Shofet

The creature blinked, one eye at a time. Then, an intense look crossed their face as they licked their large, flat teeth. "You don't need to shout," they said, before turning and walking northward. They had a strange, hobbled gait, as though they were in pain but if there was any discomfort their face did not show it. Cool winds blew across the grasses, and strange birds chirped overhead. They came upon a cave. The outside was littered with trash, mostly bones but the occasional candy wrapper of indeterminate origin as well, with labels in a language that were not from any real realm. The creature banged on the wall, and then, from the darkness emerged Raya. Except she was much more wild looking. Her hair had grown out, now extending down to her shoulders, while dark circles were under her eyes. Her clothes were rags now, shredded versions of what she had been wearing in the outside world. Her eyes went wide at seeing Valkyrja, and she nearly tripped over herself as she ran forth. "Holy crap! I thought I'd never see you again. Oh my god, it has been so long. I've been living like an animal."

Mia could not help but notice the amount of PDA that was going on here, and she was starting to feel a little self-conscious. Shifting, she folding her right leg over her left, and looked at the screen. The discussion was also starting to go above her head a bit, so she was wondering where, exactly, she could fit herself back into the conversation and her wonderings came up with nothing. Leaning back in her chair, she found her eyes glazing over at the movie. She wondered why she had agreed to watch something so long, but she supposed she owed Judy for showing her Rocky Horror. Still couldn't believe she didn't like it. How could anyone not like Rocky Horror? It was crazy. Her eyes drifted down to her toga. She went to pick off some lint. Where'd she even get it? She looked around. Was the room dusty? Kinda. She noticed that some of the wall had a bit of damage. How'd that get there? Were people having brawls down in the church basement? Heh heh. Jesus fight Club. She was pulled out of her musing by the sound of a creaking beneath her. She looked down, and as soon as she did, the plastic of her chair disintegrated beneath her into little pebbly bits. She hit the ground, legs flying up into the air as she went sprawling. "OH CRAP," she cried as she went down, before laying there and looking up at the ceiling silently for a moment. "...Now I was pretty sure I had the formula for chair plastic down pretty well," she said, mostly to make light of things.

Mia considered it, but the description did not sound promising to her at all. "...Well, I mean, moving buildings... Ah... I don't know if you know this but like, Orange Squad and I did a thing this Halloween with a moving building and it ended up with a lot of trauma for everyone involved... But uh... You know what? Sure. I survived the last one, what's another chance at the roulette wheel of death." "Okay, so... If you can gimme a location, I can probably just teleport us both there. You know. Save some time for both of us, like... Y'know. Better than walking, and I get the feeling you're about to say the walking is an adventure but I'm gonna go ahead and preemptively disagree. Not really feeling the whole wandering thing right now." "...Work for you?"

Ori-Bath glowered at Sitara throughout her rant, but smiled at the end. She was about to make a cutting remark about how she was none of those things anymore, and all the implications that had for her, but then Sitara placated her by summoning her superiors. The arrival of Paradigm cooled the fire in her belly, and she turned to the woman. “A pleasure,” she said, her tone becoming much more pleasant. “I have flown for a long time an---” Then, the blue furry thing opened its mouth, and Ori-Bath felt the bile rise in her throat. How dare this loathsome creature address her in such a wa She hissed at him, bearing her fangs, before beginning a rant of her own. “Bold words for livestock! Verminous worm! I am Starlok, the greatest warrior of my bloodline for two thousand years! I know not what other pitiful slime your kind vomited forth into the galaxy, but if you are the best of them, then it is a sad species indeed!” As she bellowed, she threw her cape behind her in a sweeping gesture. “Think wisely before you run your mouth further, lest I be forced to correct you! I am no one to be trifled with, you cerulean stain!” She took on an theatrical posture, curling her hand as though she ranted. Her voice projected across the whole docking bay, suggesting she was practiced in giving these sorts of little 'speeches'.

