Iron Station Savage Masks IC IV

[InTheMachine]

December 4th
Warehouse Assault
The first red streak of light from Redline hits Mirko in his left shoulder, singeing his jacket. Kris’ hand snaps out to intercept the second one, making the larger bolt fizzle harmlessly against his barrier.

The younger Dragonov barely notices the attack. His attention is fixed on Nightgaunt, head tilted, as the vampire weathers his flames.

“Focus, Mirko,” Kris hisses.

The ground rumbles beneath the warehouse. Concrete begins to crack on the floor as something begins to push up from below.

“Took her long enough,” Kris mutters as his brother’s smile widens again.

The shaking stops for a moment, before a grotesque creature more than twenty feet tall erupts from the floor. It’s the shape of a woman on its top half, but seems to only be made of bleeding red muscle and bones. The other half of the woman is that of a skeletal snake animated by demonic magic. Her arms end in long wicked scythes and her head is topped by similarly shaped horns.

“What the **** is that?” Ryker says.

Paradox scoffs as she catches the rain of concrete with her powers. “Doesn’t matter. We gotta kill it anyway.”

Empty eye sockets turn to face Kris, waiting for a command.

The elder Dragonov grins. “Zalta, kill everyone.”

There’s moment of absolute stillness from the demon before it leans down and attempts to slice through both Ryker and Mercury.

Ryker manages to dodge, but the scythe hits Mercury square, sending him flying into Zodiac’s side. Several of her scales crack from the impact.

Initiative:
Mirko soaks the first hit from Redline, the second doesn’t hit
Villain’s Turn- Zalta appears! She misses Ryker, but hits Mercury, causing 2 Wounds. Mercury is thrown back and Shakes Zodiac!
Round Ends
Villains roll a 7 for Initiative

Perimeter Team
As Zalta pushes up through the floor of the warehouse, the sky fractures above. Four white feathered demons the size of people fly out, followed by a massive fifth demon with a long serpentine body and six arms.

Initiative:
“Villains” (Demons) get a 10 for Initiative

[mmdeforrest]

Dee’s attention flickered between the scene in the warehouse and the rift appearing in the sky. The threat above him was clear — even if the knowledge was held by few. But the entity that had appeared within the warehouse?

Spoiler: John Know Things Man Was Not Meant to Know

Show

Knowledge: Occult (Hollow Gods): 1d12o12+2 3 1d6o6+2 13

Knowledge: Occult (Hollow Gods’ Big Brother): 1d12o12+2 12 1d6o6+2 6

Knowledge: Occult (Demon in the Warehouse): 1d12o12+2 9 1d6o6+2 6

What in the name of all that is Holy was…?

No.

Oh, God, no.

St. Michael watch over us.

One of them had read the Өлген жындарды жасау.

And used it.

There were only two copies rumored to be left in the world and even most practitioners of darker arts thought those blasphemous texts should be destroyed. He had only read a copy of in the simulacrum of Doctor Dee’s library he visited on occasion. The vile spells within churned his stomach and darkened his vision as he had studied them under the watchful eyes of three representatives of the Tribunal.

“Strike Team:” Dee barked into the comms as he lifted off the roof, “that’s Zalta, the greater demon you destroyed in the sewers before I arrived. She’s been reanimated!”

Now, he understood why they had insisted he learn what should have been forbidden knowledge.

Because it could be used and he needed to be ready.

“Perimeter: The white feathered ones are Qetz’raod from the 5th Plane. They hunt using sound to stun followed up by negative energy bolts from their ribcage. The larger one is a Qetz’seia, from the 2nd plane. They’re rare enough to be mostly undocumented but they use negative energy like the Qetz’raod.”

“Jaal: You and Miss Menagerie sweep the perimeter and see if you can spot if someone is watching like the last time this happened then strike from behind,” he continued as he began to lift off the rooftop. “I’ll concentrate on the Qetz’seia.”

Spoiler: Initiative: Such as it is….

Show

Initiative Roll: 1d4o4 2 1d6o6 1

[InTheMachine]

December 4th
Warehouse Assault
Zalta shifts forward, body and tail rattling as they drag against the floor. One scythe comes straight down at Paradox in a blur of motion.

Blood sprays.

Paradox barely manages to get a hand up to slow the scythe with her powers, preventing the edge from cutting her in half, but it still sinks deeply into her shoulder.

Sensing resistance, Zalta changes the angle of her arm and flings the South Sider into the nearby wall.

Paradox leaves a sizable dent as she impacts the metal. She falls to the ground and crumples, unconscious.

Wolf howls with rage, drawing the demon’s attention.

Initiative:
Since there was no roll, the Villains win Initiative
Zalta goes! She hits Paradox and does… many much damages (two explosions worth) Paradox is KOd!
The Heroes have Initiative!

Perimeter Team
John feels Jaal grumble in his mind, but the dragon accepts his order.

The Qetz’seia turns as the dragon wheels away and raises one hand. A spark ignites on the tip of its finger before shooting upward like a firework. The spark splits into a multitude of lights that swiftly fall, leaving trails of ghostly light like the bars of a domed birdcage that cover the area within a few streets of the warehouse.

Jaal pulls up short just before he passes through a gap in the lights, flapping his wings hard to change his trajectory.

“Everyone,” Stella says quickly. “Don’t pass through the cage the demon has set up. Jaal says it’s some sort of spell. If you pass through the barrier, you’ll die.”

Initiative:
The Qetz’seia makes an arena, preventing Jaal from searching for the Raeksha teleporter!
The heroes have Initiative!

[mmdeforrest]

December 4th
Warehouse Assault
Zalta shifts forward, body and tail rattling as they drag against the floor. One scythe comes straight down at Paradox in a blur of motion.

Blood sprays.

Paradox barely manages to get a hand up to slow the scythe with her powers, preventing the edge from cutting her in half, but it still sinks deeply into her shoulder.

Sensing resistance, Zalta changes the angle of her arm and flings the South Sider into the nearby wall.

Paradox leaves a sizable dent as she impacts the metal. She falls to the ground and crumples, unconscious.

Wolf howls with rage, drawing the demon’s attention.

Initiative:
Since there was no roll, the Villains win Initiative
Zalta goes! She hits Paradox and does… many much damages (two explosions worth) Paradox is KOd!
The Heroes have Initiative!

Perimeter Team
John feels Jaal grumble in his mind, but the dragon accepts his order.

The Qetz’seia turns as the dragon wheels away and raises one hand. A spark ignites on the tip of its finger before shooting upward like a firework. The spark splits into a multitude of lights that swiftly fall, leaving trails of ghostly light like the bars of a domed birdcage that cover the area within a few streets of the warehouse.

Jaal pulls up short just before he passes through a gap in the lights, flapping his wings hard to change his trajectory.

“Everyone,” Stella says quickly. “Don’t pass through the cage the demon has set up. Jaal says it’s some sort of spell. If you pass through the barrier, you’ll die.”

