Shadowboxer

Dinosaurs are fine by me. Besides, what would a superhero card game be without one?

Okay, spoilers ahead. Moore was pointing out that in order for nations to rally together, they must have a common enemy that threatens them. Furthermore, that enemy must be a true outsider, someone who is completely alien to them. History has proven this point again and again. The original ending exemplifies Moore's argument; what could be more alien than an actual alien? Remember, Moore was writing this during the Reagan / Thatcher era, when the (second) Cold War was in full swing. Moore is explaining, using comic book motifs, how global politics and public anxieties functioned during this period. This is just one interpretation, however. Though the changes in the film may appear minor, those small changes may significantly alter the original themes in the text. For example, in the film Nite Owl and the Silk Spectre are depicted as being near-superhuman martial artists. In the comic, these characters are damaged people living quiet, near-miserable lives. Readers were meant to identify with these characters, not "worship" them by gazing at them through the Hollywood lens. I don't begrudge people for enjoying the film, but I'd rather fight a giant, extradimensional squid than agree that the film is successful.

I'm boycotting this movie. I found out how the film progresses and concludes. Personally, I'm frustrated with the ongoing trend among film studios completely altering the source material to suit the film. Spider-Man, Batman . . . the list goes on. What makes Watchmen so powerful is the conclusion, and changing it (and yes, the film ending does make Dr. Manhattan wholly inconsistent with his characterization in the film and in the series) changes Moore's underlying themes in the original text. I will not watch this movie and I will never watch another superhero again. Also, it is not a graphic novel as it is promoted. Technically, Watchmen is a trade paperback or hardcover, depending on your copy. There. My angry rant is over.

Nightrival grins as he watches Red Star's reaction, and he's glad that the hero is delighted at the prospect of being on the team. With his popularity and powers, Nightrival wasn't sure if he would accept his offer. He hopes the hero doesn't fly away again in his excitment before giving him an answer. When he feels he can speak again, he continues. "I am serious. I mean, we ain't no Freedom League but if we work together there ain't nothin' we can do. We can use someone wit' yer abilities, and I'm glad ta have ya on th' team. Wha' 'bout th' rest of ya?"

"I'm doin' a'right," Nightrival replies to Shinken. "Still workin' th' Southside. Nah, these guys ain't wit' me. I'm - " He's suddenly interrupted by a numerous events occuring at the same time. Red Star soars into the sky and then returns, leaving Nightrival bewildered. Spartan demonstrates his prowess to the others and Nightrival steps back and waits to see if he needs to intervene. Luckily, Arrowhawk has the situation under control. When the scene finally cools down, he turns to the group. "I'm glad ya asked, Red Star. Shinken hit upon an idea I've been workin' on fer awhile. Ya see, th' crooks in this town are workin' together these days, so I figured th' good guys should do th' same thing. I gotta a team but our numbers are small at th' moment, and seein' tha' ya guys can work together - some of ya, anyway - ya'll fit th' bill. I already asked Arrowhawk an' Spartan, so I'm gonna ask th' rest of ya: if yer interested, do ya wanna hook up wit' our crew?"

Nightrival would be into playing a few hands of poker. Where did you imagine the game taking place? My vote would be the Southside.

"Huh. Tha's a good idea," he says to Arrowhawk with a grin. "Can ya hook me up wit' somethin' like that? There ain't no Q dishin' out swag ta me, if ya know wha' I mean." "Man, I gotta rep ta maintain," he jokes with Red Star. "Sneakin' up on people is wha' pays th' bills. But ya know, I'm impressed wit' 'ow ya handled yerselves in this 'ere crisis."

Crouching with his back against the wall, Nightrival looks up at Avenger. "Uh, no," he replies. "My name jus' means I work evenin's. I didn't exactly think this through." He stands up and draws closer to a papered window. He doesn't know who or what is on the other side, and he hates surprises. Though most raids tend to be routine affairs, on occasion he's encountered some dangerous suspects who were happy to tear his head off from his shoulders. This is Freedom City, after all. They have to move fast. If anymore zombie powder hits the streets, the city will see more victims like the driver outside. "A'right, 'ere's th' plan," he whispers. "I'll barge in there an' make a ruckus. When I give th' signal, kill th' lights an' come chargin' in. Th' signal is, uh, well . . . I dunno. Lights? Let's go wit' lights. Okay?"

