Millennium City Mayhem (IC thread)

[Razade]

Issue One: Twenty Years to Midnight

EVERYONE

The Founder's Park is a central landmark in Millennium City, a vast business park ringing one of the many inner-city forests that have made the metropolis a shining star in green energy and one of the world's foremost Eco-cities. Founder's Hall, the seat of Avalonian Government isn't too far away not is The Round Table, the public gathering place for the eponymous leadership. At the center of the well maintained park lies the Spear of Destiny, said to be a Nazi artifact stolen away by the founders of Avalon, the crystalline weapon casting scintillating light around the plaza erected around it.

Not everyone seems thrilled to be in the park this bright and sunny mid afternoon however as shrieks of terror and general commotion erupt throughout its central plaza as several large explosions rock the ground. The source of the commotion is easy to spot, a large helivac dropping a dozen familiar shapes down into the crowd, a full battalion of the Typhoon Knights spreading out around the Spear of Destiny's plaza in a practiced military formation. Within minutes the plaza is under full lockdown, the Typhoon Knights in a fairly open position however with all the civilians even a well placed shot from far away risks hitting them in the cross fire. Typhoon Leader, the head of the Knights and second only to The Queen of Swords, is at the center attempting to draw the Spear from its perch without much success.

Detail what you were doing before the attack on Founder's Park, how you were alerted to the attack and what you do once you arrive.

Spoiler: The Typhoon Knights

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Spoiler: Typhoon Leader

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[Crux-Adder]

The incident catches Evelin by surprise.

She had been busy penciling in a simulacrum for next friday, just to make sure every part of their standard response is up to code. She knew everyone would be a little miffed once she admitted it was just training, but surely they would understand the point of it. She had been dropping hints all week, too, so it's not like it was a big secret or anything; blinking in morse code is pretty standard fare, so she figures maybe everyone is in the know by now.

Following social media has never come naturally to her, and she's had quite a bit of trouble telling true stories apart from the real stuff, but when her "app" makes a bird noise and shows a picture along with a 200 characters or less message, she knows to call everyone to the Founder's Park. Personally, she runs to get her ambulance, and hurries anyone else at the base into it. The massive thing could possibly become a hassle if traffic doesn't cooperate, but she isn't about to leave it behind when it could be needed.

Once she makes it to the park, she scans it from one end to the other. She needs information before she can tell the others to start fighting. She winces when she sees the amount of civilians trapped there, and hopes dearly nobody tries to be a hero before her team does.

[Troy77]

At Perseopolis.
Millennium City's premiere Persian and Middle Eastern cuisine. The spiced aromas rising from the sizzling skillets in the kitchen are intoxicating. The cooks move like a well oiled machine, shouting at each other in English and Farsi, telling jokes, sharing recipes, calling out orders. Zarya pushes through the swinging double doors carrying an armload of clattering dishes that seems too big or too heavy for one person to carry. The statuesque teenagers weaves through the kitchen traffic to deposit the dirty dishes into the sink so she can wash them when the sounds of the busy restaurant are interrupted by several distant loud booms. The entire restaurant falls silent, but the silence is quickly broken by the chirping noise of every patron's and every employee's phone alerting them: Assault on Founder's Park. Evacuate and Take Shelter.

Zarya sighs and jerks out of her apron. "Uncle! I have to go!"

Amir, a large jovial Iranian man with an incredible mustache and legs that look too much like twigs to support his barrel of a body, looks up from his phone to Zarya. The girl gives him an assured nod of her head as she moves to rush out of the back door. When she's gone, Amir prods the rest of his staff to get back to work, "No worries, no worries. We have guests to serve!" he chuckles and the lively sounds of the kitchen resume.

Zarya sprints into the park, easily bounding over the few vehicles still parked along it's outer edges. She spots the flashing red and blue lights of Batista's ambulance and then, hovering just over the Spear of Destiny Plaza, the helivac bearing the swirling insignia of the Typhoon Knights!

"This is no drill," Zarya says matter-of-factly when she comes to a stop standing next to Batista.

Before the healer can reply, Zarya rushes toward the plaza and grimly throws herself into the military formation of Typhoon Knights, mercilessly punching and kicking everyone within reach!

[Mr Sitouh]

Chalcedony House, Embassy Row

Lady Fiona des Chalcedony is having tea with Lord Kosigan in his office, discussing matters of import to both of their duties and considering how to compliment him on his choices in redecorating what had been her father's office without implying that her approval was needed, when her phone chimes. As the opening bars of the royal anthem ring out, she smiles apologetically. "My apologies, Lord Ivan," she says, bowing to the ambassador before turning to go. "But when duty calls..."

"The House of Chalcedony answers," the ambassador finishes the saying with a smile and a nod. "I'll have my aide speak to your armsman to reschedule. Light guide your blade, Lady Knight."

She exits the office, slipping in her earbud as she heads towards the east wing, her portion of the house. "Report, armsman," she says as she walks, and Szabo, her father's senior armsman during his tenure as the Unicorn Knight and now assigned to her, starts the brief with a veteran's calm.

