Cube

1d20=11 Initiative!

Shrike was just about to stomp in the skylight when the voice of a woman broke his concentration. His cloak seemed to ruffle with frustration as he faced the mysterious newcomer. "...The ones currently going inspecting a pile of stolen masterpieces not 40 feet below us? I may have seen something. Now if you don't mind." With a single mighty kick, Shrike shattered the skylight separating him from the thieves below, his cape billowing as he landed among the thieves. He didn't have time to indulge the curiosity of a passerby: He had work to do. ...The question of how she got up to the rooftop was one he would answer later. But in the meantime... "Odd place for an art exhibit, don't you think?" Alright... good. The witty banter database seemed to be working. From the shadows, Shrike's eyes seemed to glow as shards of glittering glass rained down around him. "Why don't you put the paintings down and come with me. Unless you want me to show you a different kind of art..." His voicebox let loose a deep growl as he beckoned the ninjas to attack.

Ah... here we go. With a single leap, Shrike leapt from his perch, the coating of nanites spreading into a vast pair of wings to control his decent. He landed silently near a window, peering in as the black cloaked figures began to pass around their ill-gotten gains... Yup... definitely Ninjas. He calculated his next move. He had the advantage of stealth, though he couldn't maintain his cloaking nanites while in combat. They simply weren't designed for that sort of multitasking. He needed an entrance... His eyes immediately locked onto the Skylight. Perfect... With a few skilled leaps, Shrike was a top the factory roof, ready to smash a servo empowered leg through the dust coated glass of the factory skylight. He was so focused, he could barely make out the sounds of an approaching motorcycle.

Unfinished Business... an endless web of dangling threads and unfulfilled vows. That was the Steel Shrike's legacy. Or... at least that was the legacy the figure in grey was left to work with. Cloaked beneath a layer of masking nanites, he pondered for a moment if this was what it was like to be a ghost. The sole remnant of a dead man, bound to the world by a set of tasks you could never fully understand... ...Of course, it was difficult to be introspective when you were an invisible robot tracking down a gang of ninja art thieves. It was an old lead, but one Shrike hoped would give him the answers he sought. His predecessor, the original -and as far as the world was concerned, only- Steel Shrike had left a series of files regarding a breakout of art-thefts in the vast web of data that formed his robotic progeny's mind. The details were vague, but everything seemed to point here: an abandoned factory in Greenbank. From a quiet perch on a billboard advertising a bail bonds service, Shrike watched and waited...

...Also, for the record: AA got the idea for a robot cowl first, and I think he was inspired by Batman: TAS. ...So there's that.

As you can see, there are some obvious flaws. He's not quite a perfect copy of the original, and many of his skills and abilities are less honed than those of a proper cowl. This will be fixed in time. I just need more points. D:

"So if word about this gets out, then he'll have every gang in the city on his side..." Pyre sighed. "Fear tactics, of course... He'd only need a few demons to keep Southside in check. Then he can move in on you. But... Ugh, this robe thing is bugging me. Who wears a Yellow Robe? Monks?" It was a rather stupid thing to get fixated on, and he knew it. Someone was releasing demons onto the city, and Pyre's main concern was how it would look on a comic page. I mean, who would be afraid of the Archmage Colonel Mustard? When was the last time someone genuinely terrifying wore a... "...Wait a moment." Pyre pulled out his cellphone and started furiously pulling up Google Image search. "I know I've seen this before. Back when I was working on paranormal comics for castle. One of my coworkers was doing an adaptation of some old book of horror stories... Nice guy, not sure what happened to him. But... Ah! Here we go!" Pyre tossed his phone to Whiplash. "Does that guy look like our mysterious demon summoner?"

Taking 10 on K. Pop Culture for a total of 20. Any groups that are known for wearing Yellow Robes that Pyre may have doodled in the past?

