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  1. - Top - End - #31
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Zombie

    Join Date
    Dec 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Nuisance
    Conditions: None

    And just like that, Rook was gone. The birds that fluttered about the rooftop disappeared almost as quickly. Sarah stood confused for a second, too many thoughts passing through her head for her to make a move of any kind.

    Rook was just stalling us? For money!? Uncool. And what the heck does 'pass-ayy' even mean? Wait, did I just get an archenemy?


    There would be no time for answers, as the whine of Hive's cannon dying down quickly brought Sarah back to the present. As it was, she already had an extensive amount of stuff she'd need to process later. Turning to look at Hive, Sarah gave an energetic wave as her suit phased back in and unsealed with a soft hiss.

    "Thanks for the-" she began, but her chrome teammate had already vanished up towards the news station. "...help."

    Hive was probably just detail oriented. That was fine, Sarah still thought she was cool; there was no way Nuisance would have been a match for that crazy mercenary on her own, especially if he'd been going easy on them, so she'd definitely been saved by the taciturn machine-girl. Hive's doom cannon was pretty crazy looking though, and Sarah's heart had definitely skipped a few beats at the thought of how many buildings that sort of thing could have leveled. The emergency crews standing a ways down the road probably felt the same way; which is precisely why they were still standing a ways down the road. Helping them to the scene wasn't really an option, and so Sarah had no choice but to take off after her teammates. She had no hope of catching up to any of them, but she had to be there. There was no way she was missing whatever was next.

  2. - Top - End - #32
    Titan in the Playground
    Join Date
    Sep 2014

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Terrene, The GM
    Pool:
    3

    Zodiac, Alex, The Cabal

    The rain does indeed make for difficult climbing and navigation along and up the Weekly Herald, the storm increases in pitch the higher you climb as one could only describe it as "a biblical deluge". The state you make it up in however may not be for the best as you're battered by the storm* but make it up you do and as you crest the guard rails to the top floor of the Weekly Herald you see what's waiting for you. Maybe even literally. There, strapped to the various lightning rods is what can only be described as a flesh cocoon. Matted organic material leaks all around it, wet and slick as it coats the floors and helepad and pulses with life.

    The Cabal, the Cultists and Arachne, are gathered 'round with chanting and magical lights. Whatever is inside of that thing is moving and with each twitch the creep of skin seems to sink deeper and deeper down into the building. As with each breath, whatever monstrosity that's about to hatch seizes more and more material to feast on.

    What do you do?

    Spoiler: Zodiac and Alex*
    Show
    So! We're going to do a custom move here. We'll call it Dragon Riders on the Storm. Zodiac, please roll with Danger. On a miss, you lose something in the storm (pick one)
    - Your Ride (Carrying Alex is too difficult with the flying and the climbing and you lose her. Prompting a Defend from Alex to see how bad that goes)
    - Your Strength (Even after everything, the strain is still there. Take -1 to your next roll)

    On a hit, you make it up without issue but the Cabal is ready. They gain an opportunity. On a 10+, you catch them off guard. You gain an opportunity.


    Since there's two of you, if Zodiac gets a miss roll a Defend as applicable. You can bump this up with Team as well.
    Spoiler: Zodiac
    Show
    You can clear angry, sure.



    Hive, Nuisance

    With how the layout of damaged roads, debries and the crews coming in after Hive leaves the pair of you arrive at the Weekly Herald more or less at the same time. The reception area is open and bare but the TV's play the same video as before, the whole thing on a loop somehow. The panels show the darkly lit interior as only the voices of the TV get their own speech bubbles this time. Evidence of the zombies are everywhere, windows broken and bodies laying about. It seems the power surge Hive caused was enough to deal with whatever welcoming party the Cabal had stationed for you. Coming any sooner and you'd have had your hands full. Maybe even overwhelmed if you'd come alone.

    "I think" he starts, stammering, "what everyone would like to know...is why. Why are you doing this? Villains have motives! Power, money, respect. The Warlords will never take responsibility for this. You know you're on your own so why? Why this made scheme?"

    Arachne snaps, seizing the reporter and hauling him up to his feet. Her eyes are wild as the panels focus on them, watery and glazed. "Why" comes the words, scratchy and punctuated by a boom sound effect as the next panel reveals the reflection of a lightning strike in the Necromancer's eyes. "Because he is coming and this city is doomed." comes the following words. The panel stretches back to reveal the room empty of its hostages. Arachne lets Booth fall to his seat before slumping down into hers. "Not even this" she waves her hand about her "will save us. We only hope he is impressed. The perfect human. A gift before we are sent to the grave. We will drown with you but Lison will remain."

    A rustling sounds off camera as another of the Cults cronies comes into screen. "We've incoming Madam Arachne. The dragon and another. Rook seems to have kept the others occupied. No sign of the wizard." Arachne only nods before standing languidly. "To the roof then. Lison awaits."
    The Cabal knows you're here and it seems the other two are who tipped them off. They're nowhere to be seen however. You could climb the building though that would take a good deal of time and the storm has reached a fever pich. Doing a stunt like that would be crazy. The electical systems seem to be working well enough as the elevator lights are on though maybe that's a risk neither of you are willing to take? There's always the stairs?

    What do you do?
    Last edited by Razade; 2018-05-31 at 04:15 AM.

  3. - Top - End - #33
    Ogre in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2017

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Hive, the Transformed
    Conditions: Afraid, Guilty
    Potential: 0/5

    Hive illuminates the darkened space, swirls of blue light hanging off her body and worming their way across exposed wiring. She looks around the room, suddenly at a loss, listening to the recording of the TV and dripping puddles of water on the carpet. For a moment more she hangs uncertain, then stalks in the direction of the stairwell. Wiping her remaining hair out of her eyes, Sam gazes up the lift shaft, humming and clicking to herself. With a sudden pair of loud cracks, a pair of steel darts, each trailing metallic cables, embed themselves in the concrete ceiling of the stairwell.

    Each dart twists and expands, embedding themselves more firmly in the stonework, and Hive reaches up to give them an experimental tug, making sure they are firmly affixed. Hearing Nuisance come in behind her, she flicks her head sideways, then calls out.

    "Want a lift? I reckon the real ones are hardly safe..."

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    To continue the whole 'team-mates lifting other team-mates' thing we've got going, I might as well offer our Beacon a lift to the top storey, at least to prove that Sam is not entirely silent and edgy.

    I don't think an unleash is necessary here, unless you disagree, Razade?
    Last edited by Mr. E; 2018-05-31 at 06:36 PM.

  4. - Top - End - #34
    Orc in the Playground
     
    DreadPirateH's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jul 2012

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Zodiac
    Conditions: None
    Potential: 1/5


    Whatever's causing this storm, it couldn't have been approved by the Weather Report. The angry howl of the wind whips around Zodiac at what must be hurricane speeds as he flies and climbs his way up the building. At times the gale threatens to overwhelm him and fling them both into the wild blue yonder, but as they summit the skyscraper, the storm dies back just enough for Drake to make the final ascent on the back of the wind.

