N/A

Yes. Exactly. I could have sworn I saw it mentioned somewhere that you guys ruled that those feats can't apply to an entire array, just one power in it. Maybe I was mistaken.

There are precedents for Benefit feats that allow the substitution of one Ability modifier for another, but they all limit that substitution to a specific task.

Honestly, I think the application of feats like Attack Specialization and Improved Critical is a bit too narrow and strict in FCPBP as it is. I see no reason why either one couldn't apply to an entire array of attack powers based around a central item or theme.

And here we hit a bit of a snag.

Properly collecting a clue for later analysis requires an Investigate check & an evidence kit. Scarab could make the check thanks to being a Jill of All Trades, and GMs are to generally assume the characters have any needed tools to use skills which require them... except Scarab II doesn't actually have any ranks in Investigate (and as such probably doesn't have an evidence gathering kit on her, though I could be wrong), and you wrote the gathering as using stuff from around the house. So I'm imposing a -2 penalty for not using actual tools.

DC is 15. If you fail, Doc has a -5 on his Investigate roll to analyze the clue. If you fail by 5 or more, it's too contaminated to use at all.

The Scarab will pop her lone Hero Point for 5 temporary ranks of Investigate, putting her at +9. Whew! She got a 16.

The Scarab will use Postcognition, focusing on the robbery itself. She'll take 10 for any relevant Notice or Search checks (25).

"Thank you."

"I am The Scarab. I have recently returned to Freedom City after a long absence."

"There are several items missing from Beaumont's collection. Most of them have disasterous potential in the wrong hands. Most of his pieces are merely mundane antiques and art objects, but a few are more than meets the eye."

The Scarab gives a brief description of the items she remembers which are unaccounted for, then kneels down on the ground, supporting herself with one arm while the other touches her forehead. "Pardon me for a minute. I'm going to find out what happened here. Avenger, if you would be so kind as to watch my back, I think you 'know the drill.'"

I'm stuck out of town a bit longer than expected due to inclement weather, but I did manage to steal a few minutes here to catch up on FCPBP. I should be home in a day or two.

Speaking of Shaen, I do have a bit of a concern. Scarab & Avenger are both doing the "Triple Murder in Riverside" adventure, which takes place about three and a half months before "Break-In." So far we've been running things here as if Scarab (and likely Avenger) & Jos Terhune have never met (and probably as if they've never met while Jos was demon-ed out, either). But it's entirely possible that they could have met during the triple murder investigation. If it happens that they do meet in that adventure, how will it impact what's going on here?

Actually, Scarab and Avenger have been acting like they know each other, at least a little. Avenger and I agreed on that at the beginning of the OOC thread.

If you're planning on having Jos turn up in TRIRR, that could create weird retcons. But that's almost entirely up to you.

Are the two costumes patterned similarly? I.e., does your Scarab's armor look like an armored/beefed up/padded version of the original Scarab's?

Yes.

"I vould of course be happy to lend assistance to a fellow Do-Gooder, and... vait a moment." He paused and looked over Scarab, "I dink I know you! Ja, you are der Scarabäus, The Scarab, ja? Potent psychic, vorked mit de Freedom League? Vunderbar! I haff been meaning to see about arranging to meet mit you!

"I helped found the League, before my...long absence. I am no longer affiliated with them. They are not the League I worked with. And I'm afraid I don't have the influence to get you an audience with them, if that's what you were hoping."

"Oh, and you..." he turns to face Slamdance, "ja, I know you, too, young man. Slamdance, ja? 'De Teenage Wrecking Ball,' I believe dey call you."

The Scarab turns to Slamdance as they follow The Good Doctor into his lab. "I'm sorry. I assumed this was your first case. It appears that you've already made something of a name for yourself. And that I was right to trust you."

Question: Does the Scarab's outfit/costume/armor look like the original Scarab who was a member of the Freedom League?

No. It looks significantly different. The original Scarab wore your basic red and yellow spandex, like Superman with a full face mask. The new Scarab's costume looks more like armor. The character sheet linked in my sig has a picture at the top.

I've been searching, but I can't find them. Have these new threads started up yet?

Once the alarm is shut off, Scarab uses her Telekinesis to open every door in her way from the inside. If she comes across one that can't be opened or unlocked by any mechanism she can see, she'll just yank it off its hinges (effective STR 60), but put it down gently, as to minimize the noise factor.

The Scarab flew back down to the lobby of the Beaumont Building, but the accented man was nowhere to be found. Hmmm. Maybe I scared him off. Just as well. One less factor in the equation to worry about. He can come back another time. She flew directly to the alarm control panel, then down to the vault. She punched the keys in the alarm panel by looking at them. I must admit, being a telekinetic certainly is convenient. I almost don't have to wear gloves at all. Looking through the windows, she used her mental powers to open every door in her path from the inside. Hold on just a little longer, Avenger. I'm almost there. No more heroes blood on your hands, Meinhoff. Gods help me, I just may kill tonight, if that's what it takes to stop you...

