Professor Wynde issue #1 - The finer things in life cost!

On the outside of the building/Kitchen Two suited men held machine guns on a group of people, mostly women though what men there were there were older. The staff had been rounded up and held here, and those two with the guns looked handy enough to use them. Thankfully they were not dressed in robotic armour!


"Afraid of that," Prof. Wynde mumbles. "Listen up, I'm going to attempt to blow those two Nazis to us. Can any of you create some kind of wall or barrier that would prevent the Nazis from blasting those folks while I try this? Wonderman, you go and jump in front of one of those Nazis and use your body to prevent him to shooting anyone. Let the bullets bounce off your chest or something then take the gun away and clobber him, if I haven't knocked him off his feet by then. Anyone else feeling bulletproof? IF so, you go jump in front of the other one and do the same."

"The rest of you, get ready to blast or clobber those two if I either miss or do manage to get them blow into easy fist range of us."

"Remember, protect the innocent first, then clobber the Nazis. And don't forget to check above when you are outside, there could be some up on the roof or leaning out a window."

Getting everyone sorted out and which thing that they will do, Prof. Wynde prepares his spell.

"Oh Zephyr Winds from on High! Blow my foes to my side!"

actions: So everyone should delay their action until after the spell. I'm going to use Air Control to create a tornado that zips around them and hits both of them to knock them back towards us. I'm using the Knockback portion of the power. I'm not at my regular desk so don't have the PDF of the rulebook with me but I remember there is a knockback description and you can choose which way to send each person. I want one to land to the left of me and one to the right of me. Then I guess everyone else on the team will go in the order of the init.

Danggit!
So let's go with multi-attack and hope for the best. Skills into offense, no defense.

By its very nature Prof Wyndes power wasn't the stealthiest and air whipped up, forming a gusty tornado that flung itself at the two Axis agents!

OOC No surprise but the Ratzis act last and everyone else goes in Initiative order, which is:

Prof Wynde 24
Wonderman 25
Faerie 22
Snaga 21
Boudicea 21
Major Oak 20
Swashbuckler 19

Ratzi #1 (Dex 9 KAbsorb 7)
Ratzi #2 (Dex 9 KAbsorb 7)

Air Control 10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 4,5,+0 Total:9 (19) vs
Ov9 + 2 Multi + 1D Acrobat + Roll(3d12)+0: 5,6,3,+0 Total:11 (22) Attack MISSED!

With a stifled curse Prof Wynde sees his living tornado FWOOOSH! past the two Axis agents who are alert and ready! They'll have heard the explosion of their colleague and very possible all the crashing about, especially when Wonderman made a new doorway in the wall with his head, not to mention Snaga bellowing challenges at the top of his voice! With surprise impossible it meant striking first and unfortunately, Prof Wynde was wide of the mark this time!

"Better luck next time Prof!" said Wonderman and he CRISHED through the Kitchen window with a mighty leap at one of the Axis agents!

"Threaten women will you?" snarled the masked hobo "I'll teach you!" he added with an excellent example of late 1930s superhero dialogue!

OOC Wonderman takes a swing at the Axis agent (I'll refer to them as AA from now on.)

Dex 11 + 3D M Arts + Roll(5d12)+0: 10,1,3,1,4,+0 Total: 14 (25) vs
OV9 + 1D Acro + Roll(3d12)+0: 4,6,7,+0 Total:13 (22)

+2 (to 15) vs RV6=9 Damage. 7 is absorbed by Kinetic Absorption but that is overloaded and the Nazi takes the whole lot! Axis agent 1 is DOWN!

SMECK! The agent falls back, machine gun falling from nervless hands! Strangely enough the servants stay calm, don't scream though some exclaim and try to stay down for the most part.

The other Axis agent sets back to let rip with the machine gun!

Faerie screams "NO!" and flies forward (whilst small) saying something below her breath which Prof Wynde figures is Faerie speak...

OOC Adren Surge 12 + Roll(2d12)+0: 4,6,+0 Total:10 (22) vs
OV1 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,2,+0 Total:14 (15)

+4 (to 16) vs Rv1=15

I just realised I may have been doing Adrenaline Surge wrong. If boosting an Automatic power then aps are added to it. If boosting a dice power, APs are added to Effect Value ONLY which makes it pretty useless for attacking with but ok if you can hit the side of a barn already. I'll sort it out with a once over the various characters after this scrap...

With 16APs teleport it's an easy matter for Faerie to...

Faerie flies through the now shattered window and shouts "HOLD ON TO EACH OTHER!" which the staff are only glad to do as they are clustered in a group!

There is a flash of light!

Everyone blinks. Faerie and the household staff - all of them - are GONE!!!

The lone standing Axis agent mutters "Schwein!" but doesn't get to add any more as Snaga leaps up and swings his mighty axe! "HAVE AT THEE VARLET!" he roars.

OOC Adren Surge 14 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,3,+0 Total:9 (23) vs
Claws 6 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,4,+0 Total:7 (13)

+4 (to 18) vs RV6=12 RAPs. Claws is now 18.

