Supercape

Rene turned around at the sound of the scorching laser beam and was just quick enough to see Victory crush and rend the present in his hands. He squinted. His mind's eye was not, in general, able to read text, only impressions. And his eyesight was not what it was. "Monsieur, what does it say? Christmas...?"

"Roger Roger, its a twenty - fifty five!" spluttered the police captain over the radio. "We gotta buncha' terrorists in the building. Overpowered the security guards, and no, I don't know how. Maybe they are taking Zoom or something. Haven't made any demands, but we have been hearing explosions and loud music from inside. Sounds like they are having a party... and they have a ton of explosives to party with..." Jubatus' voice crackled over the car radio. "Hey, who is this?" demanded the Cop, not recognising the voice.

"Psychopomp, hmmm?" mused Rene. He was no expert, of course, but he knew the principle. Could Nick really do that? if he could, he really did deserve his reputation - and more besides. Rene thought of himself more of a generalist in the ways of the arcane, having been round long enough to see most shades of sorcery. Of course, he had his own peculiar style of magic, through artistic medium, but he had to tip his hat to Nick, the true specialist. "Well, Monsieur, that would seem a very prudent solution. I have never performed such a feat before, and it has been some time since I have read on such matters. And yourself? Its not a task for the weak of heart, although I doubt not that your heart is strong, given your peculiar talents..."

Commlink normally functions as a commlink with the the "team" - I'm not sure you have specified which "team" if any you have. My understanding is that could be pretty broad, so you could specify that as AEGIS or some other "In universe" organisation. However, I wouldn't worry too much about this here. If it fits, use it, as there is no meaningful mechanical advantage.

The crowd indeed seem to calm down, although several muttered "I'm not letting go of this body" phrases could be heard at various volumes. The Spaniard had already fled, and the elderly lady was still screaming about foul sorcery, but the other members of the audience fell into some type of order, recognising that panic and pandimonium would not help. Rene scratched his head and walked up to Nick. "So, there seems to be a slight problem here. More souls than bodies, oui? and the collar is not always matching the cuffs, I guess. From the sounds of it, some of these people had been captured centuries ago, and will have no body to go back too..." He shook his head at the terrible situation. "...Is there a way out of this?"

From the outside, Hornbrass munitions dump looked fairly ordinary. Sure, it was well built, a heavy concrete structure, but nothing about it seemed otherwise out of the ordinary. Two police cars were already outside, waiting for backup, with the cops aiming their guns at the front entrance to the building, and looking decidedly nervous. The only other unusual feature were a six motorbikes and a beat up old van a few dozen feet from the building, parked with little thought for parking restrictions.

Bleh! Me confused! Will edit!

I'll stick with some low powered anarchists then... probably high powered enough to need a good slap round the ear, just so we throw in some combat.

"The anarchists have raided Hornbrass Munitions" explained the plucky reporter, who was already bustling her cameramen into the van ready for a speedy trip over the river to North Freedom. "It's only just broke. One of the security guards managed to broadcast a signal my station picked up, before it was... cut off..." Hornbrass Munitions plant was at far North of the city, ostensibly in the Hanover region but practically on the very outskirts of the city, which was both prudent and fortunate. It would take even a police car with full sirens and full speed several minutes to reach, being about 4 miles from the current position.

Sounds good. I'll wait for any more interest but Blueshift sounds suitably scientific. Just to clarify this is not open just for science-heroes, if you can come up with a good hook how to help, its good. And space suits and space craft will be available as PLOT devices (or bring your own!)

If you wish, I can amp next encounter up to a supervillian, or stick with some young anarchists needing a lecture on civic responsibilities!

"I...I..i'm not sure" stuttered the man, suddenly aware of the glaring lights and the pressure of other peoples lives in his hands. He was still coughing which didn't help matters a lot. "They looked like punks... street kids. Young, dressed up in leathers and chains. Maybe, like Hell's Angels or something. Seemed to have a leader though, big tough guy who was a bit older." He paused "I dunno what they said, but they had some anarchy symbols painted on to their clothes, stuff like that... you know, the 'A', and 'down with the system!' that kind of stuff" He started wringing his hands "that's about all I can remember. I didn't pay them a lot of attention, just thought they were kids, you know, hanging around..."

