PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 108 (Ok... after a long hiatus, I'll try to get the story back up and running.)

 

From I/Arcsilver:

Arcsilver will keep looking around the room, staying aware of what Artie

is doing. he will speak to MIRV, saying "I think that she is gone,

Mirvy, but I don't know how. I think that I have things under control

here, can you round up Wright? See why she took a couple of shots at me.

I will deal with Artie. We need some police and an ambulance here as

well, does Austin have a paranormal unit, we could use a sweep of the

house, although maybe you can do that."

 

Then, to Artie,

 

"OK, Artie, it seems that there is more to your story than you intially

suggested... You seem like a pretty good guy, and I think you would want

to stop her from hurting more people. You are also going to have to go

with the police when they get here, and if they find your sister, they

are going to try to kill her. The best bet for her safe capture is for

you to tell me everything you know, because the Mavericks don't kill

people."

 

Arcsilver will then let him speak for as long as he wants to, and will

prompt him with questions if need be. He wants to know where AJ got her

abilities and how she powers them, what the connection is with the

Warlord, where she might be going, and what he overall agenda is (ie she

has powers and gadgets, what does she use them for, and why might she

have attacked).

 

-Ilan

 

----------

 

From GM:

>>>Arcsilver: MIRV responds with, "Affirmative. Calling Austin PD now. I'll get them on the case and see if they have a CAT squad. Don't think there's been much metahuman activity in this town." As you turn to speak with Artie, you hear MIRV landing again, out front. Distant sounds of him arguing with someone, probably Lydia, come through the broken window.

Artie seems to barely hear you as you speak to him. He stares into the distance, as if in deep thought. Absent mindedly, he looks at his bleeding hand, and picks a piece of glass from the lacerated flesh with barely a wince of pain. There is a moment of silence after you finish, and you wave your hands in front of his face, with a ,"Yo, Artie. You with me?"

Finally he looks at you with pained and angry eyes. "Ivrel..." he says. Then again, "She called herself Ivrel." He stands up again, suddenly all business, "She appeared again, right after you flew outside. That big black gun pointed right at my head. The look in her eyes was... wild... dangerous. It's how she looks when she is dancing... or when she brokered a difficult deal." He turns from you, talking out loud, but as much to himself, as to inform you. "Then she dropped her accent, her natural born lilt she'd had all her life, like it had all been an act. "Goodbye Arthur," she said, and I thought she was going to kill me, but then she said, "I hope to see you again, big brother." Then she spoke into a radio, I think, saying, "Agent Ivrel, requesting immediate retrieval. Tesseract signal is operative. Ivrel out." She smiled at me then, and just as I was about to speak, the air seemed to just fold her up, twist her into a point, and swallow her completely. She didn't just blink out, like before. She... went somewhere else."

He continues after a moment. "The police will never find her. She is much to careful and prepossessed for that. She has a large amount of funds at her disposal, and obviously has support and resources. That equipment... I'd never seen it before," he pauses again, thinking. "It is so advanced. There are very few places she could have had access to such..." Suddenly he turns to you, saying, "No... I'm not going with the police. They will be a no help. I am going with you!"<<<

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 109 - (A little aside that came from Geoff... Speedball's player. Having a great writer like Geoff toss bits out like this really helped create a deeper sense of character all the way around.)

 

From G/Speedball:

More character development for Speedball. Don't bother to read if you aren't interested, since this is unlikely to play out in game terms. Just

me being a little self-indulgent on a study-break. It isn't exactly 4-color comic style...Things always seemed so much simpler between Peter Parker and

Gwen Stacy.

 

Think of this piece as being in <>

 

He rolled over again and sighed loudly enough to make her stop snoring and

half-turn, asking if he was alright.

"Fine," he assured her. "Go back to sleep." He paused long enough for her

to do so and continued "Go back to sleep, lie there and be beautiful." She

didn't hear him say this, though it would have done her good to hear it and

he knew that. Trying to find a way to resolve himself to sleep, he focused

on her breathing instead of her body, as he had been. The breathing came

regularly, like waves on the beach in the town he was from-and to which he'd

 

return, and moved his head down a bit so that it rested against her upper

back. His ear, cool from the early Spring air in the bedroom, pressed

lightly against the warm hollow between her shoulder blades. He listened

more carefully to her now than before and felt himself taken in by its slow

rhythm. Just above where his chin drew away from her middle back was where

her green printed nightgown-he hated the word nightie and refused to use it,

 

strangely, began its horizontal cross-section of her spine.

It was, when he saw it on her, the most beautiful piece of clothing he had

ever seen. He had seen it in the bathroom minutes earlier handing loosely

on a hook and thought nothing of it. This beautiful piece of silk or rayon

owed more to her than she to it though she would never know this and he

would never bother to tell her. Undeniably, she would be the favored party

in any comparison, but this would also remain unsaid. Instead, hours after

he first saw her wearing the thing as she walkied towards him, he tried to

decide whether she wore it for him or not. He was already in her bed,

hoping for something just like this without knowing in advance how

persistent the image would be.

It wasn't this image, though, that years later he would try to recall. He

never had to try-it was just there, unwelcome. Instead he tried to remember

 

the sound of her snoring. It was the only thing about her that came to mind

 

when he tried to think bad thoughts about her-and he tried often. He did

this to understand why it was that despite all her beauty he couldn't feel

more strongly about her. He tried, briefly, and failed. It would have

occurred to him, if he had cared to delve that far, that he had simply not

tried hard enough. He had failed to give himself the chance to appreciate

anything but her beauty, even when he knew that her beauty wouldn't fade

with age and that there wasn't any reason to rush away. Her beauty wasn't

that way like it was with the women he knew or glanced at in the city. He

failed almost willfully and with certainty because in many ways he was just

wanted to keep watching and finally he was too tired to stay awake.

Junkies, let alone junkies who happen to be superheroes, don't get many

chances to sleep for more than a few hours at a time. But Joe, knowing as he

 

did that he was sitting on several months' worth of his strange brew, slept

just fine in a warm, comforting haze of forgetfulness.

 

----------

 

From GM:

Geoff,

Cool stuff. Do you want me to give "her" a name, or do you have one?

Do you have points for a DNPC for "her" should she ever, ahem... cough... show up again?

 

Nothing four color about RDU, really. This kind of thing falls right into

line.

 

Great stuff... thanks.

 

--------

 

From G/Speedball:

I don't have any points for a DNPC, no. I wasn't really much thinking about how it would figure into a future scenario, though obviously you're welcome to use it however you'd like. Let's call her Molly.

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 110 - And now back to our regularly scheduled story...

 

From S/Crusader:

Are you be needing

assistance?" <<<

 

"Why is 'Heart at the Hospital? And yes, Yuri, it is clear here. Send

the CATs, the medics, and especially vice, drugs are on the scene."

 

>>>You begin giving him the lowdown, as the assault cops move

in and Impetus steps up to the front door, returning from dealing with Red

Cap. The cops raise there weapons, and the lead SWAT guy yells, "FREEZE!

POLICE!" From the van, the two CAT squadies start moving forward at a fast

clip, dropping their visors. Their blasters make an audible whine as

initiate the power charges in them.<<<<<<

 

"MEN IN BLUE!! I CAN VOUCH FOR HIM!" at full blast loudspeaker (which is

the same as a person yelling since I don't have change environment or however

you would buy a megaphone). Waving my hands and moving towards Impetus with

my back turned to him, facing the cops.

"He helped me out. In fact, the entire gig was pretty much handled by

him. I just came in for a little clean-up at the end. Put down your

weapons." Hoping that Impetus doesn't make the situation worse. Hoping the

police and perhaps, press, are convinced that Impetus is more interesting to

have a dialogue with instead of donnybrook.

 

From B/Impetus:

Impetus leans over casually and plucks Cap's cap off his head, then tears

the heavy fabric in two with no more effort than you'd tear a piece of

toilet paper -- less, even. He then grabs Cap by the gold chains around his

neck and lifts him up in the air, taking obvious care not to strangle him.

If Crusader tries to stop him, he just lifts up a thick finger and raises an

eyebrow as if to say, "I KNOW what I'm doing".

 

"You tellin ME whose goan cap MAH ass, n***a? I think you bes' be watchin'

yaw OAN ass, ya sellout cracka... 'cuz if the Warlord gives up kilos a'DIS,

you think he give a shit about CHALL?

 

He sneers. " 'Warlord got it covad'. Know what DAT means? Means you die

one day when he thinks y'all ain' givin' no more, and then you stay dayed

f'EVAH. You'sa dumbest-ass n***a I EVA seen -- 'cuz you ain't movin' up in

life, Warlord ain' lettin' you go nowhere, and you spen' the rest a'yo

waste-ass, ass-lickin' toady-little life playin' 'Yes, massa! No, massa!'

to some asshole's plans." He spits on the floor. "You a disgrace to the

thousans a'REAL hard-ass n***as who died to set YOUR pathetic ass free."

 

"So tellaya what; I be watchin' for you, and I be askin' round the city. I

ain' goan KILL ya... but cho' betta believe that whateva apartments you own

gonna mysteriously get wrecked, whateva fancy cars you drive a'gonna get hit

by some big-ass objects, and whateva beautiful women you dokin' goan get

scared RIGHT quick. Because you just made ME yo'personal guardian devil."

 

And he looks at Red Cap's face for a good long moment, obviously taking

relish as he memorizes the features. Then he drops him.

 

"Aw you COULD drop out," he says, obviously starting to lose interest. "Get

outta da'game. But yo'wanna stay wit'da man, go right ahead. 'Cuz I'm just

as happy smashin' YO shit as I am watchin' yo' go straight. Get ch'sef back

in the trade all y'all want.... but'chu ain' living like no high roller when

Impetus is in town. Dig?"

 

And waits for a response. At the first sign of anger or more threats, he

turns away and walks out of the room as if he's totally lost interest.

 

(((>>>You begin giving him the lowdown, as the assault cops move

in and Impetus steps up to the front door, returning from dealing with Red

Cap. The cops raise there weapons, and the lead SWAT guy yells, "FREEZE!

POLICE!" From the van, the two CAT squadies start moving forward at a fast

clip, dropping their visors. Their blasters make an audible whine as

initiate the power charges in them.<<<<<<)))

 

Impetus raises his eyebrows and looks at Crusader wearily, as if to say, "I

get this all the time..." and shrugs almost imperceptibly. He raises his

hands, slowly enough to be nonthreatening but not TOO slowly, so they are

palm-up in the air -- where he can't target them -- and drops the field.

He's still hovering in mid-air, though, and he certainly doesn't look

scared.

 

(((("He helped me out. In fact, the entire gig was pretty much handled by

him. I just came in for a little clean-up at the end. Put down your

weapons." Hoping that Impetus doesn't make the situation worse. Hoping the

police and perhaps, press, are convinced that Impetus is more interesting to

have a dialogue with instead of donnybrook.))))

 

"True what he says," replies Impetus sardonically, the cords in his dark

brown neck swelling as he shouts. Crusader, you notice that suddenly the

gang slang disappears, to be replaced with a much more neutral voice. "An'

what we got here is a situation here, because we foun' ONE suitcase a'heroin

here... but some superspeeder ran it off to analyze in his, and I quote,

'lab'. Any skinny, superfast caucasians workin' for The Man here?"

 

"Oh, and there's a kid in there who's hurt." He gestures back with his

head. "I already called for the ambulance, so if one of y'all could go help

him right now I'd 'preciate it. I'll step away from the door if y'all don't

trust me yet."

 

The Ferrett

 

From I/Arcsilver:

Arcsilver will pause for a moment, and then say "wanna run that by me

again, Artie? Just what do you have planned?"

 

-Ilan

 

From G/Speedball:

<

hideout?>>

 

"Hey, A.C. Yeah, I'll take that drink. Long day." I'll take the drink,

and suffer through the conversation. My cover story, as with the doctor, is

that I tripped backward andfell onto something sharp. That should cover me

with A.C. and if he's likely to spread the story around, it'll help if he

backs me up. I'll use pursuasion and streetwise in coombination to

embellish the story as need it ("yeah, you know the abandoned lot over on

Avenue A and 4th? That's where I was. Thought I saw a pile of returnables

that some crackhead forgot about. All I found was a coil of wire between my

feet and a piece of rebar that practically gave me a new asshole halfway up

my back.") All the while, Speedball is picking up little objects,

matchbooks, crumpled bar napkins, etc. and juggling them, compulsively. He

can't stop and is one of the reasons the barstaff keep him around--he's an

amusement like a jukebox. And sometimes pretty girls come talk to him.

They go away afterwards, after all--who's going to give their number to a

junkie, but at least he feels like a real person every so often.

After drinking A.C.'s beer, I'll make my excuses and head for the bathroom.

From there, up the stairs going desolid if I have to to sneak through the

walls. I have a few days left of my strange brew, but I'm not going to risk

depleting it when I've got access to all that shit just a few feet away...

 

From M/Dragon Mist:

Realizing that this is indeed a magical threat, Dragon Mist forgets the trip to

the hospital, for the moment. Thinking that Greyspirit needs this demon to

survive he puts his energy into focusing his dispel on the snakes. Only one for

starters, to see if it's possible to distinguish between the two seemingly evil

sources of magic at work within her body, Then he will work his way up to more

of the snakes.

( This maybe the time to discuss his 5 points in luck and those unspent

experience points. . .

 

From S/Crusader:

<< If Crusader tries to stop him, he just lifts up a thick finger and raises

an

eyebrow as if to say, "I KNOW what I'm doing". >>

 

Crusader will just wave his hands like "I totally understand it's your

show".

 

>>"An'

what we got here is a situation here, because we foun' ONE suitcase a'heroin

here... but some superspeeder ran it off to analyze in his, and I quote,

'lab'. Any skinny, superfast caucasians workin' for The Man here?"

<<

 

"Um, maybe its that Velocity guy from Buffalo." Crusader offers and then

shrugs his shoulders. "dunno."

If weapons get lowered and I assume that police start taking statements

and doing the whole police thing, I will try to get a chance to tap Impetus

on the shoulder and say; "I would really enjoy talking to you in a bit. Are

you free for a bit more discussion? We could just get to some rooftop and

put our heads together on this Warlord situation."

 

-----------

 

From GM: (Yes, there was a note of panic in my voice at this point. )

Note: (Oh Holy Cow! This gets more and more daunting, as we get so many players. Gonna be a morass when everyone is together and the conversations fly. Hope I can keep things clear.)

 

>>>Impetus & Crusader: There is a tense couple of seconds as you try to sort things out. The SWAT guys definitely look nervous, and the CAT squadies look mean... but the Lieutenant steps in quickly and backs them off, letting Impetus come out of the house and down the steps. The cops flow inside as the Lt. looks you both up and down. To Impetus he says, "I think I've heard about you. Some reports have crossed my desk. They're vague, but they mentioned someone fitting your description, doing..." he gestures at the building, "...this kind of work. No name, but they've got you pegged as outside muscle moving in on the drug racquets. Now you're saying you are working with the Mavericks. Care to explain yourself?" He gestures at Crusader. "This guy I've at least seen before. I need a good reason not to run you downtown, but I don't need any hassle with a guy who looks like he can walk through a fire fight unscathed... and just did." He looks at both of you, "Give me something to work with here, fellas." Behind him, one of the CAT officers begins speaking, almost inaudibly, into his radio.

While you talk with the Lieutenant both CAT officers watch intently though one seems to be carrying on a continuous conversation with someone else over the radio. Any attempt to scan frequencies and eavesdrop on the chatter comes up empty. They are either on a coded frequency or tight beam transmission. Their gear is new, top of the line, so they could be using microwave burst.

Asked to wait for while the two of you get a chance to talk away from the police, but the CATs don't let you out of their sight. (You can converse without being overheard.) The cold wind blows around you as the Lt. helps to supervise the round up of all the gang members. Paddy wagons arrive and fifteen young men and half a dozen whacked out crack-whores are hauled away. Nine kids leave on stretchers, one with full neck and back brace, oxygen mask, etc., a second on his stomach, with bloody swathes across his back. There are numerous broken noses, jaws and collar bones. Remarkably, no one is dead.

 

A couple of hours pass, and you both answer questions from a Special Crimes detective who arrives later. Detective Monroe is a surprisingly happy kind of guy, fortyish African American with salt & pepper hair wearing an old brown leather coat that smells strongly of cigarettes and Stetson cologne. He takes your statement with a smile, and seems almost amused by any descriptions of the use of paranormal powers. The two Cat squaddies leave, grumbling. Over their shoulder one says, "Damn straight this is why we need the PRA, and now!" The other just nods, and they're gone.

 

Arcsilver: Artie suddenly fixes you with his eyes and you are again taken back by the force of the man's presence. He seems to swell, and become stronger, determined... almost inspirational. "The situation is actually quite simple," he says as you try to shake off the effect he has. "I fulfilled my part of the bargain with the Warlord, and then I got out. That was the deal. I can't imagine where else Ann-Jolie would get the equipment she had, so I can only assume that he has come back into my life... and that was not in the contract."

