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  1. - Top - End - #361
    Troll in the Playground
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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Dawn of the Crusader
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    “Alright,” he said quietly. He knew what it was like to want to be alone with his thoughts. Fred had said all he could say. For now, there was nothing more to be done. His ever changing eyes watched Wanda as she walked away. He hoped that she would be okay… and that someone would help her if he fell in the coming days. Aunt Judith could help… Aunt Judith was great like that.

    The door opened, as he was expecting it to do. He was surprised by who came out. His left hand casually caught the tossed brew. Fred nodded once to Logan. “Yeah. It’s alright. It’s always alright.” Fred opened it up and took a similar swig. Quiet footsteps carried him to one of the chairs on the porch, he sat down and leaned back with a relaxed posture.

    He sat and drank for a moment before being the first to speak. “What you overheard… I was planning to tell you.” A pause. “I know things have been strange since the Phoenix, but I’m glad you came over tonight. I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. You were there for me growing up. You helped make me the man I am. I’m grateful.”

    He turned his head to regard the old man.

    “If I don’t survive the fight with Darkseid… just know that I don’t regret any of it. Being an X-Man, becoming a samurai. The fighting, the craziness, any of it. You taught me to walk a good path.”
    Last edited by SuperCracker; 2016-08-26 at 12:11 AM.
    Spoiler
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  2. - Top - End - #362
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Quellian-dyrae's Avatar

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Blood and Ice
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    Katie hadn't done enough to help her grandmother stop thinking barbaric thoughts, evidently.

    She had tried. She really had tried so hard to be badass here. With the blasting, and the taunting, and the one-liners (she hadn't had time to grab her sunglasses, but don't think she hadn't wanted to). That kinda stuff didn't come easily to Katie, but you know, they were fighting Dracula. The extra effort was appropriate.

    But Katie was far from unflappable, so as soon as Madalina had cast her next spell...well, Dracula and his cronies weren't the only undead enemies Katie had to face that night. The battle against the pizza in her stomach that had suddenly reanimated as a hostile zombie was one of the hardest of her superheroic career. She managed to win it, but only just, primarily because she didn't think for a moment about the various fluids that were escaping his mouth. But was that...do vampires even... NOPE NOPE NOPE NOT THINKING ABOUT IT!

    And for about a second, she looked on in horror and disgust. Because while vampires were not alive and were not moral beings...they were still sentient creatures. Katie wouldn't think twice about destroying them, and would even do so in a creatively destructive manner given the opportunity. But that didn't mean they deserved to suffer. Nobody deserved that.

    "No," Katie whispered, barely hearing her grandmother's words to Jay as she took those feelings, poured them down her wand, and released a countering force upon Dracula, the five extra Helping Hands that had swarmed him vanishing as she redirected their energy to fuel her dispel. Her magic wouldn't undo the harm already done, but hopefully, it would keep him from suffering further.

    Katie began two conversations then, one out loud, one telepathic. (Although granted, the telepathic one finished first, happening at a hundred times normal speed and all).

    To Jay, she spoke verbally, reaching out gently to lay a hand on his flesh-and-blood arm. "It's okay. I just...he'd understand. But you don't have to! Not until you're ready, okay?" One day, Katie would take a more insistent stand about Jay reconnecting with Steve, because she knew that was what would be best for him, and she was sure it would make Steve happy too, but today was not that day. He wasn't ready yet.

    Of course, that did leave Katie being kinda unable to offer useful help, which was just not a situation she was willing to tolerate. And then she realized who could help, and she almost slapped her forehead. Jay wasn't in the same boat as Madalina. He'd been jumped ahead from World War II. A long time, sure, but he didn't need some ageless vampire to tell him how to adapt to modern times. There were completely normal people who had lived through the intervening years. And Katie happened to know one.

    And it just so happened, that he was also the person whose wisdom Katie held in higher regard than that of any other person on the planet. "Here, listen, I think we're almost, um, done here," she said a bit awkwardly. "You should come back to my place with us and hang out. We're gonna watch Star Wars!" It wasn't a demand, but it was an insistent suggestion. "And, my mentor's going to be there. Mr. Arlington. He's...I mean, he was only a little kid back in your time, but still, he's from there. I'm sure he could answer some of your questions." She gave a gentle smile, "He's the one I always go to for advice."

    (And, okay, yes, deep in the back of her mind, a tiny portion of Katie's brain was already hard at work laying out the cover art for Jay Garrick - Lightning Mage! Ooh he could use the lightning magic to augment his robotic arm that would be cool!)

    At the same time as she was offering Jay the invitation verbally, she was sending a telepathic message to her grandmother. ~S-sorry, but, um, Grandmother, can we just...just put him to rest, please? Cleanly? He isn't...he doesn't possess the capacity to choose between good and evil. There's no purpose to punishing him for being what he is.~

    She thought to stop there, but...well, the thing was, it was just like Madalina had said. She had outdated, barbaric, and indeed, terrible thoughts and preconceptions in her head. Katie honestly could not understand how someone who was as pious, as devoted to righteous ideals, as her grandmother could possibly be so casual about inflicting suffering. And Katie tried to justify it as, just, a side effect of how her magic worked, or of a failure to really conceptualize her enemies as sentient beings, or something. But the fact was, whatever the reason, whatever the justification...it wasn't right.

    So she continued, ~And...and even if he could, even if he was a moral agent, it still wouldn't...what you did to him goes beyond...it's not humane. He might not be alive, he might not be able to be a positive force in the world, but he can still feel pain. We...we needed to neutralize him, of course, because he was a threat. And we have to destroy him, because he's an undead monster and it's just bad magecraft to leave those hanging around. But we don't have to make him suffer. That doesn't help anybody.~ She didn't say it angrily, or even judgmentally. She was just...explaining how it was. Some people needed to be shamed for a lesson to be learned, but she trusted her grandmother to be better than that. She might have to explain further, but she knew that Madalina, when presented with a moral lesson, would take it to heart.

    Spoiler
    Show
    Move: 20-point Metamagic on self.

    -15 points to remove Simultaneous and Increased Duration 2 from Counterspell.
    -2 points to add Inaccurate 2 to Counterspell.
    3 points to remove Distracting from Counterspell.
    5 points to add 5 ranks to Counterspell.
    11 points to add Secondary Effect to Counterspell.
    18 points to duplicate Shared Awareness outside of array.

    Standard: Attack Dracula with Counterspell, All Out Power Attack for 5, Finishing Attack since he's Defenseless due to being Incapacitated, at (1d20+9)[25]. On anything but a natural 1, Nullify at (1d20+21)[25] (11 ranks, +5 Power Attack, +5 auto-crit) against the magic Madalina has on him. This doesn't actually undo the damage or anything (nor could it, since Nullify has no effect on damage conditions), but just to kinda make it...nicer for him.

    If it hits but the check fails, the Secondary Effect triggers again next round with a Nullify check of (1d20+21)[39].

    (If I'm wrong and he's not incapacitated, it's against his normal Parry, albeit halved for Vulnerable since he's still grabbed by one of the Extra Limbs, and the Nullify check is five lower).
    Last edited by Quellian-dyrae; 2016-08-26 at 12:45 AM.
    A role playing game is three things. It is an interactive story, a game of chance, and a process in critical thinking.

    If brevity is the soul of wit, I'm witty like a vampire!

    World of Aranth
    M&M 3e Character Guide

  3. - Top - End - #363
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    CandyLaser's Avatar

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Catch and Release
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    "Let's pull them in. If they're headed to the dystopian worlds, we'll give them a bit of a jump start. Wherever they're going, we need more info on Rabum Alal, and multiversal travelers are the right people to ask about that."

  4. - Top - End - #364
    Firbolg in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Family Meeting
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    This whole scene has turned from one of familiar horror to a doubtful, alien "memory" for Rene. This is all different, too different from how he remembers the Lizard. It feels like each time Rene meets his "creator," he appears and acts as a completely different being. This is probably the most excessively different rendition of the Lizard that Rene's ever met. It's not the regal pose or the stilted, badly-pronounced words or even the calm demeanor.

    It's the Lizard's offer to remove or weaken the Totem that Rene can't believe.

    This... can't be right. This is the last person besides the Totem itself that Rene would expect to make this offer. It's a sheer contradiction to everything Rene has known. His mind for this brief moment cannot comprehend what's going on; his eyes shine of surprise and confusion as he is basically offered what may as well be "get out of jail, free" cards. Is this a trick? This just another one of the Totem's crafty hallucinations to trick Rene into doing something he shouldn't? Even if this isn't the Totem's work, this is the Lizard right in front of Rene, acting like the entire transformation bull**** is well past both of them! Rene should have every right to yell and scream and simply tear his heart into the Lizard over every bit of suffering that came from the transformation!

    ...Yet in an instant, as Rene's futile attempts at moving halt due to the restraints, the flame of anger in him burned out. He wants to physically strangle the Lizard, yet lacks the strength to free himself. He wants to yell at the top of his lungs, yet can't even muster the will to open his mouth wide. There's something in him that just does not have the heart to respond so angrily to the Lizard... Why?

    As words immediately fail Rene, his mind instead begins recalling what the Lizard just said. Among what the Lizard has said, he's made one statement which sticks out to Rene: He made himself predator to the Totem; Rene made the Totem "prey" to himself... What did that mean? All Rene has managed to do with the Totem is resist its offers and temptations. It hasn't been easy but holding it off has, at least, made the Totem unable to do anything else. All that it is, then, is a being in a prison, trapped and unable to do anything... That's what the Lizard means, and he doesn't know how?

    When it comes down to it, Rene isn't sure "how" either. He's been driven mad, insane, been terrified to his wit's end, acts more like an animal than a human half of the time and in general has not been taking anything well. Yet here is the Lizard wondering how Rene has resisted the Totem's influence, as if Rene has some powerful mind... Wait, J'onn said something like that earlier! The being that may as well be one of the most powerful psionic beings on Earth (as far as Rene knows) actually mentioned or... praised how Rene has been taking the whole thing. He can't really believe it. Has he been taking this far better than most others would? HOW has he been able to do that?!

    There is a mental pause before Rene attempts contacting his friends on the mental link, if it's still even active. ~Druid? J'onn? If you can hear me, I'll still try to connect this so you two can come in. Just... when you do, don't come charging in. I'm having a conversation of, uh, some sort.~ He leaves out most of the critical parts of the scene; he's not going to ease Druid or J'onn by mentioning he's restrained and talking to the creature that scalped him.

    The human-turned-reptilian-turned-temporarily-back-to-human eyes both the scalpel and the syringe, before looking at the Lizard. Rene should answer the Lizard's question; Rene knows his answer already and there's no way he can avoid the subject. Yet the Lizard asked, "how?" That's a question which really made Rene think, something he should, if nothing else, share with his "creator." So as the Lizard presses his snout uncomfortably close to Rene's human face, the latter begins responding. "I think I know what to answer. But lemme just answer 'how' first. I mean it's... I don't know what the Totem can really give me, give us." Rene's voice comes out softly, almost awkwardly since he's become so used to his reptilian voice. "It talks as if it can give so much. And maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. But what it's done to me, to me and probably to you and Croc is to try and take us over. I can't remember how many times it's given me dreams and hallucinations, or how often its forced control of me. And that's just when I haven't accepted it. I mean if I'm the Other then... I feel like I'd give everything up just to get whatever its offering."

    Rene is practically saying everything he can say to the Lizard. This isn't something Rene has said before either. He's already told this spiel multiple times, including Croc. Yet he's telling it again for a good reason; it's why he's resisted and "trapped" the Totem for so long. "I mean I didn't have much when I became The Builder but I have actual friends now." He's hesitant to call his time with the Secret Warriors a complete loss, even if he kinda regrets having been a member in the first place. "There are the Misfits, then Druid, Quake, Damian... uh, sorta." Rene, put lightly, doesn't exactly share the same interest in crazy action and stunts that Demon does, even when Rene does happen to perform some mad trick that gets him nearly killed. "And then there's Martian Manhunter. And even my... brother, Croc. I care about all of them. The Totem tried manipulating me to kill Croc once and it wants every single human dead. At worst, I'd be an enemy to all my friends if I became the Other." Rene knows well that he's merely thinking the worst-possible situation. Yet for all the hell that the Totem has given him and all the goals that the Totem has admitted to Rene... is there any reason why Rene should think otherwise?

    "So I don't accept it. I try not to let it control me. I've got too much to lose if my worst fears are right. I guess that's how I keep it locked up." He pauses, thinking over everything he just said. It does help bring some light on his own actions and beliefs. After saying all that though, he really has to hold up to all that and all that he's said to Croc. All the talk he's given doesn't mean anything if he can't back it up. He's done well until now but, if the hints about Darkseid are true, the worst is yet to come.

    With another uncomfortable pause out of the way, Rene opens his mouth to speak again, this time with a question of his own. "I wanna ask you something now... Why? Why are you 'offering' me this? What is it you want from me? You wanted to talk to me about how I control or contain the Totem. But why?"

  5. - Top - End - #365
    Titan in the Playground
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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Fortune Favors the Bold
    Show
    By the end of Wonder Woman's speech, Zach is already back on his feet. The lightning in his eyes is back, a snarl on his face. Utter fury hides the grief still within, but cannot hide the tear-tracks on his cheeks.

    Before she flies off, Zach grabs her arm to stop her, and in his mental state he doesn't even flinch at the look of fury she surely shoots him at the affront. "My father was innocent, and she had him killed because of a fight her sister started." The emotion in his tone is tangible: rage and frustration, but Wonder Woman might be able to sense the hidden guilt he has already begun to repress. He knows, on some level, that he shares some blame in his father's death. But f*ck if he'll admit it to himself.

    "They started this fight. They are the ones who are putting innocent lives in danger. And none of them even care, do they? They don't care about who gets caught in the crossfire." He shoots her a look that is both frustrated and pleading. "They don't deserve your loyalty."

    He sighs, then lets her go. His hand goes to strum his guitar, and the sound permeates through the area and beyond. In the minds of Talos and whoever has come for him, the sound of minor feedback sounds. "Hello, hello, is this thing on?" his mind-voice comes over. "Good evening, Olympus' hounds! This is the current object of your affections, Zachary Wattson, coming to you live from the inside of your minds. Now, I can hear you guys causing a ruckus, making some noise, and I appreciate it. The effort you're going through is flattering, really."

    "But here's the thing: I don't really give two sh*ts. You making a fuss won't bring me to you, begging you to stop; it won't make me turn myself in. All it'll do is bring the wrath of Wonder Woman down on you. And sure, there's a bunch of you and only one of her; and sure, you might be able to beat her. But if you do, I'll just be long gone anyway. So, just a word of advice: work smarter, not harder. Better start looking 'cause for all you know, I'm ~already gone~. And, hey--~have a nice day~."


    Those last words carry all the contempt and disgust towards them he can muster. And with a flash of light that can be seen from far away, Zach teleports off. He pulls off a few jumps, and gets himself a few states away before he stops for a rest. He quietly appraises himself: the clothes he's been wearing for the past weeks of time travel, cleaned up thanks to Potence; hair slightly mussed, with no gel to use for it; and just his baby on his back. Well, it's better than what he's had sometimes before.

    He's got a few bills in his pocket, so he spends the next day or so trying to make himself as scarce as he can given the circumstances. When he thinks he's good and hidden (well, as well as he can, given it's him), he regards a payphone. He sighs, and puts the quarter in, and then some more for an international call. The phone rings for what feels like forever before it connects, and the voice on the other line brings a smile to his face instantly. "Hey, mom," he says with all the love in his heart. "How have you been?"

    Spoiler
    Show
    Recover, then Power Stunt a Communication 3 (Distracting) and Teleport X (Limited [Must travel through intervening space], Noticeable (when leaving), Subtle 2 (For purposes of tracking destination))

    Deception for Zach's speech: (1d20+12)[19], maybe with a circumstance bonus since they think so poorly of Zach?

    Or Persuasion (my reasoning being Zach's not lying, so he's basically trying to convince them instead of tricking them): (1d20+20)[32]
    Saber avatar courtesy of Prime32

  6. - Top - End - #366
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Flumph

    Join Date
    Oct 2013

    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Blood and Ice
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    The Winter Soldier looks at you warily as you make your pitch. He's no longer shaking, but the deer-in-the-headlights look is far from gone. When he speaks, it's with the sort of emotionless monotone that you've come to associate with his withdrawal from the conversation.

    "I'll pass. Thanks."

    He turns to move away, and then pauses for a moment.

    ". . . Send me your friend's phone number if you want. Maybe I'll call him."

    And with that, he vanishes into a nearby alley.

    Madalina, for her part, shoots you a glare that quickly softens into an expression of unclear emotion as you make your plea. She seems torn for a moment, her mouth a thin line as she looks down at the now-gasping Dracula. The former Lord of the Vampires turns to look at her, and gives her a silent smirk through the bloody mask of his face.

    CRACK

    A gesture from Madalina, and Vlad Tepes' neck twists to an unnatural angle. He slumps, face still plastered with a snide grin.

    Madalina breathes heavily as she turns to look at you, eyes blazing over brimming tears.

    "It helps ME," she hisses, but her voice breaks as she says it.

    Home is a mixed affair. Madalina remains quiet through the bulk of A New Hope and quietly excuses herself as the interminable final medal scene stretches out. Arlington attempts to make some stilted conversation with her, but she's clearly not in the mood (he also expresses a willingness to help any friend of yours that he can).

    When morning comes, Madalina has left a letter on the kitchen table.

    My dear granddaughter,

    I prayed upon the events of last night, and the Lord has made my course clear: I will do penance for my hubris and cleanse the vampire scum of this Earth. The tools of my blasphemy shall be turned to righteousness, and so I will scourge the fruits of that sin.

    With my former prince dead and gone, his hellspawn will be unguided and directionless. To hunt their evil across the world shall be a labor of years, perhaps decades. Yet do not despair: my curse leaves me unaging, that I might return to my time unaltered. I shall eschew all rest, take no human blood. I will not succumb to the baseness of my curse: if my vaunted arts cannot provide for my unnatural thirsts, then I shall feed from the beasts of the field, of the gutters and the rooftops. If my cause is righteous, the Lord will provide, as He provides His flesh and blood for the sinners of the world.

    I shall return when I can: weak as I am, I am no ascetic to deprive myself of the greatest pleasure this era has reserved for me. I shall likewise contact you through electronic devices, that I might be there should my family need me. Perhaps I shall likewise call upon you: I have a grandson in this time as well, and I will not shirk the chance to teach him his fatherly duties.

    From the bottom of my heart, I thank you: the road of my penance is long, but I am set upon this path by the love of the Lord as much as by my love for you. By your guidance and example I have learned the errors of my ways and come to see much that had been hidden from me by my hubris. I have much to learn, and my road is long, but your lessons light my way and my steps will be guided by your example.

    Not least among these examples rests my new moniker. As the crusaders did in my day, and as the super-heroes do in yours, I shall take a new name to remind myself of my purpose. The meaning is twofold: it shall remind me of my purpose in the explicit, and its resemblance to YOUR chosen name shall temper my actions in the implicit. My mission is not, and indeed cannot be one of vengeance. Vengeance is for the Lord. For me, there is only my new name.

    May God keep and provide for you,
    Penance, once Madalina of Latveria


    Potence gets 1 Hero Point and 2 pp

    Spoiler: Dawn of the Crusader
    Show
    Logan takes a hefty swig of the brew as you make your speech, likely composing his thoughts as he does so. He winces slightly, although this is likely more the result of his continued snobbery towards American beers.

    “Ain’t just about what you regret.”

    He sighs, and crushes the can in his hands as he continues. Logan isn't usually one to get DRUNK drunk (his healing factor being what it is), but you've noticed that drinking can put him in a sufficiently maudlin frame of mind that the result is much the same. It's some kind of Pavalovian reaction: the taste of beer makes Logan sad.

    “Yeah, I put you on a road, all right. Me, that magic s***, and now the Phoenix. A long and bloody road ending in a six foot hole.

    “I been around for a while, kid. Wiped a lot of people off my knuckles, more’n I can even remember. Some deserved it, most probably didn’t. Don’t know enough 'bout my past to say one way or another. But I know blood an' death an' loss. An' I know that f***in' bird
    (this last he spits like a very different four letter word) “means all three, f'r you an' f'r me.”

    He looks at you, face wooden.

    “I know enough about me to know that I'm not a builder. Family, friends . . . I know in my gut that I ain't had much o' that before Chuck took me in. An' I tried to build since, Fred. Tried to build somethin' with the X-Men, with you, with Kitty . . .

    "But now you got that f***in' bird. An' every time that bird shows up, I gotta wipe someone I love off my claws.”


