csyphrett

Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it...

Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Thanks for the heads up. I like a little warning before the setting breaks if you know what I mean. CES

Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Snake Agent by Liz Williams: Meet Inspector Chen. He's a detective for the Singapore Three's police department. His latest case is to find out why a girl's ghost was illegally sent to Hell. To quote Egg Shin:"It always starts small." CES

Re: A New Dawn. 'Post-Apocalyptic' Fantasy I also like to blow stuff up CES

Re: Teen Champions plots I suggest a haunting/hunting inside the school. A few wolf cries should leave the students on their own and in trouble. Maybe plots from Harry Potter and his imitators could be of some help here. CES

Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Lord of Light by Zelazny-A legendary hero opposes a pantheon of gods created when a colony is set up on another planet. CES

Re: The New Circle The Ranger- He pulled back the string attached to his bow. His target sat a table, drinking something. The target was worth a chunk of change either dead or alive. He released the arrow, letting it fly across the intervening space. His prey sat with three other men, and he wanted to scare them off so they wouldn't try to look around to see who had shot one of them with an arrow. The missile pinned the target's hand to an umbrella shaft sticking out of the café table. He screamed as the blood poured out of his hand. His three companions jumped to their feet. More arrows flew, stabbing hands that had reached for weapons. The three men decided to run off under the assault. The bowman walked up, bow stored in the quiver at his hip. He pulled out a wanted poster, compared the grainy picture to his captive. He yanked the arrow out with one swift tug, putting cuffs on his victim with ease. "How's it going, Melvin?" The bowman smiled. "I think a lot of people in Texas will be glad to see you again." "You'll never get me there, you freak." Melvin grimaced from the pain in his hand. "I'll make you pay for this." "Don't make me tape up your mouth, Melvin." The Ranger walked him along. "It's a long ride back to the Lone Star State. You don't want to spend it in a trunk, do you?"

