csyphrett

Re: xialin showdown Entry Nine- The Squid,so named because of his love of exotic sea food and the strange coloring of his skin, gathers information in with his metaphoric tentacles and sells it to whomever he thinks it will benefit most. The Squid operates at the edge of the Chinatown underworld. He keeps a lair near a fish market, and can be found in several of the local places that specialize in the cuinsine that he enjoys so much. His loyalty cannot be bought. He sells whatever he gathers to anyone who can meet his price. Additionally he never uses what he gathers for blackmail. Once he knows a secret, he sells it. Numerous people have tried to kill him at one time or the other. He goes underground for a bit, then goes back in business. When he does, he targets his enemies with anything he can find to use. Some of the oldest crimes in the book have been solved because someone tried to kill the Squid.

Re: Help Me Set up a Pulp Campaign I have a suggestion for powers, but I dont know if this will fit with what you want. A detect possibly monsters, perhaps specifically vampires. A find weakness skill (This monster can be killed by salt). And a HKA to target that weakness with an OAF (Stake in the heart). CES

Re: World at War: Ragnarok! It was the first thing I could think of to fit your problem. Other separate methods could involve intelligence gathering by the Allies, distress calls, so forth. There are a lot of means, but there's no guarantee how your players will react, or whether they'll take any bait at all. CES

Re: Richest Man in the World Disease Personally I felt I had to buy wealth for the Teen Guardians game I am co-gming. None of the player characters have any resources, basic equipment other than their own, essentially got a base by blowing up a supervillain safehouse (with the help of the villain), or even a patron. It was easier to have a character come up with the money to buy those things to smooth things in play. CES

Re: World at War: Ragnarok! This is basically what I was considering. What Kurt Busiek story are you referencing? I've probably got it in my collection, and maybe I can steal... I mean 'make an homage' to it. This is part of the plot to JLAvengers. The JLA and Avengers are told that each want things from the other universe such as the cosmic cube and green lantern's power battery. CES

Re: World at War: Ragnarok! Well to borrow a page from Kurt Busiek, you can tell both sides that the opposite side wants the artifacts. Good players will snap at this easily. Even if they don't, once the bad guys start snatching them, they'll want to get involved. Then all you have to do is plan where each thing is and what it does. The players will help you as far as planning what they are going to do and how they are going to do it. CES

Re: [Warming Rant] GM feeling uninspired QM, Are these tangents out of game stuff going on, or in game disgressions away from whatever is supposed to be going on. Out of game stuff is something you are going to have to talk to them about like hey let's stay on track tonight. That kind of thing. If the tangents are in game, make them the focus of the adventure. I'm sorry if that's not helpful but it seems to me your group likes your style, but are also happy just to socialize. If that's the case, there's not a lot you can do except try to keep on target. CES

Re: Necroscope Hero The E-Branch triliogy was the last one I read. Three vampires make it to Earth and start growing a garden of spores. The psychics start combatting it with a new Necroscope. The spores are released infecting England, and eventually the world. At that point, what's the point of reading any more books in the same setting. It's destroyed. CES

Re: Necroscope Hero I read them but I have never used them for a game. Lumley kind of lost me when the E-Branch lost in the last book and the whole world was infected with vampirism. He wrote another book set before that happened, but I didn't pick it up. CES

Re: Historical Nexus Points Roadmarks is a book by Roger Zelazny as time is a highway that people can drive down. Interfering with events just meant another exit opened on the road. There's a lot more to it than that but that was the basic travel arrangement. CES

Re: The New Circle Appearance: The Phantom Naut, when he is seen, is often spotted wearing what looks like the tattered remains of a space suit. He uses a protective hood as a mask to hide his features. Powers: Shepard has been empowered with a wide variety of abilities in his new role. He is able to live in space, fly, become invisible, and control various energies. He can hear radio waves as well. Character Name: Phantom NautReal Name: Scott Shepard Nationality: American Hair/Eye Color: brown/brown Place of Birth: Key West, Florida Date of Birth: 1/15/72 Height/Mass: 5'9", 185 pounds. Cost Characteristic Value 20 STR 30 30 DEX 20 20 CON 20 28 BODY 24 11 INT 21 28 EGO 24 10 PRE 20 1 COM 12 PD 6 ED 4 20 SPD 5 REC 10 END 40 STUN 49 OCV: 6 DCV: 6 OECV: 8 DECV: 8 Phases: 3,5,8,10,12 Cost Powers and Talents (END) Full Life Support 45 pts Invisibility to sight group, no fringe 30 pts, only when not attacking (-½) 20 pts Radio hearing/transmission 10 pts Flight 60 pt multipower 6u Regular Flight 30" 60 pts 6u Megascale 10" Flight (1"= 10 million km, +2) 60 pts Energy Powers 60 pt Multipower 6u Force Field 30 ed/30 pd 60 pt 6u Force Wall 12 ed/ 12 pd 60 pts 6u Power Beam 6d6 energy blast, variable advantage (+1) 60 pts 2u Tractor Beam 40 str telekinesis, only to push/pull (-½), affects whole object (-1/4) 22 pts Cost Skills 3 Systems operation 13- 3 TF: spaceships, jets, cars 3 combat driving 13- 3 combat piloting 13- 3 electronics 13- 3 mechanics 13- 3 stealth 13- 3 navigation: space 13- 3 navigation: earth air space 13- 3 PS: astronaut 13- 3 KS: astronaut 13- 3 SS: physics 13- 3 SS: astronomy 13- 3 SS: geology 13- 3 AK: air force bases 13- 3 AK: solar system 13- 3 AK: Cape Canaveral 13- 3 Computer programming 13- 20 Universal Translator 13- 3 Bump of direction 15 combat sense 13- 150 Points Disadvantages 15 Hunted by alien invaders 8- 20 hunted by Viper 11- 10 DF: Torn space suit 10 Reputation: Phantom astronaut 11- 15 Secret ID 15 Psych Lim: protective of space program 20 Code versus Killing 10 Watched by NASA 11- 20 DNPC: NASA space missions 14- 10 Rivalry with other space based heroes 5 Secret: supposedly dead astronaut 237 phantom experience CHA Cost = 168 Total Powers Cost = 327 Total Skills Cost = 92 Total Cost = _587 Plot Hook 1) NASA has launched a new satellite to fly into the oort cloud and count comets. It's a long trip to the edge of the solar system. When the vehicle misses a check in, they turn to the PCs for help in locating their instrument. Plot Hook 2) Instruments from around the world have noticed an increase in activity of some sort approaching Earth. Then a message is intercepted on a NASA radio frequency. The news is not good. Someone has to launch as a vanguard to stopping a fleet of invaders. Plot Hook 3) NASA has decided to establish a base on one of Jupiter's moons. It will take years of planning, but it is hoped that eventually several bases will be built as stepping stones. The problem is someone is sabotaging the planning missions. Warnings have been heard over the radio system but no one is sure what to make of it. GM's Note: This character is slightly based on Space Ghost. Hopefully he will be an okay addition to any space based adventure. The only thing he is missing is the teen sidekicks, a phantom cruiser, and a base. Additional points can go to building one under Mars if the game master is so inclined.