    With Alex still clamped on tight to his back, Drake circles in the sky overhead, roaaring at the cultists against a backdrop of thunder and lightning. Below, he sees...

    What the carp is that?!

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Rolled for Dragon Riders on the Storm in the OOC thread:

    9

  5. - Top - End - #35
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    BlueWizardGirl

    Join Date
    May 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Alex enjoyed the ride, even though or maybe because of the storm. She loved how the rain hit her face, the roaring thunder and flashes of lighting, the speed of Drake's agile body. Exhilarating! She let her enthusiasm known, letting out screams of excitement and cheering for Drake to go faster.

    Eventually they reached the top and Drake circled above to give them a view. Through all the rain it was hard to make out what exactly Arachne and her lackeys where doing probably nothing good and if Alex was honest, she didn't care that much. She was pumped! and she wanted to smash something. "Ready for the airdrop?", she shouted against the storm, but didn't wait for an answer and instead rolled herself off the side of Drake's body falling several before impacting on the roof like a meteor unleashing a blast wave that pushed away anything in it's path.

    Spoiler: Engage
    Show

    I'm going to spend a team to push Drake's role from 9 to a 10.

    I'm also going to directly engage:

    (2d6+2)[8]
    I'm causing collateral damage (mostly the roof I guess) to chose two Options total:
    - Avoid their Blows
    - Impress/Frighten the Opposition
    Last edited by Sahe; 2018-06-01 at 07:28 PM.

  6. - Top - End - #36
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Zombie

    Join Date
    Dec 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Nuisance
    Conditions: None

    The run down to the base of the news station had winded Sarah again. She could only stand doubled over and wheezing as she looked around for her other friends. As soon as she noticed Hive standing near the stairwell, Sarah's heart sank. This hero work stuff was exhausting! How many floors up did this go? How long would that take? Would she be able to fight bad guys after all of that? Maybe she'd pass out from having to run up all those flights and save herself the effort.

    Sarah shook her head to banish the negative thoughts, only to see Hive firing cables up into the top of the stairs. Though it was imperceptible from beneath the oxygen mask, her face lit up as Hive offered a ride up to the roof.

    "Yes please!" Sarah shouted emphatically as she rushed over to Hive. What followed was an awkward dance of Sarah trying to figure out how she was supposed to join Hive in the ascent.

    Jump on her back? What am I, a monkey?

    Hold hands? Dislocated shoulder? Lose my grip and fall? Yikes.

    Get carried up face to face? ...Uh...bit too intimate...

    Sarah's head tilted at the effort of trying to process the situation respectfully. Did any of these things even matter to Hive? She was large and strong, maybe Sarah could just ride on her shoulder and hang on to the cables.

    Well, whatever. They'd figure it out; they were heroes! Social situations were nothing compared to all that villain bashing stuff.

    Right?

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    This doesn't need to be answered in a full post (and if it does, Mr. E has my permission to resolve this lift situation in the way they deem fit), I just thought it was funny to process this kind of thing.

  7. - Top - End - #37
    Ogre in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2017

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Hive, the Transformed
    Conditions: Afraid, Guilty
    Potential: 0/5

    Hive smiles back as Nuisance comes rushing over, then her face falls slightly as the two of them have a similar thought. She looks around frowning, trying to remember how the big-shot heroes handle these kinds of situations. Her arms click and whine, small ports opening and shutting, apparently of their own accord. She looks up suddenly, hearing the loud bang which probably signals someone starting the fight up above.

    "S***" Suddenly aware of how much time they've both wasted, Sam lurches forward grabbing Sarah by whatever bits seem available and convenient. Face burning red, she triggers the reels, pulling them both up to the ceiling. "S-sorry, but we should probably, y'know, not hang around," she explains lamely, trying to avoid thinking about how this her most awkward hug ever, excluding the incident with the aunt that smells of weed. Around the pair of them a swarm of glowing blue motes dance and sparkle, humming in sympathetic social agony.

  8. - Top - End - #38
    Titan in the Playground
    Join Date
    Sep 2014

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Terrene, The GM
    Pool:
    2

    Zodiac, Alex, The Cabal

    The Cabal, Arachne and her various stooges, stand around the cocoon doing what all evil cults do best. Chant and sing about destruction and misery and woe. The cocoon pulsates and spasms even as Alex launches herself into the midst of their number and onto the wet fleshy floor below. Blood vessels rupture as Alex makes her entrance, the Cabal dashing away as quickly as possible with shrieks of fear. Even Arachne takes a step back with a haughty laugh.

    "So! You're finally here! Finally here to witness the birth of greatness! Behold!" she screams as the skies above the Weekly Herald open to clear blue, a hurricane like eye forming above the building as lightning lashes from all sides. Each bolt strikes the various lightning rods, electricity surging down their length and into the cocoon. The ground rends and groans and tentacles dip into the building to pull Nuisance and Hive out onto the sagging floor.

    Nuisance, Hive

    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZP! Up you go, floor by floor you ascend as the stairs and walls grow more and more matted with organic material. You don't have the time to pause and see but the whole building seems to be...breathing. Before long however you're at the top with doors open to the roof of the high rise, winds and chanting howling through the egress. You're not given even a moment to assess before several slimey tentacles whip out from the roof and drag you out into the pouring rain. They're quick to retreat into the massive engorged cocoon that seems the center of this all and sure enough your friends and allies are present as well.

    Together at Last

    With a rip and a squelch, the cocoon opens and fluids pour to join the quickly forming lake in the bent ground. Flesh recedes as the towering body of what can only be described as the worst of the leftover meatloaf slops onto the cracked and pitted concrete floor. Lison is born, a fifteen foot monstrosity of iron and flesh. Perfect it is not. Angry, it sure is. With a roar the newly born undead beast charges, spines of bone and teeth jutting from beneath its feet as it makes a wide arc to strike at Alex!

  9. - Top - End - #39
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Zombie

    Join Date
    Dec 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Nuisance
    Conditions: None

    Sarah had learned many things about Hive in the brief moments it took them to reach the top floor. Of note: apparently the girl could definitely get embarrassed, though that only mimicked Sarah's own reaction to their predicament. Also, she had a grip like iron. As the two of them came to a stop, Sarah had a brief, desperately awkward moment where she tried to find something, anything, that would turn this into more of a "Haha, that was fun!" experience and less of a "Let's never speak of this again." one.

    Before she could, the building itself mercifully interrupted them with both timing more perfect than she could have ever hoped for and all the tenderness of a jackhammer. Tentacles (gross) shot out and nabbed them both, dragging them kicking and screaming up to the rooftop. Okay, maybe it was just Sarah screaming. She couldn't phase at that moment for two simple reasons: one, she'd been caught by surprise. Two: Sarah didn't want to think about what would happen if she phased through the tentacles and fell down the building at this height. She'd probably never stop falling. Thankfully, the ordeal was over just as it began; the tentacles ceased their impertinence and receded into the most disgusting looking cocoon Sarah had ever seen. The sac popped open like an overripe zit, and she just about gagged in her oxygen mask. Not for the first time was she glad her toolkit revolved around staying well at range.