"So that's why he wants revenge on you..." Pyre scratched his chin. "And... a pet? Really?" He seemed amused by that. "Clearly the guy doesn't know his comics. Still... where have I heard about Dark Yellow robes before? It's not exactly a common color for a demon summoner. They usually red or black, right? Maybe a Dark blue or green. But yellow? That's pretty distinctive." Leave it to the artist to start rambling on about colors. "But if he's after you personally, why hasn't he made a direct attack yet? Is he waiting for something?"

Lou was relieved to see that these offices were designed with plenty of space in mind. "Mona!" He grinned as he held out one of his four hands for a jumbosized handshake. "It's so weird being taller than you." Despite his rather horrifying visage, the man was still as amicable as ever. "I've been doing pretty well. The kids are fine, wife's doing okay. How have you been?" He nodded in approval to Mona's offer of coffee, before looking for a place to sit down. "Love what you've done with the place, by the way."

[floatr][/floatr] Player Name: Cube Character Name: The Steel Shrike Power Level: 7 (109/110PP) Trade-Offs: None Unspent Power Points: 1 Progress To Bronze Status: 5/30 In Brief: A Robotic Cowl with a Heroic Legacy! Alternate Identity: A Robotic Duplicate of the Original Steel Shrike, codename Shrike 2.0 Identity: Secret Birthplace: A processor on a giant computer in a secret base, of course! Occupation: Robot. It doesn't pay well, but it's a living. Affiliations: None Family: Peter David ("Father", deceased.) Description: Age: <1 (DoB: 2011) Apparent Age: 25 Gender: None (Identifies as Male) Ethnicity: Robot Height: 6'5 Weight: 220 Eyes: White Hair: Now you're just being insensitive. The Steel Shrike appears to be a muscular figure in seamless, form fitting, dark gray power armor. His face is blank, except for a pair of white eyes, marked with a "mask" reminiscent of the distinctive eye markings of The Bird that gives him his name sake. THis most distinctive feature is his large billowing cape. Darker than the rest of his costume, with a hood vaguely reminiscent of a bird's beak, it's certainly a dramatic touch. As for what he looks like underneath, well... Power Descriptions: Shrike is mostly a hand to hand fighter, using a blend of brute force and pre-programmed skill. His cape consists of a swarm of nanites equipped with advanced holoprojectors, sound dampening frequency emitters, and a force dispersal system designed to protect the wearer from harm. It also functions as a glider. Wheeeeeeeee... History: Peter David was a genius roboticist with the heart of a hero. As the "The Steel Shrike", he used his advanced power armor and custom nanocloak to defend the people of Freedom City. For years, David lived a double life, with his trusty supercomputer as his only assistant and confidant. But then... one day, The Steel Shrike returned to his lair followed by a trail of blood. Mortally wounded, his last act was to activate one final subroutine programmed into his base's computer system; One that would compile decades of heroic knowledge into a fully sapient entity who could carry on his legacy. As Peter David passed out of this world, Shrike 2.0 opened it's digital eyes for the first time... Its first emotion was grief. The death of its creator was something the nascent intelligence could barely comprehend. His wounds were explainable. Gashes on the body, but minimal damage to the armor. Still, the AI had a legacy to uphold. Using the base's auto-workshop, and blueprints uploaded into its system, Shrike 2.0 crafted an exact replica of the original Steel Shrike's armor, with an internal robotic frame to allow for movement. Donning his creator's iconic cloak, the new Steel Shrike stepped out onto the streets of Freedom City for the first time, with only one command programmed into his mind... Justice. Personality & Motivation: The Steel Shrike is a machine programmed for JUSTICE. Crime fighting is what he does, and he doesn't really grasp the idea of "downtime" yet. His mansion base is well kept, but notably lacking in certain "human" features, such as televisions, books, or recreational tools. If they are present, they haven't been touched in a long time. Shrike also has a mystery on his hands. His creator is DEEEAAAAD, and he isn't sure why. He doesn't know if the killer will strike again, or how that killer will react when they find out the Shrike is apparently "alive and well." Powers & Tactics: Shrike is a very focused fighter. He prefers action to talking, as long conversations may reveal his artificial nature. He primarily uses hand to hand combat, with robotic servos adding some much needed brute strength. When looking to be stealthy, Shrike can order his cloak to cover his body, nullifying all visual and aural output. This cuts out automatically as a safety mechanism if he gets into a fight, though. Shrike lacks the raw skill of his predecessor, as he hasn't quite learned how to process or apply all the information he has at his disposal. Complications: Do Androids Dream of Electric VENGEANCE?: Peter David is dead, and Shrike 2.0 has no idea why. He's obsessed with bringing his creator's killer to justice. Never Off The Clock: Shrike doesn't have much of a social life. If he doesn't need to be in his base, he's out fighting crime. This means his social skills are lacking considerably. I am totally alive, yup: The Steel Shrike isn't supposed to be dead. This means a lot of things. For one, any of his old allies are going to wonder why he's acting so weird. Two, if Peter David's old colleagues come around, there will be trouble. Three, who ever killed the original is still out there, and might want to finish the job. It's a tough life. Abilities: 10 + 0 + -10 + 8 + 2 + 2 = 12PP Strength: 20 (+5) Dexterity: 10 (+0) Constitution: -- (+0) Intelligence: 18 (+4) Wisdom: 12 (+1) Charisma: 12 (+1) Combat: 4 + 10 = 14PP Initiative: +0 Attack: +7 Melee, +3 Ranged Grapple: +12 Defense: +7 (+4 Base, +3 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -3 Saving Throws: 0 + 4 + 3 = 7PP Toughness: +7 (+0 Con, +7 Protection) Fortitude: Immune Reflex: +4 (+0 Dex, +4) Will: +4 (+1 Wis, +3) Skills: 32R = 8PP Acrobatics 10 (+10) Craft (Mechanical) 3 (+7) Intimidate 8 (+9) Investigate 8 (+12) Notice 3 (+4) Knowledge (All) 0 (+8) Eidetic Memory Feats: 14PP Acrobatic Bluff Attack Focus 4 Beginner's Luck Dodge Focus 3 Luck 2 Sneak Attack 1 Equipment 2 [10EP] Powers: 9 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 30 + 5 + 7 + 5 = 61PP Device 2 (Hard to Lose, 10 PP Extras: Alternate Power 1) [9PP] 'Nanocloak, Watch as I use almost every container tag while trying to describe one power' BP: Array Slot 10 (10 PP Array Slot) {10/10} Flight 2 (25 MPH, 220 ft./rnd; Flaws: Gliding) [2PP] Concealment 3 (All Visual and Aural Senses; Flaws: Passive) [6PP] Super-Movement 1 (Slow Fall) [2PP] AP: AP: Snare 7 (Flaws: Range (Touch); Feats: Obscure Visual, Extended 2 (10 Feet)) {10/10} Enhanced Trait 3 (Eidetic Memory, Improvised Tools, Jack-Of-All-Trades) [3PP] Feature 1 (Library) [1PP] Illusion 1 (biometrics field/Technology; All Senses; Flaws: Limited 2 ["I'm Totally Not A Robot!"]; Drawbacks: Limited [Does not effect normal un-enhanced vision]) [1PP] Immunity 30 (Fortitude Saves) 'Beep Boop Imma Robot' [30 PP] Immunity 10( Mental Saves; Flaws: Limited [Half Effect]) [5PP] Protection 7 (+7 Toughness) Armor Plating [7PP] Regeneration 5 (+0 Recovery Bonus) [5PP] Drawbacks: (-2) + (-5) = -7PP Vulnerable (Electricity; Frequency: Common; Intensity: Minor [+1]) [-2PP] Weakness (Strong Magnetic Fields; Frequency: Uncommon; Intensity: Major [-1 to all Ability Scores, Once a Minute, Non-Lethal]) [-5PP] DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC20 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Sneak Attack Touch DC22 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Snare Touch DC17 Reflex (Staged) Snare + Obscure Visual Totals: Abilities (12) + Combat (14) + Saving Throws (7) + Skills (8) + Feats (14) + Powers (61) - Drawbacks (7) = 109/110

