Supercape

You can indeed! If for some reasons not (and I see mo reason why not) consider that a hero point.

Synth had to give 'Nikki' the benefit of the doubt. The truth would be in the board meeting. "Good. Reassuring" she replied, still unsure but smiling a the woman politely "just point me to the board, I will handle the rest. This is just to protect your safety, you understand. " She stretched herself, and checked herself in the mirror. She was used to taking on different forms, but something about passing herself off as a CEO felt odd to her, as if she was not quite comfortable in this skin. She gave herself a long hard look in the mirror. "Lets go then..." she concluded, heading for the door. Something the woman had said lingered in her head. "I am sorry to hear about your husband" she said, not meeting her gaze but being polite as she could "how did he influence this company, and you?"

GM "Oh we'll take care of him, dont you worry about that, pardner!" smiled the smith, throwing one burly fist into the the other burly palm and giving the poor captive an evil look. "I'm sure I can find some Iron's to clap him in!" Between the crowd who had surrounded the three heroes, there was a unanimous good spirit, and three stout and true horses could easily be "loaned" to the men...by a well dressed "businessman" of rotund girth who complained that "them Irishmens, they rooinin' mah business, boy!" in a thick drawl and an indignant manner. A round of applause, and then another circled the heroes, and soon a fiddler struck up a tune, and singing, and hollerin, and even a few dances started up. A few rounds were even fired into the air. "Let's hear it for the heroes of Houston, boys!" they yelled, some even trying to hoist the three into the air.

GM "Delightful wife you have there, Mr. Ashoubi. You are a lucky man!" "I think it is not so much the essence in the pot, but the essence of our dreams" said the professor "Eldritch gave quite detailed instructions. If you just sit back, relax, and close your eyes..." The professor followed his own advice, sitting very still. "And, then, one thinks, or maybe dreams, of the place in your heart. For me, the smells, the sounds...of..." He opened the urn, and out came a fragrant smell, of soporific quality, eyelids became heavy, and the head span in a pleasant manner, lifting the two men out of themselves. "...Cairo!" finished the professor as he awoke and opened his eyes. The two men were in a rather elegant apartment, full of Egyptian artifacts, books, and a pleasant musty smell. The windows were wide open, letting in the vibrant sounds, sights, and smells of busy central Cairo. "My old home!" explained the professor.

Posted IC to answer your question!

GM "Cowards! There are people in there!" hissed Cruz, his eyes narrowing at Kristen "They could be in worse shape. Don't you back down now!!!" He hesitated, unsure whether to act, and unsure whether Kristen (and Subito) were going to act on their threat. The guard did have an Automatic Weapon. That was something of a deal-breaker. As Kristen scanned the big trawler ship, she noticed a few life boats strapped along the side (and presumably on the other side too). The Yacht also had a dingy - or at least, said it had a dingy, an inflatable one stored on deck. Of course, rowing their way back to the shore would be quite a feat of endurance. Diamond and the guard exchanged a few words, which Subito's amazing hearing picked up. A few grunts, and a scared Diamond seeking to placate the guard. Evidently the captain was not happy. The two of them headed off, apparently to the "captains quarters".

GM "Grahumph mumble rumble pretty lady all in chains, so pretty..." mumbled the fat Redcap, snoring and speaking in his sleep all at once. "Pretty as a daffodil..." he mumbled again, turning slightly, the clink of the lock turning threatening to wake him. But no, he relaxed once more into a deep slumber, possibly whispering something about romantic moonlit serenading of the said lady. Haleys nails had done their work. The door lock turned, and very slowly, creaking as it did so (to wincing effect) the Iron gate to Equinox's prison swung open. Freedom!

Cool by me! For reference: Equinox - 4 hero points - Bruised, Blinded PL X Haley - Bruised Also, for Queen: well, it would be an hour to recover from Staggered, so I will say nothing: Queen - Staggered, Bruised x3

Alarm System DC 20 to disable.

GM As Carrie proceeded down to the basement, just pass the door, she caught sight of a tiny dull red light. On closer inspection, she pried away the dust and camouflage... Infra-red alarm ! Closer examination revealed a series of emitters and sensors, rigged up and down the walls and even on the ceiling and floor. Wired together. Even in two dimensional form, some part of her would cross the invisible criss-crossed beams. They appeared to be connected to some alarm, presumably that activated remotely. "Who's there?" came a voice, a woman's voice, from the dimly lit basement. Carrie could make out the shadowy figure, a somewhat scruffy, dirty, and scared woman with matter black hair and frightened eyes. She was at the bottom of the stairs, calling out, cautiously creeping up them...

