csyphrett

Re: Dragonia Sir Donald and Ishiyama try to track down the missing members of the party. They start by going to the bar where Sid and Dennis were drinking the night before. The bartender told them that the men met some women and went out with them. Sir Donald decided to fly across to where Lilith's relatives lived on the mainland while Ishiyama went back to the boat. After some talk, he started back and found a scene of struggle. He tracked across to the island and found matching prints leading to a blank wall. The bar and trading post sat above and to the right of the blank wall. Sir Donald waited until the bar shut down. The bar tender shut the bar down and closed it up. Sir Donald wrecked the door when he broke into the bar. Sir Donald searched around until he found a trapdoor to the cellar. He went down to find the bartender taking off his disguise as Coop Cooper. Cooper explained that he was going to steal the sub and make first contact for his group himself. A vampire snuck up on Donald and Flames, the baby dragon. A battle took place with vampire and dragon going at it, and knight and villain dealing blows. Cooper reveals a remote to kill the crew with a touch of his finger. Donald disarms him, knocking him out before he grab the box again. The vampire tried to get the switch from Sir Donald. Flames blocked him. Sir Donald used the sword of light on the vampire, turning him to ash. A second vampire assaults the sub, and downed Ishiyama after an almost lethal bite. The monk healed himself before passing out. He played dead as the vampire went to take the sub out to sea from Trader Island. He snuck up on the vampire and struck with his sword that shoots more swords. That was the end of that. Sir Donald arrived with Sid to anchor the sub before it drifted into trouble.

Re: The New Circle I didn't plan on either of those two connections but it does suggest a wolverine type heroine, doesn't it? CES

Re: Question: how to build mechano-link power Telepathy and mind control versus machines is the broadest use possible. CES

Re: The New Circle Hexbreaker The Atlantic gleamed in the hot sun, almost like stained glass than water. Dolphins played for a moment before breaking off and chasing dinner. The white luxury liner cast a bow wave on its way across the Caribbean, heading for the Bahamas and tourist traps among the islands. In the distance, a cloud formed on the water. If it had been hurricane season, a massive storm would have been the suspect. Those who saw it put it down to a summer storm that sometimes plagued the region. Lightning seemed to agree with them. The storm rushed toward the liner, causing some concern from the crew. The speed of contact seemed unworldly. Sharp eyes spotted a silhouette sailing with the oncoming rain. It looked like a sailing ship from some bygone era. That caused some wonder. A sailing ship moving in front of a massive storm line could mean trouble for the relic if it was caught. Rain began lashing the decks of the liner, causing people to move inside away from the open. When the sky cleared they could go back to enjoying the day. One of the tourists waited until the bystanders moved away before approaching the railing in a long overcoat, holding an umbrella over her tightly bunned hair. She gazed down at the approaching vessel with a trace of anger in her eyes. A man in a long coat stared up at the white behemoth from the deck of his wooden sailboat. He produced an old fashioned