Adventures Assemble S3E3: The Great Brain Robbery!

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Ysariel
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Ysariel »

Spellbinder
Metapower Research -- Ground floor
kenseido wrote: Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:46 pm He enters and begins searching for any signs or clues.
It is quite clear that this facility is not made to receive visitors often. The area immediately through the doors is a security checkpoint filled with all kinds of fancy scanners, and beyond that lies an office filled with computers and electronics. General Havoc has thoroughly ransacked the area: smashed desks, sparking server racks, papers and stationery litter the floor like dead leaves in autumn. While the exterior of the facility seems to have been breached by force, there is no sign of General Havoc inside it and you cannot tell where her trail of destruction ends.
Investigate -- 3 degrees of success:
Escorted by two of Amy's drones, you briefly search the area, looking to any clue as to what she may be looking for or where she may have gone. Near the rear of the office is a heavy iron door leading to a vault. Within, all you can see are countless paper files, many spilled on the floor. After searching through the mess you find one that reads:

IRON CURTAIN DEVICE - TOP SECRET

Inside are photos of U.S. military personnel disassembling a large, heavily-damaged machine comprising four towers each of which are several stories tall. Pictures show scientists cataloguing, photographing and labelling each of the parts before attempting to put the machine back together.

Ominously, the very center of each tower is labelled "Daka crystal core".

"Lord Steel once used this machine to attempt to steal all the superpowers in the world and bestow them on himself," Amy says, briefly describing the team's encounters with the time-travelling villain.

You start hunting for related files, Amy occasionally translating technical data for you where needed. From what you can gather, G.A.S. scientists under contract from the government attempted to rebuild the Iron Curtain in secret, but ultimately failed, lacking Lord Steel's techno-magical knowledge. However, the Daka crystals they obtained from the wreckage of the Iron Curtain soon led to new breakthroughs in power-nullifying and power-boosting weapons.

The latter research seems to have been kept secret from top G.A.S. leadership for some reason. The last file you find is titled "Daka radiation power enhancer". When you open it, however, it is empty. A hand-scribbled note in the corner reads:

"Keep this secret from both DARPA and Richards. She has ordered it. It will be our trump card. If you need to access the crystal bank for any reason, use the lift behind the vault, passcode 0831."

You notice that the corners of the file are bloodied. The blood is fresh. This, then, is the file General Havoc was looking for.

OOC

You can proceed to the lift behind the file vault and use the passcode. Alternately, you can try to look for another entry into the crystal bank, or convene your fellow heroes before taking further action.

You can also do whatever else you consider reasonable.
Ysariel
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Ysariel »

Moonlight
Metapower Research -- Exterior
Psistrike wrote: Mon Jul 04, 2022 7:52 pm "Gelert, you help out these poor people, I will deal with the flames." Moonlight summons forth a small rain cloud that begins to pour down over the burning building in an attempt to put out the roaring flames.
Much of the entrance is on fire, as is a humvee parked by it, and smoke and flame rise from several points on the building's roof. From what you can tell, the building was not entirely undefended against superhuman attack and it's quite likely those burning things are weapon emplacements that General Havoc exploded on her way in.

You quickly form a miniature cloud above the corporate building and a gentle drizzle falls on the fire. Within a minute the fire is under control and very soon the last flames are sputtering out. Emergency services have not even arrived on scene. Perhaps you should bill G.A.S. for the service?

OOC

For putting out the fire and preventing further damage to life and property, you gain 1 HP.
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Gilliam
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Gilliam »

Nightbird
HP: 3 LP: 1
Condition: Normal


Jason disappeared too quickly before Imogen could so in the end she waited helping Anabel and Gelert where she could with cleaning up the damage caused by General Havoc although she made time to send a quick message to Jason.