Initiative:
The Qetz’seia makes an arena, preventing Jaal from searching for the Raeksha teleporter!
The heroes have Initiative!

I guess we will have to put off hunting the one that got away later, Dee projected to Jaal. After we attend to the Qetz’seia. Forgive me if I assumed incorrectly that you would wish for that job.

Dee considered this change of events. He was aware that the Qetz’seia was poorly documented but this kind of a cage was beyond what he expected — although, given its 2nd Plane origin, perhaps he should have.

Clearly he should have.

Clearly.

The sight of Paradox being thrown across the warehouse momentarily distracted him. Even if the rest of the team could handle things without his aid, she would need him or Miss Menagerie to heal her quickly.

Focus, John.

The raeksha might have gotten used to his preferred opening move but demons had not developed a strong reputation as being team players, Dee thought as he scribed his spell and centered his attention on the collection of demons as he continued to rise to meet the threat. He would have to see if the Qetz’seia and Qetz’raod had been briefed or merely brought in as cannon fodder.

Whether warned or not, they were still subject to gravity if their wings were clipped.

Spoiler: Dee (predictably, perhaps) casts his Spell!

Show

Dee takes the Initiative and casts a spell, attempting to bind the newly arrived demons.

Ensnare (3) Area Effect (+4 — Large Burst Template) Strong (+2)
Spellcasting (Entangle): 1d12o12 2 1d6o6 10

Dee spent one Bennie to reroll Spellcasting.

[Roguewolf]

December 4th
Perimeter Team
John feels Jaal grumble in his mind, but the dragon accepts his order.

The Qetz’seia turns as the dragon wheels away and raises one hand. A spark ignites on the tip of its finger before shooting upward like a firework. The spark splits into a multitude of lights that swiftly fall, leaving trails of ghostly light like the bars of a domed birdcage that cover the area within a few streets of the warehouse.

Jaal pulls up short just before he passes through a gap in the lights, flapping his wings hard to change his trajectory.

“Everyone,” Stella says quickly. “Don’t pass through the cage the demon has set up. Jaal says it’s some sort of spell. If you pass through the barrier, you’ll die.”

Initiative:
The Qetz’seia makes an arena, preventing Jaal from searching for the Raeksha teleporter!
The heroes have Initiative!

Crowe readied himself seeing the hollowgods reappear. They went down easily the last time, and would this time again. Though that bigger one, and Dee's explanation of it, might be a bit rougher.

His form quickly changed and he took to the offensive with Menagerie's warning, aiming at the nearest bird Dee had snared. "Thanks for keepin' 'em still, Dee!" He smirked as the blast left his fists.

Spoiler: Rolls, Mechanics, OOC

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Crowe activated Altered Form as a Quick Action!
Crowe uses his ranged attack on the nearest small white demon. Heavy Weapon AP 2.
Shooting: 1d10o10+1 4 1d6o6+1 2
Damage: 4d6o6 18

[InTheMachine]

December 4th
Perimeter Team
All but one of the birds manages to dodge out of Dee’s sorcerous bindings. The tethered white demon plummets like a stone before it manages to free its wings just enough to keep it aloft.

One of the Qetz’seia’s hands raises to its chest and it extends two fingers in a warding gesture. Dee’s spell sparks against the demon’s invisible barrier, and fizzles into nothing.

The demon Crowe aimed at tucks in one wing and dodges out of the way of his spear before shooting straight at the shadowmancer with a deafening cry, disorienting him. It slashes at Crowe with its claws, but only gets air.

Initiative:
All of the demons but one succeed at their Agility rolls! The demon Crowe attacked retaliates, Shaking him!
Demon’s Turn- the Qetz’raod misses Crowe
Heroes have Initiative!

Warehouse Assault
Wolf snarls and launches himself at what used to be Zalta, ripping and tearing at what’s left of her ribcage. The demon withstands the attack in eerie silence, even as Wolf tears out several ribs and claws into the organs beneath.

Zalta then slams her front half down onto the concrete, dislodging the chimera. She stabs a scythe into Wolf’s gut, pinning him to the floor.

Initiative:
Heroes Turn- Wolf goes and manages to Wound Zalta x1
Villains Turn- Zalta retaliates, Wounding Wolf x3!
Heroes have Initiative!

[PK-Leon]

December 4th
Perimeter Team

The Qetz’seia turns as the dragon wheels away and raises one hand. A spark ignites on the tip of its finger before shooting upward like a firework. The spark splits into a multitude of lights that swiftly fall, leaving trails of ghostly light like the bars of a domed birdcage that cover the area within a few streets of the warehouse.

Jaal pulls up short just before he passes through a gap in the lights, flapping his wings hard to change his trajectory.

“Everyone,” Stella says quickly. “Don’t pass through the cage the demon has set up. Jaal says it’s some sort of spell. If you pass through the barrier, you’ll die.”

"So nobody leaves the rave, got it." 2ouis responds as he watches Dee attempt to bind the new arrivals with his magic. "But what about anyone trying to get in?"

All but one of the birds manages to dodge out of Dee’s sorcerous bindings. The tethered white demon plummets like a stone before it manages to free its wings just enough to keep it aloft.

One of the Qetz’seia’s hands raises to its chest and it extends two fingers in a warding gesture. Dee’s spell sparks against the demon’s invisible barrier, and fizzles into nothing.

The demon Crowe aimed at tucks in one wing and dodges out of the way of his spear before shooting straight at the shadowmancer with a deafening cry, disorienting him. It slashes at Crowe with its claws, but only gets air.

The doppelganger fires off two spheres of light toward Crowe's assailant in an attempt to create space between them. "I don't know about this one, she seems kinda clingy."

Spoiler: Mechanics (Perimeter)

Show

Ranged Attack:
To Hit - 1, 4

Warehouse Assault

Zalta shifts forward, body and tail rattling as they drag against the floor. One scythe comes straight down at Paradox in a blur of motion.

Blood sprays.

. . .

Wolf howls with rage, drawing the demon’s attention.

Wolf snarls and launches himself at what used to be Zalta, ripping and tearing at what’s left of her ribcage. The demon withstands the attack in eerie silence, even as Wolf tears out several ribs and claws into the organs beneath.

Zalta then slams her front half down onto the concrete, dislodging the chimera. She stabs a scythe into Wolf’s gut, pinning him to the floor.

Flashes of red race across Redline's vision as he watches the visceral display play out before him in seconds. The high octane hero bolts across the warehouse floor without a thought as blinding white light begins to coalesce within the palm of his right hand. The heroes form vanishes reappearing only a few yards away from Wolf in an instant as he unleashes a pair of searing rays into the demon's center of mass. "You should've stayed dead."

Spoiler: Mechanics (Warehouse)

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Directly Engage (Zalta): 9
Redline chooses to avoid Zalta's blows gaining +4 against any actions she takes against him during the next round!

