Cubismo

Courtney processed the new information provided and examined the numerous dream-illusions created eye that floated around her with a critical eye. "Oh wow. So it was an automatic reflex? Some sort of like a self-defense mechanism formed by repeated trauma. That's so fascinating," she noted out loud, her data-filled mind only realizing a few seconds later what she had just said. "And awful! I can't believe that I just... That is total my mothe-" Courtney stopped herself before she could continue to embarrass herself further or potentially give away something critical about her identity. The paragon weighed whether it would be worth it to try and summon back some air of authority by doing another hero pose, but ultimately figured that was a lost cause. It also plainly wasn't her. Not yet anyway. With her hands out she apologized to Dreamer. "I'm so sorry that happened to you and your world. This one has dealt with its own Terminus invasions and knows how nightmarish they can be. And I'm sorry that I just fangirled for a few seconds there. Sometimes I can get distracted by-" Suddenly her sensors went off. Ultio-Suits were fast approaching. "Oh wow. I thought I'd have more time before they showed up." Courtney grimaced slightly. She really didn't want to deal with Ultio-Suits on top of everything else right now. It was apparently a sentiment shared by the dream-crafter since she wasn't particularly happy about their arrival either. Courtney lowered her voice so that hopefully Dreamer and her pet could hear. "I would like to avoid one too, but I'm not sure if these guys are going to make it that easy. You're right that Ultio-Suits care way more about points then they do about justice, which is why this might end up going bad." The android sighed then and thought about whether it could be best to either flee with dream-warper or just attack the fast approaching MarsTech flunkies right then and there. Neither option seemed particularly attractive, especially the later. For one, it felt wrong to be the first one to attack and escalate things further. And two... her mother's ethic protocols just wouldn't let her strike first. At least not without Courtney giving them a good override. With that in mind, the robotic paragon opted to go for diplomacy. Courtney whispered to Dreamer again. "Ok let me try something first. Hopefully it will work but if not... Well, try to escape if you can." With that said, Courtney zoned in on the apparent lead Ultio-Suit and started talking in a firm but confrontational way with her abandoned hero pose back on display for added effect. "I know you're all here for hero points, but the situation has been resolved. The little monster your TroubAlert app told you about has been neutralized. See," she said, pointing to the very much dangerous looking Carnifex. "I know it looks scary, but its not attacking you, me, that girl, or anyone else for that matter. Like I said, the situation with the purse-snatcher was handled. You guys can find points elsewhere without getting into unnecessary fight."

Courtney blinked. She didn't actually have to being that she was a robot, but the response just came naturally to her in that moment. She couldn't help it really. Not when she was apparently chatting with some kind of dream summoner. The mild hypocrisy that she found hyper advanced androids like herself and malicious corporate conspiracies to be totally believable while dream wizardy was not entirely lost on Courtney, but she ultimately decided not to dwell on it and instead focus on what was right in front of her. "So let me get this right. So you summoned or created this..." Courtney pointed a hand at the creature in question and searched her postronic brain for a word that seemed both reasonably accurate and respectful, "Assistant to help you investigate a crime that turned out to be a purse-snatching? Is that your power? Forming physical things and creatures out of dreams? Is that why you asked whether I was real?" Courtney ran the possibilities in her head, immediately assuming that the girl was some kind of magic user, but did not entirely rule out a slightly more scientific explanation like some form of transdimensional importation or powerful psionic illusionary powers. Of course, even with being very curious about the other teen's powers, it didn't stop Courtney from recognizing that whether she intended it or not, summoning this creature had essentially pulled a red alarm that was bringing several Ultio-Suits to Lakeside. As such, Courtney gave the girl's dream monster her best impression of a serious look. "Regular little humans or not. You gave them a reason to come here by going after that purse-snatcher and they are going to come in droves to deal with you." Courtney then looked at the other teen, her expression turning softer. "Maybe... maybe it would best if you unsummoned him? For now anyway. At least until the Ultio-Suits lose their patience and move on once they realize there isn't some giant monster here for them to fight for points."

Courtney didn't immediately find the rampaging monster that she was looking for. Or at least she wasn't entirely sure that what she was currently looking at wasn't in fact it. While scanning the area for any signs of the monster or the incoming Ultio-Suits, her optics caught sight of a nearly twelve foot creature that looked like something out of a Harry Potter movie. The only reason Courtney didn't immediately assume she had found her quarry was because the monster wasn't actually attacking anyone and because it was currently standing peaceably next to a teen girl around her age who herself was mounted on some kind of winged serpent. For a moment, the sear strangeness of what she was seeing almost made her want connect to mom for some guidance. Up until until now Courtney had mostly dealt with street gangs and misguided thugs who fought they could make it out of bad neighborhoods by stealing something or selling something. Weird monsters that she knew made absolutely no biological sense was kind of outside of wheelhouse. In the end, though, Courtney decided against it. Mom was a tech expert, not a wizard or a cryptid zoologist. Chances were she'd would be just as confused and befuddled as Courtney was right now. Also, there was a part of Courtney that simply wanted to deal with this herself without her mother trying micro-manage the situation. After all, she had to much control over life already, didn't she? With that personal dilemma sorted, Courtney finally decided it was time to confront the strange trio at the building they were on. Courtney had her weapon systems primed and ready in case things went sideways but she was honestly more concerned about what she was going to say to them. Should she be forceful and commanding? Matter-of-fact and stoic? Courteous and ingratiating? In the end, she did what she thought a hero like Ms. Americana would do. Hovering near the ledge of building with her baby blue cape flowing in the air, Courtney struck a hero pose with her fists on her midriff and her head held high as she addressed the three in what she believed to be a respectful tone. "Hello, there. My name is Ultra Girl. I'm a hero and I'm here to help with the monster attacking Lakeside. Would any of you happen to know something about that?"

Oops! Didn't check the OOC before I made my post in IC. My mistake! Hope that doesn't throw off the flow of the narrative to much.

Ultra Girl When Courtney "heard" about the monster attack at Lakeside through the ECPD radio frequency, she immediately found a convenient hiding place under her school bleachers to quickly put on her Ultra Girl costume. It was a close thing. School at Arcadian High had just broken out about ten minutes ago and she almost got herself roped into assisting Mrs. Song in putting away some of the media club's AV equipment before electro-senses went off about the unfolding rampage. Of course, if she had gotten the signal after she had agreed to help she still would have come up with a polite excuse to get out of it, but she would have felt awful leaving Mrs. Song in the wings like that. She actually still felt a pretty bad about it even as she rushed in the air towards Lakeside, flying over Lake Vallee as she tried to "hear" more details about the monster. Alas, any details about the actual attack were pretty scarce, with Courtney only really getting word that the creature had attacked a male bystander and was apparently about to be surrounded by Ultio Suit Users. Courtney's lips had become a hard line when realized that MarsTech's heroes-for-hire were going to be involved in this. She tried to avoid them most of the time as she patrolled Arcadian Peninsula and gave them a wide berth whenever they did bother to show up in her part of Emerald City. When she did see them around though they seemed to act like typical heroes, doing nothing of the ordinary as they fought villains or low-level criminals. Despite that though, it still didn't made Courtney trust them. She knew MarsTech was up to something against Emerald City. The only question was what role the Ultio-Suits played in that. When Courtney finally came down to Lakeside she emptied her buzzing postronic brain of any concerns about MarsTech and their potential minions and focused on spotting the monster that thought Lakeside and its people could be its plaything.

Ms. Thursday Ancient Enemies (4 posts) Hero Prom (5 posts) Reptile Brain (1 posts) = 10 IC posts (2PP to Ms. Thursday) Ultra Girl Ultra Girl Reputations = 1PP to Ultra Girl)

If Astrid was being honest she would have to admit that she was kind of taken aback by just how... open Dianca was going about her body. The Asgardian wasn't entirely in the know when it came to the turtle totem's biological situation. That sort of magic wasn't exactly in her wheelhouse, after all, and Astrid sure as Hel wasn't going to pry into it. Regardless, she seemed pretty happy about everything and Astrid found the positive sentiment infectious. Astrid was about to introduce her to Elizabeth when she felt Micah's arm tighten and the boy suddenly mention something about closing walls. "Wait, what?" She whispered, not quite getting what he was talking about with all the music. At the mention of Eira's and Pan's names though, she searched the doom room for them, but found it hard to see much of anything with all the colors, people, other such distractions in the way. "But they were just..." Astrid shook her head and looked towards Micah, her eyes focused. "I'm good, Micah. If your saying something's weird going on than I believe you. Show me where this wall is and we'll figure out if something's going on."

Ultra Girl has recently been approved and is operating on Arcadian Peninsula. She's also pretty interested in finding out what's going on with MarsTech.