This was a build that I settled on based on some conversations in the chatroom: The Supercomputer of a costumed adventurer going sapient and taking up the mantle of it's creator. It's got robot immunities, a fully functional hidden base, and a really awesome cape. There are some weakpoints though. His skills are lackluster, and he's not particularly intimidating or acrobatic, which are cardinal sins for a Cowl. You need to be SCARY AND FLIPPY. ...So maybe I'll have to take a point or two out of the headquarters. Player Name: Cube Character Name: The Steel Shrike Power Level: 7 105/105PP Trade-Offs: None Unspent Power Points: 0 Progress To Bronze Status: 6/30 In Brief: A Robotic Cowl with a Heroic Legacy! Alternate Identity: A Robotic Duplicate of the Original Steel Shrike, codename Shrike 2.0 Identity: Secret Birthplace: A processor on a giant computer in a secret base, of course! Occupation: Robot. It doesn't pay well, but it's a living. Affiliations: None Family: Peter David ("Father", deceased.) Description: Age: <1 (DoB: 2011) Apparent Age: 25 Gender: None (Identifies as Male) Ethnicity: Robot Height: 6'5 Weight: 220 Eyes: White Hair: Now you're just being insensitive. The Steel Shrike appears to be a muscular figure in dark grey steel power armor. His face is blank, except for a pair of white eyes, marked with a "mask" reminiscent of the distinctive eye markings of The Bird that gives him his name sake. There are some aerodynamic spikes along the back of his head. His most distinctive feature is his large billowing cape. Darker than the rest of his armor, this cape always seems to be billowing dramatically behind him. As for what he looks like underneath, well... Power Descriptions: Shrike is mostly a hand to hand fighter, using a blend of brute force and pre-programmed skill. His cape consists of a swarm of nanites equipped with advanced holoprojectors, sound dampening frequency emitters, and a force dispersal system designed to protect the wearer from harm. It also functions as a glider. Wheeeeeeeee... History: Peter David was a genius roboticist with the heart of a hero. As the "The Steel Shrike", he used his advanced power armor and custom nanocloak to defend the people of Freedom City. For years, David lived a double life, with his trusty supercomputer as his only assistant and confidant. But then... one day, The Steel Shrike returned to his lair followed by a trail of blood. Mortally wounded, his last act was to activate one final subroutine programmed into his base's computer system; One that would compile decades of heroic knowledge into a fully sapient entity who could carry on his legacy. As Peter David passed out of this world, Shrike 2.0 opened it's digital eyes for the first time... Its first emotion was grief. The death of its creator was something the nascent intelligence could barely comprehend. His wounds were explainable. Gashes on the body, but minimal damage to the armor. Still, the AI had a legacy to uphold. Using the base's auto-workshop, and blueprints uploaded into its system, Shrike 2.0 crafted an exact replica of the original Steel Shrike's armor, with an internal robotic frame to allow for movement. Donning his creator's iconic cloak, the new Steel Shrike stepped out onto the streets of Freedom City for the first time, with only one command programmed into his mind... Justice. Personality & Motivation: The Steel Shrike is a machine programmed for JUSTICE. Crime fighting is what he does, and he doesn't really grasp the idea of "downtime" yet. His mansion base is well kept, but notably lacking in certain "human" features, such as televisions, books, or