Ranged Attack (Zalta):
To Hit - 14+2, 12+2
Damage - 34, 33 Light, Lethal, Heavy Weapon

[InTheMachine]

December 4th
Warehouse Assault
Redline’s attack sends Zalta reeling. Her scythe rips out of Wolf, spraying black blood all the High Octane Hero.

Zalta’s ribs and insides are burned black from Redline’s light. She sways, but whatever magics that animate her won’t allow her to collapse. The demon jerks forward and her sightless eyes settle in Redline.

Spoiler: Notice TN 6 for those inside

Show

A small rune carved into the red flesh of the demon’s forehead glows for a brief moment as Zalta rights herself.

Kris grimaces as the demon takes the twin blasts of light. He snarls an obscenity as he looks around the room, eyes searching for escape routes.

“Havin’ second thoughts?” Mirko stage whispers to his brother before he steps around Kris and bathes Nightgaunt in flames once more.

Initiative:
Redline’s attack does all the damages to Zalta… but she stays up.
Villains Turn- Mirko attacks Nightgaunt! He does 20 damage!
Heroes have Initiative!

Perimeter Team
The bird sees Redline’s attacks coming a quickly flaps, gaining enough altitude for the beams of light to pass under it.

“Watch yourselves,” Polaris says over comms as a Qetz’raod swoops over to the rooftop that Dee and Redline are on. It sucks in air, condensing it inside its hollow body. Mist begins to pour out of its open ribs.

Initiative:
Both of Redline’s attacks miss the demon!
Demon’s Turn- A Qetz’raod engages Dee and Redline and begins charging an attack!
Heroes Have Initiative!

[PK-Leon]

December 4th
Warehouse Assault

Redline’s attack sends Zalta reeling. Her scythe rips out of Wolf, spraying black blood all the High Octane Hero.

Zalta’s ribs and insides are burned black from Redline’s light. She sways, but whatever magics that animate her won’t allow her to collapse. The demon jerks forward and her sightless eyes settle on Redline.

Redline uses the back of a gloved hand to wipe the blood spray from his googles. "Wolf, can you still move?" The hero asks the chimera as he pushes the anger out of his voice. "If you can I need you to fall back and guard Paradox until you recover. I'll handle Zalta."

Redline meets the towering demon's gaze, staring into the void where her eyes should be.

A small rune carved into the red flesh of the demon’s forehead glows for a brief moment as Zalta rights herself.

Spoiler: Notice

Show

Redline spends 1 Camaraderie to reroll!
10 + 2 (Perception) = 12

A faint glow on the surface of Zalta's head catches the hero's eye as the corpse pulls itself together. Should've aimed for the head.

"There's a rune carved into her head! We either destroy it or get rid of everything at once, either way should work." Redline calls back to the team.

[InTheMachine]

December 4th
Warehouse Assault
Wolf rolls to his side as soon as he’s free, coughing more blood onto the floor. He growls, looking up at Zalta with eyes blazing with hate, then shakes his head and nods to Redline. He forces himself to his feet and falls back toward Paradox.

“I’m on it,” Ryker says as Redline points out the rune. He runs up to the demon, yelling, “Hey, you skinless ugly *****!”

Zalta’s empty sockets remain focused on the Team Lead of West Side, but one of her scythes cuts through the air just in front of the former Rook.

Ryker dodges back and under the weapon before throwing one of his hands up. Acid blasts out, coating the demon from her chest up to her forehead. Red muscle bubbles and blisters before Zalta’s mouth opens in a soundless scream. The rune on her head glows, but the light sputters as Ryker’s acid eats into it, consuming it.

The demon collapses in a heap, twitching, before she slowly starts to disintegrate in ash.

Ryker lets out a deep breath as Zalta falls, leveling his gaze on Kris and Mirko. “You’re next, you *******.”

Kris’ eyes narrow and he lifts his hand to point at Ryker, but the South Sider manages to dodge the blast of power.

Initiative:
Hero’s Turn- Ryker manages to do enough targeted damage to Zalta to take her down!
Villain’s Turn- Kris misses Ryker!
Heroes have Initiative!

Perimeter Team
Polaris flies over to the roof above Dee and Redline and peppers the demon above them with several fireballs that are orange with a blue tinge to them.

The demon screeches, vibrating the air around it, and Polaris flinches, covering his ears.

The giant Qetz’seia raises another pair of hands and makes a series of intricate arcane gestures with its fingers. Dark power crackles in its palms before it releases it at Miss Menagerie and Jaal.

The dragon rolls, protecting Miss Menagerie with one wing as the energy strikes him. He loses quite a bit of altitude before he finally flares his wings and catches himself.


Initiative:
Hero’s turn- Polaris causes 3 Wounds to the Demon above Redline and Dee. The demon retaliates, Shaking Polaris!
Demon’s Turn- The Qetz’seia attacks Jaal, Wounding him!
The Heroes have Initiative!

[mmdeforrest]

December 4th
Perimeter Team
Polaris flies over to the roof above Dee and Redline and peppers the demon above them with several fireballs that are orange with a blue tinge to them.

The demon screeches, vibrating the air around it, and Polaris flinches, covering his ears.

The giant Qetz’seia raises another pair of hands and makes a series of intricate arcane gestures with its fingers. Dark power crackles in its palms before it releases it at Miss Menagerie and Jaal.

The dragon rolls, protecting Miss Menagerie with one wing as the energy strikes him. He loses quite a bit of altitude before he finally flares his wings and catches himself.

A rune, Dee thought as he half-heard the chatter from inside.

On Zalta’s forehead.

Like Rizaska Kisharha’s skull-bearing servant in her basement lair.

He reminded himself that the technique was common in a host of traditions — whether it was the sacred name used to animate a golem or the less holy practices of Rizaska Kisharha.

Nevertheless, he would need to study to see if there were hints that it was her or one of her protégés that had scribed it once they got back to base and he reviewed….

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. His teammates were’t obligated to wear body cams.

He was the ‘special one’ in that regard.

“Can someone get a picture of that rune?” Dee asked as he shifted his position to keep free of Polaris’ fireballs, noting their coloration. He would need to ask about that later.

The feel of magic drew his eyes skyward, reminding him of his primary target: the Qetz’seia. That it could temporarily stagger Jaal reinforced the need to make it a priority — assuming it survived the dragon and his mistress’ onslaught.

Spoiler: Next!

Show

Dee waits for Jaal and Miss Menagerie to take their turns, followed by Anima

[big teej]

Bloody Minded:

December 4th
Warehouse Assault
The ground rumbles beneath the warehouse. Concrete begins to crack on the floor as something begins to push up from below.

“Took her long enough,” Kris mutters as his brother’s smile widens again.

The shaking stops for a moment, before a grotesque creature more than twenty feet tall erupts from the floor. It’s the shape of a woman on its top half, but seems to only be made of bleeding red muscle and bones. The other half of the woman is that of a skeletal snake animated by demonic magic. Her arms end in long wicked scythes and her head is topped by similarly shaped horns.