    "That is seriously gross,"
    Sarah shuddered, getting up as quickly as she could to avoid the slowly pooling fluids on the rooftop. She could only watch as the new-born meat monster charged out and lunged at Alex, but the girl was ready for it. They clashed like a thunderclap, and Sarah fell back onto her rear. The force of Alex's blows was enough to rattle her teeth, and Sarah found the sound of her own heart pounding a little too loud for comfort. Maybe it was better if she didn't get close to that fight anyways.

    That just left...

    Sarah scanned the rooftop from her seated position, her eyes finally resting on the fleeing cultists and their...leader? Maybe that was something she could do to make herself useful.

    Spoiler: Rollin' off the Roof
    Show
    Rolling to Assess the Situation [roll]2d6[/roll]
    Last edited by Kirjath; 2018-06-04 at 11:07 PM.

  10. - Top - End - #40
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    BlueWizardGirl

    Join Date
    May 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Sarah's assessment of the monster was accurate. It was a disgusting thing of flesh and iron, especially when you started wondering where all that flesh came from. Fortunately (sort of) Alex didn't have enough time to think about that as the monster started attack her, swinging it's gigantic fist hat her. Instinctively she ducked beneath it, another blow came which she blocked head on, but had her sliding a few feet across the wet rooftop. The giant zombie was relentless and followed that up with another blow, trying to pancake Alex onto the roof, but she was too tough and too strong for that and blocked that blow as well.

    One who didn't know how Alex' powers worked might wonder why she wasn't fighting back, but with every blow she blocked she gathered energy from the impact, energy she meant to use against the beast. Another blow came and Alex saw an opening. Instead of blocking it, she stepped aside letting the massive fist smash into the roof and lunged forward going for the head of Lison. In the last moment it pulled up it's other arm in an attempt to block Alex' attack, but her fist went straight into where the creatures biceps with a smacking, gut churning sound.

    Alex started to panic slightly when she noticed how her arm was stuck in the monster's arm. She tried to pull it free, but she had no leverage hanging a few feet above the ground and being swung around by Lison's movement. That's when an idea hit her and she unleashed the stored energy from her stuck fist causing a shock wave to rip through the arm, rupturing it's tendons and showering her and whoever else was to close to it with bits of flesh, iron and whatever else the monster was made up of. Alex dropped down on the roof, feeling sick to her stomach and covered in parts of giant zombie. Besides the remains of the arm fell heavy onto the roof and landed with a splash while Lison was screaming and howling in anger, agony or both.
    Last edited by Sahe; 2018-06-05 at 02:51 AM.

  11. - Top - End - #41
    Ogre in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2017

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Hive, the Transformed
    Conditions: Afraid, Guilty
    Potential: 0/5

    Hive makes a mental note to apologise to Nuisance after, then also to never mention this again. This, of course, occurs at the same time she disables her olfactory sensors and picks herself off the rooftop, because occasionally a robot brain has its perks. Standing up with a volley of mechanical clicks and hums, Sam takes a moment to orient herself. Alex is laying into the zombie-corpse-cthulhu-thing, and apparently...

    Once again glad that she can turn off her nose, and her gag relfex, Hive focuses on the big picture. The swarm of nanites rises from her back, hovering over the scene like a miniature and glowing blue mushroom cloud.

    Well, if it worked on the small zombies, I guess it'll work on the big one too...

    Focusing her powers, Sam extends her hand like an entertainer working a puppet, gazing intently at Lison. Five crackling spikes of nano-tech ram downwards from the hovering mass, slicing into the mega-zombies flesh. While she is not sure that total control is possible, on something this large and complicated, Hive can at least play spoiler, slowing down its movements and weakening its strength.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Right, I'm going to go creepy in response to it's ugly, and try for some puppet mastering:

    Unleash My Powers: (2d6+3)[8]

    Unstable/Temporary is fine, I reckon. Not like this thing is going to around for long, I hope.
    Last edited by Mr. E; 2018-06-05 at 03:29 PM.

  12. - Top - End - #42
    Orc in the Playground
     
    DreadPirateH's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jul 2012

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Zodiac
    Conditions: None
    Potential: 1/5


    Zodiac has seen a lot in his years as a sidekick. Mole men. Asteroid goo monsters. The Great Bad Hair Day of '15. But this thing - Lison - had to be the grossest, ugliest, weirdest monster yet. As Alex rolls of his back and craters into the thing, Drake can't help but stare, dumbfounded, undulating back and forth in place.

    When Hive and Nuisance burst up from below, he finally snaps out of it. But even as he dives toward the fight, he hears a loud SPLORT! - a sound that he will still have bad pizza dreams about for years to come. Even an appointment with Memorex won't be enough to heal the scars that his psyche is about to endure. In that horrible instant, Zodiac almost feels the world slowing down around him, but he can do nothing to avoid the impending disaster. The monster's arm ripples apart as a blinding shockwave erupts from Alex's attack, and gobs of monster-flesh spray upward directly into Zodiac's path. He opens his mouth to scream - his biggest mistake of all - as he collides with the revolting mess face-first. It's in my mouth oh god it's in my mouth! Shivers travel down Zodiac's spine, all thirty feet of it, as he shakes himself wildly to dislodge the vile flesh-goo, spitting it out and splattering it all over Arachne and the cultists below.

    Yup. Definitely the grossest monster yet.
    Last edited by DreadPirateH; 2018-06-06 at 12:35 PM.

  13. - Top - End - #43
    Titan in the Playground
    Join Date
    Sep 2014

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Terrene, The GM
    Pool:
    2

    It all happens so fast. Alex dis-arming a giant killer zombie creature, Hive activating her powers once again in some attempt to control the creature and Zodiac falling from the sky to get a mouthful of putrid flesh. More lightning crosses the sky and the peels of thunder are so close you all can feel it in your ribcages. All make for good distraction which is why, Nuisance, it comes as quite the shock that the very target of your scan is upon you in a heart beat. Arachne's arms snag you in a death grip, arm raised as long nails hover before your face.

    "ENOUGH!!" she screeches even as you're all doused in another heaping helping of rot juice. "One more step and your friend loses an eye!" she howls, the other cultists keeping far enough away that if they were ever really a threat to you...they certainly aren't now. Lison remains locked in a struggle and you can feel your grip isn't quite so strong with this zombie as the others Hive. The techno-zombies before were...mindless. But there's something inside Lison. A spark so very similar to your own but muted. Incomplete. Broken. The creature reaches out over your connection in some attempt at repairing itself. An alien mind in your own. None of that matters as the beast manages to take hold of itself for even a moment before snagging the offending dragon Zodiac, whipping it into Alex with a roar.

    "Kill them my beauty!" Arachne screams against the storm. "We'll use their bodies to heal you!"

    The tide of war changes quickly indeed. Even with the opportunity provided by Alex and Zodiac soaring in from the sky, Arachne is still a potent witch and clever to boot. With a massive zombie creature at her side she's more than formidable. What do you do?

    Spoiler: Alex, Zodiac
    Show
    Both of you, roll to take a powerful blow as you're smacked into one another.

    Spoiler: Hive
    Show
    So! Two options! Roll another Unleash to try and get a handle on zombie ghost in your brain or a Comfort/Support to try and put it to ease.

