quotemyname

Glad to hear it! Best wishes to you and the wife. Hope recovery goes smoothly for her, and I'm sure you need some rest by now! :O

Well, Cubic acts before Covalent, but while I'm thinking about it, I'm going to put up my OOC actions for approval so we can get things moving once it's actually my turn.

Covalent

Free Action: Maintain all necessary powers

Move Action: Fly up to a guard nearest a central location

Free Action: Switch to Dense Form

Standard Action: Attack! Stunning Attack, All out Attack 5, DC 30 Fort (1d20+10=28)

Heritage, I'd like to recommend that you keep Cubic within 30 feet of Covalent, so that he may interpose for anything coming her way (he has no movement powers in Dense Form, so he can't save her if she's very far away).

EDIT: He'll also send a mental message back to the others if Cubic doesn't already take care of that on her turn.

Cool, so that's actually a DC 16, then

Covalent will take 10 on Notice with Skill Mastery for a result of 20.

"Crap!" Blueshift tapped at her visor, making a quick analysis of the tunnel system they were in, "Looks like it's time to get out of the kitchen, you two. We got what we came for, and I personally don't want to stick around to find out how hot this oven gets! I got the map up here," She tapped her noggin twice, "So just follow me and we'll be out of here in a jiffy!"

With that, Blueshift dashed off. Her perfect memory served her well, allowing her to remember all the twists and turns of the tunnel they'd used getting down there. Just in case that some how failed her she had her visor set up to detail the tunnels with the lowest temperature that still lead to the surface.

Blueshift sped around corners and leaped over falling rocks with her boyfriend and assistant robot hot on her heels. She ran so fast at one point she had to use her booster to ricochet off one of the cave walls just to round the corner at top speed.

Finally, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. With the lava coming up behind them, Blueshift put on the afterburners and practically launched out of the hole followed by Push. The slower jets on Mac meant he was just ahead of the lava, as he shot out of the mouth of the tunnel. As a geyser of hot magma poured out of the hole, one slug of molten rock shot out and hit Mac right on the tail end of his chassis, it was all the little robot could to do replay a recording of a famous sci-fi robot as he recoiled from the hot rock as his pain sensors registered off the charts.

"I'm okay, I'm okay!" he managed after a few seconds.

Blueshift wiped her brow, and removed her headset, after they got to a raised level where the lava couldn't spread to. It was still stiflingly hot in the area, but first things first, "Push, the ooze, how'd we do?"

DUe to an active migraine at the moment, delaying anything for a few days.

However, it seems at least a few people are ready to go with threads.

Therefore a question: do players want to start a thread IC with the kicker? that seems the best way to me, alternatively if they post the kicker here on pm me, I can tweak it slightly and start a thread with it.

I'll post a revised kicker here or PM you with it, I guess. But I'd like to see some opinions on my re-write first. What did you think of the newest version back a few posts?

Yea, I was busy this weekend, so I responded to this before I read the IC. I'm up to speed now, and along with that last post...

That'll be an intimidate check, I think (1d20+1=14)

Zachary smiled, Alex had just given him all the leverage in the world, "Okay, let me spell this out for you. We'll make a deal. You go watch some other part of the city, and don't issue any citations to anyone," Zach waved his hand dismissively toward the far end of the mall, as if to tell the watchman to head in that direction, "And in return, I'll forget that you just threatened to rape my sister, and I promise not to tell the cops either!" Suddenly Zachary's smile faded and his eyes adopted an almost predatory, territorial look, "But take one more step toward my sister and you will regret it."

Glancing behind him, he saw that his sister was once again safely inside the store, and out of sight, "Besides, I think you just missed your chance to 'put your hands all over her,' anyway. Hell of a job you're doing today. Maybe the watch should get it's eyes checked." As he teased, Zach placed his fists against his hips.

I swear, if this guy tries to break down the door to the women's dressing room...

Sweet. I'm sure he's not going to like Zachary's snarkyness either :P

Damn, I was actually kind of hoping he would pass. It would have upped the Drama. Guess it's up to Zach to provoke Alex some more, then :P

"Son, you are detaining a man of the law from his god given duties..." he said with perhaps less conviction than he might have otherwise and he was most certainly not walking forward.