Nightgaunt half turns, keeping the Dragonovs in his line of sight while watching the snake-zombie emerge from the ground. He notes the empty ribcage, his claw twitches in sympathetic memory. Devoured Prey.

He turns his attention fully back to Kris and Mirko.

"I killed her last time, someone else can do it this time."

Nightgaunt closes his eyes against the flames that wash over him a second time.

"What's the matter Mirko, having some performance anxiety with your girlfriend watching?" The vampire jerks a thumb over his shoulder at the slithering demon-thing they'd conjured.

December 4th
Warehouse Assault
“I’m on it,” Ryker says as Redline points out the rune. He runs up to the demon, yelling, “Hey, you skinless ugly *****!”

Zalta’s empty sockets remain focused on the Team Lead of West Side, but one of her scythes cuts through the air just in front of the former Rook.

Ryker dodges back and under the weapon before throwing one of his hands up. Acid blasts out, coating the demon from her chest up to her forehead. Red muscle bubbles and blisters before Zalta’s mouth opens in a soundless scream. The rune on her head glows, but the light sputters as Ryker’s acid eats into it, consuming it.

The demon collapses in a heap, twitching, before she slowly starts to disintegrate in ash.

"See?" Nightgaunt deadpans as Vitriol and Redline's assault finish Zalta off, again.

"Now where were we?" He growls, advancing on Mirko.

"you know... I think you're too stupid to be afraid if I hurt your brother.... But I think he would care about what happens to you."

The enraged vampire leaps at Mirko, claws outstretched to mess up that pretty face and empty out his guts.

Spoiler: OOC/Mechanics/Whatnot

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Toughness 14 vs. 20 damage... shaken with 1 wound, I auto-regen now. so i'm gonna take my +2 roll to become unshaken.

Spirit roll to become Unshaken: 8+2 = 10- 1 (pesky conditions) = 9

Nightgaunt has 1 wound, which he ignores for being undead.
Regeneration: 3.... - so I don't heal anything at the end of this round.

let's see what I'm working with...

Activate Frenzy!
Attack Mirko!
Attack 1: 7-2 = 5 (see Wild die roll)
Attack 2: 2, - 2 = null....
Wild Die: 10 - 2 = 8

I'll take the 5 4 and the 8 7 vs. Mirko's Parry
On the off chance both hit.
Damage roll for the 5: 14 + 3 = 17, gross.
Damage roll for the 8: 22+3 = 25, now we're talking.

I recall.... after all this dice rolling, that everything's at -1 due to my 3 conditions.
so I'm gonna Spend that last benny to reroll my attacks.

Benny up
Reroll 1 - Strictly worse
reroll 2: 5 + (total of) 1 = 6 ... also worse
Wild Die Reroll: 6 total

well, that's a pity... I guess next round I'll have to forego Frenzy and put some of that Burn to work.


Potential: 3/5
Burn: 3/3
Bennies: 0/3
Conditions: 3/6
Wounds: 1, Null, of 4 (Incapacitation)
Payback vs. Kris - carrying +2 to-hit/Damage

[InTheMachine]

December 4th
Warehouse Assault
Mirko’s eyes narrow as Nightgaunt comes out seemingly unscathed from his flames.

"You know... I think you're too stupid to be afraid if I hurt your brother.... But I think he would care about what happens to you."

The younger Dragonov’s normal smile drops for a fraction of a second before it comes back even wider than before. Nightgaunt can see that his eyes are wild. “I’m not stupid. I just don’t care. I don’t care who lives or who dies. I just wanna do whatever the **** I wanna do.”

He manages to dodge out of the way of the vampire’s first swipe only a fraction of an inch from his nose, but the second catches Mirko on the side as he tries to twist out of the way. Blood spills onto the concrete below, even as Mirko holds the wound. His expression falters as the pain hits him.

Kris grits his teeth. “We’re done here.”

Mirko’s hand blazes as he cauterizes his injury. “But it was just getting fun,” he replies with a faux pout. He skips back out of range from Nightgaunt’s claws, deftly dodging the vampire, back into the safety of his brother’s barrier. The forcefield shimmers and buckles, but holds, as a large shard of metal flung by Mercury impacts it at shoulder level in a last ditch effort to slow down the brothers.

“Razil,” Kris commands.

Reality fractures behind them almost instantly, and Mirko jumps through. Something seems to hold Kris back though. As he tries to follow his brother, the portal shrinks and rejects the elder Dragonov.

“The ****?” Kris snarls as the portal closes completely.

Zodiac takes advantage of his momentary distraction and shifts into her tiger form. She stalks forward, then takes a running leap through the air and slams into Kris’ back, driving him face first into the floor.

“Do not move,” she growls as she pins him down with one massive paw.

Initiative:
Nightgaunt hits Mirko with a 7! He does 2 Wounds, but Mirko soaks 1.
Villains Turn- Kris gives up his turn to summon the portal
Hero’s Turn- Mercury tries to hit Kris with a ranged attack, but misses
Villain’s Turn- The brothers attempt to get away! Mirko uses Extraction to prevent Nightgaunt’s AoO and he escapes, but Kris cannot get away due to Nightgaunt’s Directly Engage
Hero’s Turn- Zodiac manages to Wound Kris x1
Combat Ends!

Perimeter Team
“Sorry Dee,” Mercury replies to the mage. His breathing is harsh. “Vitriol melted it to take her down.”

Miss Menagerie hops off the back of her dragon, using a spell to slow her fall. She pulls her hat off, and smoke from the inside condenses into Shrike’s form. The sorceress maneuvers herself onto Shrike’s back and the two of them level off.

Once his mistress is safely on the back of the griffin, Jaal roars a challenge up at the Qetz’seia, flapping his wings powerfully to gain the altitude he lost.

Dragon and demon clash above. Jaal attempts to rake his rear claws down the demon’s serpentine back half, but meets only air, passing straight through the Qetz’seia’s incorporeal body. He does, however, find purchase on the yellowed bone that makes up the demon’s top half. The dragon’s jaws crunch into the Qetz’seia’s shoulder and rip off a chunk, taking one its arms off as well.

The demon shrieks and the crown of fire on its head blazes white. The air inside the cage gains an unnatural chill.

Menagerie has Shrike dive down on the Qetz’raod that Dee has trapped with arcane magic. The griffin savages the helpless demon, tearing off a wing and snapping its neck with her beak. The demon fades into ash as Shrike lets out a victory screech.

She dodges the claws of another Qetz’raod as it wheels on her.

Down below, Anima is busy at work blocking roads with large vines and bushes that push up from the ground to keep civilians from entering the cage.