"Radio chatter indicates an attack on Founder's Park, milady," he reports. "Initial reports suggest the Typhoon Knights, but no official confirmation as yet." As she enters the central hall, his voice is doubled in her ears, as he stands waiting at the bottom of the stairs (the unspoken dividing line between his and the ambassador's security responsibilities), holding her coat and baldric. As he assists her in donning her gear, he continues, "The Knights are currently engaging a variety of incidents across the city, which may limit their ability to respond promptly." He adjusts a strap not to his satisfaction as Fiona situates her baldric.

"I can arm myself, Szabo," Fiona protests, though the raised eyebrow and 'Yes, milady' she gets in response conveys volumes about who the armsman's loyalty is to at the end of the day, and exactly how much of a chewing out he'd expect if something happened because he didn't check. Once he's satisfied, he nods and salutes, and with that, the Unicorn Knight is off, a blaze of prismatic light trailing behind her as she races towards the park along with the doppler-shifted chimes of notifications pinging her phone.

She arrives on the scene next to Batista just in time to see Zarya charge into the knights. "Well, that simplifies things," she says to her comrade-in-arms. "She's already doing what I'd have asked her to do. When they arrive, have Crossroads and Hex back her up." She looks over at Typhoon Leader, and draws Alacrity from its sheath. "You handle any civilian stragglers and keep a watch, and tell Gallantry he's with me." Then with another flash of light, she's through the gap in the knights Zarya's opened up and into the park.

"If you seek a crystal weapon, I've got one for you," she calls out to Typhoon Leader. "That is, if you've the skill to take it." She raises her blade in a cursory salute, then settles into a guard, smiling mockingly at the heavily armored knight.

Spoiler: OOC

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Time to see if we can Provoke Typhoon Knight into coming at me instead of messing with the Spear! (2d6)[4]

[herodofcows]

Crossroads
Conditions: None

As the battalion of the Typhoon Knights surveys their hostages and prepares to take action against the twin threats of Zarya and the Unicorn Knight, a voice begins to pipe in through their headsets and crackle through nearby cell phones and speakers.

"Darlings. Darlings. Caaaalmate, darlings."

Lying in the nearby grass, Crossroads smiles slightly as his voice creeps through the wireless signals that spread like spiderwebs from Knight to Knight, person to person, device to device. He'd come to the park in his civvies about an hour previously to take a nap and watch the data streams twirling through the air from one business to another. He'd been pleasantly full of chili dog and drifting off into blissful slumber when the Typhoon Knights had shown up and rudely interrupted his nap.

Well, there's his team, and there are clear shenanigans afoot. A little emotional manipulation, a little ghost action with the speakers, and who knows what kind of mischief he can get up to?

"I think you need to think long and hard about what you're trying to do here. I mean,
all this for power that MIGHT exist? Power that you'll never get to wield?"

Anxiety, suspicion, greed . . . these are the emotions that he now tries to bring forward within the Typhoon Knights. Erode that esprit de corps, make them question their comrades and leader, and maybe . . . just . . .

"Don't you deserve more than this? Aren't you just as worthy of the Spear? Why let your masters have it? It's right there! TAKE IT!"

Spoiler: OOC

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Okay, so using Crossroads' powers, I'm going to call this an uncanny kind of Provoke,
or perhaps it's just using the move Are You Watching Closely? Raz, your call. Either way, the roll is the same:

(2d6+2)[8]

EDIT: So, if Raz decides that it's a Provoke, it's out of my hands. If it counts as Are You Watching Closely,
then I'll pick the following two:

Confuse them for some time and Expose a weakness or flaw

[Troy77]

Zarya
Conditions: None

Zarya vaults through the air and buries her knees in the chest of one of the Typhoon Knights to break her fall. She then rolls to one side and uppercuts the next Knight, sending him flailing to the ground. A duo of Knights closes on with swords drawn; sparks fly as the blades connect with the metal bracers on Zarya's wrists when she parries and returns the blows!

Spoiler: OOC

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Directly Engage a Threat:

(2d6+4)[9]

A hit! Zarya is going to resist or avoid their blows!

[NeoNinevite]

Gallantry
Conditions: None

William walked down the road towards the Millennium Metahuman Sports Centre. He'd done enough work to keep the teachers off his back, and now he was slightly bored. Mum and Dad were still working, and he had nothing better to do than go train.

However, before long he spotted a helivac descending towards the Founder's Park. He smiled to himself, and found somewhere private to change.

Before long, Gallantry was running towards the scene of the crime, but he was still far enough away that most of the team had turned up before him. He arrived at just the right time to hear Unicorn Knight request his assistance. He runs up behind her and gives a mock salute. "You called?"

Smiling, he grips his bow with one hand while the other hovers over his quiver, as he waits for an order from Unicorn Knight

[The_Specialist]

Hex
Conditions: None

Covered in tufts of red fluff, Milo sat sprawled on the floor of an abandoned shipping container that he had claimed as a workshop. Currently, it was housing a collection of stolen props, textiles, and sewing equipment, looking very much like the world’s shadiest costume shop. It was here, determinedly hacking at a bright red wig, that he received the message from Evelin.

“…Huh…” He flicked from Batista’s warning to the nearest news feed on his phone. “Guess it's go time. Sorry, Dewey… you don’t get one yet,” Milo apologized to the seemingly lifeless doll that stood last in line, and rose to his feet. Taking the newly shorn wig he moved to the second of his trio, the first already be-wigged, and tugged the choppy mess of fake hair into place over its pale bare head. It wasn’t a completely accurate representation. “Eh… good enough.”

