Shadowboxer

Noooo! Not my precious skin! Cool picture, by the way. I rolled an 18 for initiative.

"Thanks, Slathliss," says Nightrival. He stands up and crosses his arms after listening to Kevin. "Good. That's good ta hear. We'll get an early start tomorrow an' look fer these elves. Just, ya know, keep on eye on yer chi. Don't exert yerself; focus and direct yer energy in small doses." He steps towards the door and peers into the hallway then looks back to the group. "Let's get some shut-eye, a'right? I'll take first watch." Nightrival sits beside the door with his back to the wall. Though he's concerned for Kevin, he is also worried about meeting creatures that have only existed in stories. What will they be like? Would they even help them? He shakes his head to toss out his uneasiness and trains he ears to listen for any potential troublemaker stumbling up the stairs.

I bought the 4E PHB and I'm currently playing with a group. My short experience with 3.5 renders me inadequate to make comparisons between the two systems. I can say, however, that the game runs smoothly during combat (much of the rules actually mirror M&M) and the skill challenges are a clever way of including everyone in making that crucial skill check, rather than laying the burden on the rogue all the time. I've just started playing and so my critique is limited for now. :)

According to the description for the Jack-of-all-Trades feat, characters can use any trained skill without training. Language is a trained skill. Does this feat allow characters to speak any or all languages?

"Help me move 'em to the mattress," Nightrival asks Sen. With the samurai's assistance, he carries Kevin across the room and lays him out onto the makeshift bed. He thinks two gold pieces does sound like too much money for such a small room, though the circumstances prevent them from finding better accomodation. He's just glad to be off the street and into someplace inconspicuous. Soon word will spread that they were questioning the local wizards. That could be dangerous. "Go get some water," he orders Slathliss. "It looks like he's comin' around." Nightrival kneels next to Kevin. "You're gonna be alright. Can ya speak?" Nightrival looks around the room. "Let's see if there's any windows in this dump and get some air in here."

Nightrival looks up from his chicken and shakes his head. "Huh. Whattaya know? Either that means he's inta th' idea of joinin' our crew or there's a poltergeist nearby. Does he even fight those things? Or is it jus' demons?" He shrugs his shoulders. "Ah, whatever." He finishes his meal he tosses the plate onto the table. He leans forward and steeples his fingers. "I guess Grim here said all that needs ta say, right? Good. Then we're agreed." He stands up and brushes his hands against his legs. "Ya guys will put th' word out and so will I. If ya need me, ya can find me passin' by here every midnight." He walks over the door and opens it ajar. "Ya guys can hang out here all ya want; I gotta go back ta work. Don't worry 'bout th' dishes. I'll do 'em 'fore Monty gets up." "Thanks fer comin' out. Startin' tonight we're gonna make a difference." He tips his head to the group and somehow vanishes before anyone can say good-bye.

"Keep on eye on these things," Nightrival whispers to Grim. "I jus' need a second." He draws his attention to the walls on the corridor. If they're crawling inside the utility tunnels for Warden's deathtraps, he surmises, then there must be a room just on the other side. Or at least he hopes there is a room nearby. He slides his hand across the walls and the floor, then gently taps them with his knuckles. He tries to ignore the robots scuttling closer to them, though he can hear the tink-tink-tink from their small metallic legs against floor grow louder.

Nightrival follows Slathliss's suggestion and slings Kevin's arm over his shoulder. He shifts all of his companion's weight onto him. "Man, what were ya thinkin'?" he asks the unconsious Kevin. "Didn't ya know those, uh . . . leprechauns can hold their liquor?" Nightrival chuckles and talks a little louder. "I mean, those little dudes sank you, man. I knew I shoulda bet all those doubloons on them." When the innkeeper hands Slathliss the key, Nightrival drags Kevin towards the stairwell and follows their guide. He knows that one wrong move could bring some unwanted attention their way, and if Eldrich is in trouble the last thing they need is someone knowing they are the rescue party. He keeps a lopsided smile plastered across his face as he walks across the bar. "Much obliged," he says to the innkeeper. "Lead th' way."

The invisible daggers tear into Nightrival, leaving behind thin red lines across his chest and stomach. They certainly hurt, and he winces from his inexplicable wounds, but he is able to remain on his feet and shrug off the pain. He has felt worse in his short career as a costumed crimefighter, though if this mysterious woman continues to strike out at him she might be able to cause even worse damage. Her torn dress tells Nightrival the whole story. He sees Heavy fall over his feet and he grins to himself. The lummox won't be a problem for now; the other attacker is the real threat. "I hate ta hit a lady," he growls to the woman, "but I'm guessin' yer far from one." He somersaults across the lawn and lashes at her with a side kick, focusing all his strength through the narrow space.

Nightrival has one PP to his name. I'll pick up another rank of Improved Disarm, please. Thanks! Updated, finally, by V_M!

Nightrival walks into the inn feeling relaxed. A good night's sleep after a harried day of chasing a reptilian pickpocket, avoiding angry merchants and questioning mysterious wizards is exactly what he needs at the moment; the prospect of resting eases his mind. However, as soon as he steps inside the hair along the back of his neck immediately stands at attention. He doesn't like the look of the crowd, but perhaps if the group can keep a low profile they can - His arms thrust forward to catch the falling Kevin. Nightrival holds him up and gently shakes him. "Easy there, man. Are ya a'right? Can ya 'ear me?"

I'm still doing this thread. I'll be picking up it up again this weekend.