Re: Historical Nexus Points I want to say that is from Roadmarks, but I dont think he was running guns to the greeks. I think he wanted to supply the other side. Of course I may be wrong and I apologize if I am. CES

Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Finished Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher- The First Aleran is the first regiment to be assembled from every city of the realm. It's not supposed to see action. Tell that to the ten thousand wolf men who just invaded from across the sea. CES

Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Cell by Stephen King- I don't know if I would exactly call this book the Stand with cell phones, but it is an end of the world story, and the telpathic, telekinetic zombies are caused by cell phones, but I liked it. About a hundred pages into Cursor's Fury, it's looking okay so far. Liked the scene with Bernard and the senator in charge of finaces. "Call my barbarian friend a lier one more time, I will rip your tounge out of your head." CES

Re: xialin showdown Page 7- Jade shook her head and then slowly turned around, taking in all the damage that was done because of the battle. After she took it all in, she dropped to her knees and then looked down at herself and finally started to feel the pain and how tired she was. Then she closed her eyes and laid her head in her hand and just sat there. "Ma'am," said one of her bodyguards, cautiously coming up on the upper deck. "Everyone is out. Ambulances are coming for the injured." Jade slowly looked up at her bodyguard with pain in her eyes and in her voice, and said, "That's good. I need you to quickly call Mr. Turner to come down and deal with this mess. Then please take me home before the cops get here. I don't think my father would like it if we were here when the cops get here, do you, Joe?" "No, ma'am," said Joe. "That guy from the gang task force will be here too. Every time there's trouble." "Then let's just get the hell out of here fast," said Jade, getting up and starting for the car quickly. Joe led Jade down the stairs to the street. Her heavy limo rolled up as she stepped on the sidewalk. In the distance were the sirens coming to help with the disaster. Jade quickly got in the limo and as soon as Joe got in and closed the door, she said, "Paul, we need to get out of here fast, so take me home!" "Yes, Ma'am," said Paul. The limo rolled through the neighborhood. Jade saw frightened people on the sidewalk looking at the vehicle, and the wrecked tea house. This was the first time her family had been challenged in such a public fashion in many years. Someone else would do something to take some perceived advantage. After all if the Lees couldn't protect their headquarters, maybe they couldn't protect the rest of their operations. "Joe, I need you to call our attorney, Mr. Turner now and get him and some of the boys down to the Tea House now. This is not good. We need to get this fixed and fast before someone comes along and starts to think we are weak and tries to make a move on us," said Jade as she laid her head on the back of the seat. Then she sat up and looked at her once beautiful kimono all ripped up and then sighed and said, "I loved this kimono. Grandfather gave it to me. Sigh." She leaned over to one of the drawers and opened it and took out a blanket and covered herself and then lay back again. "What are you going to tell your father?," asked Paul. "He'll be mad when he finds out."