Dex 9 + 4D Weaponry (no thought for defence) + Roll(6d12)+0: 1,1,4,12,9,8,+0 Total:2 DOUBLE FAILED ATTACK!

And Snaga swings so hard he trips and lands on the grass with the Axis Agent stood above him!

"That... could have gone better" he mutters, staring up at the barrel of a gun!

Boudicea sighs "Men! We women should take care of this!"

OOC Adren Surge on Superspeed and Claws

AS 13 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,2,+0 Total:9 (22) vs
OV6 + 2 Multi + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,4,+0 Total:13 (21)

+1 (to 14) vs RV6 +2 (8)=6RAPs. Superspeed and Claws to 12

Dex 12 (SS) + 2D Weaponry (1D for defence) + Roll(4d12)+0: 8,5,9,12,+0 Total:21 (33) vs
OV9 + 1D Acro + Roll(3d12)+0: 11,11,1,+0 Total:22 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 9,9,+0 Total:40 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 10,10,+0 Total:60 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 11,2,+0 Total:73 (WE HAVE A NEW LEADER! 73!) (82)

Attack very very missed indeed!

Moving at superhuman speed Boudicea lances out with her charged and glowing silver spear which had formed into her hand a moment before... and stabs AIR!

Again and again she tries but the Axis Agent simply moves aside and even laughs at her! "You LORE KNIGHTS are not ze power ve vere expecting! My own enhanced abilities far outweigh yours, woman!"

Major Oak climbs into the garden and sighs "Ahh, the feel of soil under my roots!" and grows, towering over the Axis Agent.

"FEAR ME!" he bellows and spreads his arms out, his mouth becoming a maw, eyes red and a picture from some outlandish horror comic!

OOC Aura of Fear 5 + Roll(2d12)+0: 8,10,+0 Total:18 (23) vs
OV3 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,11,+0 Total:20 (23)

5EV vs 3RV=2 RAPs. When it his action the Axis Agent will flee the scene for 16 seconds (4 rounds)

The machine gun falls from nervous fingers and the Axis Agent looks terrified!

"Oh do stop messing about you lot." declared Swashbuckler as he leaps acrobatically through the broken window and declares "EN GARDE!" to the Nazi with his rapier which appears in his hand!

OOC Adren Surge 12 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,4,+0 Total:6 ADRENALINE SURGE BURNS OUT!!!! SWASHBUCKLER HAS NO ADREN SURGE FOR 1 HOUR

Without the boost in speed he was expecting Swashbuckler is unaware his attack might not have the... bite... he had hoped for!

Going for Crit blow Dex 6 + 5D Weaponry + Roll(7d12)+0: 9,6,6,2,9,12,10,+0 Total:18 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0:
3,11,+0 Total:32 (38) vs
OV9 + 1D Acr + Crit Blow 4 + Roll(3d12)+0: 3,11,7,+0 Total:18 (31)

+4 (to 13) vs RV6 -6 Crit Blow=13 Damage. This ignores Kinetic Absorption which burns out. The Nazi Agent is killed. This is wartime and there is no penalty for killing attacks. instead I will grant a bonus if you get through this without killing someone...

The sword neatly lances through the Nazis eye and Swashbuckler turns with a bow and a flourish whilst a heartbeat later the stiffened Nazi falls backwards onto the grass. "I thank you. You have been a lovely audience." though he frowns and rolls his wrists a few times. "Strange, could have sworn I was faster the last time I swung this thing."

Snaga snarls, Boudicea looks sheepish and Major Oak shrugs. Wonderman looks down at the Nazi. "Not so sure about killing them but if this IS war, it's our job. Still sits uneasy with me though. What do we do with him?" he asks of the unconscious Nazi on the grass.

Snaga snarls, Boudicea looks sheepish and Major Oak shrugs. Wonderman looks down at the Nazi. "Not so sure about killing them but if this IS war, it's our job. Still sits uneasy with me though. What do we do with him?" he asks of the unconscious Nazi on the grass.

"Tie him up and put him in the pantry," Prof. Wynde replies with a shrug. "Would prefer not to kill folks either but if needs be ... then we do it. Much better if we can capture them and get information from them or let British Intelligence have a go at them. Try to remember that for the future, folks. Now, where did Faerie and those folks she saved go?"

He looks around and looks up, remembering his own words of someone could be on the roof or on an upper floor with weapons pointing at them.

Prof Wynde looks up... and can't be sure but gets the feeling someone just ran out of sight across the rooftop!

He had good instincts. That would have been another Axis Agent, he was sure.

Swashbuckler leans against a wall. "How should we know where she went? Katheryn was hardly the boldest of us to start with! She'll have run off to hide."

Wonderman turned on the black garbed man and stood nose to nose with him. "She's smarter, braver and better than you'll ever be, you limey loudmouth!"

"Oh yeah?" said Swashbuckler, stepping back and summoning his sword which he swished about from side to side. "I don't like your tone, you ragamuffin yank!"

Snaga frowned. "As much as I think Swashbuckler is an idiot, if you hit him, I'll pick another wall to smash you through little man!" threatened the warrior of Wonderman!

