of energy no matter what, and yet the second hand's output always seemed to be so effective!

Spoiler: Actions

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Hero Point to go back to Fatigue, then using Extra Effort to Surge again.

Standard Action: Snowstorm, just on the two squares Joselyn and Torturer are in. DC 20 Dodge and DC 25/20 Toughness, Cloud Area repeats next round.
Standard Action: Moar! DC 20 Dodge and DC 25/20 Toughness, Cloud Area repeats next round.

Status: Bruised, Fatigued, Exhausted next round.

[Quellian-dyrae]

Round 3

His nose made sense of the scene faster than his eyes. Five scents, very familiar, his fellow Heroes. Some injuries, but mostly bruised and scabbed over; they'd be sore, but not physically impeded. The substance in their blood, though, was all too clear to his perceptions. A powerful sedative.

Four more scents, three of them less familiar, but one at least as much so. He could smell their pain, their fear, their hope, their exhilaration. None seemed badly hurt, though some of them were tired. They had pushed themselves to get this far.

Two more scents, vaguely familiar. Smelling of blood and pain, of fury and sick joy. The human one was badly hurt. She would not show it visibly, but he knew. The other one, something off about its scent, fake. He could smell that it was damaged. He could smell that it enjoyed that fact.

One final scent, the most familiar, standing over him. Almost unrecognizable for all its familiarity, masked in the smell of flowers. That smell was strong, so strong to his nose. It was almost overpowering, but it didn't make him gag or retch. It cleared his head.

His eyes opened. More became clear. Beth's blows struck the ground with superhuman force, cracking the floor, buckling the far walls, shattering the other door. The pain bringers staggered, but did not fall. Luisa struck hard, crippling blows. Suzanne called winter down upon them. Lucas in the back, looking over the battlefield with a critical eye. They were fighting. Against a Haptaran military Dreamer and a Summoned Champion, they were fighting like Heroes.

But their enemies did not fall.

"No! Stop her!" he heard the Haptaran scream. He smelled the intent before he saw the action. Rocket fuel and brimstone. A sudden shift in the position of leather and blood.

They crashed down upon her.

Spoiler

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Joslyn:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Charge Emily and attack with Traumatize, All Out Attacking for 5, -2 for Charge, at (1d20+14)[20]. On a hit, Toughness DC 26 vs. Secondary Effect Damage, Fortitude DC 21 vs. Cumulative Impaired/Disabled/Incapacitated Affliction. Hit

Torturer:
Move: Teleport into R5.
Standard: Attack Emily with Barbed Flurry, All Out Attacking for 5, Power Attacking for 3, at (1d20+14)[19]. On a hit, Toughness DC 30+Multiattack vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 30 vs. Fast Grab. If Grabbed, Fortitude DC 22 vs. Cumulative Impaired/Disabled/Incapacitated Affliction. Just barely after Lucas' boost, but hit. No Multiattack thanks to Lucas though.

Current Status

Map

All PCs are on turn, and Sean is in play.

[Zelphas]

Lucas watches the enemies drop on Emily and Sean with a wince, but keeps up his stream of information, trusting them to weather the attacks. Sean? This is Lucas. Do you think you can take these two jokers out? he sends. He can feel a massive headache coming on, but he pushes through it for now.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move Action: None.

Standard Action: Hero point for Direct Tactics. (1d20+13)[25] Same as before, everybody gets the save in Defense against the Leatherganger. +5.

Extra Effort: Hero Point for Direct Action. Sean gets two Standard Actions this round.

Status: Fatigued (Exhausted next turn).

[Llyarden]

Hey, I can pro- Emily started to complain, riding on the confidence of having Sean back, when the two painbringers came charging towards her. Sean, almost before he'd opened his eyes, reached back and pushed her, taking full advantage of his superhuman strength to shove her out of the reach of the Haptaran and her summon, snarling angrily as the chain wrapped around him.

