Dr Archeville

Artificer Heroditus took a step back at Bernadette's display, and made several sounds not unlike those of a dolphin. "Amazing!" He suddenly found himself remembering tales of the Hekatónkheires, hundred-handed giants of immense strength. "Does your enhanced might persist through all your copies? Or does it change depending on the number of duplicates you have generated?" A familiar voice drew his attention, and he turned to greet the new arrival with open arms. "Ah, greetings, friend Ryder! How was your summer? And, ah," a look of mild disappointment flashed briefly across his face as he looked over Ryder's shoulders, "where are your little entomosautomatons?" He filed away what his new roommate said about a utility belt, merely nodding at his words. This year was looking to be very promising!

Artificer Heroditus blushed a bit at Bernadette's words, "well, I think being able to replicate yourself is a very impressive ability!" He cleared his throat a bit, "was that an ability your were born with, or something you sought out? If, ah, if it is not too forward of me to ask, that is." He was aware such topics could be sensitive, for both Surfacers and Atlanteans. He leaned slightly towards Charlie, "oh, I would be very interested in seeing your gadgets! Perhaps we can learn from one another!" He could sense the young detective's curiosity, and took that as a positive sign. "One area you Surfacers are far better at than Atlanteans is the field of miniaturization, like in the 'utility belts' some of your heroes wear. I have been trying to find ways to scale down the size of several devices, so I can carry more of them at once. Is that an area in which you are familiar?"

Artificer He smiled at Bernadette, though this time kept it tight, showing no teeth, "thank you. And, ah, yes, Atlantis has been," he paused again, thinking of a properly diplomatic word, "isolated for the past several centuries. It was only about 80 years ago that we started having more... open relations with America and other Surfacer nations. There are many who still believe we should keep to ourselves, remain isolated, but some of us see the value in sharing and trading. Why, I have learned more in two years at Claremont than I could have imagined in a lifetime back home!" "And that... flows neatly to your question," he made another click-pop sound as he turned to Charlie. "I am a mechano-mystic, or techno-mage. In Atlantis, we combine magic and technology in ways that Surfacers do not, and I have been attempting to figure out how our systems and your can interact. Which has been quite challenging at times!"

Artificer "Oh, I don't find it rude at all!," he replied to Bernadette with a smile, showing off pearl-white teeth. "I am Atlantean, which means that living up here has been a..." he paused a moment, seeking a properly diplomatic word, "a challenge for me. The temperature is always too hot, the lights always too bright. And, of course, all this," he gestured around vaguely, "dry, uncompressed air. So I made something that would let me feel more at home, at least while I slept. As I said, my first one was rather bulky and crude, but as my skills have increased, I've managed to make several refinements. My hope is that, some day, something like them will be used in the Atlantean Embassy, to let our diplomats and envoys feel less homesick." He turned to Charlie and tilted his head, "my... deal? I'm sorry, I am not quite sure what you mean. Are you asking about my abilities? Skills? About what I can do?" Heroditus knew little of his new roommate, so he still wasn't sure how they would relate, but this seemed like a decent way to start. "I'm happy to tell, if you'll share your 'deal'."

Artificer Heroditus smiled and made a click-pop sound, the equivalent of a brief chuckle, "yes, I suppose I should take what small rests I can." He took a quick look up and down the hallways, "things do seem to he slowed a bit." Ah, so this is who will be replacing Benny, he thought. Well, no, not replace, per se, but... oh, get out of your own head, Hero. He extended a hand to Bernadette, then to Charlie. "Ah, yes, while I still know little of Surfacer sports," he tried addressing all three simultaneously, "my understanding is that various team and squad activities here at Claremont focus on cooperative skills, rather than competitive play. Focus on responsible uses of one's abilities, both solo and as part of a team. And with a remarkable success rate, too!" He turned slightly to focus more on Charlie, "oh, you didn't have any trouble getting around my sleeping tank, did you? The one my former roommate had to deal with was much bulkier, but I think I have managed to slim down the design by a considerable amount." He was referring, of course, to the pressurized, water-filed tube that served as the Atlantean's bed, which was not much bigger than a single dorm bed.