    Spoiler: Nuisance
    Show
    You're trapped! What do you do?

  14. - Top - End - #44
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Zombie

    Join Date
    Dec 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Nuisance
    Conditions: None

    Sarah froze as Alex exploded the meat monster's arm. She couldn't help but let out a disgusted gasp as pieces of Lison rained down on her, though it looked like Zodiac had gotten the worst of it. She hastily backed away from where she'd been sitting, only to find herself in a puddle of that horrid sac-goo that had been spreading earlier. Sarah hopped back up and tried shaking herself off, but the damage was done. The QT Mark I was normally white, with teal highlights along the hands, shoulders, and waist, but now it looked like she had dunked herself in a tomato bath. The stench was unbearable.

    Oh man I hope this suit can be dry-cleaned or Dad's gonna kill me.


    Before she could start wiping the gore off of herself, Sarah felt a swift yank and an uncomfortably powerful grip close around her. With only a small "Eep!" she was pulled in close to the hateful claws of Arachne. How was she so fast? Sarah's voice failed her as the villainous woman threatened grievous injury with her dangerous looking manicure. Sarah shivered involuntarily, and her face burned with embarrassment at her own fear. She couldn't think, couldn't act, couldn't even fight back. In that moment, she was nothing more than a hostage, and that thought tore her up inside. Her team could be stuck, they could falter, and it would be her fault. If they had to divert their attention towards saving her, it would be her mistake. They had been cool enough to let her join them, and she was acting just like an anchor to their efforts right now. Even after Alex had given her kudos for taking on the zombies and Hive had offered the most awkward lift ride, she still couldn't keep herself from holding them back. This was just like the aquarium all over again.

    Why was she so lame at the most important moment?

    No! Stop! Not this time. Sarah chided herself. You're a hero, prove it! Prove it until it's real!

    Her heart was pounding in her ears, but Sarah willed herself to take deep, shaky breaths. If she could only calm herself back down, she could think this through. There just wasn't much time. The danger was very real, and hesitation would kill her; she knew it. There was only one thing to do: improvise and adapt, just like her mom had taught her. What could she use? Her crossbow was too far away, Sarah had dropped it the moment she'd been snatched up. What was in her pockets? Spare ammunition, but without any of the special tips that her crossbow used. Could she phase? Sarah didn't have the precise calculations necessary to stop herself from going through just Arachne and not the whole roof right now. She just didn't have time to do the math.

    Or did she?

    "Let...me...go!" Sarah barked as she struggled to move her restrained arms. "You stupid...handsy spider..." It wouldn't take much, just enough to...

    As her fingers manipulated the internal controls, she tapped in her calculations and prayed. In the next moment, Sarah's suit had sealed with a soft hiss and she'd slipped through Arachne's grip. Her field lasted only a half second, enough for her to hit the ground with an "Umph!". As Arachne stomped about trying to scoop her back up, Sarah rolled towards her crossbow. With a snatch, she picked it up and turned to face Arachne. Adrenaline and exhilaration at her narrow escape brought a smile to her face as she tried steadying her nerves and aiming at the cultist leader. It also turned out that a "combat roll" was very much disorienting; another thing video games had lied to her about.

    "Like they would be that easy!"
    Sarah shouted as she checked her current loadout.

    Flares.

    Well, crap.

    Sarah fired off a shot that popped with a blinding light as it soared into Arachne. It likely wouldn't do much more than cause mild discomfort, but Sarah deeply hoped the spider woman got at least something for her trouble.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    (As per the OOC, she hopefully made an opportunity for an ally)
    Last edited by Kirjath; 2018-06-07 at 12:00 AM.

  15. - Top - End - #45
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    BlueWizardGirl

    Join Date
    May 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Alex, being closest to the explosion of her own making was completely covered in Lison, struggling to get the worst of it out of her face to reorient herself. She was just quick enough, that when she looked up she heard a loud roar and the body of a golden dragon flying towards her with alarming speed. "Oh fu..." Barely having any time to brace herself she was hit hard, tumbling across the roof, trying to find a grip somewhere and eventually sliding off. In the last possible moment she managed to catch onto the ledge before disappearing into the darkness below.
    Last edited by Sahe; 2018-06-07 at 05:05 AM.

  16. - Top - End - #46
    Orc in the Playground
     
    DreadPirateH's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jul 2012

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Zodiac
    Conditions: None
    Potential: 3/5


    Take a Powerful Blow - (2d6)[6]

    Things go from Bad to Drake as Zodiac feels himself unceremoniously wrenched out of the sky and hurled like some sort of awkward, flailing... dragonball, and he bowls right through Alex and on over the edge of the building.

    Luckily, he can fly.

    Righting himself, Zodiac makes an S-curve and turns back around, cruise-missiling for Lison. He doesn't even slow down as he scoops up Alex from where she's hanging on the building's ledge. "Ready for the Fastball Special?" Keeping his eyes locked on Lison, Drake chest-passes Alex at Arachne.

    His payload delivered, Zodiac thrusts his claws out and braces himself for impact. Float like a dragonfly, sting like a... carp!

    Spoiler: No-Look Pass
    Show
    Rolled in the the OOC thread for a Directly Engage.

    4

    Two misses brings me up to 3 Potential.
    Last edited by DreadPirateH; 2018-06-07 at 07:59 AM.

  17. - Top - End - #47
    Ogre in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2017

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Hive, the Transformed
    Conditions: Afraid, Guilty
    Potential: 0/5

    Hive doesn't claim to be prepared for everything, certainly not for whatever the flying f*** Lison is. For a moment she gives ground, surprised by the sudden presence. Perhaps, in that brief second, Sam might have felt pity, or some more tender emotion, until it smashes Alex and Zodiac together like a pair of oddly shaped cymbals.

    Her mood changes abruptly, a wave of revulsion at the thought of being remotely like something this horrific twisting her non-existent gut. She snarls slightly, because she's angry and scared, and possibly crying, and really quite glad its raining, too. Her first closes in on itself, the nano-spikes ramming deeper into its hide. It makes a sound like a beached whale, and she almost feels pity again, almost relents, but pushes it down. Lison flails around wildly as she pours her anger and rage into him, tentacles thrashing the concrete and tearing chunks of steel out of the roof beams.

    Nanites pulsing and heaving, Hive breathes heavily, hoping her moment of weakness has hindered the cultists rather than the team.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Alright, as per the OOC, rolled a 8 to try and take full control. Marking angry to make that a 10+, then clearing it by shredding the building. I apologise in advance if I knock anyone off.

  18. - Top - End - #48
    Titan in the Playground
    Join Date
    Sep 2014

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Terrene, The GM
    Pool:
    2

    War is chaos. Especially in the middle of a massive thunderstorm on top of a building and everything continues to spiral out of control all at once. As fast as Nuisance was taken captive, she's free again as she launches a flare into the witch's chest. Arachne gives a scream as long claws rake at Nuisance's face and down her suit, the sword sharp pedicure ripping and tearing and doing quite the number on the hero's systems. The witch is distracted, as one might imagine, and Nuisance is free all the same. To add insult to injury, Alex is soon thrust at Arachne at speed and while they topple over it does little to silence the profane witch. Things aren't going so well for the rest however.

