RocketLord

Elf King Sense Motive roll: 1d20+20 = 21 Well, so much for being semi-divine!

Cassidy continued his forward motion, as Venomax smashed a rock into the sorcerer's face. He was not about to let up, even as Setho seemed down. He was pure evil. Reaching forward, he grabbed on to Setho's blood covered robe, pulling at it to bring the mad sorcerer back up to his eye level. A sword made out of sand formed in his free hand, the tip of the blade about an inch from Setho's throat. "Why? You spread those damned leaves across time. You abused the Magic Mesa's power. You tried to kill us. Give me one good reason why I should suddenly save you?"

GM "Have you now?" Charles looked over his glasses, a grin on his lips under his breath. "What an interesting story that is!" His eyes were grinning too. There was something infectious about that grin, something that could easily make Oswald grin as well. Charles motioned for the penguin. "Come now, Barney. Get to it, do your job and fetch us some tea, would you?" Barney the penguin looked up, with what Oswald could only guess was pure penguin anger. Then he slumped over, and went off to do as he was told. Oswald's host gestured in the direction of another room. "Come, then. We can go to my study and discuss why you have been searching for my menagerie, my dear Mr. Zappelius."

Edited, TA Justice First of all: Noticed an issue with Justice's skills. - Investigate and Search are at 6 ranks, supposed to be at 3, as total math shows. - Disable Device was supposed to be at 6, but had forgotten to lower that (and the total math) - That puts total skill ranks at 88, as it is supposed to be Now, for the actual update Since Justice is now at 117 PP, her PL can go up to 8! Increased Justice Driver ranks by 4 (12PP), leaving me with everything spent. PP allocation on the device below. Total PP available to spend on Justice Driver: 20PP And I'm adding the following 3 powers - Enhanced Trait 4 ("Enhanced Attack", Attack Bonus+2) [4PP] - Protection 2 [2PP] - Damage 8 ("Justice Kick"; Feats: Knockback, Mighty) [10PP] And upgrading Enhanced Stats to 8, adding Strength+4: - Enhanced Stats 8 (Strength+4, Constitution+4) [8PP] Which means all PP have been spent. Defense/Toughness tradeoff is removed with powers bought. Attack/Damage tradeoff is updated to +3 Attack / -3 Damage for the Justice Buster with powers bought, and -2 Attack / +2 Damage for Justice Kick. Fully updated profile for the above, included updated math for changed attack/damage/toughness/defense and updated DC Block in the spoiler.

So... the final piece of the puzzle: Actual proof. Just what Robin had mentioned to Kidd when they first met. Everything was coming together here. So, they either had the option of breaking and entering, or getting some from one of the "floozies", as Kidd called them. Either case, it was something illegal. Robin wasn't entirely comfortable with that. But... what was more important, then? Upholding the law, even if it meant someone like Blowfish got away, or getting the evidence needed? What was the kind of justice that she wanted to stand for? Someone like the Centurion would probably have done it the legal way, but the Raven might not have frowned on the whole breaking and entering part. She wasn't really good at either intimidating or being sneaky in general, she wanted to be the kind of hero that inspired, after all... but... she couldn't just let a bad guy get away, if they knew he had done wrong, could they? "Alright, I'm really not comfortable about plowing anyone, so how about that evidence in writing? Either of you got any clue where they might be? And anyone that might be able to get them?" She gestured at herself. "I'm not exactly dressed for stealth."

GM He paused. The Elf King was genuinely baffled. Did this man, this mortal, the Barrister of Bleak offer to help? Did he offer his aid? That a mortal could aid something far older than the very lands that stood above them? "I miss the wonder, I miss the awe! I miss the sleepless nights that I used to live for!" the Elf King thundered. "I do not weep, I do not feel! I have seen too much, I have seen too little! I can entertain no more, I take no joy in great plays! I feel no sadness for tragedies! The stories that would once move me to tears now leave me cold and still!" He stood down the heavy steps from the throne, standing right before Lament. He towered over him. He was beauty, he was nature, he was terrible and lovely, all at once. A thing as old as the void that gnawed inside the mortal man before him. "Then tell me, mortal, how can one such as you help me feel the lost in me once again?"

Bluff or Diplomacy roll, depending on how Lament is trying to affect the Elf King.

Robin shook her head. "That won't solve anything. You'll get rid of him, and then what? You'll get a gang war, you'll get people hurt. And you'll get in trouble, too." Hopefully the last part would help, at least. At least they had a plan, if Kidd and the Wall could keep their cool. "Alright, I guess I'm gonna have to call out Blowfish, then." It made sense. She was an unknown to Blowfish, so having her calling him out and provoking might work. "Any other suggestions on what we can hit him with? Anything at all?" So, this was it. Getting into public speaking now, though. Robin was sure she needed every advantage she could.