    This . . . puts a new wrinkle on what you'd understood about the Sinestro incident in Manhattan. Most of the X-Men that had been present for it didn't want to talk about it, but you'd figured out that Jean had gone full Phoenix to contain it. The assumption had been that Sinestro had overpowered her and killed her, only to burn himself out in the process. With what Logan's saying, it sounds like there's more to the story.

    “So if that's the road I put you on, then I got regrets. I got all the regrets in the damn world.”


    Sarah gets 1 Hero Point and 2 pp (calling it because this'll pick up with Augur's arrival in the Crossover)

    Thunderstruck gets 1 Hero Point and 2 pp (calling it because Thokk wrote a perfect ending)

    Spoiler: Family Meeting
    Show
    You don't hear the Druid's voice, but J'onn's presence comes through strong and sure as the Lizard listens to what you have to say.

    ~Don't worry, Rene. I think I've located you. Druid is working on repairing the link but I'm moving in. I'll get you out of there!~

    The Lizard, meanwhile, seems to ponder your question. You can see its tail has reached out behind it towards a nearby desk. Unnaturally prehensile, it has curled around a pen and appears to be jotting down notes.

    "Want make To-tum prey. Want not be prey. Not prey for Bat-man. Not prey for hu-man. Not prey for To-tum. Lizard rise. Lizard shed Cah-ners. Lizard, Bil-dur, Croc shed hu-man, To-tum. No more be prey."

    Nodding to itself, it seems to come to a decision.

    "To-tum out . . . hunt. Hunt Lizard, make prey. To-tum eat Bil-dur, make prey. To-tum find Croc, make prey."

    It tosses aside the scalpel and moves towards you with the syringe.

    "To-tum weak . . . Bil-dur make prey. No hunt. Safe. Make To-tum weak . . ."

    As it approaches, you hear a rattling at the door and the ground begins to shake. Something, and you have a shrewd idea as to what, is rapidly approaching upon leviathan footsteps. The lab remains mostly clean, but you can see moss growing around the borders of the doorway, reaching through the gaps, twisting through the keyhole . . .
    Last edited by herodofcows; 2016-09-09 at 04:15 AM.

  7. - Top - End - #367
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Quellian-dyrae's Avatar

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Blood and Ice
    Show
    Katie tilted her head a bit to the side, giving Jay a kinda flat-but-amused, "I'll let you off the hook, this time!" look. "Kay," she said, giving him a quick hug before he slipped away.

    Then she turned her attention fully to her grandmother, just in time to catch the full force of her initial glare. A younger Katie might have stumbled back a couple steps.

    Dracula was dispatched without fanfare, and Katie winced at her grandmother's words. She stepped forward immediately to give her a tight hug. "No it doesn't," she said softly, and she believed it. Hurting someone who had wronged you might feel good in the short term, but Katie sincerely believed it didn't help.

    She ashed the slain vampire lord with a burst of sunlight, because you can never be too sure when dealing with Dracula and she didn't want the poor Metropolis police to have to deal with the paperwork that she didn't want to imagine would result. That done, she summoned up her Helping Hand and flew them home. It was a brisk flight, but she didn't push her top speed, giving her grandmother a chance to look out over the Metropolis skyline.

    She made a quick point to heal the little wound in her wrist and Prestidigitation any stray blood away before walking inside. The smell of salt and something approximating butter greeted her nose, the microwave timer beeping just as she entered. "Hey," she greeted her twin and mentor as if nothing had happened, going into the kitchen and coming out shortly with a big bowl of popcorn. She headed over to take a seat on the couch between her sister and grandmother, reclining lightly against Kayla, but with one hand resting on her grandmother's, fingers linked in a gentle grip. Between Kayla and Fred, Katie was getting better at not pressing her loved ones when she felt they might be upset - but she would never for a moment cease to let them know that she was there for them, no matter what. Katie couldn't begin to imagine what emotions this night had stirred up for Madalina.

    Kayla shot her her usual look of mingled disapproval and disbelief at her readiness to eat a bowl of popcorn after the meal they had just finished (but she'd sneak a few handfuls before the movie got too far in and they both knew it!) and hit play.

    Potence had had a good night by any measure. She had wielded sunlight as a weapon against a score of vampires and come out on top. She had potentially discovered a way to reempower a former Flash, which given all the shenanigans speedsters got up to suggested potentially unrealized possibilities for hasting enchantments that could lead to a breakthrough in magical knowledge. And she had helped to put down Count Dracula himself, one of the greatest supernatural evils on the planet. There were wizards who went their entire lives without achieving anything like what Potence had been a part of this night.

    And yet, as she sat there with her sister and her great-to-the-power-of-x grandmother and her mentor, munching popcorn as the unforgettable opening theme of Star Wars began to play, Katie knew that when Future Her looked back on this night, the reasons she would consider it one of the happiest in her life would have nothing to do with her feats as a wizard.

    "I love you guys," she said to her family, and settled in to watch the movie.

    * * * * *

    The next morning...wasn't quite so fun.

    Katie read the letter aga

    It had hurt. She had cried. Her brain was what it was, and she couldn't stop the mental gymnastics that told her that she had pushed her grandmother too hard and simultaneously that she hadn't pressed her hard enough. That she both shouldn't have challenged her about Dracula and that she should have sat down with her and talked with her and helped her more in the aftermath. That she had done something wrong and because of that her grandmother had left.

    Katie read the letter again.

    But while Katie couldn't stop her brain's insidious whispers, she could answer them. And consciously, logically, rationally, she understood Madalina's choice. Even approved it, honestly. Purging the world of the Vampire Curse was a laudable goal and one that Madalina was uniquely suited to. And while she had told her grandmother not to blame herself for vampires, that she wasn't the Madalina who had created them...that had been from a desire to spare her feelings, not because it was strictly true. Katie did believe it to a point, but even so...when your actions lead to harm, you take responsibility for it, if you are to call yourself good.

    Katie read the letter again.

    Her grandmother was taking responsibility for the Vampire Spell. She was attending that responsibility in the best way that she could. Katie could not begrudge that, and trying to turn it into something "bad" for her to "take the blame" for was mere self-centeredness.

    Katie read the letter again.

    Once she had waded through her initial automatic response, though, came a whole new tide of feelings. Weirdly enough, she kinda couldn't help but wonder if this wasn't a million miles away from what a parent felt when their child left home for the first time. Pride for how far Madalina had come since they had met. Worry, both for her safety and for the possibility that she hadn't prepared her enough to face the world out there. A gentle longing that she knew would only grow. Hope for her future.

    Katie read the letter again.

    ...And, of course, a little spark of cheery eagerness coming from a tiny part of her brain in the back of her mind as it busily started laying out the cover art for The Unquenchable Penance - Vampire Hunter!

    (Because Katie would always be Katie.)
    A role playing game is three things. It is an interactive story, a game of chance, and a process in critical thinking.

    If brevity is the soul of wit, I'm witty like a vampire!

    World of Aranth
    M&M 3e Character Guide

  8. - Top - End - #368
    Firbolg in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

    Join Date
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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Family Meeting
    Show
    All of a sudden, the Lizard's plan and interests make sense under his broken English... and at the same time Rene wishes he didn't ask.

    The restrained human known as Rene got what he thinks is the Lizard's main motive. It's disturbingly similar to the Totems: "shed" or remove their human selves and become beasts in full. That's not just similar actually, that's the same damned thing! The only difference Rene can see between the Lizard's plan and the Totem's is that they want each other out of the picture; the former wants the Totem's power for itself without being controlled by it while the latter just wants one body and the rest slaughtered. How is Rene supposed to agree with this?! At least the Lizard opened up in honesty when questioned but it's certainly not helping to patch any relations between "father" and "son."

    Rene watches, with some relief, as the Lizard throws away the scalpel. His eyes however spark wide open as he witnesses the scientist walk forward with syringe in hand. At first thought, Rene imagines that this can't be quite as bad as what his actual transformation was like; if this will really simply weaken the Totem then... perhaps it might be for the best. Yet... no; this is wrong. He'd be allowing his mad scientist of a creator experiment on him again, even if it doesn't quite have the Totem's influence this time. Rene's already been abused and manipulated by the Totem, by Fury, by the Hunter... This just can't continue. There's gotta be-

    ...Oh, ****. Is that the Totem coming?

    Rene has no doubt about it. That giant clumpy mess of moss is right outside. It's banging on the door, trying to get in. It'll get in to get Rene or the Lizard; the latter doesn't seem aware of it and the former is stuck! Rene can't do anything like this. He can't do anything as a human. J'onn is coming but he's not gonna make it in time. The Totem is already here; Rene can't rely on J'onn to save him.

    Once again the human's arms and legs begin rattling in fear as he communicates to J'onn through their mental link. ~J'onn! Be careful; the Totem is right outside the ****ing door. I'm doing what I can here!~ The temporarily-human Rene tries keeping his composure under this situation as he realizes how little he can actually do. He's gotta break free of these restraints but he can't do that as a human. He's gotta be a reptilian again and it sure doesn't seem like the Lizard is going to oblige soon enough. What did Druid say about linking memories? Maybe if Rene can recall enough of his life as the Builder, he can get out of this human form?

    It's worth trying, as if not then he's going to get a horrid fluid pumping through his bloodstream at best. "I don't need that thing, goddamnit!" His human voice creaks from his mouth as he yells at the Lizard. It comes as a massive contrast to the soft voice Rene had before. As he continues speaking, his mind recalls some of the many situations where he's been in battle as the Builder. "You were there with Curt when I clawed the Totem inside me! And I did that after fighting Croc, twice! And you should know all the times I fought something after that. Even after... that damn Hunter I survived without needing the Totem. I don't need your ****!" His eyes dart away from the Lizard towards the door, as if indicating that the Lizard should turn around. "I think you're gonna need it instead!"

    All the while Rene speaks, he keeps thinking of his battles as the Builder. This is how he links the memories, right? Link enough of these with whatever world he's in and perhaps he can break out of this fake human form. He's gotta return to being the Builder before the Totem breaks through. Rene's gotta break free of these restraints now!

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    So I'm not quite sure how the whole memories thing works but hopefully this is something of an acceptable action.

    Meanwhile, uh, if this is feasible, Rene's making a diplomacy check to try and convince the Lizard to stop with the syringe, or at least turn around and notice who's about to charge through. (1d20+1)[11]
    Last edited by Starsign; 2016-09-09 at 02:18 PM.

  9. - Top - End - #369
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Quellian-dyrae's Avatar

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Um...hi. Don't mind me. I'm just, you know, doing a thing...


    Spoiler: A Bit of a Flash Forward
    Show
    The Potence who knocked on Janet's door that day was a far cry from the Katie who had awkwardly stammered through the costume design event last time.

    "I was wondering when you'd be back," Janet told her with a knowing smile as she ushered her into the studio.

    Katie gave a little, slightly embarrassed laugh, "I mean, I like what we came up with last time. I'm probably still going to wear it as like...semi-civvies, I guess. But, it's just..."

    "Not really a costume," Janet finished for her, just nodding.

    Katie laughed again with a shrug and a nod. "And I think I need a costume. I mean, the Plan is really going to be pushing the superhero angle, and I want to look the part. And...well, I mean, let's be honest, the mass media has a tendency to be kinda shallow and materialistic and a superhero changing her costume is probably going to attract more attention than one just talking about an effort to improve the world, and there's precisely zero reason not to use that and then start talking about the Plan as soon as the cameras are pointed in my direction. And even besides all that, it's like, I mean..."

    "You're ready now."

    "I think so. I mean, I more or less know what I want the costume to do, and at least the general aesthetics I want to hit, and some things I want to include. I mean, there's still some stuff I really have no idea on, or that I kinda want to do but I'm not sure how to do it, or whatever, but...well, here, I made a list..." she said, pulling it up on her phone. Katie was nothing if not organized.

    Katie went through what she had, both the elements she knew she did and didn't want to incorporate and some questions she had considered. Janet replied with a few questions of her own. They went back and forth for about twenty minutes, fine-tuning some details and bouncing a couple ideas around. Until finally, Janet gave Katie an appraising look and said, "You know...you could probably pull off spandex."

    "...Down."

    The Potence that left Janet's studio a few hours later was attired in a silver spandex outfit. The sleeveless top and long pants had the same general profile of her usual tanktop-and-pants combo, albeit more fit to her form and about ten times more superheroy. Upgraded to like thirty times with the return of her cape, which Janet had done an amazing job tailoring with a sleek style that somehow just shouted "wizard", only enhanced by the complex, golden magic circle that was emblazoned on the back. But the circle no longer graced the front of her shirt. That space was reserved for the smiley face.

    Oh yes, and Katie didn't even care. The smiley face was a symbol of joy, of friendship, of goodwill, and that, more than anything, is what she wanted to convey. If it meant she wouldn't be seen as cool, it was a price Katie was willing to pay. Besides, she liked smiley faces!

    But one thing she kept from her intermediary "costume" was that she left her head and face unadorned. No hat, no sunglasses, and she didn't replace them with anything. No hood or mask or tiara or even so much as a floating ioun stone. Potence's costume was meant to be symbolic, not strategic. She had no desire to conceal her identity in even the slightest way. And that, she hoped, would communicate the other big point she wanted to convey - between the kinda silly smiley and keeping her own face completely open, what she hoped to do was create the image of someone who was approachable. Who anyone could walk up to on the street and start a conversation with.

    The astute would notice that her plain silver ring was also no longer part of her attire. Her Danger Room training with Fred had been paying off big time. Between that and some ritual transmutations, she didn't even need the ring's magic for protection any more, and her wards only required a fraction of the energy she used to have to invest to keep them running.

    The last touch, since the new outfit didn't really have pockets, was a light golden sash draped as a sort of belt around her waist, narrow on the right and widening to the left. A silver version of her magic circle was embroidered on the outside of the wider end, serving as a somewhat more convenient storage medium than the larger one on her cape, and tucked into a little sheath on the inside was her wand.

    ...But not for long.

    Spoiler: Flash Forward Inception
    Show
    "Happy Birthday!"

    The words could really only be described as a "sing-song warcry", considering that the hug that came with them was probably better classified as a "pounce". Still somewhat bleary-eyed having just woken up like a minute ago, she was completely unprepared for such a sudden ambush.

    "Happy Birthday," Kayla responded as she returned the hug, more gently perhaps, but no less earnestly for all that.

    "Come on come on come on!" Katie insisted cheerily, taking her hands and tugging her towards the living room. "I got you something!"

    Kayla did as she was bid, because when Katie's in present-mode, you don't provide impediment if you're smart. Katie dragged her along before plopping down in the middle of the living room floor beside a brightly-wrapped and...thoroughly ribbon-bedecked box, pulling Kayla down beside her. "Go ahead, open it!" she bade her sister with childlike enthusiasm.

    Kayla cast her a grateful look and gentle smile, and set to...slowly and carefully. Untying each ribbon and laying it aside (sorted by color and total surface area; it was how her mind worked) before even tugging a flap of the paper. Katie was visibly fidgeting as she watched, but managed to keep silent on the matter, mainly by biting on her lip almost hard enough to trigger her wards. It was her own fault for adding that much stuff in the first place because she knew how Kayla did things but what was she supposed to do just not put all the ribbons on? That wasn't fun at all!

    Finally, Kayla had removed all the ribbons and began working on the paper with the same care, pulling up the taped flaps with almost no damage done to the paper itself even though Katie's wrapping job was...far from pristine (thus all the ribbons it makes perfect sense!) After opening the paper at one end, she reached inside and pulled out a box...that was covered in another layer of wrapping paper.

    (Katie gave a little, kinda choked, squeaking groan. She really was her own worst enemy sometimes).

    After finally working her way patiently through that layer as well, Kayla pulled out the present - the new X-Box 360, complete with, of course, the latest installment of Super-Dimensional Warrior Princess Rikku. "Oh wow fun!" Kayla said with a big smile, giving her twin a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Katie."

    "Mmhmm!" Katie said, smiling just as bright, before hopping to her feet. "Okay, I'm going to make breakfast. Any-"

    "Well, wait a sec!" Kayla said, standing up as well. "I got you something!" she added, rushing off to her room.

    "Ooh, yay, cool!"

    Kayla came back holding a roughly foot-long, cylindrical parsel carefully wrapped in balloon-festooned paper and topped with a bow. She handed it to Katie, who gave a big smile and then in a flash of silver six glowing hands descended on the gift like a school of pirahnas and in less than a second reduced the wrapping to confetti that got, just, literally everywhere. Kayla had to spend almost a whole tenth of a second confirming that the total surface area did not, in fact, exceed that of the materials she had originally wrapped the gift with.

    "Oh my God Kayla this is a work of flipping art!" Katie said in a slightly breathless voice.

    In her hand was a gleaming scepter of pristine silver. Its surface was lightly etched all over with a sort of microchip-like pattern, that at various points came together to form gold-inlaid arcane runes. The pattern tickled Katie's brain, and it took her a couple moments to realize it was a scaled match for the network of ley lines that ran across the United States. At the top was a sphere of clear crystal that seemed to sparkle within - until Katie took a closer look and saw the nearly invisible fractal pattern of unbelievably fine silver wires running through the crystal.

    "It's, you should be able to use it as a focus. Like your wand. Mr. Arlington helped me with the energy channels and stuff. It...will it work?"

    "Oh yeah, definitely," Katie said, not even needing to test it to answer (although she did test it, because it was awesome!) She could feel her energy thrumming within the device from the moment she had held it up.

    "Cool," Kayla said, sounding a little relieved. "It, I mean, it's got a couple...special functions too."

    "Special functions?" Katie asked gleefully. "Is it a lightsaber!?"

    "It's not a lightsaber, although that would have been cool," Kayla answered (she actually had thought about that, but then she imagined Katie actually trying to sword-fight in an actual battle and decided that even a lightsaber wouldn't even those odds). "No it's- Um, you know. The suit. Um. Here, just," she took Katie's hand, shifting her grip on the wand, placing her thumb above a particular rune. "You press that button there."

    "Ooh secret buttons fun!" Katie said as she pressed it, followed immediately by "Ooh ah wait what's it doing ack!" as the scepter just, kinda, unfolded in a rapid clanking of metal, expanding up her arm and down her body. It took about a second for the transformation to finish, at which point Katie immediately sent her Helping Hand to grab one of the mirrors she had lying around (she had several waiting by house-circles, ready to be pulled through her circle-portals and used as Fred waypoints as needed). Only to notice that the silver hand that flew down the hall wasn't composed of hard light, but of gleaming metal, and looked more like a gauntlet than a human hand.

    Katie herself was almost completely covered in gleaming silver. Her head was still visible, although a slight bending of light around her indicated that some sort of forcefield had risen up around it. The suit otherwise more-or-less resembled her new costume. It was still essentially form-fitting, but clearly thicker, metallic, and just in general had a more armor-like appearance. The cape was more a cloak, wrapped more thickly around her neck and shoulders and complete with voluminous sleeves and a hood, and though every bit as light and flexible as normal, was clearly made of the same protective metal as the rest of it. Metal gauntlets and boots shod her hands and feet. And while the back of the cloak still had her magic circle on it, the front of the suit sported it as well, in lieu of the smiley face. Katie pretty much immediately understood the logic behind that design choice though. When she was in this suit, it was Serious Business.

    "Holy...I...woah, Kayla! You, this is, woah. I thought you weren't anywhere near actually...and now it, and you just...woah!" Katie's mind was officially blown.

    "Well, see, the problem was the power source, you know? I'm not Stark, high-volume portable energy generation isn't really my thing, but then I realized, you generate a ton of energy! Like, your magic it's...thermodynamics aren't even...so, I thought of your wand, 'cause I know you said it basically works by channeling and focusing energy, and came up with building the suit into the wand, and from there it was just easy stuff!"

    "Easy stuff," Katie repeated blankly, shaking her head. "But, like, did you get Mr. A to enchant it, or something? With, like, dimensional magic I guess?"

    "Mm mm. No it's mostly folding, some atomic reconfiguration, a bit of nanotechnology. Kinda patterned off of a mix of Stark, Palmer, and Pym tech. I mean, you know, at least the bits I could reverse engineer with visual examination and a bit of guesswork."

    "But it's so light though. I didn't feel like there was an entire suit in it when I was holding it. Although, actually, it's still really light..." she said, testing the range of motion on her arms and kinda bouncing around a bit.

    "Well, yeah, I mean, you told me about the costume thing, where they had you try on armor, and it was too heavy, right? There's some gravity-warping tech in there. Like I use for my microdrones. Should pretty much negate the weight, in both forms. And all the folding tech stuff should make it easy to move in, but it still provides a sealed environment, with the forcefield. Oh! And the cloak, if you pull the hood up, that'll engage Stealth Mode."

    "I have a Stealth Mode!?"