Nightrival nods his head and watches Hub exit the room. He sits back down and places two more pieces of chicken on his plate. He mutters something about not eating all day and looks back to the group. "So, uh, this is lookin' good, right?" he asks between bites. "I mean, we got ourselves a team. How many superpeople can say that? An army, maybe. Goin' up against the forces of evil an' all that. I dunno 'bout ya guys, but I'm feelin' like everythin's goin' ta work out." He shrugs his shoulders and continues eating his meal, giving someone a chance to speak so he can finish eating.

Someone discovered Gorilla City? I think the Flash should be notified immediately.

Okay, I have a complete picture now. I have one more question, though. Do any of the six tunnels veer downwards, or are they all perpendicular to the tunnel we're currently in? Sorry about the interrogation. :roll: When the critters get within ten feet, I'll have NR toss a few knives at them. That's his effective range.

I have three questions: Does Nightrival have enough room to maneuver so he can throw his trusty knives? How many rounds do the heroes have until they are surrounded? What is the length of the tunnels with the grated fans on each end?

Just the other day I was wondering what had happened to that fellow folks called Cosmicarus. Then he shows up on our doorstep. Welcome back. :)

GenCon? You're very lucky! I've always wanted to go but I never had the opportunity. You should send us your impressions of the event when you get back. :)

Happy belated birthday! :D

Nightrival listens but does not reply. He's struggling with the horrid thought of facing Grim's death, knowing it would be his fault. She does joke around when they have their backs to the wall, like it was her way of dealing with the fear and danger. He decides to go along, more for his sake than Grim's. For what seems like hours, he finally whispers back to his partner. "I think o' it this way: there's what I wanna do ta 'em and what I'm gonna do ta 'em. If I had th' time, I'd roll 'em in barbeque sauce and leave 'em atta steak house in Texas. I don't 'ave that luxury so . . . " He slows down his pace and his voice lowers to a rumbling growl. "If ya pinch the spot between yer thumb and yer finger ya'll feel a sharp pain. That's called a pressure point, it's like the body's weak spot. We gotta whole lot o' them. Now, can ya imagine what would 'appen if ya hit a bunch o' 'em over an' over? Like, really 'ard? That's how I'm gonna show Warden what justice really feels like."

Nightrival stumbles forward when Grim bumps into him. He quickly straightens himself up, mumbles a few words, and then glances over his shoulder. He seems to be flexing and relaxing his shoulders as he speaks. "Well, a'right. That was fun, huh? I 'aven't seen that many rounds fired at me since tha' one time in Moscow, and tha' was . . . um, sorry. Guns get me all, um, talkative. If yer feelin' up ta it, when should get goin'." He peers into the maintenance tunnel and scratches the back of his head. "We only got one exit. It's th' best I can do in such short notice. I'll go on ahead." He climbs into the tunnel and crawls along its cramped corrider. His arms and legs shake from the adrenaline seeping out of his system, and suddenly the image of snarling guns flashes in his mind. He thought he could forget them. He chokes back the terror from realizing that he was only seconds from being torn to pieces, then he replaces the fear with rage. He thinks of Warden snickering in his secured control room, warm and comfortable and safe. He gathers all that anger and uses it to picture the indescribable amount of pain he's going to unleash upon that psychopath. Nightrival doesn't think of what could have happened to Grim. Man, I 'ope I'm not pushin' Grim too 'ard. We don't got th' time fer talkin'. If we don't keep movin', we end up dead. He pushes further towards the light.

Nightrival grins to himself when he hears Heavy collide with the ground. Well, that's one 'o them outta th' house. He approaches Slick Willie and kneels at the man's shoulders. In one motion, Nightrival heaves Willie over his shoulders in a firefighter's carry and walks over to the window. He takes one step outside and launches himself into the air, while simultaneously tossing his swing line over his shoulder and snagging the eaves with the hook. Nightrival swoops over the commotion below and releases the line to land near the edge of the front lawn. He slides Willie off his shoulders and checks his condition. Although Nightrival views criminals like Slick Willie as scum, he silently prays the man is not severely injured, or worse.

Curse you, machines! Nightrival is moving all out to reach the hole. I think that should cover the distance.

Nightrival squeezes his eyes shut to avoid the bright flashes outside the bunker. His teeth rattle from the booming sounds just a few feet from where he's hiding. He nods to himself when the guns finally stop; he anticipated this moment. If the two heroes race for the hole they might make it out alive. In the few precious seconds it takes the guns to find their targets and shoot, they would have gained significant ground. Nightrival turns to Grim and places his hand her shoulder. "That's our cue," he whispers. "Stay close and run fer all yer worth. Go inna zig-zag pattern, a'right?" He winks and streaks out of the bunker. Counting down until the guns kick into life, he flips out of the crevice housing the bunker and forces the muscles in his legs to push as hard as they can. He turns onto his hands and heaves himself over one wall in one perfect roll, and then lands on his feet to continue running zig-zag to another wall. This time he jumps and graps the top edge, vaults off it, and hits the ground in a forward tumble before standing and pouring the last of his strength into one final sprint through the hole melted through the wall. If there is gunfire erupting all around him, Nightrival doesn't hear a thing.

Nightrival is not accustomed to talking about his past, especially to people he's only known for a short time. He realizes he might be saying too much and he immediately shuts himself up. He's relieved that Hub broke the silence and he stands up at the same time as his new teammate. "Fair enough. But ain't ya gonna eat anything? Ya came all this way, after all. I unnerstand if ya gotta go but, ya know, we got chicken. Lots o' chicken."