Snatching his jacket off the floor, he threw it on and fished Hex’s mask from a pocket. “Masks on, boys, it’s party time!” As Milo tugged his mask into place, so too did the trio of faceless figures in perfect unison.

---

Perhaps to no one’s intense surprise, it was Hex that was the last to appear on the scene. While he wasn’t always the best at returning calls and checking in to confirming he was on his way or such, Hex did always show when called upon. And so it was that as the others engaged the enemy, an annoyed groan finally sounded from behind.

“These idiots again?” The familiar hooded figure droned, while three near mirror images moved nearby through the park. The puppets, now dressed like him, served as confusing doppelgangers. Except for poor Dewey, who lacked the characteristic mop of red hair poking out from beneath its hood. To the team, Milo’s swagger gave him away already, the puppets much more stiff and purposeful in their gait. “Everyone keep an eye out… anyone spotted Our Lady of Pilfered Tableware?” The name for the Queen of Swords changed every time.

While Zarya was already throwing herself into the thick of it, one of the fiery haired, Milo-sized dolls would soon join at her side. Or well, just out of range of her own punches, just in case. It was smaller, quick, bobbing and weaving as the nearest Knight swung at it. It kept ducking in with short strikes when opportunity presented, as it seemed to be searching for an opening for something more.

Spoiler

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Directly Engage a Threat:

(2d6+2)[10]

A hit! Huey[Hex] is going to resist or avoid their blows and take something from them (sword).

[Razade]

Everyone
Team: One

As you arrive on scene first Batista you're afforded a rather ample view of just what's going on. It seems the Typhoon Knights are attempting to take the Spear of Destiny and it seems that's their biggest priority. Teams are spreading out to deal with the chaos that comes with civilians but most have set up a perimeter around the pavilion the spear is housed and it seems the Knights have come packing heat. Not all of them have their usual swords, some carrying rather heavy weaponry which is rather unlike them. Say what you will about the Typhoon Knights, they tend to stick to honorable combat. Guns aren't in their wheelhouse. Or weren't. It's not long for your team to arrive though most seem to have their own ideas, only Gallantry waiting for some kind of order.

Before you have time to issue orders or even set in on your own however Zarya is present and charging which causes general chaos and it seems that Hex isn't far behind as one of his many puppets appear to enter the fray. Despite the assault however the teamwork of the Typhoon Knights show once again how strong a unit they are as fallen troops are filled in with fresh members who push back against the attack even as several are stripped of their weaponry.

The chaos attracts Typhoon Leader who rushes in, barreling into Zarya from the side. Within moments straining gears whine through the air as the youth is lifted and the Unicorn Knight's challenge is met rather forcefully as Typhoon Leader hurls Zarya at her. "Silence, curr. You may have bested us at the museum but we expected resistance from far worse than you. Run now, whelplings or we will take no mercy on you! Have you no care for those you protect? Arm One, Arm Three! Protocol Seven!"

Several of the roving Knights call out acknowledgement, their general rounding up of civilians. All the while, one of the Knights seems to have turned, both hands on the Spear of Destiny and perhaps most shockingly of all...it actually begins to move. Which doesn't seem good, as that's exactly what they came to do in the first place.

Spoiler: Zarya

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Roll to take a powerful blow unless someone rolls a defend on you!

Spoiler: Unicorn

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Roll to take a powerful blow as you take a face full of Zaya unless someone rolls a defend on you!

Spoiler: Crossroads

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That's a provoke for sure, you're not really misleading or tricking anyone there

Spoiler: Everyone

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REMEMBER TO USE A COLOR FOR YOUR TEXT. IT IS VERY HARD TO READ WHEN YOU DO NOT DO THIS.

[Mr Sitouh]

"Oh sh-" The Unicorn Knight's exclamation is cut short as she's knocked flying by Zarya, barely managing to safe her blade in time to avoid doing her teammate serious harm.

Before they hit anything else, though, she manages to get their flight under control in a flash of prismatic speed, and the two come skidding to a stop at the end of a long strip of now-shredded lawn.

"Right, change of plans," Fiona gasps, her hand on her comrade's shoulder to steady herself as much as to encourage. "Zarya, let's teach him some manners..." She glimpses the motion from the Spear, and her eyes widen. "Gallantry! The Spear!"

[herodofcows]

Crossroads
Conditions: None

Crossroads smiles gamely as one of the Typhoon Knights makes a break for the spear. As the henchman begins to strain, he reaches out into the armor and assists the effort by overclocking several internal safety mechanisms for further brute strength.

"Thaaaat's it, darling. That's right. Just give it a good tug. Wouldn't want to keep us waiting, would you? Oh, you tease. Harder.
HARDER!"

With a final wrench, the Typhoon Knight pulls the Spear from the plynth . . . and it's at this point that Crossroads sees a flaw in his plan. The connection to the henchman's armor is less stable than he'd hoped or anticipated, and he can rapidly feel himself losing control. A frown briefly creases his face before he resolves on a rash course of action.

"Oh YES, Gallantry! The Spear!" his voice crackles into his teammate's comms, "Be ready to catch it! Now!"

With that, he uses his last vestiges of control to have the Typhoon Knight fling the Spear as hard as he can towards an open area of the park. Hopefully his teammates would be able to get to it and hold it before someone less savory came along . . .