megaphone and held it to his lips. "Ahoy." The man's accent was atrocious and missing some teeth. "Throw down your treasure, or the next place you're sailing is the bottom of the ocean." The woman on deck frowned even more at the demand. Her umbrella spun in her gloved hand, casting rain around her in a circle. "Push off, hoser." The woman leaned over the rail to shout down. "I'm trying to take a vacation." The man with the megaphone looked around. The crew on deck looked back. Apparently no one had told them to take their leave with such venom before. Their next move required boarding if no one gave up easily. Grappling hooks ascended to the safety railing of the cruise ship. Boarders started up the lines, some already thinking of the gold and jewels that must be on board such a prize. "I told you to push off." The woman walked to each line and severed the rope with a silver dagger from her coat. Some of the men had actually been able to ascend halfway before heading back to the ocean's surface. "Don't make me come down there." The woman shook her fist at the pirate captain. The captain began shouting orders to his crew. Men in the water suffered rescue as the wooden battleship tacked to keep up with the modern ship. Cannons poked out the side of the pirate galleon as charges were readied to be fired into the side of her prey. The woman climbed over the railing and jumped down, holding her umbrella to catch the air. She floated down to the deck of the other ship. Pirates began drawing pistols and swords to deal with this threat. "I would really like to enjoy the rest of my vacation." The woman held the rain away with her umbrella, other hand in her overcoat. "Please rob someone else today." "Woman, we rob who we want when we want." The captain pointed his pistol at the intruder on his deck. "Be happy you're worthy of a ball." The pistol's hammer dropped. A cloud of smoke trailed behind a round projectile. The umbrella dipped in the way. The sphere hit and bounced to the deck. The captain stared at it. "I'm worthy of a great many things." The woman folded her umbrella, strapping it closed. "You have really made me unhappy right now." The captain drew his sword. One stab from the poisoned blade and this strange mortal would turn to stone. No one had ever bested him with a blade. The two met at the stern, umbrella and sword sweeping the air in short arcs. The captain tried to close so he could plink a hand, or shoulder with his sword. The unconventional weapon met his attempts with swift raps on his arms as he tried to move in past her guard. Finally he grabbed the end of the umbrella so he could stab over it. The vanes opened in front of his face in a shielding move. The umbrella's point stabbed into the captain's chest, pushing him backward. His legs hit the railing that bounded the stern. He fell overboard into the ocean. The crew stopped what they were doing, shocked by what had just happened. "I'm your captain now." The woman blocked the storm again with her umbrella. "You will sail to Innsmouth and wait on me. Am I clear?" "I don't think we can wait in one place, ma'am." A one eyed pirate with most of his teeth missing doffed his hat at the new captain's glare. "Then you will sail around in a circle until I return home." The woman stepped to the rail of the wooden ship. "I am going to finish my vacation. I will see you when I am done." The wind caught her umbrella and carried the Hexbreaker toward the fleeing liner.

Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Watched Indiana Jones 4. It was okay. I admit the refrigerator thing was the edges of supernatural good luck. CES

Re: Walking With Strangers 10 Aylwin braked at the yellow and black crossbar, government issue Lincoln covered with dust from following the access road to the hidden outpost north of Marlowe. She had orders to check in on its decommissioning before moving on. The Project had decided to consolidate some of the seized property instead of leaving it scattered across the United States. Most of the equipment Aylwin had seen had been museum pieces from the Fifties and Sixties when Atom America and Blake's Seven had been most active. Of course some of the things still packed a punch for all their quaint looking tubes and miles of wire. "Name please." The guard loomed in her vision, standing close to the window to match her id with the list on a clipboard he held. "Aylwin." Aylwin looked at the face of the guard, struck that she knew him. She couldn't place the face. "Identification." The guard held out his hand for her card. Aylwin stared instead, flipping through the cards in her memory. The Project filed every superhuman captured during a crime. It didn't matter where in the world that happened. And Aylwin updated her memory every month, taking in new faces whenever she had a break from her official duties. She knew this man. "Have we met before?" Aylwin reached under her jacket, supposedly for a wallet. "I don't think so." The guard loomed closer, face blurring slightly. Aylwin pulled her pistol, leaning away from the door. The guard grew fur and too many teeth. She blasted away through the door. The bullets wouldn't do anything to the Garou, just push him back with the blasts. Aylwin turned, firing at the other guard as she put the car in reverse. She didn't want to get caught in a crossfire while standing motionless. The other guard soaked up the energy blasts, transforming into fire. The agent hit the gas, backing away from the gate. Fire struck the hood of the car, melting the metal, scabbing away the black paint in seconds. Aylwin kept the gas down. She couldn't drive the car long, but she couldn't bail out with the Garou on the ground. She had already exhausted her ammunition just buying time. Garou bounded across the open ground as she backed down the driveway. He landed on the hood, uniform catching fire. He ripped the front window out of the way with massive claws at the end of his fingers. Aylwin hit the brakes. A smile crossed her bland face as the werewolf flew forward, grabbing hold of the roof so he didn't fall off. She hit the gas again, trying to keep him off balance. She couldn't afford to have him get inside the car next to her. The other false guard floated down the road. Flames leaped from his hands as he tried to disable the car. He succeeded in melting the tires away. The front of the car dropped on the asphalt. The partially melted rims didn't bother to throw up sparks as Aylwin forced the car along a few more feet. Aylwin grabbed her briefcase and dropped it on the gas when she was close to the trees that lined the road. She bailed out as Garou ripped the roof apart with its claws. The agent reloaded as she vanished into the woods. Aylwin mentally went over the gear she had on her person. It wasn't enough to take down two powerhouses like The Garou and Sundog. The name clicked in as she reviewed all of the fire elementals the Project knew about. Aylwin paused to take a breath as the car went up in a ball of fire. She doubted anyone had seen it, and couldn't count on help. If she could get in touch with Chad Reilly, that might be enough to get a real team of agents with an arsenal of weapons to take care of this before it got to be too much. What would Garou and Sundog want with a decommissioned base? It didn't fit their profiles in the cards she had memorized. They were muscle only. Aylwin grabbed her phone, keeping an eye on the mess she was fleeing. She knew Garou was much faster than she was, and had a werewolf's invulnerability. If he got within reach of her, she could expect to be ripped apart. Aylwin pressed the dial function on the phone. It would automatically dial the closest active agent she knew. No point calling inside the base since it was compromised. Reilly's phone rang three times, then went to voice mail. Aylwin groaned. She left a short message before she hung up. She needed to call someone else. She looked at her phone's screen to push the button to call the next nearest agent. The phone vanished in a spray of metal. She dropped, listening for the sound of a bullet. "We don't want to hurt you, lady." Sundog's voice drifted to her. "Give it up, or our guy will shoot you." Aylwin looked around, searching for a passage she could use for cover. She needed to buy time. Reilly was her only hope now. A tree to her right lost a piece of its trunk. The buzz of a moving body convinced her that she was zeroed in. She had to buy time. She couldn't do that if she was dead. "Either we have a meeting of the minds, or we don't." Sundog's voice indicated he stood closer to where she lay. "Which is it going to be?" Aylwin raised her hands. She kept the pistol where she could reach for it if she had a chance. Maybe they would be careless. "Don't move." Sundog cleared some trees. "I'm not getting paid to kill anybody so let's keep this as friendly as possible." Aylwin gritted her teeth as she got to her feet. She kept her hands where he could see them. The first chance she got, she would show him how friendly she could be.

Re: Super heroes in Ancient Asia Seems reasonable. CES

Re: Super heroes in Ancient Asia 250 - 350 pts is usually the starting point for beginning heroes. If these Seven took over the world, they would have to hold it against the Olympians, the Aesir, the Danaan who probably had their own epic heroes in place. Bandit in the Shadows would probably not take his beating lying down and might gather heroes to try and get rid of the other six. That could be the basis for a team. If the starting heroes are 350, how many points are the seven? Anything beyond 750-1000 mark would be hard to battle unless you had some heavy hitting PCs. I believe that in the 1400's, guns and cannons were readily usuable. That might put a crimp in most plans. That was the first things off my head. CES

Re: Need Premade Character for Beginning Player! There's probably a thousand or more characters floating on the boards. All you should have to do is type Character sheet in the search engine at the top of the page. Then you can search through for the one you want that fits what you need. CES

Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Watched Leverage. A team of lone guns is built when a greedy businessman pulls a double cross CES

