World War II - The Vanguard Issue #11 Long way from home...

Admin wrote:The command centre, and Adolf Hitler, or battle deeper still, and try to get at Bentham and Trowers?

Lionheart's superior brain turned over a multitude of different possibilities with the evidence his Psi power had turned up. Clearly going for the two 'architects' of this mess, would be satisfying, but ultimately pointless. They had been behind this, but the momentum put in place was carrying this along all on its own and without Hitler out of the picture nothing much was going to change. Besides as capable as he now was, Lionheart very much doubted that getting Trowers and Bentham would be that easy. He didn't need to distract the others from their mission by ending up being captured or worse himself.

Turning to the blazing bright Beth, besides him, Lionheart confidently said, "This way, Hitler isn't so far, but there are many more of his minions about."

With that he sped off, weary of oncoming dangers.

Sj

"By all means then old boy you first" sentinel offered delaying his planned energy attack until after frostbites although he knew time was of the essence as he must have less than a second before this ghostly spectre attacks.

OOC: Woop woop DKR tonight. I'll delay until after Dave unless it looks like the spook looks like its going to attack sooner but is was thinking full power plasma blast, its been a while since I've stretched its legs

OOC Field Manipulation attack...

Frostbite reduced the air temperature around the Spectre, hoping to affect it in some way. The undead apparition appeared to slow slightly, then move through the ice block that formed up!

'You are tangible' reminded the computer inside Frostbites head... He started - of course! Using his energy power had 'dropped him' to his normal tangible state! He wasn't sure if he'd hurt the undead creature, but it was still coming for him!

Sentinel levelled an arm and blasted out at it!

OOC Roll 13, plus WC3 plus DC10=26-17. 9 accuracy. Assumed 5 energy points used (leaving 10/15, Round 1 of 5)

The energy beam blasted through the apparition, but it seemed to pause for a moment! The creatures shape boiled about, like mist, then reformed again. It seemed wary this time.

Frostbite narrowed his eyes. His attack hadn't done much to the ghost, but Sentinels a brief split second later had given it pause. If one attack didn't slow it down, perhaps both, at the same time, might do the job? They didn't have long to find out!

OOC initiative Heroes 10, Spectre 6. 2 frames, then it attacks Frostbite with 3 frames.

Moving at superhuman speed, Lionheart moved around the forces of darkness and sped through the complex, letting his psychic powers lead him deeper into the complex. He moved so quickly past the undead that they barely had time to register his presence before he was gone! Beth followed in energy form, flitting about, issuing an electric shock to any hands that came close!

Deeper and deeper into the complex, where the lights were dimmed out the Vanguardians went. Lionheart could see just fine though, and Sunburst had no problems adapting to the darkness.

Finally they round a corner to see a long corridor and a dozen nazi guards stood guarding two large double doors. They were some 10m away, and vigilant. Their eyes glowed in the darkness, bright luminous yellow and different from the undead that the pair had seen before.

They were definitely guarding this place. The doors looked solid, sliding slabs of alien metal, whilst the walls looked forbidding and thick. The guards in uniform stood in silence, but slowly turned to face in the direction from which Lionheart and Sunburst were coming from.

Then two of them started walking steadily down the corridor towards them...

Admin wrote:OOC initiative Heroes 10, Spectre 6. 2 frames, then it attacks Frostbite with 3 frames.

"Sentinel again, but this time together." Frostbite said, raising his arm to strike out with another form of his energy manipulation but this time in his Frost blast.

OOC:
Ok so energy attacks, do effect it probably for half damage or something. So lets roll, will use effort points and go for as big a blast as I can. Whilst coordinating my blast to time with Sentinels.

Sj

Sentinel gave a nod, they both raised there arms then they fired at the same time, the effect was almost blinding it was that bright.

OOC: I didn't think we were ment to cross the streams? I bet your right about taking half damage being that its most likely insubstantial, its gotta be vulnerable to radiant though ......where's a cleric when you need one?