"Hey give us a yell if you need a hand and you know disappearing into the shadows is my stick."
OOC wrote: In case it isn't clear Imogen is trying to be humorous with her comment about disappearing in the shadows :)
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kenseido
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by kenseido »

Spellbinder
HP: 4, Condition: Bruised x1, Fatigued

Jason looks frustrated at the files about the Iron Curtain. The Order had assigned him to a task in Freedom City during the events, and even there he could feel the effects, though not as strongly as in Phoenix Bay. Seeing the government try to use this weapon created some concern in him. And then an idea. He shoves all the Iron Curtain files into the pockets in his suit. Holding the folder, he heads over to the lift.

He is about to punch in the code and stops. He looks at one of the drones. He should at least tell them where he is going.

Jason presses the comm in his ear. "Lift behind the vault. Passcode 0831. Scouting ahead."

Without waiting for a response, Jason punches in the code to use the lift.
Will reactivate Concealment inside the lift.
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Gilliam
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Gilliam »

Nightbird
HP: 3 LP: 1
Condition: Normal


"Noted." Imogen replies to Spellbinders message "We are on our way, don't get too far ahead."

Turning to the others "I think we done everything we can do outside I am going after Spellbinder and we should stick together as we will have more chance against Havoc and whatever she is looking for here."

Imogen waits a moment or two for any replies and then heads into the building towards the lift that Jason mention.
Ysariel
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Ysariel »

Nightbird & Spellbinder
Research Facility Interior > Daka Crystal Vault
kenseido wrote: Wed Jul 06, 2022 10:45 pm Jason presses the comm in his ear. "Lift behind the vault. Passcode 0831. Scouting ahead."

Without waiting for a response, Jason punches in the code to use the lift.
Gilliam wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 6:04 pm Nightbird
HP: 3 LP: 1
Condition: Normal

Imogen waits a moment or two for any replies and then heads into the building towards the lift that Jason mention.
The keypad by the lift door is stained with blood, too; General Havoc has definitely been this way.

Spellbinder punches in the keycode: 0831, and the triple doors of the lift glide silently open. For a tense moment you wait to see if anything lies in wait to ambush you, however the lift is empty, and both of you enter without incident.

The lift opens after a twenty-second descent into a locker room lined with rows of airtight hazard suits and decontamination showers. Radiation and toxin warning signs are everywhere. A sight straight ahead reads "DAKA CRYSTAL VAULT". Under it is a smashed security door and airlock through which cold air blows. The vault is kept under positive pressure so that any contaminants are blown outward, keeping the interior clean.

The vault within is lined with transparent polymer safes holding blue Daka crystals, each cell roughly a foot wide and tall. The crystals within vary in size from the length and girth of an adult human forearm, to the size of your pinky. Some shine brilliant cerulean blue. Others merely glow a faint indigo, like ocean water illuminated by sunlight. And a few are completely dark, almost ink-black. Every safe is meticulously labelled and classified -- though some are empty where crystals have been withdrawn for experimentation. There must be hundreds, perhaps thousands of Daka crystals -- enough to extract all the superpowers in the world and funnel them to one man.

A trail of bloody footprints leads to one of the safes, which is broken. The ground before it is littered with polymer shards and Daka crystals.

Standing before it is General Havoc, who in her right hand is holding a 6ft tall machine that looks like it has been ripped straight out of the deck of the Ragnarok, trailing electronic cables and like the roots of an uprooted tree. A luminous blue Daka crystal is installed inside the machine. As you watch, General Havoc reaches into the machine and withdraws a much smaller cylinder the size and shape of a bottle of painkillers, which glows brightly.

"The device," Amy warns. "That must be what the Anarchy Command uses to manufacture its power boosters!"

OOC

Make a DC 25 Initiative check (10 + General Havoc's initiative score of 15). If you pass the check, you stop General Havoc from using the Daka power booster. Spellbinder has a +5 bonus on this check for using Concealment. If you succeed, you can freely describe any action you take, and you can destroy just the booster, the entire machine that manufactures them, or both.

if you fail the check, General Havoc can use the Daka power booster. However, Amy's drones still suppress General Havoc's powers once you successfully attack her, so in all likelihood passing the check is only an advantage during the first round of combat. Consider this before you spend HP.
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Psistrike
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Psistrike »

Moonlight
HP: 7 LP: 0
Condition:

Aranel is right behind her teammates as they head into the elevator. "Right with you, let's get to the source."