recreational tools. If they are present, they haven't been touched in a long time. Shrike also has a mystery on his hands. His creator is DEEEAAAAD, and he isn't sure why. He doesn't know if the killer will strike again, or how that killer will react when they find out the Shrike is apparently "alive and well." Powers & Tactics: Shrike is a very focused fighter. He prefers action to talking, as long conversations may reveal his artificial nature. He primarily uses hand to hand combat, with robotic servos adding some much needed brute strength. When looking to be stealthy, Shrike can order his cloak to cover his body, nullifying all visual and aural output. This cuts out automatically as a safety mechanism if he gets into a fight, though. Shrike lacks the raw skill of his predecessor, as he hasn't quite learned how to process or apply all the information he has at his disposal. Complications: Do Androids Dream of Electric VENGEANCE?: Peter David is dead, and Shrike 2.0 has no idea why. He's obsessed with bringing his creator's killer to justice. Never Off The Clock: Shrike doesn't have much of a social life. If he doesn't need to be in his base, he's out fighting crime. This means his social skills are lacking considerably. I am totally alive, yup: The Steel Shrike isn't supposed to be dead. This means a lot of things. For one, any of his old allies are going to wonder why he's acting so weird. Two, if Peter David's old colleagues come around, there will be trouble. Three, who ever killed the original is still out there, and might want to finish the job. It's a tough life. Abilities: 7 + 0 + -10 + 8 + 2 + 2 = 16PP Strength: 24 (+7) Dexterity: 10 (+0) Constitution: -- Intelligence: 18 (+4) Wisdom: 12 (+1) Charisma: 12 (+1) Combat: 8 + 8 = 16PP Initiative: +0 Attack: +7 Melee, +4 Ranged Grapple: +14 Defense: +7 (+4 Base, +3 Shield), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -3 Saving Throws: 0 + 5 + 2 = 7PP Toughness: +7 (+0 Con, +7 Protection) Fortitude: Immune Reflex: +5 (+0 Dex, +5) Will: +3 (+1 Wis, +2) Skills: 24R = 6PP Acrobatics 10 (+10) Intimidate 8 (+9) Investigate 1 (+5) Notice 4 (+5) Search 1 (+5) Knowledge (Any) 0 (+8)Eidetic Memory Feats: 8PP Attack Focus (Melee) 3 Eidetic Memory Equipment 4 Mansion Headquarters [20EP] Size: Huge [3EP] Toughness: +15 [2EP] Features [15 EP] Combat Simulator Communications Computer Concealed (+15 DC) Defense System Fire Prevention System Gym Infirmary Laboratory Living Space Power System Security System 2 (DC 25) Workshop Powers: 9 + 40 + 7 + 3 = 59 PP Device 3 (Nanocloak, Technology, Nanites; 10PP Container; Extras: Hard-To-Lose; Feats: Alternate Power 1 ) [11] BP: Array Slot 10 (10 PP Array Slot) {10/10} Flight 2 (25 MPH, 220 ft./rnd; Flaws: Gliding) [2PP] Concealment 6 (All Visual and Aural Senses; Flaws: Passive) [6PP] Super-Movement 1 (Slow Fall) [2PP] AP: Snare 7 (Flaws: Range (Touch); Feats: Obscure Visual, Extended 2 (10 Feet)) {10/10} Shield 3 (+3 Dodge Bonus to Defense) [3PP] Immunity 40 (Fortitude Saves, Mental Effects) [40PP] Is a Robot Protection 7 (+7 Toughness) [7PP] Armor Plating Drawbacks: (-2 + (-5) = -7PP Vulnerable (Electricity; Frequency: Common; Intensity: Minor [+1] ) [-2PP] Weakness (Strong Magnetic Fields; Frequency: Uncommon; Intensity: Major [-1 to all Ability Scores, Once a Minute, Non-Lethal]) [-5PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC22 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Snare Touch DC17 Reflex (Staged) Snare + Obscure Visual Totals: Abilities (16) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (7) + Skills (6) + Feats (8) + Powers (59) - Drawbacks (7) = 105/105 Power Points