OOC When you're combining your energy blasts, and they are both different kinds, I tend to look at it as a way to 'overload' defenses by applying first the dividers from one attack, then the other, but only if you can strike at the same time, or overlap your attacks. So Sentinel attacks with 5 points of energy blast (leaving him on round 2 of 5, 5/15 remaining) Roll 10,6 (16) plus WC3 plus DC10=29-17, 12 accuracy (60 damage reduced by dividers, split into Htc/Htk) and Frostbite uses 2 effort points (?) and attacks with 5 points (leaving him on 10/15 round 1 of 5) with a roll of 4,7,8,8 (16 double!) plus 9,6 (15)+WC3 + DC10= 44-17. 27 accuracy x5 is 135 damage, split between htc/htk, reduced by dividers. Total 14htk inflicted.

The twin blasts crossed and mingled, pulsing into the creature as it came towards the Vanguardians!

More from shock than pain, the thing slowed, then howled in rage before it turned and disappeared through the floor!

Frostbite
60htc
48htk
Dark power level 2
Dark power experience 9/10
Dark Power growth 3
Hero Points 52
Fate Points 10

The pair moved on. The corridors were deathly silent save the clomp of boots from Sentinel. Frostbite has resumed his intangible state. Sentinel suddenly paused, and looked in through the dust covered window of a room. It was locked from the outside, the circular portal in the door revealing only parts of the rooms interior with the dim light from the corridor, but the sight chilled the bones.

Two young german soldiers lay on their respective cot beds, both quite dead having suffered bullet wounds to the forehead. The guns had fallen from nerveless fingers, and the young men had taken their lives rather than become one of the walking dead, preying on the living!

This whole base was dead. It teemed with the walking dead, and what few remained living would be desperate, like these two. It was hard to feel sympathy for the Nazi soldiers, but Frostbite and Sentinel had both seen that not all of the Germans followed the evil Nazi regime with enthusiasm and vigour. Perhaps they had been left with no choice, their families threatened, or had changed their mind when the death of this new evil had been revealed.

'The missiles you intercepted would spread the virus amongst the living. A single missile would mean that the walking dead would spread exponentially across the globe in weeks.' stated the computer without emotion. 'Nowhere in my history database was this an occurrence, so this unit assumes you stopped the Nazis here and now.'

Moaning prompted the Vanguardians to look around. More shambling Nazi dead were following from down the corridor! Chances were a single bite or scratch would infect the blood - and what could stand against an immortal undead super being?

The Vanguardians moved on.

=========

Rounding a corridor they saw the backs of ghoulish undead in the distance...

They were heading towards a glowing light... Sunburst? Beth Carter and Lionheart were in a room at the end of the corridor. And about to be overwhelmed by Nazi undead! The door at the end of the corridor had opened up, presumably as some concealed or hidden doorway to access this part of the complex! Lionheart and Sunburst were facing off against two Nazi ghouls with glowing eyes...

OOC You've both recovered full energy so on 15/15. There are half a dozen Nazi ghouls between you guys and Lionheart/Sunburst, who face off against two 'special' undead guards who protect the command centre of the base...

Admin wrote:OOC You've both recovered full energy so on 15/15. There are half a dozen Nazi ghouls between you guys and Lionheart/Sunburst, who face off against two 'special' undead guards who protect the command centre of the base...

Seeing how they had the jump on the undead, Frostbite whispered urgently to Sentinel. "I'll go on intangible to get through and you bring up support from behind. Perhaps if you sink these undead into the floor, it will get them all off our backs. Let me provide a distraction so you can get close to capture them all and warn our friends whats about to happen."

With that Frostbite shot forward mindful of the undead but steeling himself he went on, not calling out to Lionheart and Beth until he was stood with them. "You might want to take the weight off your feet like me and Sunburst are doing, Lionheart old pal!"

OOC:
Ok so whilst Lionheart was about to make out with a quip or two, Frostbite has stolen his thunder and he will instead float above the ground with the other two, ready for an attack, so that Sentinel can sink all the undead on the floor into the ground below.

Sj

Sentinel agreed with the plan, as he watched his intangible friend make it pass the ghouls he rubbed his hands together then wiggled his fingers as if he was a wizard or something the truth is he didn't need to do it as he could quite easily control metal just with his mind. He was still just a young man, a big kid really and just liked a bit of showmanship......to show off and joke about things when times got tough was just his way of dealing with the horrid reality.

