Dr Archeville

Having recently finished earning my degree, I find I'm once again able to read for leisure. Last week I read Heinlein's Starship Troopers -- I'd never read it, and seeing Iron Man got me in the mood to read some power armor sci-fi. It was... about what I expected, given what I know of Heinlein. I disagree with the philosophies within, but didn't see all the bad things I'd heard about it. The power armor descriptions were nice. And now I see exactly what all the fuss was about when the movie came out (i.e., why folks were so upset at the changes, especially the lack of power armor, one of the defining elements of the book). (I hear the 3rd ST movie will actually have power armor in it.) Now I'm reading Soon I Will Be Invincible. It's been incredibly awesome so far, and I highly recommend it for anyone who like superhero vs. supervillain comic books.

The season finale of Smallville left me scratching my head. The season finale of Supernatural was good, but I would've liked to see more. Seen it stretched out to a two-parter.

Archeville saw Dryad's hands go down her jumpsuit, and saw her wince. He soon realized what she was doing, and placed a hand on her arm. "Er, please, stop zhat. Zhe leaves from zhe top of your head are just fine." When she tried to cut herself and pick up a test tube, the guards rushed in to stop her, yanking the blade and tube from her hands. The doktor pushed them aside, with some effort. "Please, Dryad, you don't need to do zhat, just let me do all zhe work. You know how jump zhe guards are, und we don't vant to do anyzhing to upset them, ja?" He winked at her with the last few words, and she barely realized the needle had gone into her arm. Soon he had three vials full of her sap-like blood. "Now, as for zhe bark, I-." Archeville paused in mid-sentence as Dryad used her own claws to gouge out a bit of her arm for him. "Er... right, zhat vill do."

Archevile held the weird techno-staff in one hand, and his electromagnetic screwdriver in the other. He began using the latter to try and open the former, and see what was inside the weapon. Archeville flew down as he worked so that he was as close to the two teach-priests as possible. He needed to be sure to get them in range so that when he sent out the energy pulse from the staff, it got them both; if he wried it correctly, the EMP-like burst would only affect the Tech Priest's own gear. OOC: Attempting to use inventor/jury-rig a 1pp power feat for the staff's Blast power. The power feat is alternate power. Specifically, Nullify (all effects of a tech descriptor at once; Extras: Burst Area, Selective Attack; Flaws: Range/Touch, Side-Effect [failure to successfully use causes a backlash that affects Archeville as the Stun power]), at a rank equal to that of the Blast. It'll take one round to make, so he can try and use it next round.

......... for some reason I thought she was actually in her cell this whole time, not in an open space like a cafeteria. My "inner monologues" would've gone a lot differently if I'd realized that. Ah, well. Teaches me to pay better attention to things Archeville would've been fine with some of the leaves from the top of her head. But I'd be willing to bet the guards would not let her handle the test tubes in any way (she could snap, smash the end, and use it as a shiv).

Works for me! :)

By odd coincidence, I actually started something like this last week.

I think it'd be useful as its own thing. Sort of a "FC PbP Directory".

I need to know where folks are, to see if Keira's 20 feet o' darkness has engulfed Archeville or not. ;)

Sooo... ummm... what are we doing, gang? Have Legionnaire carried off to jail and we resume the training?

I second everything Heritage said. ;)

I know I certainly use colored fonts in my posts. Und zhis is vhat I use for vhen Archeville is speaking. That's not a problem for anyone, is it? I know everyone's monitor is slightly different.

Archeville should have 3 HPs, not one -- he's got Luck 2, and hasn't used any Hero Points this adventure. Is Keira's 20 feet o' darkness going to cover the other Tech-Priest or Archeville? If it doesn't cover him, Archeville's plan is to examine/fiddle with the staff in his hands to jury-rig some sort of electromagnetic pulse to knock out the Tech Priest's tech.

