The NEW Vangurd! Issue #3 - New Team, old problems - Lionheart/Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Wandafar (for now - see text)

"There are still villains above who seek to avoid Justice," the Haunt says from within his fog shroud. "Many too powerful for those who seek to capture them. They will need our help."

DavidMcMahon wrote:"There are still villains above who seek to avoid Justice," the Haunt says from within his fog shroud.  "Many too powerful for those who seek to capture them.  They will need our help."

OOC: woops forgot that. Well in that case...

Frostbite's jaw tightened as he was reminded by the Spectral apparition that there was still danger atop the place. A quick glance to the shattered remains of the reactor reminded him that with no or little power most of the contingency plans the prison relied on were likely to be overwhelmed. Nodding his gratitude for the timely reminder, he gestured to the others. "Haunt is right, things topside are likely to be tense perhaps even a stand off, so go careful we'd best not blunder into anything that can be averted. Lets go."

Sj

Sentinel activated boot jets and took to the air, racing up through the hole in the ceiling left by bombshell...

OOC Fabricate Roll 1,10 (11). Flight 14, Body 14 Boot jets. They last for 30 seconds (3RAPs) before dissipating and falling as molten metal... Still, 14APs is 30,000mph... pretty darned fast...

The others watched him go, knowing he was dead set on helping Bombshell, and in that suit, possibly the best suited to do so.

Haunt brought up an important factor - there was a prison full of superhuman criminals who were recovering their powers and could prove just as lethal a threat as that they had stopped in this room. By the light of dimmed emergency crimson strobe lights they looked around. The Reactor was dark, dormant, the radiation and any possible danger completely absorbed by the heroine known as Bombshell.

That left the prone or petrified criminals. What had they been planning? Who had been the mastermind behind it? Why here?

Stormbreaker (OOC Still in NPC mode...) knelt by one of the quivering men. "You did a real number on these guys" he said to Haunt, slight grin on his face. "Best to get them restrained and..."

He narrowed his eyes, frowning.

Frostbite looked over. Having suggested the team go topside to stop the rioting prisoners he was about to leave but something in Stormbreakers' demeanour suggested he wait.

The man with the sword stood, holding what appeared to be a piece of rock - the volcanic, glasslike type. Obsidian most likely - with a piece of ordinary string threaded through it to act as a thong.

He was careful not to touch the rock. Looking at the others Stormbreaker said "This ... thing... is glowing like a star to my Magic Senses. Whatever it is, it's function... look."

Eyes passed from one to another of the downed criminals.

All wore one of these shards of rock somewhere on their body.

"This is the key, I believe. Some power ..." he was careful not to mention the name of his nemesis "Is behind all this, and these stones are the way they will achieve their goals. They need to be examined - carefully - by someone versed in the mystic arts. I may know someone..."

Distant explosions and gunshots rang out, reminding the heroes that the prisoners above, even de-powered and slowly recovering their abilities, outgunned the police, army and special forces.

That said, there was a desperate need to find out what this stone signified, and who was behind it. Once that was known , perhaps the true nature of the plan here could be revealed. A gate of some kind was to be opened, and something had been coming through. An invasion force? Possibly.

One thing was for sure - the power behind this elaborate attempt to use a superhuman army to secure the opening of an interdimensional gate would not give up so easy!

OOC So you have options now:

1) Restrain the guys you pummelled?
2) Go topside to help the police
3) Find a master of the mystic arts to examine the stone
4) Speak to the authorities or take your leave?
5) Interrogate one or more of the criminals, assuming you have enough time?
6) Get after Centurion/Bombshell to help?
7) Something else?

Admin wrote:
OOC So you have options now:

1) Restrain the guys you pummelled?
2) Go topside to help the police
3) Find a master of the mystic arts to examine the stone
4) Speak to the authorities or take your leave?
5) Interrogate one or more of the criminals, assuming you have enough time?
6) Get after Centurion/Bombshell to help?
7) Something else?

OOC: Quite some options listed there, some of which are complementary, some not so.

My suggestion, is that we take the stones, anyway, for examination later. Sorry but running off to investigate that whilst Centurion is left alone, let alone the guards and prisoners is a no no in my book. If someone wants to hang back, get information and then join us so be it. Otherwise I think we restrain the guys here then go to secure the awakening prisoners. Once we've done all we can, get away (hopefully) and then follow up leads from there.