I have 2 PPs to spend on Nightrival. I would like to increase his BDB to +15. Thanks! Done by Sandman XI

Nightrival jogs in the direction he saw the others go when they chased after Grab. He jumps up onto the hood of a car, removes a swing line from his belt, throws it towards a nearby streetlight, and then he leaps off the car and swoops down the street. As he a turns at an intersection, he lets go of the line in mid-air and throws another one. He frowns at having to lose so many of them when he swings around the city. I gotta get me a better system, he thinks. He finally spots the heroes gathered on the sidewalk. He recognizes Red Star and Spartan, but the other two must be newcomers. He's never seen the woman before, but is that Shinken standing beside her? Nightrival grins to himself. Releasing the line, he somersaults down and lands on his feet. "I see ya found 'em 'fore I did," he says to Spartan. He looks to the other heroes. "Ya guys did a good job back there. Th' name's Nightrival. And you," he says, turning to Shinken, "I haven't seen ya since tha' raid down in th' Southside. I thought I recognized tha' blur in th' street. How ya doin'?"

I was under the impression you guys were returning to the store. I'm just going to come to you instead.

Meanwhile, inside the store, Nightrival crosses his arms and looks out to the street. The other heroes have not returned yet and he is starting to worry. Grab is a resilient opponent, it's possible she could have beaten them and escaped while he and Arrowhawk and Hub remain unaware of the situation. "We should go an' look fer those guys," he suggests. "Th' cops'll be 'ere soon ta clean up this mess. I don't think Smash is goin' anywhere." He walks out of the store and beckons the others to join him.

Nightrival waits for a few moments until Avenger appears beside him. Though the door looks rather heavy, he finds their combined effort gets the door to cooperate. Nightrival conceals his surprise. Even with the two of them forcing it open, it's weight should have posed a challenge. Must be lighter than it looks, he concludes. He's relieved to hear that the hinges are quiet. He peers down the stairs and listens to the music wafting up to the roof. He recognizes the pounding beat coming from the speakers, but the chanting sounds alien to his ears. The words seem to take on an amorphous shape inside his head, twisting like a octopus drifting in black waters. He shakes off the impending headache and looks to Avenger. "Tha's a good idea. It's probably near th' bottom o' these stairs. Let's go check it out." He creeps down the stairs and saddles up against a wall when he reaches the bottom. He searches the area for a fusebox.

Nightrival nods his head. "Then we better get movin' 'fore they send out their latest shipment. Let's hit 'em from above." He remembers seeing a door on the roof while he was skulking up there. He sneaks around back and stops when he sees a parked truck. Clambering up the cabin and then onto the trailer, he leaps into the air and lands on the roof. He carefully walks across the roof and kneels before the door. His nimble hands try to open it.

I agree! Since you seem to have an idea on the layout of the building, are there any other windows or doors nearby? Is there a skylight or door on the roof?

We're at an interesting juncture. Do you want to bash down the door or try sneaking in? I want to make sure we're on the same page.

That's what I meant: the DCAU generator was taken down and replaced with a different one. Is the DCAU generator still on the site somewhere?

Nightrival doesn't want to believe that Avenger could commit murder. The other hero's hesitation in responding to Nightrival's accusation prompts him to suspect that appearances are deceiving in this case. Someone who wants to take down a drug ring won't kill those involved, he reasons, not if he wants a conviction. Most capes play by the rules, and Avenger does not seem like another Silencer. He takes a closer look at the body inside the car. He sees the unusual condition of the driver's remains and the presence of dust instead of blood. Nightrival is not a doctor, but he knows something is not right. His instincts tell him that Avenger is right. Zombie powder does transform people into monsters, and the driver must be another victim of the drug. Nightrival finally nods his head and straightens up to look at Avenger. "Okay, yer right. I'm sorry I didn't trust ya. This is what it looks like." He glances at the building as well. A knot of rage tightens in his gut. "Let's go hunt us some monsters then." Nightrival slinks away to the door where the guards were standing. He presses his ear to the door in an attempt to hear if anyone is directly behind it, despite knowing that the blaring music would conceal other noises.