OOC: When its all clear sentinel will turn that part of the floor in a metallic quicksand

Frostbite flew over and around the Ghouls, prompting them to claw at the air in his wake, and hasten their shambling pace... until the ground beneath them gave way like quicksand! Just as soon as the Ghouls started to claw at the near liquid metal floor, it hardened, trapping most of them up to their necks in now solid metal! With just heads showing, Sentinel walked through and around, mindful that his space suit might be torn should some of the gnashing teeth come too close. He had to restrain himself from punting a head or two clean into the air. A suit rip in this cold, near airless atmosphere didn't bear thinking about!

Together again with Lionheart and Sunburst, all four turned to the two former Nazi officers who walked towards them.

Lionhearts intuition, that curious sense of impending danger, grew more alarming in his head! he was about to speak when one of the creatures opened its mouth... and electricity shot from it, lancing across the gap between it and the Vanguard, and touching Frostbite, Sentinel and Lionheart!

OOC What we have here is Field Manipulation - life energy. Automatic hit, attack all within an area, and drain your life force away! Everyone takes 2D10 damage split htk/htc and ignoring dividers. If you're 'alive', you're vulnerable, and yes that includes intangible. If anyone ever saw the old 'LifeForce' film from the early 80s (complete with naked ex ballerina walking about sucking life force energy from people) with Patrick Stewart pre Picard falling foul, amongst others, you have a good idea about what sort of effect this is... Lionheart takes [9,5] = (14) split 7htc, 7htk, Frostbite takes [2,4] = (6) split 3htk, 3htc, Sentinel takes [9,9] = (18) double, plus [3,10] = (13). 16htk, 15htc for Silver Sentinel.

The lightning arced from one living being to another, causing those affected to cry out in pain! Sentinel was particularly hard hit, but curiously enough the 'lightning' left his suit completely unharmed, as if it were not a physical attack, but more a spiritual one?

The being that had drained them seemed... bigger... healthier. His skin had changed colour, becoming more life like, and the hair had grown back in patches where it had fallen out. Indeed, he seemed to be amazed at becoming more alive, then looked up greedily to drain more from the Vanguard!

Example (OOC from the movie)



Except his companion, some metres behind, was shuffling within range!

OOC Before the other one tries to suck the three of you dry, you guys get your frames. Sunburst will act according to your orders if you wish to target one all at once, or split your attacks. You may even prefer to run, but your goal - Adolf Hitler, waits behind those double doors... Over to you...

OOC:
Ok my first thought is that Sentinel just drops them right through the floor and encases them in metal! If that doesn't work then we might just have to kill them. Does Lionheart's Intuition give him a sense of the effectiveness of this route of attack?

If I know it won't be effective then we lance out with energy attacks, assuming they absorb a different kind of energy, hopefully this won't make them stronger.

Sj

OOC: I had the same thought mate. The film sounds familiar, sounds like something i would watch.

Watching the flesh reanimate on the life sucking ghoul in front of the group sentinel didn't realize he shouted out loud
"Hell no", as metal spikes rose up from the floor piercing and encasing the foul beings like somekind of iron maidens (ooc: cue bill & Ted guitar effects) and dragging them down through the now quicksand floor

Once more the metal of the base obeys Sentinels command, and he punches metal spikes through the legs and upper bodies of the creatures...

They don't bat an eyelid, nor make a sound! Instead they seem somewhat annoyed that they can't get closer to drain the life force of the accursed warm blooded enemy! They try anyway, and light builds in the eyes of the creatures... before metal sweeps over them in a wave, sinks to the floor, and smooths over to reveal no trace of their passing!

The creatures would be encased in metal, immortal, undying, tormented, until the end of time!

Sunburst floated above the floor, about to blast energy, then saw there was no need. "Is everyone alright?" she asked. "Good work, Silver Sentinel!" she added.

Lionheart, Frostbite, Sentinel and Sunburst were left alone in the chamber with the imposing double doors leading to the command centre of the base, and beyond those doors, Adolf Hitler.

Lionheart was uncomfortable - a sense of doom couldn't be shaken. He assumed the removal of the creatures would ease it. Instead he became more convinced that whatever waited behind the doors was extremely dangerous. It might look like Adolf Hitler, but the chances were it was something far more dangerous...

OOC Any other plan before you wander up to the doors and have Sentinel break down their molecular bonds? Does Frostbite want to go in first, intangible? Sunburst is basically a robot with human brain patterns - she could go in and scout about, or perhaps it's all for one, one for all...?

