Avenger Assembled

There was more mundanity on the agenda to come; some of it more entertaining than others. First came pictures for their student IDs, the kids all sitting before a blue and yellow background that matched the colors of the Claremont Academy. Next they traipsed across campus to get measured and fitted for their school uniforms, a quick, if embarrassing moment undertaken with Mrs. Dugan and a professional tailor they'd brought in. "Uniforms aren't a requirement for day-to-day wear," Dugan explained, "but you'll be glad to have them anyway. They're not quite as high-tech as what the Atom Family or the Freedom League wears, but they're insulated enough that your powers won't damage them." They were in the gym for this one, the kids having stepped into an empty coach's office for their brief consultation with the tailor, Mr. Mbuse.

[floatr][/floatr] Player Name: Davis Character Name: Edge Secret Identity: Mark Mason Lucas Age: 16 (going on seventeen...) Power Level: 15 (250/250pp) [256] Trade-Offs: None Unspent PP: 0 Progress to Platinum: 106/120pp (Gold status earned with Avenger) Click here for Edge's new sheet without Player Rewards, to be used after August 21, 2011. Description: At 18 years old, Mark Lucas is tall, rugged, and athletic, the perfect vision of a hero. With his chiseled good looks and sculpted physique, he’s the darling of the ladies of Claremont, and not a few older women as well. His most remarkable feature is his eyes, glowing with a force of personality that’s almost superhuman. Mark may be afraid, Mark may be angry, Mark may be a million other things: but you will never, ever see him doubt. His costume is a blue bodysuit with gold cape and white diamond over his chest, his face hidden by goggles. Personality: Mark is a cheerful, jovial guy, often literally bouncy with energy, who’s not really sure how to handle the feelings of grief and loss that have come with his father’s departure and his own worries about the future that’s awaiting him. He doesn’t worry about his fantastic power by dint of simply not worrying about it. He’s fully conscious of his responsibility, and does his best to live up to it. Especially now. His success with women comes from his ability to hyperfocus in romantic situation: he’s very intense in a lot of ways, and when that’s turned on a girl his own age it’s something many find very attractive. Backstory: Mark Lucas is the first person in his family with superpowers, but not the first hero. His grandfather Jimmy Lucas went from being the Centurion’s Pal in the 1940s to a hero in his own right after a magical adventure. “Jimmy and his Genie” were perhaps the most powerful members of the League, though by no means the most wise. A badly-worded wish by his grandfather at the end of the war meant that it was technically the genie who fathered Mark’s dad Rick, infusing magical genes into the family line. Having grown up around superheroes, it was no surprise that Rick Lucas fought alongside them. Though never more than an honorary member of the Freedom League, Rick adventured alongside every superhero of the 1960s and 1970s, teaming up with his fellow heroes all across the world for a lifetime of wonderful adventures. Only belatedly have Freedom’s super-scientists begun to wonder: was it unconscious manipulation of reality by the half-genie that made those days so bright and shining? It’s tough to say, but the world did get a lot darker when Rick left town in the early 1980s after the Silver Age League finally dissolved. He returned in 1993 with his wife Martha and infant son Mark, just in time to fight in the Terminus Invasion and watch the Centurion die. Rick raised his son to be the shining Silver Age hero he’d always admired, making sure that Mark grew up happy and contented with the perfect family. It helped that young Mark had been born with probability-warping powers obvious from an early age: he was working to make his own destiny wonderful. Perhaps