Re: Prof Wynde and Wonder Man TEAM UP! Issue #2 "The Invaders!"

DavidMcMahon Sun May 28 2023, 11:29

Run or fight? He wanted to slow them down. Maybe they were loyal to each other and not just robotic? If he blasted one or two of them, would the others back off to save their falling comrades or still come after him? A Gamble either way.

He decided he would try for only one of the sky cyclists, the closest. If he missed again, he would try fleeing though he was afraid that doing so might lead more troops to where he wanted to go or he might trying dodging and diving and using the ground and ground cover to help slow down or even cause them to crash chasing him. But first ...

"I call upon the gods of Thunder! Let the lightning Crash!"

magic blast crit blow nearest target. then dodging and weaving, flying between them to make them hold their fire or risk hitting each other.

Admin Mon Jun 05 2023, 20:18

PROF WYNDE took more careful aim this time.

Those fast moving targets still needed hitting albeit not in the physical sense!

OOC Magic Blast CRIT BLOW
AV11 + 4D Accuracy 6d12+0 4,5,4,9,6,9+0 = 18 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 3,4+0 = 25 (36) vs
OV6 + Crit Blow 4 + Range 3 (after Telescopic Vision adjustment) + 2d12+0 3,8+0 = 11 (24)

Success +5

EV11+5 (EV16) vs RV7 - 6 (Crit Blow) (RV1)=15 RAPs

The Sky Cycle rider is DOWN and OUT!

With a blast that lit up the sky around him with eerie green energy the OOPS mage blasted his target from the sky! Limp form tumbled through the air whilst the Sky Cycle looped up... before stalling and tumbled end over end towards the ground below!

The others had seen enough!

The turned tail - whatever was being said behind the silver screens of the helmets Prof Wynde couldn't be sure but they didn't want to take on a full fledged super!

There might be others to do that job...

Prof Wynde winces as he hears a distant crump as the ADVENT agent crashes to the ground like a rag doll. The sky cycle was a burning wreck in the trees a few hundred yards away, smoke coiling into the sky...

Dare the hero give chase or would he use the opportunity to put distance between himself and his pursuers?

DavidMcMahon Mon Jun 05 2023, 21:31

"Time to make like a tree and leaf!" Prof Wynde says out loud to no one. Trying to stay below radar level, he continues his journey, ready to react to any further attacks coming from any direction.

Admin Tue Jun 13 2023, 21:33

Once more taking off and flying low, Prof Wynde took to the sky again...

Maybe it was paranoia, expecting to be attacked at any moment, but he was slower and more cautious this time. His enemies were faster than he so outright speed and throwing caution to the wind would be of no help!

So it was that the hero was answering a call of nature and resting (though magical spells took no physical effort aside from gestures the effect on the soul acting as a gateway for metaphysical force took its toll after a while) for a few minutes before continuing caused him to be under cover as a white clad glowing figure flew overhead!

The mage instantly glanced about. Where there was one ADVENT super, there may well be more about!

Peering through a gap in the trees Prof Wynde looked up and about for others.

Another white clad woman - albeit barely in sports bra and shorts and the rest of her skin shaped/covered with glittering crystal - flew up and slowed to a stop. She had a backpack on and spoke into a megaphone.

"THIS IS CRYSTAL QUEEN! I WAS ONCE OF THE UKCHAMPIONS BUT WE HAVE COME TO SEE THE FUTILITY OF RESISTING! WHOEVER YOU ARE, SURRENDER! YOUR POWER WILL BE NEEDED TO REBUILD THE COUNTRY UNDER A PEACEFUL, BENEVOLENT RULE! THIS ENDLESS STRUGGLE GAINS YOU NOTHING! POWER DOWN AND MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN! RESIST... AND KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE SEVERE! ARE YOU SURE THAT HE'S IN THIS AREA..." she adjusted the device and Prof Wynde didn't hear what she said to her female companion.

Did they know where he was or was it a bluff?

DavidMcMahon Mon Jun 26 2023, 23:52

Detect Magic. What he knows of the UKChampions is what he read in the newspapers, so he wasn't too sure who was in it and what their powers might be.

Admin Thu Jun 29 2023, 19:30

Prof Wynde had heard of the UKChampions...