Mia Mustafic-Markov just discovered she did not like space. The teleporting up there felt wrong and different compared to her own kind. She had gotten so used to her own brand that any other kind felt wrong. More than that, though, was the idea that there was only a thin barrier between her and infinite lethality of space. So many things out there that could kill her. Depressurization. Radiation. Tiny little space rocks moving faster than bullets. Carnivorous space monsters. And the artificial air wasn't doing much for her asthma, either. She took another puff on her inhaler, trying to keep herself from freaking out. Why had she agreed to this? Stupid Eira. Stupid space. Stupid social expectations. She wondered if Eira had mentioned their fight to the Praetorians. Was she going to get singled out? Mia squeezed her eyes shut, and forced herself to simply breathe. In and out. Exist in the moment. She was fine. She was fine. Her eyes opened again. She looked to the other students, and then to her surroundings. Be in the moment, Mia. She was dressed as she often was, wearing a hoodie and some torn jeans. Her long black hair was in a thick bun to keep it from going every which way. Her lip had a split in it from being too chapped, even though now it was glossy with lip balm. The black nail polish she had been wearing was chipping off now, because she'd woken up too late to reapply it. She looked a bit of a mess. "Guh," she said. She was certain she intended something more elegant, but for the life of her, she couldn't remember what.

Mia looked at all the others, looking lost. Her head buzzed, and she felt a little sick. It was clear to her that Eira had won this little exchange. Mia had lost her cool and now everyone realized what a psycho Mia could be. She felt a lump form in her throat as she took a seat. "I'm... Not a leader... And... Yeah, sure, space," Mia said, her voice hoarse. She frowned, looking down at the table. What was she going to do now? Going to space meant she wouldn't be able to teleport away. She'd be stuck with Eira. She'd make an idiot of herself again. Like she did just now. This was awful. This was going to go terribly. But what choice did she have? Putting her foot down would only serve to make her look worse. "Sorry."

"Oh, you think you're so ????ing great just because you're connected to the Praetorians while my mom was Revolt. Well you know what? You're not anything like them. You're not like any of the heroes. Heroes don't like to talk down to people and make'em feel small," Mia said, her face becoming red and her eyes misting a bit. "You're just a jumped up brat and you're probably gonna go super-villain the first chance you get," she spat. "You know what? I don't have to deal with you. I shouldn't have to." She shot up, standing, and then suddenly disappeared in a sudden flash of light. For a few seconds, she was gone, before suddenly reappearing as she reached down, grabbing her bag. "...I forgot my backpack."

Ori-Bath stared at the greeter, and folded her arms, shifting her weight to convey just how unimpressed she was with the news that none knew she was coming. Considering what she had done to come here, that seemed unlikely. “I am Ori-Bath, Countess of Lugo, alias STARLOK! And I am certain I lodged several communiques with your group,” she said in perhaps the most posh and aristocratic register of the Lor language, before producing a data pad from a pocket within her cape. She moved through it quickly, before settling on a screen involving several messages back and forth between her and a functionary. CC’d were the Praetorians and other station officials. “Do you see this here?” she asked, gesturing to the screen. “What this is here is a series of messages in which it is confirmed that I shall be visiting the station on this date, is it not? And you are telling me that you were not informed, yes?” She frowned. “That is quite curious. Perhaps I should have a look at your data-pad and see if somehow it missed yours? Would you like to check?” It was clear by her tone that she was talking down to Sitara, being entirely certain she would find the same messages there.

Coalition Victory Station, Docking Bay 2 Late January 7:30 PM For the past few months, Ori-Bath, scion of House Nos, Countess of Lugo, had been bandied about various Lor worlds, talking to countless faceless bureaucrats while being redirected at every turn. Though she had come to them for aid, the Lor and their pitiful Coalition had been reluctant to aid her. Nokton and its small demesne was outside both the Republic and the Khanate, a minor independent power, and thus it was not politically expedient to intervene in such a small matter. Especially since the Grand Duke of Nokton was similarly uninterested in doing anything about the problem, and had made as much clear to any who asked him. However, after some mild intimidation of low-ranking pencil-pushers and a dedicated effort to being a thorn in the side of the bureaucracy, Ori-Bath had been directed to the Coalition Victory station, basely referred to as “CoVic” by the locals. There, she was told she might be able to make some allies who could prove useful to her in her dynastic struggle in the future. Many had been warned in advance of her notoriously acidic temperament before her arrival, in order to ensure as few issues as possible. She had received some warnings in return about her own behaviour, but she had mostly tuned out. She was a countess, and conduct herself as such. “This is Ori-Bath, Countess of Lugo, aboard the Pale Rider. I have forwarded you the requisite permits, and am looking to land. You shall furnish me with a docking bay. Is this clear?” Said Ori-Bath, speaking over her channel to the docking manager. “...Alright, checks out, you’re cleared to land in Bay 2,” responded a monotone voice. Before she could take issue with the blasé manner in which she was addressed, Ori-Bath’s attention was drawn by the landing lights guiding her towards Bay 2. She decided that she would merely complain later to their superior, and instead focus on claiming her spot before some other buffoon tried to. Flicking a few switches, Ori-Bath guided her ship into the bay, deploying her landing gear and feeling the familiar rocking of the landing process as her ship settled into position. She waited for the bay doors to close behind her, and listened to the characteristic hiss as breathable air rapidly filled the room around her. After a few minutes, a green light flashed telling her that it was now safe to depart the Pale Rider and head into the bay itself. With a loud hum, the walkway descended from the Pale Rider, and Ori-Bath descended. She was dressed in the Panoply of Nos, complete with sword. Her cape fluttered behind her as she walked down the steps, eyes searching for any procession to meet her. She wished to make an impression on this day, to make it known that she was not someone to be trifled with. “Behold!” She cried. “Starlok has arrived!”