At that moment, MIRV comes back into the house. You see him down the short hall, clomping back into the sun room with Lydia Wright who looks a wreck. Face streaked with tears and mascara... she looks awful. MIRV has her handcuffed and sits her on the divan. She goes pale and shaking when she sees Franklin's body on the floor. MIRV comes in with a quiet, "Police are on their way, Arcs." He looks at Artie and you see him visibly taken aback.

Artie turns his smile on both of you saying, "Please, gentlemen. I promise I will cooperate with the police as best I can. I swear to you that I had no inkling of what my sister was up to... but I have to find her. You can use your influence to at least keep them from holding me in Austin. I can help you find this Warlord if you'll take me with you. I used to work for the man... I WAS him for six years. Give me this chance... please."

You bite back an immediate, "Sure, Artie... no problem," realizing that you really want to help this guy. He's incredibly persuasive... and he might actually be of some help. MIRV comes over the radio, quietly, "Jeeze. What do you think, Arcs. This could be our big break, here. We have to salvage something from this cockup. Let's talk to the cops."

 

Dragon Mist: You turn, feet shifting into a stance, arms moving through a subtle, arcane pattern as you turn your sword over and down. A whisper of ancient syllables crosses your lips and the nearly invisible runes on the blade suddenly flare bright green tracing a pattern in the dark. The flash of the light makes the hazy demon images faint and faded but you swear that the black evil shape and all eyes of the snakes suddenly turn toward you.

Reversing the pommel in your hands you drop into a horse stance and drive the sword down through the swirling shapes, as if about to impale the twitching form of Grey Spirit on the floor. Then, with perfect control, you stop the tip mere millimeters above her sternum, just above her center, focused on her chi... and the green light is unleashed.

Like fire it burns into her and her body convulses with the energy pouring through her. Her eyes and mouth snap open and green light pours out of them like she is burning from within. Her skin changes. Her black tattoo seems to writhe and lash like a living thing down her bare arms and stomach. Of the faded images, the snakes seem to scurry away, their ghostly forms bursting into flames.

There is no sound... but an acrid, foul smell permeates the air.

 

Suddenly the light goes out and Grey Sprit's form collapses to the floor. It had risen just slightly off the ground as you unleashed the energy. Your eyes adjust quickly to the sudden dark, and you bend over her, checking for a pulse. You immediately think you see color in her cheeks but it is difficult to tell in the limited moonlight. You start to look at her stomach... when her body suddenly twitches again and her arms shoot upwards and out and her beautiful face contorts into an distorted mask! A voice barely recognizable as human speech grates forth from her open, but unmoving mouth.

 

"You want her... do you not?" it asks. An evil chuckle erupts... "I thank you for the power. I would not have wished to lose this vessel... but you can not have her." Obscenely, her hands rub down her body in a sick pantomime of a sexual tease. The voice growls once more. "This body is MINE, warrior! Look for your pleasures elsewhere."

And then Grey Spirit collapses to the floor again, quiet as death.<<<

 

Sorry, got to run. Speedball post this evening, I hope. Christ I'm busy at work these days.

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 111

 

From I/Arcsilver:

Arcsilver furrows his brow, annoyed that he has to mke these decisions.

He likes zipping around and spouting wise-ass remarks much more than

making decisions with people dying and everything. "Hmmm..." he offers,

looking down at Artie. "It seems like the decision really belongs to the

woman who is in your living room, handcuffed to the fireplace. What do

you say, Artie, any idea why your paroll officer came out of your attic

and tried to shoot me?"

 

After his response, Arcsilver will say "and what are you going to tell

her and the cops, eh? Are you going to tell them the whole thing about

the switch?"

 

After his response, he will say "Let me go and talk to Ms. Wright, and

see what she thinks. MIRV, can you stay and keep Arthur company?" As he

leaves, he grabs a sheet or a blanket or something to drape over the

corpse as he enters the room.

 

Appraoching slowly, he will speak in a gentle voice: Ms. Wright? Hi, I

am called Arcsilver and I am a civilian law enforcement assistant from

New York city. Its nice to meet you without having to dodge your bullets

(smile)! Can I get you a soda or something before the police get here

(do so if she would like). Can you tell me what you were doing in

Arthur's attic, and why you shot at me without identifying yourself? I

came down here to speak with you about the Warlord, and to investigate

Arthur's relationship to him. I think that we are on the same side, and

I think that we can help each other, but it is important that we speak a

little bit about Arthur before the police get here, because he might be

able to help us capture that crazy woman if he can come with us."

 

-Ilan/Arcsilver

 

From B/Impetus:

Impetus gently folds his arms. "Well, I d'no that I'd zacly say that I wuz

WORKIN' with the Mavericks -- tho' I ain't opposed to the idea -- but

Crusader and I showed up here at 'bout the same time with the same idea:

Int'cept a massive shipment a'junk and keep it outta the veins of a buncha

dumb junkies. I jes' got here first, is all.

 

"As f'explainin' myself, is there a better way f'gangbangas to discredit the

man they most afraid of than tellin' you that I'm workin' for a rival?

Propaganda ain't the sole domain'a Communists, ya know. Guy who worked for

a rival gang, well, he wouldn'ta stuck around to see what showed up after

the dust fell -- and Crusader'll tell you that I WAITED for you folk to show

up so mebbe you guys can track down the other suitcase which ran outta here.

Guy like dat wouldn'ta called the amb'lance to make sure that an enemy

'banger he hit too hard din' die, neither. And he sure as hell wouldn'ta

handed over a suitcase worth maybe a hundred thou street value to the police

jes' to make a damn point."

 

All the while, his voice never raises a notch, and he stares the officer

straight in the eye. He's just making points, and his deep voice never

wavers.

 

"So you want sumpin to work with? I'm here. It ain't comfortable, and

neither you nor I are really confident that yo'guns here could stop me if I

really wanted to leave. But I ain't. Thassit."

 

If the cop says something about clever gang members might do this, Impetus

says calmly: "Could be. All I can do is show you ova time, is all. But

NYPD has a rep on this street, too... and I hope you guys can show me that

you can cut a brother a chance once inna while." And with that, he just

meets the guy's stare, waiting to see what develops.

 

(((Paddy wagons

arrive, and fifteen young men, and half a dozen whacked out coke whores are

hauled away. )))

 

Even if he's in mid-interrogation, Impetus walks over and looks at the coke

whores. For the first time, an expression of real sadness seems to cross

his face... and he has to shake it off before he can turn back to the cops.

"Fuckin' junkies," he mutters under his breath, but it's not angry -- just

very, very bitter.

 

(Neil, if you did what I thought you did, reveal it now.)

 

((((He takes your statement with a smile, and

seems almost amused by any descriptions of the use of paranormal powers.))))

 

Actually, Impetus doesn't do that at all. He'll mention that he pushed down

the door and they immediately started to fire on him before he used his

powers, without drawing any attention at all to the fact that the door might

have stopped a mid-sized tank. The rest will be completely factual... but

when he gets to the Warlord, Impetus will pause casually for a moment and

ask whether Crusader remembers who the kid was talking to on the cell phone.

He's perfectly willing to take whatever lead Crusader gives from there.

 

((("Damn straight this is why we need the PRA, and now!" The

other just nods, and they're gone.)))

 

Turns to Crusader: "PRA?"

 

((("I would really enjoy talking to you in a bit. Are

you free for a bit more discussion? We could just get to some rooftop and

put our heads together on this Warlord situation."))))

 

"Sure. I been tryina email you guys, but yo' official website apparently

ain' up to speed. Whateva you got to figga out why Onyx was so important to

the Warlord's plans helps me, man." He thinks a minute. "Tho' it prolly

ain' a good idea for a guy like me to be hangin' out on rooftops, now that I

think about it."

 

If asked why, he'll reply: " 'Cuz if I fall, I'm leavin' a hole the size of

Brooklyn in the flaw." And he'll lower his forcefield for the first time,

settling onto the pavement with a slight *crunch*; a web of cracks spreads

out in the rotting asphalt underneath him.

 

The Ferrett

 

From M/Dragon Mist:

"That's a score we will settle latter, demon. For now you owe me a favor, one I

intend you keep by telling me what just happened." After replacing

Greyspirit's bandages, Dragon Mist picks her up and places her on the bed,

confident that the sword will warn him of any latent danger in the room.

 

From S/Crusader:

"True.", Crusader chimes.

 

(((The rest will be completely factual... but

when he gets to the Warlord, Impetus will pause casually for a moment and

ask whether Crusader remembers who the kid was talking to on the cell phone.

He's perfectly willing to take whatever lead Crusader gives from there.)))

 

"I recognized the voice, Lt. Monroe" turning to address the officer and

jump in where Impetus gave me the lead. "He is a shadowy gameplayer who calls

himself Warlord. We've talked once before and its hard to forget his voice.

Warlord has assumed "credit" for the attack on Onyx as well as an ambush on

the Mavericks as some kind of sick test."

"Warlord was on the phone with the perp. A mention by the perp led me to

believe that the Warlord was on the phone. Something to the effect of "Yes,

they are here, just like you predicted". So, I grabbed the phone and spoke

to the Warlord. Warlord responded with a bit of posturing and posing. Not

much substantial came out of the conversation, except he admitted to using

the drugs for cash supply."

Crusader pauses; "I have the Warlord conversation on digital record. It

will have to be downloaded at a Maverick computer facility. I have already

asked Wild Heart to pass a copy along to the police. Should we send it to

you, Lt, directly?"

 

((((("Damn straight this is why we need the PRA, and now!" The

other just nods, and they're gone.)))

 

Turns to Crusader: "PRA?")))

 

Crusader shrugs his armored shoulders; "Not sure, my guess from their

tone... Paranormal Registration Act? I think its been bandied about in

Congress a bit."

 

(("Sure. I been tryina email you guys, but yo' official website apparently

ain' up to speed. Whateva you got to figga out why Onyx was so important to

the Warlord's plans helps me, man." He thinks a minute. "Tho' it prolly

ain' a good idea for a guy like me to be hangin' out on rooftops, now that I

think about it.")))

 

Crusader smiles behind his faceplate, knowing full well that with Yuri on

the job, the website is more than up to speed. But also knowing full well

just how busy the site and the team has been.

"Well, we've all been real busy. Two of our members who help read the

thousands of posts is in Georgia or Alabama at the moment. {Storn knows its

Austin, but Crusader forgot}. 'Heart, 'Mist and myself have been patrolling

ourselves ragged trying to get the slightest hint of this reported heroin

shipment. Today is the first we've come across anything more substantial

than rumor."

 

(((If asked why, he'll reply: " 'Cuz if I fall, I'm leavin' a hole the size

of

Brooklyn in the flaw." And he'll lower his forcefield for the first time,

settling onto the pavement with a slight *crunch*; a web of cracks spreads

out in the rotting asphalt underneath him.))))

 

Crusader gives a small chuckle; "I understand a bit about that problem.

I'm not a lightweight myself. There is a very wooded area of Central Park

just a block or two away, that should give us enough privacy to have a

conversation without disturbing the natives of New York..."

 

----------

 

From GM:

Note: (Trying to bring the story lines to a convergence here, so bear with me if I seem to be shoe horning things for a couple of posts.)

 

>>>Speedball: Your eyes crack open, and for a second you are somewhere else. Instead of a dirty hole in the wall with acrid smelling chemicals simmering in the corner, you are almost seeing the small trailer and the soft bed you shared. Instinctively you reach for her, and a murmured, "Molly?" escapes your lips. But instead of warm skin and soft silk your fingers claw into a sticky carpet stain and your head slides off a smelly old couch cushion to bump on the floor.

A groan escapes you as the real world crashes back in. You try to sit up and shake off the dregs of an uncharacteristically heavy sleep. Your nose wrinkles at your own body odor and your back aches beyond almost anything you've ever experienced before. Only the thought that you have to check your batch keeps you moving, dragging your self up...

... as a voice in the room suddenly says, "No wonder she left you. Geez. What a bum you are."

 

Your eyes snap all the way open as you come full awake in a rush of adrenaline. The first thing you see is the closed, locked door of the room. "How'd somebody get in h... ?" you are thinking as you turn and look... finding yourself staring at a ghost. Shimmering a silver white, an apparition of a young man... punkish hair cut, ratty jacket, jeans, combat boots and... a Metallica T-shirt?... floats just between you and the table of chemicals. He is half turned away, staring at the heated brew. As you gasp for something to say you notice that the image wavers a little, going hazy and disappearing for moments. Then the guy's face turns back to you with a New York sneer on his face. When he speaks you catch a hint of a Brooklyn accent. "Good thing I can't smell anything. Don't know what would be worse, that shit... or you." His eyes are clear and burn with a condescending intelligence that you automatically dislike.

"So..." he says as his form wavers a bit more. He looks at himself, seemingly concerned for a moment. "Damn. This isn't easy. Now..." looking back at you he says, "I was looking for some friends of mine but ended up here, instead. Care to tell me who you are 'cause I can't imagine why I'd wake up after all this time just to find some scuzzy junkie."

 

Arcsilver: In response to your question Artie glances toward the sun room, thinks for a moment, then shrugs. "My dealings with Ms. Wright were limited to weekly phone calls and monthly meetings. She was friendly, but..." he looks at you, perplexed, "... I had no idea she was here... and as to why she shot at you... well it seems highly irrational at best." He thinks for a moment more. "My sister and she did have lunch together... once... that I know of..." his voice trails off. "I will have no problem telling the police everything I can about what has happened. I don't know of what "switch" you are talking about but I hope that my full cooperation with the authorities will help you convince them to let me return with you to New York. I really do want, and need, to help find the Warlord and hopefully stop my sister from getting herself killed."

After you leave Artie you move through the sun room trying to be calm and unthreatening as you cover the body with a sheet and smile at Lydia. She watches you the entire time, a look like a hunted animal on her face. As you speak to her she looks you right in the eye, nodding at your words. Her face changes from stunned to hopeful as you mention, "...we are on the same side..." to sudden rage... red, faced, angry and venomous, when you mention the, "...crazy lady."

"YOU'LL NEVER CATCH HER, YOU FREAKY BASTARD!!!! SHE'S SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU!!! SHE IS DEADLY AND SUPERIOR!! SHE ALMOST KILLED YOU ONCE! IF YOU GO AFTER HER, SHE'LL DO IT AGAIN!" And she starts to laugh maniacally... a sick cackle that quickly turns to sobs and gasping, "She'll come for me. I know she will. She'll get me out of this..." She looks up at you, tears streaming, and snot nosed. "...choke... I'm... sob... her friend."

Outside, you hear distant sirens approaching.

 

Dragon Mist: There is no response from the demon, or from Grey Spirit. Her body is limp and unconscious in your arms, but as you lay her in the bed you are encouraged by the look of her stomach wound. Already noticeably narrower and the bleeding has stopped. Her body twitches slightly... small muscle spasms... but otherwise she is still. Pulling off her bloody tunic, you see that the intricate demon tattoo is all across her back, shoulders, arms, and even onto her chest. At the moment it is inanimate and you get no sense of immediate threat from it. As you cover her up with blankets you are startled to notice how slender and fragile she looks. A true look of innocence on her sleeping face. A whole new level to her beauty that you find disturbing to your cold, hardened attitude. Everything about this woman makes you feel confused and uncertain... but at the same time more alive and aware than you've ever felt in the past.

Minutes pass into hours unnoticed as you sit to the side, half in the shadow and half in the reflected moonlight from the window. You watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathes.

 

Crusader & Impetus: The Detective from Special Crimes finishes taking your statement with one last try of, "Any chance of getting your legal names, gentlemen?" At your negative answer, he just shrugs then looks at Crusader, saying, "I'd like to keep things at the friendly level we've got going here. I know we can reach you if we have to. Can I trust you to work something out with Mr. Impetus here so we can get a hold of him?" He looks at Impetus. "I'm assuming you don't have a hotline number or anything?" he asks with a smile. Then back to Crusader he says, "I just wanted to pass along my thanks to your boss, y'know. I don't know what she did, but bringing Masterson out of his coma was just short of a miracle. Whatever it was, it shows that you Mavericks stand by us cops... and we'll stand by you." Again to Impetus he says, hitching his thumb at Crusader, "Learn from these guys if you want to do the crime busting thing in the Apple. Make friends. It's easier on all of us. Now I gotta go converse with Lt. Monroe. You two be good," and he saunters off into the crowd of cops, news media that has arrived... and spectators. "Oh, and we'll check on this speedster guy. Might be that Velocity fella, but haven't heard from him in a couple 'a years. We'll let you know if we find anything. He sure don't work for us."

With that, there is no one left keeping you there and you could move off. The media, seeing you unattended, starts swarming around the police line, trying to get closer, shouting various questions. Bright lights and cameras light up the night.

(Basically, you can get away, or you can choose to meet the press. Just wondering what you might do.)<<<

 

Note: (Please remind me if I've forgotten to address something you mentioned. Bill, send me a private e-mail about what you think I did, 'cause I don't know what you are talking about.)

[greymankle]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Finally ... finished... reading. Story... so... long. Awaiting further developments.

 

This whole thing just gives more credit to the book. RDU: A histoy. It would be an AWESOME source book. but I know not all of your games have cool write-ups like this. Heck just converting this story into a comic book (or prolly a mini-series) would be sweet. Just need to find an artist familar with the characters. hmmm... Where can we find one...? I think James can draw Darn real world comminments. Maybe you can get a stipend from the boards to convert it? I bet it would sell, D&D has comic books and those suck something awful, but they still sell.