Artificer 10 posts = 2pp Future Freedom, Today! (0) Hut Two, Hut Two! (10) Horrorshow 0 post = 0pp Dakar Rally (0) There Will Be Bees (0) Protectron 0 posts = 0pp, +1 [Mod] = +1pp ??? --Titanium Characters-- Dead Head 0 posts, to ??? Bedlam in Bedlam: Let Him In (0) Doktor Archeville 0 posts, to ??? ??? --Other-- Mod point, to Protectron

Kord Dormitories, Second Floor Claremont Academy, Freedom City, New Jersey Saturday, September 4, 2021 Like the rest of the dormitories at Claremont Academy, the first floor of the Rita Kord Dormitory was a scene of somewhat controlled chaos. Classes were set to start early next week after Labor Day, so the dorms had opened up this weekend for new and returning students to get moved in. Trying -- with some small amount of success -- to control this chaos was one of the floor's Senior residents, whose towering 6 foot 4 inch height made it easy for him to oversee most everything around him. "Two lines, please, one in, one out... no, no, stay to the right side of the ha- no, your right... Ho! Lift with your knees, not your back! Wait there a moment, I'll- oh, yes, sir, that's right down there, next to last on the left..." Try as he might, there was only so much Heroditus could do to control the Surfacers, but he had grown more accustomed to and accepting of their ways in the past few years.

In order to make sure the Refs accurately count all your IC posts and award you the due amount of power points, please post with a list of all the threads in which your player character, NPC or sidekick posted IC this month (including the News forum). Also list any threads which you are GMing. GM posts count as double and can be assigned to whichever of your characters needs a 'push'. This topic will automatically close on the seventh day of the following month (i.e., October 7th, 2021 at Midnight EST). When you make your list, post a link to your first post for the month for each IC thread so we can jump right to it. When you start a thread, make sure IC is the first tag and topic prefix of the In Character thread, and OOC is in the first tag and topic prefix of the Out Of Character thread. It's not required, but additional tags including the major players and locations are viewed as a courtesy. Please list your threads in alphabetical order. Please clearly note any threads in which you are both player and GM/running an NPC. In threads where you are both player and GM/an NPC, please be sure to mark each post so we can tell who it should be allocated to. Please list your threads in a timely manner. Extending the deadline one week into the following month is already a grace period. If you've done any "extracurriculars" -- artwork, HellQ, 20 Questions, NPC, vignettes, guidebook pages, etc. -- please be sure to list them along with your active threads. For more information on ways to earn power points, see Character Advancement and Awards in the House Rules section of the Guide. Post counts should be formatted similar to the following: To make clear how many posts from rollover and GM posts are assigned to each character. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in being turned into gumbo your post counts being postponed or skipped completely. If you missed the deadline, see this thread.