Whisked away to Danica's side by a surprisingly self-assured, Astrid greeted the turtle hero with an earnest grin and an enthusiastic high-five. "Thanks for the confidence boost, Danica. You're look pretty rad yourself." Taking Dianca's suggestion to heart, Astrid scanned the platter before her and eventually decided that a nice looking butter tart was to delectable to pass up on. After finishing the treat Astrid felt compelled to get Micah to try one himself, but ended up getting distracted by Danica's talk of "ironic" dating. "Yeah, apparently ironic dating is really in this prom," she said sarcastic, using her hands to make quotations marks. Astrid was more or less 95% sure that she and Micah were, in fact, only going on a friendly-ironic date, but when it came to Pan and Eira she wasn't so sure. Those two seemed to be doth protesting too much for there to be nothing going on. Of course, that was none of Astrid's business, so she quickly changed the subject to something a bit less gossipy. "So what's happening, Danica? You bring a hot date to this thing or are you going stag?"

Deleted

Outside the Doom Room As they started to get a move on to the Doom Room, hand in hand, Micah's joking recriminations about the punch got a false look out of Astrid. "Hey now, you knew I was a 'pants' girl when you decided to take me to this thing so any rowdy injuries are on you. Comes with the territory, I'm afraid." Astrid made a cute giggle snort at the joke, but became more sincere when Micah moved on to their costume choice. "By the Gods, ja. Being able to actually take some of this stuff off when things really get going is gonna be a lifesaver for sure. I've seen way to many parties where people just collapse on the floor because they thought it would be a cool idea to wear some really complicated get-up to a packed room with like a hundred people in it." In the Doom Room Despite the fact that he was obviously trying to restrain himself, Astrid could feel her date's grip tighten over so slightly. At first she chalked up the sudden agitation to nervous prom jitteries but a swift look at Micah's hard eyes and a tracking of whether they were directed immediately revealed the truth. The Asgardian frowned and as was on the verge of walking up to that dolt Sebastian but the situation was abruptly ended by Toxin before it could even really heat up into anything major. When Astrid turned her gaze back on Micah she saw that most of the anger had left him. Micah was a pretty guy chill from Astrid's experience, but he definitely had his limits when it came to bullshit, which was something highly Astrid respected. Wanting to fully get both their heads off what they both just saw Astrid decided to answer Micah's question a bit coyly. "Oh, I'm not brave enough for dancing. Give me a mike and a guitar I'll rock the floor, but dancing?" Astrid shook her head in exaggerated fashion. "That would be a total disaster. I'm talking Ragnorak levels. I say we chat up some our friends for a bit and then we hit the floor like two thunderstorms. That sound good, Mr. Roebuck?"