Initiative:
Hero’s Turn- Menagerie summons Shrike and Jaal attacks the Qetz’seia Wounding it x2! Shrike OKs a hollow god!
Demon’s Turn- A Qetz’raod misses Shrike!
Hero’s Turn- Anima keeps civilians from dying!
Initiative resets- The demons roll a 4, Dee rolls a 7. Heroes win Initiative!

Jaal roars directly into the face of the Qetz’seia, then tries to bite it again, this time going for its neck, but the demon raises a hand and a bubble of invisible force starts to push the dragon away.

Claws screech against bone as Jaal is eventually moved out of contact with the Qetz’seia. He twists in the air, catching himself with a flare of his wings, before he turns his head a breathes out a cloud of opaque gray gas that envelops the demon.

From below, Menagerie calls out a spell and a tiny purple fireball shoots out from her hand into the cloud of gas. It catches, and ignites into a massive fireball.

Shrike uses the momentary distraction to attack the hollow god that had swiped at her before, leaving several bloody wounds in the demon. The Qetz’raod shrieks in retaliation, causing the griffin and her mistress to flinch at the sound.

When the smoke clears, the massive demon is visibly blackened, but still afloat.

Initiative:
Hero’s Turn- Jaal misses his first attack, but his second attack (with MM) causes 2 more Wounds to the demon! Shrike Wounds another Qetz’raod x2! She and Miss Menagerie are Shaken in retaliation!

[mmdeforrest]

December 4th
Jaal roars directly into the face of the Qetz’seia, then tries to bite it again, this time going for its neck, but the demon raises a hand and a bubble of invisible force starts to push the dragon away.

Claws screech against bone as Jaal is eventually moved out of contact with the Qetz’seia. He twists in the air, catching himself with a flare of his wings, before he turns his head a breathes out a cloud of opaque gray gas that envelops the demon.

From below, Menagerie calls out a spell and a tiny purple fireball shoots out from her hand into the cloud of gas. It catches, and ignites into a massive fireball.

Shrike uses the momentary distraction to attack the hollow god that had swiped at her before, leaving several bloody wounds in the demon. The Qetz’raod shrieks in retaliation, causing the griffin and her mistress to flinch at the sound.

When the smoke clears, the massive demon is visibly blackened, but still afloat.

Initiative:
Hero’s Turn- Jaal misses his first attack, but his second attack (with MM) causes 2 more Wounds to the demon! Shrike Wounds another Qetz’raod x2! She and Miss Menagerie are Shaken in retaliation!

Spoiler: John Seizes the Day! Bennie’s all around!

Show

Initiative for the Perimeter: 1d4o4 7 1d6o6 1
Dee plays “Seize the Day”. Everyone gets a Benny!

Spellcasting: 1d12o12+2 9 1d6o6+2 10

“Frustrating as that news is, I’ll take the team’s safety over my research agenda any day,” Dee responded to Mercury evenly as he scribed his next spell. “Please excuse me while vent that frustration on this Qetz’seia.”

An Ankh of Naneferkaptah blazed before the Qetz’seia as Dee completed his spell, casting deep shadows as if midday light had suddenly returned.

“Naneferkaptah claimed this would defeat all manner of serpents,” Dee explained to the demon. “Let’s see if it applies to the snake-necked spawn of Hell as well.”

The Ankh, which he could have divided, thrust itself at the creature, engulfing it in light as Jaal had cloaked it in darkness.

There was no point in indulging his Pride. That had been Khamwaset’s mistake — a failing he knew he risked too often.

Spoiler: “I’d tell you to go to Hell….”

Show

Attack, Ranged 4d6 (8) AP 2 (2) Heavy Weapon (1)
4d6+1d6+2 = 17

Damaging the Demon: 5d6+2 17

John uses his freshly gained Benny to reroll

And gets a 17.

Then Rerolls.

Damaging the Demon: 5d6o6+2 21

“Let’s clear the rest of this rabble,” Dee offered as an adide to his teammates as he watched his spell take effect. “We have an investigation to conduct.”

And, more importantly, teammates to heal — although that wasn’t something he wanted any nearby demons or Crowns to report back to their masters, lest reinforcements be sent.

[InTheMachine]

December 4th
Perimeter Team
The light from the Ankh of Naneferkaptah brightens the night sky and the Qetz’seia lets out a scream. It curses in a dialect of demonic Dee has yet to learn as the light consumes it.

The cage of dark light containing the warehouse and surrounding streets fizzles and crackles before dissolving.

When the Anhk fades, nothing is left of the Qetz’seia but ashes.

The remaining Qetz’raod shield their faces from the light. When they see that the most powerful of them is gone, they all begin to pull dark energy into themselves.

The hollow god above Dee and Redline moves in closer to them before it releases the energy that it’s stored so far. Its ribs crack open from the force of the energy released, bathing Redline and Dee in terrible, biting, unnatural cold.


Initiative:
Dee kills the Qetz’seia!
Demon’s Turn- All Qetz’raod begin charging an attack! The one above Dee and Redline causes 26 damage to both of them!
Hero’s Turn!

[mmdeforrest]

December 4th
Perimeter Team
The light from the Ankh of Naneferkaptah brightens the night sky and the Qetz’seia lets out a scream. It curses in a dialect of demonic Dee has yet to learn as the light consumes it.

The cage of dark light containing the warehouse and surrounding streets fizzles and crackles before dissolving.

When the Anhk fades, nothing is left of the Qetz’seia but ashes.

The remaining Qetz’raod shield their faces from the light. When they see that the most powerful of them is gone, they all begin to pull dark energy into themselves.

The hollow god above Dee and Redline moves in closer to them before it releases the energy that it’s stored so far. Its ribs crack open from the force of the energy released, bathing Redline and Dee in terrible, biting, unnatural cold.


Initiative:
Dee kills the Qetz’seia!
Demon’s Turn- All Qetz’raod begin charging an attack! The one above Dee and Redline causes 26 damage to both of them!
Hero’s Turn!

Spoiler: Spoke to soon, did he?

Show

SOAK! Please Soak!: 1d6o6+2 9 1d6o6+2 7

Dee is out of Bennies, having to spend two to get to this result! He is Shaken and has one Wound.

Dee drew his cloak about him quickly but not quickly enough, to protect him from the hellish wave of cold emanating from the hollow god descending towards him.

What was I just telling myself about overweening Pride?, Dee asked himself as he felt the unnatural chill of the Qetz’raod — one of the ‘rabble’ he mentioned — bite into him. It would be sufficient to dismay or disable most of its prey — a category he now found himself in.

The irony that he had only recently stopped protecting himself from supernatural cold as a matter of course was did not make him feel any better about the situation.

He needed to get inside and heal the other members of the Strike Force.

“Direct to Redline:” he said into the Comm. “Should we tag me out so I can heal the wounded or are they stable enough for me to help finish things out here?”

[PK-Leon]

December 4th
Perimeter Team

Upon realizing that the hollow god is about to burst Redline's stunt double sprints towards the mage in attempt to shield him from the unholy energy but finds himself several steps short as he's caught in the blast. As the light fades 2ouis is nowhere to be seen.