Well, let's find out, he replied to Lucas, lashing out at the woman with his claws.

Spoiler: OOC

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Sean:
Move: Startle Joslyn (-2 for move action): (1d20+18)[37].
Standard: Attack Joslyn with Brutal Throw, power attacking for 5 and all-out attacking for 2: (1d20+5)[18]. On a hit, DC32 Toughness vs damage. The Linked Move Object will be used as an Escape attempt: (1d20+12)[13].
Standard #2: Attack Joslyn again: (1d20+5)[20]. The Linked Move Object will be used as a grab this time, so DC32 Toughness vs damage and DC27 Strength or Dodge vs grab.

Given that one of my NPCs in another game rolled 2 19s and a 20 in four rolls, I'm not expecting much here. Well okay the Escape attempt wasn't great, but otherwise that was pretty good.

Emily:
Waiting to see the results of Sean's turn, but probably teleporting to besides Declan and generating a hero point.

Status:
Sean: Restrained, 1 Bruise (regenerates next round), -2 to active defences, +5 defence vs summon's next attack.
Emily: +5 defence vs summon's next attack.

[Hyperbolic sine]

"Emily!" Beth shouted in warning, throwing herself in the way of the pain controller's attack to protect her. She herself was a bit surprised when she emerged unscathed: perhaps the previous attacks had numbed her receptors, because she was expecting more pain.

Regardless of that, though, she successfuly protected someone, and the thought fired her up even more: grinning, she charged her fist and swinged at the Torturer with extreme prejudice - and then followed with a second blow, going for the master if the first was enough for the Summon.

Spoiler: OOC

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Standard: All-out (1) Power attack the Torturer with Staggering Strike at (1d20)[18], auto-crit for Toughness DC 37 vs Damage and Fortitude DC 32 vs Vulnerable/Stunned/Incapacitated.
(Fortitude DC 22 vs Reaction (1d20+9)[28] ( HP reroll (1d10+19)[20]) if doesn't resist)
Extra Effort: Attack with Staggering Strike at (1d20)[14]+variable.

Spoiler: If Torturer still alive, target her

Show

All out (1*) Power Attack for +0* to hit, auto-crit for Toughness DC 37 vs Damage and Fortitude DC 32 vs Vulnerable/Stunned/Incapacitated.
*if Impaired, All-out for 2 or 3 (depending on whether or not I can have -1 to hit after Impaired is applied).
(Fortitude DC 22 vs Reaction (1d20+9)[14] ( HP reroll (1d10+19)[26]) if Impaired)

Spoiler: Otherwise, target Joselyn

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(Before attacking) Move: Startle at (1d20+18)[30]
All-out attack for +9 to hit, Toughness DC 27 vs Damage and Fortitude DC 22 vs Vulnerable/Stunned/Incapacitated.
If Startled, also Power Attack for 5, or for 3 if Impaired (+4 to hit, DCs 32/30 and 27/25).

[Capt. Infinity]

Luisa stares as the as the Painbringers charge the Phytokinetic, and gives a flustered huff. Excuse me! We were in the middle of melee! Don't-" The Android breaks into a sprint as she makes a beeline for the Haptaran Dreamer. "Be-" The former kill-bot enters a cartwheel, before pushing off her hands soaring and flipping high into the air. "RUDE!!!" The Dreamer-hunting robot shouts, colliding foot-first with the Pain Controller's skull, dropkicking her with precision, prejudice, and an utter abundance of poise.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move Action: Get into melee range of Joslyn.
Standard Action: Structural Integrity Compromise on Joslin, Power Attacking for 5, All-Out Attacking for 5. On a hit, DC 30 Fortitude against Damage, and DC 25 Fortitude against Weaken Toughness. Defending this round at -5: (1d20+10)[15]
If she's still up, Extra Effort to do it again!: (1d20+10)[28]

[Quellian-dyrae]

Sean caught the Torturer in a crushing grab, holding her all but immobile as she struggled vainly to break free. The perfect target for Beth - the powerhouse cut loose, putting her fist straight through the summon's head...and covering Sean in a mass of slickly slimy ectoplasm. Fortunately, it started fading away quickly.