 

I really think the PBEM style adds to the communal storytelling more. Since everyone can have as much time to say what they want without stepping on toes or stealing "face-time." Players can get very descriptive and take some more license then they would be able to in a regular game. Plus it saves Neil a ton of time. No need for a campagin write-up just check your in box.

 

Anyway Keep 'em coming. You make my vacation a little sunnier with each post.

[aylwin13]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

This whole thing just gives more credit to the book. RDU: A histoy. It would be an AWESOME source book. but I know not all of your games have cool write-ups like this. Heck just converting this story into a comic book (or prolly a mini-series) would be sweet.

 

This would be a fantastic idea. I know that I'd buy a copy. Maybe even a couple.

 

Just need to find an artist familar with the characters. hmmm... Where can we find one...? I think James can draw Darn real world comminments.

 

I think that a certain Mr. Cook knows a bit about these characters. I wonder if he could find a minute or three to work on something like this.

 

 

Neil, I'm definitely enjoying the posts. Keep 'em coming (when you've got a second or two).

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 112

 

From M/Dragon Mist:

Dragon Mist won't push his luck w/ the demon, he's happy enough to see that it's doing it's job by keeping her alive. While waiting, he will open the

unopened letter. Maybe if he had only read it the first time. . .

 

From G/Speedball:

"ListentomeyouMOTHERFUCKER!" Speedball spurts out as he runs towards the apparition in his private room. (I am, assuming, Neil, that a grab to the neck will get me nohwere) Skidding and slammng up aginst the opposite wall, Joe, glares at the ghost, wondering what it's business here might be.

"Listen to me, you fucker: I've got enough goddamned ghosts running around

my life without you making things more difficult. Fuck off."

Thinking back, momentarily, Joe says "wait. Molly. What do you know about

her? How did you....? Christ I'm so sick of being strung out on this smack.

Alright--straight up: I don't know who you are. I don't know where you come

from or who these friends are that you're talking about but...shit, anyone

who likes Metallica can't be all bad. Black album?"

He pauses, not waiting for an answer....not even sure he's not dreaming:

"Fuck. Just tell me what the hell you're here for. For all I know, you're

Harriet Tubman's personal valet telling me to bring her carriage 'round

front (see last issue, faithful readers) For all I know, you're the angel

of death come to collect my worthless, piece of shit soul to take to Hell.

Christ: if that's the case, get if GODDAMN OVER WITH, BUT STOP FUCKING WITH ME!!!!"

Slumping against the wall, Joe tires from this outburst and from the ordeal

in general. He is beat and open to hearing the Ghost's story now. "Tell me.

Just fucking tell me what it is I'm here to do."

His hands cradling his head now, he cups his ears. "I'm sorry for

everything I've done. So sorry...." And as he speaks the words, he means them.

The moment afterwards, though, his first thought is of the brew cooking acros the room and what it'll feel like when the shit hits his veins coming from the first pop of the day.

 

-God, I love writing for this character-

 

From I/Arcsilver:

"Whoaa, mama!" Arcsilver says surprised, backing up a bit at her

ranting. "Looks like someone's elevator stopped going to the top floor!

Well, the police will be here soon, and I think they will want to know

everything about your friendship."

 

Arcsilver will then give it another try with her: "You know, Lydia, if

the police find your friend, they will try to kill her, but that isn't

what I or my friends do. If you know anything about where she might be or

how to contact her, I'm the one for you to tell."

 

Wait for response

 

After this, Arcsilver will head out the front door, making sure that her

handcuffs are good and sturdy. He will wait in the front yard with his

had raised in greeting when the police arrive, and he will look for the

police officer with whom he had the conversation at Lydia's house. He

will try to talk to the officer with whom he spoke on the phone, as he

knows the full story up to that point (sorry, don't remember the name of

the initial guy). He will tell him everything, even the conversation

with Artie, and then describe the fight. He will finish with "I don't

know if you have a Psych. department here, but Ms. Wright seems to have

some brainwashing, and don't think that she is quite there, if you know

what I mean." He will then add "I understand that you will have some

questions for Artie, but he hasn't done anything illegal, and I think

that he could help us and the NYPD find the Warlord and his sister in New

York. Any chance of letting us have him for a while after you are done?

I will keep you up to date with any info on his sister..."

 

-Ilan

 

PS. I am quickening the pace on this just a bit, in the interest of

bringning everyone together. If this is too brief, Neil, let's take it

slower, and I will roleplay out the whole convo.

 

From B/Impetus:

((("I'm assuming you don't have a hotline number or anything?" )))

 

Impetus smirks. "Not quite, but I got this." And he gives his email

address, which if Crusader has any computer knowledge (I assume he does)

will be a public account, on the same level as hotmail or yahoo! mail.

 

((( With that, there is no one left keeping you there, and you could move

off. The media, seeing you left unattended, starts swarming around the

police line, trying to get closer, shouting various questions. Bright

lights and cameras light of the night.))))

 

Impetus turns to Crusader. "I ain't sure what cho' take on publissty is,

but I got frens an'enemies I'd ratha not have see me. Wanna explain fo'me,

an we meet at that area in CP in an owa?"

 

Assuming that Crusader says yes or suggests alternative options as to

meeting places, there's a blur, a soft explosion that radiates out at

ankle-level for about fifty feet in all directions -- and faster than just

about anyone you've seen go, Impetus is a distant dot on the horizon. (Note

to Storn: NC Superleap of 440". If he's not the fastest, he's close.)

 

When Impetus meets up with Crusader, he'll say:

 

"Look, less be honest; I'm new at this supahero game, and I wuz hittin' up

the local areas tryina find some more info on dis 'Warlord' dude. I know he

wuz respons'ble for settin' up Onyx, who ah respected -- mah main goal'za

get ridda the gangs that're turnin'ese neighborhoods into crack dens 'n'

murda pits, and Onyx wuz doin'a helluva job givin' people otha options. I

respec' that. An' anyone who redlightsa guy like dat's hurtin' MAH area.

 

"But sounz like thay's more than just some rollin' goin' on here -- what da

hellzis Warlord dude up to, anyway? An' what the hell was he so worried

'bout Onyx for, 'f he's happy to watch two suitcases full dope walk out

widdout payback? What'sa ANGLE here? You got any clues, give, man.

 

"Look; basic'ly, you already seen what the cops thinka me; I'm a straight up

n***a who ain't afraida 'em, an' they know I could take 'em down if I

wanted. But I DON'T. They tryina do what *I* am, they jus' doan know the

neighborhood the way *I* do, man!" He paces angrily, his feet sinking deep

into the ground; he pulls them out almost absent-mindedly. "They may be

racist at times, but they at least TRYIN', which is more than mosada people

who I see near me do."

 

He runs a hand over his forehead. This is evidently not something he wants

to say -- and he sighs. "What I'm sayin is, cops think I'm beef fo' the

oppasition, an' I need some hep gettin' my rep as someone who's straight

down widdem -- 'cuz othawise, I could end up wit' my eye dee sposed, and

then I wind up with dead relatives. I got men AFTA me, man. Cop trouble, I

DOAN need.

 

"So you prolly doan trus' me entirely yet, and dass cool -- I yain' proved

mahsef yet -- but you need backup somewhere, you think you got info or a gig

I could hep with, you gimme a call. You back me on mah rep, I back you when

you need the muscle, an' we help each otha out. Work fa you?" And he

extended a hand.

 

The Ferrett

 

From S/Crusader:

"I prefer to avoid the press myself. And Mavericks policy is a bit vague

and changes from member to member. Like MIRV? He will talk to anyone, at

length, til another teammate pulls him away. Darkfire is even worse,

although he is better at it. Sure, meet you in a bit." I finish and walk

towards the press when Impetus's superleap takes effect.

"Damn... and I thought that this white man could jump!" I will reflect

to myself.

 

To the press: "Hi folks, I'm Crusader for those of you who don't know.

Yes, I knew the original Crusader and I have his blessing. NO, I have no

proof for you on that subject, you just have to take my word for it. That is

more to protect the Original than myself."

"As to what went down today, I responded to paranormal activity in a gang

shootout at this location. Upon arriving at the scene, 1 para escaped

with a suitcase reputed to hold heroin. This para has a "speedster"

classification. The other para, who you've just witness leaving, is

code-named Impetus. He gave every effort to HELP the police and myself.

That is all I have to say at the moment. Contact Darkfire in the next couple

of days, he will give you a much better breakdown based upon my report."

 

With that and a few "no more comments", I will book out of there!

 

When I catch up with Impetus in the park.

 

((("But sounz like thay's more than just some rollin' goin' on here -- what da

hellzis Warlord dude up to, anyway? An' what the hell was he so worried

'bout Onyx for, 'f he's happy to watch two suitcases full dope walk out

widdout payback? What'sa ANGLE here? You got any clues, give, man.)))

 

I reply slowly and with some thought; "Since we are being honest, we

aren't sure what Warlord is up to. And I'm not sure about the Onyx attack,

UNLESS..." the thought has just occured to Crusader (and Storn).

"unless Warlord is REALLY seeking to consolidate the drug trade he has

and to expand into Harlem/Spanish Harlem drug trade. Then he would need Onyx

out of the way. Because any paranormal drug enforcers were bound to attract

Onyx's attention and bring the hammer down. But, in my mind, the only way to

take over such a vast, disparate, factionalized territory would be through

some P-muscle. And Warlord has put his team together already."

 

(((Look; basic'ly, you already seen what the cops thinka me; I'm a straight up

n***a who ain't afraida 'em, an' they know I could take 'em down if I

wanted. But I DON'T. They tryina do what *I* am, they jus' doan know the

neighborhood the way *I* do, man!" He paces angrily, his feet sinking deep

into the ground; he pulls them out almost absent-mindedly. "They may be

racist at times, but they at least TRYIN', which is more than mosada people

who I see near me do.")))

 

"I understand as much as a West Coast white boy from the wrong side of

the law can. Which is probably not much. But I can certainly respect what

you are trying to do." I tentatively offer.

"There are crooked cops. But I know for sure that a few aren't. The

Maverick's liason officer, John Masterson, was recently put in the hospital

because he was as straight as they come."

 

((( got men AFTA me, man. Cop trouble, I DOAN need.)))

 

"I can relate!" I let bubble out, "hey, what men?"

 

((You back me on mah rep, I back you when

you need the muscle, an' we help each otha out. Work fa you?" And he

extended a hand.))

 

"Absolutely." shake his hand, "I did try to give you a nice shine at the

quickie press thing. Gave the press your code-name, hope you don't mind. If

they have a handle, then you aren't quite as mysterious. But if you really

want to get your reputation clean and with public respect, we've got to set

up a meeting with our Darkfire. He is the master of spin. He's a white,

rich boy, but his heart is in the right place and he would be more than happy

to help you through that wacky world of media & press."

 

"How do you feel about meeting some of my other team mates? We can do it

on neutral ground. I know that Wild Heart would really like to meet you."

 

--storn

 

From B/Impetus:

Impetus thinks about this for a second, then dismisses it. "S'unlikely.

Warlord had Onyx bugged in at leas' one place in his gym, and I suspec' we

look around his house we might fin'at thay's some otha burned-out holes

where useta be buggin' 'quipment. (I got a sample a'da wirin', you

wannit -- wuz burned with detcawd, and there ain' much lefta it.) If

Warlord had Onyx spied on, why'd he be concerned about his 'tenshun? He

could just dance 'roun Onyx 'cuz he knew where the brotha gonna be at, who

he wuz gonna put tha smackdown on! And faw 'nutha thing, if he had a team

set faw his muscle, I think our incursion woulda been the testin' grouns.

How else you gonna see if paranormal beef works than puttin' it up agains'

the bes' competition, and Warlord already seems like he thinks YOU good....

doesn' add up faw me, man."

 

(((( "I understand as much as a West Coast white boy from the wrong side

of

the law can. Which is probably not much. But I can certainly respect what

you are trying to do." I tentatively offer. ))))

 

"Doan gemme wrong, Crusader. I ain' racist. I doan care whetha you white,

black, yella, tan, or green -- long's you workin' for the light side, I'se

colorblind." He pauses for a moment. "Wrong side of the law? You ain'

always been doin' the hero thang?"

 

(((( "There are crooked cops. But I know for sure that a few aren't. The

Maverick's liason officer, John Masterson, was recently put in the hospital

because he was as straight as they come."))))

 

"Yeah, I heard that. You got the dude outof a COMA?"

 

(((( "I can relate!" I let bubble out, "hey, what men?"))))

 

"Gang muscle, mos'ly," he says. "See, I useda be a steel-eyed 'banga, but I

wouldn't KILL nobody... and I wasn't a real memba 'til I atchly took someone

down. I refused, man. Quit the scene. But they kep' comin' after me,

tryin' to beat the crap outta me until I joined or ran the fuck away... and

I didn't neither. I worked out 'til I could take 'em." He chuckles. "Den

sumpin' else happened. I can sure as fuck take 'em NOW.

 

"But I got frens who'd get capped fo'sure, f'the gangs knew who I really

wuz. Not to mention I like mah life I got widdout insane homeys tearin' up

mah apartment every two days. So I gotta keep it low."

 

(((( "Absolutely." shake his hand, "I did try to give you a nice shine at

the

quickie press thing. Gave the press your code-name, hope you don't

ind. ))))

 

"Thass what it's there for," he says with pride. "Thanks faw hangin' wit'

me when the cops came. Woulda been a lot worse widdoutcha."

 

(((("He is the master of spin."))))

 

His eyes suddenly glaze out for a second, as if he was thinking, "SPIN

doctor?", then realizing that it is a concept which could apply to him right

now.

 

(((("How do you feel about meeting some of my other team mates? We can do

it

on neutral ground. I know that Wild Heart would really like to meet

you."))))

 

He breaks out in laughter. "Heh. Oh man, I'll do it, but you doan wanna

see the table afta we get done arm-wrestlin'. I seen her in action, once.

She's a REAL pitcha."

 

The Ferrett

 

----------

 

From GM:

Note: (Good God, Eric may be joining us on line! If I don't have an aneurysm trying to keep up with you guys, we'll have a sixth player. Welcome to lurk the game, Eric. We can work out who you'll play over the next couple of days.)

 

>>>Arcsilver: (Actually thanks for pushing things along. Works just fine. Watch as I keep doing it.) The first cops to arrive are local suburban cops who are shocked at what they find and completely out of their depth. You can tell they've never had first hand experience with a paranormal and they are freaked out. When Austin City SWAT and Special Crimes detectives show up the locals are happy to turn things over to them and handle simple crowd control. Officer Montoya arrives with the city cops, and though he is just a patrol officer, he works side by side with them having been your first contact when you came in.

You spend the rest of the day immersed the boring, slow moving, police details you usually leave to Darkfire or MIRV when you are home in New York. Your glib tongue is kind of a put off to the cops at first, but by the end of the grind they are smiling and laughing with you. MIRV's professionalism doesn't hurt either and the hassle is minimal.

Lydia is a wreck, sliding from near catatonia to hissing rage and back as you try to help the police question her. MIRV and Artie had helped the two women from the pool and all of you were questioned separately. Montoya informs you that Artie seems to be cooperating fully, but everyone has questions about Ann-Jolie since she was a well known socialite with no criminal record. The death of Franklin Barnes and the fact that Lydia was a bent cop, and perhaps a bit crazy, complicates things immensely. The investigation goes well into the night.

You spend the night in Austin, and the next day you and MIRV are asked to appear before a judge to petition to allow Arthur Reeves to return to New York with you. He isn't charged with anything but is an ex-felon and a witness to a murder, so the formality is necessary. It only takes an hour or so. The only interesting thing comes at the end when the judge is allowing Artie's departure from the state. "Theah is a condishun foah Mistuh Ahksilvah, from the Assistant District Attourneh's office in New Yawk City. Upon yoah retuhn to New Yawk, you ah requested to meet with A.D. Sally Anne Rahbinson within twenty foah 'owas (hours). Please thank Ms. Rahbinson foah all huh cuhtusy in this mattah, will ya son? She seems lahk a fahn attuhney, and was quaht helpful. Seemed eagah to meet you, I shuhd say. That is ahl."

Within a couple more hours MIRV has modified his flying wing to carry a third passanger and secured a high altitude flight suit and oxygen mask from the airport. Artie seems intrigued and not the least bit dismayed to travel on the hyperwing, and with a last good bye, keep in touch, to Montero you are off.

(Obviously feel free to add in anything else you might want to do before you leave. Otherwise, you'll make it back to New York by late evening.)

