Gizmo

As Knievel faded into the distance, Jack wavered back and forth on his feet, raising a shaky finger in the villain's direction. "Yeah, y' bett' run," he slurred, then promptly collapsed on the ground. An uncertain amount of time later, the swashbuckler sat up with a groan, head pounding. That could have gone better, he reflected, wiping his bloody mouth with the back of his hand. Rising stiffly to his feet, Jack of all Blades began to stagger back towards the West End. He'd become lazy, he realized, made overconfident by his easy victories over petty crooks and thugs. Knievel might be a musclebound lummox with atrocious bantering technique, but he'd trained himself to the peak of human conditioning, and learned to use his weapon to devastating effect. If Jack wanted to be more than a neighbourhood watch member in a silly outfit, he'd have to follow suit. "I'ma go all Inigo Montoya on him next time," the swordsman muttered aloud. After a long pause, he added, "Really shoulda picked up some aspirin while I was at the gas station..."

Yeah, that works for me. Jack needed a reason to step up his game and start making some allies in the hero community. Plus it gives me a chance to do some posts in his news tread with his sister, the medic. It's been an honour being pummeled by-- I mean, working with you.

Jack was barely aware of the punch, only noticing numbly that unconsciousness was threatening to close in around him. He dimly recognized the coppery taste of blood as it trickled out the corner of his mouth, then the sudden jolt of colliding with the store window followed quickly by the pavement outside. He struggled to his feet, lampposts creating bright blurs in eyes that refused to focus.

Yeah, it comes down to a character concept thing, really. He's supposed to avoid getting hit all together. A hefty supply of Villain Points took that strategy out, no doubt. Toughness save against DC 29. (1d20=16) Fails by a whopping 13. Staggered and stunned for another turn.

Well, I suspect that will just about do it, but for accuracy's sake, does being stunned cost Jack his Defensive Roll bonus to Toughness even with Uncanny Dodge? I know he's already taking -1 from being bruised.

Consider Jack sufficiently 'ouched'!

"Y'say... 'ass'... t'm'ch," Jack croaked as the whip tightened painfully. "W'ss tha'... 'bout...?" Further comments were cut short as the air was forced painfully from his lungs. Jack's mind and vision crackled with white noise.

"Oh, you won't be outmatched," he says. "It'll be interesting!" he says. Yeah, shockingly that doesn't go well: Grapple check vs. 40. (1d20+7=23) Followed swiftly by: Toughness save against DC 28. (1d20+5=21) That fails by 7, so Jack's stunned as well as bruised, correct?

Like the man said: "Well, nertz."

"You're going to shove my ass... up my ass?" Jack asked, deadpan. "I don't think that's antomi-hkk!" The hero had thought he'd avoided the glowing tendril, but at the last second it snapped out and encircled him. Struggling did nothing against the crippling strength of the energy whip, and it took everything Jack had to keep it from strangling him on the spot. Energy whip... he thought dimly. Usually when he formed his blades he just skimmed an imperceptible amount from an available source, using his own abilities to coax it into enough power to suit his needs. If he could reach out to Knievel's bizarre gauntlet and pull as much energy as he could from the device, however, he just might have a chance against the weakened whip. It was a long shot, but the only plan he had. As the villain jeered, Jack raised his empty hand, waving to get Knievel's attention. Slowly and deliberately he produced a gesture which made his opinion of the Captain's trash talk crystal clear. With the blond man so distracted, Jack let the electrical sword in his other hand crackle out of existence and used every drop of power he could muster to connect to the energy in the cannon and pull. He felt the connection for a brief moment and mentally cheered. Then, almost without a thought, Knievel flicked his arm away, and the link was abruptly severed. Jack's expression fell. "Well... nertz..." he sputtered.

Yeah, Power Attack is definitely going on the shopping list, but with Jack's lousy ranged attack, I guess I'll pass for the time being. Well, it's not much of a plan, but it's the only one I've got, unfortunately. Time to go down swingin'! So, using extra effort to create the Drain 5 effect, then I'll make a Bluff check to Feint as a move action. (1d20+14=24), then spend my sole Hero Point to reroll: Feint reroll. (1d20.minroll(11)+14=34). Finally I'll make a Ranged attack against the Adrenaline Cannon. (1d20+7=25), with a Reflex DC of 15. Give me a sec and I'll have all of that up in the IC.

Alright. Woo, tight spot. Sorry to further hold things up, but I've got one more question. Considering that it has the Projection extra, is there any way to attack or target the laser whip itself? UP makes it sound like it's pretty much invulnerable.

Ah, but he's being grappled by the laser whip! That's the energy he's draining. Since it's an Elongation AP I assume the whip extends all the way from the cannon itself, right? Jack is effectively in contact with what he'd be targeting with Drain.

Alright, so, Intimidation countered. Now the grapple check: Grapple check vs. 46. (1d20+8=9). ...well, nuts. Toughness check, then. Oh my goodness: Toughness save against DC 23. (1d20+5=25)! Jack steps up! Alright, then, let's try this. Jack uses extra effort to add an Alternate Power. Since he creates his energy swords by pulling energy from his surroundings, he'll focus that as a Drain effect targeting Knievel's Adrenaline Cannon. Now, I'm looking at UP, and it says Drain can effect a Device, but I'm not sure if it needs the Affects Objects extra or not, given the descriptors. I don't want to drain the cannon's Toughness, but the Strike ranks and, by extension, its APs. I'm also not sure what save gets used, since the Captain isn't being targeted personally. Thoughts?