Beth's second blow caught the Haptaran in the shoulder, but she rolled with it, defiantly drawing herself up to meet Luisa's dropkick. The android caught her full in the chest, sending her staggering back, and then with a deft twist brought her other foot around to deliver a resounding blow to the temple that finally dropped the pain controller unconscious.

They had won.

With OUT-SIDE still occupying the rest of the Haptaran forces and all guards between them and the exits dispatched, all that was needed was some purging healing from Emily and-

BANG!

Spoiler

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???:
Surprise Action: Attack Copycat with Nanoforge Bullets at (1d20+13)[21]. On a hit, Highest Active Defense DC 30+Multiattack vs. Damage. If this attack hits the currently unconscious Copycat, it is treated as a Finishing Attack (+5 DC) with intent to kill. If it is Interposed, it operates normally. Hit. +5 from Multiattack.

Suzanne, you may Interpose this attack despite not having the Interpose advantage. However, if you do, it deals lethal damage (Incapacitated becomes Dying, five degree failure is lethal).

The party gets a floating Hero Point for my GM Fiating the surprise round (anyone can use it; if no one's used it by end of battle it'll go to whoever has the fewest Hero Points). I'll post describing the attacker once this attack has been resolved, and I'll post initiative rolls only once you guys have joined combat, because you don't necessarily have to fight this individual.

That being said, if you do wind up fighting this guy, it will be the climactic battle of the adventure. Hero Points will be resetting afterwards.

[Quellian-dyrae]

In the other doorway, now open, stood the attacker. It was immediately familiar to Suzanne, and perhaps Luisa as well if she had examined its predecessors. It was one of the sleek, nanotech robots that had attacked Copycat and Suzanne at the carnival, three weeks backs. Although it wasn't dressed in the same trenchcoat and hat, instead wearing a dark coa- no, let's be honest, a dark cloak complete with cowl. And the parts of its body that were visible were not made of gleaming, silvered steel, but what almost looked like...glass?

Spoiler: Technology DC 20

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No, no glass. Active crystal. This was an entire robot made out of nanotech active crystal!

This was Dreamtech at the absolute cutting edge. It...it was honestly a crying shame that Maestro was not awake to see this.

The robot swept the group with its...well, it didn't really have eyes. But it turned its head so that its face was able to regard everyone.

Spoiler: Assessment

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Lucas: (1d20+16)[32] opposed by (1d20+10)[14]. Knows stats
Suzanne: (1d20+16)[32] opposed by (1d20+14)[26]. Knows PL and shifts
Luisa: (1d20+16)[18] opposed by (1d20+15)[28]. Knows nothing
Beth: (1d20+16)[31] opposed by (1d20)[12]. Knows stats
Emily: (1d20+16)[33] opposed by (1d20)[3]. Knows stats
Sean: (1d20+16)[33] opposed by (1d20)[3]. Knows stats

"Mm. Courageous. I am not here for the other Heroes. Give me the mimic, and you may take the rest of them and leave unharmed. Refuse, and I have no reason not to annihilate all of you. You have five seconds to comply."

Spoiler: Luisa

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You don't detect that this robot possesses any personal Dreamer powers. However, you do detect an active Dreamer power upon it:

Technopathic Possession: Affliction 14 (Entranced/Compelled/Controlled; Will; Perception Range, Cumulative, Concentration, Affects Objects, Limited [Technological objects and creatures only], Instant Recovery).

Spoiler: OOC

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I figure I'll leave describing Suzanne's heroic Interpose to Manwithaplan's discretion. For the record, the attack was basically a machine gun whose bullets would explode into disassembling nanite swarms on impact.

[manwithaplan]

"TOMMM!"

