The NEW Vanguard TEAM UP! Haunt Issue #13 with special guest star Steeplejack!

Admin wrote:Sherlock Holmes, quiet until now, spoke up. "Ready to go retrieve the grail, gentlemen?" he asks with a raised eyebrow...

OOC We'll be back to running Haunt and Steeplejack shortly, so wrap your time as Carter and Starky and we'll move to part 2 of this adventure...

Starkey looked down on himself, his clothes, the smells, sight and surroundings to check they really were back in their own time where they'd been pulled from. Relieved to see Holmes and reaching in for a familiar Cigar. Althewhile chuckling to himself that he had survived such an event.

Clearly, they'd got the grail back in one time, but despite what Zoot said, the grail had still been stolen in this time and was still missing. But perhaps they were finally within striking distance of retrieving it.

OOC: I'm otherwise done here.

Sj

"I just had the strangest dream," John Carter murmurs, mostly to Starkey or to himself or to no one. "I was cast back to the age of the Romans in Britain with Starkey and Alucard and after many adventures rescued the Grail and returned it. And now I wake up here. Was it a dream? A Portent? Or did is actually happen?"

Haunt and Steeplejack were superhumans. They didn't need much sleep.

Still, when they woke, it was as if coming out of a dense fog. As usual with dreams the details faded quickly and snatched images of his time in the Executive lingered with Steeplejack.

Likewise Haunt recalled a time before the scarring and his time treading the boards on stage. The applause of the crowd, the plaudits, flowers being thrown, cries for "More, more!" as an appreciative audience acknowledged a young master of his craft, one destined for great things and... it was gone.

"Sleep well gentlemen?" asked Sherlock Holmes as he walked over. "I moved into the trees and hung blankets up to mask the fire from the sight of the castle, even though it's some miles away." said the great detective. He narrowed his eyes, then glanced over at Starky and Carter. "Are you alright gentlemen? As the two with the most power and diverse abilities you are of key importance and much of the weight of this days' challenge will fall on your shoulders. I think.. something has happened. Alucard is gone. Where, I know not. He vanished in the night at some point and though I was sharp eyed and vigilant I missed it." he said, ruefully.

Dr Watson came over, looking like he'd slept on rocks all night. "Feel like I've not been to sleep." he grumbled.

"I haven't!" said Holmes, cheerfully.

Watson scowled, about to say something, but it seemed this conversation was one played out many times over the years and Watson knew his argument - of rational, medical, educated thinking - would be lost somewhere in Holmes' twisting of the words with his spiritual mumbo jumbo. In truth, the man was a wonder, a freak of nature. His mind, even his lean muscled body, worked in ways Watson could not fathom and when required the man could function for days at a time without rest. When exhaustion did take over Holmes would vanish for a day or more at a time and surface bright as a button. Bizarre.

Sat away from the others, Mina Harkness felt strange. The pull, the urge to be with the Count, was much weaker now. He'd gone. Her mind was clearer, less fogged. She looked about, then at the back of her hand at the dark purple veins. Too long since she'd fed. Hearing the others speak she hissed, fangs bared, then caught a glimpse of the sun as it crept over the lowest of hills. Gasping, she pulled the hood over her head and the scarf around her face and neck to keep it in place. She sat in place, rocking and wondering if this living nightmare would ever end.

Anjali, once of Captain Nemo's employ and now a shape shifting alien adventurer seeking excitement and ... 'more', prepared what food was left for the others to eat for breakfast. A strange bunch, united by the need to retrieve the Grail and return it to Britain.

"Good morning madam." said Dr Henry Jekyll. He stood over her, blowing into his hands and stamping his feet for warmth. His clothes were tattered, patched up, sewn in so many places. That was a consequence of his transformation into the beastly Mr Hyde, a hulking brute who's strength was only exceeded by the two time travelling... what? Gods? Their powers and abilities outstripped anything even the alien Anjali had witnessed.

"Breakfast - such that it is - will be ready shortly." she said, halting before she added "Sir." She was a part of the group now and none had declared seniority, which she liked. Holmes was the brain, but even then others near matched him.

One such was Captain Savage who stretched in a series of movements to relieve tension and she wondered if it were yoga of some kind. The man caught her glance at him and he gave a tight smile without interrupting his movement of a Karate Kata. Then he stopped.