Oh, who am I kidding? Between us and the Typhoon Knights, you can't get much LESS savory!

"Why, Hex! Redecorating your abominations in your own vile image? Skanky, darling! Narcissistic and skanky to the extreme! I love it!"

[The_Specialist]

Hex
Conditions: None

“HEY!” The puppet master shouted indignantly as the Typhoon Leader threw one of his friends into the other. He was quick to appear near at their sides, though thankfully Fiona had managed the situation without too much damage. “You okay?” The question seemed to be directed towards both of them, only one violet eye peeking out from beneath his mop of hair and the mask making his gaze difficult to track.

“What the hell, dude! Throwing people? Rude. You sound pretty sore, still embarrassed you got trashed by ‘kids’?” He called out to heckle Typhoon Leader. More quietly however, he voiced his concern to the Unicorn Knight. “…Uh… do some of these guys have guns this time or am I seeing things?”

Crossroad’s greeting earned a soft huff that was intended to sound annoyed, but amusement crept through all the same. “Bitch, who you calling a skank?” The young man called back accusingly over their communicators. His attention was drawn towards the Knight at the spear as well however, eyes widening as the weapon appeared to actually… budge. Well. That couldn’t be good. “…Gallantry?” Hex echoed the other two, although rather than a command it sounded to be a question, bordering on incredulity.

It seemed the haughty teen wasn’t content to let that fly. Though he himself did not move, a mirror image did, one of the hooded figures downwind suddenly altering course and veering back towards the spear. As it was flung into the air, the animated construct skidded to a halt, leaving a streak of crushed grass as it swiped the weapon from the air. Surely there was no way giving a legendary weapon to a puppet could go wrong?

[NeoNinevite]

Gallantry
Conditions: None.

Gallantry glances over at Unicorn Knight with concern, as Zarya flies into her. But he gets his orders, and pulls out a containment foam arrow. He draws back his bow and aims for the spear. “Don't worry! I’ve got this!” he shouts before the knight picks up the spear and tosses it away.

Gallantry sighs, and turns to line up the perfect shot as the spear arcs down towards the ground. “Don't worry! I've got it this time!” He shouts again, about to loose the arrow, but one of Hex’s puppets catches the spear instead.

Gallantry pauses for a moment, then looses the arrow anyway. It flies straight towards the spear and the puppet holding it, and on contact it will release a foam that quickly hardens around the spear, and the puppet’s arms. “Don't worry. I had it.”

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Here is the roll for this. If it's a Defend, add +2, if it's an Unleash Your Powers, -1.
(2d6)[11]
Edit: If this counts as a Defend roll, I'll add one team to the pool.

[Crux-Adder]

Batista
Conditions: None

Evelin sighed under her hood and pinched the bridge of her nose, her frustration broadcast to anyone paying enough attention.

But she wasn't about to start... whining about this, no. She was a professional, after all. "Everyone, focus on getting the civilians out of danger! Hex's puppet can handle the spear! keep them distracted with it!" She spoke into her communicator, in as authoritative a tone as she could manage. She then turned away from the fight for the moment, to help people get away and check on the injured, giving anyone who got close enough a poke that'd encourage their healing and minimize scarring.

"Zarya, once the civilians are out of the way you should stop focusing on fighting one at a time! You can keep a bunch of them off their feet, can't you? Everyone, remember we're all part of a team!" She didn't particularly feel that was true, though, as she was helping the police set up a perimeter.

[Troy77]

Zarya
Conditions: None

Zarya scrambles to her feet and disentangles herself from the Unicorn's Knight's arms. She dusts herself off and shrugs off the indignity of having been used as a weapon against her own teammate. Hex appears beside them and asks if they're okay and Zarya gives a curt nod: an affirmative to Hex and a begrudged thank you to the Unicorn Knight. She then watches in frustration and confusion as Crossroads, Hex, and Gallantry all go for the Spear of Destiny!

"Less talk. More action," she says gruffly before Batista's instructions cut through the chaos through their communication devices.

>"Everyone, focus on getting the civilians out of danger! Hex's puppet can handle the spear! keep them distracted with it! Zarya, once the civilians are out of the way you should stop focusing on fighting one at a time! You can keep a bunch of them off their feet, can't you? Everyone, remember we're all part of a team!"<

"Da. Acknowledged," Zarya replies to Batista.

The rambunctious Russian's eyes glow with cold, oddly colored light and she vaults toward Arm Three of the Typhoon Knights in order to free the civilians from their armed round up!

The Typhoon Knights turn their attention to Zarya and open fire! She barrels toward them, shielding her eyes as the bullets thud against her skin and litter the ground. She draws back her fist and leaps into the fray, her fists aglow with the same strange energy as her eyes! She lands in their midst and anyone that comes within arm's length eats a fist!

KA-THOOOOM!

Zarya lifts both fists over her head and smashes them on the ground, sending out a shockwave of force that causes the earth to tremble, sending up a cloud of debris pelting everything nearby, and knocking her enemies off their feet!