Boudicea rolled her eyes and walked into the kitchen to make herself a sandwich. "Anyone want one?" she called.

Major Oak walked over to Prof Wynde, looking down at him from his twelve foot full height as a treeman. "Did you ever have days like this as a superhero? I wonder if Silver Sentinel has days like this."

"Who?" asked Boudicea as she whipped up a couple of plates of sandwiches at super speed.

OOC AS 12 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,4,+0 Total:7 (19) vs
Ov1 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,3,+0 Total:9 (10)

+4 (16) vs RV1=15. Teleportation 16 means...

Faerie reappears in the midst of the squabbling and Wonderman turns. "You're alright!" he gasps, and leans to hug her, only she's a tiny 6" tall woman!

"I transported them to the top of the mound and told them to go get help. One of them said that the old Earl could look after himself and his daughter was on her way. Whatever that means. The cook said they saw strange goings on in the house and were all loyal unto death to the Earl, which sounds strange. For a cook I mean." explained Faerie.

Wonderman turned to Swashbuckler. "When this is all over, there'll be a reckoning, loudmouth!"

Snaga pitched in, snarling at Wonderman. "Too right there will!" he said, hefting his axe.

"I don't need you to fight my battles!" declared Swashbuckler.

As the huge man and small athletic fellow in black started arguing Boudicea munched on a sandwich. "Ham and cheese, anyone?" she called.

As the huge man and small athletic fellow in black started arguing Boudicea munched on a sandwich. "Ham and cheese, anyone?" she called.


"Here," Prof. Wynde sighs and raises his hand while watching the roof.

"So," taking a bite, "Did any of you idiots notice the Nazi Agent on the roof with the huge gun pointed at us. Or were you all too busy fighting over Faerie to notice? Or the fact that he might still be up there?"

Okay, so he didn't notice if the person up there had a gun or not, or if they were a man or a woman, though he was betting men, but maybe it would help focus everyone on the here and now.

"By the way, Faerie, it seems every man in our little band is pretty much head over heels for you except Major Oak. I think he likes you, Boudicea. Of course, he is a teenager so let him down gently, will you?" he starts walking back inside. "Let's go find that entrance and find the Earl, I'm betting they are in the same spot."

"Oh! I happen to like both you ladies but I know how to keep personal interest out of my job."

"I really need to learn some kind of "recovery/put it back together" spell so I can get my hands on those wonderful antiques that have been destroyed," he mutters to himself so low that only those with enhanced hearing could hear him. "Oh my Precious-es!"

Swashbuckler turns. "I say old chap, that's a bit rich isn't it? I just think that Katheryn suits her new role very well, what? That said if she would like an evening of fine dining and culture I'd be honoured to be her escort for the night."

Snaga stopped raging. "I'm old enough to be her Da. I have shoes older than her."

"From the smell I'd suggest your loincloth is older than her too." said Swashbuckler.

Wonderman jostled between the pair to push them apart and rolled his eyes. "We don't have time for this! Didn't you hear? Prof Wynde said someone was on the roof. PROF! Let's get up there for a look see. Everyone else stay here and DON'T fall out! Keep your eyes open! There are at least two more of those guys out there!"

Swashbuckler muttered "Who put him in charge?"

He leapt up with a single bound and landed lightly on the roof as Prof Wynde summoned a tornado to transport him without effort up there. There was a skylight into a loft and moving over to it the pair saw it was ajar. The man Prof Wynde had seen had moved like lightning once he knew he'd been spotted.

Fred crouched. "Say Oliver, what do you make of this?" he said, crouching and waving Prof Wynde over.



Lying on the roof, discarded, was what looked like a mirror on a stand. (SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE POST BUT JUST WONDERED IF YOU KNEW WHAT IT WAS!)

Wonderman stood and looked about. There were a few clouds in the sky and three floors up it was pretty windy but otherwise it was a beautiful day. From here you could see the village, the Tor, the church, the pub... Out to sea there were glittering waves and quite far out, a small dark shape.

"She sure is a pretty gal." murmured Wonderman. "Never thought a change of clothes into a wispy see through pretty much revealing everything bit of cloth could make a man change his mind about someone. Sure, Boudicea is hot stuff but you know what they say about redheads. It's like juggling fire. Or dynamite. Thrilling for a while then BOOM! goes off in your face."

Prof Wynde glanced out to sea again. The dark shape appeared to have gone. Had he imagined it?

He looked on the beach. There were two rowing boats discarded after having been dragged up onto the sand. Kids were playing on or near them.

"Ah well, back to business. Shall I chase after this Ratzi and you take the kids downstairs? I think I'd rather take on one of those robot fellas than be forever breaking up that lots squabbles. At least Robbie seems to be happy but I think it's maybe a lot for him to take in."