Quentin didn't really recognise anybody. No superheroes here... in costume anyway. No unusual mass or gravity disturbances, no unusual energy signatures. Rather refreshing really. Still, it made him rather the lemon. He had never particularly grasped the skill of striking up chit chat, although he made a few pleasant introductions and conversations to the room. He found himself wondering how Stesha and Derrick were. Anxious probably, as anybody would be. Given how long the engagement had been and how difficult the periods apart, he supposed more anxious than most. After all, who knows what super - powered complication might manifest to throw a spanner in the works?

Supercape had finally managed to excuse himself from the throng downstairs. The crowds were thinning slightly now, aware that the main PR event was over. The expo hall was still extremely popular and many were still wandering the various interactive displays - and probably would be for some time given the murmurs of appreciation and applause that greeted the various booths. Resisting the urge to teleport out for a quick getaway, he politely handed over the proceedings to some of the admin and PR staff, before taking one of the three lifts to the upper level. He had the urge to debrief with his fellow Lab-mates, wherever they had got too...

Supercape floated at a leisurely pace aside the robot. He was hardly fast himself (by superhero standards anyway) when flying, but the mechanical marvel seemed even slower. Neat trick with the head though. "You seem quite disembodied, sir!" he remarked. "Is that quite safe? No point over-extending yourself. " He pointed over to the large Egg shaped building ahead. It was not far, even at this pace. "And yonder lies the Lab. Spiffing place. All your techno-wizardry needs can be catered for!" he said with an encouraging smile.

"Oh madam" sighed Felix "I am certain you are neither boring, or indeed so lacking in mystery that one could figure you out. Why, a woman of your charms should never be found out. They would become less charming if they did so!" He gave a quick flashy one-two with his feet to punctuate his statement. "And let us not forget under that marvellous exterior lies a delightful spirit. I hear you are quite a chemist. Always a job for you at my company!"

I'll go with Jube Solo as a principle then - although if the story bends hither or tither I'll throw in one of my own heroes for some meeting stuff!

Up to you! As the anarachists are low PL, they are not going to be much of a challenge for even one hero, however. Let me know how you want to play it.

Meanwhile No rest for the wicked... The reporter shook her hair and listened in to her ear piece. "Hold on guys" she said, putting a hand up to her cameramen. "Just getting something breaking... some anarchists have broken into a munitions factory... threatening to bomb the place!" One of the rescued men scratched his head. "That's odd" he muttered "I saw a group of punks outside this place just before it went up... I wonder..."

"Fomidable!" shouted Rene amidst the applause. Yes, they really were rather good. The circus acts got higher and higher standard every decade, he conceded. Although the costumes and colours were often less tasteful. Unfortunately he was sitting behind a red necked brute who was a couple of inches to tall for his liking, and capped it off with a cowboy hat and phrases such as "Whoop yeah!" which irritated Rene no end. He acknowledged the temptation to send the man to sleep, and the fantasy of setting fire to the hat. Acknowledged it, but didn't succumb to it. Magic was not to be used for those things. Well, not normally anyway.

The crowds really were tedious, decided Supercape, as he explained for the fifth time how the particle smasher would definitely not cause a singularity to form and swallow up the earth in a black hole. Thats almost impossible, he told himself. Still, the Lab itself was fun and exciting, and he enthused about it, sometimes getting to technical and rubbing his hands at the prospect of all the wonderful devices and resources it had at its disposal. Some of it he was able to demonstrate in the expo hall, and he had to admit, it looked pretty impressive, with the crowds enjoying the displays of holograms, micro-weather controllers, the zero gravity room, and the x-ray goggles (as just some of the many examples). He caught Ironclad's eye and gave her the thumbs up. It was going pretty well.

The ferocious slash hit the boogieman and nearly split it in two. It wobbled but reformed, angry and in pain. Before it could fully respond, a bolt of lightning erupted from the sky and streaked towards the creature. "Take that, monsieur!" exclaimed Rene, focussing on the white streak of arcane energy that had manifested from his mind. And indeed, the creature did take it: squarely and robustly. Whilst the lance of lightning was true, and a dark, musty vapour streamed off the watery form, it remained as malign and present as ever.

Rene will respond with a mystic blast... 1d20+8=19 Only just hitting.

No need for that feat - liquid form will be fully susceptible to damage! (grapples are another matter!) - save that HP! That means a DC 26 1d20+8=18 although I forgot to add his defensive roll - 4 feat (curse the book not adding that!) which makes it 22. and he takes a bruise.

Just a quick riff of the Whizz-Cat theme, as the over-excited manager called you, and the media mistakenly picked up on! Unless you really want to run with it, they will correct it when you correct them!