Tipping his head to the side he turned to the trees.

Holmes was about to continue speaking when he raised an eyebrow.

"What, Holmes?" asked Watson.

"A horse approaches..." muttered Holmes. Then the others heard it.

OOC You are in charge of your selves now. I'll take over Carter and Starky and at adventures end you will receive the Hero Points for running them so well. For now you are at the side of the road in the trees. A low stone wall is on the other side of the dirt road/track and the road runs North/South (with the Castle some miles to the East). You can hear galloping hooves but not from which direction they originate...

The Haunt moves slowly into the woods, as if he doesn't hear the approaching horse and is just going out to relieve himself. Once out of sight, he stretches himself up a tree snakelike, using the tree to block the oncoming person[s]'s sight of him and transforms his eyes to give himself telescopic vision to see them more clearly.

DavidMcMahon wrote:The Haunt moves slowly into the woods, as if he doesn't hear the approaching horse and is just going out to relieve himself.  Once out of sight, he stretches himself up a tree snakelike, using the tree to block the oncoming person[s]'s sight of him and transforms his eyes to give himself telescopic vision to see them more clearly.

Likewise, Steeplejack moved soundlessly through the trees leaping where possible but always within the cover, to assist his friend and seek to see who was coming. As ever, he was ready to leap into action, or even form the ground into a sufficient barrier to stop the rider, if appropriate to do so.

Sj

The two heroes took off and Holmes calmed Watson with a hand on the shoulder and a look. He then glanced around at the others in the camp who'd seen the two time travellers go.

A look that says 'make no sound nor sudden move'.

Haunt formed himself into a snake like shape and flowed up a tree before growing a pair of binocular eyes and scanning about.

Likewise Steeplejack used his incredible agility to flawlessly leap from branch to branch until he, too, occupied the uppermost branches of the trees...

The galloping hooves came closer, then slowed.

Then stopped.

The heroes peered through a gap in the leaves.

There was a single figure on horseback stood on the trail through the forest. It had stopped around 300' from the camp and 100' from the current position of Steeplejack and Haunt on either sad. Stopped... and was waiting...

Male? Female? Young? Old? Familiar? Unknown? So many questions!

HAUNT

Zooming in with his vision was tricky with the trees in the way but Haunt saw a cloaked/hooded figure, probably a man from the build. No details of face under the hood with it cast in shadow and not able to recognise from this angle...

The Haunt stretches his head and neck, transforming them to look like a snake while he stays in the tree, slithers along the ground, using the folds in the earth to hide his approach to the rest of the team from the hooded cloaked man.

"Can't tell who or what he is," his stretched out lips tell those by the fire, "could be a man or something else. One of you want to approach him and talk to him? Be ready to leap or run away at the slightest sign of hostilities and Steeplejack and I will come swooping in to attack him."

DavidMcMahon wrote:The Haunt stretches his head and neck, transforming them to look like a snake while he stays in the tree, slithers along the ground, using the folds in the earth to hide his approach to the rest of the team from the hooded cloaked man.

"Can't tell who or what he is," his stretched out lips tell those by the fire, "could be a man or something else.  One of you want to approach him and talk to him?  Be ready to leap or run away at the slightest sign of hostilities and Steeplejack and I will come swooping in to attack him."

Steeplejack holds his position curious as to see if the man is someone sent to scout them out, intercept them, or what.

OOC: I am keen to find out, but not so keen to reveal our hand, so might be best we wait and see. We know the enemy has many agents and all sorts of tricks and eyes everywhere, so we want to be cautious as to not reveal our presence if possible. Although they may well know it already. However, lets go with the idea they don't yet know all, so we go with caution for now.

Sj

John Carter (of Mars) steps forward. "I'll see who it is."

"I'll go with you." said Edward Starky.

Henry Jekyll snorts. "You? What use are you? Toymaker. You craft trinkets, nothing more!"

Carter stepped forward, but Starky raised a hand to slow him. "Then perhaps you need me to prove myself?"

Holmes raised an eyebrow and shrugged. Watson was about to offer a protest but a glance from the Great Detective suggested he stay around the fire and wait things out. "Our two mighty companions have things covered I suspect."