The UKs best known Superhero team divided into regional squads. The most powerful member was Adjutant who was up there alongside some of the worlds most powerful superhumans and others like Majestic and Atomica were known to be 'powerhouses'.

Something had happened, clearly, to get them to side with ADVENT.

Prof Wynde checked for magic sources of power... Nothing.

That suggested their powers were innate or derived from technology and that gave the hero hope. Thus far those kind of opponents were fast, tough and mentally strong but not particularly resistant to magic!

Only problem was - chances were she wasn't alone. Those 'sky cycles' he'd run off will have reported his attack and here he was. They must have some means of tracking him, or some superhuman might have abilities to help with that regard.

What else did he know about...

Someone called Vulpine. When he'd scanned over the newspaper article it had mentioned a fellow with lycanthropic tendencies and having to overcome a certain 'image' in order to be accepted by the general public. Might be him or... Bloodhound.

A superb tracker, hence the name. His ability to find escaped criminals was legend.

Prof Wynde looked about in the trees. If Bloodhound was on his trail he'd never be able to hide!

DavidMcMahon Sun Aug 20 2023, 14:03

Prof Wynde wondered how close he was to his objective and also wondered if he was going to lead these UKChampions right into the Lore Knights hideout. He tried to figure out various options based on that. If he took down the Crystal Queen and then flew away as fast as he could straight to where he hoped to find the Lore Knights, how long would it take? Was there a deep enough lake nearby that he could dive into it and fly underwater for as long as he could hold his breath in order to make it harder to track his scent? Or the coast?

He thought he might have to fight Crystal Queen regardless of what he did but he wanted to figure out his best options after that.

Admin Sat Aug 26 2023, 14:16

PROF WYNDE considered his options

OOC INT check

Int 5 + 2d12+0 11,2+0 = 13 (18) vs
OV4 + 2d12+0 5,12+0 = 17 (21)

Failed

Nothing springs to mind as a solution so he went on what he knew.

In terms of escaping by plunging into a river, it might throw someone off the trail to a certain extent. He had to remember that he flew on the air currents though and in water he was like a fish out of... well, anyway, he'd have to rely on his hands and legs to swim.

Crystal Queen he knew very little of. Something had, somehow, turned the UK Champions to support ADVENT. Brain washing? A device? Had they all just... turned bad?

The hero frowned. No, he couldn't accept that. Someone did not turn from a lifetime of dedication and doing good to then become a pawn of a system that crushed free will beneath its jackbooted heel as ADVENT did.

He glanced up through the gaps in the trees to see the woman floating about, looking for him. Probably a match - or more - for Prof Wynde that meant it would come down to a shooting match. He didn't know enough about her other that she could fly and was presumably durable thanks to her crystal like skin. Whether she was vulnerable to Magic though... he wiggled his fingers and caused a trace of sorcerous energy to form a shape in the air.

Being hunted down like a fugitive didn't sit well - it wouldn't with anyone. Could he risk a confrontation and the delay, or even the chance that he would be caught before he could get to the Lore Knights Base at Caer Alwyn, even assuming that ADVENT hadn't got there first?

He had to admit that he wasn't sure quite how far he'd gone nor how far was to go. It was easy enough getting his bearings but that required he fly straight up and look at the country below him from on high. That in term made him vulnerable, a target.

Somewhere at ground level could be another super. A tracker. They would have sent word to others that they might be onto something which meant a delay here might have him surrounded. best bet might be to make a run for it or go all out and try to drop the enemy - because that was what they were - then run for it.

DavidMcMahon Thu Sep 07 2023, 03:29

Prof Wynde decides to check magic on her and see if she might be vulnerable to a magic attack. If she wasn't a mage, then he would try to get in close and do a snipe attack on her [crit]. If he did detect magic on her, he was going to try to fly out to the ocean unnoticed by her and make a seaside entrance to the Lore Knights HQ.

Admin Sun Sep 17 2023, 17:15

PROF WYNDE

Forming a shape in the air and tracing a pattern that left a trail of glowing energy in its wake the Mage sensed... nothing about the former hero suggested her powers or abilities were magically derived.

Fair game then!

Swirling his hands about in a circle he added dots and swirls where required and looked at his target. Magic blasts were a strange thing. Sometimes the target could be agile and fast but he wasn't aiming at their body.