Sj

"Let us tie these criminals up," the Haunt suggests from his fog, while moving forward to grab some re-bar, "take them to the surface and go after the rest of the scum."

actions:  He intends to use the re-bar to hold them, take them to the surface, dump them in an open area and go looking for more criminals.

ooc: Take the stones for later investigation, stabilize the events here by rounding up as many crooks as possible and then see what's what.

DavidMcMahon wrote:"Let us tie these criminals up," the Haunt suggests from his fog, while moving forward to grab some re-bar, "take them to the surface and go after the rest of the scum."

actions:  He intends to use the re-bar to hold them, take them to the surface, dump them in an open area and go looking for more criminals.

ooc:  Take the stones for later investigation, stabilize the events here by rounding up as many crooks as possible and then see what's what.

Frostbite nodded, he was just as keen as the Haunt to get topside and find out what had transpired since they'd gone below. The sounds of battle made their return only more pressing.

OOC: lets do as Dave suggested.

Sj

Centurion blasted up through a hole burned by Bombshell, who was a bright dot in the sky, moving even faster than the ironclad hero!

He didn't give up though - shooting through a ruined Prison ceiling and out into the rain he saw the prison shrink below him and concentrated on catching Bombshell...

The dark night sky above suddenly lit up!

The helmet protected him from the glare but Centurion had to wonder... had Bombshell survived that blast? A quick glance down had him wondering if he himself would survive should his boot jets give out at this height!

OOC Centurion needs to:

a) Find Bombshell, if possible
b) Help/catch her if she's falling (assuming she hasn't blown up)

You can look the usual way (eyes) in the dark and rain or maybe cook up some kind of gadget to help you by reconfiguring the metal of your suit...

Grabbing up sections of metal, Haunt led the way in restraining the criminals.

Frostbite supplied steel hard ice and Ghost Knight delivered 'tender' taps to any who thought of stirring. Stormbreaker helped gather the stone talismans, careful not to touch them.

Ghost Knight called out as one man had his talisman removed. "Look at the change in him. Anger, fury even, dissipating. He's still a criminal, but at a guess I'd say he's not quite sure where he is..."

WHACK!

"He'll figure it out when he wakes in the infirmary."

Between the group they gathered the motley crew of fallen and trussed up villains, using a combination of powers to transport them up to the upper level.

=========

Gunfire greeted the group as a running battle was taking place in a long corridor.

A group of army soldiers had been pinned down by what appeared to be a huge mass of spikes and spines. There was a vague manlike shape amidst the mess of foot long spines jutting from his form.

"Huh huh huh!" he bellowed. "You goons are in fer a surprise! They don't call me 'Spinal Tap' fer nuthin!"

The heroes had emerged into a room from the main shaft, dumped the prone forms, a mass of bent iron bars and steel hard ice blocks pinning them, and moved to the room exit, where they'd come across the makeshift barricade, half a dozen beleaguered soldiers blasting haplessly at the porcupine style mass of black spines moving towards them some thirty feet away.

Behind, in the corridor beyond the 'Spinal Tap' were prisoners in jump suits moving towards - presumably - the exit. This guy was covering their exit!

OOC You are 2APs distance (30') away from Spinal Tap. The soldiers are blasting away with pistols and machine guns but not making a dent against this spine covered nightmare!

Admin wrote:
OOC You are 2APs distance (30') away from Spinal Tap. The soldiers are blasting away with pistols and machine guns but not making a dent against this spine covered nightmare!

Frostbite nodded to Haunt, "Think you can make big and chunky here, cry like a baby?  Lionheart those prisoners, lets round them up whilst the rest of you take your pick of the targets."

With that Lionheart nodded pushed his powers sideways into speed strength and agility, as he leapt forward dancing off walls, around jutting metal spikes and small gaps to arrive the other side of the creature ready to tackle the escaping prisoners behind the creature.  Beside him the dispersed Frostbite appeared ready to give them trouble as he rematerialised and begun to get ready to cut off the prisoners escape.  

OOC: Lionheart will get ready to start lashing out with his righteous fists of judgement and Frostbite will whip up some sort of barrier to corral the escapees before they do any more harm.  

Sj

"Let's find out," the Haunt said grimly, from within his fog as he moved towards the barricade.

actions:  Haunt of Fear on the criminals he can see, then moving through the barricade, using the fog to hide the fact that he is oozing and stretching through the gaps instead of just phasing through it like a spirit would.