    "I mean, it'll bend light around you. Invisibility. It won't help much against super-senses and stuff. People can still hear you. And, and it's fragile. Violent movement or offensive powers will disrupt it. But, like, you're you, so..."

    "Uh-huh. Uh-huh, yeah! Non-violent movement! Totally my whole thing!"

    "Right. But, um, there's also, I mean, I have it set up to work with your spells. I think. Mostly. We'll need to, you know, calibrate it a little, but that shouldn't be hard. Its systems can boost or support your magic. Like, the gauntlets, including the little floating one, have nanoinjectors with some, um, discoveries I've made. And there are medicinal serums that should work with your healing spells. And I have the forcefield programmed to trigger when you cast one of your barriers, for a layered defense. It has some tricks for shutting down most forms of technology too. I'll walk you through it all."

    Katie spent several more seconds just...marvelling at the suit, before asking, "And, how do I, um, you know, turn it off?"

    "Oh," Kayla said with a little laugh. "I knew I forgot something. I, I mean, to explain, not, like, to put in," she hastily added as Katie's brows started rising. "You just stop channeling energy into it, and it'll return to scepter mode automatically."

    Katie nodded and did so, and a second later she was back in her PJs and the scepter was in her hand. And the next second she had caught Kayla in a tight hug. "That is so, so, so, so, SO amazingly cool! Oh my God Kayla thank you soooo much!"

    "Yeah, of course," Kayla answered, returning the hug. "Just...you know, as long as it keeps you safe. I mean, there's still improvements we can probably make. I don't know if the cloaking system is really good enough for a superpowered battlefield, and I'm not sure it's enough armor yet, and I-"

    "No, Kayla, seriously. Like, I pity whatever bad guy tries to take me on in this. They'll be all, 'Take this!' and I'll be like, 'Nope, sorry, Stealth Mode!'"

    "But, remember, they can still hear you, so you shouldn't actually say-"

    "Okay, breakfast!" Katie said, definitely hearing Kayla's warning and taking it to heart. "Birthday breakfast! Yay food! What do you want? Waffles? Omelet? Ooh, what about crepes, we haven't done crepes in a while!"
    A role playing game is three things. It is an interactive story, a game of chance, and a process in critical thinking.

    If brevity is the soul of wit, I'm witty like a vampire!

    World of Aranth
    M&M 3e Character Guide

  10. - Top - End - #370
    Troll in the Playground
    Join Date
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    California
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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Dawn of the Crusader
    Show
    … Maybe Jean overpowered Sinestro, but was lost in the process. It sounded like Logan did what he had to do. Fred’s face lowered, the light casting shadows over his eyes. Of course no one told him, especially now. What was Jean thinking? She was somewhere in his psyche right now. Fred’s expression was thoughtful, but finally laid bare the lingering sadness he felt within. Now or never, time to tell him what he wants to tell him.

    “It won’t come to that,” he said with words that he knew wouldn’t truly reassure. “Whatever happens with me, it’s not on you. I was born for it.” He paused to breathe. “I don’t really remember my parents. I was too young. For a long time it was just me and Aunt Judith. I love her, she’s a saint - and pretty much the only mother I’ve known. But you, old man, you’re the closest thing I have to a father. You never had to be that for me, but you did at a time when I needed it most. If the end is coming, then I lived a good life. I helped good people and I destroyed evil ones. I got to know all of you. Kurt, Kitty, everyone. I got to be one of the X-Men, Excalibur, the Misfits.” Fred smiled. “I got to make a difference.”

    Now, about Jean: given that he knew something, he tried to assuage Logan a bit. “Jean’s inside my mind somewhere. She’s talked to me, more than once. When I first felt the Phoenix, I could hear Jean telling me that this was the best she could do. It felt like she had something to do with it happening.

    And when I found out about… Rachel,”
    still a sore spot that he didn’t know how to address, “I went to Tokyo to get myself lost. Jean showed up and told me I was being an idiot. She was right.”

    Fred glanced up towards Logan.

    “She said I was a lot like you.” A pause. “She wasn’t angry towards you. I couldn’t sense that.”

    And then there was Japan. “There’s something else. Not that long ago, I traveled to the past. To branching timelines. I met you - a version of you - in Japan in the 40’s. I don’t know if you remember any of this, but you had a home there. You had people who loved you.” He tested the waters before mentioning the woman and the unborn child, much less Muramasa. “I met them. Met you. You seemed at peace.”
    Spoiler
    Show

  11. - Top - End - #371
    Ettin in the Playground
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Under the White Hood
    Show
    Ciaran flinched, more out of habit than anything else, at Cait's slap. And then smiled slightly, which might have seemed a somewhat incongruous reaction, but it reminded him of happier times. Times where he didn't have to worry about his sister hanging out with some sort of demon or secret alien invasions. "I am getting tested," he protested. "That's part of why I'm hanging out with Batman. It's not like I know a lot of super-scientists and this isn't really the sort of thing I can drop into the local GP about."

    He sighed slightly at her second point. "If Gotham's going to change, I don't see how we can just use 'something ugly.' I get the idea, but how's that Gotham gonna be any different to the one we have already?"

    "But..."
    he shook his head. "I don't want to fight you either." He paused for a moment as an idea came to him. "Look, part of the problem is that we don't konw who's telling the truth here, whether Batman or Wayne can be trusted. But I know someone who knows a lot more about this whole...world...than either of us. And I think we could trust her to be honest."

    "Last time we met, she did some...thauma..."
    he stumbled over the unfamiliar magical terminology "...something. Anyway, the point was that she could make a magical link to me that was meant to let us keep in contact. It might have...run out, or something, but if I can talk to her and ask her opinion, would you listen to what she has to say?"

  12. - Top - End - #372
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Flumph

    Join Date
    Oct 2013

    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Dawn of the Crusader
    Show
    Wolverine's façade begins to melt down as you tell your tale, his gruff exterior being slowly replaced with more naked emotion: surprise, pride, warmth, even amazement.

    Telling Logan all of this . . . it feels good. It feels RIGHT. More so than anything this evening, telling Logan what you feel, what he's meant to you . . . it's perfect.

    Unfortunately, that feeling does not fully belong to you . . .

    You hear the echoes of laughter, and a clanking of metal being forged. You see the footprints of your words to Logan sweeping through the air, wind and wolves and a child's cries . . .

    Bonds of fellowship
    Truths told from heart and friendship
    My weapon, finished.


    A vision assails your eyes: Itsu in a snowy forest, panting and limping, her belly heavy with child, her hands clutching a blade slick with blood . . .

    Her name meant "peace", twice-taught of Ogun.

    A shadowy figure springs from the trees, moving like the wind, too quickly to see. Itsu spins around and nearly parries the blow, but her assailant is too quick . . .

    And with your help, by the roads opened through your words, I have slain Logan's peace once and for all.

    Blood on the snow, and in the blood there are tales: a young boy screaming over a dying drunkard, a lost child fleeing with the wolves, a wild man rescued and tamed and captured and abused, an endless cycle of heartbreak and betrayal and violence and violation, an ever-turning wheel under the hand of a shadowy master . . .

    Deep loss revealed
    Forgotten wrongs remembered
    His rage? Perfect blade.


    You're thrown from your vision, Muramasa's cackling fading from your head, and you nearly miss Logan's choked whisper . . .

    SNIKT

    . . . before, moving quicker than you would have believed possible, he has vanished from your sight.

    At your eventual summons, everyone joins in looking for him. You take to the air as Kurt teleports throughout the area. Piotr and Kitty take the Blackbird, sweeping through the area. Judith and Wanda man the phones, and a call to Emma soon has the whole team out looking; Cerebra scans, calling in old contacts, old favors, old friends for the search.

    You don't find him. Logan is gone. Where has he gone? That's the bugger: if what you heard is to be believed, all bets are off with Logan's known patterns. Everything about who he is and how he operates may have just been flipped upside down, and people around the world are about to feel those effects. Three little whispered words to change the world:

    ". . . I remember everything . . ."


    Ronin gets 1 HP and 2 pp

    Spoiler: Under the White Hood
    Show
    "You mean thaumaturgy?" Cait interjects, eyes narrowed. Her voice takes on the slightly concerned and condescending tones of a sister speaking to her erring brother (one that somehow transcends time and seniority)

    "Um . . . you'd better trust her. That sort of thing isn't really safe to mess around with if you want to keep things secret . . ."

    She listens as you make your pitch, brow furrowed in thought. When she responds, it is without warmth or rancor.

    "I'll listen to what your friend has to say, and I'll think about it. But I'm not going to abandon Bruce on your say-so. And I . . . I want you to promise me something else."

    She sticks her chin out defiantly as she brings out this final salvo.

    "I want you to come to Wayne manor with me. I want you to meet Bruce and listen to what he has to say. Come alone, don't start anything, and . . . yeah. Just . . . yeah. Give him a chance to explain."


    Spoiler: Family Meeting
    Show
    The room shifts once again, as you consider your memories, your battles, the life you've lived as the Builder. However, it's not a complete shift.

    ~Rene, be careful! The links you're throwing out are too strong, it's hard to make them line up with-~

    ~Just hold on! I'm coming! I'll save-~

    Their voices go silent. The door is blown open, even as the walls shift and reform. You strain against your cuffs and find them beginning to give beneath your strength.

    You look down, and your body is slithering, sprouting scales even as your muscles swell with mass. You feel yourself stretching out, straining, nearly too big for the restraints. It's as though you're having something poured into you, energy and strength and speed and raw animal instinct distilled into concrete form. When you'd first transformed, you'd been near-blinded by the panic and fear. Now, having asked for it, knowing what it is that is happening to you . . . now you can see the other side of the transformation. What you'd gained, rather than what you'd lost.

    You are in the dungeons of Castle Doom again. You see the seemingly-endless darkness, branching out from the single point of light that illuminates your immediate surroundings. You see the Lizard nearby, stock-still as it toys with the serum in its hands, eyes flickering between you and the darkness.

    "Builder . . ."

    You hear the hiss circle through the darkness, trailing the sulfurous rotting-plants smell that you recognize all too well.

    "Let me out . . . Let me out or I will tear my way out . . ."

    Its voice fills the room, hinting at enormous bulk and awesome power. The Lizard quails below your gurney, hissing inarticulately. One might almost guess that the Totem could come charging at any moment . . .

    Except you can see it.

    Through the dark, through the cold, through the oppressive smell and the echoing leviathan hiss, you can finally perceive the Totem. You can SMELL it, through the cloak of rotted plants and sulfur. You can taste the heat it hordes upon the air. You can see its bulk as it slithers in the shadows, attempting to stay out of sight.

    It's big, but not all that much bigger than you. Beneath the giant hiss, its breathing is labored and strained by the elongated movements it barely manages. Its back is stretched and bowed, and its tail is moving low upon the ground for a maximum of cautious balance. It circles in the darkness, hissing occasionally to give the illusion of greater space.

    It moves on three limbs. Its right "arm" is occupied with staunching a gaping hole in its chest, a memento from its only REAL encounter with you.

    "You cannot resist me . . ."

    The Totem, this grandiocosmic representation of beasts older and more feral than humanity, this undying tormentor . . . in the depths of your mind, it is a wounded lurking thing, trying to make itself out to be scarier than it is. Pathetic reptile, evading you . . .
    Last edited by herodofcows; 2016-09-17 at 02:39 AM.

  13. - Top - End - #373
    Firbolg in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Family Meeting
    Show
    To think of Rene's transformation as a positive thing isn't something that usually goes through his mind. After all, his transformation took a lot away from him and he remembered every moment where his human body had been torn and sliced off in that horrible excuse of "surgery."

    This... is different. Now, he welcomes it.

    There isn't any other way to put it. The former human saw his body slithering and gave no look of horror to it. This isn't being fearful of the unknown but the return of the familiar. He knows this form; it's exactly how he remembers it. He's had his peace with his normal reptilian form and now can't live without it. His form is, put simply, stronger than his human form. It's exactly what he needs as his bonds break and the world around... him...

    ...Changes.

    He knows this castle, as does the Totem.

    Rene, now the Builder, stands in his usual hunched state. His eye slits stare blankly into the familiar darkness. He remembers what happened here, yet here he feels so... lonely. There's no Croc, no Misfits, no mad sorceress. All that is here is Rene... and the Totem. Rene can recall its "shape," darkness of scale and size beyond imagination, trapped only by the size of the dungeon. The smell of the ruined jungle pierces through Rene's snout and skewers into his brain. There's no way Rene would forget such a dominant presence.

    It's here. It's weak!

    The voice in Rene's mind echoes like an outside force. He hasn't heard it since the warship, like something about that event forced itself out of Rene's mind. Yet it's back, talking to him again. The beast didn't leave Rene, it just hid until he was ready to speak to it again; and this was for good reason. For the first time in Rene's life, he sees the Totem as prey.

    Do what we like. Bite. Slash. Crush. Suffer. Torture. Imprison.

    The Totem seems so small, so puny compared to before. Everything Rene had done to it, from Castle Doom to his many rejections, must have weakened it, if it wasn't hiding this illusion in the first place. It's not gigantic but roughly Rene's own size. If Croc were here, it would tower over the Totem. Even the Lizard might appear bigger than the Totem now, if the "creator" wasn't cowering as he currently is. That is a reaction Rene can somewhat sympathize with; the Totem terrified Rene as much as it did drive him into a rejecting, raging frenzy. Yet this isn't the same Totem that Rene first met. This is a weakened one, sealed in the body of one of its hosts. It has tormented and taunted him for so long now; that has to end. This is the moment where Rene has to made his stand, put his foot down, and put the Totem in its place. Rene has NO other choice if he wants to get everyone out of this. Rene isn't fearless; his heart pounds fiercely in his anxious and nervous body. There's still that thought that he is no Misfit, nor is he a Justice League member or an Avenger. He's nothing like those superheroes; he's just a reptilian humanoid who has had an incredibly awful time and has just barely managed to survive god knows how many nightmares. Yet this is his time. This is the moment where he has to prove himself to all those heroes that he can handle himself and his own life.

    There is a slight pause in Rene's hunched movement before, in dramatic fashion, he stands up straight. His body stands to its near-8-foot height. He ignores the cowardly Lizard, very clearly horrified by the Totem's grandiose illusions. Yet there should be no indication in the Totem's mind that Rene is buying into its illusions any more. If Rene's posture and angry look didn't indicate that, his voice will.

    "Shut up." The reptilian hisses at the "great" beast, speaking with scaly coldness mixed in old frustration. "You won't trick me again. You are in me and you will stay there." His voice grows as he speaks, hisses becoming louder by the word. "And I don't care if THIS-" A flash of red blankets the room as Rene's memory of the giant, draconic, skeletal thing appears behind him for a brief moment, the very being that the Totem warned about, before disappearing back into nothing. "SCARES YOU ****LESS! I see for what you are now and nothing I see of you says you can offer me something that will make a difference against the Hunter, much less Darkseid."

    Letting his anger fuel his adrenaline and, hopefully, control of the situation, Rene leans over and places his left clawed hand on the messy stone of the dungeon. His right arm raised up behind him as if in a fighting stance. "I won't let you out. If you want to tear your way out then you can come and get me. You say put and I'll leave you like that. But if you think of clawing at my mind again or going after my family then I will rip off that right limb of yours that's clutching your heartless body!" Rene's anger, scowling endlessly to rid of fearful anxiety, bleeds its way to the Totem.

    And as Rene does so, the beast within laughs heartily. It's slithering voice gives off such a comforting, familiar radiance... He just can't recall where he's heard it from.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    So not sure how relevant this might be but Rene will ready an attack if the Totem tries to pounce or attack him. Putting Killer Instinct active on my array for this: (1d20+10)[11] DC 25 Toughness + Penetrating 6 and Improved Critical 2 Oh brother. Should I... even reroll this if it might be important to? I do have 1 HP left.
    Last edited by Starsign; 2016-09-18 at 07:44 AM.

  14. - Top - End - #374
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Flumph

    Join Date
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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Family Meeting
    Show
    "RRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

    The Totem shrieks wordlessly at you, its face contorted as flecks of spit and blood go volleying from its mouth and splatter onto the floor. Blood begins to gush from its wounds at an accelerated rate, pooling on the floor below it.

    The Lizard flinches, and the syringe falls onto the floor and shatters. The liquid seeps into the stone with a hiss, and your "father" hisses with it as it backs away.

    "No no no no too big too wild no con-trol, flee, hide . . ."

    Without a backwards glance, the Lizard flees into the darkness, retreating with a speed born of mortal terror. You feel a sort of shimmer in your consciousness as it exits from this "memory", retreating into the corners of your mindscape where it is safe from the Totem . . . or perhaps where it is safe from you.

    As the progenitor of your reptilian family exits the premises, the Totem's defiant roar begins to fade too. It's breathing comes in ragged gasps, and it seems to shrink into itself. In a few moments, it has abandoned any pretense that it is a hulking Thing To Be Reckoned With. It sags against the floor, panting, and glares at you with a spite that is all too human.

    "Will not yield . . . I will not yield to . . ."

    Its body is wracked with shudders. It tries to rise, but only succeeds in slumping further downward.

    ". . . yield . . . to you . . ."

    You hear police sirens echoing through the darkness, and the sound of revving cars. The Totem rouses itself, and in the blink of an eye it has vanished. You can feel it stepping through your mind, still there . . . but bleeding, weakened, and nearly entirely impotent.

    The cavern is suddenly flooded by spotlights and the wailing sirens of cop cars. A SWAT van screeches to a halt beside you, and the doors burst open to reveal J'onn in his policeman's guise. He rushes up to you, looking as concerned as you've ever seen him as he surveys the room.

    "Rene! What happened? Where did the Lizard go? We tracked you to . . ."

    He pauses as his eyes cast over the bloody prints that the Totem has left behind, and then turns to you with a sort of wide-eyed respect.

    "I . . . I see . . . Druid?"

    CRRRRUNCH

    The stone ceiling of the room splits, and you're treated to a giant-sized Sebastian peering down at you as the cavern is flooded with light. The Totem's blood stands out in sharp relief to the stone surroundings, and Druid's eyes widen even further than their colossal proportions had started with.

    "Holy s*** . . ."

    Abruptly, you feel yourself hazily shifting and fading in and out of the reality you'd been enmeshed within. Things become blurred and fuzzy, and you only can hear J'onn's final words as you flicker out of your mindscape.

    ~It would appear you didn't require my help after all . . .~

    And then . . .

    Light . . . blurry shapes . . . your room . . . cigar smoke . . .

    "-th' verdict? He good ta go, or are we cuttin'-"

    Fury, chomping on a lit stogie and towering over Druid.

    "Nosir, he's fine . . ." Sebastian is apparently so puzzled that he's forgotten his usual tremulousness around Fury, "MORE than fine, even. I can't really explain it. All it took was a little nudge and he-"

    "Wonderful," Fury cuts him off, rounding to you and giving you a searing once-over.

    "Hope yer head's all screwed on straight, Builder. We've got places to be."


    He goes stalking towards the door, barking a final command.

    "Skids up for Metropolis in fifteen. Yer Misfit friends're callin'"


    Builder gets 1 HP and 2 pp

  15. - Top - End - #375
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Flumph

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    CROSSOVER
    The Promethean Complex

    “What does fighting crime mean, exactly? Does it mean upholding the law when a woman shoplifts to feed her children, or does it mean struggling to uncover the ones who, quite legally, have brought about her poverty?”

    Metropolis, Cronus Complex, 9 In The Morning

    They come.

    On foot, on wheels, jetting or gliding or swinging through the air, borne through unfathomable dimensions in a blink of an eye, they come.

    The X-Men come, zooming onto the complex grounds upon the Blackbird. A few faces are missing: Rachel Grey, Starfire, Jubilee, and Iceman are gone, off in search of the missing Wolverine. The search goes poorly, and thus with increasing urgency. The rest enter with drawn faces and heads held high, mutants coming to discuss the fate of a world that seems to hate and fear them even as their tribe grows with every passing day.

    The magi come, sizzling into being individually or in pairs. Dr. Fate emerges from thin air, a portentous gong echoing through the air as he steps into our reality from his extradimensional Tower of Fate. Zatanna and Hellstorm appear together in a flash of fire and with no small odor of brimstone, deep in conversation about infernal matters as they step through the doors. Another burst of fire heralds Jericho Drumm in full Brother Voodoo regalia, thousands of whispers surrounding his every step. Constantine arrives in a cab, smelling of cheese and onions and missing patches of hair on his head.