Re: The New Circle Character Name: Yami the Summoner Real Name: John Sakamura Nationality: American Hair/Eye Color: Brown/brown Place of Birth: Las Vegas Date of Birth: 2/12/1980 Height/Mass: 5'5" 125 pounds Cost Characteristic Value 5 STR 15 30 DEX 20 20 CON 20 16 BODY 18 8 INT 18 30 EGO 25 15 PRE 25 3 COM 16 PD 3 ED 4 10 SPD 4 REC 7 END 40 STUN 35 OCV: 6 DCV: 6 OECV: 8 DECV: 8 Phases: 3,6,9,12 Cost Powers and Talents (END) Summon Monsters and spells 190 Multipower OAF (deck of cards -1) 95 pts 6u Summon any 4 175 pt monsters 45 pts (+1/2), Devoted (+1) 113 pts OAF (deck of cards -1) 56 pts 8u Summon any devoted 375 bigger monster 75 pts, (+1 1/2), 188 pts must summon and dispel lesser monsters first to create this monster (-1/2), OAF (deck of cards -1) 75 pts 3u Force wall (12pd/ 12 ed) 60 pts, Has no control which power will activate -1, OAF (deck of cards -1) 30 pts 3u Energy Blast 12d6 60 pts, Has no control which power will activate -1, OAF (deck of cards -1) 30 pts 3u Transfer 4d6 body of target to monster 60 pts, Has no control which power will activate -1, OAF (deck of cards -1) 30 pts 3u Ranged Killing Attack 4D6 60 pts Has no control which power will activate -1, OAF (deck of cards -1) 30 pts 3u Entangle 6d6, 6 defense, 60 pts Has no control which power will activate -1, OAF (deck of cards -1) 30 pts 3u Teleport 10" 20 pts Usable as attack (+1), ranged (+1/2), Has no control which power will activate -1, OAF (deck of cards -1) 25 pts 3u Extradimensional Movement to monster dimension 20 pts, usable as attack (+1), ranged (+½) Has no control which power will activate -1, OAF (deck of cards -1) 25 pts 3u Dispel 13d6 Summons 39 pts, Cumulative (+1/2)Has no control which power will activate -1, OAF (deck of cards -1) 29 pts 3u Dispel 15d6 Magic 45 pts, Any one power at a time (+1/4) 56 pts, Has no control which power will activate -1, OAF (deck of cards -1) 28 pts 9 Life Support: Extended breathing, longevity Cost Skills 3 Sleight of hand 13- 3 Stealth 13- 3 Lockpicking 13- 3 Electronics 12- 3 Mechanics 12- 3 Demolitions 12- 3 Systems Operations 12- 3 Contortionist 13- 2 Navigation 12- 3 Oratory 14- 4 Wealth 3 Riding 13- 3 Absolute Time Sense 1 Passport 3 KS: Magic World 12- 3 KS: Magic 12- 3 KS: Monsters 12- 3 KS: Stage Magic 12- 3 PS: Stage Magic 12- 3 KS: History of Magic 12- 3 AK: The World 12- 3 AK: Las Vegas 12- 3 AK: Other Dimensions 12- 150 Points Disadvantages 20 Psych Lim: Duelist's Code 20 Gunslinger Mentality 30 Hunted by Demon 11- 20 Hunted by other summoners 11- 25 DNPC: The Yami the Summoner Stage show 11- 10 Reputation: Stage Magician 11- 15 Public Identity 10 DF: Mystic Aura CHA Cost = 137 Total Powers Cost = 145 Total Skills Cost = 68 Total Cost = _____350_____________ Background Information: John Sakamura grew up in the urban sprawl that was Las Vegas. His grandfather ran a magic shop, selling minor tricks, running some sideshows on his own. John learned to assist from an early age. He dreamed of the day that his name would be added to the neon lights that marked the marquees of the Strip and its tourist trap hotels. As part of his training, John