Zachary put his arms down and sighed, "I don't know about all that," He glanced over his shoulder at the store clerk leading Jeena back into the store, "But that's my sister we're talking about," He turned to face Alex again, "I saw the way you handled the last person you thought was shoplifting. I would sure appreciate it if you didn't put your hands on her. Because from what I can tell from your previous engagement," Zach paused a second to nod his chin toward the crowd that was slowly shifting from one side of the mall to the other to gather around the newest source of excitement, "You're not exactly an official man of the law. And my sister isn't quite eighteen yet either." Zach folded his arms. From what he'd read about Earth's laws and customs, older humans accosting young ones in anything less than official capacity was something of a moderate faux pas. Especially when members of the opposite sex were concerned. Not that Alex and his sister even belonged to the same race, but appearances were appearances after all, "After all, we wouldn't want people getting the wrong idea, would we?"

Doktor'd 9/16/2011

Covalent

In his Alternate Form: Sparse Form

Please Downgrade Flight 4 to rank three, and add the Subtle Power Feat.

Please add a second rank of the Evasion Feat within the same form.

No net shift in points in either the character sheet or the alternate form itself.

Doktor'd 9/16/2011

It doesn't have to be cool or awesome. Less is often more.

Marcy wakes up, turns on Radio...

"Manhunt for King of Suits! Sniffer dogs on his trail!"

...drops his toast and coffee...

*KNock Knock* "Open up! Police!"...

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy used exactly that type of early-morning-grogginess-in-medias-res storytelling to great effect. I wouldn't mind reading that thread :P

That's one kicker, for sure! Although it need not be a complete epiphany.

In other games I have played, Kickers work best when they are urgent. In M&M terms, you migh think of a situation that gives you a hero point right out of the box...

To take up your examples - I am going to take Ferros one which I think has more potential - and don't use this, 'cos you know Ferros better than I do, and are going to be far more creative that I will with him...

Make it specific, urgent, and something that propels him.

Jin wakes up from a nightmare covered in sweat, he is momentarily disorientated, remembering his dreams of horrible oriental demons persecuting him, torturing him, and the Monks of the Benzhi Temple warning him of his dangerous powers. As he fully wakes, he see's a metal imp balancing on his chest, holding a dagger, ready to plunge straight into his heart!

Somehow, he knows that only one person could have made that statuette!

Himself!!!

Etc etc...

Does that kind of make sense? So, its the same Epiphany, but now Jin is all sorts of worried - both for his own safety (unconsciously wanting to commit suicide, or being a danger to others), is going to try and stay awake, and has a real urgency to find out about the magical origin of his powers before its too late... dum dum daaah!

Ok, its corny and I am sure you (And others reading) can come up with a lot better, but that kind of shows what a Kicker should do. Really Kick you. Right out of your safety zone and into drama. Yes, its not-safe, yes you get hero points, yes you get fun! (hopefully!).

EDIT: Kickers I think are a great way to dust of your rarely used complications and think about using them (and with the right, urgent, one, starting play with an extra HP!)

Expanding on your ideas (above):

Instead of an imp, we go with the chinese symbol for death: [floatr][/floatr]

Though it doesn't directly threaten his person, he realizes the symbolism in it. If he could do that in his sleep, what else might he be capable of? After some mild research, he turns up a few accounts of this occurring in scattered cases in ancient china. Though he isn't sure how valid the accounts are, it's enough to make him seek answers, before he ends up hurting himself or others. One trend the accounts share is that 13 days after the person sees the symbol, they die. That would put a rather harsh time line on the thread. Especially since, "it's already been a week, and the nightmares aren't stopping!"

Know what? Forget all that noise. I'm just going to sneak in. Let's move this along.

Mac will enter the area first using the following powers in case it matters.

Concealment 8 (All Visual, Audio & Radio Senses [Total]; Flaws: Blending; PFs: Close Range, Selective) and

Flight 4 (100 MPH)

Blueshift is going to see things through his eyes before she makes her own entrance. She does this by making use of Mac's power:

ESP 6 (Auditory + Visual Senses, Extras: Affects Others, Duration [sustained], Simultaneous; Flaws: Action [standard], Limited [Others], Limited 2 [blueshift's Visor], Feats: Subtle) [13pp] (Sensory Link)

She'll make any and all notice / search / knowledge checks available to her as a free action.