that’s why Mark is so thoughtless, but it’s also why he’s so absolutely sure that a better world can be built for all mankind. Rick ultimately couldn’t handle the new era: excluded from the new League thanks to an old feud with Captain Thunder, he developed fantastic powers and went mad on his son’s temporary ‘death’, ultimately disappearing into the multiverse after creating a false vision of Freedom City. His father’s loss (not death) has made things difficult for Mark and his mother, who now supports the family with her cartooning. But Mark is still convinced that he and his friends in Young Freedom really can make a difference for everybody. It’s just a matter of believing in yourself. Complications: Allies (Heroes of World War II and the Silver Age) Enemy (Nazis) Friend (Midnight II, old chum) Reputation (Defend the family honor) Responsibility (Young Freedom, Martha Lucas) Rivalry (Rick Lucas) Turf (Claremont Academy, Lucas family house) Secret (The Lucas family has shaken many horrors from its closet) Secret ("The Terminus is coming! The Terminus is coming!") Abilities: 2+4+4+2+(-2)+14 = 24PP Str 12 (+1) Dex 14 (+2) Con 14 (+2) Int 12 (+1) Wis 08 (-1) Cha 24 (+7) Combat: 10 + 12 = 22PP Attack +5, +15 Ranged Grapple +6 Defense +15 (Base 6, Dodge Focus 9) +3 flat-footed Knockback -7 Initiative +6 Saving Throws: 6+6+9 = 21PP Toughness +15 (+2 Con, +13 Protection) Fortitude +8 (Con +2, +6) Reflex +8 (Dex +2, +6) Will +8 (Wis -1, +9) Skills: 80R = 20PP Bluff 20 (+27)SM Diplomacy 20 (+27)SM Gather Information 12 (+19) Knowledge: History 8 (+8)SM Languages 4 (English [native], French, German, Japanese, Swahili) Notice 8 (+7)SM Stealth 8 (+10) Feats: 15PP Beginner's Luck Connected [people associated with the Golden Age and Silver Age Leagues] Equipment Evasion 2 Fearless, Improved Initiative Seize Initiative Skill Mastery (Bluff, Diplomacy, Knowledge [History], Notice) Ultimate Save 4 (Fortitude, Toughness, Will, Reflex) Uncanny Dodge (Auditory) Well-Informed Powers: 4 + 25 + 2 + 19 + 13 + 9 + 76pp = 148PP Enhanced Defense 2 [4 pp] 'luckily, you missed me!' Enhanced Feats 25 (Attack Focus: Ranged 10, Dodge Focus 9, Inspire 5, Leadership) [25 pp] 'who needs training?' Immunity 2 (aging, despair effects) [2 pp] 'hooray!' Luck Control 4 (cancel GM Fiat, cancel HP expenditure of others, give someone else HP, spend HP for someone else; PFs: Luck 7) [19 pp] 'fully awesome' Protection 13 [13 pp] 'didn't hurt!' Enhanced Feats 3 (Ultimate Save 3 [Fortitude, Reflex, Toughness]) (Extras: Affects Only Others [+0], Range (Perception) [+2]) [9 pp] Reality Warping Array 35 (70 points; PFs: Alternate Power x6) [70 + 6 = 76pp] BP: Create Object 15 (Extras: Duration [Continous], Moveable; PFs: Innate, Precise, Progression 7 [15 cubes 1000 ft on a side], Subtle) {70/70} 'summoning' AP: Damage 15 (Extras: Area [shapeable], Selective Attack) {70/70} 'bad things happening to you!' AP: Disintegration 15 (Flaw: Full-Round Action; PF: Improved Crit 2, Indirect 3, Insidious, Precise, Power Attack, Reversible, Subtle) {70/70} 'you go away' AP: Probability Control 10 (Extras: Affects Others, Area [burst]) {70/70} 'things are great now' AP: Telekinesis 15 (Extras: Damaging, Range [Perception]) {70/70} 'movin stuff around' AP: Teleport 9 (anywhere on Earth; Extras: Accurate, Affects Others, Area [burst], Ranged, Selective Attack; PFs: Change Velocity, Easy, Progression 4, Turnabout) {70/70} 'literally warping reality' AP: Transform 10 (anything to anything, 1000 lbs; Extras: Duration [Continous], Ranged) {70/70} 'making things different than what they are' Regeneration 1 (Resurrection 1/week) [1 pp] 'too lucky to die' Abilities 24 + Combat 22 + Saving Throws 21 + Skills 20 + Feats 15 + Powers 148 = 250/250 Power Points NPCs will be statted up: Use the Mystic Ally from Hero High for Golden Age Jimmy Lucas and his Genie Use the Two-Fisted Adventurer from Golden Age for Rick Lucas in his prime

OK, anyone want anything else out of this thread?