learned the history of the craft. He went over every trick ever performed, every legend of a magician, how to work the illusions. Every piece of knowledge pointed him further down the road to success. As John and his grandfather went over a new trick they were going to try out, a young man entered the shop and challenged the old man to a duel. Mr. Sakamura asked for time to prepare, but the challenger attacked before the other could move. John grabbed a trick sword as a winged dragon erupted in the middle of the shop. He tried to defend his grandfather from the fiery blast that set the store on fire. A watery rain washed the fire out. John watched avidly as the two dragons fought. Finally the water dragon struck and blasted the young duelist out on the street. The fire dragon turned and carried its master off. Mr. Sakamura explained that a fighting underground existed and many people took to it to win glory and fame as monster duelists. He had not wanted to show John the pieces of true magic that he knew but it appeared that inevitably he would have to deal with other duelists wanting to battle the old magician. It was better that he knew enough to defend himself than nothing at all. John took to this training, learning everything he could. He summoned his first monster within a year. After that, he worked and worked to improve. Along the way he used his summoning ability to create a show, and land his first gig as Yami the Summoner. He has also dealt with various enemies who see him as an obstacle in their path to master magician status, and Demon who use summoning for corrupt ends. Quote: "Face the power of the Gizmo Gyro." Personality: John tries to maintain his stage persona while performing, but has no problem dueling any other summoner at any time, any place. He also tries to live up to the code of his grandfather, which means he will keep his word, give quarter, and only fight if he has to do so. Appearance: Yami the Summoner usually wears a performing tuxedo with a rose in the lapel, hair slicked back, and a ring he won off someone. He manipulates a deck of cards out of habit, and carries one around everywhere he goes. Powers: Yami the Summoner can summon four minor monsters, then use them to summon one big monster. His spells work through the cards he pulls off the top of the deck when dueling. He never looks at the card, just tries to use the random effects to his advantage. Plot Hook 1) Sightings of various monsters pepper the town. Yami the Summoner has been seen at some of these battle sites. Can the heroes put a stop to the battles before someone is hurt? Plot Hook 2) Yami the Summoner is taken through a rift from a show by gigantic hands. Other magicians appear to have also been kidnaped. A messenger arrives from Yami with a request for help. Is it a trap, or the only chance the magicians have? Plot Hook 3) Yami the Summoner is reputed to be able to travel across time and space. When the heroes have need of such talents, will he be able to help them? GM's Notes: Yami is based on the Yugioh franchise where duelists battle with spirits turned to monsters.