Re: The Magistracy's Baby 9 The Triangle arrived in Dallas a day after dropping the stolen paper off with the Halberdier's agent. They were on a time schedule, and decided to hit the target as soon as possible after touching down. Then they would find a way out of the city and drop their booty off for payment. Quentin secured a van to transport them to the museum. The Hurting and Cano rode in the back behind shaded windows. No point in letting the other motorists know they might be in danger if something happened on the way to the zone. Quentin pulled the van to the parking area in the back of the building. They hadn't bothered to check with security to see what was where. They didn't have time. A hasty plan of attack placed Cano in the lead, drawing all the attention while Quentin and the Hurting followed using cover. It was the best thing they could come up with barring spending time to plan an entrance. Shock and awe would have to do for stealth and surprise. Quentin didn't like it, but he already knew that time was running short. Cano's fiery form sent the patrons running for cover as he burned his way toward the target. He laughed, tongue hanging from his canine face. He didn't bother frying them. They were running, and that's what the Triangle wanted. Burning one meant burning anybody else that got too close. The trouble started when a lone woman in a purple dress/long shirt stepped in their path. Quentin paused. He recognized Luna from her pictures. That meant the Magistracy was close, maybe close enough to ruin the job. Speed was a priority now. "The paper," Quentin said to the Hurting, before vaulting along the display cases. He used the leaping momentum to try for a kick to Luna's head. Take her down, then worry about the rest of the heroes. "You can do better than that, Quentin," said Luna, stepping out of the way of the kick. "What's up with the paper you guys want?" "None of your business," said Quentin, upping his reflexes as he dug into a series of moves aimed to drive Luna back out of the way. He was slightly alarmed when none of his blows landed. Cano was having his own problems. The hulking fiery dog man had decided to torch the walls. A man had got in the way of his bad breath, blocking the flame. He grimaced, knowing where Luna went, her solar powered boyfriend Phaeton wasn't far behind. The Hurting glided between the two conflicts. The paper was in front of him, and once he had that, they could leave. He reached for the case, slicing it open with his taloned fingers. Cano could burn the place down to cover their escape if he had to. The shrouded figure was surprised at something beating against his face and body. He was surprised but didn't feel anything beyond impact. Clawed hands ripped the air, trying to catch the green figure in his way. It looked like they had walked into a trap. Time to get out. The Hurting leaped away from the display case, clawing the air to keep the transparent form of Quick away from him as he started his escape. If only Phaeton and Luna were there, he would fight it out. Since he didn't know how many of the Magistracy was there, he felt it was better to flee to fight another day. He couldn't inflict pain from solitary confinement. The shrouded figure bumped into something as he flew backwards away from his adversary. He looked over his shoulder. A fist knocked him to the ground. He didn't feel pain, but the impact drove him into the marble floor. Something heavy dropped on him, pinning him in place. "I think it's time we had a talk," said John Public, another concrete trash can in his hands.

Re: xialin showdown Entry Eight- Example template for a Raven: Name: Crime: Responsible persons: Name: Jeff Lee Crime: Jeff was tortured and murdered in the hopes of provoking a confrontation between Bob Lee and his Italian counterparts. Reponsible persons: Soong Kim, Akira Takahashi, Wei Chan, and Harvey Ching. These four are middle management in the various gangs inside Little China. They are protected by minions, and their businesses are fronted by legal enterprises in that part of town. The Raven appears as Jeff Lee two days after he is declared missing. He will begin his assault on Kim, and work back to Ching, killing anyone in his way. If the four men confess, the Raven may let them live.

Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Academ's Fury by Jim Butcher-Set in Aleria, Tavi the shepherd has to defend the realm from enemies from without and within. The question in my mind is when are they going to tell him he's the crown prince. CES