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Directly Engage a Threat
(2d6+4)[9]

A hit! I'm In a China Shop, too, causing significant collateral damage in order to choose two options from the list:

• Take Something From Them: Their footing... I'm hoping to knock them all down.
• Impress, surprise, or frighten them: Frighten the opposition! Hoping to save face after getting tossed like a rag doll, show these fools I'm more dangerous than they may have reckoned![

[Razade]

Everyone

For a moment as the spear pulls free from its holder all is quiet, eerily so, but it only lasts a moment. The next moment is noise and heat and light as a powerful beam blasts into the air. The sky grows dark for several moments before all returns to normal. Well, not normal certainly, but as close to normal as one can in the middle of a metahuman fight. Civilians scream and start to flee, the Typhoon Knights meant to be taking care of them shooting their weapons into the air in hopes to corallel them, that is until the very ground beneath their feet shatter and they're flung to the ground.

Tyhpoon Leader watches all of this, his and the other knights attention, snapping to Hex's puppet and the soldier still standing bewitched under Crossroad's spell. "You, secure the spear. I will take care of these whelps." The remaining knights snap to attention and charge, one thing very clear on their mind. The spear. Typhoon Leader's attentions then snap back to the Unicorn Knight. "Yes. Teach me a lesson you foolish children!" With the roar of rockets Typhoon Leader takes to the air, a crackling bolt of lightning appearing in hand. "Come then, on your pride we shall fight!"

[Mr Sitouh]

"My comrades may be fools and children," Fiona snarls, drawing Discretion from its sheath as Typhoon Leader lifts into the air, "but I am of the House of Chalcedony! And you of all people should know..." There's a blinding flash of prismatic light, and Fiona is above her foe, blows as swift as the lightning he holds raining down on him. "You impugn our honor at your peril!"

Spoiler: OOC

Show

I'm spending a point of Team selfishly to boost Danger and lower Freak, and Directly Engaging! (2d6)[11]

[herodofcows]

Crossroads
Conditions: None

Crossroads' hand flies up to his mouth as the spear does . . . that.

"Puuuuuuuuta madre . . ."

Within moments he's collected himself and begins running with the civilians, keeping his hood up and looking like just another scared pedestrian.

"Oh, Unicorn, you WOUND me!" he pouts, trying to mask how much that comment had actually stung, "But I can take a hint. I'll keep the normies nice and calm while they evacuate, Batista dear, don't you worry about them. You all focus on the Spear or on the nasty people that want to take it."

As he runs, he puts forth as much calming emotion as he can, as far as he can. Blind fear is a wonderful way to get shot, but calm calculated retreats mean fewer chances of getting caught in the crossfire. Besides, panicking civilians mean potential lives lost and property damage. Wouldn't want any adorable young children getting trampled or anything similarly horrid, after all.

Of course . . . there was such a thing as being TOO calm in the face of danger. It doesn't take long for him to realize that people are reacting less "strategically" and more "apathetically". Their motions are lackadaisical, almost zombie-esque as they shuffle towards the exit, utterly indifferent to the many hazards to life and limb that are currently swarming the park.

"So . . . I seem to have made them too calm. Help?" he transmits, trying to mask the sudden sinking feeling with a cheery tone.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

So, I guess keeping the civilians calm will constitute a Defend action, since he's trying to keep them from getting hurt? Will adjust the roll as seems appropriate.

(2d6-1)[6]

EDIT: Oh, bollocks.

[The_Specialist]

Hex
Conditions: Angry

“Hooooly sh—“ Hex shouted as the sky seemed to erupt momentarily after the spear was pulled free. Then it darkened, and then… normal. Right. Well, that probably wasn’t a good thing.

“Ha!” came the proud cry from Hex all the same as his puppet first caught the spear. The triumph was short lived however when the arrow hit its mark and soon left his minion half covered in the rapidly expanding foam. His head snapped towards Gallantry, violet eyes blazing beneath the mask in annoyance. Less talk. More action. “..What she said.” Hex grunted finally, although that wouldn’t stop him from mouthing off more. And soon, when the Knights near the spear turn their attention towards his puppet.

“Yeah, you had it. Real good. We could have had the spear in our hands already, but now it’s stuck to a doof who can’t run anymore. Thanks a heap!!” Hex snapped at his comrade in open frustration as Dewey tottered along awkwardly in their general direction all the same. The Unicorn Knight’s call seemed to pull him back to the reality at hand, more so than Typhoon Leader’s challenge, and it stung to hear what she thought of them. He wanted to prove her wrong, although his head was buzzing with compounded anger.

Instead, he focused it on their real enemy as it bubbled over. “Oh shut up already!” He snarled. The violet of his eyes seemed to burn brighter, even glowing, and then shifted hue entirely. Undeniably illuminated, his eyes burned with sickly green light. His right hand shot forward, reaching towards Typhoon Leader as he grit is teeth. Though he was well out of arms’ reach, his fingers curled inwards like claws, seeking and pulling at something intangible instead—the man’s life force. He tore a piece free and absorbed it inwards for himself, boosting his own reserves. It was the spear catcher he pushed it to instead, however.

The sudden influx of energy bolstered Dewey beyond its normal capacity, foam cracking around its trunk and allowing it to bolt away from the Knights beginning to give chase, rather than simply hobbling desperately as it had been while half encased in foam. Huey, still armed with one of the Knight’s swords, dove towards them in a blur to cover Dewey’s retreat. Smaller than the Knights, it tried to take advantage by ducking low, both to hopefully avoid any initial swings while sweeping its own blade in a low wide arc towards their legs as they advanced in pursuit.