OOC Int 5 + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,9,+0 Total:19 (24) vs
OV6 + Roll(2d12)+0: 11,3,+0 Total:14 (20)

+3 (to 9) vs RV6=3 RAPs. Prof Wynde knows this:

1) It's a heliograph.
2-3) (From wikipedia) A heliograph (helios (Greek: ἥλιος), meaning "sun", and graphein (γράφειν), meaning "write") is a wireless telegraph that signals by flashes of sunlight (generally using Morse code) reflected by a mirror. The flashes are produced by momentarily pivoting the mirror, or by interrupting the beam with a shutter.[1] The heliograph was a simple but effective instrument for instantaneous optical communication over long distances during the late 19th and early 20th century.[1] Its main uses were military, survey and forest protection work. Heliographs were standard issue in the British and Australian armies until the 1960s, and were used by the Pakistani army as late as 1975.

ooc:  Yep, I recognized it as some type of signalling mirror though I didn't know what kind.  And I'm not sure what that cup thing is for.  When I was in Boot Camp in 1980, we got a little signalling mirror with a hole in the center so you could sight down it while signalling someone or drifting at sea to try and signal any airplanes you saw.


"I'm really hesitant to let anyone go solo Wonderman, even you," Prof. Wynde replies.  "They were signalling a sub out there with this heliograph.  I can just barely see it.  How about you get down to the beach and question those kids as to what they saw and then get them away from there?  If you think you can take on a sub, take it out, if not, get to town and get a phone message out to the RAF or the Navy about the sub.  Then come back here. OOPS! Now it is gone. But get those kids out of potential fire."

"OK?"

OOC I guess the cup is for the big central leg rather than the side ones so it can be carried in the sling over the shoulder.

Wonderman looked out to sea. "Well I don't see anything, but sure, I'll go ask those kids what they saw."

He bounded from the roof with mighty leaps and the frightened/excited kids soon gathered around him. A few moments later he bounded back whilst the kids were running off to the village.

"Hmm. Those kids said they saw sailors. They rowed to the beach in the two boats a dozen or so. One guy looked different and wore a black coat. One of the kids thought he saw a cross or something on his chest. The man looked mean, blonde and BIG, bigger than me." said the hero. "One of the kids thought he heard them talking but it wasn't English." He looked about.

"More Axis agents. You could be right about that sub. I can hold my breath for a little while but I've no idea of my limits (OOC that would be 2 hours) and its plenty tough to see down past a certain depth, that's for sure. As for a sub? I dunno, sounds far fetched. I heard of them before but you're suggesting a metal undersea boat on the coast of Britain that's travelled unseen for days from Germany, maybe weeks? Sounds like Flash Gordon stuff to me!"

The heroes still had the choice as to whether to follow the Agent through the loft and into the upper floors of the house or gather the others and make for wherever the Earl would normally dwell to find some doorway or secret passage to the lower level. The Axis agents had gotten nothing from the servants who were defiant even in the face of certain death!

Added to that was the fact that somewhere was a small Army of Nazi agents! The one in the big black coat with the 'cross' sounded particularly threatening...

OOC Renaming Captain Nazi or Ubermensch was my first thought or something from Marvel statted up for the big bad, but you are an expert on the All Star Squadron era so if you have any suggestions as to a single being that could take you ALL on...?

OOC Renaming Captain Nazi or Ubermensch was my first thought or something from Marvel statted up for the big bad, but you are an expert on the All Star Squadron era so if you have any suggestions as to a single being that could take you ALL on...?


Still haven't found my Worlds at War sourcebook but I would suggest either Captain Nazi or better yet Baron Blitzkreig, who was a sort of depowered Superman or an Evil Ultra Boy. He also has armor with a cross on it. He first fought Wonder Woman, when her 1970s comic went back to WW2 with the popularity of her TV show, then became a main foe for the All Star Squadron.
I think both are in the sourcebook. He has a pretty high Power Reserve for the powers listed below.
Captain Nazi is basically Superstrength, Flight Gas he inhales to fly, Limited Invulnerability, Super Leap and not much else.

Baron Blitzkrieg
First Appearance Appearance of Death World's Finest #246 (September, 1977)

Baron Blitzkrieg was a frequent opponent of the All-Star Squadron during World War II.

History
World War II
Baron Blitzkrieg was originally an especially vicious German army officer who was blinded when a concentration camp prisoner threw acid into his face.[1][2][3] (Steel was a prisoner in the camp at the time.)[2][3] German scientists experimented on Blitzkrieg, giving injections of experimental drugs, designed to siphon off the mind's vast energies. This allowed him full control, for brief periods, of his body's resources. At any given instant he could have superhuman strength, or be incredibly swift, or have the ability to fly.[1][2][3]


Powers and Abilities
Powers
Unique Physiology: Blitzkrieg was experimented on by scientists seeking to give him access to all his body's resources for limited periods of times. At any point he could call on one of a number of powerful strengths.
Superhuman Strength
Superhuman Durability
Superhuman Agility
Superhuman Speed
Energy Projection
Flight
Abilities
Military Protocol
Weaknesses
Power Limitation: Baron could only manifest one power at time in his full potential, or would split his psycho-energy between simultaneous abilities.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: If blinded, Baron would come in panic and have severe flashbacks related with his acid injuries. He would also panic if his mask was removed and his scarred face exposed.
Notes
Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-Two era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and no longer apply.
Trivia
Baron Blitzkrieg has been called Reiter.
Baron Blitzkrieg has facial scars from an acid attack.
Baron Blitzkrieg weighs 345 lbs in his armored form.[citation needed]

"More Axis agents. You could be right about that sub. I can hold my breath for a little while but I've no idea of my limits (OOC that would be 2 hours) and its plenty tough to see down past a certain depth, that's for sure. As for a sub? I dunno, sounds far fetched. I heard of them before but you're suggesting a metal undersea boat on the coast of Britain that's travelled unseen for days from Germany, maybe weeks? Sounds like Flash Gordon stuff to me!"