Re: A New Dawn. 'Post-Apocalyptic' Fantasy I don't have any HD. Are you loading your character somewhere? CES

Re: A New Dawn. 'Post-Apocalyptic' Fantasy Here are the last eight rolls from the die roller. Still thinking about new power designs. CES [Technomancy, 14-]: (7, succeeded by 7) [Technomancy, 14-]: (9, succeeded by 5) [Technomancy, 14-]: (16, failed by 2) [Technomancy, 14-]: (13, succeeded by 1) [Technomancy, 14-]: (10, succeeded by 4) [Technomancy, 14-]: (8, succeeded by 6) [Technomancy, 14-]: (6, succeeded by 8) [Technomancy, 14-]: (7, succeeded by 7)

Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Igor- I liked it, even though my son and I were guessing what would happen about 80% of the time. Donnie liked Scamper the immortal rabbit saving the day. The little touches appealed to me, even the blind orphans singing I can See Clearly Now at the end. Hitman- It was okay, and Olyphant was good as the assassin, but it was the same organization turns on assassin plot I have seen done better in other movies. I know this has happened in real life, and it creates conflict, but in this case, it made no sense unless the assassin is as disposable as dirty socks after years of training and indoctrination. CES

Re: Expanded Unoffical Bibliography for Urban Fantasy HERO I suggest Kolchak the Night Stalker for TV, Several books by King such as Bag of Bones, Duma Key, Cycle of the Werewolf, The Talisman, The Drood books by Simon Green, Operation Chaos by Poul Anderson. Amber might not fit, but other books by Zelazny would like Jack of Shadows, Chasing Darkness, Lord Demon, A Night in the Lonesome October, Roadmarks. Most any pulp occult detective like Jules De Grandin, or John Thunstone. Several short lived television series like Tru Calling, Wonderfalls, Joan of Arc, Moonlight, Forever Knight, Werewolf. Things like Ghost Whisperer or Medium might be on the edge since I don't know the cause of the psychic power described. CES

Re: Pulparize It! It can be set up like one of the other Van Damme movies where fights are arranged for gambling, and take place wherever designated. Bison, the master of Shadoloo, becomes a warlord in the Far East trying to grab whatever he can before the world goes over the edge. Chun Li would have to be the daughter of a local bureaucrat, but not connected to Interpol. Guile could probably be an adventurer who learned how to fight, but not Special Forces. Ryu could probably be the same. CES

Re: The New Circle Yami the Summoner "I'd like to thank you all for coming to the show." Yami the Summoner spread his arms wide to include all of the audience. "I only have one last act of magic to show you before the show ends." Yami the Summoner stood in the middle of the stage. His assistants spread to the sides, resembling beautiful birds in their colorful costumes. He brought his hands slowly together. Light danced around him. When the sparks vanished, a dragon remained, towering above the outdoor arena. It breathed flames in the air before it carried the magician away in a claw. Flowers rained down on the audience as the dragon vanished into the night sky. Cheers and clapping followed the surprise at the sudden exit and the strangeness with which it was done. Of course none believed that a real dragon had appeared to carry the magician away to his next port of call. The audience got to their feet and filed from the stadium, talking about the small miracles they had seen. The assistants watched them go before they began packing up the more mundane equipment. They knew how those tricks worked but none knew how Yami created the illusion of soaring away on wings of flame. Roadies appeared to help pack the illusions away for travel to the next city. Every year they toured, and every year the venue got bigger and bigger. That meant turnover among the help was high at the best of times. And then there were the things that seemed to happen in the places where Yami performed. No one could explain that. Yami only made some flip comment about marsh gases and the light of Venus reflecting off a mirrored surface somewhere. Eventually the show had everything arranged on the tractor trailer they used for transport. The assistants had their bus to use to clean up and get some rest for the next show. They all knew their boss would be waiting on them to arrive with nothing more than he flew the distance. For all they knew, maybe that's exactly what he did to get there first.