GM "I am the Elf King, mortal. All that I see is mine. All that I behold is mine." He stood his ground. If he knew about the thing inside of Lament, he did not show his knowledge. "Do you not understand? Do you believe that I wish to steal the tears of these mortal children? Are you that simple!?" "Can you show me another path, then? Can you show me another way to return my tears?"

1d20+5 = 7 And there my streak ended, oh well!

GM The king stood up. He stood fast, he stood furious. He towered above Lament, as he stood above the Dealer of Downers. His eyes were lightning, his voice was thunder. The guards slowly backed away, leaving Lament standing on his own in the middle of the room. "What do you seek to imply, jester? That you know what pleases a King? What do you presume to know about my people, you insignificant, mortal gnat! Do you see my halls decked for merrymaking? Do you see my subjects dancing in joy? Do you see the tears of joy that springs from my eyes!?" The crying of the children were growing louder now. They were obviously scared. "Do you know who I am!? I am the Elf King! I am the master of the time before your time! I am eternal, never changing! I am the fear in the back of your mind in the dark! I am the joy at the dance, the smile on your lips! I am Elver Kongen! And I want my tears back!"

Robin grinned behind her mask. Alright, it might be a bit mean, but Blowfish was a bona fide bad guy, no question there, and it would be useful. "So, the big question is, who will provoke him most, calling that out? No offense Wall, but I don't think you doing it would do much. So, either me or Detective Kidd." She turned to Kidd. "You guys had some history, right? Who would be best, then?" She thought about it a bit more, while waiting for Kidd's response. "I'm thinking we gotta have everyone there, starting to call him out, then we hit the weak point. Its important that we appear as non-threatening as possible. Make sure that he's clearly the aggressor. And if we can somehow make him admit to any other crimes that you know about, that would only help the case. Get as much out in public as possible."

Zenith knew them, and didn't like them. The spikes made her message more than clear, after all. Few friends liked being met with sharp objects being stabbed at their faces, after all! He followed her down, slowly descending alongside his dance partner, the glimmering Pixie Dust falling from him. He didn't touch down on the ground. They were flying, as it were. There were no reason to touch the ground, the dance had already been interrupted, after all, and quite rudely so. Looking down at the duo, Robert and his friend, Pan quickly followed Zenith on her platform, catching up to her, and flying alongside her. "Well, that was a mood killer." He did not care for the way the duo had spoken. He looked over his shoulder at them, just to see if they were still standing around, or had left.

They were probably right about Blowfish not just rolling over and giving up. He wasn't just some gangbanger, he had lawyers to keep him safe and out of trouble. They needed some way to get him provoked into revealing things, to indiscriminate himself in front of all the witnesses. "Yeah, you're probably right about all that." No point in not agreeing with them. She had to speak the truth, if she wanted to win them over. "And that's why we need to set up some situation where we know he'll mess up, on live television, in front of multiple witnesses. We got the perfect opportunity with the protests up top. Maybe we confront him with what he's been doing here, while the Wall brings everyone here to back it up. Throw the way he's pressuring you into crime at him, his threats, everything. You guys know more about him than me, there's gotta be something that can set him off, right?" The law might not help, and she had generally trusted in that, but that didn't mean Robin was going to roll over.

Diplomacy: 1d20+8 = 28 ?

GM The King looked at him. His face showed little emotion, little reaction to the greeting or the bow. One of the guards objected, however! "I told you not to speak, until spoken to! I'm sorry, my king!" The King looked suitably unimpressed, as he remained on his throne. "And what mercy is it that I am renown for, mortal man? What mercy and hospitality is it that you seek at my court?" His words were like ice being stabbed into Lament's heart. Cold, with the same lacking emotion, with the same lack of care. But what did Lament hear, from behind the throne? Hushed crying and sniffles. The sound of children abducted, most likely!

Whew. Peace, for now. Robin could almost feel the tension in the room dropping, just a little bit, as she lowered her gun too. Then came the next part, but that was just tension for her. Actually having people listening to her about her plans were something entirely new to her, and now she was starting to actually doubt if she could even deliver her idea. Honestly, she wasn't sure if she had believed they would actually get to discussing the idea in the first place. "Alright, we, um." She hesitated for a second. Had to stop that. Be confident. Just do it. "Alright, Blowfish is covering all the bases, never getting caught. We can hit him quick, at the rally. What'll he do if the Wall and his guys, everyone already living here, shows up, just in a peaceful protest? Telling everything that he's been doing on open air? I mean, we know there's camera's up there, and Jack Jackson loves a sensational story, doesn't he? And if there's a certain super hero and cowboy cop there, who he already showed interest in? We can work from that, see what he does, at least. Hopefully provoke him into some kind of confrontation. There's a lot of witnesses there, after all." She paused for a moment. "The second idea I got will take longer. Gather evidence of what is going on here. Not like he would actually expect the people working for him to go against him, right? It would take time, but it might lead to actual evidence that someone like you," she pointed at Kidd, "could use to take him down. But if you got any other ideas, I'm all ears."[/c7olor]

And a notice roll, please!