Not trying to godmode you, Razorback. Just saving you a walk down the stairs and giving us a dramatic entrance. :D

"I'm sorry we couldn't meet under better circumstances, Doctor. Your reputation proceeds you, however, and we require someone with your expertise."

The Scarab levitates up off the stairs, bringing Slamdance along with a wave of her off-hand, and floats the two of them directly down to the floor next to Archeville. "We are investigating a murder. The prime suspect is a supernatural entity from another plane of existence. And she left some traces the police missed." She reaches into a pocket and pulls out the plastic bag with the demon's hairs. "We have other contacts examining their mystical properties. But I was hoping you could provide a more scientific analysis." She offers the bag to Archeville. "And we would be happy to compensate you for your valuable time."

Shaen, I was just curious. I'd like to make the references IC as 'she' or 'her', if it's ok with you, instead of "The Scarab walked down the street" .

Yeah, that's fine with me. I'm surprised the whole gender-confusion thing lasted as long as it did.

Excellent, thought The Scarab. Just as weak-willed as I hoped they were. Not that it's a good thing in the long run for security to be so lax, but it suits my purposes for the moment.

She turned her attention back toward her dark-clad associate. "Avenger, I've got the layout of the building and the alarm codes. Luckily, most of the security systems have been brought off-line since the original break-in. I'm coming in."

Shaen, quick question: Is Scarab obviously female?

If not, Slamdance gets an 11 check out.

She isn't going to any great lengths to hide her gender, no. But her speaking voice is slightly altered while in-costume, in the same way that Kevin Conroy used slightly different voices for Bruce Wayne and Batman in the DCAU. But she take it anywhere near as far as, say...Avenger.

And said costume, while form-fitting, isn't ridiculously so. It doesn't look painted-on. It downplays her curves somewhat. And the chest pieces create something of a "sports bra effect," scooping around and pushing down, rather than lovingly sculpting around every contour of each individual breast like most comic book "armor." Her chestplate doesn't have cleavage. So, given female superhero fashion trends, you'd probably think she was male at first glance. But no, it isn't difficult to figure out her gender.

And I think that's as far as we should take it until Razorback gets a chance to chime in.

"I am The Scarab. We apologize for the late hour, but we require Doctor Archeville's scientific expertise in an urgent matter. Lives have already been lost, and more are at stake."

The Scarab touched down on Archeville's front porch, and waved vaguely at the door. The old-fashioned knocker rammed the door thrice, seemingly of it's own accord*.

*Yes, I'm going to use that phrase to describe her telekinesis. And I'm going to use it a lot.

That one time will make all the difference for now.

Scarab flies up to the roof and activates her ESP/Telepathy. After glancing at a campus map in the lobby, she's looking for the campus security station. Once she finds that, she searches for an on-duty guard, and starts rooting through his mind looking for alarm codes, locations of keypads, and general procedural information that will allow her to access the building without alerting the authorities. She gets an 11 on the Mind Reading check, and takes 10 on the relevant Search checks (25).

"Oh!" Terhune blurts out as Scarab lands before him. "I was not sure that would actually work, and especially not so soon! I... hrm, you look a bit familiar... are you one of those 'legacies'?"

"No, I've merely returned after a long absence."

The "professor" extended his hand, "Ah, forgive me, my name is Terhune, Jos Terhune. Antiques appraiser, specializing in Dutch and French items.

The Scarab took his hand and shook it.

As I said, I was recently called over to appraise some recent acquisitions, some 17th century French items which may be connected to the Beaumont family. The head of the special collections research center had arranged this somewhat clandestine meeting because she wanted to be absolutely certain of the authenticity of the pieces before making any announcements. I just heard of the robbery, though, so I suppose our meeting is postponed."

"Wait - you said there was a situation inside? What sort? Did the thieves return?"

"I'm afraid I don't have that information. The situation is developing as we speak. We have an agent inside assessing the situation, but right now, we can't guarantee your safety. It's possible that the objects you came to appraise were among those stolen. I can't confirm that yet. But I can confirm that whichever official you were supposed to meet with is not on-site. I'd prefer it if you didn't contact them just yet. We don't want to involve the non-powered authorities until we've assessed the threat. No sense endangering them by sending them into a situation they're not equipped to handle. For now, we have the scene contained, and we'd like to keep it that way."

"Please stay in the lobby for now. I'll be right back."

The Scarab flew up to the top of the Beaumont Building, crouched down, and once again concentrated on extending the reach of her awareness beyond its grasp. Campus security must know the alarm codes. And what they know, I know...

"Orders are nobody can see the Great Archeville! Not nobody, not nohow!"

No interaction skill needed, since we're all PCs here.

Heh. I figured as much. "Just in case" and all that.