Re: The New Circle Character Name: Cometeer Real Name: Harrison Burrell Nationality: American Hair/Eye Color: Brown/Blue Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington Date of Birth: 2/7/1985 Height/Mass: 5'8"/120 pounds Cost Characteristic Value 8 STR 18 42 DEX 24 20 CON 20 10 BODY 15 8 INT 18 18 EGO 19 6 PRE 16 0 COM 10 PD 3 ED 4 6 SPD 4 REC 7 END 40 STUN 34 OCV: 8 DCV: 8 OECV: 4 DECV: 4 Phases: 3,6,9,12 Cost Powers and Talents (END) The Signal: Detect Emergencies 3 pts, Megascale (+1 1/4) no conscious control (-2) 2 pts Comet Endurance: End Reserve for multipower, 100 end, 10 rec 20 pts, powered by light (-1/4) 16 pts Comet Skin: Armor (10 pd/ 10 ed) 30 pts OIHID (-1/4) 24 pts Cometeer 120 pt multipower OIHID (-1/4) linked to Armor (-1/4) 80 pts 3u Combat Flight: Flight 30", 60 pts Visible (-1/4), OIHID (-1/4) linked to Armor (-1/4) 34 pts 1u Full Speed Flight: Teleportation 1", 2 pts, Megascale (+1), must cross intervening space (-1/4), not through solid objects (-1/2), OIHID (-1/4) linked to Armor (-1/4) 1 pt 4u Comet Burning: Energy Blast 12d6, 60 pts OIHID (-1/4) linked to Armor (-1/4) 40 pts 4u Comet Explosion: Ranged Killing Attack 4d6, 60 pts OIHID (-1/4) linked to Armor (-1/4) 40 pts 4u Comet Flash: Flash 12d6, 60 pts OIHID (-1/4) linked to Armor (-1/4) 40 Beam of Light: Desolidification 40 pts, only in flight (-1/2), only through transparent objects (-1/2), does not protect against damage (-1/2), OIHID (-1/4) linked to Armor (-1/4) 13 pts Cost Skills 3 KS: Writer 12- 3 PS: Writer 12- 3 KS: Sciences 12- 3 Research 12- 3 Conversation 12- 3 Interrogation 12- 3 Stealth 13- 3 Systems Operation 12- 3 AK: Pacific Northwest 12- 3 KS: Current Events 12- 3 KS: Technology leaders 12- 1 TF: automobiles 2 Navigation 12- 2 Survival 12- 3 KS: The Cometeer's Comic Book Career 12- 1 press pass 25 + 5 levels with Comet powers 11 Contact: Eisner the editor 11- 3 Bump of direction 150 Points Disadvantages 20 Psych Lim: Has to answer the signal 20 Psych Lim: Code vs Killing 10 Reputation: Comic book character come to life 11- 25 Accidental Change when the signal sounds. 25 Accidental Change when the end reserve runs out. 25 Hunted by Demon 11- 25 Hunted by Viper 11- CHA Cost = 118 Total Powers Cost = 151 Total Skills Cost = 81 Total Cost = ____350______________ Background Information: The Cometeer was created in the real world when reporter Harry Burrell was caught in a storm at the top of Mt. Rainier. Burrell was observing the use of equipment to analyze the volcano for his paper, trying to determine if the mountain would ever fire again. One of the devices, an experimental particle accelerator, misfired. The beam struck Burrell. He was rushed to the closest hospital, near death. Burrell struggled to recover, lapsing in and out of delirium. In one lucid moment, his eyes fell on a revision of the Cometeer character being read by another patient. His mind latched on to that image. Caught under powerful examination room lights, he vanished between bed checks. Burrell floated high above the city, hearing a beeping. He followed the sound with rocket like speed. A motorist had broken down on a railroad tracks in front of a train. It was a moment's work to push the car out of the way before the train crushed it. Burrell thought that he had used up his new power with that dramatic rescue. He returned to the hospital, checked out, went back to work. Days later, he heard the signal and found that his body charged up to track it down without his urging. Only after using up his energy, did the reporter return to normal. Burrell got an outfit together to resemble the original costume of the Cometeer and started his superheroic career. Quote: "I heard the signal. I came as fast as I could." Personality: Harry Burrell likes writing, likes to look at things and find out how they work. As the Cometeer, he tries to figure out what caused the signal to summon him, and do what he can to shut it down. This gives him the appearance of being in a rush sometimes in his civilian identity since the signal can sound from anywhere in the world and won't quit until the danger has passed whether he answers it, or not. Harry prefers to answer it because once he is doing something, it quits that much faster. Appearance: Harry Burrell is an average looking guy given to suits. The Cometeer wears a bright yellow costume consisting of pirate boots, breeches, a loose shirt, and a visor that covers most of his face and head. Powers: The Cometeer is able to fly at great speeds and fire energy beams of light. Plot Hook 1) The Cometeer has intrigued scientists with the suggestion that he comes from a comic book. One has decided that he has created a device to test that theory. What happens if he succeeds? Plot Hook 2) The Cometeer is struck by an experimental ray during a rescue. His body begins to absorb light at an astonishing rate. His very presence begins to eclipse the sky. Can the heroes help him? Plot Hook 3) One of the Cometeer's old enemies appears and demands his presence. He even takes hostages to enforce his demands. The Cometeer is nowhere to be found. GM's Notes- The Cometeer was based on the Ray, created by the Eisner group for Quality Comics and subsequently a Freedom Fighter from Earth X for DC Comics.