 

Speedball: As much as a ghost can look surprised the apparition does so. It's eyes blink as it shimmers and loses some focus, but then he is looking at you, clearly not expecting what you just did. "Ok... ok... ok," he says. "Now THAT was something. You moved..." he seems to glance around but every move of his 'body' seems to dissipate the image somewhat, "... way too fast for normal." He smiles. "You're one of us!" he says happily, then suddenly frowns. "Wait. You're a paranormal, junkie lunatic, from the sounds of it. Could you be the threat that woke me? Jeeze. I mean to look at you..." His words are flippant but you see a sudden edge to his eyes and a grim turn to his mouth. Suddenly those eyes flare and light goes on inside your head. His voice echoes inside your skull. "Let's see just who the hell you are, friend... hmmmm... Joe... Joe Delesandro. Ok... SPEEDBALL? Shit man, that's a little obvious, don't you think. And you are just hungry for the junk, aren't you... damn... it's like there's almost no room for anything else in there..." Suddenly his voice softens, and the light in your head dims to a warmer, more comfortable level. "Man... I had no idea it was so bad. So twisted up inside. Good intentions going to shit... You get your POWER from it?" The light goes out, his voice goes away inside. Coolness, like a breeze floods your brain. The ghost is out of you now, looking at you, pity on his face. "Sorry dude. You ain't the one. Don't know why I ended up here, except your dream. That Molly woman. It was so strong... like it created a whole world. I thought that was what was calling me..."

Then suddenly the figure goes stiff. Ripples of white energy seem to ring the ghost, face is suddenly scared, eyes wide. "Fuck! In my room! How the hell... Shit! Why can't I see him... Damn, at least a half dozen of them... Some kind of shielding... WHY CAN'T I SEE?!?!?" The image flickers violently, vanishing for a moment, then reappearing... voice in your head again. "Joe... please... get... Mavericks. Tell... them... Kid... is... in... trouble. Tell... them... threat... greater... than... they... think... FIND ME!" The last words a painful shout in your head... and a name... Kid. Kid Fantastic.

 

Dragon Mist: The letter is simple and blunt, like your sister. "Robert, Ok, I'm giving you one last chance. You've dropped out of sight, but I know you are in New York. I'm going to be in the city for (x dates). That's three weeks, brother. I expect you to look me up. I'll be staying with Tracey... you remember her, my old roommate from college. She has a place on the Upper East side, married some Wall Street money man. (address and number given) I'll be there the whole time when we aren't doing the tourist thing. CALL ME! I'm worried about you, and I miss you. I don't like how you've just disappeared. I'm not going to let you get away with it, either. Hope you are ok, and just being an asshole by ignoring me. Hate to think you were in any real trouble.

See you soon, big brother.

 

Love Sarah.

 

Two weeks. Two weeks she's been in the city and you never knew it. Her words are as they always were, affectionate but no-nonsense. You can hear her voice clearly. Suddenly all those missing emotions from the past few years come welling up. Family, friends... where had they gone? Mixed with them are the new feelings toward the beautiful, deadly woman lying injured in your bed. Your hands start shaking as the emotions kick in a physical reaction, a shudder... a release of tension you never knew existed. At the back of you mind you become aware of something else. A cold, dark, hissing of your intellect, your cunning, your drive and your dispassionate lethality. All those things that have been you completely for the past months. It cuts through the emotions like cold ice. "You are a warrior," it says. "You are ninja. Leave this behind. It is weakness and folly. The only true comfort comes from cold steel in your hand and the skill and will to use it."

 

Behind you your pager buzzes just as the sun peaks above the horizon. From Yuri. Mavericks meeting as soon as you can make it to the base.

 

Impetus & Crusader: The two of you stand in the dark of Morningside park as you converse. The place is relatively empty at this time of night, though you see an illegal can fire burning at the base of the hill leading up to the hospital above. A few of the homeless gather around, trying to stay warm on a cold night.

Just as you continue to try to figure out just what this Warlord might be up to a call comes in over Crusader's radio. "Crusader, this is Wild Heart. You out there? Just saw you on the news bulletin. Everything ok?" With an "excuse me" to Impetus you answer her call, giving her location and who you are with.

"Impetus, huh? Look like a serious power house, just from the brief camera shots of him. Seems on the up and up with you, that's good enough for me. I've got some news myself. One, if you haven't heard, Masterson is out of danger. I'll fill you in on the details, but I've been busy for the last couple of days trying call in some markers and it worked out. Also, MIRV and Arcsilver returned earlier this evening. They had a run in with someone down in Austin. We've got a meeting scheduled for early this morning and we'll all get the low down. After that, I've changed the agenda for our meeting with your old friends in green. As the whole team is back, I want to meet them 'en mass'. There's more going on than just this Warlord and I don't want to be scrambling on multiple fronts if we can help it."

She pauses for anything you want to add, then, "So this Impetus guy wants to help us out, and there is a new paranormal villain out there stealing drugs... hmmm. Ok. If Impetus is agreeable, we'll hold our team meeting somewhere neutral, and you bring him along. Things work out, he can come along to the VIPER meet. You've got a few hours now, so get some sleep or whatever, meet tomorrow morning at the south side of the Hudson Park Pond. Should be pretty empty at that time of morning this time of year. I'll bring the rest of the team."

"Oh, and good work tonight. You handled the press well, and they're usually twice as bad as the super villains. See you in a few hours." And she signs off.

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 113

 

From G/Speedball:

Hey Eric--good to "see" you again.

 

Speedball, gathering up a few needed items, heads out of the room to his

apartment where he needs to gather his costume (bloodied as it is), shoot

up, and figure out how the heck he's going to find these Mavericks and warn

them that Kid Marvellous (or whatever it was he called himself) needs their

help. Honestly, Speedball isn't sure that the kid's not geting what he

deserves--"I mean, why was he poking around in my head in the first place?"

Resolving himself to try a little harder at the Hero game, though, Speedball

heads for a public phone to call the police and dials 911. He asks for

someone who can put him in touch with the Mavericks, that he has information

"crucial to the survival of Kid ummm...Fantastic, I think he called

himself." If the police are no help in locating the Mavericks ("Don't you

guys have a 'Mavericks' light on top of the empire State Building, like in

Batman?), then Speedball will just have to try the less attractive option of

locating a cybercafe (they're all over the lower east side, but I don't know

how late they stay open or, for that matter, what time it is) and tooling

around on the net, trying to find a website where I can send an email that

reads:

 

"I have important information about the survival of Kid Fantastic. He said

you are all in grave danger too. Meet me ASAP at playground on the corner

of 1st and 1st. --Speedball

 

ps. get a phone listing. geez."

 

 

As he sets out to meet with the Mavericks in either case, Speedball looks

forward to giving to giving Kid Fantastic a piece of his mind after he's

finished saving his ass and rolls around some insults in his head.

"Kid Fascistic"

"Kid InMyHead"

"Kid NoneOfYourBusinessWhatIDoWithMyLife..."

 

From S/Crusader:

"Because Onyx does leave his gym." Crusader points out; "and all the

listening devices in the world are not going to give you heads up on when

Onyx does his patrol thing." {GM clarification if needed: Onyx is known for

his turf being Harlem. And that he does patrol... correct?}

 

((("Wrong side of the law? You ain'

always been doin' the hero thang?")))

 

Pop my helmet faceplate back, so Impetus can see my face. This is a

gesture of trust, unusual for Crusader. "Nope. I ran away from an affluent

home in the burbs of Seattle. Ran right into the Big Green aka Viper. They

took me in, gave me a home and purpose, taught me how to kill, grafted into

me bio-cybernetics and concocted Silverdyne drug programs and made me the man

I am today. I've been trying to make up for my sins ever since."

 

((("So this Impetus guy

wants to help us out, and there a new paranormal villain out there stealing

drugs... hmmm. Ok. If he's agreeable, we'll hold our team meeting

somewhere neutral, and you bring him along. Things work out, he can come

along to the VIPER meet. You've got a few hours now, so get some sleep or

whatever, meet tomorrow morning at the south side of the Hudson Park Pond.

Should be pretty empty at that time of morning in this time of year. I'll

bring the rest of the team.")))

 

I relate the place (Hudson Park) to Impetus and add; "After the

Maverick's Love Fest, we are going to meet a faction of the Big Green. They

might have info on Warlord. Interested?"

 

From B/Impetus:

THREE NOTES HERE:

 

1) Hi, Eric! Man, I missed you playing. Good to see you again, dude!

 

2) I am now Officially Amused, because I finally am playing things from the

same perspective where Storn was when *I* first came in; I have a really

damn good idea of what's going on, but I have to remain officially clueless

because Impetus is a newbie. I never realized how much Thermal had picked

up in all of his adventures, et al....

 

3) If you want a quick idea of what Impetus looks like, he's got the basic

muscle structure of the Hulk when Dale Keown was drawing him, and the basic

features of Holocaust, albeit without the flames shooting out of his eyes.

 

(((("Because Onyx does leave his gym." Crusader points out; "and all the

listening devices in the world are not going to give you heads up on when

Onyx does his patrol thing."))))

 

"True," he says offhandedly, but you can tell he's not really convinced.

 

(((("Nope. I ran away from an affluent

home in the burbs of Seattle. Ran right into the Big Green aka Viper. They

took me in, gave me a home and purpose, taught me how to kill, grafted into

me bio-cybernetics and concocted Silverdyne drug programs and made me the

man

I am today. I've been trying to make up for my sins ever since."))))

 

Impetus winces. "Wow. Viper, huh? I ain' neva had to deal widdem, but I

hear they real badass; you musta been some piecea work to break free a'those

muthas, man. I got nothin' but respec' for a guy who can walk away from

alla dat."

 

(((( I relate the place (Hudson Park) to Impetus and add; "After the

Maverick's Love Fest, we are going to meet a faction of the Big Green. They

might have info on Warlord. Interested?"))))

 

"Oh yeah," he says, grinning. "Hey, ain' every day I get to meet people who

make the front cover a'tha Post, know what I'm sayin? Whateva you need, I

got it. See ya there, homes." And assuming everything's set, he shakes

hands and kicks off again.

 

Impetus lands in an alleyway and rips off the fake dreads he's wearing,

revealing a bullet-shaped skull. He looks at the leather jacket he wore

tonight to the gig -- totally wasted. He's gonna have to find cheaper

dusters somewhere, because he only makes about $34,000 a year and he can't

afford to blow through an expensive jacket a week like he's been doing.

It's back to the Salvation Army; man, he hates those fucking places, they're

for bums and rich white kids, but he's gonna have to do it.

 

For just a brief second, he misses the gang life; yeah, he was scum, but

man, he NEVER had to worry about cash when he was rollin'.

 

But it's a brief twinge, and then he thinks about Red Cap and what a

fucked-up lifestyle Cap was leading, and he's okay again.

 

He digs in the trash, nose wrinkling, and pulls out a grungy white T-shirt

and a pair of jeans a plastic bag he'd hid there earlier tonight. With a

sigh, he tosses the jacket, punctured and slashed, into the trash. He

probably could wear it tonight, but even if he isn't banging anymore,

well -- a guy's gotta make an impression. He's not checkin' in with

Wildheart with some piece of crap, now...

 

He walks up the stairs to his apartment complex, tiptoeing gingerly so he

doesn't thunder through the whole house, and hovers down to the basement

apartment he lives in. It's pretty much a bachelor's place -- functional,

but not pretty. He floats over to the fridge, pulls out a Miller Hi-Life,

and sits down on his steel-reinforced couch with a smile.

 

He's gotta sleep, but he can wait a half an hour first. Impetus turns on

the TV, watches the news, sees a flash of him leaping off... and for the

first time in months, he feels good. He stopped some junkies from killing

themselves tonight, got respect from Crusader, made some headway about maybe

joining up with the Mavericks... the perennial, low-grade anger Impetus

usually feels has temporarily evaporated, replaced with a sense of comfort.

 

Weezie, we movin' on up.

 

Impetus cracks a second beer and smiles.

 

The Ferrett

 

From I/Arcsilver:

The only thing that I would add to the narrative is that Arc would

contact Mavericks HQ and let someone know what had happened, but MIRV

probably took care of that. Arc will make sure to say a fond farewell to

Montero, suggesting that he let him know if anything else should happen

that he thinks is related, and then we will set out.

 

Before the trip, Arc will ask if Artie has a preference for hotels in

New York City, and if he has none, He will set him up in a fair to

midland place mid-town, as i don't know what his finaces are like. Arc

will then contact Wildheart or whomever is at the base, telling her/him

where he is leaving Artie, and asking if Wildheart might pull a string

and get a cop to hang around the door if she thinks it is necessary.

"Take a shower and get some rest, Artie, I will come back tomorrow in the

late morning/early afternoon and we will go and see The ADA." Arcsilver

will say, as he deposits Artie safely in the room. As he leaves with

MIRV, he will ask "geez, MIRV, do you think that we are supposed to keep

an eye on this guy the whole time? Doesn't seem like he really wants to

get away from us..."

 

The Arc will head with MIRV to the base, making fun of how slow he flies

without the wing.

 

-Ilan/Arcsilver

 

From S/Crusader:

<< Impetus winces. "Wow. Viper, huh? I ain' neva had to deal widdem, but I

hear they real badass; you musta been some piecea work to break free a'those

muthas, man. I got nothin' but respec' for a guy who can walk away from

alla dat." >>

 

"Got a bit of luck from a high. When the creator of this suit and I

busted out, it coincided with LA going into the Big Drink. My base of

operations and my records were at the LA Nest. But there are plenty of

Snakes on the look out for me still. So I'm not sure how much of a piece of

work I am."

 

After leaving Impetus, Crusader heads home. To the dilapitated warehouse

known only to a few as the Mavericks HQ. He strips off the armor once and

puts in the special alcove built into the Winnebago that Yuri designed. Any

other Mavericks are met with a quiet but pleasent "hello." Crusader/John

needs some time to himself.

The coversation with Impetus brought up some precarious memories. As he

slips into work out trunks, John looks at the silvery, blue plastisteel

sockets in his thighs, calves, shoulders, back and biceps. Small, 3/4"

diameter portrusions that allow the Intercept armor to attach right to the

body and to transmit neurological info to the suit.

Still, John is thankful. Many Viper applicants washed out of the

Intercept program. Rejection of the plastisteel sockets, allergic reaction

to the Silverdyne drug programs... John was lucky. His body accepted all of

these invasive procedures with remarkable adaptability. Viper MedTechs were

amazed at how soon John started training after the battery of operations.

After which, John starts a kata designed to make his 6'4" frame as

flexible as possible. 'The plastisteel won't wear out, but the muscles and

tendons have to be kept in shape.', he thinks wryly.

Then John gets some sleep on his cot, behind the cheap Akia folding

partitions that mark his room from the rest of the HQ. His sleep is deep and

dreamless.

 

--storn

 

-----------

 

From GM:

Note: (One post for everyone. Matt hasn't responded yet, so I'll keep this short. Thanks for reminding me about Holocaust, Bill. Makes me want to go back and read all my Blood Syndicate comics. Damn those were good.)

 

>>> Arcsilver and MIRV had the easiest evening, so are up early. MIRV checks in with Wild Heart, and heads out before anyone else. "I guess they're releasing Darkfire, and I have to go pick the boy up," he says by way of explanation. To Yuri, Arcsilver and Crusader, who all stayed at the HQ the night before, Wild Heart appears chipper; her mood much improved from the days before. Arcsilver makes a quick check in with the hotel, and Artie says he's fine. "Money is not a problem, so don't worry about me. I'll be waiting when it's time to meet with the A.D.A." After that, it is quick breakfast and heading out.

You each make your way to the meeting in the morning. Hudson Park is on the Jersey side of the Hudson River, north of Weehawken (where the Mavericks' base is hidden in old, run down docksides) by two miles or so. It is a large park, nearly as wide Central Park, but only a quarter as long. There is a large pond in the middle. Early on a cold March morning, the place is deserted. Light frost covers the grass and leaves, and a low fog surrounds the pond. The sky is cloudy and dark gray. The sun cuts through on the horizon, but is soon lost in the haze.

If anyone was out that morning, they'd have been witness to an impressive sight. A blaze of white and blue lightning flashes across the sky, heralding the Mavericks' arrival. Arcsilver, zips around the lake with a crackle and whoosh, stirring the fog, before he lands with a flourish. Wild Heart arrives next. Her lithe form drops in a parabolic arc, the ground shakes with a mild THUMP! as she lands. She smoothes back her dark hair, and adjust her leather jacket as she turns to look back. Just behind her, swooping down like black bird of prey, armor glinting even in the dispersed light, comes Crusader. Only the rush of wind in his glider cape ushers him down to a silent, poised landing. The three say nothing. The still of the morning powerful enough to keep even Arcsilver from talking, for the moment.

Less than a minute later, the low jet roar of MIRV's boot jets comes from the East. An aerial shining knight, his blue and silver is a beacon over the trees. The jets rise in octaves as he adjust his flight, legs swinging under him to act as retros, lowering him to the ground in a billow of wind and leaves. In his arms is the striking black and white figure of Darkfire, his arm, shoulder and chest still bandaged. He steps to the ground, solid and easy. He does a mock bow with his good arm extended, and steps away from MIRV. The group is still silent, a gathering of power.

(Visual: Misty pond in the background, five impressive figures posed like an album cover in calm, but powerful stances, with frosted breath and bare trees. Camera angle rotates, slowly, viewing from west, showing the five's seemingly rural location imposed with the impressive New York skyline behind them. freeze frame.)

 

A short time later, Impetus arrives. plummeting from the sky like a meteor, his massive form impacts with a jarring WHOOMM!! Strange ripples of violet energy radiate like rings in a pool from the landing point, flattening grass in a twenty foot circle. Straightening up, his considerable bulk and height are evident. He looks about the five heroes surrounding him with a grim smile. Darkfire speaks the first words of the day... an understated, "Damn. He's big."