GM "You address him with a bow, as deep as can be." The first of the guards said, as they led Lament towards their King. "You address him with silence, until spoken to." The second guard said, as he nudged Lament forward with his spear. "You address him as the one true king, ruler of all that he sees." They said in unison, as Lament now found himself standing before the throne. The throne was made of oak. Finely cut, worked by hand, refined into a marvelous shape that almost seemed to shift and turn when the Baron of Bleak moved. There were no seams, no joints. It had all been cut from one solid piece. And on the throne sat a man. As pale as the other Elves, inhumanly beautiful, almost frightenly so. His hair was long and white, reaching to his waist. He was clad in a white tunic. Gold rings on his fingers. An antler crown on his brow. He looked upon Lament, waiting.

I'm looking to get a bit more involved with Dust Devil. Anyone want to do a team up? I'd prefer someone with magic powers, since he could stand to learn a bit more about all that, but anyone interesting can work! I don't have a set idea for a thread yet, or even if it will be action, social or a mix, but I'll figure something out based on who want to get involved!

He was not going to let up, even as Venomax punched and the other Lemurians stabbed at Setho to little effect. His first blow had sent Setho flying away. He was not letting him get away, and he was not going to let him mess with his head. No response, no words for the sorcerer to twist. Magic might be a thing he would have to deal with a lot in the future, but at this point, he was just tired of people trying to mess with his head. Cassidy flew forward again, like sand carried on the wind, while the sandstorm continued to rage around him. Only, he was not just sand, was he? No, he was a rock, he was a monolith. He was the Dust Devil, and he brought his fist down on Setho's head again, hoping to shut the Lemurian up.

Dust Devil is gonna keep going while he got the chance. Going for another punch for now: 1d20+10 = 28, and since he got Improved Critical 2 [Unarmed] attack, that means I crit at 18+. I'm guessing it would hit normally. If I'm right: Critical hit confirmed, and Toughness DC at 30.

GM "The bog wife!" the first Elven guard exclaimed. "The bog wife!" the other agreed. They looked at each, then at the Hero of Heartache again. Spears slowly withdrawn, but not quite, they at least no longer pressed into Lament's throat. The music stopped. A voice called out from the hall. "Bring the mortal to me!" It was a deeper voice. If the bog wife had sounded old, this, decidedly male, voice sounded ancient. It echoed in the hall, finally bringing the music to a stop. Invoking the bog wife's name had done something, at least. It clearly came from the throne in the middle of the hall, just around a bend into a smaller cave, where Lament could not see its occupant. Withdrawing a bit, but with their spears still pointed at him, the Elven guards motioned for Lament to move. "You heard the King! Forward, mortal!"

"Look at you guys, already getting along." Robin couldn't help herself. Despite their protests, it was almost adorable the way these two were talking in synchronization. Looking between Kidd and the Wall, she smiled behind her mask. It might just work, getting these two to talk together. They knew more about what was going on than Robin did, so they would have to come up with the specifics, but just having them agreeing to hear her out was a start, at least. "Right, first of all, how about we all agree to put away our guns, whether they're the kind that shoots or, y'know, your arms." She motioned towards the Wall. "Like, maybe back up a little bit, just so we're out of reach? Easier to talk nicely to each other if we're not about to shoot each other. Right?"

They had come here looking for a better life. Illegally, sure, but still, they had pretty much been tricked into something like this by Blowfish, and now he was pressuring all his workers into doing just this. But, an idea was starting to form. Robin wasn't sure if it would work at all, but it might. Even if Kidd didn't like these people, they all hated Blowfish, and putting him away for a looong time would be better than having the building blown up or people getting killed. She ignored Kidd's protests for now. "You might take out Blowfish with that, and then what? You'll bring the whole place down, so you'll have nowhere to live. The people protesting on the street are going to, rightly, assume that you're to blame, and they'll rip you and your families apart." The Wall couldn't see the look on Robin's face behind her mask, which was probably a good thing. Full face masks made talking to people easier, for some reason. "And even if you get out of that, then what? They'll look into you, and you'll probably be deported." Robin paused for a moment. She was well aware that she was still holding the Justice Buster towards the Wall, but she kept silent. "So. I got an idea. You guys hate Blowfish. Detective Kidd over there hates Blowfish. You might not like each other, at all, and that's how it is, but how about we work together to get Blowfish out of the way? Something big and in public, so he can't run away?" It was yet another long shot, but better than no shot at all.