OK, you kind folks are up. Dark Star? :D

Andrea Atom threw her hands up to the sky and screamed wordlessly before suddenly leaping into the air, very, very high indeed! Grim could just track her arc as she disappeared over the low buildings of the Fens, heading somewhere for the Theatre District. That left her alone with a crowd, and an angry crowd to boot. "Hey, what do you think you're doing! You're supposed to be a superhero!" One of the people in the crowd yelled. An old woman with a sad face cried, "She broke my Lenny's tombstone! I hope Captain Thunder punches her into space!" The crowd was mad, and getting madder as the sirens got louder, the police getting closer and closer. Something had to give! "Hey, wait a minute! Since when does Vicky Atom have claws!"

Sure, you notice Columbia's hair is doing a thing.

Even Avenger seemed to blanch at that, if only momentarily. "Might want to warn people about that. But good. Will use that." He turned and looked at Grim. "Wesley will give me a hand..." He sighed audibly and raised his gloved hand to his mask. "Blast. Yes. Wesley and I will handle deception. Have you place to go?"

Wesley, you are...1600 feet up, nearly at the top of the Plaza. Good thing your Flight effect is still active! :D

"We'll take care of all of that for you," said Mrs. Dugan reassuringly. "You're a kid. You're allowed to be one here." She smiled. "I've got your class list and your tutoring list, so I'll make sure all your books are in your room first thing in the morning. Your first classes will start on Wednesday, so you'll have a little time to unwind and get familiar with campus before you need to worry about your schooling."

Alex and Mike had it a little easier when it came to filling out forms; after all, they were minors and their parents were close at hand. Once they'd reached the administration building, the two kids were left in the waiting room to read old copies of Teen Hero and twiddle their thumbs while they waited for Alex's mom to finish the last stages of paperwork. Even at a generous school with deep pockets, there were still financial aid forms to fill out, consent forms to sign, and many other items that were thankfully the province of adults rather than teenagers. Mrs. Harcourt left them there, shaking Alex's mom's hand and the kids' too, promising to meet them all in science class as soon as everything was arranged. They got their summer class schedule to look over for the first time, a compilation of history, science, theater, and other exciting activities, as well as brochures about the various things to do in and around campus. The curfew didn't sound that restrictive, especially for kids who were willing to be creative. Erin, emancipated in so many ways, got walked right into the office of Vice-Principal Martha Dugan, a short, squat woman with the look of a born administrator on her face. Despite her dour appearance, Dugan proved to be very sympathetic to Erin's situation, a fact she acknowledged without referring to it again and again. "Scholarship or work-study?" she asked. "It's up to you, but you might be happier with work study," she admitted. "Pocket money is a good thing to have. You can pick up supplies for your room from the front lobby in Jon Carter, and we'll take everyone shopping in a couple of weeks so you can find the local mall and shopping centers. Of course, your friends will probably help you with that." She half-grinned, then sobered a little. "I know you must be concerned about catching up, so I've made sure to arrange some tutoring for you in addition to our summer schedule. I've read your file and I know you're a bright girl. I think you'll find catching up on formal schooling is easier than you think."

"I have a lot of names!" said the beautiful girl with a giggle that made her sound even younger than the sixteen or seventeen she used to be. "But you can call me Changeling. It's very nice to meet you new people! Hello Alex! Hello Erin! Hello Mike!" She shook Erin's hand too, and Mike's, giving them all a huge smile. "I guess we will be on the same dormitory floor together; how exciting! It will be a wonderful summer, with many wonderful things!" She did a happy dance, bid a friendly greeting to Mrs. Harcourt, and then twirled right out the door like a ballerina. Mrs. Harcourt cleared her throat, repressing a wry smile. "Well, I'm glad everyone's been so friendly to you three. If you want to put all your stuff down, we can go over to the administration building and get started on your paperwork. Fun stuff, huh?"

Ooh, have another HP for your Temper complication.