Anjali continued to tend the food but looked nervously from one of the companions to the other. Away from the fire Mina Harker sat hooded and cloaked keeping to the shadows whilst Captain Savage - who'd been about to offer his own services - eased the button on the holster of his sidearm and kept an eye on Dr Jekyll.

Carter and Starky march off through the trees. "Your sword sir." asked Starky and reached out a hand. Carter willingly handed his blade over and glanced at it as the blade shone silver like a mirror. "Jekyll is arrogant, overbearing and of little use. I suspect Holmes brought him along purely to keep from causing trouble as his monstrous alter ego in London in our absence."

"It suits our purpose to let them think I am some kind of 'tinker' my friend." said Starky. "That dream was ... too vivid. Too real. Some part of me thinks it was real, that we went back to the Roman times, but we are here so... who knows?"

"I know your worth. You are worth an army of Jekylls! If the man slanders you again I shall demand honour be satisfied!" said Carter.

"Save your rage for our enemies my friend." said Starky. "But by all means keep an eye on some of our ... 'friends' as I shall."

The pair walked through the trees towards the road and the waiting horseman.

Above, in the trees, Haunt and Steeplejack had listened to the exchange and wondered what it meant. For now though.

Carter stopped around twenty feet short of the horseman. The Horse made little in the way of noise and stood stock still, staring ahead.

"You sir!" said Carter. "State your purpose here!" said the Virginian, pointing his silver steel cavalry sabre at the horseman.

The Horseman waited, as did Haunt and Steeplejack in the trees above... then he pulled his hood back!



It was Alucard/Dracula! But... ancient... dead... evil...

"Ahhhh my friends..." he hissed. "How long... how so very... very long... I haf waited... for you.., and for my revenge!" he snarled!

OOC Fast as Dracula is, Haunt and Steeplejack can give him a run for his money! Initiative next, but actions to declare first please!

Confused by the change in Dracula, the Haunt waited just a bit longer to see what the man would do or say, hopefully giving him hints to unravel the mystery.

ooc: Going to hold action until it becomes obvious that Dracula or whoever this is is going to attack the two. Meaning if an attack does start, then race to see if he can beat the attack, turning his four limbs into tentacles to try and bind this foe. Hopefully, John Carter can hold him off if Haunt is a bit slower on the defense.

Admin wrote:"Ahhhh my friends..." he hissed. "How long... how so very... very long... I haf waited... for you.., and for my revenge!" he snarled!

OOC Fast as Dracula is, Haunt and Steeplejack can give him a run for his money! Initiative next, but actions to declare first please!

Steeplejack saw that the two heroes were no match for Alucard, he couldn't explain his sudden rapid onset of age, nor indeed why he seemed so consumed unlike his former self they had with them but hours ago. His intent though looked obvious, and Steeplejack lept from the tree, to join his teammates.

"Count we tolerate you, but stop playing games and making with the age thing. We've not got time or luxury to turn on one another when we are so close to our victory. If you're not with us then you're against us and if against us, we will use force. So be warned, this is your last chance."

There was no menace or rancour in Steeplejack's voice but there was no mistaking his commitment to see through his warning.

OOC: OK into position ready to fight hand to hand if need be. Don't want the horse (assuming it's a normal one) to suffer in the fight.

Sj

The horse was like a statue. Indeed, it was as far from 'normal' as it was possible, with blood red eyes...

Alucard/Dracula turned to look on Steeplejack. "Ah, the man from the future. Where is..." he sniffed, like an animal, then looked in the trees. "Somewhere about, no doubt."

"Carter and Starky LEFT me in the past! Low on blood I ... fed... on the aliens who hunted me... Something happened." he hissed. "Their blood... so much power! I have never felt so... empowered, so powerful... fast... invigorated! Ordinary humans no longer provided the sustenance I required so I hunted down what alien blood I could find... There wasn't enough of it! I have had to ... exist... by feeding on 'lesser' beings. Hence my state now... You could have avoided this by finding me, taking me back with you!" he roared.

"Instead I have waited these centuries, so long... I saw my self become a Vampire again. My beloved Elizabet... she ... she died again. I slaughtered the Turks, becoming the impaler... I had to remain in the shadows until this moment, when time..." he shook his head. "I am back. And I will claim my vengeance! You see, I know what I need to do to survive... it needs to be blood from beings that are 'more'... and what 'more' in terms of power than to feed on the individuals in this group?" he cackled, eyes blood red now!