    The heads of state come, under their own power or in ostentatious craft. Black Panther emerges from his quinjet, inscrutable in his regalia and flanked by four Dora Milaje armed for bear (it is to be noted that Storm, despite arriving with the X-Men, moves almost immediately over to him). Magneto floats down under his own power, cape billowing as he strides in and scarcely deigning to notice as Quicksilver and Polaris respectively zoom in and touch down. Namor and Aquaman fly in, both crashing down with slightly more force and drama than necessary and doing their best to avoid each other. The Inhuman royal family teleports in all at once, imperious and uncanny in equal measure.

    Nick Fury's contingent comes, staggered and sudden. First come some of his known operatives: Katana, Black Widow, the Question, Huntress. They fan out immediately, checking corners and conversing in low tones. The Secret Warriors arrive with the man himself, zooming in low and fast in a knockoff quinjet. They emerge hesitantly, keeping mostly to themselves (even Damian, who keeps his hood up and stays uncharacteristically silent). And finally, inexplicably . . . Howard the Duck, who receives a nod from the ex-Director of SHIELD. It is to be noted that Fury gets a few glares as he enters.

    The Fantastic Four come, flying in upon their own powers or (for the non-fliers) in Reed's painfully-named Fantasticar. Ray Palmer and Reed Richards are the first to enter, nattering away about physical equations that beggar conventional vocabulary. Susan Storm and Ben Grimm come next, and immediately move to greet old friends and acquaintances. Johnny Storm arrives last, wearing sunglasses and drinking coffee as though there was no tomorrow.

    The Teen Titans come; Red Robin, Amazon, White Tiger, Raven, Cyborg, Shazam (in his guise of Rick Jones), Superboy (another recipient of worried looks), and their newest member Orphan. This latter one stands with prenatural stillness, hooded in a black and gold costume that shows very little of her features. She declines all conversation, even as her teammates quickly branch out.

    The old guard comes, Avengers and Justice League alike. This group is the most gregarious, energetically seeking to catch up with each other from their semi-enforced hiatus from teamwork. There's a lot of tension being diffused among these groups, old post-Disassembly silences gradually wearing down.

    The new teams come. Captain America's new Avengers team enters first, talking among themselves but quickly branching out to the other groups in the room. The exception is Supergirl, who markedly avoids conversation with nearly everyone and receives nearly as many suspicious glances as Fury. Wonder Woman's new Justice League comes in as well, marching in with a military air and indulging in brief discussion with others but largely holding themselves apart. There are rumors that this incarnation is nearly entirely government-funded, and that they were put together with the pending Superhuman Registration Act in mind. Conversation is limited.

    The Bat family comes, singly or in pairs. Nightwing and Batgirl arrive together, and immediately fall into conversation with the Teen Titans. Batwoman arrives on her own, and is quickly joined by Green Arrow and Arsenal. Batman arrives with Ciaran in tow, prompting no small measure of bemused glances from the assembled masses.

    And then, to surprise, relief, and bemusement . . . he comes.

    Accompanied by the Flash, Hal Jordan, and Spider Man, Superman strides into the room to general uproar. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and return are not yet widely known, and the volley of questions that assails him is utterly deafening. It beggars response, the number of superhumans who are relieved and incredulous at once to see the mightiest among them return. It is equally interesting to see who isn't emotional: Batman and Wonder Woman's groups mostly stand apart, and Fury is glaring as though he could gain X-Ray vision himself if he only stares hard enough. Namor scoffs, and Black Panther remains inscrutable.

    Eventually, Superman raises his hands.

    "All right, all right . . ."

    The uproar subsides, and he nods towards the assembled Misfits.

    "I know a lot of you have questions, and I'll be happy to answer them later. For now, I'm curious to hear from the people who rescued me in the first place."

    There is some muttered astonishment at this, and gazes turn towards the Misfits. Superman profits by this to sit down at one of the chairs provided and gestures for everyone to do the same. Everyone sits down as he addresses the hosting superheroes.

    "Misfits? What do you have for us?"

    Spoiler: A Quick Guide To The Notable People In Attendence
    Show
    The Misfits
    Potence, Sarah Saturn, Ronin, Thunderstruck

    The New Avengers
    Captain America, Luke Cage, Spider Woman, Iron Man, Catwoman, Black Canary, Supergirl

    The New Justice League
    Wonder Woman, Captain Atom, Power Girl, Hercules, Green Lantern (John Stewart), Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers), Blade

    The Bat Family
    Batman, Ciaran, Nightwing, Batgirl, Batwoman, Green Arrow, Arsenal

    Old Guard (Avengers and JLA)
    Superman, the Flash, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Spider Man, The Wasp, She Hulk, Wonder Man, Falcon, Red Tornado, Black Lightning, Icon, Tigra, Captain Britain, Union Jack, Spitfire, Booster Gold, Mr. Terrific,

    The X-Men
    Cyclops, Emma Frost, Kitty Pryde, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Storm, Beast, Rogue, Gambit

    Teen Titans
    Red Robin, Amazon, Raven, Cyborg, Shazam, Superboy, White Tiger, Orphan

    Fantastic Four
    Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Sue Storm, Ray Palmer (unofficially), Johnny Storm (hungover)

    The Secret Warriors
    Nick Fury, Quake, Demon, Druid, Stonewall, Yo-Yo, the Builder

    Misc. Fury Agents
    Black Widow, Katana, the Question, Huntress, Howard the Duck

    Atlantis
    Namor (current monarch), Aquaman (possible future monarch)

    Wakanda
    Black Panther

    Genosha
    Magneto, Polaris, Quicksilver

    The Inhumans
    Black Bolt, Medusa, Gorgon, Karnak, Triton, Crystal, Lockjaw

    Magicians
    Zatanna, Dr. Fate, Brother Voodoo, Hellstorm, John Constantine


    Spoiler: Augur
    Show
    The final Mapmaker shatters under your fist. The fight had been slightly more difficult than your previous encounters, but it's far from insurmountable. A little maneuvering, a little feinting, and then one decisive blow ends it. The creature doesn't even manage an exclamation as the timeline reclaims it, sweeping its obliterated form off into the passing multiverse.

    The flow of the Speed Force continues to take you, rocketing you through the fabric of the multiverse in the red-suited man's wake. He's stopped yelling now, focused instead on grimly running further and further forward into the depths of the Speed Force.

    You, however, are not so myopic as he is, so you notice a change in the outlying ocean of the multiverse: it appears to be thinning, coagulating, gradually compressing into a lake, a pond, a puddle . . .

    NO

    Abruptly, you've lost the man in red. All the momentum that you'd built up following his wake has been impossibly shattered against something, some wall or barrier beyond your ability to perceive or comprehend. You ricochet outwards, and gradually find yourself regaining some kind of footing. You're still in freefall through the multiverse, but for just a moment you have control . . .

    Three images appear before you, three universes you can steer yourself towards.

    In one, a terrified crowd stampedes through an enormous city as a large metal structure falls from the sky. Smaller flying machines dot the sky, and individuals of great power fight through the skies.

    In another, a different city is littered with shambling masses and dilapidated structures. There is an impression of exhaustion and despair everywhere. The sun is dimmed, partially eclipsed by another celestial body. A few figures fly through the air, but their motions are more desultory than determined.

    In the other, a titanic being sits alone in a room full of screens, staring blankly as a thousand images of death and destruction play out across them. It is hard to fully read his stony visage, but he looks deeply depressed.
    Last edited by herodofcows; 2016-09-28 at 12:19 AM.

  16. - Top - End - #376
    Firbolg in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Good ****ing god this is a LOT of heroes.

    That's Rene's first reaction as he enters the Chrono Complex in Metropolis. The reptilian humanoid has had a long, mentally tiring day simply getting through Druid's little spell, though it has... hopefully done wonders. Rene was more than a bit put off at watching the Totem practically bleed to death just by yelling at it, though to weaken it so much felt so good. If only he hadn't been so tired after. He had so much he wanted to say to J'onn, so much to ask him, so much to thank him for everything that's happened. Rene's never quite had enough energy to actually try and contact J'onn again. Rene's has to focus on more important matters.

    Such as reacting to well over half of the people he sees at the complex.

    Right off the bat Rene looks for the friendly faces known as the Misfits. Almost instantly he's in front of Katie and wrapping his large, reptilian claws around her in a big hug. "Oh god. I'm so glad to see you again." His coarse voice drowns in joyous sorrow as he meets the one who probably helped him the most next to J'onn. "I'm so, so glad you're here." His reactions to Sarah and Ronin are less notable, being attempted smiles of appreciation and nods. They were there to help Rene as well; he's got no reason to not trust them... Uh, wait, where is White Cobra? Rene sees a newcomer among the Misfits, someone he's never seen before with a very "civvie" outfit. This guy does have... spiky hair, really spiky hair. That's probably explained by this hero being made of lightning but that has to be a lot of static buildup. Still, any hero to the Misfits is someone Rene will be fine with.

    The rest, however, are a wildly mixed bag of emotions for Rene. Rene's actually never seen the X-Men themselves, instead hearing about their supposedly negative presence from fellow construction workers back when Rene was human. A lot of them don't... really seem that inhuman, similar to how Rene sees Ronin. All things considered, they actually are far from being worrying for the even-less-human Rene.

    The magicians are about as diverse as they get, all emitting the reptilian's blank, concerned stares at them. He's never been comfortable with magic and sure as hell won't be getting used to it anytime soon. The leaders, on the other hand, gave off such an intimidating presence. Rene can't imagine what it's like to actually be a hero not strangled by a strict military leader, much less a hero with a goddamned country to run. How do they manage it?

    Aside from his hug to Katie, Rene stays back with the other Secret Warriors (no doubt at Fury's agonizing frustration towards the reptilian). It's clear that none of them wants to be here and, frankly, Rene feels the same. This is a giant meeting of heroes. He doesn't really belong here and he sure as hell can't keep up with most of them. This allowed Rene to ignore Fury's operatives from pointlessly scanning the room, instead stay crouched on his reptilian knees and wait for the next crazy hero to come in... who happens to be a humanoid duck.

    ...Y'know Rene's been through a ****ton of insanity since his transformation. A talking duck is basically normal to him by this point. The reptilian can't even be surprised if he tried.

    For a short bit, the next few teams didn't give Rene much cause to react to. Sure, there's the Fantastic Four and the Teen Titans but he doesn't have much opinion on either. They're big, they're notable but they're not big big like... oh, the very next couple teams that come in. Rene really can't help but simply stand back as he watches the old Justice League and Avengers group comes in, followed by the "New" JL and Avengers. He sees so many heroes but... There's no Martian Manhunter. J'onn must be on his own still, wherever he is. Maybe he's back in that alien jail; maybe he's out on his own around Earth or space. He better be damn well alright.

    Then, the moment that Rene feared came, as dark boots and proud, black suited bodies walked in so dominantly.

    The color on Rene's greenish-yellow scales almost seem to dim as he noticed the whole Batfamily, along with some scrawny-looking kid and Green Arrow, walk right in. As if by reflex Rene moves behind Stonewall in a futile attempt to hide himself. Rene has always feared the Batfamily and should consider himself lucky to have not brought their wrath to him yet. There's no way any of them trust him with his connections to Croc and the Lizard. Batman himself is probably going to keep an eye on Rene every waking moment of this meeting...

    It's about this point that Rene doesn't react as greatly to Superman's presence as he should. Yes, he's a kryptonian; yes, Rene has had a bad experience with kryptonians; and yes it's freaking Superman. Yet most of the awe that Rene can exhibit has died out between his tired state and the arrivals of the other heroes. At best, the reptilian gives a frozen stare at Superman's arrival, along with that of the Flash, Green Lantern and... Hey isn't that Spider-Man, who had been with the Misfits way back?

    ~Holy crap~ Rene thinks to himself in midst of Superman's big speech. If that mental link is still working then Rene isn't going to hesitate contacting Martian Manhunter. ~J'onn, are you, uh, 'seeing' this? I dunno how many heroes aren't here right now. I feel out-of-place here...~ There is a pause in Rene's thoughts before continuing, ~Hey, J'onn do you want me to just give you the rundown of what's going on here if you'd rather not listen in? I understand if you'd rather not want to see or hear some of the other Justice League members.~ Rene wonders if he's being kind or pushy to J'onn. The dilemma that the skrull is in is intolerably bad. The last thing Rene needs is to unintentionally hurt J'onn by reminding him of it.

    As the meeting is finally called, Rene takes a seat down on the less-than-accommodating chair; his size isn't exactly the best match for a normal human seat and his reptilian tail does not help with that. He sits next to Druid, along with that duck that came in shortly after him. Something in Rene's body twists and turns with anxiety as he waits. "I can't believe this," he whispers to the two beside him in a moment of silence. "Feels like the whole world's come here. We've only just started and I'm scared ****less." This is going to be a long day.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Lizard Lord if it's alright I had Rene sit next to Howard to potentially spike up some early IC talk. I can change this though if you'd rather not go with that.

  17. - Top - End - #377
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Quellian-dyrae's Avatar

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    If I had been smart I'd have posted the conversation with Howard earlier, but I wasn't. For what it's worth, though, Katie would have brought it up to the other Misfits previously.


    Katie had arrived at Cronus before the sun had risen. She was a morning person, but even for her, it had been painfully early. It was necessary though. The Misfits were throwing a party.

    Okay, so officially, they were holding a meeting, to discuss their Plan with a small army of superheroes including some of the biggest names in the superheroic community. Well and good. But what that meant was that there was going to be close to a hundred superheroes all in one place so as far as Katie was concerned, the Misfits were throwing a party. And that meant waking up before the sun and coming to Cronus bright and early to cook! Because of course it did!

    Also, Katie had no intention of this gathering going like the last one did. Even discounting whatever influence Darkseid had exerted, this was no time for arguments and internal conflict. They were coming together to improve the world. This was a joyous event, a cause for celebration!

    So Katie was preparing the biggest feast she had made since, since, since that time Amanda came over to her house she could hardly even remember when! Fish and shrimp and sushi and calamari, burgers and hot dogs and cheesesteaks and subs, half a dozen different types of sandwiches, four different types of barbecued meat, three different varieties each of soups, pastas, potatoes, and fresh-baked breads. A full salad bar (fruit and vegetable), various snacks and drinks, and that wasn't even getting into dessert! And then she ordered twenty large pizzas from Go Getters because it wasn't a Misfits meeting without Go Getters!

    So, yeah, it was a busy morning, but that was hardly new. Katie had taken her energetic busyness to a new level recently. To the point that Kayla had even had to remind her to take a break or stop to eat once or twice (to say nothing for that one time that both of them had gone three days without eating and neither of them had realized it. This was with Shared Awareness on allowing them to both instantly detect each other's physical status with a thought, mind you.) Between talking with other heroes, providing buffs, healing rounds, thaumaturgically reuniting separated loved ones (with the occasional bringing in of a kidnapper or trafficker or something while she was at it, because still a superhero!), and repairing damaged structures, she was pushing the limits of her energy stores further and further.

    But as always, her magic could only do so much on the large scale. More than she used to do, but there were still hard limits. So she interspersed casting with more mundane ways to help. She spread the word among other heroes, organizing this gathering. She hit the social media sites and her contacts in the mainstream media hard, getting the plan out to the masses. She cooked for shelters, secured funding and donations, spoke with CEOs and politicians. She flew from city to city, from country to country, just finding out what people needed and then going back home to figure out a plan to get it. And she helped figure out an infrastructure for organizing the thing, so once it really got rolling they could move with maximum coordination and minimum confusion. With Kayla's help (read: coming up with ideas for Kayla to put into code) they already had a website and an app ready to go. It was hectic, exhausting, and at times emotionally draining, and Katie loved every minute of it. They were going to make the world a better place. Her conversation with Howard had a little bit called into question how much of a defense this would be against Darkseid, but Katie figured at the very least it couldn't hurt and it was worth doing on its face!

    Spoiler: Flashback
    Show
    Quote Originally Posted by Quellian-dyrae
    At some undetermined later point - possibly a few minutes, possibly a couple hours, possibly the next day - Howard's phone rang. "Hey, Howard. Sorry about that, there was a...thing, I- nevermind. Hey! How are you? Now a good time to talk?"
    Quote Originally Posted by Lizard Lord
    Howard was still in space when Katie had called back and was quick to pick up the phone. Sure he was a little annoyed that she hung up while he was trying to tell her info about a planet destroying space god, but the information may still prove important for her to learn. Besides Howard had gotten tired of playing go fish with Jesus (he isn't even really sure where the cards came from).

    "Heya Kate. I'm as alright as it freakin' gets. I'm near Earth's orbit being pulled by a maybe but hopefully not insane Green Lantern. I should be touchin' ground soonish. Oh, and Darkshmuck put a hit out on me, but I suppose outha have seen that freakin' comin'."

    "But enough freakin' small talk. Mr. Loom and Doom himself is why I called ya. Y'see tha Green Lanterns hired me ta help wit' there case against them since stupid space bureaucracy meant that tha word of billions of freakin' aliens isn't enough ta put a space go away. Well I suppose that actually makes since given that it turns out tha Skrulls and Kryptonians were freakin' wrong about how Darkschmuck got their planets blown up. Y'see he didn't do it by startin' a civil war. I mean....maybe he started tha Skrull Civil War, but that ain't what destroyed Skrull World anyhow. And Krypton didn't even have a freakin' civil war!"
    Quote Originally Posted by Quellian-dyrae
    "Oh my God are you okay?" Katie asked when Howard said Darkseid had put a hit out on him.

    Then she actually thought about that for a moment.

    Why, in the world, would Darkseid put a hit out on Howard of all people?

    One must remember, Katie's experience with Howard's actions back during the Ten Second Invasion were basically of him acting weird and wiping snot on the Keeper of Three's robes, and then vanishing when the fighting got going. And while she had cast aside the blame she had felt towards him for that - she just assumed he had been under the influence of Darkseid's mind control or something - as far as she knew, he hadn't really done anything.

    That self-confident part of her that was both gradually growing and also kinda trying to make up for lost time couldn't help but feel a bit put out that Darkseid had sent a hit man after Howard and not the Misfits. They were the ones who had been fighting him this whole time!

    ...Well, okay, they had actually kinda been fighting all the people who had been trying to stop him in much easier but morally unacceptable ways, and in fact aside from thwarting his invasion itself which, apparently, couldn't have happened if they hadn't temp-killed the Talisman in the first place, so really overall one could argue that they had been a net advantage to Darkseid's overall plans but Katie rejected that premise because at best they were just lulling him into a false sense of security! Now that they were really starting to focus on beating him, Darkseid would regret not putting a hit out on the Misfits!

    (Katie was still getting used to self-confidence. There might have been some kinks to work out.)

    The revelation that the destruction of the Skrull and Kryptonian homeworlds wasn't quite what they had learned drew her back to the moment. That...that opened up a lot of questions. There were so many things Katie needed to know. Why had Darkseid put out a hit on Howard? How were the Green Lanterns involved? What actually happened to the Skrull and Kryptonian civilizations? What...case was he talking about ohmygod is someone trying to sue Darkseid!? As a wizard, Katie was above all a student of lore, a seeker of knowledge. It was her skill and her art to look at a complex problem and ask the right questions in the right order to gradually and precisely gather and organize the data, and then use it to come to the most appropriate solution.

    "Tell me everything!"

    (Oh, Katie...)
    Quote Originally Posted by Lizard Lord
    "Everythin'?!" Howard exclaims, clearly taken a back. "Oof. That's a tall order. But, sure, I''l give it ago."

    Howard takes a deep breath as he begins to recount the tale from the very beginning. Wait...how did it begin again? Let me just take a look real quick and....oh no. He wouldn't.

    "It all began while I was havin' this amazin' dream." ...Yes he would.

    "It had a character from a T.V. show from Duckworld called Daisy Duck. Well...tha character's name was Daisy Duck. Tha show was called Tha Duck's o' Hazard. Anyways she was soapin' up tha Dodge Quacker (that's tha name o' their car) while wearing these fantastic jean shorts and givin' me tha eyeball..."

    It is at this point that Katie might want to stop him.
    Quote Originally Posted by Quellian-dyrae
    On the other side of the phone, Howard wouldn't be able to see Katie's face briefly flicker with confusion, before she just kinda nodded to herself, not interrupting at all. After all, if Howard had begun the story with a dream, there was undoubtedly a reason for it. Katie was reminded of the Misfits' second adventure together, where the day had begun with several of them receiving strange but oddly relevant dream-visions. As a wizard, Katie knew well not to scoff at dreams. They could carry important omens, supernatural insights, and even lacking that, the value of one's own subconscious realizations was not to be discounted, as the very first Blessing she had ever cast upon the team had well shown.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lizard Lord
    "Then she leans over showing off her plumage and suggestively tellin' me how her brothers ain't gonna be 'round fer a while. And oh ho, I freakin' knew where this was going. After twenty freakin' years of not seeing another Duckworldian broad, or any freakin' hominid avian broads fer that matter, I was finally gonna get mine! Then BAM!"