"Oh, yeah, and then when you inevitably condescend to them, we can try and figure out a new plan when they go from defending themselves to actually trying to outright murder us," Mia said, rolling her eyes at Eira. "Sorry, Eira, but if other species' first impressions are like the one you've given us, I don't exactly think you'd be making friends in this scenario." "And you know what? Fine. I admit I bring nothing to the table when it comes to communicating with a species that I have no absolutely no cultural ground to cover. I'm not a xeno-anthropologist, I'm the kid of an ex-supervillain and I can make stuff out of thin air. I mean, it's a really problematic question anyway. What if they don't have eyes or ears? What if they communicate by magnetism or some quantum function we haven't even discovered yet or something and because their brain is weird, telepathy doesn't work on them? Sure, most of the species we interact with are like us, but there's gotta be some like, silicon based stuff out there. What if their culture feels that if you don't immediately give up a baby to be eaten to a visitor, it's a declaration of war?" "At some point, this becomes a question for people who aren't us. At some point we'd have to defer to people who have spent their entire lives working towards that stuff, and all we can do in that situation is make sure they don't kill anybody before that misunderstanding is resolved. In that situation, none of us are viable."

Mia's eyes misted over for a moment, and she felt a lump in her throat, but she nodded and forced herself to regain composure. God, I'm such a dork, she thought to herself. "Thanks, Ash. You're right, and I'm glad you understand. I still think you're pretty cool," she said softly, before looking over at the screen. "Alright, I gotta watch the movie or Judy's gonna get annoyed." With that, she moved back to her chair, sitting and watching the film relatively quietly. She half-listened to the conversation going on between her supposed date and Judy, and realized she wasn't doing a very good job of deflecting the whole relationship problem that Judy had been trying to avoid. She thought about mentioning how she thought a lot of religious figures might have just been normal who got powers somehow, but that seemed like a bad choice in a church, so she stopped herself. Instead, she tried to rephrase. "I mean, we have all sorts of legends about people who could do some crazy stuff. I think like, uh... Superheroes is a very new concept that like... requires certain modern stuff to exist. I feel like a lot of cultural champions like Achilles would have been considered superheroes if they were alive today, you know?"

Alright, with your advice I have made some extensive edits. The first and foremost is that I fixed the Mighty Issue. In the case of the Blade of the Blood Drinkers, that was simply a matter of reducing the points, whereas with the Thirsting Talons, I simply changed it to be purely Drain Constitution while also removing the original vampiric damage power. Drain Constitution now is not Innate anymore, as well. I also reduced my Enhanced Notice by 4 ranks to give me another PP, allowing me to bring my Panoply down to Device 6. That freed up a lot of points, so I raised my Wisdom to 20 (an extra 2 points earned from not having to spend as much on my will saving throw) which allowed me to rearrange a lot of things, including my skills and adding to my Feats. Starlok now has Luck 2 (instead of Luck 1) and Improved Initiative to make her even more effective in combat. The new values for my Ability Scores are 62 in total, while my saving throws are down to 15 point cost, my powers now cost 51, and my feats are up to 35. I added 4 ranks to Intimidate and them simply moved around some other things, so even though I now have search, I am only at 13 PP in skills, up 1 from my previous 12. So, with all of that, I think she's ready for you to look at again.

This is what I was referring to, from the core book under Strike on page 100. I think I still misinterpreted it, but this is what I was trying to abide by.