"Starting with YOU!" he snarled at Steeplejack and leapt at him!

OOC 'Super' Dracula is faster, stronger, tougher and smarter than before! Also more dangerous...

However...

Initiative

Steeplejack 34 plus Roll(2d12)+0: 9,12,+0 Total:21 (55)

Haunt 26 plus Roll(2d12)+0: 8,10,+0 Total:18 (44)

Dracula (+2APs across board on the Marvel write Up) 35 plus Roll(2d12)+0: 3,9,+0 Total:12 (47)

Steeplejack is up. His Danger Sense would not have let him be surprised, but he was taken aback at how much faster the Count was!

Admin wrote:Dracula (+2APs across board on the Marvel write Up) 35 plus Roll(2d12)+0: 3,9,+0 Total:12 (47)

Steeplejack is up. His Danger Sense would not have let him be surprised, but he was taken aback at how much faster the Count was! [/i][/color]

Assuming that his prior weakness to the sun, had somehow been eliminated by the blood he'd lived off, Steeplejack surmised that he'd be much harder to beat than before. But he'd slain vampires before, regrettably. And he wasn't above doing it again. He didn't know what Alucard was babbling about, but there'd be time enough to find out about that after the beast had been subdued.

OOC: OK I think he is going to be too strong to just contain in a pile of earth, but since I don't want to slay him, but question him it looks as if we'll need to go at him with my earth-moving powers and try and open up a hole into which I can dump him if I can until he plays nice.

Sj

With a gesture Steeplejack called the Earth up beneath Draculas' feet to engulf the Vampire!

OOC Earth Control 10

AV10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,7,+0 Total:8 (18) vs
OV12 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,4,+0 Total:7 (19) Attack Missed!

Dracula was astonishing. His agility and reflexes almost matched Steeplejacks' own and he stepped casually out of the way of the heroes' attack!

"Fool! I have lived TWO centuries long lifetimes, and my battle experience cannot be measured by you 'mortals'! My powers are greater now than they have EVER been!" he laughed. "What is more... I have discovered TRUE power! Humankind gave enough to sustain me... the aliens showed me there is more - MUCH more to be had... ESPECIALLY from the 'heroes' from the future!"

The Vampire was a blur as he moved up to Steeplejack and swung a backhand at the agile hero!

OOC Dracula AV12 and M Arts 7 (4D) on attack.
Steeplejack OV13 and Acrobatics 7 (4D) on defence

AV12 + Roll(6d12)+0: 9,5,5,6,10,12,+0 Total:10 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 12,2,+0 Total:24 (36) vs
OV13 + Roll(6d12)+0:  10,7,3,9,10,6,+0 Total:20 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 6,4,+0 Total:30 (43) Attack Missed!

Dracula was a snarling, swiping demon! Speed, strength and power beyond even that he'd not had previously, and yet... and yet... Steeplejack was his equal and more besides! As he ducked, weaved, rolled, spun about and circled his foe it became clear to Dracula that his prey would require more than just a matchless martial knowledge gained from century of battling... mortals!

"It is only a matter of time, 'Hero'!" he snarled.

OOC Haunt is up!

"Hey! Don't know what you are talking about being left two centuries behind but it looks like you have turned into a worst monster than you were," The Haunt yells out as he stretches in closer and attacks. *Giant Flyswatter Hands!*

OOC Using Weaponry at full value (Haunt doesn't really ever miss when that happens) as Dracula has already acted.

Haunt Av10 + 6D Weaponry (!) + Roll(8d12)+0: 1,1,1,7,2,6,3,9,+0 Total:2 FAILED. I take it back.

In the standard DC Heroes/Blood of Heroes rules a double 1 is always a fail. In our house ruled version using D12s a roll of 3 or less always fails but counts on the first two dice rolled. As seen above.

Haunt, normally so accurate and an expert fighter by any measure, flounders somewhat hopelessly as his giant fly swatter hands get tied up in themselves and miss Dracula completely!

John Carter turns to Starky. "Tell the others what is happening! Now!" and pulls out his sword.