Arrow IV Power Level: 8/10 (150/150PP) Unspent Power Points: 0 Trade-Offs: +3 Attack / -3 Damage, +4 Defense / -4 Toughness In Brief: Type A go-getter and semi-reformed mean girl becomes the newest Arrow. Catchphrase: "Easy target." Theme: Go Getter | Royal Deluxe Alternate Identity: Olivia "Liv" Elizabeth Lord (Secret) Birthplace: Freedom City, New Jersey Residence: Claremont Academy (School Year), Lord Manor in North Bay (Holidays/Summer) Base of Operations: Claremont Academy Occupation: Student Affiliations: Claremont Academy, Lord Enterprises, Fletcher Beaumont (Bowman IV) Family: Randall Lord (Father), Cordelia Lord née Leveck (Mother), Garrett Lord (Older Brother), Bryce Lord (Older Brother), Susan Lord (Younger Sister), Warren Lord (Younger Brother), numerous half-siblings from her father's previous marriages along with various other extended family members Description: Age: 16 (DoB: 2004, April 23) Gender: Female Ethnicity: Anglo-American Height: 5'8" Weight: 125 lbs. Eyes: Green Hair: Honey Blonde Physical Appearance: Olivia is a teenage girl who manages to cut an imposing presence despite her youth. Blessed with her mother’s “well-bred” looks as opposed to her father’s, Olivia has intelligent hazel-green eyes, high cheekbones, slim shoulders, and honey blonde hair. Though she changes her hairstyle regularly, she’s currently cropped her hair into a layered pixie cut. While not especially tall, she is rather willowy, making it all the easier for her to look down on people. Years of gymnastics and other competitive sports have made her athletic and nimble, honing her body into a slender wiry figure. When it comes to her moods, she is often seen wearing a bored expression on her face, as if she’s seen it all and is very unimpressed by whatever or whomever is currently trying to get her attention. Olivia shifts her speech depending on who she is talking to, going from modern day teen vernacular to clipped and verbose East Coast elite on the given social situation. Which is more true to herself is up to debate, but even in the former persona she is never insipid and enjoys peppering her speech with ten-dollar words that are either archaic or largely exclusive to the rich circles of the old money elite. This is especially true when in her Arrow alter-ego, wherein she greatly enjoys taunting criminals with her advanced verbiage. While the newest in designer clothes and fashion are always readily available in her considerable wardrobe, Olivia tends not to go with whatever is currently in vague, relying instead on her own favored aesthetics and tastes. Said tastes are decidedly of the high-class preppy look, her attendance in various elite prep schools in the American Northeast having been a major influence. Plaid blazers and skirt combos, along with argyle sweaters and chiffon button-ups with either bow broaches or pearl necklaces as accessories are some of her favorite ensembles. Olivia’s Arrow costume is a sleek black form-fitting unitard streaked with pink stripes. A pair of durable pink kneepads, long nylon gloves, black leather combat boots, and a gadget-filled utility belt complete the costume. It only has a passing resemblance to current Bowman’s own costume or the various Arrows that came before her but does possess an arrowhead insignia on its chest to denote her connection to the storied Bowman legacy. Designed to allow for a greater range of bodily movement over physical protection, the suit is made out of an experimental synthetic fiber over traditional spandex, the former material being even more flexible, and far more durable, than the latter. When it comes to protecting her civilian identity, her costume comes with a classic black domino mask and a black wig to match. History: The prestigious and well-to-do Lord family has had a presence in Freedom City since its earliest days as a British colony. That’s what they claim anyway, and lo to anyone who argues against that historical “fact” to one of Freedom City’s self-proclaimed founding families. Regardless of the truth of their claims, the Lords have maintained her influence on the city through the centuries by virtue of their ownership of some of its most profitable estate properties along with a litany of other lucrative ventures. That stranglehold on the fortunes of Freedom City changed extraordinarily little by the time Olivia’s father, Robert Lord, inherited his own father’s billion-dollar fortune when he took over the family business. Like his father before him, Robert was taught the Lord family virtues of hard work, discipline, and ruthless ambition, virtues that, for better or worse, he rigorously installed in his own children as well. Though born and raised in the lap of leisure in Freedom City’s affluent North Bay neighborhood, to say that Olivia strongly took up and internalized these demanding values would be an understatement. The literal middle child in her family, Olivia strove to stand out amongst her siblings, if only to garner her parents hard earned attention if not their love. Even at an exceedingly young age, she willed herself to be the best at whenever new activity she believed would catch her parents’ eye attention. From competitive gymnastics to archery to taekwondo to even linguistics, Olivia excelled, winning various national competitions in those fields and others, and doing so with the same determination that her family’s legacy and expectations demanded of her. It was an endeavor made all the easier by her natural aptitude to almost anything she put her mind to. The fact her parents could afford some of the best trainers and instructors in the country certainly helped in that regard as well. For the Lords family having the best at their disposable and being the best was simply a given. Unfortunately, along her with such success, came an arrogance that only grew as Olivia got older and earned more awards and accolades. While the runners-up at her competitions probably suffered it the most it was those who she went to school who most often had to deal with her less than stellar personality. Using a mix of her own talents, reputation, and force of personality, Olivia reigned supreme in the social jungle that was Freedom City’s finest prep schools, becoming something of a local legend (and terror) in those student bodies. Those who didn’t meet her standards were promptly labeled as beneath her and worry of ridicule. After all, her father never let her forget any one of her mistakes or failures. Why should any of her peers get any slack? That was Olivia’s life for most of the first half of her teens, one she stubbornly kept to even as she grew increasingly unsatisfied and bored with it. Things would only change when Olivia’s father suddenly disappeared from their mansion home in North Bay without a trace. Olivia knew that her father’s “extended business trips” often had very little to do with anything professional, but when he still remained gone after a week it became obvious that something had gone amiss. Olivia’s mother opted to resort to hiring discreet private investigators that could look into the disappearance without the possible scandal and fallout that could come from alerting the police. However, their investigation quickly amounted to little despite the considerable amount of money dropped for it. Exasperated with their lack of progress, and feeling increasingly afraid for her father’s life, Olivia started her own investigation looking into where he could possibly be. Having taken note of her father’s strange absences and behavior even before his disappearance, she was able to roughly discern a few places where he could possibly be in Freedom City. Of course, either her mother or her hired detectives were sold on the investigative skills of a teenager and only paid condescending lip service to her theories while still chasing their own slip leads. Fed up, Olivia took to the search personally, secretly scooping out her list of locations and writing them off one by one until she finally found herself outside a little-known club in Lantern Hill. A sojourn to snag some pictures of the club almost immediately devolved into something more dangerous as she spotted one its bouncers with a diamond ring that strikingly resembled the one her father always wore. Curiosity and pride got the best of her then and she took the less than pragmatic choice of sneaking into the club and verifying her suspicions before alerting her mother. Stupid as it was, she actually managed to infiltrate the place without notice and found a series of occupied cells underneath, one which had her very drugged and very out-of-it father within. There reunion was cut short though by the appearance of several goons suddenly arriving to take stock of their captured clientele. Despite not having brought any weapons, Olivia was able to hold her own against the criminals that tried to bind her for a considerable amount of time. Chances were that good fortune won’t have lasted for that long, but as luck would have it wouldn’t need to. Just as she was about to done in by the crooks, the Bowman himself raided the cells with bow and arrow in hand! In record time, the archer had the bouncers put down but not before Olivia was able to help drop one that nearly got the drop on him. After the club’s victims were successfully released from their cells and the police alerted, Bowman explained that he had been investigating a rash of disappearances amongst Freedom City’s monied elite for months, having finally been able to connect the dots to the club when he realized that the infamous Usher clan was behind them. While he still couldn’t tell her what they had in mind for her father and the others, he did at least tell Olivia that he was impressed by her determination. He was even more impressed though when she correctly guessed at his true identity. Olivia recognized the person behind the mask as Fletcher Beaumont, a man she knew since childhood, having seen him a great many times at the various high-class functions and parties held by her father. What happened next was a series of intense negotiations and arguments that eventually ended in Olivia narrowly convincing an apprehensive Fletcher to take her own as his first sidekick. While the two didn’t exactly have the easiest partnership despite their similar status, Olivia did prove to be an implacable student, picking up the practical points of being the new Arrow with stunning speed even as they trained in secret. Even still, Fletcher saw in her something that reminded him of