So I read in the book that I had to buy up Mighty to match my Strength bonus if I had any extras, like my penetrating and vampiric there. Is that not the case? The Panoply is also the wrong one in the powers, I think, since it has the Power Feat to bring it to 29. I will bump off the innate from my natural weapons, as well.

Starlok Power Level: 12 (185/186 PP) Unspent Power Points: 1 Trade-Offs: N/A In Brief: A countess from a vampire-like alien species out to protect the galaxy as part of her noble duty. Catchphrase: Starlok hungers! Theme: Mannfred von Carstein Theme - Total War Warhammer 2 Alternate Identity: Ori-Bath of House Nos, Countess of Lugo (Public) Birthplace: Castle Lugo, on the night moon of Nokton Residence: Space Base of Operations: The Pale Rider Occupation: Aristocrat Affiliations: House of Nos Family: Ney-Var (father, deceased), Ka-Har (mother, deceased), Ven-Ruth (brother), Description: Age: 122 (DoB: May 26, 1897) Apparent Age: Mid-20s. Gender: Female Ethnicity: Alien Height: 5’08” Weight: 140 lbs Eyes: Red Hair: Dark blue, long Starlok’s appearance, to an Earthling, immediately calls to mind the wicked vampire. Her skin is pale grey, her eyes blood red, her ears pointed, her fingers ending in black, razor sharp fingernails and in place of canines, she has fangs. Yet there is the touch of something alien to her as well: Her long, widow’s peaked hair, though normally appearing black, is revealed to be actually a very dark blue under the right light; her skin lacks any blemish, not even a mole; her pupils are actually a subtle starburst shape rather than round. Starlok stands 5’08”, with a lithe, athletic figure. Her face is angular, with very prominent cheekbones, with a thin upper lip and a pointed nose. She is fond of makeup, wearing black eyeshadow and similarly coloured lipstick in most occasions, even when she is going into battle, and is fond of wearing golden rings and necklaces. When in a civilian context, she dresses richly, favouring long, flowing gowns and fashionable jewelry in colours like dark purple, mauve and burgundy. When dressed for battle, she dons the Panoply of Nos, which takes the form of a golden girdle, a similarly coloured open-top helmet that frames her face adorned with what looks like bat wings, and a sword made of blood red metal. This is accompanied by a midnight blue leotard, thigh high red boots, and a black opera cape with the collar turned upwards so that it reaches up above the back of her head. History: Ori-Bath was born as a scion of House Nos on the night moon of Nokton, the daughter of Count Ney-Var and his wife, Ka-Har. The oldest of two children, Ori-Bath was raised to become the next Countess of Lugo, a prestigious position that her younger brother Ven-Ruth made no secret of coveting. Only separated by a year, Ven-Ruth constantly jockeyed for favour, but both Ori-Bath and her parents ignored these attempts. For over a century, Ori-Bath remained convinced of her succession. However, in that time, her brother’s bitterness had grown. Secretly, Ven-Ruth made alliances with other houses and built up forces to strike when the time was right. The chance came when Ney-Var decided to abdicate and allow Ori-Bath to ascend as Countess. On the day of her coronation, Ven-Ruth struck. Both Ney-Var and Ka-Har were struck down, but Ori-Bath herself managed to survive. Taking with her the ancestral Panoply of Nos, the ancient gear necessary to hold the right to rule, she fled aboard one of her family space-ships, the Pale Rider, and took off into space. Adopting the title of “Starlok”, a sobriquet once used by the founder of her noble house, Ori-Bath fled into the wider galaxy looking for support to reclaim her rightful lands. In doing so, she has occasionally deigned to act as a hero to whatever people she has been near, partially out of a sense of noble duty and partially because she knows that she needs to build respect to gain the aid she needs. All the while, her brother and his allies send hunters after her, knowing that without the Panoply of Nos, Ven-Ruth’s rule can never be legitimate. Forever watching her back and yet always moving forward, Starlok must contend with much if she is