Starky is reluctant for a moment but is a man of science and a realist. Carter is a far superior fighter than he is and he is massively out of his depth against Dracula. If Dracula can pose a problem for the two time travelling demi gods that travel with them... what hope would he have? Still, it grates somewhat to leave his companions in a battle but he rushes away to alert Holmes, Savage, Watson, Jekyll and the two ladies about what is happening in the woods.

"Have at thee!" laughs Carter as he leaps at Dracula!

OOC Carter throws everything into Dex (9) and...

Av9 + 3D Weaponry + Roll(5d12)+0: 7,6,4,4,10,+0 Total:8 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 10,7,+0 Total:25 (34) vs
Ov12 + Roll(2d12)+0: 11,11,+0 Total:22 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 7,6,+0 Total:35 (47) Missed!

Despite Carter's deadly accurate swing the Vampire ducks away and spins about. "You ... you are a worthy foe Mr Carter, in this or ANY age! Your skill with the blade is enviable indeed... but I am DRACULA, and no mortal can strike ME down!" he hisses!

"Can't blame a fella fer tryin!" quips Carter, but he knows he's out of his depth. That blow should have struck true and taken Dracula's head off! instead the Vampire stepped aside like Carter was movin' through molasses and he was holding his own against the three of them!

OOC initiative... (doing it the normal way this time instead of 2D12! Didn't matter as everyone had 2D12 but doubles make things interesting)

Steeplejack 34 plus Roll(1d12)+0: 2,+0 Total:2 (36)

Haunt 26 plus Roll(1d12)+0: 7,+0 Total:7 (33)

Dracula (+2APs across board on the Marvel write Up) 35 plus Roll(1d12)+0: 9,+0 Total:9 (44)

Carter 20 plus Roll(1d12)+0: 9,+0 Total:9 (29)

Dracula seems to become insubstantial, like a fog... until a hand thrusts out to grasp Carter by the throat!

OOC Av12 + M Arts 4D + DEV ATTACK + Roll(6d12)+0: 7,3,2,10,10,11,+0 Total:20 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 9,9,+0 Total:18 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 3,8,+0 Total:49 (61) (uh oh, this isn't good..) vs
OV9 + Acrobatics 2D + Dev Attack 8 + Roll(4d12)+0: 5,4,7,2,+0 Total:12 (29) Success +8 (to 17EV) vs RV4 - 12 (Dev Attack)=25 RAPs damage.

John Carter (of Mars) is KILLED outright as a powerful hand grasps his throat then twists with a sickening crunch!

The heroes gasp as the cloud of smoke and the barely there hand toss the limp lifeless body of the brave Virginian aside! A pair of red malevolent eyes stare from the cloud and a sibilant voice hisses "Know this... 'heroes'... these... mortals hold little attraction for me now. The sustenance they provide is fleeting. Only true power sustains and invigorates me... such as that found in YOUR blood! Once I have drained you two... I shall slumber and visit your time... where more of you and your likeness will serve to feed me! Submit to me now and you shall endure, as a servant to me! I am DRACULA, Lord of Darkness and I have seen now that the entirety of history unravels as a blank canvas before me, ready to be written by MY hand!"

OOC Steeplejack then Haunt are up!

Admin wrote:OOC Av12 + M Arts 4D + DEV ATTACK + Roll(6d12)+0: 7,3,2,10,10,11,+0 Total:20 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 9,9,+0 Total:18 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 3,8,+0 Total:49 (61) (uh oh, this isn't good..) vs
OV9 + Acrobatics 2D + Dev Attack 8 + Roll(4d12)+0: 5,4,7,2,+0 Total:12 (29) Success +8 (to 17EV) vs RV4 - 12 (Dev Attack)=25 RAPs damage.

John Carter (of Mars) is KILLED outright as a powerful hand grasps his throat then twists with a sickening crunch!

The heroes gasp as the cloud of smoke and the barely there hand toss the limp lifeless body of the brave Virginian aside! OOC Steeplejack then Haunt are up!

OOC: Oh my that is not good at all. Poor John, I should think Dave will be upset, I mean I'm upset. So question if the Count is insubstantial, both me and Haunt no magic non-psi types can throw as many punches as we like and he ain't getting hit, right? Just wondering what my kung fu skill can do in this situation! Still, it's all I've got, a shame a stake through the heart probably won't cut it now.