his own overly self-assured youth. Seeing that his own stay in Claremont Academy helped him mature to be more level-headed, he maneuvered to get his apprentice enrolled in the superhero academy despite her lack of powers. Olivia’s own thoughts on the matters were mixed, but she’s never been one to sleep on an opportunity enhance her skills and make some useful connections, especially when those connections could potentially help her find out more about the House of Usher. Personality & Motivation: Olivia was born to money and privilege and it shows. She can be haughty in a way that is both parts unpleasant and awe-inspiring in its self-confidence. She often comes across as cold and aloof and knows it, leaning into her persona as a dominating Ice Queen who can eviscerate someone with a snide remark. Of course, like all lot of teenagers, much of this need for control is rooted in a seemingly paradoxical inferiority-superiority complex, one formed as a result of her parents’ high expectations. Accordingly, she’s believed for most of her life that there were only two types of people in the world: The haves and have-nots, with her family conveniently being in the former category by virtue of their infamous work ethic and ruthless ambition. Olivia’s desire to stay firmly out of the latter category, along with her other hang-ups, is one of the main reasons for why she is such an obsessive perfectionist and competitor. While her obsessive need to win runs deeper than even she’d care to admit, she does have something approximating a softer side. While not exactly big on admitting when she’s wrong, she is willing to admit her flawed preconceptions and is always willing to give credit and respect to those who earn it by virtue of their actual merit. She’ll still try to one day surpass them, of course, but she’ll never deny their talents. This is especially true when it comes to artistic photography, a hobby and possible future career that she’ll unapologetically geek out over. Much of Olivia’s motivation for becoming Arrow is tied up in less than admirable desires. The first being her vendetta against the villains who wronged her family, and the other her near pathological need to succeed at whatever she puts her mind to. While training under Bowman has mellowed her out somewhat, installing in her a sense of greater responsibility and even mild humility, whether it will actually be the catalyst for greater change is still very much up in the air. Powers & Tactics: Olivia has no powers to speak of (beyond being incredibly wealthy) and relies on years of acrobatics training and her tutelage under Bowman to be a match for the villains she faces as Arrow. As her codename would suggest, Olivia is an archer whose signature weapon is equipped with an assortment of trick arrows that run the gambit of military-grade armaments. Beyond her bow, Olivia also makes use of a utility belt, which is filled with useful gadgets, like night-vision shades and grappling devices. Given her weapon of choice, Olivia prefers to fight opponents at a long or mid distance. When that optimal situation isn’t readily possible, she’ll either use her natural speed and agility to transition into a better position or jump into the fray herself and rely on her acumen in martial arts to put someone down as quickly as possible. Given how relatively fragile she is though, she tends to avoid getting herself caught in melee or in a location that would impede her ability to get out of a tight spot quick. Power Descriptions: Olivia’s standard arrows are carbon steel tipped broadheads with shafts made out of a hybrid mix of aluminum and carbon fiber. The combination makes it so that her arrows are both lightweight and precise while in flight, making them all the more effective at reaching their target. All her standard arrows tips are fitted to be easily equip-able with an array of diverse add-ons. On account of Olivia being entirely human, all her abilities are either the result of training or a product of her technological devices. Complications: Legacy Hero (Responsibility): Olivia is the newest bearer of the Arrow name and one half of Freedom City’s most respected duo of archer heroes. This also means she has to shoulder the immense expectations and responsibilities that come with such a legacy. GM Suggestion: Give Olivia a Hero Point if she’s put into a tense situation where she has to live up to the Arrow legacy or is specifically targeted by the Bowman’s enemies due to her association with the proud line of superheroes. Blueblood (Reputation): The Lord family name is both parts respected and maligned when it comes to its colored reputation in Freedom City. Many people consider them to be modern day robber barons and upper-class snobs underserving of their considerable wealth and privilege. GM Suggestion: You can give Olivia a Hero Point if her family’s infamy and/or celebrity status somehow impairs her ability to be a superhero or gets her caught up in some kind of old money feud. Mean Girl (Temper): Despite having something of an epiphany, Olivia is still a smart-ass teen who can be rather arrogant and condescending when it comes to addressing those she considers beneath her. Most of the times this antipathy is directed to those who “deserve it,” but other times it's most certainly not. GM Suggestion: Consider giving Olivia a Hero Point when her elitist attitudes get her into trouble that otherwise that could been avoided with a more empathetic and humble attitude. To All the Boys Girls I've Loved Before (Prejudice): Olivia is open a lesbian who has no issues admitting that fact to her yourself and others. Consequences and assholes be damned. GM Suggestion: Consider giving Olivia a Hero Point if her sexuality results in her being accosted, harassed, or otherwise inconvenienced by bigots who are aware of it. Aren’t You… (Secret): Like most heroes Olivia has a civilian identity that she wants to protect. While her costume and altered mannerisms while on patrol help in this regard, it still doesn’t change the fact that her face is recognizable to those familiar with the Freedom City’s old money elite. GM Suggestion: Consider giving Olivia a Hero Point if members of the paparazzi, reporters, or other Freedom City socialites are able to correctly guess at Olivia’s identity. Out of Arrows! (Detriment): Like all the Bowman and Arrows before her, Olivia’s weapon of choice is both her greatest strength and most obvious liability. While her quiver is chop full of trick arrows, the fact remains that she can only bring a finite supply of them whenever she goes out on patrol, never mind the possibility of having her bow or quiver out of reach in a fight. GM Suggestion: If the GM is a kind sort, they may consider giving Olivia a Hero Point in the event she loses access to her bow or runs out of trick arrows. Abilities: 44PP Strength: 14 (+2) Dexterity: 20 (+5) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 20 (+5) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 20 (+5) Combat: 24PP Initiative: +5 Attack: +6 Melee (+6 Base), +11 Ranged (+6 Base, +5 Attack Focus) Grapple: +8 (+6 Melee Attack, +2 Strength) Defense: +12 (+6 Base, +6 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: -2 Saving Throws: 8PP Toughness: +4 (+2 Con, +2 Defensive Roll) Fortitude: +4 (+2 Con, +2PP) Reflex: +9 (+5 Dex, +4PP) Will: +5 (+3 Wis, +2PP) Skills: 19R = 76PP Acrobatics 10 (+15) Bluff 6 (+11, +15 Attractive) Craft (Artistic) 5 (+10) Diplomacy 6 (+11, +15 Attractive) Drive 5 (+10) Gather Information 5 (+10) Investigate 5 (+10) Knowledge (Business) 2 (+7) Knowledge (Pop Culture) 2 (+7) Knowledge (Streetwise) 2 (+7) Language 4 (English [Native], French, Italian, Mandarin, Spanish) Notice 7 (+10) Search 5 (+10) Sense Motive 7 (+10) Stealth 5 (+10) Feats: 36PP Acrobatic Bluff Attack Focus (Ranged) 5 Attractive Benefit (Status) Benefit (Wealth) 2 Challenge (Fast Task: Taunt) Defensive Roll Dodge Focus 6 Eidetic Memory Equipment 3 Evasion 2 Quick Draw Jack-Of-All-Trades Luck 2 Power Attack Precise Shot 2 Skill Mastery (Acrobatics, Bluff, Sense Motive, Stealth) Taunt Ultimate Aim Uncanny Dodge (Auditory) Well-Informed Equipment: 15EP The Bolt (Motorcycle/Vehicle) [15EP] Strength: 20 [2PP] Speed: 4 (100 MPH / 1,000 Ft. Per Move Action; Feats: Subtle) [5EP] Toughness: +8 [3EP] Defense: 10 [0PP] Size: Medium [0EP] Features: Alarm 2 (DC 25), Navigation System (+5 Navigation), Remote Control, Tire Inflators [5EP] Powers: 19P Device 4 ("Compound Bow and Trick Arrows") (20PP Container; Flaw: Easy-to-Lose) [12PP] (Technology, Weapon) Trick Arrows (15PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power 5) [20PP] (Technology, Weapon) Base Power: [15PP] “Standard Arrows" Blast 5 (Feats: Improved Critical 2 [18-20], Improved Range 2, Variable Descriptor [Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing]) (Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing) Alternative Power: [15PP] “Rapid-Fire Arrows" Blast 5 (Extras: Area [Targeted, Cone: 25 Ft. Radius], Selective Attack; Flaws: Action [Full Action]) (Piercing) Alternative Power: [15PP] “Flashbang Arrows" Dazzle 5 (Affects: Visual; Feats: Improved Critical 2 [18-20], Improved Range 2, Reversible) (Light) Alternative Power: [15PP] "Sticky Arrows" Snare 5 (Feats: Improved Critical 2 [18-20], Improved Range 2, Reversible) (Adhesive) Alternative Power: [15PP] “Taser Arrows" Stun 5 (Extra: Range [Ranged]; Flaws: Unreliable [5 Uses A Day]) (Electricity) Alternative Power: [15PP] “Bow Strike" Strike 6 (Feats: Accurate, Extended Reach [5 Ft.], Improved Critical 2 [18-20], Improved Throw, Improved Trip, Mighty, Takedown Attack 2) (Bludgeoning) Gadgets 1 “Utility Belt” (5PP Variable Pool, Any Power, Multiple Powers At Once, Extras: Action [Move]; Flaw: Easy-To-Lose) (Invention, Technology) [7PP] Example Powers: Drawbacks -0PP DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVING THROW EFFECT Unarmed (+6) Touch DC 17 Toughness Damage (Bludgeoning) Blast 5 (+11) 250 Ft. DC 20 Toughness Damage (Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing) Blast 5 (+11) Cone Area: 30 Ft. DC 20 Toughness Damage (Piercing) Dazzle 5 (+11) 250 Ft. DC 15 Fortitude Blinded (Light) Snare 5 (+11) 250 Ft. DC 15 Reflex Entangled/Helpless (Adhesive) Stun 5 (+11) 50 Ft. DC 15 Fortitude Dazed/Stunned/Unconscious (Electricity) Strike 6 (+8) 5 Ft. DC 23 Toughness Damage (Bludgeoning) Totals: Abilities (40) + Combat (24) + Saving Throws (10) + Skills (19) + Feats (35) + Powers (22) - Drawbacks (0) = 150/150 Power Points