Congratulations on another month of pulse-pounding, page-turning adventure! Remember you can still post in the Late Thread Counting thread if you missed the cutoff point for last month and give me a shout if it looks like something is off with your totals. Avenger Assembled Angelic: 1+1 = 2 posts +8 from GM = 10 posts = +2pp Comrade Frost: 2 posts = +1pp Lady Horus: 1 post = +1pp Patriot II: 17 posts +8 from GM = 25 posts = +3pp, + [Ref] = +4pp Sea Devil: 0 posts = 0pp + 1 [Vignette] = +1pp GM: 5+3 - 8*2 = +16 posts; 8 to Angelic & 8 to Patriot II Dr Archeville Artificer: 1 post = +1pp Horrorshow: 1 post = +1pp Protectron: 0 posts + 1 Ref = +1pp Electra Chelone: +2pp Sparkler: +1pp Fox Eclipse: +1pp Gaian Knight [maxed]: 4 posts, 1 each to to Eclipse, Gremlin, Grim, and Masque Gremlin: +1pp Grim: +1pp Masque: +1pp Nocturne: 2 posts = 1pp + [Ref] + [Vignette] = +3pp Tiamat: 0 posts = 0pp + [Vignette] = +1pp, to Nocturne! Gizmo Chitin: 3+20 = 23 posts = +2pp + [Ref] + [Vignette] = +4pp Sekhmet: 0 posts = 0pp + [Vignette] = +1pp, to Chitin! Kaede Kimura Shadowborne: 4 posts = +1pp Shooting Star: 3 posts = +1pp KnightDisciple Thunderbird: +3pp LoneStar Outrider: +1pp Nerdzul Nightscale: +2pp Nick Arcana: 0 posts + 1 [Ref] = +1pp RocketLord Archer II: +1pp Freedom Eagle: +1pp Ghost: +2pp Justice: +1pp Little Mermaid: +2pp Nevermore II: +1pp Rocket: +1pp Space Ranger III: +1pp secondling Sable Raven: 2+8 = 10 posts = +2pp GM: 4 posts = +8 posts, all to Sable Raven Spacefurry Chimera: +1pp Paper: +3pp Thevshi Veronica Danger: 0 posts = 0pp + [Ref] = +1pp Tiffany Korta Bee: 1 post = +1pp Scarab III: 0 posts + [Ref] = +1pp Trollthumper Cavalier: 0 posts = 0pp + [Ref] = +1pp

RETURNING STUDENT Name: Heroditus Fabricus Stylianos Codename: Artificer Year: Senior Pronouns: He/Him/His Current Intramural Team: Green Squad Current Roommate: Benjamin "Rebound" d'Amato. Reflection: Glad I was able to help with the Lemurian Werewolf Curse, and with stopping that Alien-Gator at the mall! I still have much to learn, though, about Surfacer tech and Surfacer cultures. Independent Thinker: He's still trying to learn about Surfacer stuff, but is more comfortable working on magic and teach than cultural/social stuff. Becoming a bit more rebellious (for an Atlantean, which is still kinda stuffy by Surfacer standards), no longer sees elders as Authorities Beyond Questioning. Still uncomfortable around Lemurians, but is actively working on fighting those ingrained reactions, and judges them by their actions, not their appearance.