OOC: Sorry, my brain is frazzled still as my brother had another breakdown and went back into the hospital Sunday. I forgot to check in here again as I didn't see a recent post. Won't happen again.
Last edited by Psistrike on Sun Jul 17, 2022 5:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
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kenseido
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by kenseido »

Spellbinder
HP: 4, Condition: Bruised x1, Fatigued

Jason appears immediately as he casts the Order's most powerful - and only - offensive spell.

"AFFLICTO!"

But it's just a little too late. General Havok is able to activate the device first. With her new power, she swats away his magical blast like it's nothing.

Jason grimaces.
As I mentioned in Skype, I am voluntarily failing this check for story reasons.
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stavaros_the_arcane
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by stavaros_the_arcane »

GELERT
Psistrike wrote: Mon Jul 04, 2022 7:52 pm Moonlight
HP: 6 LP: 0
Condition: FIne

"Gelert, you help out these poor people, I will deal with the flames." Moonlight summons forth a small rain cloud that begins to pour down over the burning building in an attempt to put out the roaring flames.

OOC: Nullify Water-Soluble Effects 11, Broad, Simultaneous attack check: Attack roll: 1d20+12 24 Now the power check: Nullify Water-Soluble Effects power check: 1d20+11 16
Gelert nods and rushes to move the injured to safety and give them a helpful dose of healing energy.
kenseido wrote: Wed Jul 06, 2022 10:45 pm Spellbinder
HP: 4, Condition: Bruised x1, Fatigued

Jason presses the comm in his ear. "Lift behind the vault. Passcode 0831. Scouting ahead."

Without waiting for a response, Jason punches in the code to use the lift.
Will reactivate Concealment inside the lift.
Gilliam wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 6:04 pm Nightbird
HP: 3 LP: 1
Condition: Normal


"Noted." Imogen replies to Spellbinders message "We are on our way, don't get too far ahead."

Turning to the others "I think we done everything we can do outside I am going after Spellbinder and we should stick together as we will have more chance against Havoc and whatever she is looking for here."

Imogen waits a moment or two for any replies and then heads into the building towards the lift that Jason mention.
Gelert is quickly at her heels. "You're right, Havoc was not fun to try and take on alone. Best we not spread ourselves more that we already have."

OOC: Again sorry for the lack of posts lately. I just finished two very very busy work weeks.
Ysariel
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Ysariel »

Spellbinder
Daka Crystal Vault

The bolt deflects off General Havoc's forearm unto the ceiling of the vault. With her other hand she retrieves a small glowing power cell from the uprooted machine and activates it. A faint blue glow envelops her, and you see the pustules covering her skin scab over and flake off within seconds as her superhuman constitution repairs the damage.

"Now you know the truth behind G.A.S. and their robots," General Havoc says, tossing the cell at your feet. "They sought to control us, you see. To create both a threat, and the antidote to it, so that your feckless leaders, cowering in the White House, would enrich them with countless billions. They supplied us the power boosters but not the technology to manufacture them. Just enough for us to create a ruckus -- but not to become a real threat."

"But they underestimated the Anarchy Command. We reverse-engineered their technology, and once we have the Daka crystals needed to mass-produce the boosters, there will be a reckoning. You're too late to stop our revolution. And since you turned down my offer of surrender earlier, I'm afraid you'll have to die."

She drops the empowerment machine in her hand and turns to the storage rack holding Daka crystals behind her. Her fingers punch through the transparent polymer safes, covering their surface with spiderwebs of cracks. Twisting steel moans and shrieks as she rips the entire thing out of the ground and hurls it at you!


OOC

I thought about it, and because Spellbinder did not wait for Nightbird/Moonlight to join him first then they should not be together. So Spellbinder will fight the first 2 rounds alone. For each round that you fight alone, and also for voluntarily failing the initiative check, you will gain 1 HP as a complication.