Wild Heart steps forward then, hand extended. "Glad you could make... Impetus is it? I'm Wild Heart, in case you didn't know. Saw you on the news, but you are even more impressive in person. You certainly looked like you did well, last night. Crusader gives you a big thumbs up, too." She gestures to the others. "You know Crusader. This is MIRV..." shiny, chrome and blue armored figure steps forward to shake your hand. A large energy cannon is across his back. "The skinny, glowing guy is Arcsilver." (Splice in Arc's comments here.) Finally pointing to the last figure, muscular body in skin tight white costume with stylized black flame pattern on it, "That's Darkfire, looking a little worse for wear." (He's the one bandaged up, arm, chest and shoulder.) "At least he's here, though," she grumbles, looking around. Then back to Impetus. "Our sixth hasn't shown or responded. I want to give him a couple more minutes, before we start. You mind telling us anything about yourself. That was an impressive display of power. Care to tell us the story behind 'em. Crusader said you mentioned something about "something happened to you." I'd love to hear it." Her smile is a brilliant white in a tanned (even in winter) smooth skinned face. You notice that her blue "mask" is painted on makeup. Her dark hair is thick and lustrous. Black leather jacket over deep blue spandex with red striping, black combat boots. Over six feet two, she can almost look Impetus in the eye, and though her hand is smaller, she has a grip as steel hard as his.

 

(Converse as a group, while you await Dragon Mist. Matt, hope everything is cool with you, and will await your post.)<<<

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 114 (Keeping this in the same thread but this is an insert, where I was running a short bit to bring Eric's character into the game... like I did with Impetus and Speedball.)

 

From GM: Introducing Cowboy (from another campaign... Storn ran a brief, alt-Earth near future cyberpunk supers game, and Eric wanted to keep using the character he created there.)

Here's a little introductory adventure to get Cowboy going. I'll keep copying you on the Mavericks posts as well, so when the two combine you'll have some idea about what is going on.

 

>>>It's the lower levels of Manhattan where you feel most at home. Despite all the rapid changes in your life, recently, you still aren't all that comfortable with the flash and glitz of the spotlight. The HQ is nice. Real comfortable. Great food. But the fancy hotels, high rise meetings with the muckity mucks... being friendly with the COPS. None of that seems real. And that's not even touching all this MAGIC crap that's been coming down...

Old paper and scattered drinking bulbs skitter past your feet in the low sub-breeze. Your black coat kicks up high behind you, and you snag the brim of your hat with your fingers to keep it from blowing off. There's always a wind down here, on the old streets, at the base of the immense spires above you. Convection currents are harsh, and few pedestrians use these streets any more. Skywalk One, fifty feet up. That's where the action is. Down here you have to fight the wash of the big trucks, road trains and personal commuter cars. Old storefronts are often boarded up, and those that are open are seedy bars, low rent law offices, and sweat shop fronts. It's the grime in the toes of the big city...

... but it feels like home.

The New Centurions have made a pledge to patrol. To be seen. Places like this is where you like to show up. Bronze... can't get used to calling him Bronze Star, even after all this time... he likes to take Upper Manhattan and the Jersey side of the river. Lower buildings. Lot's of leaping and running and shaking hands with the folks on the street. Breakbeat's got his club scene and flying around making that screeching sound he calls music. Silhouette has her classy air car, and keeps the Upper East side snobs happy. Avatar can fly almost anywhere, and now there's that big walking chunk of asphalt, Coal, who bops around Long Island a lot, since there's more open dirt and stuff for him to move through. The Bronx though... and places like the substreets... those are yours. Here the shadows hold grifters and thugs, street walkers and junkies... all the fun people you grew up with. When you walk down here, people step lightly out of the way, 'cause they know you're no uptown geek slumming. Your rep is strong down here, and you like it that way.

Turning off the main drag, you step into Alley 4. It used to be sunny courtyard lined with expensive boutiques but now the superstructures cast long shadows over the little park. The shops have become various produce stalls, vendors of cheap plastic flowers, and fronts for less savory businesses. Here there are plenty of people... deal makers and rummage sale hounds. It's a lively bustle of humanity and you stride into like you own it. People turn, half of them shying away into the shadows, and the other half looking at you like your were a holo star. They all part before you like a wave.

You move through the crowd, listening to the murmurs and nodding to those who look your way. Halfway through the alleyway the crowds closing behind you are suddenly disturbed. The tone of voices change with some alarm, and you turn. Twenty feet back, the source hidden by the people between, there is a deep red/pink glow that wasn't there before. It is getting wider and brighter. Then, there is a sudden scream coming from somewhere near the light.<<<

 

What do you do?

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 115 - Mavericks Impetus meeting cont'd

 

(Splice in Arc's comments here.)

 

Arcsilver takes a few unnaturally quick steps up and takes Impetus' hand

before he can lower it from the previous shake. "Hey there, big guy,

what's shakin'" arc will say, and then cringe and hold his hand in mock

pain when Impetus lets go, saying "ooh oooh" as if the shake was too much

for his skinny wrist (smiling). Arcsilver's grip is not firm at all, and

Impetus is struck by how small his hand and arm are.

 

Arcsilver is thin and tallish, with slightly pale caucasion skin, and a

big toothy smile. He wears a bright blue speed skating outfit, complete

with the groovy glasses, and his hands and wrists are wrapped in boxer's

tape, but the sheek dark blue tape that has become available only since

affluent middle aged people started to "boxercize."

 

From S/Crusader:

Crusader is quiet. He lets everyone make their greetings first. After

all, he doesn't have to introduce himself. And he is a mite bit embarressed

about how much he revealed to a total stranger.

When everyone is done, Crusader will say with a heartfelt, sincere;

"Good to see you made it."

 

Press On, Oh Noble GM!

--storn

 

From M/Dragon Mist:

Dragon Mist dials the number to the HQ before he realizes having done so.

"Yuri. I got your page. I'm going to need some help before the meeting. . ."

With that he relates that Greyspirit is wounded, his safe house has been

compromised and his sister is in danger. "Greyspirit will recover, she just

needs a safe place to lay low a little while and I will need help transporting

her to base. Can you meet me with the van?"

 

------------

 

From GM:

Note: (Well, I haven't received anything from Bill so I'm going to push this along, just so it doesn't stall too much. Hope folks can jump back in when they have a chance. Bill, you ok? I noticed you haven't posted on Star City in the past couple of weeks, either. Hope everything's ok.)

 

>>>For a few minutes conversation is strained and uncomfortable. Impetus is strangely quiet, perhaps feeling a bit surrounded by the five Mavericks. Arcsilver's jokes fall flat, and even Darkfire can't seem to break the ice. "Great to meet you," he says, as Impetus turns to him. "Welcome to the gang!" He is clearly smiling through his face mask, but Impetus seems to grow a little colder, and even Crusader gets a little stony in his silence. "What?" says Darkfire, looking around, bewildered. "What'd I say?"

 

Speedball: With a blur of fingers you rattle off your e-mail to the Mavericks, and kick back in your chair hitting the enter button. Spinning in the chair, your brain whirls, trying to figure out what else you could do. You are feeling GOOD right now. You have plenty of energy and the brew TOTALLY destroys any cravings. Your senses are sharp and everything is just... good. In the back of your head, you still fear the come down, but right now, you're on a roll.

Then you slam your chair to stop almost knocking into the person next to you, as you notice a strange window pop up on the screen in front of you. Black window with gold border. Gold font, in some kind of calligraphy. "Hello, Speedball," it says. "Please wait for a response."

"DAMN!" you think. That was FAST.

 

Wild Heart steps back up to Impetus, shaking her head ruefully, and is just about to speak when her watch, as well as MIRV's and Crusader's helmet and the headsets on Arcsilver and Darkfire, all buzz. As everyone keys their radios on, she smiles and says, "Hold on, Impetus. Gotta take a call." Then into her watch she says, "This is Wild Heart, and gang." Yuri's voice comes across, and Wild Heart keeps her wrist out so Impetus can catch his words. "Ah. Sorry to being a bother," he says. "Something of very interesting on the computer just appeared. I was doing searches as Crusader's report indicated that the Impetus fellow had a message for us. I have found that one, am apologizing for it being too late... but something else just appeared. I am seeing a instant messaging window of unknown origin. It says, "Relaying message from Speedball. Urgent." Attached is being a forwarded message from a hotmail account. It says there is great danger, and involves someone named Kid Fantastic (see Geoff's last post). Very strange." There is a buzzing in the background of the call and Yuri says, "A moment please," and clicks off. Within moments he is back. "Am patching through Dragon Mist. Conferencing on channel 2. He is saying he has much problems. Someone has attacked his sister!"

 

There is a sudden hubbub of people trying to talk. Wild Heart takes a deep breath, trying to focus. "It's never easy," she mutters. "It should be easy, but it never is." (Apologies to John Crichton)<<<

 

End the latest issue. Arcsilver, Crusader, Impetus, Speedball take 3 EXP. Dragon Mist, you get one, since it was more of a cameo appearance this issue.

Everybody throw in there own two cents, ifn' you want, as we start the next issue trying to figure out what to do next!

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 116 - Cowboy

 

From E/Cowboy:

"Never a dull moment..." Cowboy draws his two

pistols, a glint in his eye. "God, I love being

me..." With that, he moves towards where he thinks

the noise is coming from.

 

If this takes him into the light, he will leap inside,

rolling up into a crouch. If there is a wall of some

kind, he will continue rolling until he can prop his

back against the wall, and point his guns in both

directions. Quick glances to either side.

 

If no targets present themselves, he will cautiously

move towards the screams, pistols raised in front of

him.

 

-----------

 

From GM:

>>>As you move back toward the light you are met by the surging crowd, trying to move away from it. People begin to panic as they are caught between you and your guns and the macabre, evil looking light growing in intensity.

Rather than being trampled, you flex the silicon tendons in your left leg and deftly leap up and over the crowd, landing six meters closer to the light your back up against a food stand. The proprietor is scrambling behind you, to close up his deep fryers and turn off the sterno flames. "Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap..." he keeps saying, over and over, ignoring you all the while.

Your attention is focused on what seems to be a growing ball of light. Blood red luminescence reflects off your dark glasses as you grit your teeth. Hackles on the back of your neck are rising and you get a queasy feeling in your stomach. It's very similar to when you fought that giant demon thing that stomped all over you, or at that freaky pyramid in Egypt. "Feh... magic," you think.

Then you see the source of the scream. Around the other side of the ball of light, a young woman is on the ground being dragged into the ball by a slimy, black tentacle that wraps up the length of her body and is choking out her scream. It begins to start to suffocate her by covering her mouth and nose. You can see no body/source for the tentacle but its slimy length is exposed in a number of places.<<<

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 117 - Maverics w/Impetus

 

From B/Impetus:

((((He looks about the five heroes

surrounding him with a grim smile. Darkfire speaks the first words of the

day... an understated, "Damn. He's big."))))

 

There is in fact a moment of VERY uncomfortable silence, while Impetus

stands sizing each of you impassively, his face as ice cold as any gangster

you've ever seen... but then he tilts his head, as if in approval, and

grins. "So you da Mavericks, hanh?" he says. "I seen ya'll in the Post,

but you folks look different in person."

 

(((("Glad you could

make... Impetus is it? I'm Wild Heart, in case you didn't know. Saw you on

the news, but you are even more impressive in person. ))))

 

Impetus takes her hand and shakes it firmly, but in that moment he's quite

obviously eyeing Wildheart's charms, finding a spare second or two to smile

even more appreciatively. It's not a particularly lewd look, but there is

an offer implicit in his eyes... if she chooses to take it. (NOTE: If

Wildheart is publicly involved with anyone in the Mavericks -- Impetus reads

the Post cover to back every morning on the subway -- then this incident

doesn't happen, although he still takes a moment to check her out.)

 

"Pleaseda meetcha," he says. "It's a real honor, Wildheart. I read a lot

aboutcha, but I'm new to this supahero biz, man -- never thought I'd run

inta you this soon." He pauses for a moment, then says: "Aw any of y'all,

atchly. You guys done a lotta good work here in NYC and I got mad respect

for all a'yall fo' whatchoo do."

 

(((( Arcsilver takes a few unnaturally quick steps up and takes Impetus'

hand

before he can lower it from the previous shake. "Hey there, big guy,

what's shakin'" arc will say, and then cringe and hold his hand in mock

pain when Impetus lets go, saying "ooh oooh" as if the shake was too much

for his skinny wrist (smiling). Arcsilver's grip is not firm at all, and

Impetus is struck by how small his hand and arm are.))))

 

Impetus glowers down at Arcsilver, and for a heart-stopping second you think

there's going to be real trouble as his eyes furrow. After a half-second,

though, he gets the joke... and laughs thunderously, one of those total body

laughs where your chest heaves.

 

"Hey, man!" he says, turning to the rest of you in mock surprise. "Nobody

tol' me I'd be fightin' with Brian Boitano!"

 

(((("That's Darkfire, looking a little worse for wear." (He's the one

bandaged up, arm, chest and shoulder.) ))))

 

"What in hell happen ta you, man?"

 

((((Crusader said you mentioned

something about "something happened to you." I'd love to hear it." ))))

 

Impetus winces, as if in pain, then looks at Wildheart... you can almost see

the, "Should I or shouldn't I?" running through his mind here. Then he

steps aside bashfully, and says, "Ah tell it, but it ain' much of a story.

I was rummagin' through the basement a'some building that was gonna be

condemned, an' there was this psycho guy 'sperimentin' on three homeless

guys. He was doin'... well, I seen a lot a'dead homes in my time as a

'banger, but he... he fuckin' turn 'em inside OUT, f'God's sake. They wuz

screamin', and ah tried t'run, but nex' thing I know I was trapped in this

violet field -- look like this," he says, and flares his forcefield

briefly -- "and then I passed out. When I came to, I could do the stuff I

did. Doan' know what tha guy wannit... not sure I WANNA know, either, but

'f I find him I'm gonna do mah bes' to make sure he pays faw those bums he

kilt." He shakes his head. "Or DIDN'T kill."

 

((( When everyone is done, Crusader will say with a heartfelt, sincere;

"Good to see you made it.")))

 

Impetus glides up and holds out a hand meant for Crusader alone. "Wouldn'a

missed it, man. Wouldn'a missed it."

 

From G/Speedball:

Speedball is amazed at how well organized the Mavericks organization seems to

be. At the same time, however, he resents sitting in this cybercafe when it

would be so much easier if they could all meet face to face. He continues

to wonder, as he waits, how much he can trust these people. "Yeah, they're

the good guys....but how're the going to react to me if they know I'm a

junky?"

At the first sign of a response from the Mavs, he will suggest that he meet

up with them in the city ASAP.

As he sits, waiting, he takes three quarters out of his pocket and begins

tossing them into the air with his left hand, absentmindedly. The other

computer users smile at first, then continue to look on, seeing the glazed

look in Joe's eyes, as if he were a child watching TV and cuking his thumb.

 

(You can take this as my post unless the answer that comes from the Mavs

requires more detail, in which case I'll repost and try and keep things

moving)

 

From I/Arcsilver:

Arcsilver will not add anything to the confusing discussion, but will

try to follow it, and will anxiously activate his flight.

 

-Ilan

 

From S/Crusader:

(((Impetus glides up and holds out a hand meant for Crusader alone. "Wouldn'a

missed it, man. Wouldn'a missed it.")))

 

Crusader will take Impetus's hand and shake it with respect. Turn to the

rest; "Well, Wild Heart, you've called us all here. I've heard just a few

words of this Kid Fantastic but don't know much about him. "Speedball"

might be the wacko that Impetus and I faced. So... what's next."

 

To Impetus with this bit of filler, "Kid Fantastic was one of the

Mavericks briefly, before my time."

 

----------

 

From GM:

>>>"OK, ok, ok!" says Wild Heart in a loud voice, trying to regain control. "Before this gets out of hand... quickly, Dragon Mist, are you under attack... No?, ok... your current sitrep is what? You have a wounded Grey Spirit? And you sister may be in danger? All right. Hold for a second."

Turning back to everyone she says, "Saddle up. I want to go at this as a group... right away if possible." Looking at Impetus, she says, "Hey, hunk. You want to come with us? I'd like to keep up this conversation on the run." Assuming an affirmative answer, she says, "Great. Arcs, scout ahead toward Upper East side but DO NO, repeat DO NOT engage, we'll be right behind you. MIRV carry Darkfire. Crusader, you're with him." Again to Impetus, "Get me across the river with that geo-leaping of yours and I'll be fine after that." Then she steps into his arms in an utterly casual way... her body lean and very hard. She smiles, "Watch the hands, buddy. I don't know you that well... yet," and gives a wink.

As the group takes off she makes a last call, back to base. "Yuri. This Speedball character. Tell him we'll try to meet him where he indicated. Anybody who knows about Kid Fantastic we have to meet. Most people have never heard of him. He kept a low profile before he went down." Then back to Impetus who has been gathering a deepening field of energy beneath his feet while he waited, she says, "Ok. Let's goooooOOOOOOOO!" as he releases the field momentarily negating the effects of gravity so that they both rocket upwards and back toward Manhattan.