Admin wrote:OOC Any other plan before you wander up to the doors and have Sentinel break down their molecular bonds? Does Frostbite want to go in first, intangible? Sunburst is basically a robot with human brain patterns - she could go in and scout about, or perhaps it's all for one, one for all...?

Lionheart turned to Frostbite and the others, after also acknowledging Sentinel's help. "I can sense that whatever is behind those doors isn't going to be easy. You don't get to be a paranoid dictator and not learn how to defend yourself. You might want to make sure you're...friends," At the mention of the shadows, Lionheart looked a little uncomfortable, "...are ready."

Frostbite nodded, "Before we rush in, lets see what else Hitler might be hiding, we've already met some of his more unusual nasties..."

Moving over to the panel in front of him, Frostbite pressed his hand against it, and momentarily there was a flash and then Frostbot had been transferred into the machinery.

OOC:
Ok so before I go in or we destabilise what is beyond I want to find out mechanically what the room contains, I also want Frostbot to see what he can control - how much is isolated or encrypted and if he can determine what else might be in there with Hitler.

It would be good if Lionheart used his powers to sense the presence of life, any thoughts empathic or otherwise. And if Sunburst or Sentinel using their powers can access information from this location then it would be great if they tried. I think we are getting to a big boss fight, so we will need to revise this as we might want to go for bringing on the Shadows, but I am loath to do that as they burn bright but they don't burn for long, so execution is critical.

Completely understand the whole kids thing, mine are getting much older now so do their own thing. With it being the summer hols, my son is out working.

Sj

Sentinels right foot started tapping at increasingly quickening pace. He knew Hitler, that man.....no that monster who had given thousands of orders that intern cost millions of life's, could possibly be on the other side of that door.....that cold metal encased door.....he could just fling it open with just a thought and rap it around his smug face. Yes they could be tactical or they could remove a major piece off the board and help end this war once and for all. He....they all had a duty to avenge every innocent life that had been unfairly snuffed out, every man in trenchs .......every family....like his mother.

"We need to end this now" sentinel spat with equal amounts of anger and loss.

ooc: Anyman, in case you missed it, just sent a mental note to everyone. It's in the group mental telepathy link. But basically, guess who is here now?~

Frostbot leapt into the innards of the machinery of the place. Almost instantly a robotic face appeared on the panel display and spoke. "The room controls the functions of the base. It is perhaps a good thing you have done by unleashing me to scan the databanks."

"There are half a dozen bombs secreted around the world - including one in Great Britain - that are tied to the well being, or otherwise, of Adolf Hitler. If he is killed, the bombs will detonate."

"The virus is packed in those bombs. If you destroy Adolf Hitler, the undead virus will reduce the Earth to a virtual tomb!"

Sentinel and Frostbite gasped at each other!

Lionheart bowed his head slightly and shook it in disbelief. This technology smacked of Claude Bentham.

"The code that activates the transmitter might be cracked so the code can be jammed..."

Lionheart shook his head "No. That's not how it works! If the bombs on Earth DON'T get a signal from Hitlers body they will go off, it's not the other way round!" He stared, apparently into space. "There is nothing alive in that room - Adolf Hitler is already dead! Or should that be.. undead?" he added looking around at the spot where Sentinel had buried the other creatures.

Sunburst offered "We need to find those bombs? What else can we do?"

Sentinel seemed to be of the same opinion. Whatever was in that room need to be destroyed!

OOC Just then Anyman sends the message to Frostbite and Sentinel, who are now aware of the Devourer closing in on the Solar System...

Suddenly doors hissed down, slamming down to close on the corridors that led from this chamber! The twin doors that led into the command chamber hissed open, and the lights died in the room, plunging the outer chamber into absolute darkness, save for the glow from Sunburst!

It suddenly dropped in temperature, and even Frostbite felt it - for this was not the cold of winter, or of night... it was the cold that grips the heart, that shocks the brain into inaction...

The intense, mind numbing, cold of fear... of absolute terror!

OOC Quick Check... target number is 30, and it's ego + roll. No hero points or fate points here... Frostbite gets 12 Ego + 6,6 (double) plus 5,6 (11) = 35. Passed. Lionheart gets Ego 18 + 7,3 (10) = 28. Test failed! Silver Sentinel gets roll 5,2 (7) + Ego 12 = 19. test failed!

