Re: RUBY CITY DEFENDERS! Issue #3 - Calm before the storm...

DavidMcMahon Tue Jun 27 2023, 00:07

"Right, build a crime lab when I can," he tells himself. He looks for a baggy or plastic wrap so he can keep the evidence in it for later examination and put it in his pocket once he is done.

After that, he looks around for a large plush toy animal, teddy bear, panda, lion, something like that that is big enough he can actually hide behind it. He figures a "floating" stuffed animal might come in handy and help hide him from anyone around.

Admin Mon Jul 10 2023, 08:30

LIGHTNING BULLET

OOC Apologies for the delay, was waiting for a response from Andy before moving things along but will autopilot where required.

Lightning Bullet had no problem finding stuffed animals. Which one to pick was a bigger problem and he settled on a fluffy tiger. As for something to bag the evidence it was simple enough to empty a packet and pop the hair sample in there.

Once that was sorted he knew he had to find the people behind all this ... mess. First though perhaps he needed to check in with Captain Conduit and Conway, see what they had found (and make sure Conway wasn't in trouble).

Or he could push on, looking for the culprits and coming at them in a (hopefully) two (or three) pronged attack with the other two doing the same...

andyman Sun Jul 16 2023, 06:09

OOC: Sorry, I'm way behind on email and just saw the one from June 5 telling me about the latest post.

Captain Conduit doesn't have two minutes to get the others now. He takes the key and then quietly sneaks to the trail he found two stories down in order to follow it. If he reaches a closed door, he will try to listen at it before deciding if he should open it.

DavidMcMahon Sun Jul 16 2023, 17:30

Lightning Bullet decided to catch up with is teammate first. No sense in accidentally running into each other in a hot situation and attack each other. Besides Captain Conduit might have new information he lacked.

Admin Tue Jul 18 2023, 10:04

OOC No worries about delays - real life comes first. Every time I wanted to sit down for a couple of hours (that's what a full update takes generally, sometimes more) I had to balance with chores that need doing or I won't be eating/sleeping/going to work/seeing my son etc. Work lately has been beating me up so my posting is limited to using my phone which I know from experience is poor.

CAPTAIN CONDUIT

With the key from the top door in a pocket the fledgling hero moves down the stairs, keeping an eye out. Those heat steps are cooling by the second and when he goes down a couple of flights sure enough there is a door which he leans in to listen at.

OOC Perception Check

Int 6 + 2d12+0 12,6+0 = 18 (24) vs
OV 4 + 2d12+0 12,11+0 = 23 (27)

FAILED

Crikey I thought the first roll was a good one...

CC frowns beneath his mask. Either the door is too thick to listen to - it's one of those 'fire escape' type that are thicker than usual and has a keyhole. Say... he feels for the key in his pocket.

Or there may be nothing to listen to on the other side of the door.

Someone is knocking about though. The fact that the civilians left in a panicked mess suggests that it's someone who shouldn't be here. Of course it might be Zoo workers but surely they'd be watching out for the cops turning up. They wouldn't know that the cops have their hands very full indeed with what had gone on in the city of course.

Before he went in he wondered if it was time to take stock. His partner might have discovered information relevant to this case and save him some time.

OOC Just a nudge to get you both back on the same page. It would be a matter of moments to leave via the top door and fly up over the zoo to look about where Lightning Bullet it. LB would see the (much larger) Captain Conduit and then be able to join him, or make his presence known so CC could swoop down to where he is. Your call. or go through the door maybe...

andyman Sun Jul 30 2023, 23:53

At least stopping to listen at the door gave Captain Conduit a moment to realize he probably should have propped the rooftop door open after he went through. He looks around for a fire extinguisher or something else in the stairwell that he can take and use as a doorstop and then flies back up to the roof to leave the door open wide enough for his tiny partner to be able to fly through or at least spot from above. That done, Fred considers if he should just try to enter the floor through another entrance. Does he remember seeing a fire escape on the side of the building? Maybe the key he got will open a different exterior door on that same level. If that's the case, he can let the roof door close quietly and bring his doorstopper with him to prop open the door he does go through on that level. A door that whoever ran from him, would not be expecting him to enter.