He was aiming at the soul...

OOC CRIT BLOW

Magic Blast 11 + 4D Accuracy + 6d12+0 10,12,9,1,1,2+0 = 22 (33)
vs
OV 7 + Range 4 - Telescopic Vision 3 + Crit Blow 4 - Blindside 2 + 2d12+0 10,5+0 = 15 (25)

Success + 4

EV11 + 4 (EV15) vs RV7 - Crit Blow 6 (RV1)=14 RAPs

Crystal Queen goes DOWN and is OUT!

The once UKChampion cries out as she 'lights up' with otherwise invisible eldritch energy and plummets like a stone into the trees!

Prof Wynde glances about.

OOC Perception Int 5 + 2d12+0 10,11+0 = 21 (26)
vs
OV4 + 2d12+0 1,6+0 = 7 (11)

Success +5

EV 6 +5 (EV11) vs RV4=7 RAPs

1+ RAP... No movement, sounds of alarm, crashing of trees or bushes, thump of feet on the ground nor engines in the air. No telling for how long it would remain quiet but for now...

No immediate attack, no alarm... He could take his chance to take to the air low and over the trees or go to check on Crystal Queen. She had been a hero after all, at least at one time before being 'turned' by ADVENT... He practically spat the name even in his thoughts...

DavidMcMahon Sun Sep 17 2023, 17:33

Prof Wynde wanted to leave Crystal Queen behind and continue his mission but something told him that maybe he could find a clue as to why so many heroes turned if he examined her. So he carefully approached, watching for backup and aware she might have some kind of recording or communication device active on her.

Admin Thu Sep 21 2023, 10:48

PROF WYNDE advanced through the trees, always looking about and scanning for more ADVENT cronies...

Crystal Queen had crashed through the canopy and tumbled to the ground in a heap. Her 'crystal form' had reverted to human only moments after landing but she seemed to have suffered no ill effects from the fall.

With another glance about the Mage approached the once heroine.

She was beautiful, athletic, the picture of a 'perfect' super heroine. Except she was ADVENT. He practically spat the word. Making sure she wasn't playing 'possum' he prepared a spell and reached a hand to turn her unconscious form. What was he looking for? Some communicator, some device perhaps or...

OOC PERCEPTION check...

Int 5 + 2d12+0 12,9+0 = 21 (26)
vs
OV4 + 2d12+0 8,6+0 = 14 (18)

Success + 4

EV 6 + 4 (EV10) vs RV4= 6 RAPs

1) Crystal Queen doesn't 'appear' to be carrying any extra equipment that won't fit on her figure hugging costume.
2-3) ... though something catches Prof Wyndes eye. Where the once heroines hair had fallen across her face left her neck partially uncovered. And the base of the back of her neck it's red and swollen. A closer look reveals it isn't a cut or scratch, but a surgical incision.
4-6) The 'incision' upon very close inspection seems to be some kind of... implant? if Prof Wynde leaned in very close to look he can see something in the incision. It's very small (about half the size of a micro sd card0 but something is in that incision which is - more accurately - an implant or interface of some kind.

Prof Wynde frowned.

ADVENT appeared to have 'easily' convinced the heroes (and villains) of Britain and across the world to join its cause. That was in addition to famous celebrities and public figures switching to its side and convincing the masses of the benefits in addition to the media. ADVENT had made a public show of cleaning up run down suburbs in cities with clean streets, fixed roads and 'upgraded' buildings. On top of that crime levels were said to be near zero except for a few 'rogue elements' - proof to Prof Wynde that some out there were resisting the march of the ADVENT invasion, for that was what it was.

But this? What new discovery was this? Could it be important, give some glimmer of hope or even a key to dismantling the whole ADVENT operation?

First of all he'd need to investigate it, find some means to get that... whatever it was ... out of the incision/implant/interface in the base of the back of Crystal Queens neck. He would have to do it fast too. If that were means that ADVENT communicated with its operatives they would know Crystal Queen was down and where she was... Prof Wynde bet that this place would be crawling with ADVENT... soon!

DavidMcMahon Sat Sep 23 2023, 13:08

Prof Wynde looked around. Was he near any hamlet of a size that might have a doctor's office or even a dentist's or veterinarian's office? They would have scalpel and such, something sharp and sanitary that would let him try to cut this thing out. Better if he could find an actual doctor or vet to do it.