With one hand firmly gripping the swingline, Nightrival jumps off the roof and swoops down to the street. All he sees is Avenger appearing out of nowhere and kicking in the windshield. He knows that the driver must be unconscious after taking a hit like that, but he doesn't witness the driver being "killed" in a such a dramatic fashion. Nightrival juts his legs out and swings directly into one of the guards. Blood bursts out of the unfortunate guard's nose and he drops to the asphalt. As soon as he hits his target, Nightrival lets go of the swingline and flips into the air. He twists mid-jump and lands a flying back kick into the other guard's jaw. The guard spirals on his feet and lands face down, a handful of his teeth scatter across the parking lot. Nightrival lands on his feet and walks up to the car. He peers into the driver's seat and then jolts back. "Wha' did ya do?" he shouts at Avenger. "Ya didn't hafta kill 'em!"

Though the first round is presumably a surprise round, I'll roll initiative now to get things moving . . . and I roll a spectacular 12! :(

Nightrival peers down at his belt. "Huh? This thing? Nah, jus' th' basics. Nothin' fancy like that Raven lady. My budget is kinda limited, ya know?" He turns his head in the direction of the guards, thinking over Avenger's idea, then looks back to the hero. "A'right. Let's do it yer way. We hit 'em at th' same time. Follow me." Nightrival slips away and prowls back down the alley to the opposite side of the block. He bolts across the street and ducks behind a building a few doors away from Kingston Trucking. Removing a swingline from under his belt, he tosses the weighted hook to the roof. The hook grabs a ledge. He grabs the rope and climbs to the top. He hops over the ledge, sneaks across the rooftops, and stops when he's right over the guards. He checks to see if Avenger is nearby.

Nightrival watches the guards for a minute and then passes his eyes over the driver. The guards would be easy to take down, but the driver may be a problem if the heroes don't act quickly. He sneaks back to Avenger using the same route through the alley. "There's three o' 'em outside," he whispers to Avenger. "Two are packin' irons and watchin' th' place, and a driver nappin' inna limo. I dunno 'bout the driver, he could be trouble. How do ya wanna play this?"

I took the liberty of finishing this game myself. Grim was delegated as a NPC and I used Nightrival's current stats to ease gameplay. I calculated that NR had three HPs to his name. He started with three, spent one, and received one in the game. He spent one point to reroll an attack, the second on the Blind-Fight feat, and the third to recover from the staggered condition. He had to wait two turns before that took effect, so he used the defensive stance (adding +8 to his defense bonus) for two rounds until he recovered. Of all the rolls, I believe I "cheated" on one. This is when NR was knocked down again and he rolled terribly on his Toughness save. However, since he was threatened with death I figured a GM would most likely award me another HP for the complication. I suppose the "reroll" refelected that. :roll: I didn't want to use Grim too much, seeing that she's Heritage's character. I had her conveniently absent for the fight until the situation worsened. I needed an escape route for NR, though her sudden healing power (she's mystical in nature, I figured she might have other powers attributed to her) was a little deus ex machina but I only had a few options available to me. Her Insubstantial power tires her out and using Extra Effort to gain the power stunt further fatigued her, keeping her out of the fight. Leaving NR to fight solo balanced everything out. Anyway, this game is finished. The appropriate folks will be contacted.