Re: Teen Guardians Wednesday the third 12:05 pm Patty crossed her legs at the knee and took a deep breath. "Okay...see, I got sick in class and so I went to the nurse's station and then my Dad came to get me so we went to the Office and so my Dad could sign me out and he did and stuff and then we started walking out and we heard this little pop and splatter thingie and then there was blood all over the window inside the office and I really didn't see anything more than that I guess it was between first and second periods I was feeling really bad and wasn't really paying attention." "Your father says that a bunch of your friends were there," said Detective Allen. "We haven't been able to locate them. Do you know where they are?" On the other side of the house, Agent Bye regarded Tammy Chen with lambent eyes. "I understand that you arrived on the scene of the murder after it happened?," said the tall man. "What brought you to the scene?" Patty replied, "Well, Tammy's in the kitchen and I don't know where Eric or anybody else is Eric walked me to the nurse's office and then I don't know how he got to the Office I think he may have been between classes but if he hadn't been in the hallway I'd have lost it he was really great helping take charge and stuff but I don't know where anyone else is they all took off after everything was kinda over maybe people went to the mall or home or something I think Eric's dad is a cop or something I don't know." "Let me have Eric's last name," said the detective. "I'll talk to him." "It's Eric Drake and my dad thinks he's scum but he's actually really nice not a hoodlum." She glared at her father defiantly...and wondered where the hell that'd come from. Must be the hormones. "He's a crook," said her dad right back. "He's a blinking and a twitching." "I'm sure he's a good kid," said Allen. "I'll have someone go by his house. Is there anything else you would like to tell me?" Patty thought about it. "I don't think so that pretty much is everything that happened and stuff if I think about something I'll tell my dad and he'll tell you or whatever." "Sounds fair," said Allen. "Have we met before? you seem familiar somehow." Patty shook her head, pony-tail bobbing in opposition to the movement of her head. "Nope, not unless you did a DARE program thingie but that'd be it I stay out of trouble-" she glared at her father "-and I really do follow all the rules and stuff." "I'm sure you do," said Detective Allen. "Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Antres. Please don't leave the city without calling me. We might need you later." Patty tried not to snort a bit of laughter, and succeeded, mostly, the sound coming out more like a tiny sneeze. Covering her mouth with her hand, she said, "'scuse me'," and waited for the cops to leave--she knew her dad would want to have words with her about Eric. "So what is all this about Shifty being the son of a policeman?," said Mr. Antres. "He vibrates more than an Enron executive." Patty sighed. "His name's Eric, Daddy, and his dad's a cop and he's not real nice and Eric doesn't want to be like him maybe just maybe I can help I do like him he's got a good soul and you just have to trust me that its hard to do but maybe..." She shook her head. "I'm not going to keep wasting my time and your time trying to explain it because you don't want to hear it I see you look at me like I"m still five but I'm not sometimes you just have to trust Daddy." "I do trust you, honey," said Mr. Antres. "I just want you to be careful." "I am careful Daddy--the thing is that I'm not five anymore and sometimes..." She lowered her head, embarrassed. "I do like him--there's something with him that I really like--and...when I bring him home please...accept him for what he is okay Daddy?" She looked up at him, her face honest-and a little conflicted. "I'm always careful and I'm going to go put on my pajamas and lay down I still don't feel good, okay?" She moved for the stairs. "All right dear," said Mr. Antres. "I'm heading back to work. If you need anything, call me." 12:10 pm. Emp and Hardball could see the temporary stage being put in place by city workers in front of the square circle school from their different perspectives. Anthony was at ground level in the parking lot. Emp was on the roof. The question was how would she blow up the victim in front of a crowd in her signature move. Emp swung down towards the stage. His grapple gun recoiling back into its frame so that it could be put away. Walking over the stage he began to look around carefully. Having ones heart explode was certainly difficult. He was looking for a refreshment area. He doubted they where set up but the best way to cause this type of problem was likely food or liquid based, considering it left physical evidence it likely was an actual solid food. So he needed to search any vendors that would be here. The only other option was to go to the man's house next to make sure he wasn't going to be given a mysterious gift of food for his hard work. But not likely. Once he started to feel anything he wouldn't be here for the explosion. So this location area was where Heartbreaker would need to strike for a perfect strike. Not that it meant he'd be able to catch her at all, but hopefully he could stop someone's heart from going boom. The platform was a temporary wooden stage with a carpet cover draped over it. There was no concession stand set up, though Eric knew schools, some schools had trailers they could roll in place when they didn't have a permanent stand. Anthony got off his bike and lit up a cigarette. While pretending to be simply 'hanging out' he kept a close eye out for anyone he knew from school, especially and girl who might be a psycho stalker in disguise. Given the neighborhood he doubted that any of his schoolmates would be coming down here simply on a whim. Even this Captain Andrew Johnston shouldn't be enough to drag any but his greatest fans along. He again wondered why Heartbreaker was targeting the people she was. Sure Principal Franklin had been a pain, but unless Anthony was wrong he was an upstanding member of the community whose only crime was wanting to educate kids. And this Andrew Johnston fellow seemed like a real Hero. Why was she targeting heroes and not say scum who really deserved it like Eric's dad? Anthony's blood suddenly went cold. She wasn't targeting 'authority figures' in an attempt to impress 'Hardball' she was targeting powerless heroic types, probably working her way up to superheroes. So much for a change of heart (no pun intended), he silently wondered whether she was simply following the script she had in her former life before becoming a Hero killer. The black and red costume of Emp glared like neon in the early afternoon sun. Several people seemed to be remarking on it in the windows from Anthony's viewpoint on the ground. Emp looked around a bit more. Definitely going to happen here. Although it wouldn't hurt to check out the house as well. He looked over at Anthony, "You know kid, smoking's not very good for you, just like 'junk foods' they serve at these types of rallies. Later!" He pulled his grappler with practiced ease and fired up and began his departure. That'd likely get the police interested in the area with reports of a known costumed teen criminal. He might not be as bad as heartbreaker was but he was moderately sure he was still a known criminal, after all his equipment was here waiting for him at the site so he was looking at the early years of his 'criminal' career. Still while that might cause a tightening up of security he still needed to check out the captain's house. He sure as hell hoped Anthony got his hint about the explosives likely being in the food and catering groups. Anthony looked at the message from EMP. So he and Rabbit were having some more 'alone time'? Good for them, Eric could do with a girl he didn't have to manipulate to make like him and Rabbit could definitely do with a man to help her avoid some of the faux pas she seemed to be prone to. He looked around again at the area. Until he needed to leave or someone suspicious turned up he could think of nothing better than just hanging out here checking out the scenery. Anthony's own phone rang. The musical tone told him that his own girl was checking in with him. Crossing town took an hour with the available buildings thinning near the dock where Captain Johnston stored