Re: The New Circle Character Name: Dr. Strangehold Real Name: Dale Strangehold Nationality: American Hair/Eye Color: Brown with gray, brown Place of Birth: Vibora Bay Date of Birth: 12/07/43 Height/Mass: 5'8", 140 pounds Cost Characteristic Value 10 STR 20 33 DEX 21 32 CON 26 16 BODY 18 15 INT 25 30 EGO 25 10 PRE 20 COM 10 PD 4 ED 5 4 SPD 4 REC 9 END 52 STUN 41 OCV: 7 DCV: 7 OECV: 8 DECV: 8 Phases: 3,6,9,12 Cost Powers and Talents (END) Life Support: Aging 5 pts Ectoplasmic Limbs: Extra Arms (4) 5 pts, 6" Stretching, only with extra arms (-½) 15 pts, 30 Strength, only with extra arms (-½) 15 pts Hard Skin Shell: Armor (8 pd/ 8 ed) 24 pts Magic 50 + 25 Variable Power Pool 75 pts Cost Skills 3 KS: Monsters 14- 3 KS: The Magic World 14- 3 KS: History 14- 3 KS: Magic 14- 3 KS: Medicine 14- 3 PS: Medicine 14- 3 Forensics 14- 3 Paramedics 14- 3 AK: Vibora Bay 14- 3 AK: other dimensions 14- 3 AK: The World 14- 3 KS: Herbal remedies 14- 3 System Operations 14- 2 Navigation 14- 2 Survival 14- 1 License to practice medicine 17 Danger Sense 150 Points Disadvantages 20 DNPCs: Timmy and Tooty Tucker 11- 10 DF: Mystic Aura 20 Psych Lim: Monsters should be dealt with 10 Reputation: Delver into the unknown 11- 25 Hunted by Demon 11- 25 Hunted by the Sylvestris 11- 10 Rivalry with other mystics. 15 Public Identity 15 Code versus killing CHA Cost = 150 Total Powers Cost = 139 Total Skills Cost = 61 Total Cost = ____350______________ Background Information: Dale Strangehold started as a country doctor on the edge of Vibora Bay. He found several artifacts, leading him to a natural ability to manipulate ectoplasm. He worked on this until it was second nature to armor his skin with a hard covering and creating extra arms to help with tasks around his small home. Dale practiced with the ectoplasm, working out mechanics for magical type spells. Part of this was aided by the fact that ectoplasm reaches into the next world, forming bodies for various supernatural things. The good doctor had to exert his authority and rights to a better understanding of his abilities as he pressed on. Dale gained immortality through constant sourcing of ectoplasm. With his extended lifespan, and reputation as a monster buster, he has turned to keeping the world around him a better place for those in need. This has not sat well with Demon who have run afoul of the doctor, or the Sylvestris who have lost a family member or two. Both have deep seated grudges against this minor protector of the universe but generally ignore him unless he gets in the way of a current scheme. Then they try to get rid of him before he damages their plot with his meddling. Dale has learned that he has distant relatives and has invited the latest generation to live in his house as partial protection for them, and out of a sense of family obligation. Quote: "I prescribe a loss of bodily fluids if this continues, young man." Personality: Dr. Strangehold prefers to work quietly in the shadows, avoiding attention where possible. He takes his oath seriously even after centuries of taking care of the sick and injured. While he prefers not to harm humans, any monster or demon he comes across will be dealt with as finally as the doctor can bring to bear with his talents and knowledge. Appearance: Dr. Strangehold has an average appearance but frequently dresses in clothes that were popular when the Revolutionary War was being fought. In a fight, his skin will take on a sea shell sheen and four arms will burst out from his back to protect him. Powers: Dr. Strangehold is a minor magician who can summon ectoplasm to perform tasks such as carrying him through the air, opening dimensional rifts, and slipping through drains to evade a castle's defenses. GM's Notes-Dr. Strangehold is based on a one shot character from Fairly Oddparents called Dr. Crocktopus. For those who don't know, it's a kid show where the hero has fairy godparents who grant wishes. One time he wished everyone had superpowers. One of his nemeses became a combination of Dr. Strange and Dr. Octopus with extra metal arms and weird fashion colors.