The heroes still had the choice as to whether to follow the Agent through the loft and into the upper floors of the house or gather the others and make for wherever the Earl would normally dwell to find some doorway or secret passage to the lower level. The Axis agents had gotten nothing from the servants who were defiant even in the face of certain death!

Added to that was the fact that somewhere was a small Army of Nazi agents! The one in the big black coat with the 'cross' sounded particularly threatening...

"Too many foes, I would split us up if I felt that they were ready but they are not. And you haven't been punched enough by foes as strong or stronger than you to be cautious. If you could be, I would split us into two groups," Prof Wynde, a man who has less experience at fighting criminals than Wonderman but at least has some military experience and knowledge of all sorts of magical and super-powered foes. "As it, we stick together, find this large magic power below grounds and find the Earl. I betcha Dollars to Donuts that he is also one of these Lore Knights. Probably their leader. Make no sense otherwise. With him around, we could split into two functioning groups."


ooc: Not sure why Wonderman is surprised at subs. They been around since 1860s as experimental craft. used in the American Civil War. And very much active during WW1. One sank the Lusitania which was what got the US into WW1.

OOC That's news to me about subs! Unless you had an interest or served in the military i can't imagine they were too common in the way of knowledge about them ...

"I'm mostly a plane kinda guy. Guess I should find some book or magazine to read up on these so called 'Submarines'." explained Wonderman.

The pair headed down the roof and hopped off to connect with the others. "There are a few things that bother me." said Wonderman as Snaga and Swashbuckler reluctantly stopped swapping insults and snarled/growled at each other.

"The Axis robot thing. Where the heck did they get that kind of technology! I'm glad my country isn't in the war - we'd get made into mincemeat against an army of those things! If that's the sort of thing that rumbled into Poland last year no wonder they fell so easy."

As they walked back into the house with Faerie, Snaga and Major Oak in front and Swahsbuckler pulling up the rear Wonderman continued "Plus, how do they know about this place? These people? Hitting the Lore Knights makes sense when they've just formed, unsure of powers, no experience... "he glanced about and raised an eyebrow "At each others throats."

"Given time this lot will be a true power. They have abilities and powers that even I find astounding! Only a few months ago - to me - I was the most powerful mortal on Earth! Now? I'm just one of dozens of people claiming the title and you say I might be top 100? In a few years top 1000?" he sighed and shrugged. "I guess I was secure in the knowledge of being top dog. now I'm just running with the pack and trying to keep up."



Moving through the kitchen, the 'Starry Salon', Trophy Room full of medieval weapons and armour... there was nothing like animal heads or evidence of hunting as such. Instead paintings adorned the wall of old men that looked steely eyed and very similar despite some of them stretching back decades. The clothes changed, the determination in the look remained. This was the Earl of Caeralwyn.

The knight of legend.

The Ghost Knight.

Prof Wynde shuddered. In his OOP studies he'd heard the name, the stories, the myths.

'When the land is imperilled and hope is forlorn, the night is darkest just before dawn. The Earl will call, the Knights will ride, and nowhere there will be for evil to hide. A force for good, the champion of right, the bringer of hope they call the Lore Knight.'

Oliver looked at the plaque bearing the rhyme under a picture of a bearded man many hundreds of years old. He'd seen it before somewhere in a book but there were hundreds, thousands of tales and myths claiming heroes would return when the need was greatest.

The world was at war, could there be any greater need?

"Time to sightsee later buddy." said Wonderman. "Let's keep moving." Through the courtyard, the round room and into the 'Joyous Corridor'.

"Which way?" asked Snaga. He hefted his axe. "Cowardly Nazis! They fear my axe!" he was just about to bellow when Boudicea clamped a hand over his mouth, though she was having to reach some. "No need to tell them where we are! They are here... somewhere..."

OOC take a look at the map...

ooc: I'm thinking the Red Library with the Candlestick. Let's try Detect Magic and see if that helps narrow it down. If not, Red Library.


Prof Wynde looks around, muttering a "spell" under his breath. Then points in the direction he feels that they should go in.

The Lore Knights had stayed pretty quiet and Prof Wynde figured they were wrestling with their consciences after some of them had acted rather less than heroically so far.

He couldn't blame them. A group of total strangers brought together for a reason they didn't know from all over the country then given superhuman abilities and being expected to fight off what amounted to an invasion by super powered Nazi agents wasn't what they might have expected to have been doing in the last day or so.

Still, they were here and they had to 'man up' relatively speaking otherwise their first day on the job might be their last!