"Hrm, so you remember nutzing of vhat happened vhile you vere being changed? Zhat is... unfortunate...." Archeville saw his words had a negative effect, based on the way Dryad's face started twisting up and her fists began tightening. "Zhat doesn't mean it's hopeless! Far from it! I can help, I know it, you just must be patient, und remain calm!" "Und I von't be needing a whole arm or leg, or anyzhing like zhat. Just a bit of your blood und leaves, und some of zhe bark from your skin. All zhe equipment for taking zhe samples is prepped und ready in zhe infirmary, if you're ready to come along. Peacefully, quietly."

I was under the impression that we're still discussing it. I see no reason to close it down.

Good luck on your exam!

17 February 2008 (Sunday) What a walk! I met three superpowered resident of Freedom City, one of them a rather barbaric one that needed stopping. Ah, but I get ahead of myself. The first two people I met, Keira and Alan, seemed more than pleasant enough. Keira seemed high school age, while Alan seemed but a few years older. Keira's from Bulgaria, and a Metahuman to boot, an umbrakinetic of some sort. Both were looking for some fun, of the nightclub sort, and I joined them. I never did much of that sort of thing while here the first time, so it would be a shame to forgo it now! While in one club, another Metahuman appeared, some sort of plant-woman who was ranting on about... well, about many things. I tried to calm her down, even after she shot at me (she actually pierced through my force field! luckily I had my labcoat on), which seemed to confuse her even more. Ah, these Americans, so quick to run in with guns (or crackling fists) blazing -- whatever happened to diplomacy? It seemed she calmed down, but soon she was lashing out again, dominated by the Green Man (who seemed to be responsible for her powers & fractured mindset). As this went on I noticed Alan had left, as had most of the other club patrons, leaving Keira and I to fend this woman off, but suddenly another Metahuman emerged, a gleaming silvery figure hurling out star-hot bolts of plasma*. Dryad soon fell, and was taken away by the police, but not before I discretely collected the thorn she'd shot out and a sample of her blood/sap. I promised her I would find a way to restore her, and I intend to keep that promise. * The silvery figure "told" me its name was Star -- it had no bodily orifices, was completely sealed, and could only communicate via a short-range telepathy. ========================================================== 18 February 2008 (Monday) I'll give Dr. Grovemont this: he's thorough. I cannot find a trace of pure human DNA in these samples. Either she's been changed on a level so fundamental I cannot even begin to work out how to reverse it (yet), or she's something he made from scratch and gave a rudimentary mind to it in order to throw any "meddling heroes" off his trail. Something tells me it's the former, though. Unfortunately, I'm going to need more samples from her. I'll wait until her trial is settled and she's moved in to wherever they decide to send her. Providence Asylum? Blackstone Prison? I can see it swinging either way. ========================================================== 24 February 2008 (Sunday) Dryad's trial wrapped up today. She'll be getting ten months in Blackstone, though this may (probably will) change based on her behavior. Ten months... she'd be out on Christmas Eve. I hope she gets it. Why am I so sentimental over her? Did her thorn carry some euphoria toxin? I'd best run some blood tests. ~~~~~ Bloodwork's all clear. So what is it about her that compels me so? Is it just the primitive part of my brain going ga-ga over an attractive (if exotic) woman? I should be more in control than that! ========================================================== 26 February 2008 (Tuesday) What luck! The husband of the sister of one of the highly-placed guards at Blackstone was a man I'd rescued during Blŏzan's August 2006 rampage, and the guard was eager to help me! I'll be at Blackstone on Friday. Officer Miller did warn me that she has been very rowdy since she got in, giving the guards not one moment's peace. ========================================================== 29 February 2008 (Friday) I've just returned from Blackstone, with more samples from Dryad. Some vials of sap/blood, a few scrapings of her exoskeletal bark, even a few cuttings of her leaves. These should be enough samples to get some real work done. ~~~~~ Have been able to isolate human elements in samples! Now to figure out a way to increase those elements while decreasing the planet elements. ~~~~~ First batch of trials, all FAILURES. Attempted numerous defoliant variants to try and kill off the plant part but retain the human, in all cases the samples completely dissolved. ========================================================== 1 March 2008 (Saturday) Second batch of trials, all FAILURES. Attempted to use metabolic stimulator on stasis-preserved samples to cause human elements to multiply and 'push out' plant elements. Plant elements compensated and adapted, growing along with the human parts. ========================================================== 2 March 2008 (Sunday) Third batch of trials, all FAILURES. Inspired by a fungus I'd found growing on an elm tree, I attempted to introduce various fungal agents into the samples to see if they would weaken the plant elements but leave the human elements alone. In some samples, the fungi took, but infected both plant & human components (and proved lethal to them), while in some, the fungi would not take. ========================================================== 3 March 2008 (Monday) I've run out of Dryad samples. I'll need more. ========================================================== 5 March 2008 (Wednesday) I'm going to see Dryad. Hopefully she will be calmer today.