On round 3, Nightbird and Moonlight will join the combat. On round 4, Gelert (if he choses to join) will join the combat.

General Havoc applies the power booster and regains some of her power boost. She currently has +6 to all power ranks -- less than the +10 she has at full power, but slightly more than the +5 she had at the end of the scene at G.A.S. Every time you successfully hit her with any effect, Amy's drones apply -1 power rank (as though attacking with a linked power) to her, with no resistance check, until she loses the full value of the boost.

General Havoc rips out the Daka Crystal storage unit behind her with a Standard action. She the surges and throws it at you as an attack with another standard action. The huge storage unit adds +2 circumstance bonus to her attack.

AA General Havoc attack vs Spellbinder: 1D20+10 = [7]+10 = 17

Misses. I fiat and reroll, gain 1 additional HP (so 2 total for this round)

AA General Havoc attack vs Spellbinder reroll: 1D20+10 = [10]+10 = 20

Reroll makes that a 30. Make a DC 33 Toughness check against damage.

Round 1
29 General Havoc (w/ attenuated Power of Daka) (Fatigued on turn)
09 Spellbinder *

You are up!
Ysariel
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Ysariel »

Gelert
Metapower Research -- Exterior
stavaros_the_arcane wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 2:37 am Gelert nods and rushes to move the injured to safety and give them a helpful dose of healing energy.
Your blue light shines over the unconscious G.A.S. personnel outside and they stir to wakefulness. In the distance, you can hear the sounds of sirens; emergency services are approaching the corporate campus of its subsidiary.

"We were just doing our jobs when suddenly Mike burst into fire," one of the guards tells you. "Not regular fire, it didn't burn him, but it sure blew up the gun turrets good!"

"Yeah, and then a big ghost head appeared over him and started spitting more fireballs at people," another chimes in.

From what you gather, this facility was in fact attacked by Knightfire first -- and by the time General Havoc arrived the defenses were mostly breached. Only one of the guards was conscious by then.

"He left for the rear of the facility," he says. "That's where the positive-pressure air pumps are that keep the labs and stuff inside clean."

OOC

For healing the guards and ensuring they are safe, you gain 1 HP.

From Nightbird, you know that Knightfire was being used as a pawn by the Anarchy Command to stir up trouble in the city, and they both have good reason to oppose the forces of civilization. However, it doesn't seem like they have any formal alliance, given they did not arrive and enter the facility together.

You can investigate the positive-pressure air pumping system at the facility's rear, or continue to the Daka Crystal vault. If you choose to go to the vault you will join the combat there on round 4.
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kenseido
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by kenseido »

Spellbinder
HP: 4 (+2 = 6 - 1 = 5); Condition: Bx2, Fatigued, Staggered

The storage container fills the hallway leaving nowhere for Jason to dodge. It smashes him hard against the wall.

He pushes it off him and sneers at Havok. He knows from their previous encounter he can't just sit back and duke it out with her, he needs to try something different. He could go invisible, but she might be inclined to ignore him and set an ambush for Geanie and the others.

Others might be tempted to engage in a battle of words or ideologies with her. Those people have lost the plot. She is eight levels of bat-guano crazy. Her delusions have delusions. Just need to take her down. And hopefully, this will slow her down enough to give him a shot.

"Praepedio"
TOU save: 1d20+10 23
Except I forgot the -1, so that is actually a Staggered results
HP to reroll: 1d20+10-1 11 + 10 for 22
Same results
Bx2, Staggered

Praepedio: 1d20+10 26
Praepedio: Ranged Affliction 14 (Will; Hindered & Vulnerable/Defenseless & Immobile, Extra Condition, Limited Degree)
DC24 Will save
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stavaros_the_arcane
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by stavaros_the_arcane »

Ysariel wrote: Wed Jul 20, 2022 1:48 am Gelert
Metapower Research -- Exterior
stavaros_the_arcane wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 2:37 am Gelert nods and rushes to move the injured to safety and give them a helpful dose of healing energy.
Your blue light shines over the unconscious G.A.S. personnel outside and they stir to wakefulness. In the distance, you can hear the sounds of sirens; emergency services are approaching the corporate campus of its subsidiary.