Using his ability to detect magic didn't really help. Dotted about the place were magic artefacts. Even the paints glowed. Why would paintings be magical? He looked at one. The 11th Earl apparently. At some point the name had changed and the current Earl was Gerald Carruthers. He supposed it depended on whether the heir to this estate and title was a man or a woman. He wondered who the Earl was in modern times.

OOC That would be Justin St John, patron of the Vanguard, retired former Lore Knight, Billionaire, former superhero Ghost Knight, special advisor to HM Government on superhuman affairs and sat on a number of executive boards including SMITE, SPRITE and other more... secretive organisations.

Like OOP.

By the way, I never asked you whether you were ok with the way Wandafar and Justin turned out, or any of the old characters from the Executive and Lore Knights that have turned up over the years (and there have been a fair few even if some were just mentions or cameos). My excuse was that when the Vanguard came to this version of Earth after time hopping and battling the Shadow Demons (Which seems like decades ago, so much has gone on) and so this version of those old heroes was mine to do with as I please. Somewhere in another reality your versions are happily still in the Exec or whatever. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! Seriously though if something is out of character from your original vision feel free to point it out and I'll tweak.

Moving into the Red Library he scanned about. The place - to his magic sense - appeared to be a black and white negative with colour shining out of a book or two, a candlestick of all things and most surprisingly, a pair of battered old red leather chairs, bizarrely enough.

He couldn't see anything else besides walls lined with books, a most impressive carved vast oak desk and grand bay windows looking out onto once pristine sculpted and manicured gardens, now somewhat churned up by Wondermans tumble.

"What are we doing in here?" moaned Swashbuckler. "I mean, aren't we supposed to be hitting someone?"

Snaga growled "I'll hit you if you don't shut up! Your prattle grates on my nerves boy!"

"Oh yes? Would you care to settle this as gentlemen, or as thugs?" replied Swashbuckler. Before Snaga could reply Swashbuckler swept a hand about, scooped up a decanter and unstoppered it. "Hmmm the finest blend of vintage Whisky. care for a wee dram old boy?" he offered Snaga.

The big mans face turned from thunderous to surprised. "Why I don't mind if I do." he said as the man in black poured into exquisite crystal glass tumblers.

Wonderman moved alongside Prof Wynde. "See anything? if we don't find nazis soon this lot will rip each other apart. Or have a party."

OOC That would be Justin St John, patron of the Vanguard, retired former Lore Knight, Billionaire, former superhero Ghost Knight, special advisor to HM Government on superhuman affairs and sat on a number of executive boards including SMITE, SPRITE and other more... secretive organisations.

Like OOP.

By the way, I never asked you whether you were ok with the way Wandafar and Justin turned out, or any of the old characters from the Executive and Lore Knights that have turned up over the years (and there have been a fair few even if some were just mentions or cameos). My excuse was that when the Vanguard came to this version of Earth after time hopping and battling the Shadow Demons (Which seems like decades ago, so much has gone on) and so this version of those old heroes was mine to do with as I please. Somewhere in another reality your versions are happily still in the Exec or whatever. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! Seriously though if something is out of character from your original vision feel free to point it out and I'll tweak.


I've enjoyed it.  Wandafar was a lost soul, an alien who came to Earth via an emergency space life boat when the space liner or military ship he was on went through some kind of Titanic-type disaster or it was attacked by a hostile alien ship, can't remember which but there was an alien species he was afraid of that landed on Earth late in the game, he was apparently the only survivor though other aliens might have also survived but he never met any in the game.  He has no idea where his home planet it in relation to Earth and so has no way home. He was a scientist either on his way somewhere or serving on board the military vessel. I forget which but still with no way home and not knowing where home was.  Which is why I call him a lost soul.

Justin St Johns, an earthy type who never knew he was nobility until his dead uncle's attorney found him and told him the truth, the last surviving male heir of the St Johns.  He grew up poor, an orphan when before he became a teen and became a professional boxer and was a contender for the middle-heavy weight title when he discovered his family.  His uncle the late Earl, kept track of Justin all through the years but never brought him "home" to keep him safe from the various supernatural menaces and to make sure he was a good man until it was time to inherit the mantle of a Lore Knight.  So noble by birth, but raised as a poor commoner, became a noble in adulthood and one of the richest men in Britain.  For the life of me, I can't remember if Justin's mom or dad was the Earl's runaway sibling -  married for a love to a commoner or wanting the leave the restrictions of nobility behind and go out into the world on their own to make or not, their fortune and find happiness in life.

He also had a couple of ladies that he was somewhat romantically involved with.  Can't remember who they were but they were not fellow Lore Knights.

And if I remember, Justin took the name Ghost Knight but I think his uncle went by Sir Morningstar, but that may be my memory playing tricks on me.

He couldn't see anything else besides walls lined with books, a most impressive carved vast oak desk and grand bay windows looking out onto once pristine sculpted and manicured gardens, now somewhat churned up by Wondermans tumble.

"What are we doing in here?" moaned Swashbuckler. "I mean, aren't we supposed to be hitting someone?"

Snaga growled "I'll hit you if you don't shut up! Your prattle grates on my nerves boy!"