    Even as you're hit and sent flying Alex, you see Zodiac come in for another attempt. It's a bad one as Lison grabs one of the nearest cultists and keeps its batting practice going. In moments Zodiac you're hit with yet another person, this time right out of midair and the laughing bellow that comes from the monster can only sting that much more. The laughter quickly subsides however as Hive hacks into the beast. Literally and otherwise. The beast stands rigid even as destruction reigns about the inhuman pair and for a brief moment after there is calm. As much calm as can be with a screeching and cursing witch, a teammate dangling over the precipice and a giant sobbing zombie at least.

    Then...the storm stops and the building groans as Hive's attempts at quelling the monster puts a stop to its rampage. Glass shatters, concrete turns to dust and the skies above you clear so fast one might question if there ever was a storm at all. In this moment you all recall a similar storm, a similar end to it and a similar aftermath. They call it The Rumble in the Jungle now, your fight against Rage the Fire Elemental, as it ended in San Fransapporo's much beloved "Rainforest Biodome". Last time it was because of the Weather Report destroying the techno-magical machine you built to douse Rage in the rain. The Cabal must have built one. Off your model.

    It was probably somewhere down below, in the now devestated upper floors of the building. Hive's assault must have broken it.

    Lison is subdued and is no longer a threat. Arachne isn't either really but the building is about to fall beneath your feet so...what do you do?

    Spoiler: Nuisance
    Show
    Mark a Condition as Arachne does some damage to your suit

    Spoiler: Alex
    Show
    You're not dangling from a building and cultists are not trying to kick away your handholds. What do you do?

    Spoiler: Hive
    Show
    You've done a lot of damage and you know the building doesn't have long. You've got control of Lison but it's struggling. Even with a full success you can't do this forever. What do you do?

    Spoiler: Zodiac
    Show
    Mark a Condition. You can fly so being hit in the air isn't going to be a problem otherwise. What do you do?
    Last edited by Razade; 2018-06-08 at 04:19 AM.

  19. - Top - End - #49
    Ogre in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2017

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Hive, the Transformed
    Conditions: Afraid, Guilty
    Potential: 0/5

    The gap between knowing what must be done and doing what must be done is wide, at times, like the gap between one side of a canyon and the other. Sam is aware that Lison is a monster, created from the bodies of the dead and designed to murder innocents before devouring their corpses. She knows that it is, in some way, instrumental to the Cabal's plan, and that letting it live would be unwise. She knows that she is incapable of holding it forever, that sedating it would be impractical, and that the building is not going to last long enough for her to try something clever.

    Hive looks around one final time, searching for an alternative, but finds none. Despite her repulsion, despite the anger she felt at even the suggestion of kinship, it still takes her a moment to summon up the courage and do it. The nano spikes twitch and curl, boring slightly deeper into its hide, searching out the spark of life and suffocating it with a flood of impersonal energy. Puppetting the thing, Hive directs it's body to topple backwards, off the side of the building. She hopes vaguely that doing so will earn them some more time to clear out before it collapses.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    As per the OOC, Hive is going to try and kill it as cleanly as possible, then clear it's corpse off the building and earn us some more time. Despite her good dice luck, it's not her best day either.

  20. - Top - End - #50
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Zombie

    Join Date
    Dec 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Nuisance
    Conditions: Afraid

    Nuisance's victory lasted for all of a second. Arachne screamed as the flare struck home, but she was already on top of Sarah again. Her claws raked across Sarah's suit and mask, tearing through the thin material and cracking her visor as they cut through it like it was made of paper.

    Oh. Right, Sarah thought in a haze as the witch tore into her, I forgot how fast she was.

    Sarah stumbled back from the hit, almost unable to keep her footing. She glanced down, only to see her worst fears had come true; the QT suit was scrapped, just like that. Her visor was broken and useless, her suit controls non-responsive, and her oxygen tank let out an angry hiss as Sarah realized the tube had been severed. She could feel a warm and wet substance run down her right arm and her side, and Sarah wobbled dizzily. The suit was so naturally snug on her, but she still hadn't even felt the cuts. Thankfully she'd already been dyed red from all the Lison juice, maybe no one would notice her bleeding into it.

    The pounding in her ears had grown worse, she almost couldn't hear anything else. If not for the adrenaline, Sarah was almost certain she'd have collapsed already. Her mask fogged up as her breath came in uneven gasps; the whole thing was useless now that she couldn't phase. Sarah reached up and fumbled with the clasp for a moment and the mask fell away and clattered onto the rooftop. Immediately, fresh air filled her lungs and Sarah's mind cleared just a little.

    Her suit was useless, her body was getting weaker, and her enemy still had the upper hand. Sarah was definitely running out of options and ideas. She was vaguely aware of the destruction happening around her, of Lison now tearing into the building and weakening the structure, but that wasn't what her focus was on. Arachne needed to go down. Hard. She was dangerous, and Sarah had no other choice. She couldn't run from this, though her body screamed at her to do just that. Her team needed her, the hostages needed her.

    She just needed a plan, an action, time, anything.

    Sarah wobbled again, this time unfastening the hissing oxygen tank from her belt and letting it fall onto the rooftop with a clang. It wouldn't do anymore good for her now, not unless she could get the villain to give her about five minutes and some duct tape. That seemed...remarkably unlikely.

    She backed away slowly from where her tank had fallen, her knees still struggling to keep her steady and not knock together.

    "Is, is t-that the best you can do?"
    Sarah said through gritted teeth. The pain was starting to set in, sharp and agonizing as her body become aware of the damage. "I d-didn't even feel a thing..."

    Sarah was bluffing at this point, but maybe, just maybe Arachne was angry enough to take the bait. Sarah continued backing away from Arachne and the oxygen tank, stumbling as she tread the uneven ground of the heavily damaged rooftop.

    A little closer, witch.

    Sarah had abandoned all empathy for this particular foe. She had only one thought left, one possible thing she could do that might save her and help her friends, and so Sarah hit the switch that armed her next crossbow bolt. Without her visor, she couldn't see any loadout options, but she knew the weapon would still be functioning on its last setting: flares.

    Sarah kept her unsteady pace backwards and taunted Arachne once more.

    "C-can't even...handle little old me, c-can you!?"

    This was definitely a stupid idea.

    Spoiler: Critical Role
    Show
    Gonna roll Provoke Someone on Arachne and see if she'll either a) pay attention to Nuisance and leave herself open to Alex or b) pursue Nuisance and spring her trap. (2d6)[11] (option c is that this gambit naturally doesn't work)
    Last edited by Kirjath; 2018-06-08 at 06:04 PM.

  21. - Top - End - #51
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    BlueWizardGirl

    Join Date
    May 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Alex, the Bull
    Conditions: -
    Potentianl: 1/5

    As fast as Alex had ended on the edge of the building as fast a big golden dragon had picked her up and thrown her at Arachne. They toppled all over one another and Alex nearly slid off the other end of the roof, but managed to catch herself. The witch meanwhile had not been impressed enough by that move and continued to attack Sarah, while the rest of the team had their hands full with the giant zombie thing.