Re: Super-Hero for New York I think I had a hero called Empire from New York. He was a growing brick. CES

Re: Help with power for Helpfire The original Ghost Rider's flame just burned people, cut through armor, summoned his motorcycle, so NND seems okay for one slot, and nnd does body for another. Danny Ketch's Penance Stare made people relive their crimes and experience all the pain they caused. That seems more like an ego attack that does body to me. The only examples I can think of to demonstrate my points is the Ghost Rider Movie. His flame cut through bars, heated metal, boiled water elemental demon away. When the big bad was going to kill GR after absorbing all the souls of the deserted town the showdown was in, GR burned him out making the souls inside of him relive everything they had done which was a lot. CES

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... From work: Jeff: You know the kind of movies I like--- Me: I thought Ron Jeremy had retired. CES

Re: Best genre to learn HERO system? The best genre to learn in is the one you like to play in. If you like superheroes, Champions. If you like mission impossible/dirty dozen style games, Dark Champions. If you just want to be a paladin, Fantasy hero. The rules don't change, just what you use them for. CES

Re: xialin showdown Jade rolled down her window and said, "Please. Just open the gate." "You heard the lady." Jonny Woo made sure they knew he could shoot long before they killed him. "We're just here to talk to Mr. Lee." The guards let them pass. They held their guns pointed at the car, but did nothing to prevent Jade from driving through to the house itself. More guards waited at the doors. Jade slowly drove up to the door, parked, and said, "I hope you are ready for this." Then she slowly got out of the car and started walking to the door. "Guys, please move out of the way. I really don't want any of you getting hurt." The guards stepped out of the way silently. They held their weapons in plain view but no one pointed them at the two's direction. That could change at a moment's notice. Lau, a retainer from Bob Lee's last days in Hong Kong, gestured for them to go to the library. Bob did some of his more legal business from there. Jade nodded her head in thanks and walked into the library. Bob Lee stood behind his desk, his imposing bulk carried lightly in his customary Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts. He didn't look like a dangerous crime lord. "Daughter, why must you disobey me?" He sounded restrained. "And you bring this mercenary with you to defy me." He shook his head. "You will obey me, daughter." Bob Lee slammed his fist on the desk hard enough to make it shake. "You will go to the nunnery and learn the proper manners of gentlewoman." Jonny Woo lit up a cigarette. "Otherwise I will have to make an example of you, and this mercenary." "I will not go Father because you did not raise me to be a 'gentlewoman.' You raised me to be a fighter and to always get the job done no matter what it may cost. So that is what I did, I got the job done. And The Tea House is safe now from the ghost. And I am sorry for not listening to you, about staying in my room, but I did what had to be done for the family." Jade stood before her father. "I raised you to take over for me and obey my wishes." Bob Lee glowered at the two of them. "If you cannot do that, you will embarrass me in front of my associates and my enemies. You will go home, and stay at the nunnery until you learn proper respect." "I am very sorry that I disobeyed you, so fine. If you don't want me anymore then I will go home to grandfather, but I will not go to the nunnery because you know as well as I do they will try and change everything about me, and I will not and cannot have that. I have worked so hard to be the best for you and the family, please Father, don't make me go. I will do better..I'll make you proud of me again, just don't send me to the nunnery," begged Jade. "I'll take the girl to the nunnery." Jonny Woo let the smoke drift around him like white doves. "First I want the ten k she already owes me, then ten more to take her back to China." "What? Are you out of your mind? You can't do this." Jade had a shocked look on her face. Then she looked at her father to see what he had to say. "Any daughter of mine will accept my authority." Bob Lee waved his hand. "You will get your money for working for Jade at the Tea House. After that, I don't want to see you." He gestured for two of Jade's guards to come forward. "Take my daughter to the airport." "Fine, I will go," said Jade through clinched teeth and she nodded to her father quickly and turned away and started to walk out the door. "Thanks, old man." Jonny Woo's voice preceded the sound of writing and tearing paper. "Nice working for you again." The guards took Jade to a spare limo and allowed her to sit in the back as they drove towards the airport. Maybe a nunnery wouldn't be so bad. Still she had hours of flight time to plan what she was going to do when she reached Hong Kong.