Admin Tue Oct 10 2023, 03:54

In order to find a village, small town, hamlet or so on, Prof Wynde would have to break cover - fly high, look down and around.

Basically make himself visible to ADVENT.

He may as well light up a neon sign with a pointed arrow saying "COME GET ME!"

he was no surgeon - anything he attempted would be messy and might not work. Whatever that thing was inside the neck and presumably connected somehow, well, it needed disconnecting, removing, blocking, stopping, whatever. A village Doctor probably would have no idea what it was and might be in cahoots with ADVENT. The general populace all seemed to be apparently. Strange how they were all onside of pretty much having free speech and freedom to make choices taken away.

That left Prof Wynde with several choices.

Take the once hero with him. That would get tiring, unless he could whisk her along on the winds and stay below the radar still. Leave her here. His 'discovery' would then have to wait until he could find and defeat another ADVENT puppet and drag them to someone who could do something with that thing in their neck.

He considered something else. That device. It allowed communication, orders, compulsions to be transmitted.

Wherever the individual was.

That meant tracking too.

"STEP AWAY FROM HER, VILLAIN."

The shout came from the trees somewhere. Prof Wynde whirled about. He'd not seen, heard anything... Mind you, he'd been distracted. He glanced down at the lovely human form of Crystal Queen. As was the case with super heroines (or so it seemed) most could be or probably were swimsuit or fashion models when away from their roles as heroes. ADVENT would have no need of that though.

Prof Wynde peered again, looking into the trees.

OOC Perception Check. You'll need a good one.

Int 5 + 2d12+0 3,5+0 = 8 (13) vs
OV11 + 3D Stealth + 2d12+0 8,2+0 = 10 (21)

FAILED

Had the voice owner not declared himself present Prof Wynde wouldn't have know he was there! He scanned about. Trees, bushes, undergrowth. No bad guys. An attack could come at any moment. What if he wasn't alone?

He glanced down at the lovely unconscious form of Crystal Queen. Could he snatch her up and leave in time before an attack?

DavidMcMahon Tue Oct 17 2023, 14:24

Prof. Wynde decides to do a Snatch and Run, grabbing up the woman and fleeing as fast as the winds allow him, out to sea and then back towards his original target.

Admin Tue Oct 24 2023, 23:25

Whipping up a powerful windstorm Prof Wynde whisks himself and the unconscious ADVENT Agent (once superhero) ...

From the edge of the trees comes BLOODHOUND, another once hero and member of the UKChampions. A man able to track any quarry, anywhere, and backed up by black armoured ADVENT agents with potent looking weapon attachments.

Lots of them.

And they find... an empty (albeit dusty and messy with swirling leaves everywhere) clearing!

The once hero sniffs then looks up into the air where the retreating and receding forms of Prof Wynde and Crystal Queen are vanishing from sight with a CRACK as the sound barrier is broken...

He flies up, sees the distant English Channel, then makes for it...

With eyes peeled the hero flies low, parallel to the Cliffs along the south coast then angling North and East towards Wales and Caer Alwyn...

Making good time without the possibility of ADVENT pursuit, the hero powers along on the winds. Things occur as he flies along, watching.

Crystal Queen is still unconscious. He carried her along on the winds and could 'feel' whether her body moved or altered the flow of air and the wind. What if... what if he could use his power in a delicate and precise way in a sphere around him, detecting the movement of air currents and 'waves' of motion that altered his perception of air within the range around him? Kind of like an air 'sonar'? It would need practise and...

He looked ahead.

Uh oh.

Swooping low over trees he saw a helicopter of some description - four rotors like a drone - and large, like a truck. Speeding to... somewhere.

He still had to watch out - they had radar, spotters, special ADVENT agents, supers who could find him...

Then something else happened.

Crystal Queen started to wake up.

OOC Prof Wynde is still an hour or so if he takes care to avoid patrols or a quarter of that time if he flies flat out to Caer Alwyn. Of course Crystal Queen might have something to say/do about that...