    In an attempt to get Arachne's attention away from her most fragile team mate, Alex charged ahead in an attempt to sweep away the woman's legs and take her footing to pummel onto the roof that seemed less and less structurally stable. But she missed! Despite coming up from behind, Arachne dodged the attack in the last moment.

  22. - Top - End - #52
    Orc in the Playground
     
    DreadPirateH's Avatar

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    Jul 2012

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Zodiac
    Conditions: Guilty (-2 to Provoke Someone or Assess the Situation)
    Potential: 4/5


    For the second time in not even as many minutes, Zodiac finds himself in another painful game of Bumper Bodies. What's worse, it seems like Lison has a... sense of humor? Not to mention a penchant for friendly fire. What is it with all the mid-air collisions today? First, a mob of crows. Then an Alex, and finally a cultist.

    Dazed and maybe a little rattled from the blow, Zodiac bares his fangs and prepares to wheel around for another attack when his Mentor Voice suddenly kicks in. This time, it sounds like Grandfather. That probably had something to do with the pounding headache he was starting to get.

    STOP!

    After years of training alongside the heores of the city, Drake knows that when his Mentor Voice is talking, he should pay attention. Even when it sounds like Grandfather.

    Look around you. What do you see?

    Drake makes a couple of lazy S-turns and does his best to look threatening while he secretly scopes out the scene. Alex taking a swing at Arachne, but Arachne's too fast. Nuisance, spattered in Lison goo, her suit ripped up by Arachne's claws. Hive, doing her robot thing. Lison, no longer laughing, and suddenly toppling toward the edge of the building. The building, buckling and cracking. The cultists scattering like ants.

    What do you not see? What is there that should not be? What is not there that should be?

    This one is harder, but the way the building is starting to shake spurs him on. Quickly, he reviews the events of the encounter. The stormy afternoon and the electro-zombies. The storm is gone. Hive and Alex at the scene. Nuisance and Reyna showing up not long after. Haven't seen Reyna since before Rook wshowed up. The fight with Rook. Rook got punked by Nuisance and took off. The interview with Arachne. The interview? And then it hits him.

    The reporter. And the hostages! They must still be inside the building! The building that's got Lison roots shaking it apart. Oh carp.

    "Guys! There are hostages still in the building!" Zodiac swoops in low to the ground and shifts form. His length shortens considerably, the scales turn to fur, and his claws into paws, until what was a dragon only moments before is now a golden retriever. Frantically, Zodiac sniffs at a fallen cultist, shoving his nose into the robes and pawing at the body, desperately hoping to catch a scent to track down the hostages. How did you forget about the hostages? What is wrong with you?!

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Marking Guilty and rolling Unleash Your Powers

    Unleash Your Powers - (2d6)[6]

    Ouch. Another miss. Marking potential, bringing Drake up to 4. Too bad he's going from hero to zero.
    Last edited by DreadPirateH; 2018-06-09 at 07:56 PM.

  23. - Top - End - #53
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Zombie

    Join Date
    Dec 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Nuisance
    Conditions: Afraid

    Sarah could see Alex charging just out of the corner of her vision, and her mouth quirked into a smile despite herself. Alex was here, she was saved! The approaching amputator had the perfect shot to Arachne's back, but it looked like the villainess was aware of the situation as well. Arachne looked about ready to turn and confront her teammate, and Sarah knew she needed to make a move fast. The plan with her oxygen tank thoroughly ditched, Sarah raised her crossbow with a grunt of pain and pointed it at her opponent.

    But where was the most distracting place she could shoot at? Somewhere that would completely throw off Arachne's concentration.

    Yep. Definitely the face. Y'know, if her aim was still any good.

    Spoiler: Team Expenditure
    Show
    OOC: Spending a team from the pool to boost Alex's Directly Engage up to a 7.
    Last edited by Kirjath; 2018-06-09 at 09:27 PM.

  24. - Top - End - #54
    Ogre in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2017

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Hive, the Transformed
    Conditions: Afraid, Guilty
    Potential: 0/5

    Hive doesn't almost hear the voice, too busy struggling with the disposal of Lison. It takes a long, long moment for the words to filter into her brain, to be categorised as important and for the response to filter back out.

    "S***..."

    With a whine and a click, another eye, disturbingly human in appearance, rises atop a small pole, swivelling to survey the scene from its spot on Hive's shoulder. Gaze flitting around, it settles on Drake patting down - no shaking - no, not even that, sniffing a fallen thug. There is a brief pause, while the secondary processor, the main being occupied with more important matters, processes this new information, settling on the ideal response. The eye retracts into its socket, and a blast of glowing blue motes emerges a second later. Fanning out and forming a gently humming wall, they sweep back and forth across the scene, trying their best to eliminate the more spectacular odours.

    Hive hopes vaguely that maybe without the smell of rotting flesh and splattered Lison-goo, Zodiac might have better luck tracing the location of the hostages, or at least not gagging on the smell, before returning to the matter consuming the bulk of her mental energy.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Since DreadPirateH indicated he wouldn't mind a team in the discord, I am here to provide. It was a bit of a brain-teaser to work out how to do that, but I quite like my solution. Nano-air-freshener for the win!

    Spending a team to bump his unleash up to a 7.
    Last edited by Mr. E; 2018-06-09 at 11:05 PM.

  25. - Top - End - #55
    Titan in the Playground
    Join Date
    Sep 2014

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Terrene, The GM
    Pool:
    0

    Lison lurches and staggers but with your guidance Hive...he topples over the edge of the building and falls. The chaotic last few moments of its un-life spasm through your mind, racing through alien and human connections until it's just static. There was, once, another mind however primitive within you. Now there isn't. Even with all that, your assistance to Zodiac pays off and as your energy wall breaks through the rotting scent. The scent of humans, other humans, is strong. Fear, uncertainty and even curiosity cut through like a knife. The reporters and staff of the Weekly Herald are indeed still in the building. A few floors down no less. They could probably be snagged if you're quick, they're certainly not at risk of dying but...getting hurt is very much likely since the building starts to creak and shift and large chunks of it fall to the street below. It won't be long now. The clock is ticking.

    Arachne and the rest of the cultists for what it's worth are finished. Even as Alex's first assault misses, a crossbow in the face is enough to distract anyone even if they are a witch and the second kick lands without much trouble. Arachne goes scattering out onto the swiftly disintegrating building. If left it's unlikely they'll make it out. That may not be a concern for all for any of you but it's the reality. They don't have a way off. You barely have a way off. Either way, the fight against Lison and Arachne is over. The fight for your lives however isn't.

    What do you do?

  26. - Top - End - #56
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    BlueWizardGirl

    Join Date
    May 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Alex, the Bull
    Conditions: Angry, Afraid
    Potential: 1/5

    Alex's attack missed and she already saw Arachne turn around, claws ready to take a slice out of her, but then another flare bolt hit her right in the face. The witch screamed and howled in pain, stumbling back blinded. Alex took that opportunity to get back on her food and get in another kick against the witch's chest sending her flying across the roof a few feet and smacking down hard on the roof where she kept laying, unmoving. She wouldn't be a problem any longer.