Warehouse Assault

Reality fractures behind them almost instantly, and Mirko jumps through. Something seems to hold Kris back though. As he tries to follow his brother, the portal shrinks and rejects the elder Dragonov.

“The ****?” Kris snarls as the portal closes completely.

Zodiac takes advantage of his momentary distraction and shifts into her tiger form. She stalks forward, then takes a running leap through the air and slams into Kris’ back, driving him face first into the floor.

“Do not move,” she growls as she pins him down with one massive paw.

"I'd listen to her or a brother won't be the only thing you're missing." Redline suggests to the Dragonov currently being pinned to the floor.

“Direct to Redline:” he said into the Comm. “Should we tag me out so I can heal the wounded or are they stable enough for me to help finish things out here?”

Redline raises a pair of fingers up to his left ear as he surveys the rest of the warehouse with his eyes for any threats the team may have overlooked or forgotten.

Spoiler: Notice

Show

3 + 2 (Perception) = 5

"I'm pretty we've got everything under control inside, at least for now. Four of us are injured, one of which requires immediate medical attention. You guys close to wrapping things up on the perimeter? Mimi has ISPD on standby so they're ready to mobilize as soon as she gives the signal."

[Roguewolf]

December 4th
Perimeter Team
The light from the Ankh of Naneferkaptah brightens the night sky and the Qetz’seia lets out a scream. It curses in a dialect of demonic Dee has yet to learn as the light consumes it.

The cage of dark light containing the warehouse and surrounding streets fizzles and crackles before dissolving.

When the Anhk fades, nothing is left of the Qetz’seia but ashes.

The remaining Qetz’raod shield their faces from the light. When they see that the most powerful of them is gone, they all begin to pull dark energy into themselves.

The hollow god above Dee and Redline moves in closer to them before it releases the energy that it’s stored so far. Its ribs crack open from the force of the energy released, bathing Redline and Dee in terrible, biting, unnatural cold.


Initiative:
Dee kills the Qetz’seia!
Demon’s Turn- All Qetz’raod begin charging an attack! The one above Dee and Redline causes 26 damage to both of them!
Hero’s Turn!

Spoiler: Shaken to a martini

Show

Spirit to Unshake: 1d10o10-1 2 1d6o6-1 0

Crowe just spends a Benny to unshake, 1/3 remaining.

Crowe watches as Dee fries the bigger of the birds, and inwardly starts cursing himself for being born with powers that are less effective against demons.

However rather than the hollow god in front of him, he aims a spear at the one above Dee and what was other Redline.

Him staying alive is far more important. Any of them really, since I may be able to handle this with Stolas's training!

He let's loose the spear at the bird above the team lead for the perimeter, and smirks seeing it hit his mark.

Spoiler: Rolls, Mechanics, OOC

Show

Crowe uses his ranged attack on the Hollow God above the warehouse near Dee. Heavy Weapon, AP 2.

Shooting: 1d10o10+1 8 1d6o6+1 2
Damage: 4d6o6 16

[big teej]

Inside:

"oooooh. That's gotta sting." Nightgaunt says, sauntering up to Zodiac and Kris. He pats Yuki affectionately on the flank and then crouches down so he can look the Dragonov in the eyes.

"Would you have run out on him like that, I wonder? More importantly, man, what's the longest you two have been apart? Like, is he gonna be okay on his own? Is he even housebroken?"

Nightgaunt pauses, listening to the updates from outside. The party ain't over yet.

"Kris." The vampire continues, with considerably less cheek, "My family hasn't broken a promise in several hundred years. I promise I will do everything in my power to reunite you with your brother soon. So you chill out and behave with one of my favorite people."

Reverting to type, he addresses Zodiac as he raises one talon. "Be careful of him. Call for me if you need help."

He let's his arm fall, tearing a hole in reality which he rolls through.

Outside:

Nightgaunt rolls into existence high overhead, spreading his arms and legs out in free-fall towards the ground.

"You guys leave anything for me?" He asks over the open channel.

Spoiler: OOC/Mechanics/Whatnot

Show

Nightgaunt spends 1 Burn to MOVE to outside.

Preemptive Defend Roll: 2, as it must be.

*ahem*
" On a Miss, you protect them, but at great cost;You either cannot Soak damage from the attack or the situation escalates."

"Nightgaunt gains 1 Potential"
Potential DEATH

Potential: 4/5
Burn: 2/3
Bennies: 0/3
Conditions: 3/6
Wounds: 1, Null, of 4 (Incapacitation)
Payback vs. Kris - carrying +2 to-hit/Damage

[mmdeforrest]

Inside:
Outside:

Nightgaunt rolls into existence high overhead, spreading his arms and legs out in free-fall towards the ground.

"You guys leave anything for me?" He asks over the open channel.

The cold had begun to settle into the dark wounds on his soul when Dee sensed reality tear and Nightgaunt step though into the open air.

He hoped the vampire remembered he could turn into a murder of crows before he fell too much farther.

At least he wouldn’t have to explain things to Stella if he didn’t.

“Take your pick of the remaining Hollow Gods,” Dee replied, his jaw tight with the cold. “The stunt double is down and the rest of us are banged up but holding strong. I trust you’ll forgive us for dispatching their leader before you finished up inside.”

[InTheMachine]

December 4th
Warehouse Assault
Kris turns his head to glare at the vampire, but doesn’t deign to respond to him.

Zodiac lets out a rumbling growl at the Dragonov. “Of course,” she responds to Nightgaunt. “He has been a thorn in our side since I joined the team. I will not let my guard down. But I will not hesitate to call you.”

Mercury quickly makes his way over to where Paradox has fallen, offering a few calming words to Wolf.

Perimeter Team
Crowe’s spear pierces the Qetz’raod’s neck. Blood splatters over Dee before the demon fades into ashes.

The hollow god that Shrike had wounded flies in close. It maneuvers around the griffin’s talons and flips up above the sorceress and her mount as it completes pulling in the necessary dark energy. Menagerie doesn’t have enough time to throw up any magical shielding before the bitter cold washes over her.

Initiative:
Crowe takes out a hollow god!
Demon’s turn- The Qetz’raod near Menagerie finishes charging and hits her and Shrike for 29 damage, Nightgaunt Defends!
Heroes have Initiative!

[mmdeforrest]

Meanwhile, in London
Montcrieff poured herself a glass of water. Timmons had begun to snore lightly, disturbing her enough to make the chilly walk to his kitchen worth it.

Why had she ever let Greg go? It was complicated but he could keep up much of the time and his role in the SAS meant he could understand her need to keep secrets.

Timmons was pleasant enough, of course, and a good time. Neither of them expected it to last more than a week more. His deployment to Gibraltar created a tidy line of demarcation for both of them. Until then, they could forget the life or death worlds they lived in.