 

Speedball: A minute passes as you stare at the screen, juggling changes and tapping your feet to the strange rhythms in your head. Suddenly a second black window covers the first and again the golden calligraphy spills across it. "Thank you for waiting, Speedball," it says. "Attached is a message from the Mavericks." You start to click on the attachment file when further script appears. "If you wish to accomplish your goals more efficiently, I would direct you to the Upper East side. (Address follows.) You will find the people you are looking for, there." Then the black box signs off with the simple signature of "Gabriel" then disappears leaving the screen as it should normally look.

Opening the attachment shows a regular e-mail reply to your post stating that the Mavericks will do what they can to meet you at the 1st and 1st playground that afternoon.

 

Dragon Mist: You stand looking over Grey Spirit as she sleeps. While you are trying to decide whether to move her or let her simply sleep, your radio buzzes again. Wild Heart's voice comes across, "DM. We're on the move. You said your sister was staying on the Upper East side. We'll be there in a couple of minutes. Do you still need a pick up, or will you join us there? What is the potential threat? Do we go in loud and fast or quiet and fast?" The sound of air rushing past her radio blurs and swishes her words.<<<

 

Ok, the main group has a couple of minutes while they cross the city, so if you want to say things as you go, please say them now. Strategies and such are appreciated. The Mavericks are pretty lose. If someone has an idea, just say it. Wild Heart's always open to new plans. Speedball, Dragon Mist... let me know what you guys decide to do.

[greymankle]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Just making sure you know people are reading this.

 

Hey Neil, were you running a FtF game during all of this? I gather you do most of your replies from work but even then that had to be a TON of work. Scary.

 

-Peace

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Just making sure you know people are reading this.

 

Hey Neil, were you running a FtF game during all of this? I gather you do most of your replies from work but even then that had to be a TON of work. Scary.

 

-Peace

 

Hey... glad to hear from you. Back behind the wire for a while?

 

As to this game... the worst part was coordinating the timelines between the PBEM and FtF games. It took MONTHS... if not YEARS to game out all the stuff I'm posting here... but it is really the equivalent of about six FtF sessions (about six issues of The Mavericks). That is crazy slow... and trying to coordinate with all the fast moving games going on in other parts of the RDU. ACK! Major head ache. Probably one of the main reasons I stopped. PBEM is just too slow to be part of RDU.

 

I love the format, though. When every player gets to be so involved... and the dramatic action unfolds in detail... well, it really has an impact only the best FtF games can approach.

 

Just too, damn SLOW!

[greymankle]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Just too' date=' damn SLOW! [/quote']

 

Well it would seem to me you need to find an area of RDU that exists outside the normal timeline and/or far enough detached where they would not intertwine. cough JAPAN cough cough But you may not want to open that particular present through E-mail. Chi blasting Kung-fu craziness is really fun FtF.

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 118 - Cowboy again

 

From E/Cowboy:

Cowboy stands, raising his pistols up in front of him

as he does so. "OUTTA THE WAY, PEOPLE! HERO COMIN'

THROUGH!" he yells to the crowd.

 

He strides slowly forewards, saying, "No lady's gonna

get dragged off on MY watch..." and looks the tentacle

over, looking for a weak spot. Then he starts

shooting. The bullets rip out of the gun as fast as

he can pull the trigger.

 

Having no fear whatsoever, he will stride right up to

the woman, at the edge of the ball of light.

 

----------

 

From GM:

"BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM!! The thunder of your guns drowns out the screams and cries for a second, and you are rewarded with the satisfying sight of the tentacle shredding under multiple impacts. Goblets of flesh and blood spray the walkway as the remainder of the thrashing limb retreats into the light. The struggling woman gasps as the twitching length still wrapped around her goes limp, freeing her mouth. She lets out a slow moan of horror, feebly pushing at the constricting flesh. You see her skin is marred... slightly burned... where the tentacle touched it. The stench is sickening and you focus on breathing through your mouth.

Cautiously you move up to her, thinking to help her out, but training your guns on the glowing sphere, you look for more threats.

Your com suddenly chirps, and Silhouette's voice comes across sharply saying, "This is Sil, I'm on hover trans over 121st and Skywalk 2." (This is three miles and many many blocks north of your position.) "I've got a strange disturbance below. Weird light show seems to be causing a ruckus. I'm checking it out. NYPD patrol also in sight and descending. Out."

The woman at your feet thrashes feebly, her face pale. She's likely going into shock.

 

Out of the corner of your eye shifts in the light catch your attention. Though difficult to see, you think you make out shapes... darker shadows... deep in the light.

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 119 - Cowboy again

 

From E/Cowboy:

Cowboy triggers the com. "As always, good ta hear yer

voice, Sil. I got a weird glowin' light here at

(nearest cross streets). Some tentacle thing tried ta

grab a woman off the street 'n pull her in. I shot it

ta shit, though. I think... I can just make out some

more of 'em through the ball of light."

 

He squints, looking over the top of his shades.

"Dunno what the hell they are, but they stink ta High

Hell! I need an ambulance here fer the woman, she

looks burnt, think she's goin' inta shock."

 

If he sees any more tentacles come out, or if the

shapes resolve themselves more, he will start shooting

into the ball of light, standing between it and the

woman. "Come on, you bastards," he mutters, "give me

a target..."

 

----------

 

From GM:

While watching the vague shadows intently, you listen to the comm chatter which suddenly becomes filled with voices. Bronze comes on with, "Similar sitrep here in Jersey in the middle of Broadway! Working with police to clear away onlookers from the signing. I told them it's a bad idea for me to do publicity stunts like this!!" Then Avatar and Coal cut across, both talking about a large glowing sphere over the HQ. "That little bug guy is running around like a total spas," comes Avatar's voice. "I'm getting bad vibes on this one. It's definitely a magical attack."

Just then a shadow coalesces in the light, moving toward you growing larger and more distinctive. Guns leveled, you see a familiar shape begin to emerge from the light. Thick limbed, with spines and barbs protruding at all angles from the skin, you immediately recognize one of the hulking demon things that the team faced in South Carolina... when that Techmage dude stole that mecha.

Your guns blaze immediately and four out of five shots slam into the creature from less than ten feet away but the slugs ping and zing off the body and the creature merely stop and growls at you. It clearly tenses to attack. Yep, they are just as tough as you remember. You also remember that two of these bastards put Bronze in the hospital.

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 120 - And still Cowboy

 

From E/Cowboy:

"Damn, not _these_ guys again..." Cowboy takes a step

back, and sizes up the demon thing (going for Find

Weakness). After (hopefully) finding that weakspot,

he plugs it with 2 AP shots.

 

Over the com he says, "I got one of those demon things

we fought out in the boonies a while ago, comin' outta

the ball of light. Just as tough now as they were

then."

 

If it goes down, he will look harder into the light

ball, trying to see if there is one of those mage

demons like in SC.

 

----------

 

From GM:

(Geez. The rolls for Cowboy were UNBELIEVABLE.)

 

>>>With a wicked snarl, the creature focuses on you. It's inhuman muscles bunch and knot and it's twisted limbs flex. Before it can leap though, you casually raise your pistol to it's head, and with a sneer fire twice. K-Blam! K-Blam! The gun kicks in your hand, but you compensate perfectly. Two .44 caliber slugs impact, one in each eye, within nano seconds of each other. The wave front pressure of both bullets liquefies the eyeballs as well as half of the gray matter in the creatures skull before impact actually occurs. When they find the back of the skull, the creatures bones resist penetration and bullets begin to ricochet within it's head. The demon's head snaps back from impact and the churning, pressurized fluid that had been it's frontal lobe has nowhere to go but back out the eye sockets. Twin geysers of thick black gore gush upwards as the creatures knees buckle and it collapses. It's growl turning to gurgle as it dies.

 

(Game notes: Found Weakness with a 9, hit with both bullets, doing 12 Body and 14 Body AP, which negated any and all resistant defenses. The beast took 26 Body and 78 Stun, which adds three more body to the total. Whoa. You have now fired Five shots from the gun without the variable advantage, and seven shots from the gun with it.)

 

"Well, that was easy..." you think... looking deeper into the light. Your Gargoyle's run a data feed inside them, automatically trying to compensate for the glare as microprocessors try to clarify and enhance the shadowy images you can barely make out. Suddenly the glowing light shifts, drastically expanding in luminescence and size... like a small sun going nova. Despite your glasses you are blinded as all images of the crowd and bazaar are wiped away and you are swallowed by the light.

 

(You are still standing on something firm, and have a second action. No obvious targets, though. Just bright light.)

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 121 - Back to the Mavericks

 

From G/Speedball:

More than a little confused, Speedball ponders the conflicting messages. He can either wait to meet them at the park or he can go to the address on the Upper East and meet them there now, as Gabriel suggested. Assuming that Gabriel is one of the Mavericks who happened to be listening in on the email exchange, then what's the problem? Seems like there isn't much of a choice...

 

stashing the quarters he was absently flipping with his left hand, Speedball

pushes back his chair so that it nearly skates into the coffee table in back

of him. With this, he's clearly worn out his welcome at the cafe, and so

turns to go.

He makes for the 4-5 train to get him close enough to the address. When

exiting the train on the upper east side he will find a quiet spot to slip

into his "costume," still sticky with blood and sweat from the other day.

It is hardly worth washing it anymore and he wonders whether Mavericks draw

a salary...

 

(Neil, it should take about 15 minutes to get there, depending on where on

the Upper East the address is)

 

Approaching the building, Speedball expects no trouble from the Mavericks,

but is on the look out for cops or thugs. Being a junky just naturally

means doing so.

 

(Note: I'm not even sure I'd have seen pictures of the

Mavericks--Neil, can you rule on whether or not I even know them by sight?)

 

From I/Arcsilver

>Arcs, scout ahead toward Upper East side, but DO NO, repeat DO NOT engage, we'll be right behind you. -

 

"Gotcha, sis..." Arcsilver says, the last syllable being lost as he

rockets away. At 120" noncombat (or getting there with acceleration, I

think that the Upper East Side will approach pretty fast, and as he

approaches, he will key the radio, asking "I'm appraoching the area, is

there an address we are looking for?"

 

From B/Impetus:

((("Speedball"

might be the wacko that Impetus and I faced. So... what's next."))))

 

"Yeah," Impetus interjects. "Specially 'f it turns out that this guy IS tha

one who stole tha junk, ah think we betta agree what we doin' BEFO' we get

there. We take him down? Talk firs, THEN take him down? Y'all ain' jes

gonna let a guy like dat go 'cause he's helpin' you... are you? 'Cause I

ain't sanctionin' that."

 

(((She smiles, "Watch the hands,

buddy. I don't know you that well... yet," and gives a wink.))))

 

Impetus just nods. "We gonna hafta work on that, then." He leaps.

 

Any conversation on the way will hopefully be about what to do IF Speedball

is the guy, which Impetus is pretty sure that it is. After all, as has

already been stated, "Speedball" is a pretty damn obvious name. (Sorry,

Geoff.)

 

If there's time, Impetus simply says, "Far as strategy goes, jes' point me

at someone who's reas'nably slow who I can hit. I take care'ada rest."

 

The Ferrett

 

From M/Dragon Mist:

Dragon Mist speaks quickly into the channel, "Dragon Mist to Wild Heart. I can meet you all there soon as Greyspirit gets taken back to base, though it sounds as if everyone is in transit. Is still Yuri available? I think that van of his has a better chance of making it here than I do of getting her to base, then myself up east."

Assuming the conversation is over, Dragon Mist tries to occupy his time by

wrapping Grey Spirit in a few blankets. It is during this that Dragon Mist

realizes for the first time that the whole nature of his relationship with

this woman has been based on waiting.

 

From S/Crusader:

Crusader will comm to Mirv, ironic, since their heads are inches apart.

 

"When we get to the site, you can let me go and I will glide in. We will

make less of a target that way."

 

((("Specially 'f it turns out that this guy IS tha

one who stole tha junk, ah think we betta agree what we doin' BEFO' we get

there. We take him down? Talk firs, THEN take him down? Y'all ain' jes

gonna let a guy like dat go 'cause he's helpin' you... are you? 'Cause I

ain't sanctionin' that.")))

 

"I disagree Impetus. I'm always for talking before head pounding.

Actually, I'm always for information gathering before head pounding. But

sometimes direct communication accomplishes that. " Crusader slowly says,

speaking at highest volume that his helmet allows to compensate for the

wind.

"Some leeway may be coming to this Speedball if he truly has info on

what is going on with the Kid. Mavericks have to stick together. If Kid is

in trouble... well, we are all in trouble."

 

"Wildheart, you still haven't told us what you did for Masterson."

 

 

>>>It is during this that Dragon Mist

realizes for the first time that the whole nature of his relationship with

this woman has been based on waiting.<<<

 

Great line Matt.

 

----------

 

From GM:

Note: (I agree. Great line Matt.)

 

>>>Dragon Mist: Yuri cuts back on the line. "I am not being sure where

you are, but it will be a minimum of twenty minutes for me to get to Manhattan. Even longer maybe."

You realize he is correct, and that the rest of the team will be at the place in a couple of minutes, tops. Just then, Grey Spirit stirs in your bed, and you turn, seeing her eyes crack open. Black pearls swimming in pain and confusion.

"Dragon?" she says sleepily, then forces herself more awake. "You...

were speaking of me. Please, do not delay on... my account." She looks

around, and a hint of a smile crosses her face. "I will be... safe here.

Go." One hand weakly sticks out of the covers, shaking at you. "Go. But

be careful. They were... Nahoda clan. They were the minions of Sendako

Y'ull."

 

Arcsilver: You arrive on the scene quite a distance ahead of everyone else,

as usual. Wild Heart had given you a specific Address on the 90's block,

just off Park Ave. (Note: I have no real experience in this area, so I'm

imagining something similar to the incredible apartment building in Devil's

Advocate, though not right on the park.) It is a ritzy row of apartments,

and you blast past and back twice, before spotting the specific address.

It's a four story, large apartment building. Expensive. There has to be at

least a dozen apartments in it, and you call back for the number. Cars move

along the street,but there are only a couple of early morning joggers on

the sidewalk. One of them trips and falls in surprise as you zip by.

Otherwise, all is peaceful.

 

Once on the Manhattan side of the river, it's easy for each Maverick

and Impetus to move under their own power. Wild Heart slides out of Impetus'

arms and begins leaping from rooftop to rooftop with smaller, more regular

jumps than Impetus' prodigious leaps. Crusader can easily leap and glide

as he will and MIRV maintains a steady cover flight over both, carrying

Darkfire. Arcsilver left you all in the dust a while ago. In response to

Crusader's question, Wild Heart replies. "Huff. Oh, yeah. Never got a

chance to say... huff... anything. Huff. We'll it's just that I called in

a ... huff... marker from an old friend. Huff. Don't let it get around,

but... huff... Lifeline owes the Mavericks... huff... big time!

You all make good time, crossing Central Park in less than 30 seconds,

as Wild Heart gives Arcs the Apt. #. "That's #4, Arcs, but don't go in.

Just circle and watch the area. Too much is going on here, and I want to

stop being led around by the nose. If this is the Warlord, it could be

another setup like at Onyx' gym. Be cool!"

 

Speedball: Just as you are hopping on the train you overhear a radio

broadcast from the radio of a homie hanging out against a wall. A local

rap station cuts in with, "Yo, check this out! We jus' got the news tha'

the Mavericks have been sighted movin' across the city. They's over th'

park now and closin' in on the Upper Eas' Side. Fo' all of you followin'

current events, the new man callin' himself Impetus is supposedly movin'

right along with 'em. Stick with WRAP, for further scoops!"

You realize that they are already on location, but you are still almost

fifteen minutes from the place, if not more. You know you could make it

there much faster by using your powers but it might drain the juice

considerably. You've got a second or two to decide before the 4-5 train's

doors close.

 

The team can see Arcsilver from a distance, and begins to form up. Wild

Heart calls out, "Ok. MIRV, take Darkfire right up with Arcs. Crusader,

circle around and come in by roof top from the East. We'll give you time to

get there. Impetus... you're with me. We'll go to street level on Park Ave.,

and walk up 91st heading east. Dragon Mist what's your ETA?" (Matt,

if you left Grey Spirit you could make it there at almost the same time as

the team. If you waited for the van you'd still be at home. Up to

you.)

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 121

 

From G/Speedball:

"Well, I guess risk is part of the job."

Speedball begins running up Lexington, pulling his hood on as he accelerates

past normal running speed. He'll be moving at the fastest possible NC speed

allowable for street level. "This is why people shouldn't own Masserati's in

the city" he thinks, as he flips over a cab who runs a light in front of

him... He calculates the distance at a little over 4 miles and figures he

should be there in only a couple of minutes.

 

From I/Arcsilver:

Looking around the area, scanning for anything as soon as he arrives,

Arcsilver will speak distractedly back into the comm to Wildheart. "Be

Cool? I'm the coolest. Icesilver, That's me." After taking a phase to

make a full Preception check, Arc will relax and hover over the area,

scanning with his EM tracking scent. He is looking for any familiar

signatures, but mainly he is thinking about the energy gun that the Asian

woman was using against the Mavericks at Onyx's gym.