GM "I'm sorry Ma'am" replied the dry, weary voice who had no doubt done this a thousand times before. "Ms. Stone is receiving no visitors. Official business only. No exceptions. " He went onto autopilot. "Ms. Stone thanks her loyal fans for their undying support" he said, a rote statement inflected with a touch of sarcasm and irony. "See?" said Jake "That old man is her gate keeper, tough as old boots, and inflexible as wrought iron. I've been pleading him with all of yesterday, and today too. Never seems to sleep. Just same old statement, over and over again. He is probably an automated recording, or something!" He seemed reassured that it was not just him that couldn't get through, but still vexed he could not get to see the woman herself.

GM It did indeed work. The shout echoed around the hotel, ricocheting down the corridors and stairs in a manner both physical and spectral. Something about it...it's horror...that seeped into the most dreadful fears, made even the drunkest drunkard rouse in a cold sweat, with an unnatural sobriety. "What the hell!" gibbered one thin man dressed only in a towel wrapped around his waist "I'm getting out of here!" he spluttered as he ran down the corridor. Most others where to scared to even talk. The flames spread had been somewhat stalled by Dead Head's actions, and he bought time...but it looked like the building was caught in a serious fire now. It would take a fire brigade to stop it properly. Outside, Dead Head heard the sceaming sirens of the fire brigade...

Name? "Synth" Replied Synth, hoping the man didn't inquire any further. She Galt oblidged to give him some response, and it was the closest thing she had to a name. She was not able to even think about lying. Perhaps, she reflected, she ought to acquire a more regular name... Or at least one that would not invite unwanted attention. Instead, she pressed ahead with a vigorous stride towards the show. Hopefully that would distract the man. As she approached, she caught sight of the spectacular display. Very..distracting...she thought.

GM "a trip to Egypt" replied the professor. "now, I totally realise that it is something of an inconvenience, especially at this time. Eldritch was generous enough to provide some help in that matter..." Out of his pocket he pulled out a small object. It was a little bigger than a palm, and seemed to be made of silver. It looked to all intents ad purposes like a small urn, albeit masterfully wrought and engraved. "Essence of Egypt" replied the professor to Weavers unasked question. "some fume, or gas, or quite possibly something that is not even material. If I open this, we arrive in Egypt. The power of dreams and memories, Eldritch said. " "In any case, I propose we travel there, and try and find the remaining Scrolls. Eldritch managed to divine a few leads on that matter..."

Oh go and give me another diplomacy roll! ;)

"I'm not a designer" said Supercape honestly. "So quite frankly I am very open to ideas? Perhaps a symobol of a molecule? Some nucleus with atoms round it. Not to scale, obviously, but something recognisable. " He shrugged again "other-wise, perhaps we just need a lime green 'L' sign. Something chemical!" he chuckled slightly "the kids would like it, I suppose!" "As for your own cape" he said, considering the matter "white is always a good idea. Gets a bit filthy, so I would suggest putting in some static-field discharge to keep it clean. Suitably noble, pure, all that sort of thing. Easy on the eye, unless you make it too brilliant..." "But on the subject of the Lab, my golden chum, I have given it some thought. Perhaps it is time to remove those security systems and allow you full access?"

Ok, well every round you are at full pelt you get another 120 feet distance. Lets say Marcels house is a, for the sake of argument, 12,000 feet away. So thats 50 rounds at full pace. Now obviously I dont want to do 50 rounds of running, but it would be helpful to know what distance Marceaux makes and how much time he has? Statues cannot catch you up at this point, unless you exhaust yourself completely. Would you mind making the rolls for how long you can keep up accelerated pace? Each round you do, is 120 feet extra distance.

GM By this time, the police had arrived. Some cars, lights flashing, pulled up to protect their beloved monument. The sight of two animated statues with a wisps of red vapour was one that was not part of regular police training, even if France had its own share of superheroes every now and then. And to their credit, they opened fire. The two statues were not even chipped - the bullets just richocheted away. "" shouted the policeman, as the officers dutifully backed off. The statues had no interest in the police, they kept running, straight after Marceau, knocking the cars out of the way as they did, treating them as if they were made of paper mache.

GM "I...can't remember" muttered Cruz under his breath, his brow furrowing "just..fragments. You see, they drugged us. With all sorts of stuff. I think we were just lab rats...I remember...him, that face, injecting us. I think the ship looks familiar..." He carefully peered at the large merchant ship. "Yes...that must be it!" he said with determination. Diamond's Yacht drew up the trawler. A man called down, a man holding an automatic rifle. Ex-military but the look of it. Dressed in combat fatigues and a beret. "Diamond!" he shouted down at the man, as the two ships docked. "We got two for ya. One looks like she may not make it, but c'est la vie...eh? Just drop em as normal. Oh, and El Capitan wants a word..." With that, some steel steps were lowered over the side of the large vessel, whose name was Flowerbell, and Steve Diamond, with uncharacteristic nervousness, walked up to meet the crew.