DavidMcMahon Mon Oct 30 2023, 01:23

As ungentlemanly as it is, Prof Wynde blasts her again with his magicks to keep her unconscious for a bit longer. He then tries blasting the "device" in her neck with magicks as well in hopes it might do something good.

ooc: Keep over the ocean and avoid stuff as much as possible. Memory has kicked in and I remember there is a cliffside opening to the secret base which Ghost Knight used when I played him. So heading for that. Probably saw it when he was actually present however many months ago that was for that adventure.

Admin Thu Nov 23 2023, 13:21

PROF WYNDE

The Hero grimaced as he 'kept her under' with another, albeit somewhat softer, blast.

The blast on the device appeared to have no effect - it had no 'soul' as such, and would need a surgeon or someone versed with technology to a level that made current Earth tech look like rocks and sticks.

Hopefully the Lore Knights knew someone like that...

Assuming ADVENT had not already gotten them ...

Sticking to the coastline low and speed up, the hero figured that radar could not track something so small and non metallic nor below the level of the cliff itself. All he could do was hope, and keep an eye on Crystal Queen in his arms...

It HAD to be around here somewhere...

Travelling for most of the day, stopping off to zap Crystal Queen again, stay below the radar, dodge ADVENT patrols (who appeared to be general rather than actively searching for him) and feeling the pang of hunger, Prof Wynde was thoroughly soaked to the bone (dismal British weather) and cold.

He hoped all this would be worth it.

Now he hovered over the crashing waves in the dark and driving rain, trying to ignore the lights of the village some way inland that would be Caer Alwyn.

He'd made it, but finding the caves used by smugglers way back then was proving a challenge in the dark. Perhaps he'd be better suited to going to the village, the stately home or the ruined castle and asking about. At least he could get a cup of tea and warm up.

That said, such a move would be bringing danger to the village and the people who lived there.

A couple of miles up the coast a Lighthouse flashed intermittently and across the late Autumn evening sky were black clouds disgorging rain.

He was about to give up looking and head inland when he heard the flap of wings over the howl of wind.

Instantly on his guard he turned, only to see what appeared to be Pegasus - or at least a white winged horse - galloping through the darkness over the sea with what appeared to be an Armoured Knight sat astride the beasts back!

It swooped in then hovered effortlessly, despite the howling wind and rain. A magnificent, fantastic animal nonetheless Prof Wynde didn't have to try too hard to detect the magic emanating from it or its rider - both shone like beacons to his vision.

A deep voice from within the full face helm called out "If you are ADVENT or allied to them, know you this. You are an enemy to me and mine and should leave. Now. I will not warn you more than this once."

At that he flashed a sword from a scabbard at his side. It shone like silver in the darkness and thunder rumbled overhead... a brief flash of lightning illuminated the scene and Prof Wynde wondered if he would be forced to battle this fellow whilst hovering over the ocean somewhere off the Coast of Wales whilst in a storm and holding a captured ADVENT once superhero...

The idea seemed ludicrous, but then he was a superhero time traveller who fired magic blasts and commanded the wind to allow him to fly without effort so... kind of went with the territory!

OOC This weeks trials and tribulations involved sorting car troubles out! All (hopefully) behind me but means delays in posting. can't be helped, sorry, but still here, albeit clambering over life's obstacles!

DavidMcMahon Tue Dec 05 2023, 02:24

"I'm Professor Wynde, Friend to the Lore Knights," he called out. "I helped them out during the Normandy Invasion back in WW2 when the new group formed then. Sort of guided them as they came to grips with their powers. It's how I knew to come here. I've been here before but through the mansion."

"This unconscious woman in my arms is currently ADVENT but was once a hero of the land. Her name is Crystal Queen. There is a device in her neck that I think is controlling her and may be working as a GPS so ADVENT can track her. I'm hoping you have a skilled enough doctor nearby to remove the device and let us see if her brainwashing ends when it is removed."

"And isn't Ghost Knight the one with the flying winged horse? Who are you?"

Admin Mon Jan 15 2024, 22:48

OOC Apologies for the delays. Seem to have visitors/have to visit someone every day at the moment. Let's see how I get on with updates...

PROF WYNDE with CRYSTAL QUEEN in tow and facing off against an ARMOURED KNIGHT above the village of CAER ALWYN... Otherwise known as home to the LORE KNIGHTS!

The horse hovered, the armoured knight glittering in the moonlight.