"Hocus-Pocus?" Blueshift turned to look at Supercape accusingly, her eyes narrowing somewhat, "Come on, 'Cape. You know there's no such thing. Least you should. Hanging around me enough."

Suddenly, Blueshift disappeared into thin air right before their eyes. "Only sufficiently advanced technology, see?" Came the echo over their comm links, "Well, no, you don't. I digress. Heading in to see what this thing is up to. Mac's tagging along." At that, the little robot hovering nearby also disappeared.

In keeping with his current mood, I'll use Diplomacy (he's not really angry. not yet at least).

(14:32:17) System: quotemyname logs into the Chat.

(14:32:25) System: quotemyname rolls 1d20 and gets 8.

8+1=9 (or 13 if Attractive applies, since you never really know).

Okay, anyone else picturing Andy Belfleur from True Blood as Alex? XD

Also, Ozob, the text color for the preppy kid from the store is straight up obnoxious on my eyes. Would you mind changing it at all?

And finally some quick book keeping stuff.

Covalent's Insubstantial and such are subtle powers. Anyone watching the trick he just pulled (and we'll say all the characters qualify, because who doesn't like being involved? ) can notice that he's flying with a DC 20 Notice check. Everyone else just thinks he's got a good shot at making the next Olympic Team.

Mechanically, this could also be treated as an "interpose" against any "attack" that is directed at his sister.

"OMG! So like this guy was just walking along, you know? And that creep that comes here to 'patrol' the mall... like we really need that. Anyway, he picked on that guy over there, I totally don't know why. That guard is a total looser."

Zach stood and stared at the girl. Momentarily forgetting his manners in favor of stark wonderment. Was that some strange form of English? I don't remember... What did she even say?

Be careful, Zach; we don't want to draw any-

Bwee-bwee-bwee-bwee!

Jeena's face froze as she unwittingly tripped the store alarm.

Unwanted attention.

The timing of his sister's sending and the alarms coincided too closely for comfort. Coupled with the finality of her tone, Zach didn't have to look across the mall avenue to piece together what had just happened. Oh, Jee. Stay right there. I'm coming. We'll sort this out.

"Excuse me, excuse me," He said to the crowd as he attempted to press through them. He dropped the shirt he'd been holding in the hands of the girl who had spoken to him, "Here you go. Sorry!" then continued pushing through the crowd, "Excuse me!"

Looking back to Johnny, he spat out, "well it's lucky that I wasn't there when you didn't steal something! Now clear off... all of you... while I take care of a thing in a place... over there, and not here."

Johnny scrunched his eyes in confusion as he tried to make sense of what the guy was trying to say to him. Shaking his head he watched the Community Watch guy walked off rather quickly and with several glances back to see if anyone was following him.

Someone was, indeed, following him. Zach was hot on the heels of the supposed law man as they crossed the mall. Zach wasn't fond of the look in the man's eyes as he approached his sister. "Hey, wait!" The man didn't respond, and Zach wouldn't get there in time just by running.

To any onlookers, it appeared as though Zach put on a sudden burst of speed. The especially shrewd, however, would notice that in the following seconds, he actually flew, his feet not touching the ground again until his was positioned in front of Jeena, facing Alex, "I said, stop!" He insisted, arms outstretched and his expression defiant.

Ferros motioned for more of the civilians in the area to enter his roughshod covered shelter. As he needed more space he drew more metal from the surrounding buildings to enlarge and reinforce it.

"It is me, child. As I was, or nearly so, when I first received my Mandate, when I received Purpose to preserve, to maintain, to protect."

"First Dr. Archeville, and now her?" Ferros turned to look at Jack, the expression on the surface of his mask softening, "Jack, I know that I've stood up for the Doctor about how the disasters were not really his doing. I want you to know that my stance doesn't change because of this; I believe her. That IS willow. I just don't think she's in control."

"Willow!" Ferros called out, "This isn't you! Maybe it was, once, but it's not you anymore! You're an Interceptor! You can fight this!"

To Geckoman he added, "In case she lashes out, you distract her. I'm going to get these people to a safe distance." he then finally turned to the civilians loading into his makeshift transport, "Hold on to something. If this get's rough, I can't promise a smooth ride." At a gesture, handles and railings both vertical and horizontal formed amidst the crowd within the structure, not unlike those found in a subway train.