Admin Mon Aug 07 2023, 23:27

LIGHTNING BULLET and CAPTAIN CONDUIT

Propping the top door open with a fire extinguisher CC racks his brains and can't remember spotting a side exit but there may well be one down the side where the bins go. he keeps low and peers over the side of the roof. Then down the other side. Leaning out he looks down. Yup. Door on the side. Might be worth checking out.

First though...

He turns and Lightning Bullet soars over the top of the building and lands gently near his crime fighting partner.

The pair of them can see Conway moving from building to building. Well, most were wooden shacks that sold drinks, food, maps, merchandise and so on. The cop was keeping his head down and making sure no one was still knocking around.

The place was eerily quiet. The calls of animals would normally ring out and now there was nothing.

OOC Feel free to fill in what you've found that may be the cause of all this (not a lot so far but those footsteps suggest there is something going on inside this building and possibly others). Once you've had chance to swap a few notes...

Conway moved from the cover of a booth/shack and towards the building where the heroes were stood on the rooftops.

"STOP RIGHT THERE COP!" yelled out a voice.

Lightning Bullet and Captain Conduit looked at one another. That came from the ground floor of this building probably.

"DROP YA GUN! ANY FUNNY MOVES AN' YOU'RE GETTIN' FILLED FULLA LEAD!"

Conway scowled. He could clearly see who was threatening him but the heroes couldn't from the rooftop. Whoever was threatening the cop had NOT seen them though!

OOC Moving things along. Time for ACTION!

DavidMcMahon Sun Aug 20 2023, 13:57

Holding onto the stuff tiger, Lightning Bullet slowly dropped down outside the building, stopping before he reached the first floor. He tried to see if Conway was looking at the person yelling at him or not. That would give him a good chance to figure out where the person was so he could figure out his next move.

andyman Wed Aug 23 2023, 03:36

Captain Conduit knows his diminutive partner can be stealthier than him and surprising a man with a gun aimed at a (friend?) can't end well. Also, while he'd have the high ground, if the man was in a the front doorway, Fred would have no good shot at all. Best to float quietly to that side entrance while the guy in front is distracted. Then if he can get inside, Captain Conduit can surprise the bum from inside the building.

Admin Sat Aug 26 2023, 13:56

CAPTAIN CONDUIT and LIGHTNING BULLET

"Ya got me!" called the Cop. Conway dangled his gun from a finger and let it clatter to the floor, safety on. "Now what, palooka? You know dat dis place is gonna be crawlin' wi' cops soon, yeah?" he drawls, cool as you like.

"Heh, yeah, ya could say we're kinda countin' on it! Hands up! Get over here! Got a 'job' for ya..." snarled a voice.

A man moved out from the angle of the building as the diminutive Lightning Bullet dropped down and out of sigh to get a better look. First floor window, gun poking out. ground floor door had opened and another guy - pin stripe suit. A goon in other words... Was looking about and trained a pistol on the Cop. Getting closer he moved around, frisking Conway.

Captain Conduit heard the exchange and glanced about. The administrative buildings had plenty of windows to climb in, many of them open. Floating up to one he could see discarded coffee cups and overturned chairs. People had left in a hurry. So where were they all?

"Where to?" asked Conway as he got a shove in the back.

"Basement, wise guy. Now button it. We was told ta round up any strays but no one said what kinda state they should be in!" growled the goon who looked about constantly, gun pressed into the back of Conways neck.

OOC The Cop is going to be taken into the ground floor level of the admin block you are outside and - according to the goon - from there go downstairs to the basement. You have an opportunity to take out one or both of the goons with guns on Conway but it is going to be tricky. Lightning Bullet can see the tommy gun jutting from the window of 1st floor, the goon behind Conway and Conway himself. The Cop is in real danger.