his boat when he was in town. Emp could see it was a wide open area for target practice if anybody wanted to kill him. A flat stretch of parking lot with piers sticking out on the city's river with light poles few and far between. That left a killer with at least two escape routes as far as Emp could see. One was the river itself, the other a major parkway leading to the local highway system. Patty nodded-then impulsively came back down and gave her father a hug-she didn't say it, but the words, "love you' were there anyway. She then headed back up the stairs, went to her room and undressed-and held out her 'costume' and looked at it. A deep sigh. To fulfill her words to him, she pulled on her long nightshirt and curled up under the blankets for thirty seconds--then got up and tossed her pajama top aside and pulled on her costume...and picked up her cellphone. She texted Eric, "Where R U?" She could hear the car door being closed outside as her dad left to go back to work. Hopefully the police were taking Tammy home with them. Eric noted the vibrating cellphone and took it out looking over the text. Sending one back with the captain's address on it. He then moved towards the captain's slip, trying to remain unseen as he moved surprisingly to the front door and knocked. Most people never suspected a person to actually use the front door to do them harm, no matter what most police said or did it was a common misconception. He would wait to see if anyone would answer before he picked the lock. The slip was empty. Other boats on the dock were in evidence, but Eric didn't see any people who could stop him inspecting the dock. Patty looked at the address and then looked at herself in the full-length mirror in the corner of her room, next to her little desk; this was her, her twenty years ago and now...she closed her eyes and questioned herself, her motivations, her feelings... and headed for the door at speed. She hit her brakes, ducking out of sight. "Eric..." she hissed from the side of the next boat down the pier. Eric looked over at Patty in her costume, thankfully his own costume hid his cheeks as he moved towards her. "What's up Tac?" he knew her secret identity name from earlier he figured he'd at least keep the identities separated. "Did you find out anything Patty?" he whispered as he got closer to her. He knew he was happy to see her, but he had to put a damper on his own feelings, they couldn't possibly work out considering his past. He just had to keep that in mind while talking with her. A sea gull swooped in overhead, landing on the wooden pier to look at the odd couple. Patty shook her head, keeping her voice low. "No, but the cops are looking for you to ask questions--and I got hell from my dad," she admitted. She took a deep breath and continued, "I dunno--they took Tammy, Katido, away--I don't know what's going on there--and with her gone and the school closed, I can't get to a science lab to run tests." She eased close. "You find anything...you're not breaking in, are you?" A boat sailed past the empty slip where Captain Johnson usually parked. The pilot glanced at the two as he drifted down river to the sea. He looked at her taking everything she was asking. "Not really, I was going to see if anyone was there. If the captain himself was there I was hoping to warn him that his life was in danger." He smiled at her. Patty nodded at him in understanding. "But I have a hunch to how she's killing people from the inside out. I believe she's giving them some sort of digestible that once it mixes with the acids of the digestive system cause a slow mounting explosion." He licked his lips a bit fighting down his nerves as she moved closer to him "But I'm not quite sure how to stop her or what the food substance would be. If it's a slow explosive effect she might deliver it here, if it's actually a fast explosive she might be serving it at the new school opening." He looked into her eyes as he spoke as much of an attraction he felt to her, he wished he didn't have to bother her with all this cloak and dagger business. She seemed so innocent, especially getting sick from telling white lies or even outright lies. Her brow furrowed, brain kicking over in thought--this had been on her mind, but for some reason, it hadn't clicked together quite like this until Eric had mentioned it. "What did the police want by the way?" he finally asked his voice quivered with a renewed fear as he finally remembered she'd told him that. If anything he didn't want Patty getting involved with anything dealing with his father, the man wasn't much of a physical threat but he could still make Patty's dad life a lot more hellish if his dad found out he was hanging around with Patty. He still remembered his first girlfriend, she'd ended up having to leave because of a drug investigation into her dad's life, he'd been cleared of anything but the man's family had been destroyed just because of the investigation. The sea gull drifted to Eric's shoe, looking around before casually flapping off. "They just want to ask you about what you saw," the blonde replied, casually aware of the pilot of the small boat that drifted down the river, "they didn't ask me anything big--I just told them I got sick, you'd walked me to the office--and that I thought you'd swung back in to make sure I was okay when everything went down..." Her mind slowed down and she saw the look on his face. Reaching up with one hand, she asked him, "What's wrong? There's...something going on inside that head--you're worried..." The girl took a deep breath. "We'll talk later--I think its wrong--but you're right--we have to warn the Captain--do what you have to do and let's get out of here okay?" Patty didn't look particularly happy with what Eric was about to do--but there was an acceptance in her eyes about it. "Well I think we might as well get going now. The captain's boat isn't here right now." He sighed. "We might as well go some where more private.." he blinked "I mean some where we can be alone..er well you know some place we can talk and not be spied on by everyone." She nodded, pursing her lips slightly. The girl sure as hell had not intended to interrupt him--she didn't approve of the lockpicking--but his points were valid and, so long as no harm or other mischief would've been done inside, the good outweighed the bad on the offense. Absently, she followed as he walked her off towards some buildings he'd swung in on before and used his grapple gun to pull them both up to the top. The entire time fighting down his desires due to her closeness to himself as he held her on the way up. She gasped momentarily as his arm wrapped around her bare midriff--it was surprise more than anything else, then relaxed against him as he lifted the two of them off the ground--she remembered the film 'Batman' and had to smile, remembering seeing it in the theater...before she was born, this time around. On arrival, she left her arms wrapped around him and basked in his warmth... "Dammit..." she said softly, still not releasing him. He looked at her once they where on top of the building. He noticed she was still holding him, course he wasn't letting go either for the most part. "Um.. you okay?" He asked slowly looking away a bit as he tried to restrain his own desires. "I think we'll have to send Hardball a message that were going to stay here and keep an eye on the ship yard. Once his boat gets here we can make our move." He gently stroked her hair his eyes softening a bit. "...that'd be a good idea he and I don't see eye to eye but he has some good points," Patty admitted, her head easing back slightly of its own accord, allowing him the ability to give more of a full stroke to her hair. "So...like coffee? I think I might have some miniature army supply for instant coffee. Tastes worse than normal." he offered it with a small awkward laugh. He really didn't want to ruin the moment by bringing up his dad so he tried humor, something he was lacking these days. She didn't really react--she more closed her eyes tight against what she felt right at this moment--and kept her ears open. She shook her head and slowly let him go, mostly, her hands drifting down to take his. "No, coffee makes me hyper," she admitted letting go of his hands and sinking quickly until she was seated, cross-legged. "Emp, Eric--" she shook her head once again, then sank into momentary silence. "I'm sorry I