    Alex went over to Sarah, laid a hand on her shoulder and gave her a once over to make sure she was ok. She certainly looked quite shaken: "Hey you ok? You look like ****, but you did good..." the roof rumbled under them and the parts where they were standing began to break away and crumble. Without thinking too much about it, Alex grabbed Sarah and threw her over the shoulder and took a run towards the edge of the roof, as it broke away beneath her and leaped off once at the edge.

    Alex plan had been to land on a nearby building she had briefly seen when she was dangling from the edge of the roof. Unfortunately she had misjudged the distance and she was coming up short and now they where both falling all the way down from the Weekly Herald. "Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap!", Alex screamed as she fell, slightly panicking, while turning around and wrapping her arms around Sarah to shield her from the inevitable impact. She wasn't sure if Sarah would survive this or even she, for that matter. This was a ****ing bad idea!, she thought moments before impact and then they crashed into the street and everything went black for a moment.

    When Alex came to her senses again everything hurt and she didn't feel exactly like moving. "Ahahahahahahawwww **** me...this gotta be the world record for highest tandem base jump without a parachute...next time stop me from doing **** like that..."

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show

    I'm letting you chose the condition based on Nuisance reaction. The idea of verbally lashing out in this case is that Alex plays the whole thing down.
    I could see the following:
    - Angry: Sarah is angry that Alex endangered them both and now jokes about it
    - Guilty: Sarah is guilty because Alex had to make that stunt to save her.
    But as said above, I'll leave this up to you.

  27. - Top - End - #57
    Ogre in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2017

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Hive, the Transformed
    Conditions: Guilty
    Potential: 0/5

    Hive looks around as the building shifts and sways under her feet, grumbling and grinding to itself. Unsteadily balancing, she steps towards Alex and Sarah only to see the pair of them go off the side of the building, miss the roof-top on the opposite side, and fall like a stone. A volley of swear words escapes Hive's mouth as she dashes to edge and looks over it. For what seems like a long time, there is nothing, no movement or sound, just the silent stillness of pair of them laid out across the pavement.

    Then Alex laughs and says something that Sam, even with her sensors trained, can't quite catch, and she laughs too, out of relief. Looking back around the landscape of teetering roof tiles, she trains her focus to more immediate things. It probably would have helped, she concludes ruefully, if a half ton cyborg hadn't just sprinted across it either. There are cultists sprawled around, Arachne lying in a crumpled heap next to one foot. Hive turns away, then turns back, grimacing with regret and eyes red from her earlier outburst. It would be logical, pragmatic even, to leave them, and depart without the delay.

    "F*** that."

    Picking up Arachne, Hive throws her off the side of the roof, shouting down to her friends below. "Alex, catch!" Moving as rapidly as she can, she clears the goons off the side of the collapsing building, hoping that her friend's reflexes are on point. After the last one clears the side, Sam takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and lets herself slide off the disintegrating roof-top and topple after them. After all, it's not like she weighs that much more than your average human, does she?

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    I guess this is a weird kind of defend. Which means roll +Saviour:

    (2d6)[9]

    Alright, I'd like to clear Afraid and expose myself to danger. Can I also clear Guilty for making a sacrifice (exposing myself to harm to save lives?}.
    Last edited by Mr. E; 2018-06-10 at 05:30 PM.

  28. - Top - End - #58
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Zombie

    Join Date
    Dec 2016

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Nuisance
    Conditions: Afraid, Insecure

    Arachne was down! Meat monster was down! Sarah had never been more excited to rejoice, but unable to because of her injuries. That was fine, she'd celebrate later. They were still cool. As Alex came rushing over, Sarah gave her a weary smile. When she asked if everything was fine, Sarah nodded. Everything was indeed fine, and soon they'd be off that terrible, meat-soaked rooftop.

    Suddenly, the floor shifted and Alex got a wild look in her eyes. Sarah felt the familiar sensation of someone much stronger grabbing her by whatever they could reach. She had only a moment to let loose a resigned sigh before she was hefted bodily over Alex's shoulder. It was incredibly painful to be moved like that, but Sarah bit her lip and waited for Alex to do whatever it was she just thought up.

    That turned out to be a very bad idea.

    She could only watch from her bizarre position facing away from Alex as the stairs receded and the edge of the building got closer. What was she doing? There weren't a ton of things to do on the edge of the rooftop, and they certainly didn't have time for games. Wait, was she going to...

    "Nonononono!" Sarah yelped, realization driving her heart into her throat.

    It was too late. Alex jumped into the air and either missed what she was aiming for, or her idea had been to aim for the ground. Either way, Sarah's heart fell from her throat and into her stomach as gravity brought them tumbling down to the very solid-looking pavement.

    "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!"

    At the last moment, Alex covered them both before they smacked into the ground. A white light exploded in Sarah's vision and it felt like her ears popped at the sound of the impact. Sarah wasn't quite sure how Alex's powers worked, but the landing hurt like hell. Still, if there was excruciating pain, that meant they were still alive. Probably. Or maybe the afterlife was just really painful.

    But then Alex was laughing, like it was the grandest joke in the world that she'd almost killed both of them. Sarah's heart returned from her stomach, but brought with it a wave of nausea. She promptly vomited all over the sidewalk.

    "Not...cool." Sarah managed weakly in response to Alex's cavalier remarks. She could only push herself up onto her elbows at the moment, but she used the opportunity to try and untangle herself from her teammate. Her ribs were aching, her right arm was numb, and her throat felt like it was burning. "There...were stairs...why did you-"

    Why did she do that? Who in their right mind (besides Zodiac) would jump off of a building? Alex would, apparently. Of course she would, look at what happened. She was fine; it was all just a grand adventure. Meanwhile, Sarah was now missing her oxygen tank and mask (not cheap, and not likely to come back to her), and it seemed her crossbow had been banged up by the fall. Her suit had tears in more places then she had initially realized. If they'd suddenly found themselves facing off against an angry meat zombie here on the ground floor, Nuisance would be just about as helpful as any random passerby.

    Alex was laughing because she could. She had powers and no need for equipment. She was super. Sarah had just spent all she had on this one outing, and she wasn't even sure if they'd accomplished their goal. Sarah had stood her ground against Arachne, and that had been scary, but it turned out Alex was the one to drive the point home: Nuisance just wasn't super. Nuisance could break and fall. Nuisance couldn't laugh at something like this. Nuisance was just...weaker.

    "Thanks for saving me, Alex." Sarah managed quietly after she'd caught her breath. She tried helping Alex up, but she wasn't sure the other girl needed a hand. Sarah suddenly felt very drained, like she could sleep for the next four years. "I'll just go...find an EMT."

    She hobbled off, taking her cellphone out to text her dad. The screen was cracked, but if that was all that was wrong with it, it'd be a small miracle.
    "We're done. See you soon."
    Sarah would spend the next hour or so sitting in an ambulance getting patched up like a normal person while the rest of her team was probably completely uninjured. She definitely would've been dead without Alex there, but the victory suddenly felt very empty.
    Last edited by Kirjath; 2018-06-10 at 07:02 PM.