Seeing their exit, Nightrival grabs Grim and jumps out of the vent. The swarm follows closely behind them, dropping on the heroes' heads and crawling down the walls. Nightrival brandishes a handful of throwing knives and prepares to fend them off. The robotic ants stop moving. They turn around and scuttle back into the vent. He relaxes and examines their surroundings. They are standing in a large room in the shape of an octagon. Computer terminals sit against the concrete walls. The floor is a simple metallic mesh. On each terminal is a view of traps they just survived. There is one passage leading out of the room. A figure emerges from the passage, clapping his hands. "Warden," mutters Nightrival. The figure is wearing a padded black and red costume with a ghoulish mask that vaguely resembles a skull. A tonfa and a pistol hang from his utility belt. "I'm impressed," says Warden. "Really, I am." "I glad ya liked th' show. Now c'mere so's I can rearrange yer face." "Don't you want to know how you rated against the other offenders? That's a good measure of rehabilitation." "Whattaya mean, others?" "Just small-timers. Underpowered vigilantes like you I lured here to test my new facilities. I have to keep my clients happy." "I know what'll make me happy." Nightrival edges closer to Warden. The villain removes a small box from his utility belt. "I wouldn't, if I were you." He presses a button on it. "I just activated the detenator to enough explosives to turn Greenbank into a crater. You either chase after me or defuse the bomb. Your choice, scum." "Get to it Grim, I'll handle 'em." Grim mock-salutes him. "You got it." She runs out of the room and Warden doesn't stop her. "I figured you would help her," says Warden. "It seems you two are inseperable." "We're fulla surprises." "I don't like surprises. I least I get to take you down." "Ya can try. Th' bomb was a lousy idea, by the way." "It splits you two up. Did you think I wouldn't have a back-up plan? I always come prepared when I hunt down criminal scum like you." Warden draws a tonfa from his belt and bolts towards Nightrival. He shifts behind the hero and pulls the tonfa across his throat. Nightrival twists his shoulders, slides out from under Warden's tonfa, and then backflips over Warden. Nightrival slams his palm into the back of Warden's skull, causing the villain's brain to rattle inside his skull. He wraps his other arm around Warden, who is surprised by the attack, and flings Warden across the room. The villain lands on the floor with a resounding whomp. Nighrival draws his escrima staves and lowers himself into a stance. "Yer move, slick." Warden picks himself up and twirls the tonfa in his hand. "You'll pay for that, offender. That'll land you in solitary!" The villain rushes Nightrival, but instead of striking with his tonfa he sweeps his leg under the hero. Nightrival jumps over Warden's leg and reponds with a wide swing across Warden's jaw. Warden's head seems to spin completely around as he soars across the room and bashes into the wall next to a computer terminal. Two bloody teeth fall out of Warden's mask as he drops to the ground. Nightrival leaps into the air and drops his knee directly into Warden's solar plexus. The air rushes out of Warden's lungs as he groans loudly. Nightrival slides back. "Ya had enough?" he asks. "It's time ya see th' inside o' a real jail cell." Warden places his hand against the wall and drags himself back to his feet. "When you are in my house, you will learn to live under my rules," he says snarling. Warden presses a button on his mask and the lights inside the room turn off. Nightrival can't see anything. He steps towards the center of the room and carefully listens. "Not so smug now, are you?" says Warden with a snicker. "In the absence of light, darkness pervails. Let's see if you can truly thrive in your familiar surroundings. My mask has nightvision googles. Does yours?" Nightrival takes a moment to focus his hearing and then lunges forward, swinging the escrima staves under Warden's chin, but the villain blocks the strike. Warden retaliates with a vicious blow across Nightrival's temple. The hero instinctively ducks at the right moment and he is only glanced by the tonfa. Warden runs past Nightrival and stops at the other side of the room. He slides the tonfa under his belt and draws a pistol from out of a holster. "This ends now. I sentence you to death!" Nightrival follows Warden's footsteps. He cartwheels in the villain's direction and estimating where Warden should be standing, he lashes out with a roundhouse kick. His foot lands hard into Warden's chest and he grunts in pain. Warden staggers back, tumbles past Nightrival, jumps to his feet and squeezes the trigger. The pistol flashes in the dark with a bang and Nightrival feels something fast and sharp graze his shoulder. He grinds his teeth. "This is what I can do in th' dark," growls Nightrival He crouches, feints to the left, and then vanishes. Warden looks around the room but he can't spot the hero. He fires off a few rounds in random directions. "Hiding won't save you. I will see justice tonight." Nightrival has sneaked behind Warden. He grabs Warden's wrist and twists it behind his back. Warden pulls his arm away and slashes the pistol grip across Nightrival's cheek with animalistic fury. The blow sends white hot stars into Nightrival's head, knocking out teeth and sending the hero reeling to the ground. Nightrival can't feel his arms and legs. The left side of his mask is torn and his mouth is filled with blood. Warden stands over Nightrival and levels his pistol at the fallen