Pyre was acutely aware he was scary as hell. That once incident with the Trick Or Treaters was more than enough to attest to that. "Heights are fine, unless you'd rather sit in my garage or something. Don't have many other options. I just want to get out of here..." Pyre instinctively edged a few feet away from the mangled corpse. "Though... I would like to find out what our mutual friend has to say about all of this. Who ever is responsible for this has some seriously bad mojo at their disposal..."

Eh, true. ...Yeah, stunting off that array. Grabbing Takedown Attack next time I get some PP. I'm bad about this...

Pyre smiled as Whiplash was led in. "There you are. Thanks for helping out earlier. I... really wasn't expecting that to happen..." The news that this now skinless corpse's former employer was after Revenant was new, though. "So... this Lady Fatale person has connections to this person who's after you. But if she didn't do this... who did?" Whoever pulled this off had some serious mojo at their disposal. It was enough to make Pyre's insides squirm. He wanted out. "...Maybe we should talk about this outside."

Castle Comics just wasn't working out. It's not that he didn't like his boss. They had been supportive. It's just... well... Drawing yourself getting beaten up week after week was tedious. Mona's call was an opportunity, one he was more than willing to take. It had been year since they had spoken, but Mona was a hard person to forget. Not many artists were eight feet tall. He had many fond memories of their work together, but that was years ago... He was a bit nervous as he approached the unassuming brick building. Ideally, this would be the beginning of a beautiful working relationship. ...Worst case scenario, he'd experience a super powerful punch in the face. Fair trade, he supposed.

The strange creatures rushed Pyre, whose large size and red skin made him a very inciting target. A thousand tiny nicks were carved in Pyre's skin, insubstantial on their own, but enough to make the behemoth take notice. "Get OFF OF ME!" His body erupted in a pillar of flame, his hat and coat burning instantly to ash as surging tendrils of flame assaulted the beasts. (Fortunately, he had enough presence of mind to preserve his pants. The kids were already scared enough.) His eyes glowed like burning coals as he glared at the beast that loomed above, his voice rumbling with demonic powe. "I don't know who you are, or who sent you... but you will NOT HARM THESE CHILDREN!"

...Eh. Nah. Maybe I'll spend a hero point for Damage 10 (Extras: Area [General, Burst]) with the size held back as needed. It's not original but it works.

Oh, Derp. It's my turn isn't it? I'll try to catch as many of the Svartalfar in a Shockwave without hitting any of the kids. I think it's a DC 25 Reflex save, because Pyre's strength bonus is +15. Not entirely sure about the damage. It's either DC 15 or DC 30 because this wording is -vague-.

Pyre The Devil His Due Kramp My Style Artistic License

First of all, I'm raising my Charisma to 12 (+1) [2pp] This boosts my Intimidate bonus by 1, to +11 I'd also like a rank of Takedown attack, please. [1PP] Burned by Supercape

Pyre was surprised by the sudden appearance of the nearly monochrome heroine. "Oh, didn't see you there. I'm Pyre. I've been investigating this guy named Jerry Singer for a few weeks now, but this is the first I've heard of a Lady Fatale being involved..." The prickling feeling on the back of his neck was starting to get to him. "...But if it means getting out of here, I'd be more than happy to accompany you. Though... how would someone in a jail cell be able to pull this off? I mean, even with magic, someone would have noticed a convict trying to do a ritual."

I assume my Impervious 10 is taken into account? 1d20+15=23 Blurgh. One moment. Hero Point Reroll 1 (1d20+15=27) ...Well, darn.

Pyre grit his teeth as Asad was sent flying from the impact of the Krampus's birch bat. The complete ineffectiveness of his blows didn't do much to encourage him either. He needed to act, and he needed to act fast. Wail's shout provided him with just the distraction he needed. Channeling all his might into a prodigious leap, Pyre rocketed into the air, as far about the Krampus's head as he could manage. Just as gravity was about to reclaim his hold on him, he coated his massive form in a crackling aura of flame, before performing the most spectacular elbow drop any of the orphans below had ever witnessed: aimed directly at the Krampus's skull.

Once again, Pyre is gonna make an All Out Attack on Kaptain Krampus! 1d20+10=30 CRITICAL HIT! *rolls to confirm* DISREGARD THIS1d20+10=13 Edit: Wait, TT told me we don't roll to confirm. So it's a Critical! Going for the increased effect, then! DC 35 Toughness Save!