Lastly, Louie. This Milo-sized menace was moving in the other direction however. Answering Crossroad’s call, it came sprinting towards him and the apathetic hoard of civilians. It began to push people forward in a bit of tough love encouragement, trying its best to play both shepherd, urging the innocents along more quickly, and watch dog, as it helped to keep an eye out for immediate threats advancing on them as well.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Direct Engage for Milo attacking Typhoon Leader:
(2d6+2)[13]

It's a hit!
I'd like to:

• Take something from them. (life force)
• Impress, surprise, or frighten the opposition. (Hopefully that's painful and scary enough to knock him off balance! Raz can change this if he wishes.)

Direct Engage for Huey fighting Knights:
(2d6+2)[10]

It's a hit!
I'd like to:

• Resist or avoid their blows.
• Create an opportunity for your allies. (Give Dewey a chance to escape)

Reject Unicorn Knight's Influence:
(2d6)[6]

It's a miss! Womp womp.
I'm going to mark Angry (-2 to comfort or support or pierce the mask)
Raz can adjust his labels.

[Troy77]

Zarya
Conditions: None

As the dust settles and the ringing in her ears quiets to a faint hum in the background, the first thing Zarya can make out are the Unicorn Knight's scathing words of challenge to the Typhoon Leader. Zarya narrows her eyes, gazing to the sky at Typhoon Leader and Unicorn Knight engaged in their duel, the clash of swords and the prismatic colors flashing and raining down from the sky. Graceful. Inspiring. She looks like a hero, Zarya thinks, The rest of us don't look like that at all. Childish fools. What if she's right?.

Zarya lets out a puff of air from between her lips, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. Her vision and her mind clear and she collects and drags the disoriented Arm of Typhoon Knights to the bicycle rack. She then uses her immense strength to twist and curl and wrap the steel rack around the Knights so tightly they can only barely breathe.

"Stay put, yes? Police will arrest you soon," she tells them.

Spoiler

Show

Unleash Your Powers to capture the Typhoon Knights in the bike rack.

(2d6+1)[7]

Also, the Unicorn Knight's words affect Zarya, so shifting Mundane up and Danger down.

[Crux-Adder]

[QUOTE=Crux-Adder;22058155]Batista
Conditions: None

Fools and...

Professional. She was a professional.

Goddammit, Fiona...

"Taking it from here, Crossroads!"

In a rush, she slapped a hand on the last of the mildly injured civilians that had come her way and ran to the ambulance. The way she manhandled the door, Zarya and Unicorn Knight would've torn it off, but she wasn't even close to as strong, so it just swung open at as high a speed as the shock absorbers under the hinges would allow. She practically jumped inside, flailing her legs out the door, just to get her hand around the radio at the console and flick on the loudspeakers and crank them up well above what the police had on hand.

"Evacuate now! In an orderly fashion!" She shouted into the microphone, and then followed that up with protocol instructions. She repeated this a couple times, looking through the windshield to make sure all the civilians were making their way out of the area.

Spoiler: OOC

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Spending a Team to help Crossroads and rejecting Unicorn Knight's influence. Marking potential.

[NeoNinevite]

Gallantry
Conditions: None.

"Hex, old pal, we're not trying to get the spear, we're trying to keep it away from them. The best way to do that is by keeping it under a solid layer of foam. It was the right call."

Gallantry shouts at his teammate, as he runs forward, drawing his bow, and nocking an arrow.

"Oh, and before I forget... Unicorn Lady, I may technically be a child, but I'm no fool. You think a fool could pull off this?"

Gallantry releases the arrow, and if flies forward, cords stretching out as it strikes the ground. He missed. That was embarrassing. He fires off a few more shots, but messes up with those shots too. He keeps trying to take out a knight, but stays sheepishly silent.

Spoiler: OOC

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I'd choose to mark potential by acting to prove Unicorn Knight wrong, but Gallantry hasn't really proved her wrong with this display.

Instead, I think I'll shift Danger up, and Mundane down. He thinks he's being the opposite of foolish and childish, even though he really isn't.

[Razade]

Everyone
Team: 0

The civilians, with prompting, flee swiftly as the combined efforts of Crossroads and Batista seem to connect and they funnel out of the park as swiftly as they can as the Typhoon Knights are dealt with by Hex and Zarya. The few remaining rush Gallantry, avoid arrows deftly and with trained practice as they set up a swift shield formation as the lead troop crashes into Gallantry and deposes him of his bow with a clever sword trick.

Meanwhile Fiona brings the fight to Typhoon Leader, a dizzying death defying aerial show as blow after blow is exchanged. However it seems on this occassion Fioana has the upper hand, striking true against the Typhoon Leader and damaging his suit, a follow up strike from Hex almost causing him to fall from the air. The surge of life energy however comes tinged with fear and anxiety, fluxing powerfully into the would be mage.

"The battle is lost Brothers!" shouts Typhoon Leader as his jets sputter, failing. "Flee, we shall bring this fight another day! The Spear will be ours soon enough!" The Knights fall into formation, those that can still walk that is after Zarya and Hex have finished with them, and retreat dragging what few fallen comrades they can led by Typhoon Leader who continues to drop to the ground as they beat a hasty path out of the park.