"The name. It is... familiar to me." said the Knight. "Land, sirrah, and make you no ill judged moves. Until you be proven true I must see enemies at every turn! The land is beset by enemies, treachery and despair! If you ARE Professor Wynde, friend to the Lore Knights... Well..."

"That might be the best news I have heard in an age!"

Prof Wynde caught something in the voice. Some... inflection.

Landing on the cliff top near the edge, the hero set Crystal Queen down and watched as the grey and white winged horse circled then landed gracefully. The knight dismounted no less graceful and the horse shimmered, glowed, then disappeared!

Huh. Dismounted the armoured figure seemed less imposing, not quite as tall. And that gait. Graceful... like a ...

The Knight flicked up the visor revealing the lower half of HER face. Though the armour was functional and obscured her bodily curves the lower half of her face revealed the Knight to be a woman, and a pretty one at that.

Cautious, she moved forward, hand on sword and watching Prof Wynde keenly. "I am GHOST KNIGHT, otherwise known as the Morningstar. Latest in a line of Ghost Knights."

She stopped about ten feet from Prof Wynde and looked down at Crystal Queen. "They are tracked you know. ADVENT will know she is here. Luckily Caer Alwyn has a field about it that will block ill sight from view but they will track her to this vicinity and investigate. You have brought danger here and yet..."

"Prove your merit sirrah!" she shouted over the howl of the wind. "Name one or more of the Lore Knights formed and active during World War II, for they were not widely know and long forgotten! if you are who you claim, a traveller through time... those memories should be fresh, strong in your mind...?"

DavidMcMahon Tue Jan 16 2024, 15:33

ooc: Just as an aside, I made a Prof. Wynde as a character for City of Heroes but a Victorian version. So if he had lived during that time, this is what he would probably look like. They don't have turbans as costume parts in Rebirth, unfortunately. He has wind and storm powers in the game. Wind powers are big on knockback.

Prof Wynde and Wonder Man TEAM UP! Issue #2 "The Invaders!" - Page 7 Prof_w10

DavidMcMahon Tue Jan 16 2024, 15:41

ooc: Took me a bit to find the old chapter with their names. santa

"Owain Thomas (SNAGA the SENDER), Katheryn DeVeere (FAERIE), Alexandra Davington (BOUDICEA), Marcus Hammill (SWASHBUCKLER) and Robbie Johnson (MAJOR OAK)," he replies.

Admin wrote:
OOC Apologies for the delays. Seem to have visitors/have to visit someone every day at the moment. Let's see how I get on with updates...

PROF WYNDE with CRYSTAL QUEEN in tow and facing off against an ARMOURED KNIGHT above the village of CAER ALWYN... Otherwise known as home to the LORE KNIGHTS!

The horse hovered, the armoured knight glittering in the moonlight.

"The name. It is... familiar to me." said the Knight. "Land, sirrah, and make you no ill judged moves. Until you be proven true I must see enemies at every turn! The land is beset by enemies, treachery and despair! If you ARE Professor Wynde, friend to the Lore Knights... Well..."

"That might be the best news I have heard in an age!"

Prof Wynde caught something in the voice. Some... inflection.

Landing on the cliff top near the edge, the hero set Crystal Queen down and watched as the grey and white winged horse circled then landed gracefully. The knight dismounted no less graceful and the horse shimmered, glowed, then disappeared!

Huh. Dismounted the armoured figure seemed less imposing, not quite as tall. And that gait. Graceful... like a ...

The Knight flicked up the visor revealing the lower half of HER face. Though the armour was functional and obscured her bodily curves the lower half of her face revealed the Knight to be a woman, and a pretty one at that.

Cautious, she moved forward, hand on sword and watching Prof Wynde keenly. "I am GHOST KNIGHT, otherwise known as the Morningstar. Latest in a line of Ghost Knights."

She stopped about ten feet from Prof Wynde and looked down at Crystal Queen. "They are tracked you know. ADVENT will know she is here. Luckily Caer Alwyn has a field about it that will block ill sight from view but they will track her to this vicinity and investigate. You have brought danger here and yet..."

"Prove your merit sirrah!" she shouted over the howl of the wind. "Name one or more of the Lore Knights formed and active during World War II, for they were not widely know and long forgotten! if you are who you claim, a traveller through time... those memories should be fresh, strong in your mind...?"

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