Re: The 2006 Mopee Awards! Everything DC and Marvel has published. CES

Re: Starter - Rescuer Repped for Haven Walkur CES

Re: Walking With Strangers 9 Thia Halmedes smiled as she hung the target on the range rope with clips. She had finally found a place where she could practice, and no one knew who she was, or what she could do. It was good to be anonymous among the other shooters on the line. Her power had gotten stronger since the battle with the Zornwill. She needed practice so she didn't hurt anybody but the person she was aiming at. Thia pulled one of her pistols out of thin air with one hand. She pressed the button to send the target down the firing lane with the other. As soon as it was more than three feet away, she fired with the pistol. She kept pulling the trigger as the paper kept moving away from her. A large hole appeared from the use of firepower. Then the target split apart with the two upper corners still hanging from the clips. That was excellent. Thia pressed the button to recall the clips back to load another target. She frowned as a group of shooters hovered around her cubby. "Can I help you?" She glared at the others, a small mix of men and women. "That was some terrific shooting, miss." One of the men held out his hand. Thia looked at him until he withdrew it. "I'm Tyler Durden. We would like to know if you would like to join our shooting team." "I don't think that would be a good idea." Thia put the target papers back into the unused tray. It looked like her practice was over. "I'm cheating." "Cheating?" Durden looked at the destroyed target. "I'm using ammo that explodes on impact." Thia looked at the amazed faces. "It destroys the target every time." "We have been watching, Miss." Durden looked at the others. Some of them nodded. "You are a really good shot, and we need someone like you. We want to win the grand prize at the end of the year." "What happens if I get caught cheating?" Thia looked at the crowd. "What happens to your team? Don't get me wrong, I like to win every time myself, but what happens to all of you? Is that worth it? I think banning from competition is the common thing." "Could you at least coach us?" Durden held out a hand. "Our averages are good, but not as good as the other teams out there. We want to get to the regionals this year, if not the championship." "I don't how I can help you, but let's see what you guys can do." Thia shook her head. Maybe she should have practiced on some tin cans in the parking lot of her apartment building. "Just go ahead and set up some targets, and maybe I can give you some pointers." Thia walked the line as the shooting team fired off a clip of ammo each at the papers down range. She offered some insights and her advice caused better aim. She didn't see herself as a teacher but the averages did go up by a small margin. Maybe she could be a coach instead of an active participant. At least then she wouldn't be cheating. She had never thought she would have a skill she couldn't use in a game, but there she was. "You guys are great shooters." Thia looked at the papers one by one. "You don't need me at all." "The other guys are twice as good as we are." Durden shook his head. "I don't think we can match them." "Let's go see how good they are." Thia folded the papers up, put them in her bag.

Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Watched the Spiderwick Chronicles. We thrilled to the goblins and shapeshifting troll, and the revenge of the hobgoblin CES

Re: Mr. Fantastic I don't know about building a character, but Mr Fantastic can easily get all of the stretching powers from the Ultimate database either in a multipower or power pool, an int of 50, all known sciences, piloting, wealth, contacts and favors. DIsads would be reputation: Genius, code versus killing, Hunted Dr. Doom, public identity, famous maybe, watched by the government, Hunted by Skrulls. CES