interrupted you," Patty said, "I didn't mean to--and I didn't mean to call you by name down there--I'm making stupid goofs that I wouldn't have made a few days ago..." She looked at him in the eye. "That's the whole problem, isn't it? We're not the people we were a few days ago--we're kids now--god knows what my adult wants are right now but that's..." She gulped, blushing. "...but that's not important is it we're not adults and..." Patty shook her head at herself and her flightiness. "I'm even acting like I did when I was fifteen hell I am fifteen I'm not a doctor any more just a stupid kid with holes in her memory and Hardball might just be right I"m nothing more than a hindrance dammit..." She looked awful close to tears. "...I almost blew it for you. You had a job to do and I blew it for you there didn't I." He looked at her sternly. "Listen Patty, we're all in the same boat. Your making the same mistakes any of us would do... besides I'm still partially to blame for what your feeling considering our first meeting." He sat down next to her "Besides, I'm scared to death that I'm going to screw up. Hell I half expect one wrong move and I'll end up causing massive changes to your past or even those in the group. I couldn't live myself if I hurt you somehow." He touched her cheek trying to ease her tears away. "After all, I was a villain before I was regressed. What kind of life could I offer you? If I'm returned to adulthood, I have a criminal record, people hunting me down and any number of problems. If I stay a child, I might try and hold you back, keeping you away from your own future with a career, maybe even a husband and kids..." he inhaled deeply letting himself just speak "..and again I couldn't do that to you. Out of the two of us, you have the most to look forward to in your future. "While...I have things to change to make myself better. As much as I think I love you I can't just do anything except be a friend." Patty leaned her cheek against his palm, eyes closed, trying her best not to cry, but a few tears got out anyway. She wrapped her arms around her knees and hugged herself close as Eric got up and took out his cell phone, texting Hardball with the information about where he was along with 'Rabbitgirl' as he had called her, all the while cursing his own stupidity for having told Patty everything like that and he still hadn't warned her of his dad. It was then that it dawned on him, was he actually scared of a uncertain future, or was he more scared in the future was turning out like his father? Was that why he never married out of love? From behind, she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek against his shoulder. "I never got married," she admitted, "it just wasn't important--never met anyone that was more than just maybe sex or something--and you're not to blame for the way I feel right now--I forgive you for what happened the first time we met--and Hardball told me to stay away from you--but I don't think that the future is what is was anymore, Eric." She took a deep breath. "I don't mind putting my future back off or maybe finding a different path--I've done the doctor thing, it was...all right, good money...but...not fulfilling." He had shivered at the contact and what she was telling him. He could only listen as she continued. She came around to his fore and folded his hand closed around the cellphone, her light blue eyes on his. "I'm willing to take that chance, Eric--would you be willing to take it as well? I know you have problems--but..." She gulped. "...maybe this is a second chance for all of us--maybe you and I to find something other than...things neither of us weren't happy in doing." The speedster stood up on tiptoes and pressed her lips against his and held it. Eric wrapped his arms around her holding her as she kissed him. It was a strange feeling being a teenager in love. Maybe being this way wasn't so bad after all When she had broken the kiss he just stared off into her eyes. Finally, she whispered, her nose inches from his, "I'm willing to stand by you and be your friend--and more, if you let me in...I want to be trusted by you--and to trust you." She stepped away, her hands holding his. "When this is over--lets go to the ocean, walk along the beach, talk--maybe more--but we'll see on that." She gave him a small smile and, releasing one hand, wiped her cheeks and eyes. "I have to go, Eric--I have to figure out a few things..." "Patty, I'd like that. Although I get the impression your dad doesn't much care for me, not that he'd stop me from seeing you." he took her by the waist again before firing and swinging off with her. She held on tight, pressed warmly against him, reveling in this...this unknown territory in which she found herself. "Don't worry about my dad--just be yourself--and be polite--and...well...he's my dad, y'know?" "As for the beach, I think I can handle that." "It's a date, then." The girl frowned. "Can you get stuff from the police--your dad's a cop, maybe you can get forensic records--and..." She looked a little pale. "...maybe you can break me into the school and we can use the science lab or something--I really need to look at those samples--but that has to be tonight because I have to get home and make it look like I've been sick all afternoon..." He looked at her and nodded, "Yeah I can get into the police station. I suppose I really should try and end the fight between me and my dad differently then last time. But you need to be prepared. Last time I had a girlfriend he'd ruined a perfectly good family's life by involving them in a drug investigation. While they had been innocent and found that way, it still ended up badly for them. Then again she was also helping to hide me from him whenever I ran away." he smiled at her "But I'll definitely put off telling him about you." He took out his grapple gun. "School's a bit of a trip from here, we better get going. I don't think I can get to the police station tonight without taking a car or a bus ride and still get here to keep an eye out." The girl nodded. "I understand...and while I want to get this done...I understand." She gave him a little smile. "I can spell you tonight if you want--if it hasn't gone down yet..." She looked down. "...you're welcome to stop in as yourself and see me if you want." He nodded "I do trust you Patty and I really should tell you more. You defiantly have a right to know me more." When he landed and set her down, she gave him one last hug, stood again on tiptoe and gave him one last kiss... "I'll see you soon..." ...and disappeared in a squeal of rubber from her shoes, leaving a wake of disturbed paper. He watched her leave, all 3 seconds of blur, she was definitely going to take getting use to considering her speed. He fired off his grapple again heading back to the roof top. He kept himself there for another twenty minutes before calling the police headquarters. He figured if he was going to be stuck on top of the building watching the dock through a pair of lenses he might as well check in and make sure more ploce officers were not out looking for him. "Hello, how can I help you?" "Hello I'm checking in with the detective that's in charge of the homicide over at the school that killed Principal Frank Richards." "One moment while I redirect your call." He waited for the detective to pick up. His phone had a useful scramble system and would keep tracking systems guessing where he was hopefully for an hour, if he stayed on that long. But the lady cop didn't seem to know who he was so there was less likely going to be a trace on the call. The sea gull looked at Eric like it was his fault for the bad smell and lack of food. It said something in its own bird way, then soared off down the dock. "This is Detective Allen," said the detective. "What can I do for you?" He changed his voice immediately once the detective picked up the phone. "Hello this is EMP, I'm sure you have no idea who I am detective, however me and my friends are helping your investigation and I figure it's time we bring you into the loop. The killer's next target is the Captain that will be at the new school opening." He was going to add more to the message something insulting to the detective but he hung up thinking about how Patty would react to him insulting a police officer. He had to chuckle at that one. This becoming a good guy was going to take some getting use to. He waited another fifteen minutes before switching his phone to it's normal setting and calling in as Eric Drake and confirming everything Patty had told them about what he did at the school. "We'll need to talk to you in person," said Allen. "Why don't you come down to the Hall of Justice today, or tomorrow?" 