(14:30:13) Quinn: Yo Azzie. Bree's put up her Ren Faire thread; what you reckon Wisp's going as?

(14:30:25) Raveled votes Xena.

(14:31:13) Arichamus votes Elanor of Aquitane.

(14:31:20) Azuth65: Something with a hood... If we're talking high fantasy, wizard.

(14:31:30) Arichamus *Aragon, excuse me.

(14:31:34) quotemyname: Red riding hood!

(14:31:49) Quinn: Hey, shouldn't Crow be the wizard?

(14:31:51) Raveled: Heh. Would be thematically appropriate.

(14:31:59) Raveled: Would that mean that Crow's a lumberjack or the big bad wolf?

(14:32:37) quotemyname: Depends on whether or not Wisp has daddy issues

(14:33:11) Azuth65: So, Sir Carpenter?

(14:33:19) Darksider42: Lonesome Road DLC

(14:33:22) Raveled: Hahaha.

(14:33:26) Raveled:

(14:33:38) quotemyname: Well, that answers that question.

(09:54:39) quotemyname: Ferros: Initiative (The Queen of Heaven):

(09:54:39) System: quotemyname rolls 1d20 and gets 7.

Ferros acts on 10

Don't wait on an IC response from me right away here. I'd like to see some other reactions before I post, please.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. Work is heating up, and I've got deadlines to meet. For simplicity sake, don't expect to see me in chat. I'm going to do my dollar best to keep up with my current thread count and keep the number constant (which does mean starting new ones as old ones finish). But don't expect my posting rate to be anything of a constant. I might surge and get more done one day and less the next, for example.

As always, thanks for your patience!

"Well, ah, when you have finished those simple calculations do let me know and I can see about getting us there, assuming that's the plan. I would of course help you, but the maths look so easy, it hardly seems worth my while, and you do it so well..."

"Done!" Blueshift came very close to cutting off the end of poor Supercape's sentence. "Pencils down. Okay 'Cape take a look:" Once again, as Blueshift's coaxed the keyboard with deft hands, one of the larger screens lit up.

What appeared would make little sense to most of the earth's inhabitants aside from present company and perhaps Dr. Archeville or Stephen Hawking. The raw calculations scrolled rapidly (yet slow enough to read and understand) in a vertical bar on the right side of the screen. Most of the display was dominated by graphic representations and charts describing complex things like gravity wells, time fluctuations, and wormholes.

Blueshift turned to her audience, "Normally I explain what it is that I'm doing. But I have a feeling that that would just waste precious time at this juncture. So, unless you'd like to check my math for the ninety-seven thousand eight hundred sixty-first time, all you need to know is this:" She tapped one last button, and a small alert box appeared in the center of the monitor displaying the complex system of dimensional coordinates that Supercape would need to use to get them to their destination. "I would also normally recommend we prepare for the journey and the mission. But, again, we just don't have the time. If we want to save Victory, we have to get him out of the Terminus ASAP..."

Blueshift tapped one last button. Two things happened, a picture on the screen of a small shuttle appeared below the coordinates, and a hatch spiraled open in a nearby wall. "...And that means that we leave yesterday!" She pointed at the open hatch.

"Attention passengers of Blueshift Supersymmetric Cruises! The captain has advised that you fasten your seat belts at this time." Mac happily zipped around the room, and Blueshift's audience, fussing with torn bits of uniform here, and tightening a cape there, "You are also advised to ensure that your tray tables and seats remain in an upright and locked position until the dimensional craft has completed take-off." Mac moved ahead to hover near the opening to the dimensional craft, the lights on his chassis lit up in sequence creating a flow of dots that moved in the direction of the shuttle, vaguely reminiscent of the lights on the floor of a passenger jet, "Once again, this is Blueshift Supersymmetric Cruises thanking you for you business and wishing you all a safe flight." Noting that neither Supercape or Push moved to enter that craft very quickly the little robot's diodes glowed red, and he inclined his chassis toward them. It was a surprisingly human gesture of anger, "That means 'move', people!"

Well, I think it's about time for me to pull off a nightmarish amount of free actions again...

Can she access the security camera feed for that area? Or otherwise remotely view it? my alternative idea is cloaking up and running in, but I'm playing blueshift so I can have a character that DOESN'T just rush in when there's trouble ;)