Outside, it appears that the bronze-clad individual in the sky appeared through a rift in the very fabric of the universe itself! The armored man outside is a visitor from another universe; a universe never visited by the Freedom League or Daedalus. Its vibrational energies are not in Archeville's database. The man outside is wearing Greekish armor, but it is clearly not any suit of Daedalus'. It doesn't look like science.

Things were much of a sameness upstairs, where Erin and Alex's room adjoined a small lounge similar to the one they'd seen down on the first floor by the lobby. Mrs. Harcourt stepped to one side as the kids walked in, engaging Alex's mother in a quick conversation about financial aid. She'd been a bit concerned at the idea that the school was putting underage children to work, but Harcourt confirmed that jobs like that were completely voluntary. "We actually provide funding for all our students, but some students and parents appreciate the chance to work on their own for the first time." As the students were looking around, a perky blonde teenager appeared in the doorway, a smiling young woman with big eyes and a Hello Kitty shirt that exposed a hint of belly. "Hello!" she called with disarming perkiness. "You must be the new people! It is so nice to meet you! I will shake your hand, as that is the style of professional people," she said, obviously imitating someone else's voice. Beaming so brightly she was practically glowing, the girl shook Alex's hand with an air of mock-seriousness. "You are the first new people I've met all week!"

"As soon as the three of you put your stuff down, here and upstairs, we'll go down to the main office and get you all signed in. As for your room-mate, Mr. Harris, that's strictly up to you. We don't have the numbers that require doubling up in the summer, but some of our students do request to be doubled up. If you would like a room-mate during the summer, make sure to let us know while you're getting signed in. If you test into the freshman or sophomore class, you will be assigned a room-mate in the fall; if junior or senior, again it'll be up to you." Mrs. Harcourt looked at the others. "As for jobs, we do have a work-study program for students who would like the skills training...or just to have the pocket money," she added with a smile. "It's arranged either here on campus or through our contacts in the Freedom business community. Given your situation, Ms. White, you might want to look into arranging that or one of our similar programs. I'll make sure you talk to Mr. Marquez, our counselor, who can steer you towards our financial aid programs."

What happened outside was weird. Make a Physical Sciences check to determine how well you figure it out. (I have faith that Doctor Archeville will actually pass the check; it's all in the details. )

Is Doctor Archeville speaking through a loudspeaker, or just out loud?

No, but you can try the check and see how far you go. Better to lose by a little than lose by a lot! When a fifty-foot guy throws you, you know you've been thrown.

"Normally we offer fewer classes in the summer," said Mrs. Harcourt to Erin, "but of course we'll be doing things a little differently this year with so many summer students coming in. We want to make sure you're all placed in the grade level that best suits your intellectual and emotional needs, so this summer you'll be working one on one and in small groups with our teachers so we can get you up to speed and get a feel for your needs. Once that's all done, at the end of summer you'll each take placement tests so we can get you authorized in your state." She smiled. "Would you all like to come up and see your rooms? I believe Mr. Harris has the closest room, just down those double doors that way. Mr. Harris, your RA is away on a, ah, field trip right now, but Mr. Thorsen asked me to give you his compliments and invite you to come in and meet with him anytime. He's one of our newer students, but a natural leader all the same." When everyone was on board with that idea, she kept walking, leading the kids and parents through a set of double doors down into a corridor that looked a bit like a hotel room. Most of the doors were closed with much of the student body absent, but a few were open against the summer heat and with their occupants in place. Bustling quickly past those, Mrs. Harcourt opened the door to reveal Mike's room. The double-bedded room looked a little sad and empty with no one living in it, but the sun was bright and cheerful coming in the windows, and the room itself was certainly spacious. The beds were bunked neatly in one corner, while two identical desks stood on either side of the room. There was only one phone jack in the room, but two high-speed Internet hookups were next to both desks. "If you need help purchasing a laptop, the school can see that you're provided with one at very low cost. In your case, Ms. White, that might be something you'll want to do as part of a work-study program."