Woof. Alright, first thing's first: does Intimidate count as a 'fear effect' for the purposes of the Fearless feat? Seems like it should but the rules are a little vague.

Hey folks! A big part of Jack of all Blade's character is his commitment to his community. I was wondering if there were any other characters based in the West End or who might be passing through; Jack's looking to make some friends and/or enemies! I'd like to get a thread going with a few low or non-powered, street-level characters; sort of a Marvel Knights kind of thing. Of course, if you're playing an immortal wielder of terrible, primordial forces who hangs out in Jack's neck of the woods, that could work too!

Alright, with Uncanny Dodge Jack should keep his dodge bonus even when he's flat-footed, which puts his Defense at 25, just enough to get out of the way. This round he moves closer to the Captain and Taunts (1d20+19=29) him, adopting a defensive stance for a +2 dodge bonus. Bonus points for the Blood, Sweat & Tears reference!

Jack set the cashier down just in time to shift out of the path of a blistering column of fire. He gritted his teeth as the hot air assaulted his senses. "Dirty pool, Lucretia!" he called out as the terrified civilian fled out the door. The swashbuckler stepped further into the store, following Knievel down the aisle and closing to just short of melee range. "I'd heard you were afraid of metas, but come on!" Jack taunted with a scornful grin. He beckoned the big man forward but shifted his weight to leap out of the way of any attack.

I'll see your "ugh" and raise you an "ech...". Initiative check. (1d20+9=14) Is throwing the cashier the Captain's first turn, then? I know catching a falling person is a DC 5 Dexterity check, but I'm not sure how that works when it's an attack. Call him an improvised weapon and give a chance to catch him as a reaction if Jack dodges the attack?

The first thug turned as he felt a sudden tap on his shoulder, leading with his pistol. A casual swipe of Jack's electrical sword reduced the barrel end of the weapon to useless slag. Launching himself forward, Jack slammed his palm into the other man's face, using all of his weight to drive the thugs head into the unyielding pavement and send his own feet straight up into the air. Pushing off in the same movement, the hero's coat billowed as he backflipped through the air, planting both feet into the second masked guard just as he was turning around. Another crackling swipe disposed to the groaning man's firearm. The tinkling of the door's bell sounded as the remaining pair of toughs exited the convenience store to find Jack of all Blades standing over their fallen comrades. The young swashbuckler shook his head disapprovingly. "Geez, I thought maybe it was just a cute couple thing, but you all really showed up to the robbery wearing the same mask. How embarrassing for you! Well, we can fix that." The lightning rapier sliced through the stunned thugs' pistols on the way to the right criminal's mask, where it quickly sliced a simple spade shape on the man's forehead. As the cut fabric fell away, Jack favoured the robbers with a satisfied nod. "Oh, it's you. What a diva!" There was an awkward silence as the toughs stood rigid. "This is where you run away really fast," Jack suggested in a stage whisper. The pair scrambled to do so, nearly tripping over their fallen teammates. Once they were out of the way, Jack swung the door open and sauntered into the gas station. "Y'know, it feels like a cliché," he called as he walked toward the counter, "but apparently you really can't find good help these days." He paused as he got a better look at the heavily muscled blond. "Hey, I know you," Jack remarked, gesturing with his blade. "You're whatshisface, Sergent McEvil or whatever, right? What, you still trying to pay off your legal fees?"

Carte blanche? Aw, yeah!

Alright, very exciting! For what it's worth, here's Jack's Stealth check: (1d20+15=21).

Jack of all Blades somersaulted through the air, landing in a crouch on the roof of the building next to the one he had leapt from moments before. Standing, he took in the flickering neon lights of the Fens' lurid establishments. His nightly patrol had taken him well away from his usual haunts in the West End, and he had to admit to himself that it wasn't entirely by accident. He'd been extending his patrols gradually for months now, unable to shake the feeling that there might be someone in trouble just one block further. Maybe he'd even been moving towards Central Freedom for a chance at 'the big time'. When is came down to it, however, the simple fact was that Jack was restless and spoiling for a fight, and the Fens were just the place to stir up a few dance partners. A running jump took him to the penultimate buidling of the block, looking down to the adjacent 7-11 just as a massive blond man is a steel-festooned combat suit led a group of masked thugs into the gas station. A rakish grin spread across the hero's face. Next best thing to home delivery, he thought to himself. Sliding down the side of the store he was perched upon, Jack paused as he reached its neon sign. Besides informing him in no uncertain terms that there were ladies inside, it provided a source of electricity. With a thought he pulled energy through power connection into his outstretched hand, where it crackled to life as a sustained lightning bolt in the form of a rapier. Completing his decent, Jack hid the light of his sword in the folds of his great coat, and made his way stealthily across the darkened alley between the buildings to where the the first of the masked men stood guard.

Eh, let's split the difference and say September 12th.

Hmm, yeah, that sounds like a plan. The Fens are a bit outside of Jack's usual territory, but it makes sense if he's been gradually expanding his patrols as he gets more confident. The sleaziest part of town would be the place to head if one was spoiling for a fight. Let's do it! Jack's 'calendar' is almost entirely free; when would this take place?