Re: Magistracy: Characters Character Name: Maker Real Name: Joanna Pauleski Nationality: American Hair/Eye Color: Brown, brown Place of Birth: New York City Date of Birth: 10/16/75 Height/Mass: 5'8", 100 pounds Cost Characteristic Value 5 STR 15 24 DEX 18 20 CON 20 20 BODY 20 20 INT 30 20 EGO 20 2 PRE 12 2 COM 14 PD 3 ED 4 2 SPD 3 REC 7 END 40 STUN 37 OCV: 6 DCV: 6 OECV: 7 DECV: 7 Phases: 4,8,12 Cost Powers and Talents (END) Armor (20 pd/20 ed) 60 pts Energy blast 5d6, 25 pts variable advantages (+1), linked to armor (-½) 33 pts Regeneration 2d6 20 pts can regrow limbs + 5 pts, self only(-1/2), concentration (-1/2), requires material for conversion (-½). 10 pts 50 + 25 Power pool linked to armor (-1/2), physical manifestation (-1/4) 64 pts Detect Machinery, discriminatory, analyze 13 pts Cost Skills 3 Analyze Machinery 15- 3 Deduction 15- 3 KS: Sciences 15- 3 KS: Robotics 15- 3 KS: Physics 15- 3 KS: Engineering 15- 3 KS: The Science World 15- 5 Cramming 3 Computer Programming 15- 3 Systems operations 15- 3 AK: New York 15- 5 International Police Powers 1 passport 5 Diplomatic Immunity 3 Electronics 15- 3 Mechanics 15- 3 Inventor 15- 150 Points Disadvantages 15 Secret Identity 20 Code versus Killing 15 Psych Lim: Likes to tinker with technology 15 Reputation: Gadgeteer 14- 10 DF: metal deposits in the skin 25 Hunted by her former employers 11- 10 Watched by the United Nations 8- 20 Subject to Orders 20 Vulnerable to magnetic attacks (2x stun damage) CHA Cost = 115 Total Powers Cost = 180 Total Skills Cost = 55 Total Cost = ___350_______________

Re: Walking With Strangers Thanks, Baloo. CES

Re: The New Circle Dr. Strangehold- Dr. Dale Strangehold poured himself a cup of tea, reading the paper in his other hand. Some things jumped out at him. Eventually the police would be calling on him by the looks of things. Two of the articles were connected and strange even from the casual reading he was doing that evening. Dr. Strangehold put the pot down and added sugar to his tea. He put the paper aside as he stirred the sugar into the hot water. He wondered briefly what was behind the lines of print that interested him. The good doctor stood, taking cup and saucer to the window. He looked out on the quiet avenue below his small garret apartment. He had done some redecorating when he moved in to the drafty place. He owned the whole house, but mostly kept to his small rooms away from the ground. He had given the rest of the house to his descendants as long as they didn't mind the occasional late night visit from people who needed his expertise in certain matters. It was a grudging arrangement but so far they had made it work despite some of the things that had happened already. The doctor smiled. Someone had entered the cul-de-sac, and was headed on foot to his home. Finally someone would tell him what was going on. Of course, the way this stranger moved, it probably wasn't someone he wanted to meet in a dark alley. "I best make my examination of this personage in person." Strangehold put his cup down on the window sill, and hurried downstairs. This was one time he didn't want Timmy answering the door. Trouble soured the air. Strangehold reached the front door with a flapping of his smoking jacket as the first ring of his doorbell floated through the house. He waved Timmy and Tooty back as he opened the door on his visitor. The man didn't seemed please to see the doctor. It was hard to tell because of the missing parts of his flesh on his face. "Can I help you?" Dr. Strangehold frowned at the zombie. Obviously this was because of the stories he had read also. He could almost applaud a preemptive strike. The zombie grabbed Strangehold's neck with both rotting hands. At least it didn't say anything with its foul breath already wafting on the air. The doctor grabbed the thumbs of his attacker in the hopes he could slow it down enough to work something out. "I think that's enough of that." Strangehold gasped as he tried to force the hands from his throat. Hands on tendrils ripped from his back to seize the arms. The zombie's limbs came off with the crack of breaking wood. "I think we have upset my grandchildren enough." Dr. Strangehold raised both of his regular hands above his head. Invisible waves collected there for a second. Then he brought the fire down on the armless monster. Flames lit up the threshold as the dead man walked backwards from the blow. "What's going on now, Grandpa?" Timmy stepped out of his room with a baseball bat on his shoulder. "I don't know, Timmy." Dr. Strangehold raised his two hands again. He brought them down decisively. The zombie exploded. "I plan to find out." Strangehold looked down at his stained and ripped smoking jacket. "As soon as I change, that is." The doctor shut the door, turned and headed upstairs. The jacket went into a hamper next to his door. He would fix it when he had the time.