Captain Conduit can see Conway and the goon behind him with the pistol.

In game terms because Conway is so close any attack would be a trick shot and whilst you have the element of surprise a nervous/twitchy finger could go off and ruin Conways day real quick. Range wise for LB they are about 3AP (50 feet) and CC about the same albeit he's higher off the ground.

Neither of you have seen the other but if you want to use some time to make a Perception check to spot one another, that's fine. However the goons/Conway might be in the building by then and the chance to spring him will pass. Close quarters things get tighter and harder with the goon so close behind Conway.

andyman Tue Aug 29 2023, 02:04

Hearing mention of the basement, Captain Conduit decides that's where they need to be. It may also be where he can find the people who were drinking that coffee. He figures it's best for him not to go to the ground floor where whoever has Conway went. He'd likely just threaten to kill Conway if the hero doesn't surrender. Best to sneak onto the first floor and find a way to the basement from there.

Given the option, Captain Conduit picks an open window to a room where he can see pen and paper. He then leaves Lightning Bullet a quick note and leaves the pad at the window to get the other super's attention.

The note says only:

LB
Basement
CC

He makes sure to leave the window open enough for the militarized hero to fit through before sneaking quietly out of the room to look for a stairwell or a chute to the basement of some kind, maybe for garbage or laundry.

DavidMcMahon Thu Sep 07 2023, 03:23

Lightning Bullet hoping that the crook guarding/guiding Conway would act as a shield against any stray rounds headed there way. The mook with the Tommy Gun was the biggest problem. He tried to fly over above the guy. The plan was the drop/toss the stuffed tiger toy onto the guy, creating a momentary distraction that would then allow him to approach and hit him with his lightning touch.

Admin Thu Sep 07 2023, 09:21

LIGHTNING BULLET

The diminutive hero looks for an opportunity to distract the fellow looking out from the window with the Tommy Gun. Problem was that he was inside the building with the barrel protruding and trained on Conway - he'd got the cop bang to rights.

Whether Conway would be able to make use of any distraction with the pistol in his back up close and personal was another thing...

CAPTAIN CONDUIT

The Electrical based hero wrote a note in an office using a scrap of paper and pen. Propping it against the window CC then moves through the office carefully, looking out for goons with guns. He was reasonably sure he could take a .38 slug thanks to his amazing Superhuman physiology but a Tommy Gun up close would test his resistance he figured. if he tried it there might not be a second chance to try it sort of thing...

Coming out into an empty corridor save for discarded coffee cups and scraps of paper floating about, CC got the idea those admin staff in the offices had been rounded up and marched... where. Downstairs? To the basement? Why?

Answers waited there. CC checked down one end of the corridor, peeking in all offices and down to the end with a window looking out over the zoo then turned about. A door at the end lead to a stair well leading down.

He set off down the stairs...

LIGHTNING BULLET

LB was looking for his opportunity to drop the stuffed toy when he noticed something in a window of the office block. It looked like a ... sheet of paper?

Zooming in with his Telescopic Vision he easily read the note:

LB
Basement
CC

Aha! That's where his partner was headed!

He glanced at the fellow with the Tommy Gun at the window. With Conway being led into the ground floor of the Admin block and from there to the Basement the fellow had withdrawn his gun and was probably going to make his way down there.

That gave an opportunity for the hero to swoop in through the window and strike from behind! He could take out the guy or - he hoped - keep him conscious enough to pump him for information. Problem was if it took more than a moment a gun going off would cause all these jumpy mob goons to come running and might spell danger for any hostages. At the moment it *seemed* like the Goons were unaware of the heroes, was that something they could take advantage of?

OOC LB's call. CC will be at ground level then continue to the basement on this stairwell in the next post...