Synth was quite shocked. CEO of a business? "I...don't think I am the best person to run this business..." she said, slowly and thoughtfully "You have to understand...Nicky..." she said, uncomfortable somehow with the word "...I am not in favour of capitalism." She had learned a few of the basic political words from her trips to Freedom City Library, but she was still struggling. "I don't understand the unequal distribution of wealth" she said, simply, shrugging her shoulders. If she was put in charge of a company for even one meeting, she would be putting herself in a very difficult situation. "...I want to protect you" she added "but this will be...awkard"...if she was human, she might even be blushing at this point.

GM The professor put down his own tea and waited calmly. "Please, forgive the melodrama" he replied as gently as he could "You must understand, these documents, are, well, cryptic to say the least. And incomplete. Eldritch is probably as bemused as I am. Their meaning is unclear. I can determine some important themes from the fragments I have. The strands of fate are continually references. Forgive my poetic description, but there is something about destiny being woven into the fabric of the universe by forces well beyond me comprehension. Whatever the case, they also refer to the child of the weaver. Cross referencing various astrological signs and clues, it all points to you. Or rather, your child". His eyes momentarily glanced upstairs, to the pregnant wife. "Or the child to be, to put it more accurately. Something about this child being entangled in the threads of destiny. For good, or ill, I am not clear. Maybe both, maybe neither. I get the impression the forces referred to are beyond such concepts as Good and Evil". "What I would suggest, however, is that we try and track down the remaining fragments of these scrolls. I know your wife may need you at this juncture, but...your child may need you too...to make sense of this..."

GM Jake shrugged "beats me. It's murder trying to piece together all the clues. Just something about immortality, and that's it. All rather dark and mysterious. Something about feeding the soul, or something. Here, if you look on page 73..." He proceeded to show Revenant his book. It was full of notes scrawled around the edges, top and bottom, most - or perhaps all - of it was incoherent ramblings, trying to synthesise occultism from around the globe and through the ages into some hotch-potch theory based on the books. It looked pretty crazy - pure speculation of someone who wanted to believe rather than logical analysis. But then, now and again, a flash of insight could be spotted. "Man, I would give anything to speak to her..." sighed Jake, pressing the door button again. "Ms. Stone is not available" came a crotchety elderly voice. "Oh come on" implored Jake "just 5 minutes...please!" he begged.

GM Diego Cruz evidently thought that Kristen's plan was a sound one. He didn't know how much longer he could hold on, despite his determination. A few minutes later he had joined Kristen on deck, out of sight. A little later, out at Sea... It was a dark blot on the landscape initially, glimpsed in between the rolling waves. It grew larger and larger, the Freeway apparently heading a straight line for it. Steve Diamond came up briefly. "Call me up when we get there" he said briefly, some tension in his voice, before strolling down below deck to the company of his two lady friends. The dot grew larger, and soon its true form manifested. It was a ship, much larger than the Yacht. A merchant trawler, small for its class, but still huge, designed to haul cargo crates across the sea. "There..." hissed Diego at Kristen "That must be it...the ship...on which we were...stored..." his voice was full of anger, but fear too.

GM The professor sat himself down quietly. He was demure, polite and softly spoken, accepting every courtesy graciously. "it is must peculiar I confess" he started. "you should understand that my field of study, Egyptology, occasionally throws up...matters that are of interest to the mystics of the world. Whilst I would humbly say that I am of some international renown in my field, I am not a mystic myself. Elder itch handles that department. So, from time to time he asks for my advice, and from time to time I point out something of interest to him..." "there is no particularly easy way to say this. But I have recently unearthed some parchment. A prophecy, most probably. It originated in Egypt, but is incomplete. It references a child, one who was woven in with the very cosmos. One who could save the world or plunge it into never ending darkness and disaster. " "The meaning is unclear. It is written most cryptically. I doubt it's true meaning could be deciphered, even if one had the complete manuscripts. which we don't. But the references do indicate one thing..." He put his mint tea down as gently as possible. "your wife is with child, is she not? No, I have not spied on you or asked around. I knew, because the scrolls indicate that the child in question is yours!"

Somewhat arbitrary. Mid morning might be best unlEss you have a suggestion otherwise