Re: Walking With Strangers Super Squirrel and Alice the Owl were famous. They both found it odd and perplexing. Before reaching Marlowe, they had tried to avoid people without hesitation. Now kids wanted their autographs. It was a complete turnaround so sharp Squirrel's furry head still spun. Who could have predicted that when the two of them had went against their better judgment and tried to save the small city from the overgrown lake monster? The thought they were going to get killed had been uppermost then. "It feels good to be out in the open." Squirrel and Alice stood on the roof of the hideaway they had confiscated when they first reached town. "I don't know what we're going to do about living in the light when neither one of us has a job." "Tell me about it." Alice smoothed the feathers on her wings with her thin hands. "Hero work won't get us money." "I got an offer from the city to help their parks and recreation guys." Squirrel scratched his muzzle with a sharp talon. "It's not much but it would be enough to put food on the table." "That's better than what I got." Alice smiled, her round eyes blinking in the late sun. This was about the time she went out and hunted and her friend went to bed for the night. "What do you think about being the official super heroes of the town." Squirrel had already said he wanted it. And if it came with a check, so much the better. Alice had said she wanted time to think about it before making a decision. "I'm not for it." Alice frowned, turning her gaze toward the buildings that surrounded their nest. "I still remember how people treated us before we went out to stop that thing. Just because we're famous now, tomorrow the same people praising us will turn on us for any perceived slight." "So we should pass?" Squirrel scratched his muzzle again. Being a hero appealed to his inner swashbuckler, but he wouldn't do it if Alice wouldn't at least give her approval. "I would like to be human again." Alice hugged his thin shoulders. "If Aylwin can help us with that, then we can give her a little help in turn." "Being human isn't all that great." Squirrel smiled. "At least we're together now. You wouldn't even like me if we didn't look like this." "You wouldn't like me at all." Alice shook her head. "At least you're a hero now like you always wanted. Your dream has come true." "What good's a dream without someone to share it with?" Squirrel looked out on the horizon, smiling just a little bit. Alice hugged him even tighter. This wasn't exactly the life she had wanted for herself. Turning into a bird woman, moving from town to town, only daring to show her face at night where she was best suited to move around had not been something she had expected when they asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. "I wonder if we can call for pizza." Squirrel hugged her back. "We can stay up all night watching movies, doing the cha-cha, playing video games, look adoringly in each other's eyes. What do you say?" "I'd like to see you do the cha-cha." Alice laughed. "You're on. But I'd like to take my night flight first." "What movie should we put in first?" Squirrel hopped up and down. "Batman Begins? Iron Man? All three of the Matrix movies?" "The Lake House." Alice leaped from the roof top, wings spread wide. She did a spiral upwards. "The Lake House?" Squirrel stuck out his tongue. "I'll get popcorn on the way back." Alice pointed herself toward town and soared away on silent feathers. "Be ready for some cuddling." Squirrel scratched his muzzle again, before turning away with a fluff of his tail. The Lake House? The only good part of that movie was when it ended. At least popcorn and cuddling would make it bearable. He headed downstairs, walking along the railings of the stairs until he got to the ground floor of their nest. He started humming as he set up the television, a stack of movies, cushions for a sort of couch, empty glasses and a supply of canned sodas even though he could only drink one. The carbonated water made him a little sick if he drank more than one. He debated calling for pizza until Alice was back from her evening flight. He decided to go ahead and call. He didn't know when she was going to be back, but he should give the driver plenty of time to find the address. After all, the two of them were using a tree at the head of the road as a mailbox. No one must know where the super secret Squirrel Cave actually lay. It was a thing men weren't meant to know. Additionally they wanted some semblance of privacy without having to resort to guard squirrels