DavidMcMahon Thu Sep 07 2023, 10:12

Basement it is then. Find the best way down and hide if possible. Large stuff animals are so nice to hide behind. rendeer

Admin Sun Sep 17 2023, 19:15

LIGHTNING BULLET

Bearing in mind that LB was a fledgling superhero he showed an old head on young shoulders. He was strong, fast and tough but probably couldn't outrun a bullet, especially aimed point blank at Conway!

The diminutive hero followed signs to the emergency stairwell and headed down, down...

CAPTAIN CONDUIT

CC considered that the size of this building might mean a big basement and several ways down to it. That would be where stuff was stored. Food for animals, tools, spare equipment and more besides.

So it was that he got to the bottom of the stairwell and came up against a door... locked.

He leaned in to listen...

OOC Perception Check

Int 6 + 2d12+0 9,9+0 = 18 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 6,7+0 = 31 (37)
vs
OV 5 + 2d12+0 9,11+0 = 20 (25)

Success +5

EV 4 + 5 (EV9) vs RV 5=4 RAPs

1) CC Can hear several voices speaking. It's tricky to pick them out through the door but there are three or four males...
2-3) "...try this on first?" says one voice. Muffled reply. "You! Get up! Over here!" came another voice. There are cries, sniffles, sounds of wailing or crying...
4-6) "...will try this new serum. Did the Kraut say it would work straight away?" "Hey! Are your animals still out there causin' mayhem?" "You don't have to worry about 'my' animals. So long as you uphold YOUR end of the bargain there will be..." the voice trailed off but Captain Conduit could confirm that the owner of the last voice ('bargain' reference) was a FEMALE

LIGHTNING BULLET

As he floated down the stairs towards the basement LB heard voices from the bottom of the stairwell. Peering over the rail and looking down he sees... a couple of goons in cheap rumpled suits. One was smoking, the other was flicking a lighter on and off.

"What do you think will happen when they start puttin' th' juice in?" said one.

"Who knows? Somethin'. Before dat broad showed up an' started talkin ta animals AN' growin' 'em inta giants, I'd a said th' whole thing was baloney. Now? You heard dere's some dat can fly, others can toss cars around. Franki J says he heard some can blast lasers from dere eyes. Like a... Ray Gun."

"Ray gun? Yeah? Like Flash Gordon? I believe dat when I see it!"

"I don't wanna see it! What cha think guns will do 'gainst 'dem?"

"Huh. Good job we're packin' dese huh?"

"Careful wid dat!"

DavidMcMahon Thu Sep 21 2023, 03:25

Lightning Bullet looks for an opportunity to get down to the crooks level. He wonders if he stairs are solid of if there is space under them he could hide. If they both look away at the same time, maybe a darkened corner where he can hide behind his stuffed animal? Something. He could take them on now but that would raise a ruckus that might put Conway in danger.

andyman Mon Sep 25 2023, 03:23

It seems Captain Conduit found the jerks and jerkette behind this mess. It sounds like they are about to test some kind of serum on an unwilling test subject, but does Captain Conduit have what it takes to handle this alone? Maybe it's best to event the odds a little before blasting down this locked door. Fred can see in the dark, but can they? Maybe a power override can take out the lights. It may be what he needs to postpone their human experimentation and give him the cover he'll need for a grand entrance.

Actions: Look for power lines leading beyond the locked door and either overload them or absorb the electricity to put out the lights beyond the locked door.

Admin Mon Sep 25 2023, 09:34

LIGHTNING BULLET and his STUFFED TOY

The hero crept down the stairs/hovered/flitted.

He got to the point where he could see the two goons. One smoking and the other flicking his lighter.

Standard cheap off the peg pinstripe suits, shirts unironed, tie loose, couple of days worth of stubble. These guys were rough and tumble types told to 'dress smart' LB suspected. Maybe ex army. After the war there were a lot of guys who came back and were at loose ends. Some liked what they'd been doing in the army - shooting at people. Others liked it and were good at it.

Some guys were just plain old scumbags.