[[ The things she saw were also a good deal bigger than this thing. ]]

6 April 2008 (Sunday) While waiting for some bacterial cultures to grow, I flipped through the television channels and found a political debate on "the (il)legality of superhumans," discussing the various laws (written and unwritten) pertinent to superhuman activity. Two things surprised me about this: one was the relative calmness of the debate, but the other was the continued use of the word "superhuman." It's always been a pet peeve of mine (akin to my peeves about people using "sentient" when they should be using "sapient" or "sophont", and the continued mispronunciation of "nuclear"), the use of that word. "Superhuman" implies a value judgment, that They (people with powers*) are inherently and intrinsically superior to the 'normal' people who do not share their fantastic abilities. (The term used in my homeland, Ubermensch, literally "Over-Man", is even worse at this, though this is no surprise considering the era in which the term arose!) I've heard numerous other terms used for "people with powers," in both professional fields and amongst the everyday people. Some terms I've heard include Aberrants, Abnormals, Aces, After-Humans, Aliens, Alphas (or Deltas or Gammas or Omegas), Angels, Avatars, Awakened, Capes, Champions, Changers, Chosen, Demigods, Demons, Distinguished, Divines, Elites, Exarchs, Exemplars, Extraordinaries, Flyers, Freaks, Gestalts, Geeks, Gene-Freaks, Gifted, Godlings, Gods, Guardians, Guards, Heroes, Homo sapiens superior, Homo superior, Hyper-Humans, Hyperkind, Incredibles, Inhumans, Inspired, Mages, Marvels, Masks, Megahumans, Metahumans, Metas, Multis, Mutants, Mutates, Nephilim, Novas, Paragons, Parahumans, Paranormals, Posthumans, Powers, Primes, Protectors, Psis, Psions, Psychics, Psykes, Quantums, Replacements, Saviours, Scions, Sentinels, Seraphim, Specials, Stalwarts, Superbeings, Superhumans, Supercops, Superheroes, Superiors, Superlatives, Supernaturals, Supers, Supersoldiers, Talents, Transcendents (or Transcendants), Transhumans, Ubermenschen, Ultras, Unnatural, Unusuals, Vigilants, Watchers, and Wildcards. * Avatar, Demigods, Godlings, Nephilim, Scion and Seraphim all denote a "derived from the gods" feeling, tying to the thought that these "people with powers" are the new gods of the age. (And some go further and state that the gods of old were 'merely' samples of "people with powers" [or extraterrestrials], seen through the superstitious lens of early humanity.) This labeling can lead to issues of superiority, where "people with powers" begin seeing themselves as deities who should "rightly" rule over the rest of humanity. * I believe Posthuman -- a being "whose basic capacities so radically exceed those of present humans as to be no longer unambiguously human by our current standards" -- comes closest to an all-encompassing neutral term. But closer examination tells me this is not quite right, either; the "basic capabilities so radically exceed" part of the definition that makes me think it should only apply to the mind-bogglingly potent beings, like Quirk. * There is, fortunately, the term Transhuman (which, if my knowledge of Latinized Greek is accurate, is actually the same as Metahuman). A Transhuman ("transitory human") is a transitory stage between "human" and "posthuman," who take part in "participatory evolution," the processes of deliberately redesigning the human body and brain using technological means, with the goal of removing "biological limitations." But, strictly speaking, this term isn't right, either, because it's so broad: anyone who's had a prosthetic or cosmetic surgery, or wears glasses or contact lenses, would be a "transhuman". * Mutant may be a better term (despite negative social connotations), since a mutant is a being who has had a change in their DNA which leads to the development of a new characteristic or trait not found in other non-mutant members of the species. Still not a perfect fit, though, since the this definition also encompasses people with albinism, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, ichthyosis, neurofibramatosis, phenylketonuria , polydactyly, red-green colorblindness, sexdactyly, Tay-Sach's Disease, and so on. * Parahuman certainly applies to some beings, though not all. A parahuman is a human that has had inserted into them genes not native to the human genome; a "human-animal hybrid" (or extraterrestrial/human hybrid). Both the Green Man and Megalodon would be examples of parahumans. A new word may still need to be invented to define "people with powers" in a value-neutral way. Maye I'll contact some linguists. * Should this be "We" instead of "They"? ========================================================== 16 April 2008 (Wednesday) Today's the day of the Open Training at Freedom Hall! With luck I'll finally be able to meet with and talk to Daedalus! Hunh, and it's been exactly one month since my last adventure had started, with all the craziness in the park, the nightclubs, and with that Legionnaire. I wonder if he'll be at the Open Training today? Or that shadow-weaver, Keira?