"I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords." Character Name: Psy-Antz Power Level: 10 (150/150PP) Trade-Offs: -5 Attack/+5 Effect, +2 Defense/-2 Toughness ABILITIES: 0 + 8 + 8 + 0 + 2 + 6 = 24PP Strength: 10 (+0) Dexterity: 18 (+4) Constitution: 18 (+4) Intelligence: 10 (+0) Wisdom: 12 (+1) Charisma: 10 (+0) COMBAT: 6 + 12 = 18PP Initiative: +8 Attack: +3 ranged, +5 melee Grapple: +5, +9 w/ Elongation Defense: +12 (+6 Base, +6 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: -8, -4 vs. area effects SAVING THROWS: 4 + 4 + 7 = 15PP Toughness: +8 (+4 Con, +4 Protection; Impervious 8 [not vs. area effects]) Fortitude: +8 (+4 Con, +4) Reflex: +8 (+4 Dex, +4) Will: +8 (+1 Wis, +7) SKILLS: 24R = 6PP Notice 8 (+9) Stealth 8 (+12) Survival 8 (+9) FEATS: 11PP All-out Attack Attack Focus (Melee) 2 Dodge Focus 6 Improved Initiative Move-by Action POWERS: 35 + 16 + 4 + 4 + 6 + 5 = 70PP PSY-ANTZ! 15 (30pp Array; Power Feat: Alternate Power 5) [35PP] BE: Dispersed Form 6 (contains Anatomic Separation 5 [Extras: Variable Split] {15} + Elongation 4 [50 feet] {4} + Insubstantial 1 [swarm of insects] {5} + Super-Movement 3 [slithering, wall-crawling 2] {6}) {15+4+5+6 = 30/30} AP: Enhanced Communication 5 (to Communication 6, 20 miles; PFs: Rapid 3 [x1,000], Subtle) {9} + Mind Reading 10 (Extras: Effortless, Mental, Penetrating; Flaw: Duration [Instant/Lasting]) {20} [9+20=29/30] AP: Illusion 10 (all senses; Flaw: Phantasm) [30] AP: Mental Blast 10 (Flaw: Action [Full]) [30] AP: Mind Control 10 (Extra: Area; PFs: Mental Link; Drawback: Noticeable) [31] AP: Telekinesis 7 (STR 35; Extras: Damaging, Perception; PFs: Precise, Subtle) [30] Communication 1 (Mental, 10 feet) {1} + Comprehend 1 (Languages 1 [Speak Any]) {2} + Mind Reading 1 (Extras: Action 3 [Free], Effortless, Mental; Flaws: Duration [Instant/Lasting], Limited [Surface Thoughts]) {3} (Telepathy) {1+2+3=6} Immunity 16 (critical hits, disease, mental effects, poison, radiation, starvation) [16PP] Impervious Toughness 8 (swarm form; Flaw: Limited [ineffective against area effects]) [4PP] Protection 4 (swarm form) [4PP] Super-Senses 6 (acute radius ranged mental sense, danger sense [mental], uncanny dodge [mental]) [6PP] Super-Senses 5 (radius 2 [all vision], scent, tracking [scent], ultravision) [5PP] DRAWBACKS: (-0) + (-0) = -0PP DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 15 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Mental Blast Perception DC 25 Will (Staged) Damage (Mental) Telekinesis Perception DC 22 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) TOTALS: Abilities (24) + Combat (18) + Saving Throws (15) + Skills (6) + Feats (11) + Powers (70) - Drawbacks (0) = 144/150 Power Points [6 free] A mutated colony of insects, given horrible awareness and fantastic mental powers after exposure to [chemicals/magic/radiation]? An alien gestalt, fearful and mistrusting of -- or intensely curious about -- the mono-minded mammals that dominate Earth? A human psychic, whose body was consumed by vermin, but whose mind lived on in their hive? Roaches from a future timeline, come back to insure the nuclear wars which killed off all other life & blessed them with their abilities come to pass? My basic idea here is that they have two forms. In either form, they’ve got several super senses, some from being a swarm of bugs, some from being psychic, plus a strong resistance to damage, especially non-area effects (like standard punches and bullets), and an ability to communicate telepathically with those close by. When dispersed, they can stretch and creep and split off into smaller swarms, like any other huge swarm of thousands upon thousands of insects. But when the whole colony is in close contact, the focused totality of their tiny brains becomes more than the sum of its parts, and they manifest incredible psychic abilities! They can assault minds directly, generate realistic illusions, seize control of others (though doing so makes the subject act buggy), and, for those immune to their mental effects, smash them with telekinesis! Saves are good, but skills and feats are pretty basic. You could drop one or two of the psychic abilities and add something like Nauseate 15 (for when they touch and engulf someone with their thousands of squirming, writhing bodies), or a Drain or Alt Save/Fort Strike effect (for venomous stings or razor-sharp pincers). Some movement powers could certainly be appropriate, too.