Steeplejack lept into the fray, weary of their one-time ally who clearly had gained considerable power over his former self, and sought a way to land a blow that might yet bring things to a swift end.

Sj

ooc:

WOW! Out of 8 dice you had to roll 3 ONES, a TWO and a Three!?!?

Not sure of the rules here but is there some way to affect a dispersed character by dispersing them further? Like Haunt turning into a giant fan or hair dryer and blows Dracula's misty body into lots of wide spread super-dispersed mist bits? Or just keep trying to hit him with fly swatter hands and see if he can connect with a solid bit of him and damage him?


Man, are the Martians going to be really pissed to find out that their Warlord is dead! Why, they might even build some tripod war machines and fly to Earth to punish everyone in about ten years time!~

OOC This is still a four colour game so whilst death is nasty and has an impact, there may be ways to reverse it...

Steeplejack was cool under fire and an experienced combatant.

His time in the Executive (OOC in this timeline, no Lionheart) had seen him battle alongside the British Bulldog, Iron Lady, Ben Nevis, Professor Thoth and Wandafar along with several others who flitted in and out of the team. For a while they were the Nations foremost heroes and capable at that. Dracula may be powerful, and enhanced even over his former state but he was still a bad guy to take down, and Steeplejack had never shied away from that!

OOC Problem is that he appears to be insubstantial... But something most definitely substantial did for poor Mr Carter...

Attack with 3D, Defend with 2D

AV13 + 3D M Arts + Roll(5d12)+0: 11,12,5,4,5,+0 Total:10 DOUBLE (though the 23 might be a better bet) plus Roll(2d12)+0:
9,4,+0 Total:23 (or it may turn out the same) (36) vs
OV12 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,3,+0 Total:10 (22)
Success +5 (to 16) vs RV## ATTACK FAILED! Steeplejacks' body of 9 is less than Draculas' Dispersal of 12 so the attack passes through him without harm!

Despite delivering a blow that should have shocked the Vampire to the core the hero sweeps through the evil creature and forward rolls, spinning to face him! What? How can he affect a foe that is intangible?

Haunt shook his head. He'd have to get back in the game before he saw Steeplejack and the others fall victim to the murderous Count Dracula!

OOC you have options. Haunt (Int 8) and Steep (Int 10) are both genius level intellects and world class - even amongst supers - fighters. They've just seen Dracula affect Carter and Steeplejack unable to affect him. So from Haunts' point of view...

1) You can try the air blowy thing. If it can overcome the Dispersal it will affect Dracula but with the Dispersal (12APs) added to Draculas' resistance value (his Body stat). Because Steeplejack has a Body of 9 no blow that he makes will affect Dracula who has Dispersal of 12!

2) The fly swatter hands (area attack) is on the right lines. See...

3) If you use your Dice action (i.e. instead of attacking) you can pinpoint the place where Dracula can be attacked so that Steeplejack can at least have some effect (he'll still have to get through the near invulnerability that Dispersal gives but at least he'll have a chance). That would then require a 'Trick Shot' to target one specific area. An alternative might be to use your Int check to recall something useful of Vampire Lore and Legends to help the pair of you.

ooc: Well, heck! Metagaming here. Since my Body is greater than Steeplejack's, let's try the flyswatter hands. All I remember from vampire lore is garlic, holy water, moving water, sunlight, holy symbols and stakes through the heart.

Admin wrote:OOC you have options. Haunt (Int and Steep (Int 10) are both genius level intellects and world class - even amongst supers - fighters. They've just seen Dracula affect Carter and Steeplejack unable to affect him. So from Haunts' point of view...

1) You can try the air blowy thing. If it can overcome the Dispersal it will affect Dracula but with the Dispersal (12APs) added to Draculas' resistance value (his Body stat). Because Steeplejack has a Body of 9 no blow that he makes will affect Dracula who has Dispersal of 12!

2) The fly swatter hands (area attack) is on the right lines. See...

3) If you use your Dice action (i.e. instead of attacking) you can pinpoint the place where Dracula can be attacked so that Steeplejack can at least have some effect (he'll still have to get through the near invulnerability that Dispersal gives but at least he'll have a chance). That would then require a 'Trick Shot' to target one specific area. An alternative might be to use your Int check to recall something useful of Vampire Lore and Legends to help the pair of you.