Astrid took in Heroditus's plan quietly, nodding as he went on about its finer details. Strategically, the plan made sense to her given the array of talents that were on the team. She and Micah acting as mobile forward scouts so that everyone else wouldn't have to worry about being surprised by unexpected problems that may lie ahead of where ever they ended up seemed just perfect for the battle-hungry Asgardian. When Veronica asked if any one them wanted to stay behind on this side of the portal Astrid was quick to answer. "Oh, I'm definitely going in," she said with a devil-may-care grin. "You said it yourself, Veronica. Sticking together is our best play here, especially when we don't know what the Hel is on the other side of this thing. Besides," she gestured her head towards a nearby Heroditus. "Our resident Atlantean just went through all the trouble of organizing us into select roles. Would be a real shame if some of that thinking went to waste."

Combat 1. Blast power had been added. Powers 1. If the formatting problem was the lack of indenting on the Arrays than that has been addressed. 2. The limit was a Half-Effect, yes. That has now been noted on the sheet. 3. I imagined it as her switching from one comm protocol to another in her brain, with each having a different way of "tapping" into technology. One talks to tech, one sees through tech, one assumes control of tech, etc.

Ultra Girl Power Level: 8/10 (150/159PP) Unspent Power Points: 9PP Trade-Offs: -2 Attack / +2 Damage, -4 Defense / +4 Toughness In Brief: She's kind-hearted and overachieving teen who also happens to be a robotic paragon of truth and justice. Catchphrase: "Need a hero?" and "Kicking it to ultra!" Theme: My Life As A Teenage Robot Alternate Identity: Courtney Wright (Secret) Birthplace: Emerald Cities, Washington and Oregon Residence: Arcadian Peaks, Emerald Cities Base of Operations: Arcadian Peaks Home Occupation: High School Student Affiliations: None Family: Norene "Nora" Wright/Ada Wakefield (Mother) Description: Age: 10 (Date of Creation: 2010) Apparent Age: Late Teens Gender: Female Ethnicity: Robo-American Height: 5'7" Weight: 225 lbs. Eyes: Blue Hair: Golden Blonde Physical Appearance: Courtney has the hallmark, arguably even generic, looks of the stereotypical All-American teenage girl. She’s a blonde with golden locks that fall slightly past her shoulders with bright blue eyes that stand out on a heart-shaped face that’s marked by prominent dimples and high cheekbones. Beyond that, she’s not particularly tall, being only slightly above average height for a teen, and while she’s conventionally pretty she’s more approachably cute than uniquely stunning. Her costume comes right out of the superhero’s guide to crime-fighting fashion. Taking liberal inspiration from her idols in Ms. Americana and the various incarnations of Lady Liberty, Courtney’s costume is a patriotic star-spangled, striped and tri-colored collage of red, white and blue. Accordingly, to really capture the iconic paragon image, her costume comes with trademark navy blue cape and mantle. History: Courtney Wright remembered having a more or less normal upbringing. Her mother Norene was an electrician who practiced her trade across much of the country. Because of that Courtney had to move a lot, but even so, she recalls having a loving and stable childhood, one filled with summer adventures with friends, Christmases with the grandparents in Miami, and quaint family game nights on weekends. Of course, her life wasn’t entirely picturesque. Her father passed away when she was young, and her mother became overprotective after he passed. Courtney dealt with these changes with the same stubborn positivity that she approached most things in life. So when she and mother moved to Emerald City, she didn’t despair that it meant losing touch with another group of friends. If anything she was excited to go to high school in a big city. There were so many new people to meet! Her mother was nervous, more nervous than usual, but Courtney entered Arcadian High in good spirits. In no time at all she made new friends, joined new clubs and tried new things. One of those new things ended up being attending a street race happening on the southern fringes of Arcadian Peaks. Courtney was apprehensive about it, but her new friends reassured her that there was no chance that things would go bad. It turned out they were wrong. There was an accident on the road. One of the driver’s cars suddenly went out of control, its MarsTech operating system catastrophically going haywire. And as luck would have it did so perilously close to where Courtney and her friends were watching the race. With there being no time for any of them to escape the impending crash it seemed likely that a tragic loss of life was about to occur. But it didn’t. Somehow, by some hitherto untapped instinct, Courtney unthinkingly stood in the way of the fast approaching vehicle while everyone else tried to make some futile last-ditch effort to get of the way. She should have become a smear on the road for that, but she didn’t. Inexplicitly, she survived having a nearly three thousand pound sport’s car crash into her. More than that, she not only survived the impact, but also stopped the car in its tracks with her bare hands! Still in a semi-aware fugue, Courtney causally tore off the ruined car’s door and dragged its unconscious driver away from the wreck. It was while she was taking the racer to safety that she finally noticed that her hands had been torn, revealing a bloody mess of ruined flesh and electronics underneath it. Terrified by what she saw, Courtney bolted from the scene, using the chaos and confusion of the crash to get away unseen before the police could arrive. Not knowing where else to go, and desperate for answers, she ran home. When Courtney’s mother saw the exposed metal and electronics that were hanging from her daughter’s arms she knew the masquerade was over and that it was time to come clean. The truth, as her “mother” told it, was that Courtney wasn’t born. She was made. Designed in the secret RD faculties of the MarsTech corporation nearly ten years ago as part of Project Spartoi, the supposed greatest innovation in weaponized drone technology. A line of semi-autonomous robots that were to be sold on the market as a bold new alterative to both private security and public policing. Security guards slacking on the job? No problem! A Spartoi-drone never tires, complains or takes lunch breaks. Issues with the local police force? Consider it solved! A Spartoi-drone is utterly incorruptible and would succeed where a human officer would error. One of the lead managers of this project was Emerald City native Dr. Ada Wakefield. Though one of the world’s great scientist minds when it came to advanced robotics, Ada’s live was one marked with frequent loss. Her father died while she was young, and her mother followed suit while she was still in school earning her doctorate at Carnegie Mellon University. It was during this difficult time that Ada met a follow student by the name of Aaron Ross. He was smart, kind, and understood what she was going through, having lost his own parents when he was young. By the time they graduated, they had become couple, and by the they moved to Emerald City to take up job opportunities in MarsTech, they were married. For a time the they were happy, both rising in their careers at MarsTech, but things went awry when they accidental uncovered encrypted project files that revealed that Project Spartoi was part of a strange conspiracy by MarsTech to further cement its control of the city using its drones. Terrified by the implications and the perversion of their work, the pair tried to expose MarsTech’s plans. Unfortunately, when Aaron tried to bring their findings to Emerald City’s local AEGIS chapter he disappeared, as did all their evidence against MarsTech when a corrupt AEGIS squad raided their home in Southern Shore. With Aaron possibly dead, and their evidence out of reach or destroyed, Ada went forward with their agreed upon Plan B to ensure that Project Spartoi would at least be severely impeded in the short-term if not entirely stopped. Sneaking into MarsTech one last time, she stole the prototype AI core they were working on and various other critical components to Project Spartoi before vanishing from the city altogether. She spent years afterwards in hiding, moving across the country to evade MarsTech while at the same working tirelessly to reprogram the stolen AI for good. At first, Ada only saw the AI as a weapon that could one day be used against MarsTech, a means to an end, but as the years went by she started to see the burgeoning consciousness as something of an adopted child, something that could be nurtured beyond its origins. Using a mix of her own replicated memories along with entirely fabricated ones, Ada subverted the AI’s original violent operational protocols and made it more humane, more human. Ada explained that Courtney’s childhood memories, appearance and even her enrollment in high school were all part of an attempt to nurture humanity within a machine originally meant to only serve MarsTech and its plans. In truth, Courtney had only been truly self-aware for about a year since Ada returned to Emerald City with a new identity. That’s how Courtney Wright was “made.” Courtney took all this as about as well as one could inspect. First, she was in disbelief, but that quickly gave way to an anger very much directed at her “mother.” How could she lie to her about everything? How much of herself was just fabrication? Was her whole life just some kind of sick science experiment? Her mother tried to defend herself, swearing up and down that she fully intended to eventually reveal the truth to her once she thought she was ready for it. Courtney wasn’t sure what to believe. She still doesn’t now, but in the end, she did accept that MarsTech was dangerous if it was willing to create an army of drones in some shadowy plot. So, she decided that night that she’d use her newly discovered abilities and go investigate MarsTech, but on her terms and as her own person. Whomever or whatever that was now. Personality & Motivation: Courtney decidedly subverts the common sci-fi trope of androids being coldly logical beings. She is an almost cloyingly upbeat and out-going person, the kind of bright and thoughtful teen that many parents dream of raising. Accordingly, her motivations as a hero and person is largely that of the good Samaritan, the earnest desire to use her abilities and powers to help the world. Whether this drive to help is a reflection of her mother’s own youthful dreams of making the world a better place through technology or a trait all her own is up for debate, but either way Courtney strives to be the greatest hero she can be. Beyond basic do-goodery, Courtney also wants to take down MarsTech, the very organization responsible for her creation and the one that would surely seek to reclaim or “retire” her if they ever learned of her existence and true nature. Though she hides it well underneath her plunky exterior, Courtney constantly worries about her identity a person. Many of her memories of childhood and adolescence are not her own, being instead the copied and imprinted memory engrams of her mother’s own sanitized and edited upbringing. Where “Courtney” begins and “Norene” ends is once again something of a philosophical question, one that makes Courtney deeply troubled on an existential level, though she is loath to admit it or think much about it. Some of this angst was grown into a subconscious distrust and barrier between herself and her mother, who Courtney feels gave her a false sense of humanity and normalcy only to cruelly take the rug right from under her when the charade came to an abrupt. Regardless of these of those fears, Courtney does ultimately consider herself to be human and doggedly identifies as such. Powers & Tactics: Courtney is a mechanical paragon, a synthetic lifeform made out a complicated composition of highly advanced alloys, synthetic organs and other esoteric materials. As such, all of her powers and abilities are technological in effect, nature and origin. Like most paragons in the style of the late Centurion she’s superhumanly strong and resilient, fully capable of lifting a fighter jet over her head at her maximum strength and durable enough to withstand heavy weapons fire. Her robotic body also means she’s immune to bodily ailments that could fell even a superhuman, like diseases, poisons, suffocation, and various hazardous environmental conditions. Beyond her strength, Courtney also has various other internal weapon systems at her disposal, such as embedded laser weapons and magnokinetic suspension rays, the latter of which she can use to lift herself and fly. Lastly, she has an array of technopathic powers on account of her positronic brain’s ability to interface wireless with technology. Owning to her inability to use lethal force, along with a general temperament and ethos against such violence, Courtney uses her abilities to quickly end fights by neutralizing her opponents into unconscious or incapacitation. She goes about doing this by using her super strength to either grapple or knock out baddies, with the extra speed and maneuverability provided by her ability to fly making it easier to rush into striking range. There are also her optic beams, which can serve as a far-reaching ranged attack whenever melee is not a viable option. Her ability to manipulate metallic objects can similarly be used for ranged attacks as well for more nonviolent and creative uses, such as clearing rubble or restoring urban debris. Her technopathic abilities also have tactical utility as they allow her to wireless listen on to radio frequencies, communicate long distances electronically, track electrical signals and accomplish a host of other types of tech wizardy and manipulations. Complications: Damn Skinjobs! (Secret/Prejudice): Courtney is an android. A very, very deceptively human android, but an android all the same. She is very intent on keeping this a secret. Not only because it may lead to her being found out by MarsTech, but also because she fears the prejudice that may come from being outted as a non-human in her civilian identity. GM Suggestion: Give Courtney a Hero Point if someone not only discovers her identity but also threats to expose her android nature to the public. Overprotective Mother (Detriment): Courtney loves her mother, but the revelations regarding her true identity and actions have created in a rift in their relationship There’s also the fact that her mother is something of a helicopter parent who’s determined to keep an eye on all her super heroics. GM Suggestion: You can give Courtney a Hero Point if her mother’s overprotectiveness or actions somehow impairs her ability to be a hero. Boot Up, Go to School, Save the City (Responsibility): Courtney is still a high school student with an active social life and is not yet willing to abandon it and fully dedicate herself to her superhero persona and vendetta against MarsTech. GM Suggestion: Consider giving Courtney a Hero Point in the event that her social life comes into conflict with her superhero alter ego. Ethical Programming (Honor): Like most superheroes Courtney has a moral code and lines that we will not cross. That means no undue brutality, abandoning people in life or death situations, and definitely no killing. Unlike most superheroes though these ethics are literally programmed into her neural net as fundamental behavior protocols. GM Suggestion: Consider granting Courtney a Hero Point if her inability her break moral code somehow makes her life and/or ability to be a superhero more difficult. Rookie Hero (Accident): Courtney is new to the superhero game, and while she is thoroughly dedicated to learning the ropes, the fact remains that she is quite new to it and will make mistakes due to her inexperience and naiveté. GM Suggestion: Feel free to give Courtney a Hero Point if her aforementioned inexperience leads to her making a rookie mistake. Also feel free to come up with ways for her to mess up!. Nixing successful rolls, putting negative modiifers on certain rolls, etc. Renegade Corporate Property (Enemy/Obsession): Courtney knows that MarsTech is corrupt is determined to see the corporation fall. She also knows that they will do everything in their power to “retire” or repossess their “stolen property if they ever find out she’s their missing prototype. GM Suggestion: Consider giving Courtney a Hero Point if her she has a negative or violent encounter with the employees and agents of MarsTech. More Human Than Machine (Detriment): Most robots have issues passing for human let alone fully understanding the complex web of passions, psychologies, and motivations that drive humanity. For better or worse, this isn’t the case with Courtney, who is just as susceptible to typical emotions as most humans. GM Suggestion: Consider nixing Courtney’s successfully Will saves or Immunity when it comes to effects or powers that deal with or induce strong emotions. Abilities: 2PP Strength: 10/30 (+0/+10) Dexterity: 10 (+0) Constitution: N/A Intelligence: 18 (+4) Wisdom: 10 (+0) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 16PP Initiative: +4 Attack: +6 Melee (+4 Base, +2 Attack Focus), +4 Ranged (+4 Base), +8 Blast (+4 Base, +4 Accurate) Grapple: +6/+16/+20 (+6 Melee Attack, +0/+10 Strength, +4 Super-Strength) Defense: +4 (+4 Base), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -9 Saving Throws: 12PP Toughness: +12 (+12 Protection; Impervious 5) Fortitude: Immune Reflex: +6 (+0 Dex, +6PP) Will: +6 (+0 Wis, +6PP) Skills: 40R = 10PP Computer 7 (+11) Diplomacy 8 (+10) Gather Information 8 (+10) Knowledge (Pop Culture) 1 (+5) Knowledge (Technology) 8 (+12) Notice 8 (+8) Feats: 10PP Attack Focus (Melee) 2 Eidetic Memory Interpose Jack-of-All-Trades Luck 2 Quick Change Speed of Thought Takedown Attack Powers: 105PP Flight 1 “Magnetic Self-Propulsion” (10 MPH / 100 Ft. Per Move Action) [2PP] (Magnetic, Technology) Immunity 30 “Android Body” (Fortitude Effects) [30PP] (Construct, Technology) Immunity 10 “Positronic Brain” (Psionic Effects; Flaw: Limited [Half-Effect]) [5PP] (Construct, Technology) Impervious Toughness 5 “Bulletproof Chassis” [5PP] (Construct, Technology) Quickness 2 “Internal Hyper-Processor” (x5; Flaw: Mental Tasks Only) [1PP] (Construct, Technology) Ultra Power Array 4 (8PP Array, Feats: Dynamic, Dynamic Alternate Powers 1) [11PP] (Construct, Technology) Base Power: [8PP] “Ultra Self-Propulsion” Flight 0-4 (0-100 MPH / 0-1,000 Ft. Per Move Action) (Magnetic, Technology) Alternate Power: [8PP] “Ultra Nano-Boost” Super-Strength 0-4 (Lifting Strength: 10/30/50, Heavy Load: 100 lbs./1,600 lbs.-12 tons.) (Construct, Technology) Protection 12 “Hyper-Alloy Endoskeleton” (+12 Toughness) [12PP] (Construct, Technology) Regeneration 5 “Nano-Active Bloodstream” (+5 Recovery Bonus) [5PP] (Nanites, Technology) Super-Senses 4 “On-Board Sensor Array” (Communication Link [Norene Wright, Sense Type: Radio], Extended 1 [Auditory: 100 Ft.], Extended 1 [Visual: 100 Ft.], Infravision) [4PP] (Construct, Technology) Weapons Systems Array 10 (20PP Array, Feats: Alternate Powers 2) [22PP] (Construct, Technology) Base Power: [20PP] “Nano-Boosted” Enhanced Strength 20 (+20 Strength) (Construct, Technology) Alternate Power: [20PP] “Laser-Vision” Blast 8 (Feats: Accurate 2, Variable Descriptor 2 [Energy]) (Energy, Technology) Alternate Power: [20PP] “Magno-Emitters” Move Object 8 (Effective Strength: 40, Heavy Load: 3 tons.; Extras: Damaging; Feats: Accurate 2, Precise, Subtle; Flaw: Limited [Ferrous Metals]) (Magnetic, Technology) Variable Power 1 “Technopathic Protocols” (5PP Variable Pool, Tech Powers, Extras: Action 2 [Free]) (Electromagnetic, Technology) [8PP] Example Powers: Drawbacks -5PP Vulnerability (Electricity Effects, Frequency: Common, Intensity: Minor [+1 DC]) [-2PP] Vulnerability (Magnetism Effects, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Major [x2 Effect Rank]) [-3PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVING THROW EFFECT Unarmed (+6) Touch DC 15 Toughness Damage (Physical) En. STR Unarmed (+6) Touch DC 25 Toughness Damage (Physical) Blast 8 (+8) 80 Ft. DC 23 Toughness Damage (Energy) Move Object 8 (+8) 80 Ft. Grapple vs. +16 Pinned/Bound (Magnetic) Throw Object 8 (+8) 80 Ft. DC 23 Toughness Damage (Physical) Totals: Abilities (2) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (12) + Skills (10) + Feats (10) + Powers (105) - Drawbacks (5) = 150/159 Power Points