    Howard's fist slams a wall of the spaceship for emphasis, the sound of which can be heard over the phone. "I wake up from the bright green light shinin' through my windows and tha freakin' Lanterns shoutin' at me. Don't ya freakin' hate that? Ya have a good dream and suddenly its being interrupted by tha crazy freakin' lifestyle ya got yerself roped inta. Happens to all o' us all tha freaking time, right? It's not just me?

    Anyways, they are freaking shoutin' at me ta surrender and I'm thinkin' I'm being framed again or somethin'. By one o' my doubles or a skrull or something like that. Another thing that I'm sure happens ta all o' us in this lifestyle a lot and not just me. ....Right?

    But...NOPE! Turns out they just wanted ta ask me some freakin' questions. I have no freakin' idea why they decided ta treat me like a freakin' criminal if they didn't think I did anything! But then again maybe that's why I'm not part o' tha @#$%ing Green Lantern @#$%ing space police!

    So there's this crazy green broad at my door carryin' a bunch o' knives and a sword even though she's got a freakin' lantern ring and worst case scenario could just freakin' conjure those things if she really needed them. She asks me what my "relationship" ta Darkseid is. As if I really freakin' had one. I told her how I broke up his relationship with his broad during tha Ten Second Invasion and how that was about the extent of our so called "relationship".....I told you all about that before right? Yea...I'm sure I did.
    " Katie can't see Howard nodding confidently over the phone as he continues his recap. Unlike Katie, he does not have an iron trap memory. Apparently good enough for this recap though.

    "Anyways when I tell this green broad that she @#$%ing looses it and smashes my door with her @#$%ing sword and no one would #$%@ tell me why?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE @#$%ING LANTERNS?!
    "

    Howard takes time to huff and puff after screaming right into the phone about what he still considered the most infuriating part of this whole adventure.


    After gathering himself Howard continues. "They heard about Krypton and Skrull, becuase their the space cops so of course they have. However, as I said before, tha Skrulls and Kryptonians couldn't be used ta testify. So they wanted me ta go ta Oa ta give my testimony. There I told them how Darkseid was narratin' tha story and I could hear it....yada yada yada. Again I'm pretty sure I told ya all that, so there's no need ta recap that part. Plus ya where there so ya know tha rest anyhows. Unfortunately space bureaucracy has somehow found a way ta be even more annoyin' than Earth bureaucracy and my testimony might still not be enough. So they wanted ta hire my keen detective skills ta figure out tha gaps in their case.

    Of course I used my negotiations skills to get a great deal. They have me go over some files and I noticed a few things. One: Darkseid, as an apprentyl legally recognized god o' destruction, because space bureaucracy is @#$%ing nuts like that, can legally oversee and even help along any destruction that is already in process. What he can't do, and what I'm sure we all know he is doin', is anythin' helps get that destruction started himself. This is why tha Skrulls' and Kryptonians' testimonies won't work. They can't actually prove that he started their civil wars, and fer good reason as I already mentioned but I'll get ta that. Two: There where no reliable witnesses about what happened ta Krypton. There was a solar flare that blinded tha only Lantern that got ta see tha planet just before it was gone. Three: Tha Skrull Imperials had got tha help o' tha Shi'ar ta stop tha rebels and combined they had overwhlemin' forces ta defend their homeworld against tha Skrull rebels.

    When I get ta tha archives where they where catalogin' all tha Skrulls that where at tha final battle. O' course they where categorized as either dead or unconfirmed and it seemed obvious that tha unconfirmed were also dead. Kinda seemed pointless, and it sorta was, but I got ta thinkin'. Darkschmuck was going tha whole serial killer route, y'know? He had patterns. But how does tha Ten Second invasion fit inta tha pattern? That weren't no civil war. It was an invasion, it says so right in tha freaking name! That wasn't really internal strife, like tha sort they where invadin' ta prevent. It was external. And, like I said, there was no good evidence that Krypton had a civil war. But tha Skrulls did so it had ta be tha rebels that did it right? Wrong! That Shi'ar where also there and I noticed they weren't listed wit' tha dead. All tha Skrulls die, but most if not all tha Shi'ar live? No freakin' way. But what about Krypton? I ask if they had any non-Kryptonians planet side at tha time they had their planet shatterin' kaboom. Turns out they liked ta keep isolated. Most foreign aliens (and there weren't a lot ta begin wit') were refugees, expect one alien empire kept an embassy on Krypton. Can ya guess who? That's right! Tha freakin' Shi'ar! Turns out they even sent a message o' some sort ta Braniac just before he took off wit' a Kryptonian city in tow, which in turn was just before Krypton blew up. Braniac, combined wit' what that Skrulls where sayin', is tha one that got it in their heads that a Civil War destroyed Krypton. Now I don't freakin' know why tha Shi'ar are workin' wit Darkschmuck given they helped tha Kree, Justice League, and Avengers kick his grey space @#$, but either way they are. Or at least they did so twice already. Maybe they didn't realize they were doing so?

    Lets see....anytin' else? Oh yea! I helped this @#$%&*+ named Drax track down a catch a Kryptonian that Darkschmuck had brainwashed. On tha way I was attacked by a couple o' Yella Lanterns that Darkchump sent after me. Arrested them too, so they should also being able ta testify against him in tha trial. Oh yea, there's gonna be a trial. I kinda suggested ta one o' tha Lanterns that they ask ya ta testify since ya can confirm tha Keeper o' Threes was being mind controlled. Ya don't mind do ya? I mean....ya could say no if ya did fer some reason.
    "
    Quote Originally Posted by Quellian-dyrae
    Katie listened quietly to Howard's explanation. Not so much because she didn't have things to ask, as because the first thing that had to do with the meat of the matter was that Howard had, apparently, broken Darkseid up with someone he was in love with and at that moment, Katie knew that she was going to have to hear the whole story before she could ask intelligent questions on the subject.

    She only interrupted once, in that huffy pause after Howard had ranted about his door, where she offered, "I-I can fix it. I can, I have a spell, it'll fix it right up." Because Katie would always be Katie.

    It was a lot to take in. But Katie understood why Darkseid had put a hit out on Howard now. The Misfits had largely been just reacting to everything that Darkseid and his plans and the people trying to put a stop to his plans had been doing. They had only recently gotten enough of a handle on things to really start getting proactive. Howard, meanwhile, was blowing openings in the case left and right. The case that Katie had no idea had even existed.

    The others were going to need to hear this. And ideally, from the horse's (duck's, whatever) mouth. But for now, Katie needed to get the information straight in her head.

    Once Howard had finished, she said, "Um, okay...give me a few minutes. I just...need to process all this," she said. She went quiet for about five minutes, not asking any questions immediately, just letting everything sink in.

    Finally, she said, "Okay. Um, first thing's first. Yeah, I can definitely testify to the Lanterns. Mmm...sort of. Legally, the only thing I can actually confirm is that the Keeper of Threes was under the influence of mind control when he called the invasion. The fact that my Freedom spell ended the effect is concrete evidence of that fact. I can't technically confirm that it was Darkseid who caused the mind control, but hopefully your testimony can do that." Katie wasn't a lawyer, but she knew the basics well enough to know the difference between circumstantial evidence and actual evidence. The very concept of taking Darkseid to court for his crimes just struck her as vaguely insane. The man destroyed planets. You don't sue someone who destroys planets. You whelm the most powerful forces you can get your hands on and banish or vanquish them. But hey, if the Lanterns could actually pull it off - or, more practically, if proving Darkseid's crimes meant they could get the Green Lantern Corps to back them during the Inevitable Final Confrontation? - Katie'd do anything she could to help.

    But then there were the other matters. "So, next, we um, actually didn't really talk about, you know, what you said. With the breakup, and the narrating, and all that. 'Cause, remember, everything got really busy after the invasion and then you and I met a few days later but we didn't really talk about work stuff." And that was on her. Katie remembered having thought about asking Howard what all had been going on and why he had been acting so weird and why he had vanished and all that, and decided it was all just too crazy and to let it be. Obviously, something important had happened. Possibly even more important than the invasion they had fought. "So...what did happen? I mean...I remember you were talking to...I mean, I don't know, at the time I thought you were just talking to yourself but it wasn't, was it? You were actually talking to someone, and then you vanished and...I don't know. What happened?"

    It wasn't all she wanted to ask, but before she got into the new information, she figured she had better be on the same page as Howard regarding what exactly she already knew.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lizard Lord
    "We didn't? Ya sure? Huh. Okay. Well ya remember when we fought Deadpool and things got weird and I told ya how Deadpool killed a cosmic being and took its place and powers? Well because of a certain...uniqueness o' mine I was able ta hear Deadpool narratin' tha story. Cause that's how tha cosmic being's powers work. He controls tha story by tellin' it. Can't tell ya what about me lets me hear that narratin' and nor can I tell ya why I'm not allowed ta hear it anymore. Let's just call it 'Cosmic Law.'

    Anyhows, it was Deadpool that sent us ta that freakin' meetin' o' tha minds where we were talkin' 'bout tha Skrulls. There I had convinced Doc Fate ta cast a spell ta bring tha cosmic being back ta life. Except Darkschmuck seemed ta have intercepted it. He wound up takin' tha Cosmic Beings place and used its powers ta erase Deadpool from existence. At least...I freakin' hope that was tha comic beings power, since otherwise that would mean he can still do that. Mind ya he didn't kill Deadpool, but erased his entirety from existence sayin' somethin' 'bout how Death was too good fer Deadpool.

    So I started hearin' his narratin' now. Tha guy is a freakin' stick tha mud and didn't like me being in tha story. Tha freakin' clown called ME a clown and said that his story didn't have room for humor in it! Soooo I kinda figured that maybe I needed humor ta interrupt his story and hopefully also his plans. I guess it worked enough that I got tha attention o' tha one that he was tellin' tha story for. He was tellin' it for Lady Death herself (and no that ain't just some alias like ya super-types like ta use). She teleported me ta tha two o' them ta talk 'bout my critiques o' tha story. Since I had an audience wit' Death herself I figure I oughta ask 'bout tha cosmic being. Turns out they got Deadpool ta do it fer them. There was somethin' 'bout the way she said it that made me think she was on good terms wit' tha moron, and Darkseid was squirmin' all nervous like. Made me think that Death didn't know what Darkseid did ta that Deadpool, so naturally I told her. Death sends me back ta Saturn's complex, Darkschmuck brings Deadpool back inta existence thinkin' it will get Death ta take him back (hopefully it didn't) and then I guess Death brings tha Cosmic Being back ta life.
    Quote Originally Posted by Quellian-dyrae
    Katie...wasn't sure she entirely followed. For one, how in the world did Deadpool kill a cosmic being of any kind, let alone one whose power Darkseid was interested in? She also wasn't entirely parsing what Howard meant about narrating and story-telling, but she assumed it was more-or-less along the lines of Darkseid having to dictate out-loud what the people under his influence did. She might have assumed Howard imagined the whole thing, if it weren't for the fact that some bits did line up and she had seen him get teleported away.

    So, okay, take that down to the core information. Darkseid and Deadpool were in a love triangle with the anthropomorphic personification of Death, and Howard had wrecked their relationship.

    It said something that despite now having much more detailed information on the subject, Katie had no new ideas for how to proceed.

    Moving on!

    "Okay, got it," she said, so as not to besmirch her noble profession by sounding completely clueless. "So, you said Darkseid was doing the serial killer thing? So, like, he has rituals, and stuff? With a civil war or some sort of internal strife being part of it, but are there others? If we know what rituals he needs to have in place...that could give us an advantage." It probably wouldn't be enough to stop him, but they might be able to manipulate him, or even get him to slip up.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lizard Lord
    Quote Originally Posted by Quellian-dyrae
    "So, you said Darkseid was doing the serial killer thing? So, like, he has rituals, and stuff? With a civil war or some sort of internal strife being part of it, but are there others? If we know what rituals he needs to have in place...that could give us an advantage." It probably wouldn't be enough to stop him, but they might be able to manipulate him, or even get him to slip up.
    "What!? No!! Weren't ya freakin' listenin'? Internal strife and civil wars never had anythin' ta do wit' it! Skrulls didn't destroy Skrull World and Krypton had zero signs o' a civil war! If tha Skrulls and Kryptonian's plan went exactly how they wanted it it still wouldn't have worked, because they were tricked inta thinking they knew what Darkscmuck was doin', but they didn't!"

    Howard sighs he thought he had explained that already, but he'll give it another go. "By "serial killer" I mean Darkschmuck has a pattern ta this. We know fer sure about three attempts o' Darkseids, ta get a planet destroyed right? Krypton, Skrull World, and Earth. Sure his attempt on Earth failed, but tha Ten Second Invasion was still an honest attempt ta get Earth destroyed. So if Krypton and Skrull World were destroyed in a Civil War how does tha Ten Second Invasion fit in? Furthermore do ya really believe that a freakin' space god wit' a relationship wit Death had no idea what they were doin'? Why did he only interfere after they gave up their plan?

    I'm tellin' ya; Skrulls didn't destroy Skrull world. If they did either tha Skrulls that did it would have survived or no one would have, but only tha Shi'ar that were at tha battle survived. They were able ta survive because they saw it comin' and they saw it comin' because they did it. Krypton had no signs o' civil war or even internal strife large enough ta start a civil war. Tha Skrull's homeworld went first and it seemed easy ta link it ta current events. Tha survivin' Kryptons were lied to by Brainiac about Krypton havin' a civil war and it seemed easy ta believe him after they talked wit' tha Skrulls. It. Wasn't. True.
    "
    Quote Originally Posted by Quellian-dyrae
    "But he's making it look like internal strife is a thing," Katie clarified. "Or, well, any sort of strife, I guess. Probably because of the legal thing? He made it look like the Skrull world was destroyed in their civil war. The Kryptonians believe their world was, presumably because of him. And the Ten Second Invasion...well, the thing is, is the Ten Second Invasion valid evidence? You said the Shi'ar were involved in the other worlds, right? But they had nothing to do with the Invasion. And...you said Darkseid had the thing against you for 'messing up his story' or whatever. Could he have been, like...overcompensating, sort of? Like, because you're messing the story up he makes an invasion happen and tries to make it...look like it was because you wiped snot on the Keeper of Threes robes, sort of?" Katie got...more and more hesitant as she went on. She didn't like this theory. It seemed too...petty.

    "See, the thing is, we've been warned that Darkseid's approach is going to be heralded by more strife. Hate, and crimes, and even like suicides and stuff. Not from the Skrull or Kryptonians, from another source. Not a perfect one, but a pretty reliable one. And we are pretty sure he's still coming. So it might be a good idea to not count the Ten Second Invasion itself towards the pattern. It might have just been a...like a crime of passion, sort of, as opposed to part of his usual MO?" Katie was having some trouble putting global genocides in the context of a Law and Order episode, but she was trying!
    Quote Originally Posted by Lizard Lord
    "Well I don't know who yer source is, but Darkseid was tellin' tha story ta Death and he told me he had planned fer it endin' in Death. His whole freakin' motive up til now was ta woo Death. Now I'm guessing his motive is revenge, sorry 'bout that. Tha second I heard Darkschmuck talkin' he was makin' his move ta destroy tha Earth. Maybe I made him sloppy and pushed his plans up, that's what I was freakin' tryin' ta do, but I would think any signs o' him showin' up woulda already happened. Furthormore Krypton didn't have those warnin's either. There was no rise in violence before Krypton's destruction. Do ya got anyways ta put me in contact wit this source o' yers? Maybe he's just wrong and we can swap notes."
    Quote Originally Posted by Quellian-dyrae
    "I'm...not sure. He's a time traveller...I know he was spending some time in our timeline but I don't know if he's still here. I can see though!" Katie said. "Although...it wasn't like, actual 'I come from the future where this happened' information. It was more like...super-deduction with a side of temporal analysis, maybe? So even if he's not here anymore, I think Sarah would have whatever information he did, or be able to get it. A big note-comparison session is probably a good idea. I'd like to see what Ta'li has to say on all this. Maybe the Keeper of Threes as well. They're both high-up in the Skrulls and Kryptonians respectively. I've been kinda wondering if the information they were working with was correct. Now that we know it's not, we need to know why they think they know what they think they know."
    Quote Originally Posted by Lizard Lord
    Howard notices a sudden stop in the ships and see that he is not only past Earth's atmosphere but has arrived at his apartment. Looks like Jordon moves fast. "Yea well I hit ground just now, but maybe we can hold off on tha face ta face meetin' tomorrow or later in tha week or somethin'."

    Howard sighs as he steps past the broken wreckage of his door. "It's been a long freakin' and I just wanna relax and SUNAVA @#$%! I'LL CALL YA LATER!"

    Howard furiously slams the flip of his phone (because of course he uses a flip phone) as he glares daggers at the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D. that seems to think that a broken door is an open invitation. And as Fury talks about the Misfits a thought occurs to Howard. ~Wait.....who tha @#$% is Tali?~


    As the heroes started arriving, Katie had about two-thirds of the food already laid out (with the various trays, bowls, and dishes they were in enchanted with some cantrips to keep warm/cool), another quarter of it ready and being brought out, and the rest still cooking. So the heroes who arrived would be greeted by a huge and well-stocked buffet that was being constantly added to as if the magical floating hands working in the kitchen took each new arrival as a challenge to overcome with the addition of even more food. Katie left the finishing work to them, coming out of the kitchen to greet the heroes as they arrived. She made it a point to welcome each hero or group individually as they arrived, thanking them for coming, making some small talk (the less charitable might instead say "babbling" and it would not have been imprecise), and - of course - tossing around hugs like they were going out of style. Her demeanor was one of effervescent excitement and vibrant cheer.

    She returned Rene's hug tightly. "Yay you're here! It's good to see you too!" She caught on to his nervousness quickly enough, though. She hoped the content of the discussion would help put him at ease - she figured Rene in particular would probably be a fan of what they were aiming to do here - but she did recognize that the catalyzing reason for it...might not exactly be encouraging. So she added quietly, "Hey, once everyone's settled and business is concluded...let's talk, okay?"

    (Although she soon broke off to greet other arrivals, she did kinda keep an eye on Rene and Howard once the latter had also arrived. One might notice a kinda expectant grin on her face whenever she looked their way, as if for some reason she expected something amazing and/or hilarious to happen once the two were in proximity of each other.)

    She was in her new costume, smiley-face and all, but it probably wouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone. At least, not to anyone who paid attention to the news at all. Katie had been wearing her costume throughout her activities. She had changed it for a reason after all, and while there was a certain part of her brain that had quietly mourned the loss of a Big Dramatic Reveal, she had shut it up and gone with practicality.

    If anything, she was doubly friendly towards those arrivals who kept on the fringes of the gathering, or whose entrances brought them glares. She didn't pester them to mingle, she didn't berate those giving the looks. She just made it very clear through her actions that they had been invited and they were all welcome here.

    And then Superman walked in, looking better than Katie had seen him in a long time.

    She didn't really get a chance to go over to greet his group, because the entire room basically swarmed him, but seeing Superman walking in lifted a weight from her shoulders. In all honesty, Katie still wasn't entirely sure just how much of Superman's malaise had been from what he had undergone at the Talisman's and Rel'kor's hands, and how much had been from her botching her initial rescue attempt. Seeing him looking like his old self...it didn't relieve her of the guilt, but it eased the pain that guilt inflicted on her, just as Hector's resurrection had.

    Though she didn't have a chance to approach, she cast her gaze through the crowd to catch Jimmy's eye, and gave him a big, congratulatory smile before mouthing, "Wow!"

    Superman called for order, and Katie took the opportunity afforded by the heroes finding their seats to head over to the little dais they had set up for speaking to the group. Now, this was all of their plan, and Fred's idea originally. Katie had fully intended to let Fred speak first here.

    But when she got up there, standing in front of nearly a hundred of her Heroes, her role-models, her friends, seeing them all together and imagining everything they could accomplish, everything they were going to accomplish, and then Superman asked what they had and, and, and...

    Nope. She just got too excited and burst into an immediate stream of babble. "Okay so! Ahhh I can't believe this is actually happening! Okay! Right! So, I'm pretty sure most of you know at least the basics of what this is about by this point, but just in case, the short version is, Darkseid is coming back. And we need to get ready to stop him. Thing is, we have a prediction that his approach is supposed to come with a general increase in, like, negative emotion throughout the world. Despair, and hate, and fear, and other yuckiness. It's possible that this is just a side effect of his proximity, or a calculated effort to weaken his opposition, or even a means by which he can gain strength or exert control over others, like he did during the Ten Second Invasion. The details are a bit shaky, but regardless, the basic premise here is that the best way to counter it is to just start adding so much joy and love and hope to the world that his creepy emotion mojo can't match it."