Re: A New Dawn. 'Post-Apocalyptic' Fantasy This is the first six rolls from HC die roller. I'll do the rest on the 8th. I thought about base and boat stuff. I need to spend one point on each just to have a sae 8 hex area adn then I need to spend two points on the workshop for transdimensional since that is ten points built in and the cost for character is point cost divided by five. I guess I could get disadvantages to help pay but I don't know if I want to go that route. Opinions are welcome. I will also post the new slot powers mentioned above with rolls from die roller. CES [Technomancy, 14-]: (12, succeeded by 2) [Technomancy, 14-]: (10, succeeded by 4) [Technomancy, 14-]: (7, succeeded by 7) [Technomancy, 14-]: (10, succeeded by 4) [Technomancy, 14-]: (8, succeeded by 6) [Technomancy, 14-]: (10, succeeded by 4)

Re: A New Dawn. 'Post-Apocalyptic' Fantasy We talked about redesigining weapons for Deeson on the campaign threads. I like the gravity flight pack. It's pretty simple, and easy to use. Gravity Flight Pack: Flight 15" 30 pts, OAF (-1) 15 pts I wouldn't mind adding Flight, usable by others, OAF like a green lantern bubble. Deeson negates gravity and carries the others when he has to. I have been using all three of these together already so I would like to combine them into a single unit, maybe like a face plate. Lucy: Universal Translator: Universal translator 20 pts OAF (-1). 10 pts and Recorder/Encyclopedia: Eidetic memory 5 pts, KS: Everything 8- 3 pts OAF (-1) 4 pts and Scanner: Nightvision 5 pts, N ray vision 10 pts, Detect Structural Make up discriminatory, analyze, 20 pts Can only use one vision power at a time (-1/2) (OAF -1) 11 pts 24 points We have been talking about communications and lending Symm the scanner kind of worked okay, so I would like to add some kind of mobile scanner to hand out to the team. My thoughts have been either clairsentience, or mind link, only to team members, OAF, no mental awareness, only to communicate. I haven't had to use the hold out knife or the multi tool yet but I thought about combining them also. Hold Out Knife: Hand Killing Attack 1d6 15 pts, armor piercing (+1/2), OAF (-1) 11 pts and Multitool: Dispel Locks 2d6 6pts, Dispel Technology any one power at a time (+1/4) 2d6 8 pts, Transform broken technology into working technology 2d6, 30 pts, No range (-1/2), gestures (-1/4) OAF (-1) 16 pts 27 points The forge has been used out of combat to fix broken armor. The only thing I can think of to make it more useful is to give it some kind of hands and legs to let it work on its own when I am not around. Mobile Forge: Transform broken, or partial, equipment into working equipment 5d6 60 points, Requires burning fuel (-½), Extra time (-½), gestures (-1/4), concentration (-½), OAF (-1) 16 pts The gate for the workshop has also worked smoothly but I would like to start expanding the workshop. Maybe I should spend points to make it a trandimensional base like a tardis. Workshop: Extradimensional Movement to workshop 20 pts. OAF (-1) 10 pts The TK Enhancer isn't really great in my opinion. I would be better off turning this into some kind of transfer from enemies either to my charteristics or to my TK. From: TK Enhancer: Aid to Telekinesis 3d6 30 pts, side effect (2d6 stun, always occurs -1) OAF (-1) 10 pts To: TK Enhancer: Transfer 2d6 target's end to character's TK 30 points OAF (-1) 15 pts. or Bio Enhancer: Transfer 2d6 target's end to character's body. 30 pts OAF (-1) I'm dropping this version of the gravity shield. Gravity Shield: Missile deflection 20 pts OAF (-1) 10 pts I'm better off with just a 30 pt force wall. Gravity Shield: (12 pd) 30 pts OAF (-1), Self only (-1/2), restricted shape (half dome (-1/4) 10 pts I would also like to use the shield to protect others so the above without self only should be okay. The gravity gun costs way too much for the limited effect I use it for and switching it out for the bowcaster in the middle of combat didn't seem strategically advisable. So I need to rebuild the gravity gun to do the original thing which is throw people in the air, then as an offensive weapon that does damage and then as the tunnel gun so I can use it without that much of a problem in combat. Gravity Gun 1: teleport x2 mass 1" 7pts megascale (+1/4), must cross intervening space (-1/4), not through solid objects (-1), only one direction (-1/2), OAF (-1) Lockout other gun functions (-1/2) 1 pts Gravity Gun 2: 2d6 ranged killing attack 30 pts OAF (-1) Lock out other gun functions (-1/2) 13 pts Gravity Gun 3: Tunneling 6"/6 def OAF (-1) lock out other gun functions (-1/2) 13 pts Once I get through this revised weapons list, I would like to get started on the boat design. CES

Re: Help Me Populate A Creepy Hotel The Cosplayer: People dress up as their favorite fictional character from the Elvis Storm Trooper, to Sailor Moon and her fellow scouts. Bart Dinkley does this too. People can spot him crossing the lobby day or night, wearing some outlandish costume. He even adds some authenthic touchs like slime on a ghostbusters uniform, Cloud Strife's seven in one sword, even a stake with blood on it as Van Helsing. Then there's the people who show up looking for Bart. They also seem to be cosplayers, but they always seem to need help for one thing or another. IF asked, Bart will make some remark about a problem with the princess's plumbing, or Stay Puft's refrigerator was on the fritz. CES

Re: Devil's Cape and Argonaut The only other hero I have seen like this was the Olympian before DC killed him. He had basic Superman/Captain Marvel powers. I haven't read Devil's Cap so I don't know how close to that model Argonaut was. CES

Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Does the world actually end? CES

Re: Devil's Cape and Argonaut Orpheus was a master lyre player that could make trees and rocks dance around, charm the dead, and Hades. Maybe some Pre based on music playing. CES

Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... I haven't read anything by Wilson but the repairman jack books. I might look at these others sometime. CES