"We were just doing our jobs when suddenly Mike burst into fire," one of the guards tells you. "Not regular fire, it didn't burn him, but it sure blew up the gun turrets good!"

"Yeah, and then a big ghost head appeared over him and started spitting more fireballs at people," another chimes in.

From what you gather, this facility was in fact attacked by Knightfire first -- and by the time General Havoc arrived the defenses were mostly breached. Only one of the guards was conscious by then.

"He left for the rear of the facility," he says. "That's where the positive-pressure air pumps are that keep the labs and stuff inside clean."

OOC

For healing the guards and ensuring they are safe, you gain 1 HP.

From Nightbird, you know that Knightfire was being used as a pawn by the Anarchy Command to stir up trouble in the city, and they both have good reason to oppose the forces of civilization. However, it doesn't seem like they have any formal alliance, given they did not arrive and enter the facility together.

You can investigate the positive-pressure air pumping system at the facility's rear, or continue to the Daka Crystal vault. If you choose to go to the vault you will join the combat there on round 4.
GELERT

Gelert activates his communicator to the others. "I've stumbled across a potential hiccup. Seems like the facility was already under attack by Knightfire when General Havoc arrived. I don't think they are actively working together but we can't ignore one while we deal with the other. Knightfire was sighted heading for the air pumps at the rear of the facility. I don't know what sort of damage he can cause from there but I don't want to risk it so I'm going to head there and take a look. I don't want anyone setting the place further on fire while we deal with the General."

Gelert zips off headed for the rear of the facility, to track down Knightfire.
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Gilliam
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Gilliam »

Nightbird
HP: 3 LP: 1
Condition: Normal

Somehow Imogen wasn't surprised to hear that Knightfire was also on the scene, even if he wasn't working with General Havoc he could still problems.

"Good idea Gelert, let us know if you need a hand." Imogen replied as she headed towards the lift.
Ysariel
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Ysariel »

Spellbinder
Daka Crystal Vault
kenseido wrote: Thu Jul 21, 2022 1:29 am "Praepedio"
The vault shatters as it crashes down on you. Daka crystals of every size and shape go flying all over the vault floor, mingling with polymer shards, a glittering rain in the sterile white lighting. Everywhere you look, their blue glow suffuses the area.

"You will not extinguish our vision," General Havoc seethes with inhuman fanaticism as you shove the vault off yourself. Her eyes burn, burn with irrational fervor. "I will sacrifice life and liberty in pursuit of our ideals. I had my own father assassinated to ensure our unity of purpose. A world without nations!"

She shudders as your assault hits her and for a moment, she falters. To either side of you, Amy's drones blast her with blue beams of light -- daka nanoparticle streams that sap her stolen power. But the strength of her hate shrugs off the effect and she continues her advance on you, having barely lost a moment.

"A mystic, are you? Let's see what you can do without your spells." She reaches out and grabs hold of both your wrists, and her face lights up with savage glee.


OOC

AA Gen Havoc Will DC 24: 1D20+12 = [15]+12 = 27
Unfortunately she passes with a high roll of 15. However, after your attack, her power boost is now only +5 ranks.

At the start of her turn General Havoc is fatigued.

She closes to you as a move action and uses a Grab as a standard action.
AA Gen Havoc attack vs Spellbinder: 1D20+10 = [13]+10 = 23
Miss

She surges and tries again.
AA Gen Havoc attack vs Spellbinder: 1D20+10 = [16]+10 = 26
Hits. Make a DC 25 Strength or Acrobatics check to resist her grab.

If you do not resist her grab, you are not able to use your Sorcery array. For every 2 rounds you lose access to the array, you gain 1 HP for power loss.

Round 2
29 General Havoc (w/ attenuated Power of Daka -1) (Fatigued, Exhausted on turn)
09 Spellbinder *
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