Artificer 0 post = 0pp Future Freedom, Today! (0) Horrorshow 0 post = 0pp Dakar Rally (0) There Will Be Bees (0) Protectron 0 posts = 0pp, +1 [Mod] = +1pp ??? --Titanium Characters-- Dead Head 0 posts, to ??? Bedlam in Bedlam: Let Him In (0) Doktor Archeville 0 posts, to ??? ??? --Other-- Mod point, to Protectron

In order to make sure the Refs accurately count all your IC posts and award you the due amount of power points, please post with a list of all the threads in which your player character, NPC or sidekick posted IC this month (including the News forum). Also list any threads which you are GMing. GM posts count as double and can be assigned to whichever of your characters needs a 'push'. This topic will automatically close on the seventh day of the following month (i.e., September 7th, 2021 at Midnight EST). When you make your list, post a link to your first post for the month for each IC thread so we can jump right to it. When you start a thread, make sure IC is the first tag and topic prefix of the In Character thread, and OOC is in the first tag and topic prefix of the Out Of Character thread. It's not required, but additional tags including the major players and locations are viewed as a courtesy. Please list your threads in alphabetical order. Please clearly note any threads in which you are both player and GM/running an NPC. In threads where you are both player and GM/an NPC, please be sure to mark each post so we can tell who it should be allocated to. Please list your threads in a timely manner. Extending the deadline one week into the following month is already a grace period. If you've done any "extracurriculars" -- artwork, HellQ, 20 Questions, NPC, vignettes, guidebook pages, etc. -- please be sure to list them along with your active threads. For more information on ways to earn power points, see Character Advancement and Awards in the House Rules section of the Guide. Post counts should be formatted similar to the following: To make clear how many posts from rollover and GM posts are assigned to each character. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in having the functions of every hole in your face shuffled your post counts being postponed or skipped completely. If you missed the deadline, see this thread.

Artificer "Good work!," he called out to Muirne, whom he (vaguely) recognized from Claremont. As he walked towards her and the Aliengator, he traced a few sigils in the air with his tiny trident, and the great ice wall rapidly sublimated back into water vapor. "Shadowbourne, yes?" He held out his free hand to her, "I am called Artificer." I know her, or rather, of her. I do not know the other two. Well, three, counting the creature. My people would say strangers bring danger, but that is not necessarily the case. He looked up, first to Nocturne (though he did not realize it was her), and gave her a quick salute, then up higher to the Man-Bird. "You there! You and this Aliengator both arrived here at the same time. I take it that you and...," he glanced down at the felled creature, "it are not allies, but did you come from the same place? And do you intend to return? And to take that creature with you?"

Artificer 1 post = 1pp Future Freedom, Today! (1) Horrorshow 1 post = 1pp Dakar Rally (0) There Will Be Bees (1) Protectron 0 posts = 0pp, +1 [Ref] = +1pp ??? --Titanium Characters-- Dead Head 0 posts, to ??? Bedlam in Bedlam: Let Him In (0) Doktor Archeville 0 posts, to ??? ??? --Other-- Mod point, to Protectron

Horrorshow While Davyd had not gained many of the psychic abilities of a Grue, he did have the potential for it, which Ms Grue had been helping him tap into. First was communicating with animals, which he'd put to good use earlier while helping on the dairy farm. But he'd eventually figured out how to communicate with any intelligent being. Not true telepathy, but more like an instant translator, working around the limits of spoken language to get to the true intent of a speaker's words. And so, as a giant red-and-black striped bee flew towards the Professor's time machine, it did so knowing the last bit of what (one of) the pilots of the giant mech announced. They think Bee might be one of them? That could be useful! HorrorBee turned from the machine and flew to Bee's side, and bowed slightly to her. "Mizztrezz, they addrezz you in the Queen'zz tongue. Are theez are your brotherzz?"