With the battle over, you are left alone with a handful of unconscious or at least unresponsive knights...and the Spear. And yourselves of course. What do you do?

Spoiler: Fiona

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You forgot to mark down what you picked for your Directly Engage. If you don't pick Avoid Blows, Mark a condition. Otherwise...doesn't matter much, the dude is running away.

Spoiler: Gallantry

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As noted over Discord, mark a condition for your failed Directly Engage.

Spoiler: Crossroads

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You forgot to pick which of the two things you were taking with your Defend but it's kinda a moot point.

Spoiler: Hex

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Mentioned this over Discord as well, take a Condition since you didn't avoid blows

[Troy77]

Zarya
Conditions: Insecure

Zarya strides over to Hex and gives him a congratulatory punch in the arm.

"You're the hero, yes?" She says and then offers a bright smile. "You saved the spear and the people with your creepy marionette things. Sorcery even helped save the Lady Knight from Typhoon Leader!"

She looks around, "Where is Crossroads? He saved people, too!"

Zarya spots Gallantry, "Him, not so much." She strides over to the archer and helps him up off the ground, "Are you okay?" She gives him a hearty slap on the back. "Fought them all! By yourself! Very brave, very heroic."

Spoiler

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Comfort or support Hex... I'm at +2 because it's Hex (Influence, Love), but -2 because I'm Insecure.
(2d6)[9]

Comfort or support Gallantry... and I'm at -2 because of the aforementioned Insecure.
(2d6-2)[8]

Hits all around! Woo-hoo! On a hit, they hero you and get to choose one:
[list][*]mark potential[*]clear a condition[*]or shift Labels if they open up to you[/i]

[The_Specialist]

Hex
Conditions: Insecure

Despite a furious glance towards Gallantry, when the Knights had begun to charge his team mate, Hex had the sword-wielding puppet actually turn to give chase, preparing to aid before they all turned tail in the end, instead.

The civilians had been escorted safely out of harm’s way, the Typhoon ranks broken and fleeing, and Typhoon Leader crashed from the sky. A success it was, even if it had not been a particularly elegant example of cohesive teamwork. Hex made no move to break their enemy’s fall, instead letting out a loud huff of irritation with the entire scene, reaching up to rub at his shoulder tenderly.

“What the…? Aw, Louey, no…” He groaned when he caught sight of the puppet limping towards him. In its efforts to help corral and watch over the civilians, it had taken a beating it seemed. A second sigh escaped from him as he beckoned his abominations back to him. Before he could immediately unleash the salt he’d been collecting, a solid punch caught him off guard.

“Hey—“ He blurted in alarm, and immediately began to rub his arm before he caught sight of Zarya’s cheerful smile encouraging him. Sheepishly, he began to nod instead, his hand lifting away from his arm towards his head. He tipped his mask up and away from his face to offer a smile in return that would come off a touch shy at first. “I guess… I guess… I did…” he conceded, sounding genuinely surprised a bit, to think of things in the most positive light first, as Zarya seemed to. “You did good too, Zarya…” Hex was quick to assert in addition. “Kept those Knights real busy.”

“I’m sure Crossroads can hear you from wherever you are, and wherever he is…” Hex mused with a hint of dark humour, shaking his head gently as Zarya moved on to help Gallantry back to his feet and rooted them all on regardless. “Yeah, great work everyone. Awesome teamwork. I personally felt very inspired, being sh*t-talked by our own leader!” He chirped along in feigned cheerfulness, and while certainly saturated with sarcasm beneath that sweet veneer, it wasn't quite as outright scathing as he had originally intended, now partially soothed and bolstered by Zarya's words.

He lifted a hand as Dewey scampered up to him and skidded to a halt, the minion seemingly trying to offer the spear to him. Reaching out lazily to grip a piece of the shaft that was not covered in foam, Hex then placed a combat boot against the poor puppet’s chest, giving a solid shove to wrench the weapon free.

[herodofcows]

Crossroads
Conditions: None

"Oh darling, never fear, I'm ALWAYS listening!" Crossroads replies cheerily, his voice still coming over the phones.

His retreat had taken him to a blind corner behind an alley, where he is currently struggling into his costume. It'll take some time, but being able to show up looking pristine and flamboyant makes for the kind of delightful pageantry that would have terrified Alejandro to even consider. Thus, Crossroads loves it all the more.

"Now, Batista, sweetie, you MUST let me thank you. Saving me from myself, oof! And those poor civilians too, of course. What's your pleasure? Pick your poison and I'll have it sent to you directly. Nothing is too good for you, dear, nothing at all!"

He finally manages to get his gear on and saunters jovially into the cleared parkway, daintily stepping over the recumbent knights as he approaches the group.

"Now, the Knights . . ." he muses, looking around the park and at the backs of the retreating forces, ". . . I don't suppose we're just going to let this aggression stand, are we? Seems, ah, foolish and childish to me, wouldn't you say Unicorn dearie?"

This last is delivered in tones so saccharine as to be positively diabetic.

[NeoNinevite]

Gallantry
Conditions: Insecure.

Gallantry winces as he's knocked to the floor. He reaches for the sword on his hip, and tries to scramble away, knowing that he won't be fast enough. But before the enemy knights can take advantage of his weakness, they are called away. Gallantry just sits there looking forlorn.