OOC: Yeah I'll go for the I'm intelligent, so let's think about how we can get around this option as without Psi or Magic I'm all out of options here. But equally, if Haunt can get the Count to step out of dispersal then I am happy to team attack or whatever to get around his defences.

Sj

OOC As mentioned Haunt is far more durable/body dense than Steeplejack (heck, 14 Body which Haunt has could probably shrug off a Battleships main guns, or at least take a few hits without worrying him too much).

Haunt morphs his hands into giant fly swats. What he loses by diverting to area (2APs should cover a human form and reduce his strength effectively to 13APs) he gains by hitting a larger area. A critical blow or devastating attack is practically a default

CRIT BLOW AV10 + 6D (!) Weaponry + Roll(8d12)+0: 1,7,7,2,5,6,12,1,+0 Total:14 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 6,8,+0 Total:28 (38) vs
OV12 + Trick Shot NEGATED (no modifier) + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,5,+0 Total:15 (27)
Success +5 (to EV18) vs RV25 (!) - CB 6 (RV19)=0 Damage!

Haunt doesn't actually need to flyswat. He can just do his usual with the hammer/sword arms and clobber the bad guy because his Body stat is higher than the Dispersal 12 the Count has... he realises this now.

Despite striking Dracula and squishing his fog like form into the ground, Haunt frowns as the smoke rises through the holes in the swat and around it to once more form that cloud with the deadly red eyes!

Dracula laughs "You FOOLS! Don't you understand? I have transcended beyond your means to affect me! I am INVULNERABLE, but I can affect you at will! Strike at me... I shall toy with you as a cat does a mouse and when I am ready I shall drain you! Note that you shall both be allowed to live and be my slaves because the blood inside of you empowers me to levels I could not have dreamed of! Hahahahaha!"

OOC Initiative ...

Haunt 26 + Roll(1d12)+0: 5,+0 Total:5 (31)
Steeplejack 34 + Roll(1d12)+0: 1,+0 Total:1 (35)
Dracula 35 + Roll(1d12)+0: 10,+0 Total:10 (45)

Dracula attacks Haunt. "You are dangerous but shall fall just as all others will!"

OOC The fog reaches forward with a dispersed hand jutting from it! I assume Haunt uses 2D Acrobatics to avoid and 4D for Attack from Weaponry.

CRIT BLOW AV12 + 4D M Arts + Roll(6d12)+0: 9,2,3,12,1,1,+0 Total:21 (33) vs
OV10 + 2D Acro + Crit Blow 4 + Roll(4d12)+0: 6,6,7,12,+0 Total:12 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 10,3,+0 Total:25 (39)
MISSED!

Dracula swipes and is a blur, moving faster than any mere human could hope to avoid! However Haunt is faster still and weaves aside, his body twisting and morphing like an eel!

"Impressive." growled Dracula.

OOC Steeplejack is up. He can use his intelligence so...

Int 10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,5,+0 Total:15 (25) vs
Ov7 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,9,+0 Total:14 (21)
Success +3 (to Will 8) vs RV7=1 RAP

1) Dracula is phased/incorporeal BUT the hand that he used to kill Carter is still partially phased and can be targeted. It will be difficult but by targeting that hand with enough force (you are looking at needed a decent roll and a devastating attack) you might be able to target Dracula!

If you'd scored higher on the check you might have come up with some other ideas on how to thwart the most powerful Vampire who ever 'lived'.

Haunt is up.

ooc: Man am I torn here! Going back to standard smash with mallet sounds great and probably should be what I do. But then again, it has bee awhile since I used the Aura of Fear and I wonder what affect it would have on Dracula. Also since he turns into fog, Haunt is thinking about setting up fog around himself too. Go tricky or go standard attack????!?!?!?!?!?!?



Eenie Meenie Minie Moe! ....

summoning his own Fog, just enough to encase his own body but not so wide-spread that it would interfere with any attack Steeplejack might make, he brings forth his Aura of Fear to see if it will affect Dracula.

ooc2: Been awhile, does the Haunt still have his costume? If not, then he can't do the above since he needs his costume for those powers, so he would have to go with the old Mallet-Hands attack, critical attack.