He could be arrested, but later break out. I've a feeling Emissary & Captain Wonder would want to keep a close on him at least until he finally gets sent to prison, so breaking out from the cop car or during the trial probably wouldn't work. But once he's in jail, Emissary's & Wonder's attentions are bound to turn elsewhere, so he'd not immediately notice if Legionnaire broke out. Heck, he might even like it in prison, if he takes over as a "Big Man on the Block" and forms a small army. Might even start a riot, which some heroes would need to go in and stop.

Do you want to continue playing Legionnaire as a heroic character in Freedom City? A time-travel thing like shazam mentioned can be a fine way to introduce a series of adventures where he could redeem himself in other's eyes. Alternatively, would you be terribly opposed to having him be re-labeled as a villain (disproportionate revenge over quasi-imagined slights)? In either case, I would advise you in the future to keep in mind the potentially huge gap in power between PL 6 and PL 10 characters.

While Legionnaire is seen more and more as a Sabretooth-like villain That would make for a very interesting character development, though, for both Dryad & Archeville.

"Cleaning up the city, bit by bit"? "No good deed is too small"?

Archeville came by to see if she remembers anything more of what happened to her, and to take more 'blood' and 'skin' and 'hair' samples. Most all his gear was confiscated and is kept in some sort of visitor's holding area, but one thing he brought -- his med kit -- was taken to the prison infirmary. Included in his kit are some of the experimental "Turn Dryad Back Into A Human" serums, so he can test them immediately on the freshly-cut samples. Dryad would be escorted to the infirmary to have the samples taken from her -- they don't dare let his medkit in amongst the inmates for fear someone might snatch it. While there she sees Archeville run his tests, and one seems to work, turning her sap into blood. She lunges forth and takes on of the vials of his serums and drinks/injects in, and soon starts convulsing and reacting very poorly. The prison's infirmary isn't set up to handle this (since Archeville's serums & her biochemistry are so weird), and an emergency helicopter is called in to take her to an actual hospital. Before the chopper gets there, Dryad recovers, and her powers are back: somehow the serum has, at least temporarily, made her immune to whatever power-nullifying devices are in the prison. (I can provide sufficient technobabble for theorizing how.) She merrily slaughters her way out, commandeering the helicopter to take her off Lonely Point (or maybe they think she does but really she's slunk off into the water), escaping.

Archeville pushed his way to Dryad's cell, telling the guards to stand down (though not really stopping to see if they obeyed), and stood right up next to the bars. "I did not lie, Dryad, I told you I vould help you, and I am. I also told you it vould take time, zhat you must be patient. I can heal you, I'm sure of it, but it vill take time. Zhe bes zhing you can do is remain calm, und try to remember anything that vas done to you, all zhe sights und sounds und smells of zhe place vhere it happened, und let me keep taking samples from you. The more you can tell me, the better chance I'll have of concocting un antidote." OOC: I think I have an idea for how she can break out. I'll post it in the OOC thread.