Astrid returned Micah's awkward but charming compliment with one of her own. "Aww. You're gonna make me blush if you keep serenading me with your suave country ways." Though she said the words in her typical sarcastic way, Astrid was being sincere. Simply put, it felt good to get a compliment for the costume. Astrid had her punk look down, sure, but historically accurate aviator chic was understandably new territory for her. Realizing that Micah might not see it that why Astrid changed her tone into something more earnest. "But seriously, thanks for the compliment, Micah. I worked real hard on this," she said smiling warmly before abruptly lightly punching the self-deprecating boy in the shoulder. "And so did you by the way. So don't be saying I pulled it off better when its obvious that we're both freaking awesome." With that said, Astrid eagerly took up Micah's offered arm, locking it with her own as they and everyone seemed finally ready to finally head to the dance.

Ms. Thursday Astrid walked down to the third floor of the dorm towards Lulu's and Eira's room with a giddy swagger. It might not have been cool to admit it, but she was actually pretty excited to be going to this year's prom. Last year she had been so preoccupied doing the music that she barely had any time to really enjoy it as an actual participant. To say nothing of not having time to find a date. Micah actually accepting the offer was still something of a shock to her. Astrid had mentally labeled it a longshot given the boy's usual shyness and that weird incident that went down during at Valentine a few months back, but surprise surprise he turned out willing to go despite of or because of it. Better yet, between the two of them they were able to come up with a pretty fun idea for their attire. Though she was fairly confident that everything was in order when it came to her "prom dress," Astrid did take a second to fuss with beret and belt before she meet with the others. It was more of a Halloween costume than a prom dress really. She and Micah had figured that they might as well play with the expectations of a 1920s themed prom by going to it dressed as common archetypes from the decade. Micah had decided to go as a circa 1920s cow hustler while Astrid herself went with female aviator look. She tried her best to ape the garb worn by one of Norway's first female aviators at the time, Gidsken Jakobsen, but she knew that most of the Americans would assume she was cosplaying as Amelia Earhart. Regardless Astrid felt the attempt at honoring Gidsken was worth the effort even if only she, Micah and maybe Eira could appreciated it. When she arrived at Lulu's and Eira's door she immediately clapped Micah by the shoulder and gave the Oklahoman an appreciative whistle at the sight of his ten-gallon hat. "Well, well. Look whose large and in charge. You look fantastic, Micah," she said earnestly, hoping that her words would dispel any lingering jitters that he might be feeling. Astrid ended up saying much the same to others once she took the time to look everyone else over. "Jævla, we really did go out our way for this, ja? Getting all fancied up like this." She chuckled.

And we're back! Master Plan bonuses noted.

Ms. Thursday Astrid eyes were on the vast landscape below her, the grand sentinels and splinters of the World Tree rushing past even as she tried to spot some sign of their quarry. Hunting down dreki could be surprisingly difficult despite the fact that fully grown dragons tended to be rather colossal in size. Of course, that had more to do with the World Tree being chop full with hidden glens, deep valleys, and vast caves. Fortunately, Muspelheim tended to have a whole lot less to offer when it came to convenient spots and lairs for dragons to hide in, making it all the easier for Astrid and company to spot them. The only negative trade off between hunting in the World Tree proper and Muspelheim was that one was a fiery hell dimension while the other wasn't. Not that Astrid thought that would be that much of a problem. Leroy and Dio were tough and so was she. So as long as they avoided the flame geysers, sulfur rains and lava slides they'd be fine. The Asgardian was ruminating on when exactly the phenomenon of sulfur rains became a mundane event to her when she heard Leroy and Dio discussing chances of their prey taking revenge against them. "Dio's right. Kind of. Not sure about the metaphysics or whatever, but dreki aren't that sentimental when it comes to people slaying of their kind, " she answered, slowing slightly in the air to get closer to the pair. "They aren't that smart for one. Most of them are dumber than dogs and act more like walking firestorm than animals. They're also super territorial and anti-social. Hel, they'd probably be happy that we got rid of some of the competition." When Astrid was done with her explanation she turned her head to the side to see if that was a good enough of an answer for the two. She was basically their tour guide in a different dimension after all. The least she could do was make sure they weren't completely blindsided by the exotic craziness they would see here. When Astrid spied Leroy looking glum she immediately started talking again. "Don't worry, Leroy," she said cheerful with a reassuring smile. "This is kind of out there, I know, but we are here to show your fuddy-duddy folks that you're a real man. I still think them underestimating you is bull, but if this helps you and brings down the number of mindless fire-breathing monsters on the loose on the World Tree than I call that a win. And they are mindless forces of nature, Leroy. You call trust me on that."