    "And the way we're thinking to do that...it's like, look, raise your hand if you've ever wondered if what we do is enough." Katie lifted her own hand into the air. "If you've ever wanted to use your powers for more than fighting supervillains. Or even if you actually did that, but could only get so far with it. Because the problems are too complicated to just fix. It's like..."

    Katie looked to Kal-El with a smile. "Superman's back," she said, as if they weren't aware. "I mean, he knows. Probably better than any of us. How many times while he was away have we heard people ask why Superman wasn't fixing some problem? Even when one or another of the rest of us did it just fine! And, I mean, honestly...how many of us, even if for only a moment, when we were fighting some villain we weren't sure we could beat, or trying to stop some disaster we weren't sure we could avert, or trying to rescue some person we weren't sure we could save, how many of us in the past few months secretly wondered, deep down, why Superman couldn't come flying in to save the day?"

    "But the thing is, it hasn't just been these past few months. 'Why can't Superman fix it?' is a question people have been asking for as long as he's been active. He gets it worse than any of us, but we all get it. 'Oh, Doctor Fate, why can't you just cast a spell to end world hunger?' 'Oh, Flash, why can't you just run through all the dictatorships in the world and take all their guns away?' 'Oh, Reed Richards is useless, he only ever invents things to fight bad guys!'"

    "They talk as if we haven't thought about it, as if we haven't wanted to do it, as if we haven't tried it. But how many of us have asked ourselves those very same questions, and hated the fact that they did have answers? That there's already enough food to feed the world without casting a spell for it, and even if you could cast a spell to summon infinite food, that wouldn't mean it gets to the people who need it most. That even if you run in and take all the guns away, those dictatorships would immediately start buying new guns, and the money for those purchases would come out of the pockets of their already-impoverished citizens. That inventing world-changing technology and setting up the infrastructure necessary to allow non-super-scientists to produce it on a mass scale, provide whatever energy or resources is necessary to use it, maintain it for continuous usage, and get it to the people who can use it are in fact two entirely different things!"

    "In short? How many of us have saved the world, only to wake up the next day and find ourselves still living in a world that needs saving?" Her hand was still held high.

    "It doesn't matter how powerful we are, how versatile we are, how heroic we are. We can treat the symptoms. We rock at treating the symptoms. But none of us, not even Superman, can fix all the problems of the world, can really save it. Not on our own."

    "So this is the part where I'm supposed to give a speech about how we can really do it if we all just work together, right? And yeah, that's part of it. All together, we can bring more power, more options, more ideas to bear. But that isn't all of it."

    "Alone, we're great at treating individual symptoms, but none of us can treat all of the symptoms. All together...I mean, maybe we can, but that still doesn't fix the underlying problems. And the reality is, it takes time, it takes effort. We've all made sacrifices for this job, but we can't and shouldn't sacrifice our entire lives to the effort. We have to take care of ourselves too. And even if we could do all of that, even if we could fix all the symptoms and work 24/7 to keep them fixed..."
    the memory of the Civil War and its aftermath played clearly in Katie's mind.

    "It's not sustainable. We're...well, most of us aren't immortal. Or indefatigable. We won't be around forever. Some day, the world is going to have to chug along without us. And if its prosperity is built on our constant effort, it won't be able to. We might give it a few decades of complete prosperity, but then it will all fall apart. That might be enough for beating Darkseid. But it's not enough for me."

    "We came to you guys because we have a plan. It's not a plan to fix everything ourselves, to push our powers and wills and motivations to their limits. It's a plan for targeted improvement. We rock at treating the symptoms, so let's treat the symptoms that are standing in the way of the world fixing the underlying problems itself."

    "We can't feed the planet with a single spell. But what if our speedsters went around to impoverished countries and started planting acres of food, and our mages and weather controllers ensured bountiful harvests, and our paragons and conjurers built the infrastructure necessary to get the food to the people who need it?" She looked around the room as she said so, at the Flash and Captain Marvel and Doctor Fate and Storm and the Builder and...

    "We can't dictate the policy of other countries. But what if our warriors could guard locations that we currently have armies protecting, demilitarizing an area without sacrificing defense for those who need it? Or guard shipments of humanitarian aid and ensure it gets where it needs to go? Or protect diplomats and emissaries while they work to build more stable and peaceful states?" At Amazon and Black Panther and Captain America and Cyclops and Ciaran and...

    "What if we could get the big corporations to donate things like medicine and food and supplies in exchange for getting some R&D help from our super-geniuses? What if our reality-warpers could set up specialized portals to ease the logistics of intercontinental shipment? What if our crime-fighters and investigators worked with the police to clean up the streets in a way that neither can do alone?" At Richards and Palmer and Zatanna and Batman and Howard and...

    Her voice, which had been steadily growing in intensity as excitement flushed her features, grew almost fevered as she said, "And what if it wasn't just us!? What if other mages, and mutants, and metahumans, and supers of all description who had never tried to use their powers for good, who had never wanted the risk or stress of being superheroes, finally had a way to come out and use their abilities! What if every day, people around the world saw their heroes coming to their hometowns and leaving them better off than they were the day before? What if the front page headline of every newspaper, the biggest viral articles and videos on the internet, were about this enormous effort to make the world a better place? What if we got people so pumped up about it, so swept up in joining their heroes in improving the world, that all the little fears and complications and prejudices that are standing in the way of it started to fade away?" At Superman and Magneto and the Wasp and Kitty and Spider-Man and...

    "That's the plan. That's what we've asked you all here to discuss. A concerted, coordinated, organized campaign to improve the world and help the world improve itself by any and all means available to us. We know it's ambitious. We know there are complexities and complications. We know it will take work and time and effort. But I believe the people of Earth possess sufficient personal virtue to make it work. I believe that they will make it work eventually, with or without our aid. But we have the ability to speed it up, to jump-start the process and smash down some of the barriers in the way!"

    As...was kinda becoming the norm whenever Katie started talking about this subject, she finished her speech flushed, breathing heavily, and smiling hugely. She cast one more sweeping look over the room, and finished up with, "So...who's down?"
    Last edited by Quellian-dyrae; 2016-09-24 at 01:05 AM.
    A role playing game is three things. It is an interactive story, a game of chance, and a process in critical thinking.

    If brevity is the soul of wit, I'm witty like a vampire!

    World of Aranth
    M&M 3e Character Guide

  18. - Top - End - #378
    Troll in the Playground
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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Ronin

    Logan was gone… that caused a great deal of turmoil in the X-Men, and Fred in particular. He played into Muramasa’s hands and sent Logan packing. He didn’t know where he was, and although there were highly capable people looking for him, Fred doubted they would find Logan until Logan wanted to be found. The thing about being open to your own feelings is that the bad ones felt like even more of a punch to the gut. Yet he soldiered on. The world needed saving. Everything else could come afterwards. So he’d gathered the X-Men, made preparations regarding future tactics, and spent the rest of his time fighting as many good fights as he could. He took his work across the world, one mirror at a time.

    Before he knew it, the time had come for the great gathering. Fred had been with Katie as she prepared, and he helped to move things around. He also “helped” to cook (mostly by taste-testing, which had eventually earned him a rebuke). He kept a good soundtrack going all the while, favoring oldies and garage bands. Though he had things weighing on him, he remained relatively upbeat.

    The clothing he chose to wear for this event was typical. He wore his black X-Men outfit, but his old school shades had been replaced with wraparounds for the time being.

    The meeting began, with each group entering one by one. Fred naturally gravitated towards the X-Men, though his eyes were drawn over to Kara as she made an appearance. He had been wondering where she was, how she was doing with all of everything happening.* (See previous issues, kids!) She was working with Captain Steve Rogers, a move that Fred would always applaud. She seemed to be avoiding conversation, but if she looked in Fred’s direction he would lift his hand in a small wave and mouth, “Hey.” Nightwing received a fist-bump… and then there was Superman.

    Fred’s mouth cracked into a smile. Just the sight of Kal-El as his old self made his heart swell with joy and relief. His eyes wandered to Spider-Man from behind his shades. Good job, Spidey… good job. Jimmy got a thumbs up from Fred before all went quiet and Katie spoke. He made his way up to the front.

    Katie had been selected to be the administrator of this endeavor. She had the mind for it and she had the temperament. She put things as well as anyone could have.

    “Darkseid is an existential threat to our world and all of our peoples,” he said. His baritone voice spoke clearly. It may have shocked some who hadn’t seen him lately. He never was a talker before, especially in big groups. “He’s on his way here and we know that to be a fact. He destroyed the worlds of the Kryptonians and the Skrulls, and he wants to destroy us too. It doesn’t matter if you’re human, mutant, Inhuman, Atlantean, or Kryptonian. He is your enemy. He is the Enemy.”

    “Like Potence just told you, he thrives on hatred, anger, hopelessness. He wields those emotions like a weapon, and it has proven to be a powerful weapon… But it also might be his weakness. Positive emotions: hope, joy, belief in something better. These can be our weapon against him.”

    “It’s time that Earth saves itself. The hope and belief of every sentient life form on this planet would be powerful to use against him… but we have to do our job and foster those emotions. Laugh at me if you want, but everything helps. Make someone smile. Go visit a sick child. Feed someone who’s hungry. Tell someone that has given up that they can go on.”

    He pointed at the Old Guard, “It’s time for all of you to get back to doing what you need to do and more. Things were bad, but they can be better. You guys are all here, I’ve watched you. You’re friends, companions. The world needs the Justice League. The world needs the Avengers… and the Fantastic Four… and the X-Men.”

    “And all mutants, and all countries. It needs everyone now.”

    He turned towards his own friends. “We all keep fighting for a world that seems against us… Cyclops, the Professor believes that we could make a difference; and we have in the past. We need to do it again. We need to do what we’ve done before. We get knocked down and we get back up. We show those who hate and fear us that we’re the good guys. We can’t sit it out anymore.”

    And to Magneto. “Magneto… The world needs to help Genosha. Those plans Potence talked about? They could help conditions in your country. But more than that, you can be an example to all. You were my teacher once. I’ve seen you be a hero. I know you have it in you. I believe in you… I’m asking for you to believe in me now. Give me your faith just this once. Have I ever betrayed my word? I know you’re reluctant, but I swear to you on my honor, on my life,” he clenched a fist to his heart, “that this is the best chance for our survival, and the best chance for a better future for mutantkind.”

    He fell quiet before giving his closing. “We all need to believe. We all need to hope. We need to help the world do that too. If we can, then we’ll wield a weapon far greater than anything Darkseid can bring to bear.”

    “Long story short… I’m down.”
    Spoiler
    Show

  19. - Top - End - #379
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Lizardfolk

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Howard enters wearing trenchcoat with suspenders, a fedora, and a loose fitting tie. When others glare at Fury, Howard is there to glare right at him with them. Sure it is unlikely that there is anything wrong with Howard going to a meeting Potence held and Fury IS paying, but they doesn't mean Howard isn't still pissed at Fury breaking into his house to bring him here.

    To the first person that might shoot a glare or confused look Howard's way the Durckworldian simply lights up a cigar and grumbles at them "What? Ya never seen a @#$%^&* duck before?"

    It may be considered rude or inconsiderate to smoke a cigar in a full room like this, but most of these people probably either have some sort super lungs or inhaled something worse in the form of a super villain's gas based weapon. It'll be fine and if anyone complains they can take the cigar from Howard's cold dead feathers.

    Howard looks around a bit after taking a seat by the exit (because he didn't feel like walking around the place too much) where Fury's crew decided to settle as well. There seemed to be a lot of Big Shot and Medium shot super heroes attending this place. Howard has been in the gig long enough to have either met or know of most of them, but there were just a few nobodies that Howard didn't recognize. Namely the spikey haired punk that stood with the Misfits, the twerp that Batman dragged along with him (Seriously, what is with Batmen young sidekicks?), and the big ol' lizard man that plopped himself down next to Howard.

    When Superman entered Howard was among those that didn't really react. I mean, it was only a matter time so what's the big deal really? Though having Superman back does help with Howard's earlier "punch Darkseid in the face" plan. As do the Avengers and JLA getting their act together and least sorta reforming.

    When the big lizard man starts talking about being a little scared by all this Howard can't help but shoot him a look. Sure he is, by his own admission, still new to his business but nothing has even happened yet. "Relax, kid. Folks are just talkin'. No supervillian in tha @#$%^&* universe is gonna attack a place that has this many capes in one spot. Even @#$%^&* Darkseid would wanna wait until we all go our separate ways first. And anyone here that starts an argument over somethin' petty here is gonna look like tha biggest @#$%^&* in tha #$%^&*@ world. Wit' that said ya might wanna keep yer eyes on Constantine, Namor, and Magneto." Howard whispers back the human reptile as he points at each one in case the lizard (with a lower case l, thankfully) didn't know who they were.

    And then Potence's speech begins and Howard leans in close and listens carefully. He noticed that she seemed to still be going off old information, but maybe she wrote the speech before then and didn't have time to change it. Or maybe she had here doubts. That sounded more likely to Howard, fitting more with past experiences in general than with Katie in particular. Still when she asked if anyone ever felt they didn't do enough, Howard did not raise his hand. Because well...he didn't! If anything Howard always felt like he had done too much as is. Like he had done more than anyone had any right to ask of him. Howard never wanted to save the day, not really. It was like the day forced him to save it, whether through guilt or the actions of @#$%^&* villains or even other heroes. Howard pays one more glare to Fury for safe measure. Howard didn't have powers so why should he have to carry the responsibilities of it?

    But when Katie asked how many had felt like they found that world always needed saving, Howard did raise his hand for that. He wouldn't be constantly forced to save the day if it didn't constantly need saving.

    As Howard listens to end of Katie's he thinks the plan may be a good, if naively optimistic, one. Darkseid might not be using internal strife like was believed, but getting the superhero community to band together should have always been the plan to fight Darkseid regardeless. If everyone can agree to it and do there part there is no reason for it to not work. Well, everyone except Howard that is. I mean, lets be real, the plan doesn't need Howard to be part of it for it to work. He might wind up being there to fight Darkseid, if for no other reason than the fact that Darkseid may just bring the fight Howard, but the rest of it doesn't need him. Plus this sounds like a free job (or rather a lot of free jobs) and Howard has bills to pay.

    Sure Katie is his friend......

    And sure he doesn't have too many of those....

    But.....

    Awww...@#$%!

    So it came to be that the cynical Howard the Duck was the first outside the Misfits to speak up. Sure. Okay. If ya got something fer me ta do, I'll do it fer ya."
    Last edited by Lizard Lord; 2016-09-24 at 03:20 AM.

  20. - Top - End - #380
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    CandyLaser's Avatar

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    Mar 2015

    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    In the run-up to the meeting, Sarah was even more withdrawn and insular than usual. There were several reasons for this, some good, some less so. The good reasons all had to do with making things happen. The meeting itself had to be planned and arranged. Just assembling the list of invitees alone was a nightmare. Everyone who had a stake in the world's future deserved to be there, and in that sense absolutely EVERYONE deserved to be there. Cronus Complex could be made bigger on the inside, but not that big.

    In the end, assembling the list of guests was a bit of a balancing act. Sarah had pushed for a more inclusive list than was finally agreed on. She thought that Lex Luthor, for all of his many, many flaws (and his flagrant, excessive baldness) was sensible enough to realize that working against Darkseid was in his best interests as well. Privately, she thought Doctor Doom should also have been invited, for much the same reasons. Ultimately it was her concern for Katie that led Sarah not to propose the Latverian overlord be invited.

    There were other tasks that kept Sarah busy as well. Sylvester was still around, but in the background. Knowing that his departure was due to happen, though, would have provoked something from Sarah is she were not an exemplar of Saturnine stoicism. Instead, Sarah did what she normally did when she was down - she threw herself fully into her work. Comprehending, modifying, and building the weapon provided by her comatose counterpart from Sylvester's world had taken quite a while. Making contact with most of her other multiversal duplicates and assembling them into a cross-world brain trust had been a good distraction. And on a whim she built a few more gadgets to add to her arsenal, mainly to give her something to do.

    Of course, there was also her part of the Plan (Katie insisted on the capital letters). Overnight, the Saturn Foundation had changed its focus to something that Sarah called Project Tomorrow. Oh, there was still plenty of money going to scientific research and development. But now it was time for that R&D to make the world better, starting with those worst off. Sarah herself designed and built the prototype for the nanotechnological nutrient dispensers that were being installed at homeless shelters and famine-wracked regions the world over. Cheap, environmentally safe power had been on her list, as well. That wasn't checked off just yet, but the Foundation had sent von Neumann probes off to Mercury. On arrival, the probes would replicate themselves until a critical mass was reached, then start to coat the innermost planet's surface with solar collectors. The power could then be beamed back to Earth through Sarah's portals.

    As the meeting's participants arrived, Sarah (or one of her trans-temporal duplicates) was on hand to greet them. Unlike some of her teammates, Sarah wasn't in costume. It would have sent the wrong message, according to her mathematical projections. The whole point of the Plan involved making the world a better place, harnessing their powers to bring about genuine positive change. Sarah's part of that plan wasn't going to be fulfilled by dressing in a bodysuit and punching purse thieves in the face; it was going to come about through the use of the resources she'd spent a lifetime carefully cultivating.

    Guests continued to come in, and as the burbling buzz of conversation filled the corridors of Cronus she spent most of
    her time talking to the ones who she thought most useful in the battles to come. That meant the leaders of the teams, the rulers, the high-ranking officials. She let Katie handle glad-handing the rest. It helped quite a bit that Katie would never have thought of things that way.

    After Katie gave her speech - Sarah had made predictions about how successful it was likely to be, but unfortunately sending them to Katie would have caused her to change the speech and thereby change the results - Sarah spoke, briefly, as well.

    "Some of you will undoubtedly want to know how we know that Darkseid is coming. I've prepared documentation on the subject, and it will be made available to you." She glanced at Iron Man with a smile. "Tony, you've probably already noticed a directory labeled 'Look here, Stark' on our network. You'll find your copy there. It's encrypted, of course - I don't want to spoil your fun. For everyone else, the long and short of it is that even if we're wrong, this is still the right thing to do. I've spent some time exploring other worlds recently, looking for additional allies against Darkseid. You'll likely meet some of them soon. One thing I noted, though, is that the worlds that turned out best were ones where the heroic community banded together." For a moment, she blanched as she recalled the fate of Sylvester's world, and her projections of the fate of Sylvester himself and her counterpart there. "Darkseid is not the only threat out there. A better world makes us better able to face them all."
    Last edited by CandyLaser; 2016-09-24 at 06:12 PM.

  21. - Top - End - #381
    Titan in the Playground
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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    When the various super-parties begin to arrive, Zach is artfully lounging on a nearby recliner. Through the room there is a faint thread of music: guitar strings of triumph, energetic drums, graceful wind instruments. It's both soothing and enjoyable to hear at once, and its source perks up when the Blackbird sets down. With what he knows about the reason for such a large gathering of heroes, Zach can't help but smirk in anticipation.

    Sure, he had been flattered when Ronin had asked him to join his plan. It was sort of a new feeling for him: being wanted for something other than his looks. He'd been part of clubs and groups in the past, true; but he'd been the one to initiate contact with them, he'd been the one to fight for inclusion. With his poor background and his clashing attitude, he hadn't exactly had an overflow of friends, physical attractiveness notwithstanding. Which is why this gave him such surprise...

    Spoiler: Minor flashback
    Show
    It had been a few weeks after that fateful day, in which literal months of his life had passed to change his life forever. He'd been at home, munching on some fast food while tuning his baby for a small gig. His phone had rang, and the caller ID of "Katie" brings a smile to his face. "'Sup, Katie?" he asks with casual ease, holding the phone up by the shoulder as he fiddles with his guitar's neck.

    "Hey, Zach!" the perennially-chipper voice of Potence rings back. "How are you?"

    "Oh, not bad, just getting ready for a gig tonight. How goes on your end?"

    "Pretty good! I've been working on some stuff, and my sister made me a thing. A cool thing. A cool thing." Zach can't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. "But I'm actually calling on official team business. We're hosting a superhero get-together at Cronus. Gonna get all of the super-teams together to fill them in on The Plan." Zach can hear the capitalization of those last two words. "This is gonna be the start of the counterattack against Darkseid, so we need all hands on deck!"

    Zach nods even though she can't see him. "Sounds good! Lemme know how it goes, and I'll get started on my schmoozing."

    "You can schmooze when you're there!" Katie sing-songs. "I said we need all hands on deck, and that means all Misfits, too!"

    Zach opens his mouth to retort, then stops with a small choking sound. A thousand thoughts whirled around his head, a thousand words fought to leave his mouth. After a considerable pause of silence, he manages to get out, "I'm part of the Misfits?"