Kelley was dong better in that regard than she was. For all the drama of his relationship with Miss Shaw, the two of them were treating each other as a romantic partner rather than the f-buddy she was with.

Her smile grew somewhat smug as she tossed her hair and thought back to earlier that night. We had nothing to complain about in that regard and she and Timmons knew the rules. Because of that, they could enjoy the game.

She took another drink and considered her partner's growing presence. His relationship and its melodramatic path had required AEGIS to up her security clearance twice based on his reports and the summaries Lizzie provided. Publicly, it hadn't changed and the details she had been learning about the Shaws was the kind of thing that could be guessed. But the confirmation that Jasper Aurelius was a dragon and the sire of a Myriad provisional was enough to move her clearance well above what one might have expected of an agent with her age and experience. And it certainly didn’t hurt that her superiors enjoyed the thought of knowing something about a Myriad asset that most Myriad Directors didn’t.

Like all good partners, Kelley was good for her career.

She was grateful they trusted one another enough for her to have that kind of thought. He knew she was monitoring him but was also watching his back. While he e had told her so on more than one occasion, it was the candor he maintained during their weekly check ins that let her know he meant it.

In the other room, Timmons rolled over and the snoring dropped off. Montcrieff finished her water and set the glass back in the sink before seeking out the temporary warmth of the bed waiting for her in the next room.

[big teej]

Photo Negative:

"I suppose I can allow it, just this once." Nightgaunt responds with a smile clear in his voice.

Confident in his teammate's assesment, he leisurely casts his eyes across the hollow gods, choosing his target.

His humor vanishes, seeing Shrike outmaneuvered by one of the empty demons. It blazed in his sight with gathered power, with no corresponding defense from Menagerie.

The vampire clapped his hands together and straightened his dive, dissapearing into the air again and reappearing between the demon and the mage he loved.

He was spun twice, a blur, carving out a broad disk of unreality that fed back on itself, consuming the cold and darkness unleashed by the hollow god.

A small, self-loathing part of his mind observed - too late - that consumptive feedback had nowhere to go except all over him.

The cold was nothing, and the darkness his natural habitat...

but this was something else.

Raphael recognized, distantly, the cold seeping into his limbs and shutting him down like it would have living flesh.

Where before he'd been burnt black and then bleached white by flames, now his flesh shriveled, necrotized, and froze. He exhaled red crystals and plummeted the rest of the way to the ground, unmoving.

He cratered the pavement as an unyielding, frozen manniken, both legs snapped off and his right arm shattered beneath the impact.

The view of the pavement his still intact eye could see through his helmet left much to be desired.

[InTheMachine]

December 4th
Perimeter Team
Polaris shakes his head to rid the ringing from his ears. He looks up, only to watch Nightgaunt fall, what seems to him, lifelessly to the pavement below.

A pained scream rips itself from Menagerie’s throat once she realizes what’s happened. She tries to look down at her boyfriend, but has to hold on tight to Shrike as the griffin continues to go claw to claw with the demon.

Pure blue fire flares to life around Polaris’ clenched fists. He gathers himself for a moment before launching high over the battlefield, above the hollow god that had been observing so far. He raises his hands and gathers a sphere of flames in front of him before pulling it apart into each palm.

The alien yells something in his own language before hurling the first orb at the demon above Menagerie and Shrike, and the other at the remaining hollow god.

The azure missiles gather momentum and impact each demon, flaring eye wateringly bright for a moment before the Qetz’raod are vaporized.

Shrike rolls, protecting her mistress from the worst of the blast. Her feathers on one wing burst into flame as Jaal lets out a furious roar.

“You dare!?” Jaal snarls as he twists in the air to face Polaris.

The alien’s eyes grow wide as he realizes that Shrike and Menagerie were within the range of his attack, and that an outraged dragon is barreling toward him. However, the dragon’s form fades into black smoke as Menagerie releases her hold on the magic that keeps him in this realm.

The wounded, smoking griffin falls more than lands on a nearby rooftop, and Menagerie tumbles off her summon, rolling a few times before she bleeds enough momentum to come to a stop.

Initiative:
Hero’s Turn- Polaris gets the big mad and takes out the last two demons with many much damages!
Combat ends!

[mmdeforrest]

December 4th
Perimeter Team
Polaris shakes his head to rid the ringing from his ears. He looks up, only to watch Nightgaunt fall, what seems to him, lifelessly to the pavement below.

A pained scream rips itself from Menagerie’s throat once she realizes what’s happened. She tries to look down at her boyfriend, but has to hold on tight to Shrike as the griffin continues to go claw to claw with the demon.

Pure blue fire flares to life around Polaris’ clenched fists. He gathers himself for a moment before launching high over the battlefield, above the hollow god that had been observing so far. He raises his hands and gathers a sphere of flames in front of him before pulling it apart into each palm.

The alien yells something in his own language before hurling the first orb at the demon above Menagerie and Shrike, and the other at the remaining hollow god.

The azure missiles gather momentum and impact each demon, flaring eye wateringly bright for a moment before the Qetz’raod are vaporized.

Shrike rolls, protecting her mistress from the worst of the blast. Her feathers on one wing burst into flame as Jaal lets out a furious roar.

“You dare!?” Jaal snarls as he twists in the air to face Polaris.

The alien’s eyes grow wide as he realizes that Shrike and Menagerie were within the range of his attack, and that an outraged dragon is barreling toward him. However, the dragon’s form fades into black smoke as Menagerie releases her hold on the magic that keeps him in this realm.

The wounded, smoking griffin falls more than lands on a nearby rooftop, and Menagerie tumbles off her summon, rolling a few times before she bleeds enough momentum to come to a stop.

Initiative:
Hero’s Turn- Polaris gets the big mad and takes out the last two demons with many much damages!
Combat ends!

And I thought I had a flare for angering dragons.

A quip best left to himself, he suspected, given that Ayern had not taught him what that word meant — although he could make some educated guesses based on the tone.

“All points: Report…report in,” Dee requested unsteadily as, fighting for control amidst the surging eddies of the three forms of magic fading from the area, he scribed his spell and moved unsteadily towards where Miss Menagerie had rolled to a stop.

Spoiler: Magician heal…no heal…HEAL thyself!

Show

Spellcasting (Healing): 1d12o12 5 1d6o6 3

I forgot the -1 for his Wound. John barely succeeds at Healing himself. After spending two bennies.

“Let’s get you patched up before moving on to the others,” he offered Miss Menagerie comfortingly.

Spoiler: Attending to the Sorceress

Show

Spellcasting (Healing): 1d12o12 10 1d6o6 5

10-1 for her Wound leaves the sorceress completely healed.

[InTheMachine]

December 4th
Perimeter Team
Mercury is first to report in. “I’ve administered first aid to Paradox. She’s stable but she needs healing. Kris is down. He’s being pinned by Zodiac.” He gives orders to Ryker to take a nullifier collar and put it on Kris. “Kris should be safely contained in a moment.”