Ultra Girl Power Level: 8/10 (150/150PP) Unspent Power Points: 0 Trade-Offs: -2 Attack / +2 Damage, -4 Defense / +4 Toughness In Brief: Take XJ-9 and slap on two coats of Supergirl and Stargirl for good measure. Catchphrase: "Need a hero?" and "Kicking it to ultra!" Theme: My Life As A Teenage Robot Alternate Identity: Courtney Wright Identity: Secret Birthplace: Emerald Cities, Washington and Oregon Residence: Arcadian Peaks, Emerald Cities Base of Operations: Arcadian Peaks Home Occupation: High School Student Affiliations: None Family: Norene "Nora" Wright/Ada Wakefield (Mother) Description: Age: 10 (Date of Creation: 2010) Apparent Age: Late Teens Gender: Female Ethnicity: Robo-American Height: 5'5" Weight: 225 lbs. Eyes: Blue Hair: Golden Blonde Physical Appearance: Courtney has the hallmark, arguably even generic, looks of the stereotypical All-American teenage girl. She’s a blonde with golden locks that fall slightly past her shoulders with bright blue eyes that stand out on a heart-shaped face that’s marked with prominent dimples and high cheekbones. Beyond that, she’s not particularly tall, being only slightly above average height for a teen, and while she’s conventionally pretty she’s more approachably cute than uniquely stunning. Her costume comes right out of the superhero’s guide to crime-fighting fashion. Taking liberal inspiration from her idols in Ms. Americana and the various incarnations of Lady Liberty, Courtney’s costume is a patriotic star-spangled, striped and tri-colored collage of red, white and blue. Accordingly, to really capture the iconic paragon image, her costume comes with trademark navy blue cape and mantle. History: Courtney Wright remembered having a more or less normal upbringing. Her mother Norene was an electrician who practiced her trade across much of the country. Because of that Courtney had to move a lot, but even so, she recalls having a loving and stable childhood, one filled with summer adventures with friends, Christmases with the grandparents in Miami, and quaint family game nights on weekends. Of course, her life wasn’t entirely picturesque. Her father passed away when she was young, and her mother became overprotective after he passed. Courtney dealt with these changes with the same stubborn positivity that she approached most things in life. So when she and mother moved to Emerald City, she didn’t despair that it meant losing touch with another group of friends. If anything she was excited to go to high school in a big city. There were so many new people to meet! Her mother was nervous, more nervous than usual, but Courtney entered Arcadian High in good spirits. In no time at all she made new friends, joined new clubs and tried new things. One of those new things ended up being attending a street race happening on the southern fringes of Arcadian Peaks. Courtney was apprehensive about it, but her new friends reassured her that there was no chance that things would go bad. It turned out they were wrong. There was an accident on the road. One of the driver’s cars suddenly went out of control, its MarsTech operating system catastrophically going haywire. And as luck would have it did so perilously close to where Courtney and her friends were watching the race. With there being no time for any of them to escape the impending crash it seemed likely that a tragic loss of life was about to occur. But it didn’t. Somehow, by some hitherto untapped instinct, Courtney unthinkingly stood in the way of the fast approaching vehicle while everyone else tried to make some futile last-ditch effort to get of the way. She should have become a smear on the road for that, but she didn’t. Inexplicitly, she survived having a nearly three thousand pound sport’s car crash into her. More than that, she not only survived the impact, but also stopped the car in its tracks with her bare hands! Still in a semi-aware fugue, Courtney causally tore off the ruined car’s door and dragged its unconscious driver away from the wreck. It was while she was taking the racer to safety that she finally noticed that her hands had been torn, revealing a bloody mess of ruined flesh and electronics underneath it. Terrified by what she saw, Courtney bolted from the scene, using the chaos and confusion of the crash to get away unseen before the police could arrive. Not knowing where else to go, and desperate for answers, she ran home. When Courtney’s mother saw the exposed metal and electronics that were hanging from her daughter’s arms she knew the masquerade was over and that it was time to come clean. The truth, as her “mother” told it, was that Courtney wasn’t born. She was made. Designed in the secret RD faculties of the MarsTech corporation nearly ten years ago as part of Project Spartoi, the supposed greatest innovation in weaponized drone technology. A line of semi-autonomous robots that were to be sold on the market as a bold new alterative to both private security and public policing. Security guards slacking on the job? No problem! A Spartoi-drone never tires, complains or takes lunch breaks. Issues with the local police force? Consider it solved! A Spartoi-drone is utterly incorruptible and would succeed where a human officer would error. One of the lead managers of this project was Emerald City native Dr. Ada Wakefield. Though one of the world’s great scientist minds when it came to advanced robotics, Ada’s live was one marked with frequent loss. Her father died while she was young, and her mother followed suit while she was still in school earning her doctorate at Carnegie Mellon University. It was during this difficult time that Ada met a follow student by the name of Aaron Ross. He was smart, kind, and understood what she was going through, having lost his own parents when he was young. By the time they graduated, they had become couple, and by the they moved to Emerald City to take up job opportunities in MarsTech, they were married. For a time the they were happy, both rising in their careers at MarsTech, but things went awry when they accidental uncovered encrypted project files that revealed that Project Spartoi was part of a strange conspiracy by MarsTech to further cement its control of the city using its drones. Terrified by the implications and the perversion of their work, the pair tried to expose MarsTech’s plans. Unfortunately, when Aaron tried to bring their findings to Emerald City’s local AEGIS chapter he disappeared, as did all their evidence against MarsTech when a corrupt AEGIS squad raided their home in Southern Shore. With Aaron possibly dead, and their evidence out of reach or destroyed, Ada went forward with their agreed upon Plan B to ensure that Project Spartoi would at least be severely impeded in the short-term if not entirely stopped. Sneaking into MarsTech one last time, she stole the prototype AI core they were working on and various other critical components to Project Spartoi before vanishing from the city altogether. She spent years afterwards in hiding, moving across the country to evade MarsTech while at the same working tirelessly to reprogram the stolen AI for good. At first, Ada only saw the AI as a weapon that could one day be used against MarsTech, a means to an end, but as the years went by she started to see the burgeoning consciousness as something of an adopted child, something that could be nurtured beyond its origins. Using a mix of her own replicated memories along with entirely fabricated ones, Ada subverted the AI’s original violent operational protocols and made it more humane, more human. Ada explained that Courtney’s childhood memories, appearance and even her enrollment in high school were all part of an attempt to nurture humanity within a machine originally meant to only serve MarsTech and its plans. In truth, Courtney had only been truly self-aware for about a year since Ada returned to Emerald City with a new identity. That’s how Courtney Wright was “made.” Courtney took all this as about as well as one could inspect. First, she was in disbelief, but that quickly gave way to an anger very much directed at her “mother.” How could she lie to her about everything? How much of herself was just fabrication? Was her whole life just some kind of sick science experiment? Her mother tried to defend herself, swearing up and down that she fully intended to eventually reveal the truth to her once she thought she was ready for it. Courtney wasn’t sure what to believe. She still doesn’t now, but in the end, she did accept that MarsTech was dangerous if it was willing to create an army of drones in some shadowy plot. So, she decided that night that she’d use her newly discovered abilities and go investigate MarsTech, but on her terms and as her own person. Whomever or whatever that was now. Personality & Motivation: Courtney decidedly subverts the common sci-fi trope of androids being coldly logical beings. She is an almost cloyingly upbeat and out-going person, the kind of bright and thoughtful teen that many parents dream of raising. Accordingly, her motivations as a hero and person is largely that of the good Samaritan, the earnest desire to use her abilities and powers to help the world. Whether this drive to help is a reflection of her mother’s own youthful dreams of making the world a better place through technology or a trait all her own is up for debate, but either way Courtney strives to be the greatest hero she can be. Beyond basic do-goodery, Courtney also wants to take down MarsTech, the very organization responsible for her creation and the one that would surely seek to reclaim or “retire” her if they ever learned of her existence and true nature. Though she hides it well underneath her plunky exterior, Courtney constantly worries about her identity a person. Many of her memories of childhood and adolescence are not her own, being instead the copied and imprinted memory engrams of her mother’s own sanitized and edited upbringing. Where “Courtney” begins and “Norene” ends is once again something of a philosophical question, one that makes Courtney deeply troubled on an existential level, though she is loath to admit it or think much about it. Some of this angst was grown into a subconscious distrust and barrier between herself and her mother, who Courtney feels gave her a false sense of humanity and normalcy only to cruelly take the rug right from under her when the charade came to an abrupt. Regardless of these of those fears, Courtney does ultimately consider herself to be human and doggedly identifies as such. Powers & Tactics: Courtney is a mechanical paragon, a synthetic lifeform made out a complicated composition of highly advanced alloys, synthetic organs and other esoteric materials. As such, all of her powers and abilities are technological in effect, nature and origin. Like most paragons in the style of the late Centurion she’s superhumanly strong and resilient, fully capable of lifting a fighter jet over her head at her maximum strength and durable enough to withstand heavy weapons fire. Her robotic body also means she’s immune to bodily ailments that could fell even a superhuman, like diseases, poisons, suffocation, and various hazardous environmental conditions. Beyond her strength, Courtney also has various other internal weapon systems at her disposal, such as embedded laser weapons and magnokinetic suspension rays, the latter of which she can use to lift herself and fly. Lastly, she has an array of technopathic powers on account of her positronic brain’s ability to interface wireless with technology. Owning to her inability to use lethal force, along with a general temperament and ethos against such violence, Courtney uses her abilities to quickly end fights by neutralizing her opponents into unconscious or incapacitation. She goes about doing this by using her super strength to either grapple or knock out baddies, with the extra speed and maneuverability provided by her ability to fly making it easier to rush into striking range. There are also her optic beams, which can serve as a far-reaching ranged attack whenever melee is not a viable option. Her ability to manipulate metallic objects can similarly be used for ranged attacks as well for more nonviolent and creative uses, such as clearing rubble or restoring urban debris. Her technopathic abilities also have tactical utility as they allow her to wireless listen on to radio frequencies, communicate long distances electronically, track electrical signals and accomplish a host of other types of tech wizardy and manipulations. Complications: Damn Skinjobs! (Secret/Prejudice): Courtney is an android. A very, very deceptively human android, but an android all the same. She is very intent on keeping this a secret. Not only because it may lead to her being found out by MarsTech, but also because she fears the prejudice that may come from being outted as a non-human in her civilian identity. GM Suggestion: Give Courtney a Hero Point if someone not only discovers her identity but also threats to expose her android nature to the public. Overprotective Mother (Detriment): Courtney loves her mother, but the revelations regarding her true identity and actions have created in a rift in their relationship There’s also the fact that her mother is something of a helicopter parent who’s determined to keep an eye on all her super heroics. GM Suggestion: You can give Courtney a Hero Point if her mother’s overprotectiveness or actions somehow impairs her ability to be a hero. Boot Up, Go to School, Save the City (Responsibility): Courtney is still a high school student with an active social life and is not yet willing to abandon it and fully dedicate herself to her superhero persona and vendetta against MarsTech. GM Suggestion: Consider giving Courtney a Hero Point in the event that her social life comes into conflict with her superhero alter ego. Ethical Programming (Honor): Like most superheroes Courtney has a moral code and lines that we will not cross. That means no undue brutality, abandoning people in life or death situations, and definitely no killing. Unlike most superheroes though these ethics are literally programmed into her neural net as fundamental behavior protocols. GM Suggestion: Consider granting Courtney a Hero Point if her inability her break moral code somehow makes her life and/or ability to be a superhero more difficult. Rookie Hero (Accident): Courtney is new to the superhero game, and while she is thoroughly dedicated to learning the ropes, the fact remains that she is quite new to it and will make mistakes due to her inexperience and naiveté. GM Suggestion: Feel free to give Courtney a Hero Point if her aforementioned inexperience leads to her making a rookie mistake. Also feel free to come up with ways for her to mess up!. Nixing successful rolls, putting negative modiifers on certain rolls, etc. Renegade Corporate Property (Enemy/Obsession): Courtney knows that MarsTech is corrupt is determined to see the corporation fall. She also knows that they will do everything in their power to “retire” or repossess their “stolen property if they ever find out she’s their missing prototype. GM Suggestion: Consider giving Courtney a Hero Point if her she has a negative or violent encounter with the employees and agents of MarsTech. More Human Than Machine (Detriment): Most robots have issues passing for human let alone fully understanding the complex web of passions, psychologies, and motivations that drive humanity. For better or worse, this isn’t the case with Courtney, who is just as susceptible to typical emotions as most humans. GM Suggestion: Consider nixing Courtney’s successfully Will saves or Immunity when it comes to effects or powers that deal with or induce strong emotions. Abilities: 2PP Strength: 10/30 (+0/+10) Dexterity: 10 (+0) Constitution: N/A Intelligence: 18 (+4) Wisdom: 10 (+0) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 16PP Initiative: +4 Attack: +6 Melee (+4 Base, +2 Attack Focus), +4 Ranged (+4 Base) Grapple: +6/+16/+20 (+6 Melee Attack, +0/+10 Strength, +4 Super-Strength) Defense: +4 (+4 Base), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -9 Saving Throws: 12PP Toughness: +12 (+12 Protection; Impervious 5) Fortitude: Immune Reflex: +6 (+0 Dex, +6PP) Will: +6 (+0 Wis, +6PP) Skills: 40R = 10PP Computer 7 (+11) Diplomacy 8 (+10) Gather Information 8 (+10) Knowledge (Pop Culture) 1 (+5) Knowledge (Technology) 8 (+12) Notice 8 (+8) Feats: 10PP Attack Focus (Melee) 2 Eidetic Memory Interpose Jack-of-All-Trades Luck 2 Quick Change Speed of Thought Takedown Attack Powers: 105PP Flight 1 “Magnetic Self-Propulsion” (10 MPH / 100 Ft. Per Move Action) [2PP] (Magnetic, Technology) Immunity 30 “Android Body” (Fortitude Effects) [30PP] (Construct, Technology) Immunity 10 “Positronic Brain” (Psionic Effects; Flaw: Limited) [5PP] (Construct, Technology) Impervious Toughness 5 “Bulletproof Chassis” [5PP] (Construct, Technology) Quickness 2 “Internal Hyper-Processor” (x5; Flaw: Mental Tasks Only) [1PP] (Construct, Technology) Ultra Power Array 4 (8PP Array, Feats: Dynamic, Dynamic Alternate Powers 1) [11PP] (Construct, Technology) Base Power: [8PP] “Ultra Self-Propulsion” Flight 0-4 (0-100 MPH / 0-1,000 Ft. Per Move Action) (Magnetic, Technology) Alternate Power: [8PP] “Ultra Nano-Boost” Super-Strength 0-4 (Lifting Strength: 10/30/50, Heavy Load: 100 lbs./1,600 lbs.-12 tons.) (Construct, Technology) Protection 12 “Hyper-Alloy Endoskeleton” (+12 Toughness) [12PP] (Construct, Technology) Regeneration 5 “Nano-Active Bloodstream” (+5 Recovery Bonus) [5PP] (Nanites, Technology) Super-Senses 4 “On-Board Sensor Array” (Communication Link [Norene Wright, Sense Type: Radio], Extended 1 [Auditory: 100 Ft.], Extended 1 [Visual: 100 Ft.], Infravision) [4PP] (Construct, Technology) Weapons Systems Array 10 (20PP Array, Feats: Alternate Powers 2) [22PP] (Construct, Technology) Base Power: [20PP] “Nano-Boosted” Enhanced Strength 20 (+20 Strength) (Construct, Technology) Alternate Power: [20PP] “Laser-Vision” Blast 8 (Feats: Accurate 2, Variable Descriptor 2 [Energy]) (Energy, Technology) Alternate Power: [20PP] “Magno-Emitters” Move Object 8 (Effective Strength: 40, Heavy Load: 3 tons.; Extras: Damaging; Feats: Accurate 2, Precise, Subtle; Flaw: Limited [Ferrous Metals]) (Magnetic, Technology) Variable Power 1 “Technopathy” (5PP Variable Pool, Tech Powers, Extras: Action 2 [Free]) (Electromagnetic, Technology) [8PP] Example Powers: Drawbacks -5PP Vulnerability (Electricity Effects, Frequency: Common, Intensity: Minor [+1 DC]) [-2PP] Vulnerability (Magnetism Effects, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Major [x2 Effect Rank]) [-3PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVING THROW EFFECT Unarmed (+6) Touch DC 15 Toughness Damage (Physical) Enhanc STR Unarmed (+6) Touch DC 25 Toughness Damage (Physical) Blast 8 (+8) 80 Ft. DC 23 Toughness Damage (Energy) Move Object 8 (+8) 80 Ft. Grapple vs. +16 Pinned/Bound (Magnetic) Throw Object 8 (+8) 80 Ft. DC 23 Toughness Damage (Physical) Totals: Abilities (2) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (12) + Skills (10) + Feats (10) + Powers (105) - Drawbacks (5) = 150/150 Power Points