hero. "How fitting, to be executed in the dark. You thought the night could conceal your crimes. I have proven that the light of justice will always find monsters like you. You have been sentenced, Nightrival. Case adjourned." Warden shoots Nightrival in the chest. The hero shudders and doesn't move. Warden holsters the pistol and presses the button on his mask. The lights turn on. He turns and walks away. Grim appears at the door holding a wired device in her hand. "Hey, boss! I got that bomb-thingy taken care of and - " Both of them halt. Grim sees Nightrival lying on the floor. "No!" she cries, dropping the bomb on the floor. "I'll . . . I'll . . ." "Ah, yes. I almost forgot about you." Warden draws his pistol and fires at Grim. The bullet clips her in the arm and she shrieks at the sudden pain. Her blood sprays against the wall. She stares at Warden. "I won't let him die!" She leaps over Warden and latches onto the ceiling with her elongated claws. She scambles over Warden's head and drops down beside Nightrival. She grips her wounded arm. Tears roll down her face. Warden pivots on his feet and points the pistol at Grim. "I admire your loyalty. Perhaps there is honour among your kind. I would hate to think that is true." He pulls the trigger. Grim closes her eyes. Her form shimmers as the bullet passes through her. She opens her eyes and lifts her face. Warden cocks his head and steps closer. "Interesting," he says. "I will have to design containment units for criminals with your particular abilities in the future. A pity you have to be executed." She turns to Nightrival and places her hand on his chest. "Come back," she whispers. "Please. We need you." Her hand glows. Her eyes widen and she wants to pull away, but some sensation deep within her tells her to hold still. A warmth emanates from her hand and spreads into Nightrival. For a moment his body glows as well, then his eyes flick open. Grim slumps against the wall. Nightrival, realizing where he is, bolts back on his feet, though he sways when he stands. He looks down at Grim. "I didn't know ya can do that." "Neither did I," she replies wearily. "Now put this guy away." "Ya got it, kiddo." Warden shakes his pistol at Nightrival. "I will not be denied justice!" he shouts. Nightrival takes a deep breath and eases into a stance. He beckons Warden with his fingers. Warden opens fire and Nightrival ducks. Nightrival rolls away from Grim and resumes his stance. Warden fires again and Nightrival tumbles forward with lightning speed, avoiding the bullet. Nightrival closes the distance and draws his escrima staves in one movement. He doesn't attack straight on; instead, he pivots on his back foot and backhands Warden with the staves. Warden sees it coming but he takes the blow just above his ear. The staves bounce off his mask. Warden drops his pistol and draws the tonfa. He smashes it against Nightrival's throat. Nightrival grips where he was struck, stumbles backwards and falls down again. The escrima staves roll onto the ground. He can't catch a breath and the room rapidly spins around him. "Die!" screams Warden. He rushes to Nightrival and strikes him again. Only this time, Nightrival rolls with the tonfa and his forearms absorb the hit. "Not tonight," replies Nightrival. He jumps to his feet and feints to the right, and this time Warden follows the wrong fist. Nightrival clobbers Warden with a swift right hook. Warden's head wobbles and he is thrown back into a computer terminal that crumbles under his weight. Sparks erupt out of the terminal and shower the room with tiny red lights. Nightrival tumbles forward and delivers a spinning back kick to Warden's head. Warden's mask is torn off and blood spurts out of his mouth. Nightrival then drives a straight punch directly into Warden's nose, which knocks the villain's head back. Warden's face is smeared with blood and swollen with bruises. Nightrival grabs Warden by the collar and presses his face against his. "This is what justice looks like." Nightrival winds up his right fist and throws a haymaker into Warden's jaw. More teeth fly out of the villain's mouth, and he lifts off his feet and then collapses on the floor. The tonfa fumbles out of his hand. Leaning against the smashed computer, Nightrival glances over at Grim. His partner is passed out. Nightrival looks himself over. His costume is shredded. He has deep bruises on his cheek, eyes, forearms, knuckles, and throat. He was shot three times. He has second and third degree burns. And two of his teeth are missing. Every part of his being is screaming in agony. "Jus' another day at th' office." He picks up his teeth and staves. He then picks up Grim and carries her in his arms. "C'mon, kiddo. I gotta call the cops. An' I could use a sandwich." Nightrival steps over Warden and walks out of the room.

Nightrival nods his head. "I'll go scope it out, then. Ya'll know I'm in trouble if . . . uh . . . ya hear automatic weapons and screamin'." Once again, Nightrival seems to evaporate into the shadows. He slithers off the stoop and down a nearby alley, keeping his back glued to the wall as he prowls closer to the scene. Faded posters hang ragged off the brick walls and the ground is littered with crushed, rusty cans. He reaches a four-way junction in the alley that allows him to peer across the street with a relatively clear view. So far this Avenger seems to be th' real deal. I wonder what 'is story is? Not that I've 'ad bad luck wit' other capes, but a dude's gotta be cautious-like these days. He glances around the corner to get a sense of the security detail outside the location.