"Richard?" asked Sunburst, unaffected by the mind numbing fear effect. "RICHARD!" she said, shaking him in fear. Lionheart stared into the darkness, teeth chattering in terror!

"Wha... what th.. the hell is going on?" spluttered Sentinel, trying to keep his knees from knocking!

Frostbite turned, looking at his friends. Then he looked back into the room, where an accented voice rang out...

"I hef been expecting you... come in..." rasped a most un-humanlike voice!

Lionheart, with his amazing senses, was able to peer into the stygian darkness, and recoiled in horror!

Admin wrote:Lionheart, with his amazing senses, was able to peer into the stygian darkness, and recoiled in horror!

OOC:
Well this looks like a game changer, kill Hitler and we nuke the earth, but getting out looks difficult also.

Paul what does the Shadow within me say about what we're facing? Is it something to do with the shadows in some way? I am just wanting to work out how I get us all out of here, sort out the bombs then come kick Hitler back to the stone age. Before I commit myself to bringing on the big guns, summoning up enough Dark Power to teleport us all back to the ship and getting to the meet and greet with Anyman, I want to make sure I am not running down the wrong track here.

Sj

'The creature in there was human, but has been changed. It is neither alive, nor dead. This 'Hitler' appears to have made pacts with old, evil powers. The cost is his soul, but such men as these have no soul in the true human sense. That is why the Shadows value such as he. Everywhere he goes, and everything he does casts a shadow of misery across the land. Delicious!' exclaimed the Dark Power. It sounded rather like the Shadow Demon had a grudging respect for the man, not surprising as one inherently evil creature recognised the truly evil nature of another.

'Whilst the Shadow Demons might have helped this man achieve his goal of gaining support from these ancient cosmic powers, they are no longer present here, as there is nothing to sustain them. There are no living creatures on this moon save yourselves and the two humans your friend Lionheart seeks.'

Frostbite considered his options:

1) Hope his friends broke free of the 'terror' effect and were able to help him stand against this horror

2) go it alone, and call on the dark power - but Hitler had apparently aligned himself with 'old, cosmic powers'. Could that then raise Hitler to a power level that would give Frostbite trouble?

3) Leave this place, taking his friends with them. What then would the creature formerly known as Hitler do? They could set up a better blockade to stop every missile, or nuke the base from orbit, taking a chunk of the moon with it?

4) Try to reason with Hitler - the coming storm that was the Devourer would be here shortly. Everything Hitler strove to do was at risk.

Hitlers back up plan - to unleash a plague of undeath on Planet Earth, threatened to undo everything the Vanguard fought for. If they were somehow to defeat the Devourer, what good would that do if they came back to Earth to find it overrun by flesh eating zombies?

That old chestnut, if i had a pound for everytime this happened.......

So what are you thinking sj? Obviously earth should be our highest priority, perhaps if we trap Hitler or immobilize him/it in someway and come back from him later.

Oh i have now seen lifeforce, i quite liked it although a bit cheesey and Picard wasn't in it very long but looked very good for 1985.

smaug wrote:That old chestnut, if i had a pound for everytime this happened.......

So what are you thinking sj? Obviously earth should be our highest priority, perhaps if we trap Hitler or immobilize him/it in someway and come back from him later.

OOC:
I've been a bit unsure as to what to do here, our priority is the earth, and protecting it. But I guess I am not sure what is the best approach, as Hitler, backed by Bentham and Trowers, could have any number of contingency plans.

I guess I am aware that I don't want to make a wrong move, the Dark Force is so powerful but sometimes so difficult that its not always easy to know how to apply it. Its a bit like having a wish spell and knowing that with the reward comes enormous risk. That and the fact I am right in the middle of our annual Holiday Club, which means I am busy and knackered the rest of the time, means I've not had the head space to think this through properly.

Ok so We've got to stop the bombs, but leaving Hitler, so the bombs remain undetonated means trusting that this madman, won't just blow them up anyway? Is it possible to make sure that whatever devices he has operating we use Probability Manipulation to do the improbably and take them all out? Then leave Hitler to fend for himself whilst we sort out the Devourer, a doozy of battles if ever there was one.