She wasn't sure how she'd known, and was even less sure of how exactly she moved so fast. Really, none of it truly occurred to her as it was happening; Suzanne later had nothing but very vague memories of standing at the foot of Copycat's bed, the wispy snow of her half-dissipated ice platform in her peripheral vision. The entire front half of her body was coated in icy armour, actively repairing itself to counteract the swarms of nanites trying to burrow inside.

She fell to one knee; she'd used all her energy in that last fight, and she hadn't expected another opponent. That was, of course, the drawback of the double snowstorm. The pain was still ringing through her as well, and through it all she was quite ready to collapse. Only, the same words kept echoing through her head, and they were just enough.

I'm going to save Copycat.

She pathetically crawled over to his bedside, where the wires and drips were leading into his body, reaching for them as she called out.

"Emily, help him!"

[Capt. Infinity]

Luisa Nym stared down the magnificent piece of assault technology in front of her, and gave it a stern look of disdain. She spoke decisively. "This is an unwelcome arrival. Not only are you interrupting what should be a joyous victory, but here you stand not even bothering to show up in person." The way she spoke, it was evidently obvious that she was more so speaking through the robot than she was speaking at it. "You, good sir or madam, are an uninvited guest. And I am not asking you, but TELLING you to leave." Luisa's right hand... shifts. It's almost as if it transforms into it's hand cannon form, but only half way, her fists shifting and twisting as seams open up, a bright bluish light pouring forth from it as a metallic whirr fills the air. "Good. DAY!" The android proclaims, stepping forward and striking forward at the intruder with her half-formed fist, a shockwave of electromagnetic energy rippling throughout it's body as she forces a blast across it's form, hoping to dissociate it from it's controller.

Spoiler

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Power Stunt this with a Hero Point.
POWER FIST: Strength Discounted Damage 14 (Inaccurate 2, Improved Critical 4, Reach 2, Variable Descriptor 2 [All Forms of Energy])
Move Action, get within 10 Feet of the Robot.
Standard Action: Attempt to Counter the Technopathic Possession: (1d20+14)[33]
It's got the [Electricity] descriptor, if that matters here.

[Quellian-dyrae]

Round 1

Luisa moved in, discharging a potent burst of electrical energy over the robot, frying the technopathic taint from the active crystal nanites. The robot's form rippled weirdly as the surge of electrical energy passed through it, before resolidifying.

...Unfortunately, removing the technopath's presence from the machine did little to keep it from working towards its assigned goal based on its own programming.

The robot's voice was more monotonous as it looked over Luisa dismissively and said, "Such inelegant design. You are decades less advanced than me," before launching into a hasted flurry of lightning-fast strikes at every weak point and important target its combat algorithms could discern.

Spoiler

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AC Nanomorph:
Move: Close with Luisa.
Standard: Attack Luisa with Algorithmic Assault at (1d20+13)[21]. On a hit, Toughness DC 30 vs. Damage, Fortitude DC 25 vs. Weaken All Defenses. Hit

Current Status

Map

All PCs are on turn.

[Capt. Infinity]

Luisa takes damage at the barage of strikes against her, but her structural integrity holds fast against the onslaught against her weak points. "I see you get your manners from your creator. Nevertheless, you ARE quite an impressive machine, Maestro would most certainly love to reverse engineer you." With the threatening compliment sent, the former kill-bot attacks in a similar fashion to her opponent. Aiming for any and all weakpoints in its form.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move Action: Dazed.
Standard Action: Structural Integrity Compromise, Power Attack for 5, All-Out Attack for 5. On a hit, DC 30 Fortitude against damage, and DC 25 Fortitude against Weaken Toughness. Defended at -5 this round: (1d20+10)[25]

[manwithaplan]

Still on the floor, an icicle formed from Suzanne's hand, and she reached out for the cables keeping Tom subdued.

"Please!" She yelled to the healer, slashing through them with a single stroke.