ever to reclaim her lands and return home. Personality & Motivation: As befitting a noblewoman, Starlok is a very haughty woman. She has an exceptionally high opinion of herself, and an even more exceptionally low opinion of most others. Her reasons are many - her noble blood, her impressive intellect, her appearance. But even if she had none of these, her personality is such that she would still hold herself in high regard. Bruises to her ego only strengthen her resolve to prove herself better than her enemies, of which she has many. Yet, for all her belief of superiority, Starlok believes strongly that she has an obligation to ensure the safety and security of those around her, a noblesse oblige. This is still tied into her ego - the helpless masses needing the aid of someone competent and regal - but it’s there. She bristles at the pointless mistreatment of others, and is completely and utterly honest to the point of bluntness. Unafraid of combat, she will gladly put her life on the line to defend the common people, even if this is mostly because she’s too arrogant to believe she’ll ever die. Starlok loves to be theatrical, and is prone to making grand proclamations and refer to herself in the third person. When people don’t take this seriously, she takes notice and becomes annoyed. She demands respect, and only becomes more theatrical the more it is denied to her. Powers & Tactics: Starlok is a frontline combatant, through and through. Wading into combat with her Blade of the Blood Drinkers, she hacks and slashes her way to victory. Should she be disarmed, or simply very injured, she switches to her claws, which allow her to drink the life-force of her enemies and restore herself. Preferring straight-forward combat, she primarily uses her flight to bridge the gap between herself and enemies, rushing forward to hit them with her sword. Power Descriptions: Though she appears humanoid, Starlok’s biology is very different than that of H. sapiens. Her flesh contains thin layers of non-newtonian fluid, which when combined with bones that possess natural carbon fiber and redundant organs like a second liver and heart make her body more resilient than many species in the galaxy. Her eyes are specially constructed to see in the dark, combining hyper-sensitive photoreceptors with cat-like reflectors. What appear to be merely claw-like fingernails are instead an important part of her digestive system, combining enzymes with efficient muscles to drain the blood of others and filter out important nutrients like Vitamin D even as it enters the bloodstream. However, she also faces some complications. Her species is native to the dark side of a massive moon, and as such she is effectively allergic to daylight, and other intense light is similarly damaging to her skin and eyes. Silver is as toxic to her as arsenic is to humans, due to its extreme rarity on her homeworld. The non-newtonian fluid in her flesh is also slightly flammable, and thus fire hurts her more than other substances.’ She is supplemented by the Panoply of Nos, a set of armour and a sword that have been designed to enhance its wearer to even higher levels. The girdle, also known as the Girdle of Es-Tep, projects a gravitic field that allows her to project a force-field of gravitic energy, which simultaneously allows her to take flight into the sky. It also releases pulses of energy into her muscles, stimulating them to the point that they allow her to perform amazing feats of strength. Her sword, the Blade of the Blood Drinkers, is made of a strange red metal that is profoundly sharp and sturdy, allowing her to hack through even the toughest enemies, while her helmet, the Helm of Nos, empowers her natural senses and notifies her of danger. Complications: You Fool! You Worm!: Starlok is of a grandiose disposition, and sometimes cannot help but remind the enemy of how superior she is to them. The GM can award her a hero point if she wastes her turn monologuing rather than doing anything productive. The Peasants are Revolting: Starlok is an aristocrat through and through, and sometimes she cannot conceal her contempt for the lower classes. The GM can award her a hero point if her