In order to make sure the Refs accurately count all your IC posts and award you the due amount of power points, please post with a list of all the threads in which your player character, NPC or sidekick posted IC this month (including the News forum). Also list any threads which you are GMing. GM posts count as double and can be assigned to whichever of your characters needs a 'push'. This topic will automatically close on the seventh day of the following month (i.e., August 7th, 2021 at Midnight EST). When you make your list, post a link to your first post for the month for each IC thread so we can jump right to it. When you start a thread, make sure IC is the first tag and topic prefix of the In Character thread, and OOC is in the first tag and topic prefix of the Out Of Character thread. It's not required, but additional tags including the major players and locations are viewed as a courtesy. Please list your threads in alphabetical order. Please clearly note any threads in which you are both player and GM/running an NPC. In threads where you are both player and GM/an NPC, please be sure to mark each post so we can tell who it should be allocated to. Please list your threads in a timely manner. Extending the deadline one week into the following month is already a grace period. If you've done any "extracurriculars" -- artwork, HellQ, 20 Questions, NPC, vignettes, guidebook pages, etc. -- please be sure to list them along with your active threads. For more information on ways to earn power points, see Character Advancement and Awards in the House Rules section of the Guide. Post counts should be formatted similar to the following: To make clear how many posts from rollover and GM posts are assigned to each character. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in being nibbled to death by ducks your post counts being postponed or skipped completely. If you missed the deadline, see this thread.

Davyd's down!

Horrorshow gets a mighty 1d20+3: 20 [1d20=17] for initiative!

Horrorshow A human hand sprouted from the end of one of Blobl!Davyd's tentacles and waved at Brobee, while his other appendages continued looking and listening and sniffing... but to no avail. Well, this isn't working out at all as I'd hoped. But surely there's something I could- oh! Oh! Okay, wait, first I've got to.... The Davyd!Blob shuddered as its many pseudopods suddenly withdrew into it. A moment later, Davyd's face appeared on the surface of the blob, a face as big as his torso, and looked down from his perch on the storage vat. "Hey! Hey, Bees! If I could shapeshift into one of you, mimic your, uh, a-bee-lities, would that let me help patch up the busted tank? Or to suck up all the spilled honey and spit it back out somewhere? I mean, uh, if you consent to letting me copy you, that is."

Horrorshow will help with the honey removal/retrieval... somehow.

Horrorshow's using his Oozey form -- which I don't think I've ever used in a thread until now! -- along with his Shapeshifting to gain infravision, scent, and ultra-hearing. Hopefully those will help him spot something useful! ... but not with an 1d20+1: 8 [1d20=7] on a Search check....

Horrorshow Davyd leaped from Super-Bee's back as she set down among the honey tanks, clinging to one of the great wax containers. Hey, without that Marcus guy here -- or any other adults -- I can really cut loose! He transformed in mid-air, going first to his true form of a vaguely humanoid form of muddy crimson flesh, then looser still, striking the side of the storage tank with a wet SPLUT. His form oozed down slowly for a moment, then stopped and reversed, flowing up and moving around the tank in a clockwise manner. Numerous pseudopods spread out, some clinging to the tank and pulling him along, others waving out in the air, sprouting eyes, cones, and other, less identifiable organs as he scoured the area for clues with senses no human ever had. Okay, this is all stone and wax, so any scent of metal might be the Professor's machine. And if some part of it's still active, it might be making sounds of a frequency outside normal human hearing. As he searched, his mind kept wandering to the processes by which bees make honey and wax, and how he might could replicate them.

Horrorshow gets 1d20+10: 21 [1d20=11].

Horrorshow Davyd bowed his head at Stesha's request, looked down to Magenta and gave a shrug, then smoothly shifted his form. The rear bovine half seemed to walk into his front half as his four legs melded into two, and his fur morphed into layers of fabric. Soon he was Davyd Palahniuk, Ukrainian-American teenage boy, again, wearing a causal outdoor outfit which he thought the time traveler might find familiar: brown high boots, tan breeches, a loose single-breasted blue tweed coat over a mustard yellow vest/waistcoat, with a blue bowtie and a blue soft felt hat. "Yes, ma'am." He fought the urge to take on any gamefowl characteristics when Marcus made his "cock and bull" crack, and climbed aboard Super-Bee. Against his better intentions, though, his nose did begin curving and sharpening into a beak, but he quickly realized what was happening and raised a hand to cover it.