OOC You are on the stairwell and peering in the gap between a step and the next set of steps up above the two goons. Distance about twenty feet away as the stairs go down to the floor and there is a short walk/hop to the basement doorway the pair are guarding. They aren't on 'high alert' but one has a tommy gun propped against the wall and the other has a Colt 1911 stuffed into his belt. Safety on, presumably.

If you make a move they'll get a Perception check to notice you (and avoid surprise) given that you have to cross the distance to get at them (unless you simply blast them)

Admin Mon Sep 25 2023, 09:45

CAPTAIN CONDUIT

Squinting, concentrating, he looked for heat sources... Sure enough the walls appeared blue but very faint extremely thin lines of pink showed up! Power lines! Wouldn't take much to apply a little juice, either to light fittings or the wires in the wall. The lights might trip the whole floor and plunge the place into darkness. With itchy tricky fingers that might prove a problem. A plug socket on the wall or zapping a wire would trip the sockets and general power on this floor he figured. A fuse would need replacing so if he did either there would be time before things were restored.

OOC Zapping a plug socket (there is one at ground level) or the light fitting should achieve what you are after - lights out or sockets out. Or both if you prefer.

Perception/Int check

Int 6 + 2d12+0 12,7+0 = 19 (25)
vs
OV4 + 2d12+0 2,11+0 = 13 (17)

Success + 4

EV 4 (Will) +4 (EV8) vs RV 4=4 RAPs

1) CC hears more voices. Male, ordering, bulling people about.
2-3) He hears the tell tale click of guns being cocked and sniffling, as if someone or someones are crying.
4-6) The 'dominant' voice seems to be female, ordering others about. Listening reveals ...

"Put those on!" came a voice from behind the door (muffled) though CC caught it. Then another voice. "Watch them. If anyone so much as twitches, shoot one! If they won't behave then... shoot another!" This was from a female voice. Hmmm. CC was a smart guy - that suggests someone on the other side of the door has guns trained on hostages.

DavidMcMahon Tue Sep 26 2023, 14:02

Okay, time to try and get tricky! Throw the stuffed animal so it lands more or less between them so that they see it land. They ought to instinctively look at it before looking where it came from. When they look up the stairs hit them with my blinding flash power.

And since my lightning blast is touch only, next round go and shock them both. If I get that far.

The hero crept down the stairs/hovered/flitted.

He got to the point where he could see the two goons. One smoking and the other flicking his lighter.

Standard cheap off the peg pinstripe suits, shirts unironed, tie loose, couple of days worth of stubble. These guys were rough and tumble types told to 'dress smart' LB suspected. Maybe ex army. After the war there were a lot of guys who came back and were at loose ends. Some liked what they'd been doing in the army - shooting at people. Others liked it and were good at it.

Some guys were just plain old scumbags.

OOC You are on the stairwell and peering in the gap between a step and the next set of steps up above the two goons. Distance about twenty feet away as the stairs go down to the floor and there is a short walk/hop to the basement doorway the pair are guarding. They aren't on 'high alert' but one has a tommy gun propped against the wall and the other has a Colt 1911 stuffed into his belt. Safety on, presumably.

If you make a move they'll get a Perception check to notice you (and avoid surprise) given that you have to cross the distance to get at them (unless you simply blast them)

andyman Wed Sep 27 2023, 03:36

Captain Conduit knew he had to act fast. This situation called for his secret weapon... ACTING!

Fred knocked loudly on the locked door, shouting and in a wise-guy accent, "Hey boss-lady! There's somethin' out here I think you aughta see!"

If it works and he hears someone unlock the door, he'll zap the power line to put out the lights before the door can get all the way open.

Admin Sun Oct 01 2023, 21:04

LIGHTNING BULLET

OOC Throw the bear to land in the middle (and create a distraction) 2d12+0 11,11+0 = 22 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 4,5+0 = 31 (38) vs
OV 3 + Range 1 - Telescopic Vision 1 (cancel out penalty) + 2d12+0 5,7+0 = 12 (15)

Success +7

EV (Dex) 7 + 7 (EV14) vs RV 3=11 RAPs

Success! Only need 1 RAP...