"Oh yes? Would you care to settle this as gentlemen, or as thugs?" replied Swashbuckler. Before Snaga could reply Swashbuckler swept a hand about, scooped up a decanter and unstoppered it. "Hmmm the finest blend of vintage Whisky. care for a wee dram old boy?" he offered Snaga.

The big mans face turned from thunderous to surprised. "Why I don't mind if I do." he said as the man in black poured into exquisite crystal glass tumblers.

Wonderman moved alongside Prof Wynde. "See anything? if we don't find nazis soon this lot will rip each other apart. Or have a party."

"We are looking for a secret passage to the hidden magic below us. Try to find a hidden catch or lever or something. Those items there, there and there are magical," he says pointing them out. "Boudecia, you sit in the magical chair there. Great Oak, you sit in the other one. See if you feel anything or if anything happens. The rest of you, check out those magic items I pointed out. And the fireplace, that's usually a good place for a hidden passage."

He himself goes over to the statue in the middle of the room to examine it and see if any hidden levers or buttons are on it or its base.

Boudicea sighed and rolled her eyes but threw up her hands "All right! Robbie, you sit in that one. Might have to... errr..."

Major Oak shrunk to the size of a human and even to the shape of a human albeit one carved from wood that creaked when it moved and spoke.

With both sat in the chair Boudicea said. "Well, now what?" Major Oak murmured "Comfy chair."

The others spread out, including Snaga who was still nodding appreciatively at the whisky.

Prof Wynde checked out the books. Family history for the most part but the magic worked in a way that was rather convenient. When a member of the family who had keyed to the book with a drop of their blood spoke, words appeared on the pages. They were diaries of the ladies of the house from different eras and the language was flowery but of mostly no consequence to Prof Wynde.

The Candlestick was different. When he touched it he shuddered. Someone had died after being clubbed to death with it and the spirit of the person was tied to the 'stick. It was someone bad and Wynde didn't feel too bad for the fact of his death.

He turned to the chairs. The room was pretty interesting but there was nothing hidden that anyone could find.

Boudicea and Major Oak were sat stone still. The temperature in the room plummetted!

Faerie, flitting about in tiny size, called out "Something is happening!"

Despite that it was light and bright outside the room seemed to darken and Wonderman hissed, vapour on his breath. "What's happening? Should I get them out of the chairs?"

Snaga moved forward but Swashbuckler rested a hand on his arm.

"Unhand me knave 'fore I cut it from your arm!" roared Snaga.

"Steady on big chap. I'm just wondering... if you pull them from the chairs might that be a bad thing? Whatever is happening might just... need to happen." replied the Man in Black.

Snaga wrested his arm free and glowered at Swashbuckler but turned and strode to Prof Wynde. "Well?" he said, towering over the Prof. "What say you?"

OOC Infl 10+ 3D occultist + Roll(5d12)+0: 3,9,4,9,2,+0 Total:18 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 5,6,+0 Total:29 (39) vs
OV12 (proper Obscura, this) + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,2,+0 Total:8 (20)

+6 EV (to 16) vs RV12=4 RAPs of knowledge that Prof Wynde dredges up

1) The chairs are inhabited by separate spirits
2-3) Sitting in them with a certain sort of person will trigger the spirits awakening. This could be a man and a woman, a young man and a young woman, or in this case possibly people who have enchantments. There would be no danger if the local vicar chose to visit, for instance, and sat in one. In ancient times chairs like these (which have been recovered but are still magical) would help a ruler or merchant because the spirits in them would divine the truth or attempts to deceive.
4-6) The danger lies in what is in the heart of the person in the seat. The spirits will sense good, evil, malice, any negative or positive emotions they will cling to and it will influence their return. Will they be avenging spirits or beneficial ones? There is a huge risk therefore in allowing the combination of people to sit in them. The Earl and his selected chosen guest might activate the spirits, but for what purpose it is not known. If the spirits do not like what they sense and who is in the chair, they may try to attack the sitter or possess them!

"Um .. leave them be," Prof. Wynde says after thinking it over.  "This might be a good thing.  Those chairs are judging them.  Since they are new Lore Knights, they should pass and maybe get some useful information for us."

"Everyone else, be on the lookout for the Nazis.  Check the doorway and the windows to see if they are coming."

He checks down the hallway and then looks back to see how the two are doing.

Prof Wynde doesn't see anyone in the hallway and the others move to the window to keep an eye out.

Boudicea and Major Oak sit silent without moving a muscle.

"What's..." started Wonderman but Wynde waved him quiet and everyone turned to the chairs.

"I can see! I see you Charles! Oh this is wonderful." Boudicea spoke in a voice that was not her own and held a hand up. Wynde could see a ghostly mist about it.

'Charles' (Major Oak) looked about. "We're back in the house! Where... but we were in Paris. I had followed the dastardly Prince onto the rooftop. He summoned the lightning down. There was a flash... Already I was so weak. We had been away from Britain too long. Too long from your arms Eloise."

'Eloise' replied "My powers had all but gone. I could not reach you or the others. I think... I think we are dead Charles. The others... did they escape? What happened to the other Knights of Lore?"