snobbery ruins a social interaction. Starlok Hungers!: While she can be sated by normal food for a time, Starlok’s primary mode of sustenance is the life essence of others and she will become weak if she goes too long without feeding. The GM can award her a point to give her a -2 penalty to all physical stats until she feeds on a living thing. Nobless Oblige: For all her snobbery, Starlok firmly believes nobility comes with duties like protecting the lesser folk. The GM can award her a hero point to force her to drop what she is doing to protect the imperiled. How Dare You!: Starlok has an ego the size of a large nebula, and it is easily bruised. The GM can have award her a hero point to have her focus on an enemy who has insulted her, or to forgo her turn out of spite if another PC offends her. A Countess Should Keep Her Word: Starlok is painfully honest, and will always keep her word even if it would benefit her to break it. She is similarly almost pathologically unwilling to lie, something which has caused numerous problems for her in the past. The GM can award her a hero point whenever her honesty causes problems for her. ABILITIES: 10 + 4 + 16 + 20 + 10 + 6 = 66 PP Strength: 20 (+5), Lifting STR 40 Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 26 (+8) Intelligence: 30 (+10) Wisdom: 20 (+5) Charisma: 16 (+3) COMBAT: 8 + 8 = 16 PP Initiative: +6 Attack: +12 Melee, +4 Ranged Defense: +12 (+4 Base, +8 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Grapple: +17/+21 Knockback: -6/-12 SAVING THROWS: 2 + 8 + 5 = 15 PP Toughness: +12 (+8 Con, +4 Force Field; 8/10 Impervious) Fortitude: +10 (+8 Con, +2) Reflex: +10 (+2 Dex, +8) Will: +10 (+5 Wis, +5) SKILLS: 52R = 13PP Diplomacy 7 (+10) Intimidate 16 (+19) Knowledge (Galactic Lore) 2 (+12) Knowledge (Theology and Philosophy) 2 (+12) Languages 3 (Nokton [Native], English, Galstandard, Lor) Perform (Oratory) 7 (+10) Pilot 8 (+10) Search 2 (+10) Sense Motive 5 (+10) Enhanced Skills: Notice 4 (+9) FEATS: 36PP Attack Focus (Melee) 8 Dodge Focus 8 Equipment 12 Fearless Improved Initiative Jack-of-All Trades Luck 2 Status (Nobility, Wealth 2) Equipment: 12PP = 60EP The Pale Rider (Vehicle; Spaceship) [60 EP] Size: Colossal [4 EP] Strength: 75 [5 EP] Defence: 2 [0 EP] Toughness: 13 [0 EP] Features: Communications, Computer, Hangar, Living Space, Personnel Powers Damage 10 [Extras: Ranged] [20 EP] Flight 10 [10,000 MPH] [20 EP] Super Movement: Space Flight 3 [Intergalactic] [6 EP] POWERS: 25 + 12 + 2 + 9 + 3 = 51 PP Device 6 (Panoply of House Nos; Flaws: Hard to Lose; Power Feats: Restricted: Bloodline [House of Nos]) [25 PP] (Multiple items) Sword Damage 7 (Blade of the Blood Drinkers; Power Feats: Mighty, Penetrating 3, Takedown Attack) [12 DP] (Physical, Slashing, Piercing) Girdle Flight 3 (Wings of Nos; 50 MPH) [6 DP] (Cosmic, Gravitic) Force Field 4 (Invisible Armour of Estep; Extras: Impervious 2; Power Feats: Selective) [7 DP] (Cosmic, Gravitic) Super-Strength 4 (Micropulse Muscle Stimulation; Flaws: Sustained) (Cosmic, technology) [4 DP] Helmet Enhanced Skill (Integrated Sensors: Notice 4 [1 DP] (Technology, Computational) Drain Constitution 8 (Thirsting Talons; Power Feats: Progression 4 [20 minutes]) [12 PP] (Alien, Biological) Immunity 1 (Perfect Telomeres; Ageing; Power Feats: Innate) [2 PP] (Alien, Biological) Impervious Toughness 8 (Natural Resilience; Power Feats: Innate) [9 PP] (Alien, Biological) Super-Senses: Darkvision (Hunter’s Eyes; Power Feats: Innate) [3 PP] (Alien, Biological) DRAWBACKS: (-2) + (-2) + (-2) + (-5) = -12 PP Vulnerable (“Fire” effects; Frequency: Common. Intensity: Minor) [-2 PP] Vulnerable (“Light” effects; Frequency: Common; Intensity: Moderate) [-3 PP] Vulnerable (“Silver” effects; Frequency: Uncommon; Intensity: Moderate) [-2 PP] Weakness (Daylight; Frequency: Very Common; Intensity: Moderate [-1 Constitution; Time: 20 minutes) [-5 PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 20 Toughness Damage Thirsting Talons Touch DC 18 Fortitude Drain Constitution Blade Touch DC 27 Toughness Damage TOTALS: Abilities (66) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (15) + Skills (13) + Feats (36) + Powers (51) - Drawbacks (12) = 185/186 points