Date: May 24th, 2009. Sunday. Though they honored heroes of all stripes, Memorial Day weekend was nothing particularly special to a German and a man from the depths of space. So it was a good weekend for Doctor Archeville to play host to the space-traveling Dark Star, the better to get a handle on exactly the way the man of energy's powers actually worked. While the two men worked down in Doctor Archeville's laboratory, up in the skies of Hanover a small, discreet flash of light opened up to reveal the figure of a man in a shining bronze suit of armor. His entire body covered in bronze, Ancient Greek lettering moving freely across the metal in a slow, turning riptide, the man in the sky hovered over Hanover for several long moments before pressing a few buttons on the wrist of his suit. Not long afterwards, every electronic device in a three block-radius capable of broadcasting a signal spoke the words: "Doctor Archeville. I would speak with you. Please step outside."

This is the thread for Dr. Archeville's and Dark Star's encounter with a celebrity.

"You're not the only student in that situation," said Mrs. Harcourt reassuringly to Erin. "We have a regular series of activities called Nite-Owl-Nights for our non-sleeping students. And of course places like the library are open 24 hours, if you get the special key from Ms. Vervain." The wooden doors of the Jon Carter dorms were thick and heavy, looking almost like they belonged on an old-fashioned hotel rather than a boarding school for high school aged kids. The inside of the building continued that blend of dorm and hotel; Inside the buildings, the half-paneled maple and cherry wood walls were adorned with student-made paintings, signups for various activities, and the like, while the rustic maple floors were polished nearly bright enough to show the kids' faces. The etched windows, big, squashy-looking brown leather couches with brass trim, and brass and copper fittings made the big front lounge look old-fashioned, at least until one processed the big-screen TV, rack of video games, and other electronic toys were neatly stacked. "We're not usually this neat," Mrs. Harcourt confessed ruefully, "but Mr. Foulks and Mr. Gardener have been exemplary cleaning things up for the summer session." The very bored African-American student sitting behind the front desk looked up as they arrived and waved hello, the similarly uninvolved Koyama walking over to say hello. They paused in the lobby for a few moments while Mrs. Harcourt answered a question from Alex's mom, confirming that while boys and girls shared floors, the most communal space they shared were the bathrooms in-between. "We generally have a very mature student body," said Harcourt with a wry smile, "but they are teenagers. In addition to faculty, we take advantage of volunteerism from our more mature students like Mr. Brown over there to help keep things running smoothly."

Have 2 HP, Phantom, and make a DC 21 Fort save. , Wesley, make a Flight power check vs. 24.

"Meh!" exclaimed a surprised Raven. A bored look on his face, he proceeded to hurl Wesley away like a child with a broken toy he was bored of. And a good thing, too, because that sudden blast of not caring left him open for one heck of an assault from down below! For a half-second, Phantom thought she'd made a terrible mistake as the gigantic Raven began collapsing straight towards her! And then she felt the first electrical blast, right in her ear, cutting straight through her energized body.

"That's one advantage of our large campus," said Mrs. Harcourt as Eel-Skin snapped his head back to join his friends. "You don't have to ashamed of what you are here, or worry about what people will think. We empower our students," she said with a smile. "Even those who don't have formal powers as such." By way of demonstrating, she borrowed Alex's mother's cell phone as they walked through the grassy park around the nearly empty Rita Kord dormitory to the Edward John Carter Dorm. Harcourt's fingers flew as she talked, snapping open and rearranging the phone's internal workings with the grace of an artist. "We do put some restrictions on use of powers off-campus, of course. We have students here whose identities need to be protected, for their own good and the good of the world at large. So off-campus, you'll want to maintain your secret identity, and if you do choose to work towards being a superhero, we'll encourage you to wear a mask. It's just safer that way, for you and for your family." She handed the reassembled phone back to Alex's mother as they reached the door. "You can press 665 to remote start your van, if necessary. 444 to access a high-speed internet connection...and 923 for the taser. Now, let's see, I think we have Mr. Harris on the first floor, that's in the Norsefire suite, and Ms. White and Ms. Albright on the second floor? I've assigned the two of you as roommates for the summer," she added, "I thought that was the smartest way of dealing with things. Is that all right?"