The bear landed with a 'flump' between the goons.

"What th...?" spluttered one as the lighter dropped to the floor.

The other fumbled with his cigarette and turned to grab the Tommy Gun. Then turned again...

FWASH!

The corridor lit up!

OOC

Flash attack!

Multi on two

Flash 8 + 2d12+0 8,8+0 = 16 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 9,6+0 = 31 (39) vs
OV 3 + Multi 2 + Range 1 Cancelled out by T Vision + 2d12+0 1,11+0 = 12 (17)

Success +7

EV8 + 7 (EV15) vs RV3 + Multi 2 (RV5)=10 RAPs.

Both Goons are reduced to Zero (0) Dex for 10 Phases (Rounds)!

"Wha!" spluttered one, dropping to his knees. "I can't... I can't see!"

"My eyes!" gasped the other, feeling about in front of his face.

Lightning Bullet leapt forwards, swooping down to touch the pair of them...

OOC happens in the round after

OOC

Lightning Touch on two

AV7 + 2D M Arts + 4d12+0 6,9,2,7+0 = 16 (23) vs
OV0 + Multi 2 + 2d12+0 9,3+0 = 12 (14)

Success +4

EV9 + 4 (EV13) vs RV3 + Multi 2 (RV5)=8 RAPs

Both Goons are DOWN and OUT!

Smoothly moving between the two blinded goons the diminutive hero swings a leg out touching one and then the other with a roundhouse kick that his Martial Arts Sensei would be proud of!

With a CRACK both men flew backwards, sliding across the floor and a quick check revealed they be out for quite some time!

Admin Sun Oct 01 2023, 21:19

CAPTAIN CONDUIT

Fred knocked loudly on the locked door, shouting and in a wise-guy accent, "Hey boss-lady! There's somethin' out here I think you aughta see!"

OOC

ACTING

PERCEPTION of Woman on other side of door vs Actor...

Int 6 + 2d12+0 4,7+0 = 11 (17) vs
AV4 + 2D Artist/Actor + 4d12+0 3,6,2,10+0 = 16 (20)

FAILED to notice that the voice wasn't that of the Goon she'd employed!

"Go see what's bothering him." said a Female voice.

"Smiddy, if you're messin' around again I'm gonna..." snarled a deep voice accompanied by heavy footsteps that came up to the door.

There was a click on the door lock as it latched, the door started to open...

CRACK!

Captain Conduit reached out a finger towards the lights and POP!

The lightbulb tinkled into fragments and lights on the entire floor went out!

"What the?" spluttered voices in the room.

There were screams from women and cries from some men.

Captain Conduit wasn't bothered by the dark though - his Thermal Vision allowed him to see just fine, as the goon in the doorway loomed large. He was a big chap - might have done some weightlifting or boxing - and the suit looked strained on him. In his big hand he gripped a pistol and the other started fumbling in a pocket.

"Smiddy!" he roared. "Where are ya! Ya schmuck! Get over here!" bellowed the guy in the doorway, unaware (seemingly) that Captain Conduit was only a few feet away!

Admin Sun Oct 01 2023, 21:20

LIGHTNING BULLET

OOC The lights go out and plunge the whole floor into darkness!

You aren't bothered though because you can see pretty easily with your Ultra Vision...

DavidMcMahon Mon Oct 02 2023, 03:48

ooc: Not quite sure where CC and LB are in relation to each other. We are both in the basement but different rooms? Near each other, across the basement, other side of the building? Did anyone else outside of where LB is see the flash LB made? How about the shouting made by CC's folks? LB hear that?

Admin wrote:LIGHTNING BULLET

OOC The lights go out and plunge the whole floor into darkness!

You aren't bothered though because you can see pretty easily with your Ultra Vision...

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