Mia slowly stood up and walked over, trying to be as undisruptive as possible. Shifting her weight from leg to leg, she took a second to gather herself as she tried to figure out exactly what she was going to say to Ashley now that she finally had the chance. "Uh... Look. About... Before the break," she said as quietly as possible. "I'm sorry. I know you're in a tough spot and you really didn't need me yelling at you like you did. I'm still kind of hurt but... I shouldn't have yelled at you, or called you a bad person. You're not, you're just... Yeah. Y'know what I mean." She had trouble meeting Ashley in the eyes, guilt hanging heavy over her. She didn't know what she was doing, exactly, or if this was the best time for it, but she had to say it or it would drive her completely bonkers.

Mia felt her eye twitch involuntarily. "Alright," she said in a low but firm tone. "Next person to act smug and dismissive of the rest of us gets a whole lotta cat pee generated above them, got it? I can and will do it. It will take months to get the smell out." "And my power set's broad. I can generate any matter. Anything on the periodic table and some stuff off of it. Which means I have a lot of flexibility. I could make a giant container to trap it, could make a big hunk of meat to distract it. Could turn the air around it into nitrous oxide to knock it out, or generate a very small amount of anti-matter and direct the blast at it. I am also a teleporter. Could teleport civilians to safety, or rapid relocate team members. If we really need to, could move people anywhere in the Americas."

Mia grimaced at the discussion about Charlton Heston. He was not very well-regarded in her house, for obvious reasons, but the discussion turning to Alzheimers made her think of her own grandparents. Her paternal grandfather, while not anywhere near full-blown Alzheimers, had started forgetting things and she worried about him. She fidgeted in the chair she had generated for herself, folding her arms. "Yeah, Alzheimer's is pretty rough..." she murmured. Her eyes occasionally drifted over to Ashley. They hadn't made up yet, and Mia was still mad at her for the deception, but she had been thinking over the break and she began to reason herself into understanding Ashley's position. While the lies hurt, she did feel bad for how aggressive she had been that night and wondered if it was time to try and reconcile. "Ash," she whispered. "Hey Ash."