"Are you okay?"

Gallantry accepts Zarya's assistance and gets up off the ground, fetching his bow as he speaks, "I'm fine, thanks. No injuries here."

"Fought them all! By yourself! Very brave, very heroic."

Gallantry sighs, and looks quite despondent, though clearly touched by Zarya's statements. "Brave and heroic is good. But I'd prefer to be effective or useful. In that last fight, everyone kept telling me to grab the spear, but then couldn't wait for me to deal with it before going after it themselves. I can't help but feel like I'm not needed or wanted on this team. Should I even be here?"

Suddenly, he sees Hex grab the spear, and he grips his bow tightly, visibly tense, watching for Hex's next move. His other hand slowly creeps towards his Longsword.

Spoiler: OOC

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That should count as opening up, so I'll clear Insecure.

Also, I'm going to trigger one of my Team Moves, since it seems appropriate:

When you share a vulnerability or weakness with someone, ask them to confirm or deny that you should be here. If they confirm it, mark potential and give them Influence over you. If they deny it, mark Angry and shift one Label up and one Label down, your choice.

[Mr Sitouh]

As Typhoon Leader and his knights disengage, the Unicorn Knight lets herself drop back to the ground. Sheathing her blades, she leans against a tree for a moment, catching her breath as the wave of frustration, fear, and anger she'd been riding fades. Her teammates' words burn in her ears, stinging all the more for their truth. But right now, duty still calls.

She taps her earbud, connecting to her armsman. "Szabo, the Spear is secure, but it's been removed from the pedestal. Notify the appropriate authorities." She pauses, a thought occurring to her. "And inform Lord Ivan - there may be diplomatic repercussions to our involvement."

That handled, she turns to the others. "First, my apologies. My words were thoughtless, discourteous, and hurtful. It was behavior unbecoming of a knight and a member of this team, and I ask your forgiveness."

"I would speak more of this, but Crossroads is correct - this is a worrisome escalation, and we should investigate while we can." She nods to her teammate. "You and Hex should try and speak with one of the captured Knights. Gallantry, you go as well - keep an eye on things, I'd not have them released because we were overzealous." A quiet nod and meaningful look hopefully conveys the trust she's trying to show in him. "The rest of us will speak with the authorities as they arrive, direct their attention to triage and securing the Spear to buy you time."

Spoiler: OOC

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The Unicorn Knight thinks Gallantry should be here, definitely. Also, since everybody in the team commented on her dig, would that be them telling her who she is?

[herodofcows]

Crossroads
Conditions: None

Crossroads gives a light salute towards the Unicorn Knight and paces nonchalantly towards the nearest recumbent Typhoon Knight. He switches the voice modulator in his mask to a deeper and raspier tone. It's a cheesy effect, but he simultaneously begins blasting the unfortunate knight with pure terror to make it fit.

Demons should be feared, after all . . .

"Youuuuu," he growls, mask eyes glowing a brighter orange at his mental command, "Tells usssss. Tells ussss what you plan for the Ssssspear. Tells ussss or we feedsssss. TELLS US."

Overdone? Perhaps, but Crossroads quite enjoyed playing with the themes and perceptions of roles in metahuman contexts. The costumes, the pageantry, the metaphors given life by a handful of confused superhumans . . . all of it, a story told and retold by the characters to the characters, structuring and restructuring the story as they see fit.

And amidst all that, it is given to HIM to play narrator.

This is the story of a knight that fell, a paladin corrupted, a code corroded by infernal will . . .

"You tells ussss . . ."

Spoiler: OOC

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Okay, shooting to Pierce the Mask.

(2d6+2)[5]. On a hit, and in order of preference depending on degree of success:

1. What are you really planning? (Long-term plans)
2. What do you intend to do? (Short-term plans)
3. How could I get your character to become my mole within the Typhoon Knights?

EDIT: Oh, buggery.

[Razade]

Everyone
Team: One

Sadly the last lucid Knight slumps under...whatever it is Crossroads just did to him...and goes unresponsive. Which leaves the six of you alone with yourselves. Not for long however as one would expect from all the chaos, as sirens fill the air with loud wails. Before long, MCPD comes screeching into the plaza in their small fit little cars. It'd be cute if there weren't so many and if inside each one was at least two (usually two) cops with full metahuman abilities. They're not alone however as several heroes swoop down from above, led by a woman with a military cut and the symbol of one of the Knights of the Round on her chest. You recognize her, she's not a Knight proper but she's important enough to serve under one. The area is then swarmed with police and the two adult heroes, who survey the scene.

The other hero, a limber and rather tall man, moves towards the spear with obvious intent. You've other problems as the stocky woman glares across the six of you. "Which one of you is the leader of this outfit?" she asks, voice clear and absolutely no-nonsense. "Step forward and explain what happened."

Spoiler: Everyone/Whoever gets to it first

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Who is this Squire and her companion? How do you recognize them? What are their powers other than flight?

Spoiler: Hex

Show

You can clear a Condition/ or what ever else from Comfort/Support

Spoiler: Gallantry

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Mark a Potential, clear a Condition or what ever else from Comfort/Support

Spoiler: Fiona

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Not really no.

Spoiler: Crossroads

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Mark a Condition.