"I don't know. The Dark Prince had almost won, our power waned away... the only hope lay in the Chalice. Retrieving that might have given us hope... Robespierre and the others had been corrupted, twisted. It was no longer about revolution, but about chaos and anarchy!" He sighed and looked about. "We're not alone Eloise. Look."

They seemed to glance about and see the Lore Knights with Wonderman and Prof Wynde for the first time. Charles stood... then slumped into the seat as a ghostly form seemed to pull major Oaks form back down.

He composed himself then spoke.

"Have you come to replace us? Paris is in flames, Maximilien Robespierre started out with a vision but was consumed by hate and controlled by evil spirits. We ventured forth knowing our time was limited. The longer we stayed away, the more our powers drained until we were ordinary folk, unable to fight the unearthly forces arrayed against us. Finally, at the last we fell, I fear. My beloved Eloise, Duval, Heinrich, Jack, poor Jack. Just a boy. The Earl kept his powers longest of course. As the Morningstar his power was to call the Knights together. The last I saw he was beset with demons, and his noble steed Charger fell with a beasts jaws clamped around his throat even as he reared and killed the beast in return."

"Such a sad end to our quest, and an end, I fear, to the Lore Knights."

"Speak, ghosts to us. Your forms are wispy, ethereal, but I suspect we can communicate for a short time before we are summoned back to limbo."

ooc: Totally missed your last reply. Will response in an hour or two, have to get ready for work right now.

"Have you come to replace us? Paris is in flames, Maximilien Robespierre started out with a vision but was consumed by hate and controlled by evil spirits. We ventured forth knowing our time was limited. The longer we stayed away, the more our powers drained until we were ordinary folk, unable to fight the unearthly forces arrayed against us. Finally, at the last we fell, I fear. My beloved Eloise, Duval, Heinrich, Jack, poor Jack. Just a boy. The Earl kept his powers longest of course. As the Morningstar his power was to call the Knights together. The last I saw he was beset with demons, and his noble steed Charger fell with a beasts jaws clamped around his throat even as he reared and killed the beast in return."

"Such a sad end to our quest, and an end, I fear, to the Lore Knights."

"Speak, ghosts to us. Your forms are wispy, ethereal, but I suspect we can communicate for a short time before we are summoned back to limbo."

"Your time is past," Prof. Wynde says solemnly, "Thank you for your work in keeping the Land safe. We are now more than a century beyond your time. I am Prof. Wynde. These are the new Lore Knights. Only this day have they awakened"

He introduces each member to the ghosts.

"Wonderman and I are not Lore Knights but other magical heroes who also see to preserve the Peace and keep the world safe from evil forces both magical and scientific. I was trained by OOP, the Order of Preservers, though they may have had a different name in your time. The Earl's manor is under attack by foes who seek the power of the Lore Knights. We call them Nazis and they are from a united Germany, something that happened shortly after your time. We have already fought a number of them and defeated them but others remain. We seek the Earl and we seek the way to the magical seat of power under this manor."

"Can you and will you tell us how to get to the hidden source below the manor?"

The Ghost considers the words Prof Wynde speaks, then nods. Though it was Major Oaks body it was clear another mind was speaking the words.

"You speak the truth. One of my powers when i was alive was the divining of true words. You speak them. Go from here into the Gun room. There is a matched pair of duelling pistols on the wall. Cock both weapons and discharge them at the same time. A door will open leading to stairs that lead into the basement. The Earl will take refuge there. He knows to fight will put his staff in danger. It will rage against his every instinct but he can draw them too him, to the caverns below where he is strongest and he will fight them there. A cornered stag, his last stand against wolves..."

The ghost/Major Oak glanced about the room. "Perhaps not though. You still have time. There is among the enemy one who knows dark magick. He knows of the cavern and will seek to force a way through the mansion floors. They have... power... these enemies."

Suddenly the ghost started! "Arrrgh! My time is up! Save the Earl, fulfil your destinies!"

Major Oak slumped in the chair, as did Boudicea. They opened their eyes "What happened?" she asked.

"You got possessed by one of your predecessors' ghosts," he told the two. "You have a Destiny now, with a big "D". Lucky you. And now we know how to find the entrance to the magic below us where the Earl is apparently waiting for us."

"Anyone hear or see or feel anything weird or unusual that might indicate the enemy is on to us," he asks. "Keep alert, we don't want the enemy watching how we get to the secret lair."

[yes or no, he will still go to the gun room. But if yes, he will try to take extra precautions that they do not observe how they open the hidden door. Close doors behind them. Shut windows and pull drapes closed after making sure there is nothing outside looking in or hiding behind the curtains. He isn't taking the fact that one of them might be invisible to chance either, watching the carpets for sudden depressions. Things like that.]

He leads the way to the gun room, again checking everywhere and using Magic Sense to see if there is magic somewhere where they shouldn't be magic there like an empty spot in the middle of the floor instead of items that have magic in them. Once they checked and rechecked, closing windows and curtains, locking doors, closing transoms, etc. then he goes to the two guns, cocks them and fires them at the same time.

Of course, if there does seem to be something off, he doesn't do that but investigates ready to fight.