 

Upon MIRV and Darkfire's arrival, he will put a little distance between

himself and them, so that they have good visual and possibly reactive

covergae of the area.

 

From B/Impetus: (Note how he does respond, even if he feels there is nothing to say... very important in keeping the game flowing.)

I just follow her lead for the time being. Not much to do here.

 

The Ferrett

 

From M/Dragon Mist:

>>>Great line Matt. Note: (I agree. Great line Matt.)<<<

 

Thanks. I thought you two would get a kick out of that one.

 

>>> Don't let it get around,but... huff... Lifeline owes the Maverick's...

huff... big time!<<<

 

He certainly does! I was going to ask you about that, Neil.

 

Dragon Mist frowns at the words Nahoda Clan and Y'ull, old rivals meant to stay in his past, not cause trouble for him in the present. He immediately loses

years of training and conditioning by launching into an internal dialogue.

Isn't it obvious? -he thinks to himself in response to his immediate question

of, why now?- Nahoda clan picked the time when I am most distracted, too inward to see it coming. This must have been all too easy for them. At that

realization, he comes out of it. "Greyspirit. Yuri is a man who works with the

Mavericks. He will be here shortly to pick you up and take you back to our

base. You don't have to stay there for long, I just want to provide a safe

haven for you while you heal. I will be there as soon as I can." With that, he

leaves.

 

 

>>>Dragon Mist, what's your ETA?"<<<

 

"Dragon Mist to Wild Heart. I'm going in now, leaving Greyspirit for a pick up

from Yuri. I will arrive within minutes. If some of the faster guys are there

already, tell them to wait. We're dealing with the Nahoda Clan and they have a hostage."

 

From S/Crusader:

(( Crusader, circle around and come in by roof top from the East. We'll give you time to get there.))))

 

"Roger." and with that, "Release me, MIRV."

Crusader's cape, which had been folded up in a backpack contraption,

unfurls with startling speed, snaping as individual struts, mechanically take

position. Impulse jets that are whisper quiet start firing individually and

in small groups, allowing for amazing gliding control.

 

((((Dragon Mist to Wild Heart. I'm going in now, leaving Greyspirit for a

pick up from Yuri. I will arrive within minutes. If some of the faster guys are there already, tell them to wait. We're dealing with the Nahoda Clan, and they have a hostage."))))

 

"'Mist? This is Crusader. What can you tell us about the Nahoda Clan?"

{which probably has to be answered by Neil, and also, since Crusader has had

operational experience in the Pacific Rim, does Crusader recognize the name

or have any info to contribute?}

 

----------

 

From GM:

>>>The group fans out as directed, taking up positions.

 

Arcsilver: From on high you have the best view, watching the area from your shifted perspective, looking for any tell tale energy signatures. Below you, MIRV's outline is a fluctuating glow, and Darkfire in his arms, flickers with a weird, shifting darkness that is unlike any other signature you've ever seen. Crusader flits by, his EM output muted and faint except for the flares of the tiny attitude jets on his cape. On the street itself, vehicle traffic looks normal and you catch sight of Wild Heart and Impetus pacing steadily up the sidewalk. While Heart's EM sig is nominal, Impetus is a whole different story. You can see the force field around him clearly and it is having a strange effect on the EM field. Waves seem to literally bend around him. Not away from him, but the field actually seems to bend energy TOWARD it so that everything around him seems to bend inward. The only other time you've seen anything actually BEND the higher EM spectrum has been around massive power sources like generators at hydro electric dams. This is similar, but different enough to be noticeable.

 

Dragon Mist: You appear in the shadow of a gray, leafless tree growing in the tiny courtyard, across the street from the address in question. Forty feet away, Wild Heart and a large black man with dreads and a trench coat are approaching the front steps. Just before you 'ported the last two times, you saw Crusader drop down onto a roof half a block east. Arcsilver, MIRV and DARKFIRE hover high over head. Wild Heart's voice comes over the comm.

"Ok, you heard Mist. This could be a hostage situation so let's control the grounds first and wait for him to show up. MIRV, drop Darkfire in the back. Dark... don't let anyone get away. MIRV, I want you on the roof checking for any exits up there. Arcs stay up high. Crusader, move in closer from your position on the East and tell me if you can get an LOS, since I think the apartment we are looking for is on that side. Impetus, please watch the front, Southwest corner. I'm going to check the front door." You see her start cautiously up the front steps.

 

Impetus: These guys seem to have their shit together. They move quickly and efficiently... with confidence. Not cocky though, except maybe Darkfire. When Wild Heart gives her orders, you are surprised at her tone of voice. Not demanding, not strident, just a "Let's get the job done" matter-of-factness. When she tells you where to watch it is without question of your abilities or intentions. She seems to have taken you at your word. You said you wanted to help, so she's putting you to work. No other questions... no sign of doubt.

 

Crusader: Keeping low, you silently lope closer to the target building, coming up against a low, ornamental wall, to look across at the apartment house. Triggering your sensor system, you begin scanning the windows facing you, trying to figure out which apartment is which. Trying to spot any threats. On the fourth floor you can clearly see a number of empty rooms as if there is no tenant in place there. Third floor has curtains and windows with flower boxes in them, as does the second. You can clearly see a young man in a bathrobe sitting at a small table drinking coffee and reading the paper in a third floor window. You immediately notice that every window facing you on the second floor has the curtains closed, shutting out any chance of visual. First floor, again, looks occupied, but it is difficult to get LOS from your upper angle. You see Wild Heart starting up the steps at the front and that is when you notice something else. One of the second floor windows is broken. The lower pane of glass has been busted, and you can see the curtain move in the slight breeze.

Then, from behind you, back down at street level, there is a familiar rushing wind sound.

 

Speedball: You find that letting loose with your speed in public is really fun. As you flash up Third Ave and then cut over to Park, you find your mood swinging up like a good buzz as move through traffic like it's standing still. (It actually is in many places, but... you know what I mean.) Stirring up a small cyclone behind you the buildings and people streak by. You find that normally languid heroin perceptions actually seem to allow you to keep track of everything. A paradoxical "slow" view of the world is actually a somewhat sped up perception. You laugh involuntarily at the shocked looks on people's faces as you blaze by, and feel a kind of giddy anticipation in meeting the Mavericks.

Wild Heart's a babe from all the photo's you've seen. Tall, dark haired, great bod, with a kind of rock 'n' roll look with the black leather jackets. MIRV is like some super space man. Darkeye is kind of an unknown, and Arcsilver is just crazy. He could be as fast, or faster than you, and he FLIES. Pure electricity, man.

Then you swing onto 92nd and are blazing down the street when you realize that you just passed by that big black dude... Impetus... from last night... and Wild Heart as well! You screech to a halt about a hundred yards past their positions.

 

Dragon Mist, Wild Heart and Impetus all see the sudden blur of a man running really fast past them, heading east. Arcsilver, you easily track a fast moving ripple through your multi-colored landscape as it zips around a corner off of Park and blazes past the apartment building before slowing drastically. The man stops down the block as mini-cyclones of dust and debris scatter in his wake and quickly dissipate behind him. MIRV's voice comes over all radios, "Whoa. Everyone see that? I've got a clear target. Huh! If this is that Speedball guy he looks like nothing more than a street kid... except that his sneakers are smoking. What's the call? Impetus? Crusader? Positive ID? Same character as last night?"<<<

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 122

 

From G/Speedball:

The smell of melted rubber irritating his nose, Speedball sneezes,

shattering any kind of cool image he'd hoped exude. "More clothing I can't

afford to replace," he thinks. Nervous about meeting "real" heroes, he

takes out a couple of his cue balls and begins juggling them with his left

hand. With his right, he waves nervously to the closest Maverick in a sort

of sheepish "what's up?" salute. As far as Speedball knows, this could be

their meeting place. He has absolutely no guile about him presently, is not

aware that there is a hostage situation or that the Mavericks may consider

him a threat. He will be taken completely by surprise if anyone takes

hostile action.

When the first Maverick is within range, he'll stick his hand out like a

little kid and introduce himself as "Speedball. Some guy named Kid Fantastic

popped into my place last night and said I should warn you. It was the

damndest thing--an' I tell ya, someone oughtta teach that guy that it ain't

polite to scare the crap out of someone like that." He says all of this as

forthrightly as one can while wearing a mask and waits to see how the

Mavericks react.

 

From I/Arcsilver:

I don't know the order of actions here, so feel free to alter this to

fit the situation, Neil.

 

As soon as Arcsilver sees the fast moving abject, he will respond to

MIRV "Right, I've got him, 'Heart, this could be an ambush, I'm going to

try to keep this guy busy from where I am..."

 

Arc will zip closer to the kid when he stops, hoping to maintain a

visual on the area, and also be able to react with a ranged attack if the

need should arise.

 

Speedball is...

>Nervous about meeting "real" heroes,

>he takes out a couple of his cue balls and begins juggling them with his

>left hand.

 

When the objects come out, Arcsilver will speak quickly into the comm, while zipping forward and allowing the lightning to arc from his open

hand, striking right in front of the stranger (Flash attack). He will

then speak in as commanding a tone as possible without being too loud (he

doesn't want to alert those inside) "identify yourself...and drop

those... balls?"

 

-Ilan/Arcsilver

 

From B/Impetus:

Arcsilver: As you fly by and Wild Heart rattles off a command to him, you see part of the bending suddenly flex and curve into a cone-shaped radius, flowing out from his body and around it, towards the ground. (Neil:

Impetus just shifted his power to Missile Deflect and is holding it ready

for whatever attacks -- as he will have in reserve whenever he thinks

there's combat approaching.)

 

Speedball: Needless to say from previous posts, Impetus looks mildly

pissed... but isn't moving. He's standing there with his arms crossed.

 

(((Impetus? Crusader? Positive ID? Same character as last night?"<<<)))

 

Impetus leans in, reasonably sure that the gray blur that just flashed by

him was the guy, then catches the faint reddish-brown streak at around

chest-level as the blur slows and begins to turn. "S'him. He still wounded

from las' night, I think. I ain't goin' for him -- yet -- but ah know he

can punch pretty damn hard. He pretty tough... fo' a dealer."

 

The Ferrett

 

From S/Crusader:

MIRV released me with some height, I assume. I had no intention of

going to the ground. If I'm forced to, I would go to a rooftop higher than

the 4 story apartment bldg. Which, in that neighborhood should be a snap!

Can I assume the "ornamental wall" is from an opposing building? It just

isn't quite clear.

 

"2nd floor has a busted window, all east windows on the 2nd floor have

drawn curtains. Permission to move to the 3rd floor, let myself in and move

to 2nd floor. Must acknowledge that 2nd floor curtains might be a ruse to

draw us in."

 

Hearing the chatter, I know that DragonMist has joined the team.

"Request DragonMist wait and then t-ports to open door on 3rd floor that I

will provide." Note: Crusader doesn't think twice about breaking and

entering a potentially totally innocent 3rd floor apartment.

 

Upon hearing the chatter over comm about Speedball, Crusader will just

ignore it except for "Affirmative, that's Speedball" (Cru can't hear Impetus

cause I don't think Impetus has a Mav's comm yet). His teammates have it in

hand and potential hostages are involved. Keep the focus on where it matters

most and await the move in orders.

 

p.s. Neil, I don't have lockpicking on my character. Forget the shield for

now, Lockpicking is a skill that Crusader/ Intercept was trained for in good

ol' viper days and I should have it. 3 xp will get the shield anyhow, just

one more adventure.

 

--storn

 

From M/Dragon Mist:

Dragon Mist moves to Wild Heart, "I guess this Speedball character is your other topic of business, we should keep him from distracting us." Turning he looks toward Impetus. (Assuming that Impetus has never seen Dragon Mist before, he sees a blond man clad in a dark green stylized ninja uniform. His mask covers only his lower face, leaving his smokey, emerald eyes the only focal point.)

 

"You must be Impetus. I'm Dragon Mist, I've been busy with so much of

my own business lately, I don't know if you're a new member or just along for

the ride, but it's good to have another among us. Sorry if I seem brisk, but my

sister may be up there."

 

>>>"Request DragonMist wait and then t-ports to open door on 3rd floor that I

will provide." <<<

 

"Roger that Crusader. I need to see this door first though."

Looking back to Wild Heart, " I can take care of this for the moment if you

want to get the business with this kid squared away."

 

----------

 

From GM: (Note that I really needed to be more explicit in my description of the area, as this is pretty complicated, and no maps or minis for online.)

Note: (I'll try for better description of area. Reality may not match, but can't do anything about that. The apartment building that you are surrounding is an old, fancy building in a row of older, fancier, ornamental EXPENSIVE apartment buildings. It's on 92nd street, just off of Park Ave. There are small plots of grass and a few trees, and most of the buildings are four to six stories. The larger apartments are on other blocks. For Crusader, he needed to drop to the roof of the building next door to be able to look down into the relatively narrow (six meters) between the buildings. The ornamental wall is just good cover for him on the building cornice. Hope this helps. Positions of everyone else are Wild Heart and Dragon Mist on front steps, Impetus on front walk about thirty feet away. MIRV on the roof (across from Crusader), Darkfire in back, out of sight, and Speedball and Arcsilver up the street about a block further from Park Ave.)

 

>>>Speedball: As you turn and wave back down the block toward Wild Heart there is a sudden blaze of energy in front of you as Arcsilver appears from above. Eyes wide, you start to stick out your hand and introduce yourself when a lightning bolt just explodes from Arcsilver's hands and without warning your eyes go white hot and you can't see a thing. The cue balls you were juggling spin away as you reel and clutch your eyes. You barely hear Arcsilver commanding you to drop your balls and identify yourself.

 

Arcsilver: The kid jerks as the flash hits his eyes and he slaps both hands over his eyes, cue balls spak and pokking into the street. Up close the guy looks like a street person. The NYU sweatshirt is grimy and his pants are dirty. Shoes are worn almost to nothing. His hands are bony and pale, and "sniff, sniff" he doesn't smell like he's showered in a few days either. Over your comm, you hear Wild Heart swear, "Oh, shit! That's was subtle, Arcs!! Did you take him out? Now just back off a little. I'm coming over there."

 

Dragon Mist: Wild Heart stares up the street with a "Why me?" look on her face, then turns to you. "Go ahead, do your thing." Over the comm, she says, "Crusader, move in, all possible stealth, though with the ruckus out here, I don't know what good it will do. Impetus comes with me, if you don't mind. You've met this speedfreak before. MIRV, Darkfire, you cover the building and backup Mist and Crusader if they need it." Then she steps up the street.

You then leap up to the front door to check it out. It's a heavy, beautiful Oak door, with a wrought iron screen door in front of it. Peering through the cut glass window, you can see it opens into a small, but decorated foyer that opens up past where you can see. Likely the foyer and center area is the public part of the building, with stairs and/or an elevator leading to the upstairs apartments.

 

Crusader: From your vantage point you can cross the gap between buildings in a flat second. The third floor is clearly occupied, as the man in the bathrobe is now leaning over toward the window and trying to get a glimpse of the street after a sudden crack and flash of energy comes from that direction. As stated before, the fourth floor looks empty for all appearances. (You mentioned a "door" before. There are no doors on this side of the building. Just windows that look pretty easy to get through for someone like you.)

 

Impetus: For a moment it looks like that skinny Arcsilver dude just fried Speedball. The flash of lightning he tossed lit up the whole street, but then you saw that Speedy was still standing but now clutching his face and making "Ack!" noises. Wild Heart looks harried as she asks you to come with her, then turns and heads up the street. The intense looking kung fu character just moves away, quiet as death. Despite his greeting, something about him makes you feel cold. It isn't pleasant, realizing you just met the one Maverick nobody knows much about. The one some say is a stone killer. No pictures, no press conferences, no kissing babies for that mutha. And that pig sticker is just EVIL looking.<<<

 

Kind of, sort of, a combat situation so events are moving at a micro level. Sorry about that. Let me know what you all do next.

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 123 - Has a single flash attack ever been this much fun?

 

From G/Speedball:

"CHRIST! what th'...! I. CAN'T. SEE! What the Hell was THAT for!?"

 

Speedball is confused. He isn't mad yet, but mostly because he's completely

surprised: he's just been attacked by a member of the team who invited him

here, as far as he knows. Speedball spends the next couple of minutes

recovering from the run up here and the blinding flash. He'll answer

whatever questions they ask, but will issue mostly answers to the effect of"

yeah, thanks for asking, but I'm FUCKING BLIND!"

 

"Can't you jokers tell the good guys from the bad guys?"

 

From S/Crusader:

sorry about the confusion, I thought the windows had those sliding glass

doors.

 

Crusader says over the comm: "Correction, 4th floor is more clear. 3rd

floor is occupied. 'Mist, I will open 4th floor window for your t-port"

And with that launch across towards the forth floor and try to catch the

window guard bars. Crusader is pretty confident of being able to do that.

Once there, Crusader will use one arm to hold on. Quick little bursts from

the altitude jets to make it easier.

Then, Crusader while activating the lockpicking toolkit from his right

bracer, will give a quick scan of for alarms etc. Cycle through the various

helmet visual systems for aid. {Security Systems at 13-, Lockpicking at

14-}. Note I''m expecting at least some kind of alarm.