1:50 pm Cleaning the blood off showed a crescent of flesh hanging loose. A little more and she would have been crippled for a while. Her mother wouldn't have liked that. She shuddered a bit, as if from a sudden chill. It could have been *much* worse...but what the hell is she going to *do* with that nasty dog now? A knock on the door came, then "I called the police, girl. They be coming to take you to the hospital." Nariko's mind filled with grim images of sinister killers disguising as EMTs and potential murderers posing as doctors...and she *didn't* like what she saw in her mind's eye. "Um...okay. Thanks...", she answered weakly as she put some tissues around her wound and tried to stuff the whole mess underneath her pants leg and shoes. The gearhead girl then poked her head out of the bathroom and asked, "Um...could I please call my mom and dad *too*?" They'll be really *worried* about me by now..." "As much blood as you have colored your pants with," said the store clerk. "I suppose a call be ordered. The police be here first in any case." Nariko knew that was true, even if response times in bad neighborhoods were slower than what they were. She tried her best not to look scared. "Um...okay..." She stepped out of the room, taking careful note of where the reflective surfaces in the store were. "Please let me know when I can call, okay?", Nariko added in a voice timid enough to make her feel guilty about it. "You can call right now," said the clerk, gesturing with one hand. "The phone be up front." "Thank you!" Barely suppressing the urge to *run* to the phone, Nariko first tried the "emergency" number that her father gave her if she had to reach him at work. "This is Miyami," said the dry voice of her father after several rings. "Speak please." She didn't *want* to start tearing up, but she did all the same. Her words came out in an almost frantic rush of verbiage. "Daddy it's Nariko I'm in *terrible* trouble! Some men came to my school and told me mom was in the hospital but instead of taking me to the hospital they knocked me out and *kidnapped* me! I got away but a big dog attacked me and it's inside my *workshop* now and my leg is still bleeding I don't know what to do and the men have *guns* and they *can't* be far away and now the guy in the convenience store down the street called the cops but how can I be sure that they're going to we *real* cops and not *fake* ones and OMIGOD I REALLY NEED HELP! " "You must be calm," said Mr. Miyama. "I will send someone to escort you to the hospital. He will identify himself as Mr. Four. I will give him a picture of you. He will be there shortly." Surprisingly, Nariko *does* calm down, yet her heart seems to almost *leap* inside of her. Daddy's going to *rescue* her! She *knew* that she could count on him! "Um...okay..." She tears up again and her voice cracks, more out of *relief* than fear this time. "...I love you, Daddy...thank you..." "I will notify your mother," said Mr. Miyami. "Mr. Four will arrive shortly at your location. We will meet you at the hospital." "Okay d-daddy...goodbye..." She wipes her eyes awkwardly in her sleeve, obviously starting to calm down a little. "My father is sending someone to take me to the hospital...", she said to the convenience store guy. "That be cool with me, little Chinese girl," said the clerk. "Try not to bleed more on my floor." Nariko blinked, obviously a little put off by what she perceived as the man's *surprising* lack of perception. "I'm part *Japanese*, sir..." Although it was probably futile at that point, she almost compulsively checked her reflection in one of the store's convex surveillance mirrors and fussed a little with her hopelessly tousled hair for a few moments. "Chinese, Japanese, Javanese," said the clerk. "It all be the same to me." Sirens approached as Nariko waited, then almost before she knew it an ambulance rolled to a stop outside the little store. A moment or two after that, a thin man in a dark blue suit appeared, brown hair swept back, a little four pendant pinned to his jacket lapel. "Nariko Mayami?," he said. "Um...yes?", she asked a bit nervously. This was *probably* her father's man, but she couldn't be sure until he actually identified himself. "I'm Mr. Four," said the man in the blue suit. "I will be riding with you to the hospital and staying with you for a while." The gearhead girl let out a breath that she didn't even know she was holding and smiled. "Oh good. Daddy told me to expect you..." The paramedics had Nariko come out to the back of their van, and went to work on her leg. Stitches were definitely in her future. She made it a point to mention that the dog was foaming up when he was really angry and that she could let them know where the dog was when they needed to examine it. "We'll need to do that to check for rabies," said the paramedic. "let's get you loaded and taken care of." They carefully placed her on the gurney for the long ride to the hospital. Nariko nodded and let the paramedics do their work. For once, she just relaxed and didn't think about tinkering with her hair or make-up during the entire trip. Somewhere along the way, she cleared her through a bit self-consciously and said to the mysterious Mr. Four. "Well...I never actually met anyone from Daddy's work before. Are you his assistant?" "A colleague," said Mr. Four. "What is this about a kidnaping?" The van rolled toward the hospital, the attendant making sure that Nariko was okay as they went. The police car rolled behind them, lights blaring. Nariko took a deep breath, obviously planning to tell Mr. Four the whole story. "Two men showed up at my school this morning. One of them, the older one, said that his name was 'Ebersole'. They told me that my mom had an accident at work and that they were going to drive me to the hospital. I got suspicious when I noticed that we weren't going the right way and tried to gate out, but it was too late! As I blacked out, I noticed some sort a gas canister underneath the seats...I guess the bastards used some sort of knockout gas or something..." She paused for a moment, obviously trying to keep calm and keep her thoughts organized. "I woke up locked in closet with a little latched hatch in the door to feed me though. The locking mechanism on the hatch was a total *joke* - easy to defeat - so I managed to slip through it and I tried to get away. I ran into the back yard before anyone caught me, but there was a *nasty* dog back there that almost took me down before I even got *started*! I *barely* climbed the fence and got out before he got me and I ran into one of the neighbor's yards, looking for something to gate through." Nariko shuddered a little at that point. "I found a birdbath just as the dog was catching up me and I tried to gate into my workshop, but the bastard grabbed hold of my leg and got dragged through with me! I tried to split him in half by shutting the gate, but I couldn't close it fast enough!" She let out a long sigh. "The dog let go of me after it gated and I got *away*, but it's still stuck in my workshop and probably shitting and peeing up the place as we *speak*..." "You don't even want to know what they do to furniture," said Mr. Four. "It sounds like a case of extortion. That's something the police are better equipped to handle than we are." "I *guess* so...", she said rather tentatively. "We have to patch you up before we can worry about anything else," said Mr. Four. "They didn't get what they wanted. Maybe they will switch to someone else unless you remember the address of where you were held." 12:00 pm Pusher wrote down all their speculations on the chalkboard, including the possible victim's background. He knew he was too direct in his thinking and lacked the hacking skills Eric had. It had been easy to buy a computer and electronics they needed, even a phone. He circled the word home in the clue and the words announces the tidings of the day in the first one. Then a question mark to show he didn't know what he was thinking. Everyone else was doing something. He should too. It was time to pay a visit to the school. He ascended through the streets.