While still flying about twenty above the ground Astrid is gonna move to the spot Veronica last saw Goanna make a Notice check to spot him. Notice: 1d20+5 19

"I'm fine up here!" Astrid yelled down below to a concerned Heroditius once the shower of cracked ice finally clears. Hovering a couple feet above the ground with Porrklubba in hand Astrid looked towards the direction Veronica had pointed out with determined eyes. She was angry, somehow more so than she already was. Her ice had inadvertently allowed Goanna to make his escape and Astrid had a mind to make things right for it. "Right, I'm going to try and find this drittsekk from up here. Octo if you or Danger can try to track him on land that would be super." With that said, Astrid promptly blasted off to where Veronica last saw Goanna. Once there she tried to scan the area for the giant lizard, figuring and hoping it wouldn't be to hard to track the monster.

At the news of there being a nearby dimensional rift Astrid simply shrugs lackadaisical even as she sets her eyes in the direction that Veronica and Heroditus are looking off to. Magical portals to different realms and dimensions wasn't exactly a new phenomenon to Astrid, who routinely traveled to and from such places with the aid of the Bifröst. Still, the fact that would couldn't actually see this one was at least new. In her expedience these things were big neon signs of magical or cosmic energy. "It's a fissure, huh? Some kind of gateway that the scientists stumbled into? And here I was hoping we'd find the scientists in some lost city of gold or something. Oh well. Maybe next time," she joked before becoming serious. "So we know where the scientists likely are. Awesome. But how are we going to follow them in there? Is it as easy as just steeping through? If is then I volunteer to head in first. I'm pretty durable and I got access to the Bifröst. If anything goes wrong in there I can rainbow bridge right back."