Spoiler: Actions

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Move: Dazed.
Standard: Remove Tom's cables.

Status: 2 Bruises, Exhausted.

[manwithaplan]

Through the pain, Suzanne looked over to her team mate. Emily was tending to Declan. Why didn't they understand?! He was in danger!

She was nearing collapse, and she couldn't heal like Tom or Emily, but if Luisa couldn't hold that thing off for long...this type of robot was probably the one thing she'd ever seen Tom truly lose to. Now he couldn't even defend himself.

She looked, one last time, at his face, still pale and weak even with the chemical flow disrupted. It...it worked in the movies. It was cheesy, but it did work.

"Screw it."

Suzanne leaned in and, just as she placed her hands over the Mimic's cheeks, she gently pushed her lips against his. And when she did, it didn't feel stupid at all.

Wake up, Chide.

Spoiler

Show

Okay, this is (after a brief conversation on the Pad, for those of you who missed it) happening.

Hero Point to remove Exhaustion, Stunting for a Surge, and countering the drugs with Relationship successes.

Kiss (1d20+9)[16].

Status: 2 Bruises, Fatigued, Exhausted next turn.

[Zelphas]

Lucas sighs, turning towards the new enemy. A new challenger appears... is this a movie script or a video game? he thinks to himself, before shaking his head. Neither, Lucas. This is reality. Focus.

Emily, If you move fast, you can get half of the Heroes of Millaine up before that robot can react, he sends over the mental link, plotting out a quick course for her on the mental map. He winces slightly as he watches Suzanne's actions, and their lack of effect. Sorry, Suzanne... I'll make sure that works in the final script, he decides for himself, pushing away his growing headache.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Move Action: none.

Standard Action: Hero Point for Direct Action. Emily gets another Standard Action.

Extra Effort: Hero Point for Script Tactics. Emily gets one Luck Reroll.

Free Action: Hero Point to keep from passing out.

Status: Fatigued (Exhausted next turn).

[Llyarden]

"Heh, we -"

Emily didn't even manage to finish her sentence before the gunshot rang out. Sean was marginally faster, half-crouching to leap between the unconscious Copycat and the all-too-familiar robot, but Suzanne was faster. Instead he sprang across to stand protectively between Emily and the robot, slashing at the tubes connected to Declan with his claws.

Emily ignored his protection, though, disappearing into a swirling mass of vines that flowed first over Declan before spiralling across to Copycat, the scent of cherry blossom once again filling the air. So Sean sprang at the robot instead, claws bared.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Sean:
Move: Pounce into J8.
Standard: Remove Declan's IVs.
Extra Effort Standard: Pounce-charge the Nanomorph with Predator's Claws and Savage Charge, accurate attacking for 2, -2 for Charge and critting on an 18+: (1d20+8)[28]. On a hit, DC25 Toughness vs (penetrating) Concentration Damage. Crit. DC30 (if it is subject to crits, at least.)
End of turn: Regenerates a Bruise.

Emily:
Standard: Attempt to counter the sedative on Declan: (1d20+9)[29]. If it fails, HP reroll at (1d20+9)[18] Effective 34.
Move: Teleport into D9.
Standard #2: Attempt to counter the sedative on Copycat: (1d20+9)[13]. If it fails, Lucas's Luck Reroll at (1d20+9)[12]. Effective 22.

Status:
Sean: Fatigued next round.
Emily: Fine, +1 HP.

[Hyperbolic sine]

Beth looked at robot in awe: it was clear that opponent was way out of league, even more than the Haptaran and the summon.

Claws sever the tubes, and the chemicals stop flowing in. Restorative nectar gives respite to the poisoned cells, and the counter-attack begins.

What was she supposed to do? Would she even be able to hit?

In a fraction of a second, diamond has completely armoured the blood vessels and starts reinforcing the rest of the body. The remaining sedative, powerless, is quickly eliminated and the man opens his eyes.