Re: The Future hasn't been Written.....yet On the other hand, the game proabbly shouldnt be all about how the characters are affecting the course of history either. Maybe one or two incidental things that lead to other things. CES

Re: The Future hasn't been Written.....yet I dont know about to the present, but there is a timeline in Pulp Hero for most of the prewar years to sometime in the forties. If the campaign has creating an alternative history as a feature, I can only say that if the characters meddle in something famous there should be ramifications down the line. On the other hand, a lot of the history is unknown to the characters so you're free to write whatever you feel is appropriate to fuel the game along. I guess an example is the characters help the Flying Tigers in China in some decisive way, that might drive the Japanese out of the country faster. CES

Re: The Magistracy's Baby Thank you Alwyn. I appreciate that. CES

Re: xialin showdown Page 6- Jade tried to turn and see what caught her as she asked, "What in the world just happened?" "Looks like you just beat a ghost," said Jonny Woo, arms holding the Chinese Mafia princess up. "Congratulations." Jade remembered the gun shots that seemed to distract her opponent. She knew Woo was a mercenary, and good shot. She hadn't seen him shooting in the melee. The front of her kimono had been fried into strips, part of a wrist had blisters on it, and it felt like an eyebrow was gone. At least she had weakened it before it had tried to kill her. "Well, the ice is melting," said Woo. "Looks like it's gone." "I thank you greatly for all the help Mr. Woo and great catch," said Jade, with a sweet but painful smile. Then she carefully moved out of his arms and started to look around at all the damage that the ghost cost her family and to see how many of her men were still okay. The upper deck of the teahouse was splintered where Wing Chun had driven his hand into the floor. The tables and chairs were scattered, broken, or thrown over the side. The customers had been able to make it off the makeshift battlefield for the most part. "See you later, princess," said Woo. "You might need to think about how you're beautifying the city." The mercenary went to the railing surrounding the upper deck and dropped over the side. Jade rushed over to the railing and looked over it as she said, "What the hell do you mean about that, Woo?" The mercenary had apparently used the awning as a trampoline to reach the ground safely. He was nowhere in sight. Jade saw several places he could have gone to in the short amount of time it had taken her to get across the roof. They were storefronts and narrow alleys between buildings, a rat's warren of connected passages.

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... From the ASRPG: The original Blue Beetle from the forties confronting Mano from the Fatal Five in the legion's time: "You're tough to live through that fall," said the Beetle. "Give me any trouble and you'll get a taste of the magic mitt. Got me?" The Jester trying to look for a way to shut Tharok down: Tharok glanced at Jester and said, "why are you trying to feel me up?" CES

Re: The New Circle 2 Background Information: Scott Shepard had joined the space program as NASA tried to rebuild after several space invasion attempts averted by UNTIL, the Champions, the Rovers, The T-Men, and others. He had been rushed through training so he could be one of those sent to Mars to set up a listening outpost. The long days of training followed by the long flight to Mars didn't bother him in the slightest. A long trip across space meant nothing when he spent every moment preparing for landing and setting up his equipment. When Shepard touched down, his team started building their habitation and setting up their devices. The thrill of being the first colony on another planet was outweighed by the amount of hard work they had to undertake to get started. Their camp was ready after a few days, and they could start the real work. That was before he was destroyed. Shepard was prospecting miles away from the camp. He located what looked like a former water hole. He decided to explore the interior, believing that he would come back to map it later. At the bottom of the shallow cave, a jewel glinted in the weak sun. Shepard touched the jewel without thinking. It took him apart in a flash of light. Extreme pain replaced everything else. When it was over, he found himself floating above the surface of the red planet, aware that he was invisible to anything that might be looking for him. More astounding than that was the fact he was floating in the harsh atmosphere without protection, or need of any. He realized touching the gem must have worked the amazing change on him. He quickly learned to fly and headed back to the habitation to report his new situation. The outpost had been destroyed by a large kinetic weapon of some sort. Shepard learned later that everyone had thought he had died in the strike with the rest of the crew. At the time, he just wanted to find out what had happened and deal with it, or them as the case may be. Other heroes were awarded credit for stopping the first Musol Invasion, but the Phantom Naut was the first to respond to battle their advance in the system, checking them until help arrived to turn them back. The Phantom Naut carried on his career, helping any who made it into space. The Rovers have worked with him the several times they needed to leave the atmosphere. Quote: "I'm just a ghost lost in space." Personality: The Phantom Naut's two defining characteristics are his interest in helping the space program succeed in their missions to learn more about the solar system and expand into space, and his silence over his background. He typically appears when he learns there is trouble in space, acts to solve the problem, then vanishes without explaining himself.