Alex wasn't thrilled about taking his time here, but they were right that letting the prisoners escape would be visiting a evil on everyone else that could likely be avoided.

"This whole attack ties into a larger picture, time is short. If we're going to stay and help here lets do it quickly."

---

On the way up, once confronted with the group of prisoners Alex responds immediately. Before Spinal Tap had even finished his taunt, the glowing purple chains of his binding spell were launching forward from his clenched fist at the group of escaping prisoners. The placement would catch Spinal Tap, and probably several of the prison guards as well. With luck though it would do more good then harm!

---

Mystic Freeze centered in a way to leave us untouched and include the prisoners and Spinal Tap in the radius. Attack is at 11/9 vs Infl/Spirit with area effect. Additionally any RAPs earned a in Infl/Aura check vs the RAPs from my action to break out of the hold apply as an attack against Stormbreakers Infl/Spirit.

OOC I'm still alive, despite bonkers long shifts, dancing through hoops for a new job, kids etc etc. Let's get on with it

Frostbite disperses and floats through the corridor, ignoring spines that pass through his body and Spinal Taps surprised shouts!

He solidifies a hand long enough to ice up the end of the corridor, slowing up the progress of the prisoners. There were around a dozen or so, all in prison fatigues, desperately heading for the exit.

With the wall of ice in the way, they turned to face the new threat. Frostbite heard some of their calls "I can't break thru dat! My strength ain't back yet man!"

Then Frostbite noticed something else...

OOC Stormbreaker Mystic Freezes before Frostbite acts (Initiative)
2d10 → [3,8] = (11) Attack on the bad guys
2d10 → [4,2] = (6) Fatiguing check - ok

The prisoners in the corridor gasp. "I... I can't use my powers... I can't even move, man!"

With purple chains forming and lashing around the criminals, even the ghastly 'Spinal Tap' finds himself immobilised! "HEY! What gives? This is..."

Suddenly boiling fog spews down the corridor, filling it...

OOC 2d10 → [10,5] = (15) Haunts' attack...

And amidst the fog, sounds of THUD! Smeck! THWACK! "OOF!" "WHA...!"

OOC Lionhearts' attack...

2d10 → [8,6] = (14) Multi attack on guys with 0 Dex by Lionheart...

Ghost Knight strides up to Spinal Tap and grabs a handful of quills, pulls his armoured head back, and delivers a jarring BUTT!!!

"I think his head was in there..." he says as the mass of quills falls backwards in a heap "Somewhere."

The mist clears.

In moments, the newest most effective fighting force for justice in Britain, Europe, the world, has blunted the determined escape of hundreds of low powered superhuman criminals.

Frostbite continues to block corridors.

Stormbreaker stops prisoners in their tracks.

Haunt petrifies the most determined prisoners, Ghost Knight and Lionheart put them down. The police and army move in, special forces arrive in force. The driving rain continues, but before the hour is done, the storm remains only outside the prison.

Inside? The storm has abated. Prisoners are sedated and secured, taken back to what cells remain. The prison is a disaster zone, a write off. Even as helicopters and trucks arrive to transport prisoners, weary police and special forces nod acknowledgement at the superheroes who walk through the corridors. Their uniforms drenched, stained and torn in places, fatigue visibly etched on their faces.

They walk unchallenged, sign of their passing only noted by nods of thanks. Red tape evaporates as senior officials arrive now the danger has passed, and are quieted by worn out prison containment operatives who have stared into the abyss, expected death, and have received salvation from a most unexpected source.

Even the few UKChampions who turn up on the scene help only with cleanup. They know what could have happened. They know who stopped it. They know what they should be doing - they should be questioning, apprehending, they should be upholding the law of the land that states unregistered superhumans are to be treated as hostile until they have been through a vetting process.

And yet...

And yet, today, justice won. Life won.

Somewhere else, a dark power lost.

And it wasn't the kind of being who liked to lose...

OOC Watch out for a new episode chaps. Thanks for hanging in there, and don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Centurion and Bombshell...

Yeah for us, great finish there mate. Trust things begin to settle down, send us a link when done, since we won't automatically be subscribed to a new thread.

Sj

OOC: Oh dear you haven't forgotten about them because they will be in a world of pain?
Its not going to be like like the 'heroes' series when one the characters was going nuclear in the upper atmosphere. 
Hey ho what could possibly go wrong