    He cringes at the obvious emotion in his voice and hopes beyond hope that she doesn't comment on it. As it is, there is a momentary pause before she retorts, "Well, duh! After all we went through, you think you can get away from us?"

    There's something in her voice that practically dares him to tell her he can. But there isn't a part of him that wants to. Instead, he just smiles and says, "I'll be there with bells on my feet."

    She gives him the day and time, and with her normal cheer she hangs up. Zach stares at his cell phone for several long moments after, feeling feelings well up in his chest. They're good feelings. Really good feelings. For the first time since Fortuna, he almost feels...right.


    Zach had arrived at Cronus early in the morning after a night conspicuously devoid of debauchery. He wears his typical outfit of ripped skinny jeans, a tight v-neck with a jean-vest, and his hair spiked up. Almost immediately he's press-ganged by a pair of Helping Hands into carrying this, chopping that, stand here while they do this.

    Over the past months his life has taken on a change. His days became a constant race against his Olympic pursuers. Wonder Woman had managed to get him deeper underground, but he still had to make a living. And so he would do the occasional gig, just barely enough to scrape by. The pizza outing with Fred and Katie was the most food he had been able to eat at one time in...weeks, probably.

    After that meeting, he had tried to make some changes. Be more conscious of the world around him. Find ways to stop bullsh*t from happening. It was a crapshoot, for sure, and he was more often unsuccessful than not.

    And so it is with a heart that is lighter than it's been in weeks that Zach came to the Cronus Complex. Faint choruses of music follow him as he begins his schmooze-tour.

    Spoiler: Zach doing what he does best
    Show
    The X-Men
    He approaches the X-Men with ease. With all the sh*t going on with them, he feels he has the best grasp on them. Cyclops seems straightforward, and should be easy enough to chat up.

    "Scott Summers, right? Zach Wattson, Thunderstruck," he introduces himself to Cyclops, holding a hand for the Cyclops to shake. "All my luck to the search party for a speedy discovery."

    He chats with Cyclops for a few minutes before suavely making his way to Emma Frost. He gives her a charming smile and The Smolder(tm). "You are a vision of loveliness, as always, Miss Frost," he asks with a gallant bow over her hand. He makes appropriate small-talk for a few minutes before giving her another smirk. "If you ever want help defrosting, look me up. I've got magic fingers," he finishes, giving his guitar a loving strum.

    Spoiler
    Show
    Persuasion for Cyclops/X-Men in general: (1d20+20)[23], (1d20+20)[29]
    Persuasion for Emma Frost: (1d20+25)[28], (1d20+25)[30]


    The Magi
    "Brother Voodoo, Thunderstruck," he says to Dr Drumm, holding out a hand to shake. His first choice of Brother Voodoo is deliberate: Dr Fate is the most inscrutable, and thus the most unapproachable, even for Zach; Zatanna and Hellstorm are deep in talk about something, and Zach, for once, doesn't wanna interrupt; and Constantine...is Constantine. He'll still be there later.

    "If you don't mind my asking, what are the...Ioa, I believe? The spirits you use."
    Spoiler
    Show
    Persuasion for Brother Voodoo: (1d20+20)[29], (1d20+20)[24]


    The Heads of State
    Zach does his best to chat up the ostentatious and imposing heads of state. He makes particular effort with Magneto, out of some sentiment for the otherworld-Max that he had spoken with.

    "Lord Magneto, welcome to Cronus," he says with actual severity. "I'm actually not sure what the proper address for you would be. Is it "Lord", or "Sir"? I'd just like to express my gladness for your daughter's improving condition. In the wake of the Disassembly, she was the one hurt most. My best wishes for her."
    Spoiler
    Show
    Persuasion for Magneto: (1d20+20)[24], (1d20+20)[21]


    Fury's Fighters
    Though he tries, Zach meets with rebuffs with most of Fury's older operatives. Black Widow is given attention ("If you wanna pat me down, I won't object."), and Question is ribbed a bit ("Coming in with three women on your arms? Man, I gotta step up my game!"). Fury is approached with due caution, but Zach is practically respectful (practically) in his talk with the steely-eyed leader. "How goes the underground operations?" he asks bluntly, not expecting an answer no matter what he says.

    The duck is a bit odd, but Zach doesn't bat an eye at him. "'Sup, Mr Duck?" he asks, holding a hand for a wing-shake.

    The lizard-man is odd too, but between the Lizard and Killer Croc he's downright normal compared to Donald over there. "What's the good word, my man?" he asks the lizard-man as he stretches out his hand. "The name's Zach Wattson, but you can call me Thunderstruck if you want.
    Spoiler
    Show
    Persuasion for Fury: (1d20+20)[29], (1d20+20)[21]


    Old Guard
    Zach walks through the gregarious crowd of the Old Guard, fitting into every group like he belonged there.

    "Hey there, Spidey," he says, talking to Spider-Man like they're old friends. "Been keeping yourself busy the past few months?"

    "Captain Britain, I gotta ask the obvious, sorry: are the Beatles your favorite band, and if not, how dare you?"

    He hesitates just a fraction before he says "f*ck it" and kisses her hand. "Do you still like cheeky from time to time, Lady Falsworth?" he asks with a bright grin.

    Spoiler
    Show
    Persuasion for Captain Britain: (1d20+20)[39], (1d20+20)[37]
    Persuasion for Spitfire: (1d20+25)[44], (1d20+25)[39]


    Teen Titans
    "Cyborg, my man, what's your jam?" he asks, and changes the music around him to suit.

    "Raven, a pleasure to meet you. Zachary Wattson, people call me Thunderstruck, but you can call me whatever you want."

    Spoiler
    Show
    Persuasion on Cyborg: (1d20+20)[38]


    New Avengers
    "Mr Stark, huge fan," Zach says to the multi-billionaire. "What's your favorite AC/DC song? Mine's Thunderstruck, if it wasn't obvious." He fakes a surreptitious look to either side and asks, "Any tips for getting with super-heroines?"

    He manages to get Catwoman and Black Canary together and gives a mischievous grin. "So, have you ever been the Cat that ate the Canary?" he asks Catwoman with a grin that might have been a leer on a less seductively-adroit individual.

    He approaches Supergirl last, and with the least aggressiveness. He adjusts his voice and body language to be non-threatening as he attempts to engage in conversation with her.

    Spoiler
    Show
    Persuasion on Iron Man: (1d20+20)[30], (1d20+20)[32]
    Persuasion on Catwoman/Black Canary: (1d20+25)[43], (1d20+25)[44]

    Persuasion on Supergirl: (1d20+25)[43], (1d20+25)[29]


    New Justice League
    He makes a point to strike up a conversation with Wonder Woman. "If you don't mind my asking, what's the situation with Olympus?" he asks in a hushed voice.

    He makes his way to Power Girl, naturally, and looks at her with appreciation. "So, do you wear that costume to keep baddies distracted? 'Cause it's sure working on me."

    Spoiler
    Show
    Persuasion on Power Girl: (1d20+25)[39], (1d20+25)[38]


    Batfamily
    The only one of the Batfamily he approaches is Nightwing. "How're the new legs coming, man?" he asks with genuine concern. He'd heard what happened to him, and it takes some stern stuff to bounce back from that.

    Spoiler
    Show
    Persuasion on Nightwing: (1d20+20)[40], (1d20+20)[25]


    Then Superman appears, and everyone goes bonkers. Zach joins in, of course. He'd been concerned for the Big Guy same as everyone else. Then Katie says her piece--and Goddamn, what a piece it is. He changes the music according to her subject: sweeping orchestrals, thundering drums, inspirational wind.

    When all the other Misfits have spoken, he takes a step forward. "I've only had my powers for a short time. Before that I was just another Joe Schmo on the streets, looking up at all of you wide-eyed with awe. And I heard plenty of discontent when I was there. "Why didn't Superman save my brother?" "Why couldn't the Flash stop my house from burning down?"

    The people of the Earth are lucky to have as many heroes who are as heroic as most of you are. And they're lucky to have as many super-powered people as they do at all. And if we do all this, then the world will become a better place. But the people of Earth must grow with it. The normal people of the world must learn to rely on each other more than on heroes. Superheroes will come and go; it's the nature of the job. The Flash can't be everywhere at once, Superman can't keep everyone safe at every hour of the day, and when all's said and done? It's their friends and family, their neighbors that'll be around to support them at the end of the day. As heroes--as people who aspire to heroism--the first goal should be to empower those under your protection."


    With that, he takes a step back and crosses his arms, waiting for the majority response.

    Spoiler
    Show
    Persuasion on the whole group: (1d20+20)[40], (1d20+20)[28]
    Last edited by Thokk_Smash; 2016-09-24 at 04:58 PM.
    Saber avatar courtesy of Prime32

  22. - Top - End - #382
    Bugbear in the Playground
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    Mar 2013

    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    It figures that upon entering the Cronus Complex, the first thing Spider-Man notices is the food.

    Sure, seeing this many capes in one place is inspiring, especially to Jimmy, who had spent years on the periphery of the superhero community. And yes, it's great to see the Misfits again; they'd been his first team, after all, and he'd be forever grateful for their rescue of Superman. And of course this Darkseid thing is important. That guy's bad news, and one of the few villains even Superman seems to be genuinely afraid of.

    But man do those baby-backs smell good. And those burgers...is that one a Juicy Lucy? Do you know how hard it is to find a place that serves Juicy Lucys in Metropolis!? And of course there's Go-Getter's Pizza. Of course there is. It's like Potence (naturally she'd be the architect of a spread like this) is just trying to get Spider-Man to float through the air by his nose like a cartoon hobo.

    Still...he's here for a reason. This is a diplomatic mission, not a party. Jimmy can wait to stuff his face.

    As it turns out, he can wait about twenty minutes, which fortunately is just long enough for Spider-Man to check off all his must-talk-tos.

    He starts with the magic crowd. Brother Voodoo gets a warm, gushing thank-you for all the help, both to Superman and to Jimmy himself. Zatanna gets a crisp and friendly hello and thanks-again for her help cleaning up the Purple Man's mess back in New Orleans. John Constantine gets a curt nod and not another punch in the nose, because diplomacy.

    The X-Men are next. This is difficult, as they're pretty much strangers to him and his group doesn't have many ties with the mutant community. Ronin's presence makes things easier. Spider-Man breaks the ice with a playful jab at the samurai's new outfit, some cheesy joke about the Matrix movies. It's hard to say how well that goes over - Cyclops and Emma Frost just stare at him, but he could swear that Nightcrawler and Kitty Pryde were both stifling giggles. He also gets the impression that Ronin wants to talk further, but he still has some rounds to make. He leaves Ronin with a "Let's catch up a bit later, okay?".

    Batman and his crew are easier, if only because Jimmy had met the Dark Knight a few times pre-Spider-Man. For a guy so fond of growling the phrase "I work alone", he sure does roll with a big crowd, though. Looks like he's got a new apprentice, too. Ciaran something, right? Potence mentioned you.

    He spends some time with Reed Richards and Ray Palmer, of course. Their work and discretion had been crucial in the early phases of Superman's recovery, and he wanted to make sure they both knew how grateful he and Superman were for that. He spends a few minutes chatting up the rest of the Fantastic Four as well. The Thing, it turns out, is way friendlier than he seems.

    He doesn't try any of the head-of-state types. That's way above his pay grade, and Magneto would probably vaporize something if he was insulted by being sent a junior member like himself as an envoy, even unofficially.

    He does make an outreach to Fury's contingent, but that's mostly as an excuse to meet with Howard and the Builder ("Maybe we should form a temp agency for the Misfits, ha-ha"). With the Builder he's a little forcibly jovial and working very hard to be casual about the reptilian's appearance; Potence had painted him a tragic picture when telling him about the Builder, and Spider-Man worries about provoking any painful memories. Howard, on the other hand, seems to be well-equipped to handle a bit of Spider-Man-style ribbing, and the webslinger is halfway through his stockpile of avian puns before noticing it's about time to move on. He saves the other half for later. Diplomacy.

    The New Avengers are next. Though he'd always been a Superman fanboy and always would be, Jimmy also has great respect for Captain America. His new team had been taking a beating in the press lately, though. Jimmy had tried giving them some positive coverage, but it was like fighting a forest fire with a Super Soaker. Still, they all seem nice enough. Spider-Woman cracks a smile at the sight of him (hey, he'd never seen her when he picked his name and costume design!). Supergirl seems distinctly uncomfortable, and that's a shame because she doesn't deserve to be at all.

    The New Justice League...that's the frostiest encounter Spider-Man has ever had, and that includes the time he fought Killer Frost. Power Girl is the only one who gives him anything more than grudging, perfunctory courtesy. Plus, these guys are practically the living embodiment of the Super Hero Registration Act. That bill makes Jimmy seriously nervous, and he doesn't know what he'll do if it becomes law.

    And of course he's got to check in with the other Misfits again. Sarah, thanks for hosting, any news on the other symbiote's condition? Potence, that new outfit is so you. Shame White Cobra couldn't make it. Who's this new guy, he's got music powers or something? And whatever happened to Flaming Chainsaw Girl?

    But then, at last, with his diplomatic obligations fulfilled Spider-Man is free to assault the buffet line. A rack of ribs that could have come straight off the side of Fred Flintstone's car becomes a sad little pile of clean white bones. An entire pepperoni pizza vanishes in stop-motion, slice by greasy slice. Tacos fall like wheat before the reaper's blade. And burgers? After this day, cheeseburgers will be telling tales of Spider-Man to their disobedient sliders to frighten them into behaving. With great power comes a great big appetite.

    As he stuffs himself, Jimmy is dimly aware of the voice of one Misfit after another, either explaining their plan to defeat Darkseid or passionately arguing in its support. So it shouldn't (but still does) come as a surprise to him when he looks up from the table, an entire leg of fried chicken jammed in his mouth, to see that the whole room is looking expectantly at him. Whatever happened to make him the center of attention, he must have missed it. But it's clear that he's not getting out of this now.

    "Uhh...", Spider-Man says by way of introduction. He yanks the chicken bone clear of the meat, which disappears with a sheepish, audible gulp. Nervously, he tosses the bone back over his shoulder, and only by the grace of God (or possibly a helpful telekinetic) does it land in a nearby garbage can, punctuating the awkward silence with a metallic thud.

    "Hi", he continues. "I'm Spider-Man", he clarifies.

    C'mon, Olsen, get it together. This is just like one of your articles, but in person.

    Confidence. Assurance. You can do this.

    Thanks, pal.

    "I, uh, haven't been doing this too long, as most you know. I started a little while before the Disassembly, here in Metropolis. And I know, right? Spider-Man patrolling Superman's turf? I mean, that's like your middle-school science teacher offering to help out Stephen Hawking."

    That gets more laughs than Jimmy would like.

    "But then, suddenly, there was no Superman. We all had to face the fact that Superman - and every other hero - won't always be there. We've gotten used to the idea that bad guys come, and then good guys show up to punch them out, and then everything goes back to normal.

    But...Idunno, maybe it can be more than that. Maybe we can start looking at why bad guys turn up in the first place. I beat up a lot of muggers and robbers, but what do those guys' lives look like if mugging and robbery actually look like good career choices? What can we do about that?

    We complain a lot about big corporations being evil, and we should. But why is it so much more profitable for them to be that way? Why is it better for the bottom line for companies to pollute the environment and treat employees like dirt than to, y'know, not do that? What can we do about that?

    And mutants. We all know we've had a hard time getting people to treat mutants like...well, people. And we know that has caused us all kinds of grief. But why do people get so hung up on the mutant thing in the first place? What can we do about that?

    Me? I don't know what we can do about any of that. I'm kind of an idiot. The only problems I know how to solve are the ones that have a bad guy to punch. I can't punch poverty. I can't web greed to a wall. I can't dangle prejudice off a balcony until it swears to leave town."


    He points towards Katie and Sarah.

    "But Sarah, and Potence, and their people? They're not like me. They've got a plan for how to deal with these things. Will it help us against Darkseid? I don't know. Again - kind of an idiot.

    But y'know what? I don't care if it does anything about Darkseid. Darkseid is punchable, and we've got a lot of fists here. Even if this plan does nothing about Darkseid - hell, even if it somehow makes Darkseid harder to beat - I say we try it. Because the world isn't just worth saving, it's worth making better.

    So...yeah, Potence, I'm down. I'm down with Project Tomorrow."

  23. - Top - End - #383
    Firbolg in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Rene originally keeps to himself as he sits and listens to the big speech from the Misfits. As one of the Secret Warriors, he's gone into this meeting with barely a clue of what's actually going on. As it turns out, he didn't need a lot more to learn. He knew Darkseid is returning; what Rene didn't know is how it would happen. The plan, overall, actually sounds pretty simple... though it sounds idealistic as hell. She talks like she knows what role each hero would play but... what can Rene do? Even if he didn't have Fury's rope around Rene's neck, he isn't exactly capable of huge things. Katie looked at him as if he was capable of providing food in some form. How? He can plant trees but he can't get around fast. He's not the Flash or Quicksilver. Unless Rene's job involves building, there's probably not much Rene can contribute compared to everyone else.

    Yet he is quiet and patient as the rest of the big, grand speeches are made. All of the ones made by the Misfits are as deep and confident as Rene expected. These four are practically the ones running the show. If Superman and Batman are the ones listening to them then it's hard to argue that there is anyone more important here than the four Misfits. Even the new guy, the rocker with lightning powers, seems like he's already been with the Misfits for a while. Yeesh, there were big words, big speeches being spouted out. For a moment Rene is content to simply sit back and let the voices of every hero be drowned in their hopeful agreement.

    This changes the moment that the duck besides Rene speaks up. Now he isn't exactly sure what this duck's deal is about. He sure seems to have a hell of a lot more experience, which shouldn't be surprising. He's got one really foul mouth as well. Rene hasn't heard that sort of language since... oh yeah, Fury's incredible anger with Rene the moment they all returned from the skrull warship. Unlike then, the duck seems to just use that language casually. He certainly tried reassuring Rene with logic and has the courage to speak up right after the Misfits did. For Rene, that was almost inspiring; whatever the reason the duck is here, he seems to really be into this plan.

    Then Spider-Man spoke. Rene heard about this guy from the news when he and the Misfits went to save Superman. Was he being taken care of by Spider-Man during all that time from then to now? That'd be a huge thing if he happened to be a close friend to arguably the greatest hero on Earth. For that, Rene isn't exactly surprised when Spider-Man gives off a speech as big as the ones given by the Misfits. He sure seemed like an approachable guy too. Was he kidding about forming a temporary agency? Spidey's chuckle indicated it but the simple idea of it seemed pretty plausable. Either way, it now simply feels wrong for Rene to have worked with the Misfits as well but not say something right this moment. The duck did; Spider-Man did; why can't Rene?

    "I'm down for it too!" His coarse, reptilian voice speaks up, echoing the room to indicate, if only for a moment, that he is making his opinion. It's short, it's simple, but it's encouragement to the plan. If every little bit might help then there's no reason Rene won't speak up. He probably shouldn't have done that so suddenly. He's supposed to be part of Fury's group; it should be Fury's voice that speaks...

    But you know what? Rene's starting to give less of a damn about his "boss" lately.

  24. - Top - End - #384
    Troll in the Playground
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: For Spider-Jimmy
    Show
    In the brief period that Jimmy was interacting with the X-Men, Ronin came off differently than he had before. He was still a little more quiet than the others, thoughtful; but he was less brooding than before. He seemed more approachable, and he even indulged in friendly conversation. When Jimmy bagged on the new wraparounds, Fred shrugged and gave a little smirk. “Whoa,” he replied with a decent Keanu approximation. Afterwards, Fred made introductions to the group.

    “Guys, meet Spider-Man. He was present for the first Misfits Team-Up. He’s got a good head on his shoulders.”


    When Jimmy had to bail, Fred nodded to him. “Sure. It’s been a while.”
    Spoiler
    Show

  25. - Top - End - #385
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Flumph

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    Oct 2013

    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Thunderstruck
    Show
    Your machinegun spray of catcalls does not go well for you. Granted, it could have gone worse. You do end your spin through the room in one piece, which is nice. Sure, Raven nearly sent you to a hell dimension and Power Girl had asked for permission to throw you into the sun, but Catwoman had merely rolled her eyes and Black Canary had only threatened to shatter both your femurs. Black Widow had simply stared frostily at you, as though memorizing your face for future reference. Heck, Spitfire had been confused for a moment but then genuinely pleased to see you again! Even Frost had smiled. Smiled . . . a lot, actually. She'd actually seemed uncannily pleased with herself . . .

    On a more practical level, Wonder Woman had informed you that the status of things in Olympus is largely unchanged. The only difference is that you're now being hunted with more care and specificity than, say, unleashing Talos in the middle of a crowded area.