Re: Walking With Strangers 13 Quin Martin and Frank Darby stood in a dark alley between two industrial buildings that had seen better days. Quin's coat blew in the rising wind. He held his hat down with one hand while scanning Darby's notes in the other. "You found the body here?" Quin looked around the alley. It matched every version of a dumping ground he had ever seen on television. "Tell me what it looked like." "I came down from that end." Darby pointed at the other end of the alley. "I walked to the end of the loading dock. There were big bins like for construction there next to the wall. I found the body between the loading bay and the first bin." Quin looked up and down the alley, and then at the wall where the bins had been that cold day. He walked the length and started back. "What do you think?" Darby stuck his gloved hands in his coat. "Did we miss something?" "It's cold." Quin's eyes glowed under the mask. "Yes." Quin paused as his power snatched the two answers from his lips. He felt that sensation of hooking into a vast stream of information moving around him. It just waited for him to plunge in and never want to leave its embrace. "What did we miss?" Darby turned a full circle, looking at the crime scene the way it was years ago. "I've looked this place over dozens of times." "The killer was wounded. He left his blood at the scene. There was enough for a blood typing." Quin pointed at the wall where the body had lain. "The detectives investigating the case thought it was her blood. No one knew." "Did the perp go to the hospital?" Darby pulled out a pad and pen. Excitement made him hop in place. "Yes." The Question Man barely showed signs of life. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all. "What's his name?" Darby smiled. This could be the answer to everything that had haunted his whole career. Countless man hours devoted to this one case had been wasted until this point. "His name is Marcel Marceau." The Question Man shook off the knowledge that shrouded his mind. "I know that name." Darby flipped through his notes. He didn't find what he wanted in the scant pages. "It belonged to someone interviewed in the canvas." "Now is the time to go back and look things over in the evidence bag and see if you can find anything that will connect to Marceau." Quin shrugged. He handed the file back. "I'm sure you will find connections now that you know who you're looking for." "What was the motive?" Darby put the file and his notes in the pockets of his heavy coat. "Why did he do it?" "He didn't like the fact she was breathing his air." The Question Man pulled his coat up, hunching down in the wind. "If you can find him after all this time, and find enough to arrest him and bring him in, I suppose I can help with the questioning." "Is there anything I can do to repay you?" Darby watched the mystery man start limping toward the end of the alley and to the street beyond. "Keep this to yourself." The Question Man looked and turned down the street. He had expected something like this, and his power had not failed him in that respect. He needed to keep questions down somehow. Quin needed to get back to his place. A good lie down and a book sometimes cleared the foggy feeling that hung around after what he called a reading. Then he could sleep and recharge for the next day. Quin hoped Darby didn't do any Dirty Harry type of thing based on a few answers in an alley. The police would think he targeted an innocent man over a crime he had been investigating for decades. Marceau could walk free after anything like that. He wondered if he had done the right thing letting Odd talk him into using his ability for this dead investigation. Maybe he should have said no. Quin limped along until he reached a hidden door he had asked Odd to help him with in case there was trouble at his loft. He looked around. No one seemed to be watching him, or looking his way. He stepped into the alcove, shut the door, and headed up a ladder to his apartment. By the time he reached the top, his right leg and arm hurt like a knife plunging in and out of his flesh. Quin hung his disguise in a space behind his closet after closing and looking the secret entrance to his place. He felt hungry and nauseous at the same time. He decided to get a small bowl of cereal and see if that calmed down the side effects from using his powers. Quin settled at his counter, poured some Cheerios in a plain bowl, poured milk and sugar in on top and mixed it up. He started on his dinner, concentrating on the feel of the oats and milk and sugar. Gradually the drain he had felt faded. He drank the milk from the bowl when the cereal was gone and washed it out under the kitchen faucet. He would have to call Odd and ask him not to refer any other unsolved mystery to him in the future. He hated to do that, but he didn't want to have a stroke solving some crime that happened before he was born. Maybe if he had a better handle on his power, he could do that without fearing his brains leaking out his nose. Saving the city from a giant monster had been necessary. Serving delayed justice on some miscreant seemed okay but not an immediate threat to everyone Quin knew. He would have to pass on that. Quin checked his watch. Odd and Kitty should be having dinner. He should go ahead and talk to Odd in person. That way they could work out some kind of ground rules about letting other people know what he could do. Odd would help him out. Quin pulled on his parka and limped out of his place.

Re: What Have You Watched Recently? A trio of Statham movies. Crank-Poisoned hitman trying to stave off death long enough to find out why he was poisoned. Chaos-Cops try to figure out why a bank was robbed when nothing was taken. Transporter 2- Chauffer and criminal driver versus mercenary assassin. CES

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... Listening to Burn Notice last night, one commercial cut another commercial off. This is On-Star. I have erectile disfunction CES