She took a deep breath. Calm down, me. I can do it. And as she prepares to lunge forward, the sound of strained and benging metal fills the room and she turns to see a diamond-clad man getting back up from a half destroyed bed (which apparently couldn't take its user's suddenly increased weight) and assessing the situation.

"Archdamn Haptarans. They can't even make friggin' beds." he laments, and looks at her. Beth smiles, and any hesitation is washed away. As if acting on a predetermined tactic, the two close in on the automaton and strike at the same time.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Beth
Move: Q8->I2
Standard: Attack the Nanomorph with Flurry of Blows at (1d20+8)[15]+2 rerolled, 22, Toughness DC 23+Multiattack vs Damage

Deflected at 1d10+14.

Declan
Move: K9-H6
Standard: Charge Nanomorph with Declan Punch, Aid (-2 for charge, +5 for Teamwork) Beth at (1d20+12)[17] +2

Deflected at 1d10+14 (by Beth).

[Quellian-dyrae]

Round 2

The robot stood impassive as Luisa rained blows upon it. There was...nothing. No weakness to exploit, no flaw in its structure. Composed entirely of active crystal nanites, it had no need for joints, for organs, for nerves. Luisa's perfectly targeted attacks came to naught.

Sean assaulted the robot with overwhelming fury, hammering it with blows that caused cracks to appear in its glasslike body. But as fast as he struck, the damage healed just as quickly, cracks sealing over to become flawless crystal once again in moments.

As Beth and Declan rushed in, the robot brought both hands up, simultaneously catching both of their fists and stopping them cold.

It regarded them all with its unchanging features, before unleashing a tremendous blast of force in all directions.

Spoiler

Show

AC Nanomorph:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Energy Blast. Declan, Beth, Sean, and Luisa, give me Dodge DC 24 for half, Toughness DC 29/22 vs. Damage, and Strength or Flight DC 24/17 vs. Move Object. If you fail the Move Object save, you're thrown until you hit a wall, but you've already received Damage from this attack so you won't be damaged further. Declan, you're immune to the Damage and of course the Move Object rank is halved against you. However, if you get thrown, it's at Emily at (1d20+14)[19]. If Emily gets hit, I'm assessing a +2 circumstance bonus to the damage from Declan's Density, for DC 31 Toughness vs. Damage. Hit if Declan is successfully thrown.
End of Turn: Regenerates one Bruise.

Current Status

Map

All PCs are on turn.

[Llyarden]

The blast of force threw Sean back almost onto the bed he'd just gotten up of, but he quickly flipped to 'land' on the wall, springing straight back at the robot before his feet had even touched the ground, claws lashing, without the faintest intention of giving up.

Emily, meanwhile, grinned at seeing Declan up and about and reached out to put a hand on Copycat's shoulder, an even brighter green light than before flaring from her.

Spoiler

Show

Sean:
Move: Pounce back into close range of the robot.
Standard: Concentrate. DC25 Toughness vs damage.
Extra Effort Standard: Attack the robot with Rending Pounce, critting on an 18+: (1d20+8)[21]. On a hit, DC27 Toughness vs Secondary Effect Damage.

Emily:
Move: None.
Standard: Extra Effort for a bonus, and then try to heal Copycat again*: (1d20+11)[27], HP reroll on a failure: (1d20+11)[23]
*Since it's a Counter and not an actual use of Healing, I don't think the limit of needing Extra Effort to merely try again applies. If it does, Emily will teleport over to Waterworks and heal her instead.

Status:
Sean: 1 Bruise (regenerates next round), Fatigued, Exhausted next round.
Emily: Fatigued next round.

[Zelphas]

Lucas grimaces at the attack of the mechanical man, but it seems that the group had weathered it fairly well. He runs frantically through the readouts the visor throws at him, trying to find how he can help.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Move action: Nope.

Standard Action: Analyze the battlefield. +1 temporary Hero Point.

Status: Exhausted.