Menagerie groans as she lifts herself up onto her elbows. Her face is flushed from a mild burn, which quickly fades as Dee heals her. “Thank you,” she says to the mage as she quickly heals her griffin before dismissing her. “Do you mind going to take care of Paradox? I need to get down to Nightgaunt.”

“I’ve removed the barriers I put up in the roads,” Amina says. “Anything else you want me to do?”

Polaris floats high up in the sky and doesn’t respond to Dee.

[mmdeforrest]

December 4th
Perimeter Team
Mercury is first to report in. “I’ve administered first aid to Paradox. She’s stable but she needs healing. Kris is down. He’s being pinned by Zodiac.” He gives orders to Ryker to take a nullifier collar and put it on Kris. “Kris should be safely contained in a moment.”

Menagerie groans as she lifts herself up onto her elbows. Her face is flushed from a mild burn, which quickly fades as Dee heals her. “Thank you,” she says to the mage as she quickly heals her griffin before dismissing her. “Do you mind going to take care of Paradox? I need to get down to Nightgaunt.”

“I’ve removed the barriers I put up in the roads,” Amina says. “Anything else you want me to do?”

Polaris floats high up in the sky and doesn’t respond to Dee.

“Copy that, Mercury,” Dee replied, as he assured himself Miss Menagerie was well then nodding in agreement to her plan. “I'll be there momentarily.

“Anima: Great initiative and good job with the crowd control. It took a lot off of my mind when the demons appeared. I’m glad you were able to keep the civilians safe. That matters a lot to me.”

So much blood for such a little body.

“Well,” he said quietly as he looked skyward, “not just me, of course. For all of us, really.

“Direct to Crowe: Thanks for watching out for me. Check on Polaris and confirm he’s unharmed and make sure he’s okay after singing Miss Menagerie — who is safe and well.”

“Crowe, Polaris:” he continued on an open channel as he summoned a gate to near where Paradox was, “solid work on taking out those demons. We wouldn’t have succeeded without you. Take a quick look around the area to make sure we aren’t being watched by any raesheka before rejoining us for the investigation.”

It was the truth, he noted to himself as he stepped through the gate and began to scribe his spell — even if Polaris might hesitate to believe it.

Spoiler: Healing South Side

Show

Healing Paradox: 1d12o12 8 1d6o6 3

8-3=5. Dee heals one of her wounds.

“Easy now,” he assured her quietly enough for Kris to not overhear. “We’ll get Harbinger or Seraph to finish the job but that should get you out of harm’s way.”

[Roguewolf]

Crowe tapped on his commlink to respond to Dee. "Glad to see that you're in one piece, unscathed here thanks to.... well Stolas I guess now."

“Direct to Crowe: Thanks for watching out for me. Check on Polaris and confirm he’s unharmed and make sure he’s okay after singing Miss Menagerie — who is safe and well.”

“Crowe, Polaris:” he continued on an open channel as he summoned a gate to near where Paradox was, “solid work on taking out those demons. We wouldn’t have succeeded without you. Take a quick look around the area to make sure we aren’t being watched by any raesheka before rejoining us for the investigation.”

He listened to Dee's direct message and swapped the communication to being direct back to him. "Anytime, Dee. Just hate that I didn't get it before it exploded like it did. Knew I'd be able to... well, meanin' to talk with you about something from the Void later. If you have time. You holding up alright?"

Back on the open channel, as he floated up to Polaris, he nodded. "Will do. I wanna check out one of the rooms in particular when we get back."

He turned to Polaris. "Hey man, you alright?" He looks back down at everything and then back to Polaris. It was hard to miss the flare of his attack, and probably good that Nightgaunt hadn't seen it. Then again, that was probably what triggered it. And as expected, those blue flames were way more powerful than he would have thought beforehand.

"Menagerie is safe, and well. I know it was closer than you meant it to be, so does she." He takes a deep breath. "Nightgaunt was the trigger, wasn't he?" It was more a statement than a question, but it was something to recognize too.

[big teej]

Lt. Dan? Is that some boomer movie reference?

From the snatches of conversation filtering through his frozen headset and half-frozen brain, it seemed like the battle as over.

Let's see you grit those teeth! He thought as he focused his will on clenching his remaining hand into a fist and force his arm to move. A hollow rattle and the sound of crunching glass came from the vampire's chest in place of his usual growl as he forced his cracked and stiff limb to shove against the ground and roll himself over.

It all hurt. A lot.

He let the rest of the air in his lungs out in a long hiss as he reached up and pulled his helmet aside and reached out, his arm disappearing in a small tear in reality and pulling out a nice, chilled, but unfrozen blood bag from the fridge at home. He grit his teeth against the pain as he again forced the frozen limb up to his face and bit into the bag. His empty lungs obviated any chance of groaning or crying out from the pain and exertion.

compared to his frozen form, the fridge-temperature Aqua Vitae was positively balmy. He pushed himself up into sitting position and looked at the slushy, gelid fluid oozing from the stumps of his legs.

you've gotta be ****ting me.

He grit his teeth and concentrated on regenerating, the way a panicking mortal might focus on their breathing.

Slowly, pale white, unblemished flesh began to make snaking inroads across the black, frostbitten, deader-than-dead skin, and tendrils of bone, muscle, and tissue crawled forth from his limbs, pushing the rest of the blood-slush free before sprouting, fully formed and vibrant.

He grunted at that, sucking unneeded air back into his lungs.

Raphael pulled his helmet the rest of the way off and lay back down inside his crater. He pulled a frozen blood pouch from his belt and worked it with his hands, breaking the contents up into tiny ice-cubes.

"Sure, no need to worry, I'm fine, thanks for asking." He said to the air as he slit open the side of the pouch with a talon and had a crunchy snack.

Spoiler: Kicks and giggles

Show

Regeneration at -3 for wounds, -1 for 2 conditions
Rolling at a total of -3 because I ignore a wound penalty
6 seconds - Fail
12 seconds - Fail
18 seconds -
24 seconds -
30 seconds - fail
36 seconds - Regenerate 1 wound after the penalties, rolling at -2 now!
*splork* One Leg reappears
42 seconds - fail
48 seconds - Regenerate 1 wound after penalties, rolling at -1
*splork* arm regrows
54 seconds - fail
1 minute later - fail
1:06 - failure
1:12 - 14! - where the hell was this roll earlier?
*splork* second leg reappears

[PK-Leon]

“All points: Report…report in,” Dee requested unsteadily.

"Everything alright on your end?" Redline asks as he walks the warehouse floor.

“I’ve removed the barriers I put up in the roads,” Amina says. “Anything else you want me to do?”

"Nice work rookie. Link up with the rest of the team and keep an eye on the perimeter for now. ISPD should be en route shortly."

"Mimi, put me through to Kreiger please."

"Nightgaunt. Menagerie. You two still on comms?"