Then he will proceed to disarm or bypass and alarms and to pick the lock,

cut the glass, or whatever will allow him easiest, quietest access to the

forth floor.

 

If he succeeds in all of this (and I'm not expecting this all to happen

quickly), he will then move into the room, folding up the cape. He will then

turn and trigger; "All clear, come on over 'Mist" while he moves through the

apartment, every sense strained for the slightest contact with the enemy.

 

If contact is made with the hostage takers while up on the wall, I'm not

sure what I'll have Crusader do. Will need more data at that point.

 

--storn

 

From I/Arcsilver:

Arcsilver will zip back a few feet and repeat, "identify yourself!" and

then say quickly into the comm to Wildheart "what the hell is going on!?

Do you know this guy!? If this is "Speedball", Crusader said he was some

freak that he and Impetus faced (see last issue...). I fired near him to

flash him because he was armed with something, let's be careful with this

guy..."

 

Geoff wrote:

>"Can't you jokers tell the good guys from the bad guys?"<

 

Not by smell, I guess...;-)

 

From G/Speedball:

"Speedball! My name is Speedball, for God's sake!"

 

From B/Impetus:

Impetus steels himself briefly, realizing that his old gang instincts are

rising to the fore; something about this ninja guy just triggers that "facedown"

mode in him, and he can sense his power surging to the fore, ready to fight

if this guy so much as blinks. He fights it down, but in the ninja guy he

can feel a lot of the same instincts that he's seen in the gang guys he used

to have to thrash almost daily -- but there's nothing he can put his finger

on. Guy's being civil, after all.

 

He nods, cautiously, and says, "Glad ta help, Mist. I unnastan' sistas in

trouble."

 

Impetus then leaps forward (just a regular leap, which should be more than

enough to get him there, except that he uses his Flight to cushion the

impact so he doesn't break through into the sewers) and lands in front of

Speedball with a booming, window-jarring thud that echoes through the

alleyways here.

 

"So THASS yo'name. What kinda good guys settin' up a lab fo' thirty poundsa

heroin, 'Ball? What kinda good guys be DEALIN' shit like that? You betta

have some info to help out dis Fantastic dude, aw dey's gonna be some badass shit happenin'."

 

It is only after this that he realizes that maybe Wildheart had a plan

here -- but WTF. He's always gone his own way until now, and they ain't

made him no member yet.... he'll take a look back at where he came from,

just to doublecheck that nobody's sneaking up there.

 

The Ferrett

 

From G/Speedball:

I'm going on the assumption that the Mavericks have begun forming around Speedball and tossing out questions to him, so I'll go ahead and answer them all. the real-life conversations would be a lot more disjointed, but you get the idea...

 

"Christ, I can't even SEE you and you're accusing me of being a dealer?

Man, those guys are scum. I ain't no dealer. I took the horse, yeah. But

I can promise you that that shit'll *never* see the light of day of the arm

of another junky."

 

pause...

 

"Now would somebody make it so I can see who the heck I'm talking to? I'm

getting a little nervous here..."

 

From B/Impetus:

Heavy scorn in the voice. "Then where da fuckit GO, man? You jes' took it

away to burn the sonuvabitch? Aino friggin lab'at needs a SUITCASE fulla

dat poison to work, so whadappena it?" Pause, realizing the audience may in

fact wish to talk. "F'you say you a good guy, give us sumpina work with

here. What da hell you need with twenty poundza junk? Othawise you could

jes' be leading everyone here inno a trap."

 

The Ferrett

 

From M/Dragon Mist:

"Roger Crusader." Dragon Mist the melts into the darkness to the side of the building, waiting for Crusader's entry.

 

From G/Speedball:

"I won't be leading *anyone* in or out of anything until I can see again,

that's f'r sure. Arcsilver, was it? I hardly even saw him before he

friggin' zapped me. (nice move, though, by the way)"

tired of stumbling around, Speedball will sit down where he is, hoping that

someone will tell him if he's in the middle of the street and a truck

comes...

"look, I can't tell you why I need the junk yet. Kid Fantastic will vouch

for me when we find him. And that's what I'm here for--I mean, the guy

shows up at my place, gets all in my head, and tells me to find you. You

think a guy who can read my mind is going to send me after you if I'm going

to lead y'all into a trap?"

sighing, "I guess you guys don't trust me. Fine, I come from people who

don't trust easy myself. If you don't want my help, ok, but I get the

feeling that Kid Fantastic was in a world of shit when he told me to help

you all find him. He said something about a bunch of guys and not being

able to see...lots of danger, of course."

Pause...

"So if you don't want my help, ok. I guess I'll try and find this Kid

Fantastic guy on my own, since I said I would. But could somebody get me a

frigging guide dog first?"

(Neil, a persuasion role for any NPCs in the area might be just the trick

right now)

 

From I/Arcsilver: (Note Ilan picking up on the fact that e-mails were flyin' back and forth, and I didn't have a chance to react. Sometimes this is fine (and in this case, hilarious) and other times it causes muy confusion.)

As a side note, I think that we should tend to stick to one post from

everyone at a time, as Wildheart might have something to say about all of

this and about the convo taking place. With that in mind, Neil, insert

this after Wildheart's reaction, if necessary, I just wanted to jump into

this because it is neat!

 

Arcsilver, floating just above Speedball, looks in confusion from face

to face, realizing that he knows nothing about what had happened with

Speedball the first time. As the conversation progresses, he will mumble

"wait, you know this guy too?" to Impetus, not really intending him to

hear, just trying to figure it out.

 

After the last bit about Kid Fantastic, Arc will interrupt if possible,

and say "you'll be able to see again in a couple seconds, but tell us who

told you that we would be here. No one knew about our coming, not even

Kid Fantastic, I think. This smells like a trap, Wildheart, like

something the Warlord would set up. Even if Odorboy here isn't involved,

we might be waiting for an ambush."

 

Arcsilver will await orders, paying more attention to the entry of DM

and Crusader

 

-Ilan

 

From B/Impetus: (Metagame discussion here, but a good one.)

(((( As a side note, I think that we should tend to stick to one post from

everyone at a time, as Wildheart might have something to say about all of

this and about the convo taking place. With that in mind, Neil, insert

this after Wildheart's reaction, if necessary, I just wanted to jump into

this because it is neat!))))

 

Actually, I thought about that... then decided that everything would happen

so fast and furious from there that Wildheart would have to scramble to

catch up -- and things ARE going slightly out of control at this point, what

with Arcsilver blinding Speedball and then Impetus jumping in. I figured we

could at least sneak in a R-T weekend's worth of conversation before

Wildheart stepped in.

 

As for Impetus next reaction, he'll stand off and now wait for Wildheart --

after all, he knows everyone really wants this guy for Fantastic's info, and

will see what they do.

 

From G/Speedball:

"'Smells like a trap.' 'Odorboy.' Yeah, that's funny, twinkletoes. I'm

actually kind of glad you blinded me since I can't see that costume. Are

you trying to advertise your religion with that spandex?" Speedball is

obviously used to using humor to deflect criticsm about himself, and he does

so readily. "As for who told me about you guys being here, it was someone

named Gabriel. I figured he was one of you guys, since he got in touch with

me while I was IM-ing with you. Wait...you're telling me that I've been set

up and we're all sitting here, in the middle of the street, and I'm f*cking

BLIND?!?" Still unaware of why the Mavericks are here, Speedball continues,

"howabout we maybe go inside this little headquarters of yours, wherever it

is. I'm not the kind of guy who likes to get shot twice in one week."

 

----------

 

From GM:

Note: (Funny stuff, definitely, at odds with the life threatening situation at hand, but that's typical Champs.)

 

>>>Crusader: Ignoring the chaos out on the street, you quickly maneuver to the fourth floor window across from you, perching on the two inch sill with ease. Just above you, back over the roof line, you see MIRV, standing on the raised middle of the building. He nods in your direction, and his voice comes quietly through the com. "No active security system within sensor range. You should be good to go." Your quick visual inspection confirms his diagnosis. With a simple shim you pop the latch and slide the window up. Four floors up, empty apartment. Security is clearly lax.

Rolling inside, you look around a very beautiful, empty apartment. Hardwood floors and marble parquet floors in the kitchen. Fireplace, and cherry wood doorways. Place must go for a mint, but it's empty now. Quietly you relay your entry position while scouting for the front door and any possible danger. There is no threat and you move unimpeded.

 

Dragon Mist: (see separate post)

 

Everybody Else: Wild Heart arrives barely a second behind Impetus but it's too late to stop him from laying into Speedball. "Now w..." she begins, but Impetus just rages. "Ok, th..." but Speedball counters. "He..." Arcsilver joins in. "Rrrrr..." she growls, but the conversation is out of control.

Speedball, the glare in your eyes is diffusing into random pops of light and color. Blinking, you start to make out shapes and background, focusing on the large bulk of Impetus as an exasperated female voice cuts in with, "Ok, BACK off! Everyone."

Impetus, Wild Heart puts a hand on your shoulder as you step back, saying, "I'll take that as a positive ID. Thanks, but don't hurt him, yet."

Arcsilver, she looks up, "Now I know why I don't send you on the covert missions. Probably smart to put the breaks on this guy," she indicates Speedball, "But remember we've got a hostage situation going on."

"Now..." she turns back to Speedball. Holding out her hand, she offers you a shake and lift off the ground. "I'm Wild Heart, if you didn't know. I'm not sure what you are talking about, but there is no 'Gabriel' aligned with the Mavericks and we are in a potentially dangerous situation here. I am wondering what you know about Kid Fantastic because last I knew he was breathing through a tube and in no shape to do much of anything, let alone visit you. Things are clearly getting out of hand in a hurry, so I want you to sit tight for now. Tell Arcs everything, in detail, about Kid Fantastic while you are at it."

"Arcsilver, you watch this Speedball guy... and play nice. Both of you remain low profile for the moment," and with that, she pulls the group off the street, onto the sidewalk and begins moving back toward the house.

 

Crusader: You've scouted the entire apartment by this point, and have multiple ways in and out of the building, including out into the fancy, carpeted upper hallways that look all the way down to the center foyer. Hardwood banisters and circular stairs down to the ground floor, small end tables, nice lamps, small paintings on every level. The building is quiet with only a few creaks of someone moving coming from the third floor beneath you. There are matching apartments on the opposite side of the building as well. (Four on each side, one on top of the other.)<<<

[Speedball]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

I love re-reading this stuff. Thanks for posting, Neil.

 

I'd be psyched to get out your way for a FtF game some time this summer if folks can gather. It's time to pull Speedy out of the mothballs.

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 124 - More Cowboy

 

From E/Cowboy:

Yeouch!!! That was some roll! Cripes!

 

Cowboy's first instinct is to become a moving target.

Since he is having trouble seeing, he will spin and

crouch to lower his profile. Triggering the com

again, he says "Whoa, the light got me..." Assuming

he hears a hiss, he continues, "Hello? Anybody there?

C'mon guys, quit screwin' around. Answer me...

Damnit..."

 

He blinks to clear his eyes, then glances around to

get his bearings.

 

----------

 

From GM:

>>>You spin, down and around, pistols out, coat flaring behind you in John Woo slow-mo. Calling into your radio brings the expected result. Hiss of static only. As you blink and squint, your eyes adjust to the immediate glare, and you can focus on your Gargoyle readouts again. The first thing you notice is that the built in range finder has gone off the scale. Normally it is a small, ever changing number indicating the meters between you and the object in focus. Now it is simply a line of 9s blinking a steady red, showing that there is nothing for it to range off of.

Then through the tinted plastic you see three more shadows moving toward you. Two begin to coalesce into the spikey-barbed demons and the third is smaller with a twisting mass of tentacles for a mouth.<<<

 

-------

 

From E/Cowboy:

"Shiiiiiiiiiiiii..." Cowboy mutters, starting a roll

backwards to put a little more distance between

himself and the oncoming attackers. When he comes up

level, he sizes up the first oncoming baddie (find

weakness), then shoots twice (ap rounds). Each time

he comes up level he repeats, until he hits a wall

behind him, kills them all, runs out of bullets, or

they jump on him.

 

He also makes a quick glance up and around, to see if

he can spot some higher ground.

 

----------

 

From GM:

>>>You are faster than the creatures. You are faster than most anything else you've ever encountered, and that at least keeps you out of their immediate reach. Leveling your pistol at the first one, you aim for the eyes... and fire, only to get a loud "click" on the second pull of the trigger. The single round does hit, though, just above the eye, taking a big chunk of flesh out of the creatures forehead, but it doesn't drop him. Howling in pain, it stands and flexes it's weirdly positioned arms and lets out a blood curdling howl. The second one springs for your throat.

Only your enhanced agility saves you. The clawed hands stab outward, as you jerk backward. The claws miss, but one of the spikes on it's forearm just hits your coat, cutting a groove in the Kevlar weave, and trailing a sticky, viscous fluid.

Continuing to spin away, you plant the hand with the empty gun on the ground, and half cartwheel, while bringing up the second pistol, and firing into the creatures face. You didn't have time to properly aim these shots (half move acrobatics away instead of find weakness) and the two slugs go low (the gun w/advantage is empty, so no AP), impacting in the demon's upper chest. The creatures staggers, but doesn't go down. Out of the corner of your eye, you see the small, robed thing waving it's arms in a way that looks like it is gathering the light like strands of cotton.

Glancing around, you see only the flat, featureless, infinite distance of white/orange light.<<<

 

Gotta remember your bullet counts, buddy.

 

------

 

From E/Cowboy:

Hrm. I thought I had reloaded after entering the

light.

 

Cowboy grits his teeth, and places his legs up on the

creature's chest. Popping the clip out, he slaps in

another. He will then blow his next action to dodge

the soon to be coming attack.

 

--------

 

From GM:

Note: (I looked for you to say that you reloaded, specifically after I mentioned you were running out of bullets, but you didn't say anything. Sorry. Maybe you just thought it, but forgot to write it down.)

 

>>>With a slap you holster one pistol and palm a full clip while you put your boot on the creature's chest and shove backward. As you pop the empty and shove the new clip home, the two demons both scramble after you... their long arms knuckle dragging as they lope to either side and then claw at you. Using the momentum of your kick your feet go up and over your head in a back flip. Your coat snaps out like a cape and your head goes directly under your body and around.

Both creatures seem to be working in tandem now, clearly with some skill but your flip takes you just out of their reach. Barbed limbs swing high and low but you land -"tak, tak" your boots hitting the ground- half a meter past their grasp. Your head and arms come up together into a perfect shooting stance, your now loaded pistol braced in two hands, pointing at one of the demons. (You have one empty pistol in holster and are holding full pistol, with advantages.)<<<

 

Initiative: Unbelievably, THEM, then you.

 

So... >>>Fearlessly both continue to charge you, their growls sounding something like a possible language... call and response. Their razor claws swing for your guts.<<< (I'm assuming you'll dodge, but that's up to you.)

[RDU Neil]

Re: PBEM - RDU: The Mavericks - Example & Discussion

 

Post 125 - Here are two e-mails I sent privately to the players, so they could insert information into the game as they chose. Didn't do this a lot. I prefer that players also act as audience for 99% of the story, even if it is something that their character would not know... but occassionaly, I do this to give control of information over to a player as how they use such info (or not) can drive the game in interesting ways.

 

From GM to I/Arcsilver:

History of Kid Fantastic, as you know it. He and you joined around the same time, but he was always a moody, strange, reclusive kid. His mental powers were quirky, and he didn't enjoy the limelight like you do. He worked, quietly with the Mavericks for some time, and was happy not to have the press know much about him. Had a real, street punk attitude at times, but seemed to be wrestling with inner demons, trying to do the right thing.

Then there was a huge cataclysm in China, which set off a number a chain reactions around the world. LA went into the drink, New Zealand grew a third island, earthquakes, tidal waves on every coast. St. Louis almost totally destroyed as the fault line under the Mississippi surged. A lesser known event that corresponded to these worldwide geological problems caused psionic types, "sensitives", around the world, to suffer weird seizures and often loss of their powers. Kid Fantastic was found choking on his tongue and completely unresponsive. He never recovered. He's been in a private hospital in a coma ever since.

 

Feel free to share as much of this as you want with Speedball or anyone else. You are the only PC who would know. (Wild Heart, MIRV, Darkfire all know, but they are NPCs)

(Note that the above filled Ilan in on some major world developments that occured in other FtF games that he was not part of.)

 

From GM to M/Dragon Mist:

In the few moments of quiet you have waiting for Crusader to give you the go ahead, you reflect on the Nahoda Clan.

 

You thought this was behind you. When the sword became yours they were not happy, especially Sendako Y'ull. Not happy but their honor seemed to keep them from taking any action. You saved Y'ull's life so he had a debt to you. Something must have changed. If they are active as enemies now, they have an advantage. They know who you are.

 

The Nahoda Clan is a very old clan with a powerful presence in the states. You were investigating their connections to some Yakuza in Toronto when you gained the sword. It is a clan artifact, but in the many years since you came into possession of it, you haven't heard from them at all. They clearly have a reason to come after you. Using your sister wouldn't be out of the question for a Ninja clan. Not at all.

 

Share whatever of this information you want to. You are the only one who would know anything about them.

 

Also, why are you waiting for Crusader? You could easily have 'ported inside, after looking through the window.