I think this is the only approach I feel most comfortable with. So I take on the Dark Power with enough points (countered by the necessary effort points to counteract any side effects) and use probability manipulation to make all the bombs detonators fail to function or and the gas inside inert so there is no chance it can leak out or be used in any other way.

After that I'll have to decide what to do as regards the others and Hitler.

Turning to Sentinel, Frostbite said, "Be ready for Hitler, I'm going to try something with the bombs."

Sj

Turning to Sentinel, Frostbite said, "Be ready for Hitler, I'm going to try something with the bombs."

"With pleasure" he replied coldly whilst cracking his knuckles through his heavily armored gauntlets "Lets see what squid boys got"

OOC Calling on Probability Manipulation to affect the Earth (in terms of range, rather than area of effect) will be around Grade 6 I should think. That will cost 75 Dark Power points, so you'd need, what, 8D10 to be reasonably sure of getting that (with Dark power level 2 as you have, though are on the verge of level 3).

Dark Power Ego 11 (Growth 3 plus 8 Dark Power) plus roll 2,6 (=19. Frostbite Ego 12 + Roll 7,2 (9)=21. Test passed. 8d10 gives 4,10,4,1,7,1,10,5 (42*2=84 points). Grade 6 Probability Manipulation for 8fr. You are now:

Frostbite
60htc
48htk
Dark power level 3
Dark power experience 0/20
Dark Power growth 4
Hero Points 52
Fate Points 10
Probability Manipulation Gr6 (6fr)

With a thought Frostbite summoned up the Dark Power, then used it to manipulate the laws of the universe!

OOC Roll of 28 for probability manipulation. A higher roll might have meant the bombs would have taken longer to defuse, that was low enough to...

Frostbite opened his eyes. He had sent out a simple command. Any Nazi bombs on Planet Earth would suddenly and irrevocably have faulty detonators. That was it. Done. Every grenade, every missile or bomb, any dynamite, explosive or in this case, virus laden bomb would simply not go off unless triggered manually somehow.

=========

The shores of France...

"Seems a right bloody carry on if you ask me!" said General Wynn as Slobotham helped him onto the shore of France.

"The boy was specific." answered Slobotham, looking about. The motor torpedo boat "Doncaster" was moored a hundred or so yards from the beach and the pair, with an army attired group of Peelers, now stood on the shores of France. "What now?" asked Slobotham, hand on pistol and looking about, expecting to come under fire from the Germans at any moment.

"Now?" said a voice from the darkness. Half a dozen guns swivelled in the direction of the voice.

"At ease." ordered Wynn. "Good to see you again, youngster. Your message was cryptic, but I understand why I'm here now. I'm not sure if it's a blessing, or a curse..."

Nowhere Boy walked into view from the shadows, clad in black from head to foot, his five foot frame hard to respect for some of the Peelers. In fact, he was one of the Vanguard, and therefore one of the most powerful beings in the Universe!

The youngster stopped short of Wynn and looked up.

Wynn sighed, then stood up straight, shrugging off the blanket that had kept his frail form warm, and tossing his walking sticks to Slobotham who caught them, surprised. "not be needing them." announced Wynn, straightening and fishing about for a cigar which Slobotham lit. He took a puff, then turned to Nowhere Boy. "What's next?"

Nowhere Boy looked up, then pointed towards the sky. "We are needed."

OOC The bombs are defused, but you still have the problem of Adolf Cthulu about to attack you, and all but Frostbite and Sunburst are frozen in fear. Initiative 4 Heroes, 1 Adolthulu. 2 frames. Also, I think David M is waiting for some confirmation (telepathy message) so he can then act with this master plan of his...

Admin wrote:OOC The bombs are defused, but you still have the problem of Adolf Cthulu about to attack you, and all but Frostbite and Sunburst are frozen in fear. Initiative 4 Heroes, 1 Adolthulu. 2 frames. Also, I think David M is waiting for some confirmation (telepathy message) so he can then act with this master plan of his...

OOC:Ok what are the chances of continuing to use probability manipulation either to let Cathlu Hitler have a massive breakdown in his body as it functions or and his fear effect being changed so that as a consequence of his loss of control it actually works in reverse for the others?

Frostbite smiled, it wasn't a friendly smile, "So you want to play dirty do you?"

Sj