    The word "uproar" has so many unpleasant connotations. Taken on its own, it implies a sense of chaos born of rage, of objection to the scene before the assembled group. The word DOES denote passion, emotion, engagement, but the furious overtones are a product of later usage.

    Thus, to say that the Misfit's proposal was met with an uproar is technically correct, but gives the wrong impression.

    Some object, to be sure. Some appear angry. Some make it CLEAR that they are angry. But, for all that, no one leaves.

    The hubbub is broken by another voice sounding out.

    "I'm in too!"

    Janet's voice cuts through the crowd. Despite having literal shrinking powers, she still manages to stand tall in this company of giants.

    "I've been in this life for a long time," she continues, stepping out to face the room, "I came into it for the wrong reasons, maybe: thrillseeking, romance, a desire to be a part of something important" (this last with a huge eyeroll) "But even at my worst, at my most shallow and self-absorbed, I wanted to make a difference, and I think, I know that goes for everyone here. We all wanted to do something good, to make the world a better place.

    "But I can't deny, and I don't think anyone else here will deny that there's still that thrillseeking element to what we do. The battles, the fate-of-the-world situations and split-second save-the-day moments are there, and there's something intoxicating about them. And, somewhere along the way, I think it stopped being about making a difference and became about the fight. I feel defined by the battles I've fought more than the lives I've saved, for the simple reason that those are mine. It's human, perhaps, but it's selfish and I think we can be better.

    "Maybe Darkseid really is coming for Earth, and maybe doing this will help us fight him. Maybe not. After a certain point, it doesn't matter. What matters is this chance we're being given: to subsume ego, to sacrifice our pride and the easy things that define us for something better, to really make a difference."


    With that, Janet steps to your side of the room. After a moment of delay, Red Tornado, Hal Jordan, and Booster Gold follow her.

    As they walk, Susan Storm steps forward from the group. You almost don't need to listen to what she has to say to see where they're leaning: even without knowing what the Fantastic Four are all about, Reed and Ray are currently huddled over a tablet computer and collectively look as though Christmas just Voltron'd with Channukah, New Years, Arbor Day, and May 4th.

    "This seems like a no-brainer to the FF," she says, businesslike and clear, "My team exists to change the world, to solve the problems that need solving on any and every scale. We have, when possible, done this within the framework of what has been done before: charities, aid work, crimefighting, advanced science . . . perhaps on a wider scale than many, but still, conventional. What the Misfits are proposing is really the next logical step for the FF and, I would argue, the entire superpowered community. We can work with the world's existing systems without having to accept the problems they create. We've all saved the world here before, countless times. Now, I think, it's time to change it."

    She glances back at the rest of her team. Ben has crossed his arms and gives her a nod. Reed and Ray are geeking right out. A faint smile on her face, she turns back to the room.

    "We're in."

    Deliberations strike up among the remaining heroes, some loud, some hushed.

    The New Avengers and the New JLA both turn inwards, conferring amongst themselves. The difference in group culture becomes quickly apparent: the former's discussions are noisy and full of back-and-forth, while the latter group is measured, with each member taking their turn.

    Batman's coalition splits into two separate groups: Batwoman and Green Arrow begin a murmured conversation with Arsenal, who seems to be slightly agitated. The others, meanwhile . . .

    Spoiler: Ciaran or DC 20 Perception
    Show
    "So . . . you gonna keep us in suspense, Batman?" Nightwing begins in the slightly brittle cheery voice he seems to default to whenever in Batman's company, "What's the excuse for saying no to this? 'We work alone'? 'Be careful who you trust'? 'We can't just rush in and-'?"

    "I'm not saying no out of hand, Nightwing," Batman interrupts, seemingly without reacting to his former protege's tone, "But I'm not going to jump in blind, either. We're talking about a seismic shift in the way the world works, and there's no going back once we start this. If we cross that line-"

    "Okay, but Darkseid. Remember how he's coming? Remember what he did to-"

    "I fought Darkseid, along with the rest of the Justice League . . ."

    "Bullsh*t, you were mission control at best-"

    ". . . and we didn't need to upset the balance of an entire planet to win. There are options. We consider them."


    Ronin gets a psychic communiqué from Emma as the X-Men huddle in: <Don't take this the wrong way, darling, but we're going to need to deliberate a bit. To put it bluntly: you're A mutant, but we're THE mutants. The stance we take will be, for better or worse, "the mutant stance" in the eyes of the world. Nothing personal, but we're going to need to talk it over.>

    The Teen Titans deliberate for all of five seconds before walking over to the Misfits' side of the room. At the head of the group, Red Robin gives everyone a curt nod.

    "Count us in."

    Tigra, the Flash, and Icon are arguing, and the argument looks to be heating up. Black Lightning is talking to the British heroes, with occasional interruptions from Spitfire and Union Jack. Wonder Man and Falcon appear to be laughing about something. She-Hulk and Mr. Terrific appear to be comparing notes, with She-Hulk writing something down.

    Superman appears . . . lost in thought. He looks at Spidey, almost seeming to look through him (and no, not in an X-Ray vision kind of way).

    "I don't disagree with most of what you said, barring the self-deprecation," he begins, a slight smile on his face, "But there's more to it than that.

    "Everything on the planet is connected. That sounds cliché, but that's something I've been reminded of every day since I first put on this cape. When you look at the world the way I can, you see what a delicate balance exists, and how easy it would be to upset it.

    "As a kid, back when I was first discovering my heritage, I'd fantasize about changing the world. I thought about tearing down the Berlin Wall with my bare hands, or going out at super speed and taking away all the guns and tanks and bombs in the world . . . you get the idea. Big things, that I was sure would change the world, would make things better. I remember telling my ma about it, expecting her to be proud of me, to encourage me to go out and do it. Instead, she sat me down and asked me questions. What would I do with the weapons? What would happen if people kept fighting without their weapons? What about the people who fought to survive, to get something that was taken from them? Would I stop them? Would I fight for them? Which causes would I fight for, and which weren't worth it? What gave me the right to decide?

    "It was terrifying, realizing how much things could spin out of control, how much I didn't know about how the world worked underneath it all. And when I couldn't answer those questions, she told me this:

    "'Like it or not, the world is the way it is because people have made it so. We're a long way from perfect, and there's no denying there's plenty of mess to clean up and not enough people stepping up to clean it. There are plenty of people who end up making a mess beyond what they can fix, who just leave it for others to deal with. And, sometimes, those people try to fix things and end up with a bigger mess than before.

    "'So, help all you can, Clark. Help everywhere your heart tells you. Just make sure that you're not making a bigger mess than you can clean up.'"

    "When I last fought Darkseid, I told him I felt like I was living in a world of cardboard. It was one of those things you say in battle, an intimidation tactic more than anything, but there's a grain of truth to it. If I'm not careful, I can break things. By being one place and not another, by making the choices I make and following the ideals I do, I can change things on a massive scale. And I don't know if that's such a good thing, because I can't always see the changes I'm making.

    "This idea . . . it's good. It's noble, it feels like the right thing to do. But even at the most restrained, you're talking about changes on a massive scale. And I just don't know if we're ready to assume that responsibility."


    Among Nick Fury's group, the Builder and Howard suddenly find themselves at a nucleus of sorts. Fury and the Secret Warriors have reoriented around them, in response to their affirmatives. Along the periphery, Black Widow and Katana are standing still. Huntress has her arms folded, her eyes darting across the room.

    The Question wordlessly walks over to the Misfits' side of the room.

    Fury watches them go, and then turns back to the duck and the reptile.

    Spoiler: Howard, the Builder, or Perception DC 20
    Show
    "So, yer in . . ." he says, tone illegible, "Why?"


    Storm and Black Panther are whispering back and forth among themselves, Ororo having caught up with him in the act of turning to leave.

    Namor is talking with Magneto, while Aquaman glares several feet away. Quicksilver and Polaris seem undecided, almost paralyzed.

    The Inhumans are utterly enigmatic, but everyone seems to be waiting for Black Bolt to . . . well, not SAY something (can you imagine???), but certainly react in some way. The Inhuman king remains impassive, surveying the room as might a general his troops.

    Jericho moves over to Superman and Spidey, listening respectfully. Dr. Fate is inscrutable. Constantine, Zatanna, and Hellstorm are all standing slightly apart, triplet wry expressions on their faces.

    Win, lose, or draw, SOMETHING has been kicked into motion here.
    Last edited by herodofcows; 2016-10-02 at 01:07 AM.

  26. - Top - End - #386
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Quellian-dyrae's Avatar

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    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Katie could admit, there was a little inward twinge of disappointment that the idea hadn't been met with resounding approval from all corners. She knew that was an unrealistic expectation but she was just so excited about the whole thing!

    Before the whole event, she had told herself she wasn't going to try to convince anyone. This was a big proposal. If people didn't agree, she could accept their reasons for that. She didn't want to make anyone feel obligated, or feel bad for not wanting to take such a big step. Besides, she felt confident that as long as it wasn't a total flop, the movement would pick up enough steam to bring more reluctant people in over time.

    And if she were honest, what she really wanted to do right then was go over to the Fantastic Four and start brainstorming!

    Buuuuuut...

    Getting Superman on board would be a huge win. And, truth be told, she couldn't just let his words stand unchallenged. Not because they lacked merit - quite the opposite. Because they were a very rational argument against the Plan as a whole. If they went uncountered, they might influence people who might otherwise join the movement away from it.

    So as everyone started discussing things in their little groups, Katie headed over to Superman.

    First thing she did, of course, was give him and Jimmy (and Flash, and Hal on the way since he had already headed over to them) their belated hugs. Because while Katie's hugs could be delayed, they could not be escaped! "Hey, I'm glad you guys could come!" she said, grinning at Jimmy before looking to Superman more seriously. "And I'm glad to see you're doing better," she said sincerely, although she couldn't entirely keep the guilt out of her voice. Yes, that familiar whisper in her brain had been more than happy to tell her that Superman's objection was also meant to communicate that his incapacitation had been all her fault for acting on what she thought good without considering the consequences.

    She tried to ignore the whisper in her head, but it made far too much sense for it to be that easy.

    So Katie just took a breath and soldiered on. "So...I get your concerns. And, I mean, you're right. There are some things that we could do that would lead to serious repercussions. And even when the good does outweigh the bad, there are still right and wrong ways to do it. I mean, we tossed out a bunch of ideas for things we can do, but right now they're pretty much just that - ideas. The very first thing we're going to have to do is figure out how to do things that won't cause too many repercussions."

    "But, I really want to emphasize, we're not talking about things like smashing down the Berlin Wall, or taking all the guns, tanks, and bombs away. We're not even talking about overthrowing dictatorships, or forcing countries with a surplus of food to send it to those with people going hungry. There are things we can do directly. Like Fred was talking about - more personal stuff. But the really big things...those aren't going to be just unilateral moves on our parts. We're not going to solve the problems ourselves - we're going to provide the world with the resources it needs to overcome the obstacles to solving those problems."

    "It's going to require discussion, and planning. And even with that...we probably will mess up some. Because...well, it's like your mom said. We're a long way from perfect. But that's just the thing. The world is the way it is because people made it so. And we can't set ourselves apart from that because we're more powerful, because we have greater potential for greater consequences. At the end of the day, we're just another group of people. And like all people, we have options, some that will improve the world around us, some that will make it worse, and some that will do a mix of the two, or that look like they'll make it better but will actually make it worse. The only difference that our power provides is that we have a lot more options to choose from. That makes the decision harder, for sure, but I refuse to believe that the best option we can choose is 'just try to maintain the status quo'. Honestly? I'd be surprised if that one made it into the 70th percentile."


    Spoiler
    Show
    Persuasion: (1d20+17)[19] 35. Reduce by 5 if Attractive doesn't apply.
    Last edited by Quellian-dyrae; 2016-10-02 at 02:34 AM.
    A role playing game is three things. It is an interactive story, a game of chance, and a process in critical thinking.

    If brevity is the soul of wit, I'm witty like a vampire!

    World of Aranth
    M&M 3e Character Guide

  27. - Top - End - #387
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Lizardfolk

    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: Howard's Response to Spider-Man (includes Rene since he is right there). If I may rewind time a bit.
    Show
    Howard leans forward and folds his hands so that his bill rests on top of them before interrupting Spider-Man in his barrage of duck based jokes. Listen here ya @#$%^&* Spider-Speciest with yer tryin'-ta-be-edgy 90's style black suit. A few @#$%^&* mentions in da papers and an invite ta hang out wit' Superman and ya act like a big shot? You'll need all either legs ta carry that big @#$%^&* head o' yers! Ya think I look @#$%^&* funny ta you, ya @#$%^&* tar covered hairless ape wit' that @#%$^&* Halloween decoration on yer chest? Why don't you go crawl up a water spout Spider-@#$%?"


    Spoiler: To Fury (also includes Rene)
    Show
    Howard had opened his beak and raised his finger (no not that one surprisingly enough) and was about to tell Fury that his reason's were none of the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director's business, but then remembered that Fury is actually paying for Howard's opinion here.

    Instead the duck leans back down into his chair and crosses his arms. "'Cause Katie @#$%^&* asked, that's why. She one 'o tha few folks that didn't immediately go "That's a duck" when she met me. One o' tha few folks that treated like a person. One 'o tha few folks that took tha time ta know me. One 'o tha few folks that would actually just ask nicely fer my help instead o' oh I don't know? Breakin' inta my place while I was gone? Ya know, just as one o' tha millions o' ways ya hairless apes have roped me up in yer !@#$%^&*. (And don't ya give me any o' that 'tha door was open' !@#$%^&*. We both know that wouldn't o' stopped you.) So ya, even though I'm don't believe this actually ties inta how Darkseid operates, I'm not sure if it will actually work on a large scale, and even if it did work it would work just as well wit' out me, and it will almost certainly make my life somehow even more compicated; if Potence has a job fer me ta do I'll do it. Pro bono even. Which I'll admit is @#$%^&* weird fer me ta say. But, anyway, at worst it will help in a few places. Y'know, if ya care 'bout that sorta thing."
    Last edited by Lizard Lord; 2016-10-02 at 02:59 AM.

  28. - Top - End - #388
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    CandyLaser's Avatar

    Join Date
    Mar 2015

    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Sarah lent her support to Katie in her attempt to answer Superman's objection. "I've run the numbers on this, Superman. In fact, I've examined worlds where this sort of plan was put into practice. They're generally better than ours." Again, Sarah's perfect memory betrayed her slightly, flashing an image in her mind's eye of her counterpart's devastated world - Sylvester's home. Even that world, though, was better than this one, before Rabum Alal came. "They're not perfect worlds. But they're happier and healthier. And most importantly, their improvements haven't been imposed by diktat. They came about because people like us gave everyone more freedom, more opportunity, and opened up paths that would have otherwise been closed. Let me show you an example."

    She opened a portal behind her and stepped into it, flitting across the room in a moment. From the other side of the chamber she picked up her short speech. "I've been using this technology to gallivant around the world with my team. It's a safe, instantaneous, long-distance travel method. Just think for a moment on what a waste it is when just one person has this technology and uses it to go have a punch-up with jumped-up criminals and crooks.

    Is the technology dangerous? Yes. I wouldn't want to give it away to just anyone. I've weaponized it myself, in..." she paused for a second. "... fourteen different ways, and I can think of a dozen more. But imagine a world where we replace every train station, airport, and bus terminal with these portals. Carbon emissions go way down. Travel becomes much safer. And according to my long-term projections, the main effect is to foster a more tolerant world as people get exposed to countless different viewpoints. There's a reason modern totalitarian regimes tend to practice strict border and information control, after all.

    This is just one little part of the project. It's going to be a better world, and you could be a part of it."
    And here her words were directed, not just to Superman, but to anyone who wasn't yet persuaded.

    Spoiler: Rolls
    Show
    Give myself +8 Persuasion and Teamwork, then roll: (1d20+13)[32]
    Last edited by CandyLaser; 2016-10-02 at 08:22 AM.

  29. - Top - End - #389
    Firbolg in the Playground
     
    SwashbucklerGuy

    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Canada
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Spoiler: To the Secret Warriors & Howard
    Show
    Rene was expecting a really harsh reaction from the Director. It'd fit pretty well with all the other times that Rene has pissed off Fury and it felt like Fury is really hard to anger. Instead, the reptilian is given some analytical stare and question designed for... reasons Rene can't fathom. And that actually says a lot, doesn't it? Rene's got a lot of reasons for saying what he did but some of it isn't stuff he actually wants to say. He can say most of what he can think of, and he can think of it incredibly quickly, but stuff like, "I'm sick of working for you," isn't something that'll blurt out of Rene's mouth... or at least will be said a lot more kindly.

    Rene waits for the duck to finish speaking. It's very clear that the Misfits got into some crazy adventure with him before and given the invitation (or "invitation" if breaking into one's home counts), that's probably why Fury hired the duck.

    ...It's actually kinda telling that, at this point, Rene will side with the duck he's barely-met over the man he's been working with for months. "Why?" Rene begins sounding almost a little hesitant before quickly finding his voice and stance in the seat which was designed for a human rather than a large reptilian. "Because I trust the Misfits. They're the ones who helped me get through that **** you signed me up for. And you're the one who signed them up for it too!" While Rene isn't raising his voice, his sharp tongue is making his resolve clear. "You throw me at something well past what I can handle and I'll fall apart without help." In a way, Rene is rather embarrassed at how he handled the situation back then. He just didn't care about Curt, much less being involved. Rene would've kept going regardless cause he didn't really have a choice but Katie was the one that helped him get through it with some heart. In fact, that might've been why Rene didn't succumb to the Totem as easily as Croc did; Rene's got a lot more to thank the Misfits than he thought.

    "So yeah, I'm gonna trust 'em on this. They know how to get things done, they do get things done, and never have I been steered wrongly by them." Rene had to admit that what he's saying applies more to Katie than to the Misfits as a whole. Ronin and Sarah however helped out a lot as well. It was mainly White Cobra that Rene didn't get along with and, looking at the crowd now, she's no longer a member of the Misfits... What happened to her?

    "And working with the Misfits," he continues, now looking at various other members of the Secret Warriors: Druid, Damian, and Quake, "Is gonna be better for what I can do." Rene doesn't actually know how well his words can convince some of the other members; he'd like them to make their own decision independent of Fury but that doesn't seem likely to happen unless there's some more incentive to do so. "Sir, working for you hasn't been working out. We've been doing just a bunch of unrelated tasks and been given no clear end goal. You've been asking us time and time again to trust in doing the job when we don't understand it. And you know that I've struggled over and over again having to work as some secret agent, right out of what I am good at."

    "So I am with the Misfits, as whatever they have for someone suckered into this hero business, it'll be better than trying to do something that I don't believe in." All Rene is thinking as he says this is just how badly he'll be burned for this. Fury should know better than to leave his subordinates in the dark; at the same time, he probably expected this to happen. "And I'm sure that the Misfits have plenty in mind for the rest of you to do if you want to join me with them." His last words, short on confidence but big on resolve, addressed towards the other Secret Warriors in hopes that they might listen. They've got some reason to; Druid's never been comfortable with this, Damian straight up hates listening to Fury, and Quake was threatened to be burned for reasons out of her control. Hopefully something Rene says got through to them.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    So, here's hoping for a good Persuasion roll here: (1d20+1)[10] EDIT: Oh jeez, really? Not sure if I wanna reroll that...
    Last edited by Starsign; 2016-10-02 at 10:37 AM.

  30. - Top - End - #390
    Bugbear in the Playground
    Join Date
    Mar 2013

    Default Re: Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

    Jimmy can't help but feel a little let down with Superman's reply. It's not that his hesitation is unreasonable; the Man of Steel made a pretty good case for that. But he's always thought of Superman as the guy who swoops down to the rescue whenever he's needed, and it seems to Jimmy that this might be the biggest need yet. Fortunately, Superman's mention of Darkseid and his "world of cardboard" moment reminds Jimmy of something...

    "You used to say something about Lex Luthor a lot, too", Spider-Man says. "Remember? Any time he'd kidnap Lois or turn me into a gorilla or something? After it was all over, you'd kind of shake your head all sad-like and say, 'He's such a brilliant man, if only he used that intellect for the greater good'."

    The webslinger points at Sarah Saturn.

    "That's what that looks like, big guy", he says. "That's a diabolical genius - sorry Sarah, it's kinda true - putting that intellect to work for the greater good, just like you always wished Luthor would. Imagine if you hadn't had to fight him all those times, because he was thinking the way Sarah and Katie are thinking now. Imagine what he could have done for the world. Come to think of it, imagine what you could have done for it if he hadn't been wasting all your time with orbital death rays and stuff."

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