  29. - Top - End - #59
    Orc in the Playground
     
    DreadPirateH's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jul 2012

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    Zodiac
    Conditions: Guilty, Insecure
    Potential: 3/5


    Zodiac frantically paws at the cultist, trying to pick up any kind of scent of the hostages, but all he picks up is the overwhelming stench of Lison. It's enough to make him regret turning into a dog. But then Hive's nanobots start cleaning the air like a Febreeze commercial come to life, and a whole new world of scents starts flooding into his nose. Including human blood.

    He shoots a worried look at Nuisance, but his attention is diverted when he finally picks up on the trail, and he rockets off for the stairwell. Navigating stairs is a bit more awkward as a dog, but he finally finds the hostages huddled in a cubicle farm a few stories down. Transforming back into his still shirtless human form, he ducks his head as dust and pieces of drywall start to fall from the ceiling. Carp, I gotta start carrying a costume change with me.

    "Everybody, stay calm! I'm Zodiac, I'm here to get you to safety," he says, doing his best impression of a hero taking charge of the situation. It's cool, it's chill, it's just like a fire drill. "Emergency reposnders have arrived at the ground floor, the situation is under control. Please exit the building via the nearest stairwell."

    * * * * *

    Safely outside, Zodiac, now wearing a spare EMT jacket and carrying a cup of styrofoam coffee, catches sight of John Booth Daily getting patched up in an ambulance. "Mr. Booth," he says, raising a hand in greeting, "my team and I neutralized Arachne, along with her giant... zombie-thing. Seeing as how you kinda owe us for totally saving your life, it'd be real cool if you could talk that part up and not, y'know, the property damage. We're still catching heat from your story on the Rumble in the Jungle, know what I mean? I'm already gonna get a lecture from Grandfather 'cause nothing is ever good enough for that geezer, but it would score me a lot of points with my mom. And, by the way, I found a copy of that Arachne interview. Thanks dude, catch you later!"

    Leaving the injured, and now blackmailed, reporter to the tender ministrations of Bart the EMT, Drake makes his way over to where Nuisance is getting treated. "Hey Sarah, brought you some coffee. You did good up there. Saved my butt with Rook, too. Listen, I know you got messed up back there, but I'm glad you didn't bail like Phantom did. We couldn't have done it without you."

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    I'm trying to share a triumphant celebration with Nuisance and tell her that I see her as an equal. Since she already has Influence over Drake, she gets to shift his labels. He also marks potential, bringing him to 5!
    Last edited by DreadPirateH; 2018-06-11 at 08:35 AM.

  30. - Top - End - #60
    Titan in the Playground
    Join Date
    Sep 2014

    Default Re: Masks: The Worst Generation (IC)

    The building, as you begin your quick and panicked evacuation, begins its final throes. Steel snaps, glass shatters and even as cultists and heroes go flying over the edge the entire place caves in on itself. Luckily no one is there to be caught up in it. Hostages, Heroes or otherwise. The base of the building is swarming with personnel from various emergancy services and all are more than eager to help the wounded and lock up the ones who need to be in chains. In tomorrow's news feeds this will be called Beach City Showdown but that's another day. Today it's just another in a long string of minor (ok so maybe more than minor) disasters that have played out across the city.

    Nusiance shuffles to an EMT after a tense exchange between her and Alex. Sam is most certainly being questioned by the police on the matter of Arachne who is carted off last, screaming threats and vague cryptic warnings. The words "The Storm King" and other assorted doom and gloom prophecies are a high light until she's thrown into the back of a cop car with power dampeners strapped to her neck and wrists. Zodiac is seen with John Booth Daily and the panels close in to give a brief, heart felt, final moment on the scene before the rest of you go on your way.

    John Booth Daily is much older without the cameras and make up, not to mention hours of truama, to punch him up. He nods dumbly along with Zodiac's request and as the young hero turns to leave he finally speaks up. "I will" the speech bubble, lines weak to indicate the voice is barely above a hoarse whisper, is soon followed by more. "I remember, I remember your mother. First big scoop. She landed me this job. I think she just thought of me as some dumb kid, following her around and telling stories in the news. But without her, I'd just be some weather man in some flyover state. I never got to thank her, before she hung it up. I'll do you one better kid. You keep your eye on the Daily. You saved us. You're a hero."

    Before any more can be said Daily is mobbed by his staff. The Weekly Herald may be a rag for gossip, a heartless machine more concerned with drama and mud slinging than honest hard journalism but there's a heart in there somewhere.

    The panels then shift to a different scene altogether.


    The room is gloomy, ten large flames burning and casting shadows about the otherwise cavernous walls. One is quickly snuffed out, a disturbance that rouses the several robed and hooded figures.

    "So. Sister Arachne failed." Comes one voice, silky and sweet and not at all sincere. "For the best. She had lost her way a long time ago." Comes another, brusque and dark like smoke. "Sisters please, not in front of our guest. So Sister Arachne failed to please the Storm King. More the better for us. The Coven will bring our Lord home in time, but this is not the hour. Now let us welcome our youngest sister to the fold. A flame is out, a new flame must be lit." a third voice entones. She speaks with command, a sense of duty, the voice of a woman well past her prime.

    The panels move to a familiar figure, tattered robes and scythe. The elderly voice entones once more as the smoldering ash of the dead flame is lit once more, a palid light next to the nine other bonfires. "By the Flames and sisterhood, we name you Raum. Take off your mask and tell us a secret for the flames."

    Rook steps into the light and begins to disrobe until they are finally down to undergarments. Rook is slim, petite and not at all as intimidating as her armor would have one believe. Long raven black hair cascades down her slender shoulders like a waterfall and the impish eyes of someone who knows they've stolen the last cookie and pinned it on someone else glitter in the firelight. Her lips speak and as the words pour from her mouth the small flame roars into life. It drowns out her words.

    The panels fade to black. "All hail the Storm King" entones The Coven.


    Issue One: Red Sky At Morning

    Concluded


    Spoiler: Alex
    Show
    Not sure I understand what you're asking. You mark two Conditions, are you asking which one to keep since you'll be clearing the other? If so...go with Guilty. Detail in your first post in Issue 2 how you lashed out at Nuisance and give me a little flashback if you could.

    Spoiler: Hive
    Show
    There's no more danger to really expose yourself to in this scene. The scene is over. The Issue is Over. So we'll take this as if you'd rolled a 10 (you got close) and go from there. Feel free in your first post to give me a small flashback on what you did after this fight.

    Spoiler: Nuisance
    Show
    So it looks like you're walking away after being patched up. Give me some flashbacks on you first post of Issue 2

    Spoiler: Zodiac
    Show
    Not much to say here! Good post. Hope the post resolves the conversation. Feel free to take Influence over Daily for your troubles. Give me some flashbacks in your first post of Issue 2 on what you did after the fight since it seems at least some of your team are going their own way.


    Spoiler: Visual Guide
    Show


    Rook. Aka. Raum.



    Last edited by Razade; 2018-06-11 at 08:33 AM.

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