Starlok Power Level: 12 (180/180 PP) Unspent Power Points: 0 Trade-Offs: 0 In Brief: A countess from a vampire-like alien species out to protect the galaxy as part of her noble duty. Catchphrase: Starlok hungers! Theme: Mannfred von Carstein Theme - Total War Warhammer 2 Alternate Identity: Ori-Bath of House Nos, Countess of Lugo (Public) Birthplace: Castle Lugo, on the night moon of Nokton Residence: Space Base of Operations: The Pale Rider Occupation: Aristocrat Affiliations: House of Nos Family: Ney-Var (father, deceased), Ka-Har (mother, deceased), Ven-Ruth (brother), Description: Age: 122 (DoB: May 26, 1897) Gender: Female Ethnicity: Alien Height: 5’08” Weight: 140 lbs Eyes: Red Hair: Dark blue, long Starlok’s appearance, to an Earthling, immediately calls to mind the wicked vampire. Her skin is pale grey, her eyes blood red, her ears pointed, her fingers ending in black, razor sharp fingernails and in place of canines, she has fangs. Yet there is the touch of something alien to her as well: Her long, widow’s peaked hair, though normally appearing black, is revealed to be actually a very dark blue under the right light; her skin lacks any blemish, not even a mole; her pupils are actually a subtle starburst shape rather than round. Starlok stands 5’08”, with a lithe, athletic figure. Her face is angular, with very prominent cheekbones, with a thin upper lip and a pointed nose. She is fond of makeup, wearing black eyeshadow and similarly coloured lipstick in most occasions, even when she is going into battle, and is fond of wearing golden rings and necklaces. When in a civilian context, she dresses richly, favouring long, flowing gowns and fashionable jewelry in colours like dark purple, mauve and burgundy. When dressed for battle, she dons the Panoply of Nos, which takes the form of a golden girdle, a similarly coloured open-top helmet that frames her face adorned with what looks like bat wings, and a sword made of blood red metal. This is accompanied by a midnight blue leotard, thigh high red boots, and a black opera cape with the collar turned upwards so that it reaches up above the back of her head. History: Ori-Bath was born as a scion of House Nos on the night moon of Nokton, the daughter of Count Ney-Var and his wife, Ka-Har. The oldest of two children, Ori-Bath was raised to become the next Countess of Lugo, a prestigious position that her younger brother Ven-Ruth made no secret of coveting. Only separated by a year, Ven-Ruth constantly jockeyed for favour, but both Ori-Bath and her parents ignored these attempts. For over a century, Ori-Bath remained convinced of her succession. However, in that time, her brother’s bitterness had grown. Secretly, Ven-Ruth made alliances with other houses and built up forces to strike when the time was right. The chance came when Ney-Var decided to abdicate and allow Ori-Bath to ascend as Countess. On the day of her coronation, Ven-Ruth struck. Both Ney-Var and Ka-Har were struck down, but Ori-Bath herself managed to survive. Taking with her the ancestral Panoply of Nos, the ancient gear necessary to hold the right to rule, she fled aboard one of her family space-ships, the Pale Rider, and took off into space. Adopting the title of “Starlok”, a sobriquet once used by the founder of her noble house, Ori-Bath fled into the wider galaxy looking for support to reclaim her rightful lands. In doing so, she has occasionally deigned to act as a hero to whatever people she has been near, partially out of a sense of noble duty and partially because she knows that she needs to build respect to gain the aid she needs. All the while, her brother and his allies send hunters after her, knowing that without the Panoply of Nos, Ven-Ruth’s rule can never be legitimate. Forever watching her back and yet always moving forward, Starlok must contend with much if she is ever to reclaim her lands and return home. Personality & Motivation: As befitting a noblewoman, Starlok is a very haughty woman. She has an exceptionally high opinion of herself, and an even more exceptionally low opinion of most others. Her reasons are many - her noble blood, her impressive intellect, her appearance. But even if she had none of these, her personality is such that she would still hold herself in high regard. Bruises to her ego only strengthen her resolve to prove herself better than her enemies, of which she has many. Yet, for all her belief of superiority, Starlok believes strongly that she has an obligation to ensure the safety and security of those around her, a noblesse oblige. This is still tied into her ego - the helpless masses needing the aid of someone competent and regal - but it’s there. She bristles at the pointless mistreatment of others, and is completely and utterly honest to the point of bluntness. Unafraid of combat, she will gladly put her life on the line to defend the common people, even if this is mostly because she’s too arrogant to believe she’ll ever die. Starlok loves to be theatrical, and is prone to making grand proclamations and refer to herself in the third person. When people don’t take this seriously, she takes notice and becomes annoyed. She demands respect, and only becomes more theatrical the more it is denied to her. Powers & Tactics: Starlok is a frontline combatant, through and through. Wading into combat with her Blade of the Blood Drinkers, she hacks and slashes her way to victory. Should she be disarmed, or simply very injured, she switches to her claws, which allow her to drink the life-force of her enemies and restore herself. Preferring straight-forward combat, she primarily uses her flight to bridge the gap between herself and enemies, rushing forward to hit them with her sword. Power Descriptions: Though she appears humanoid, Starlok’s biology is very different than that of H. sapiens. Her flesh contains thin layers of non-newtonian fluid, which when combined with bones that possess natural carbon fiber and redundant organs like a second liver and heart make her body more resilient than many species in the galaxy. Her eyes are specially constructed to see in the dark, combining hyper-sensitive photoreceptors with cat-like reflectors. What appear to be merely claw-like fingernails are instead an important part of her digestive system, combining enzymes with efficient muscles to drain the blood of others and filter out important nutrients like Vitamin D even as it enters the bloodstream. However, she also faces some complications. Her species is native to the dark side of a massive moon, and as such she is effectively allergic to daylight, and other intense light is similarly damaging to her skin and eyes. Silver is as toxic to her as arsenic is to humans, due to its extreme rarity on her homeworld. The non-newtonian fluid in her flesh is also slightly flammable, and thus fire hurts her more than other substances.’ She is supplemented by the Panoply of Nos, a set of armour and a sword that have been designed to enhance its wearer to even higher levels. The girdle, also known as the Girdle of Es-Tep, projects a gravitic field that allows her to project a force-field of gravitic energy, which simultaneously allows her to take flight into the sky. It also releases pulses of energy into her muscles, stimulating them to the point that they allow her to perform amazing feats of strength. Her sword, the Blade of the Blood Drinkers, is made of a strange red metal that is profoundly sharp and sturdy, allowing her to hack through even the toughest enemies, while her helmet, the Helm of Nos, empowers her natural senses and notifies her of danger. Complications: You Fool! You Worm!: Starlok is of a grandiose disposition, and sometimes cannot help but remind the enemy of how superior she is to them. The GM can award her a hero point if she wastes her turn monologuing rather than doing anything productive. The Peasants are Revolting: Starlok is an aristocrat through and through, and sometimes she cannot conceal her contempt for the lower classes. The GM can award her a hero point if her snobbery ruins a social interaction. Starlok Hungers!: While she can be sated by normal food for a time, Starlok’s primary mode of sustenance is the life essence of others and she will become weak if she goes too long without feeding. The GM can award her a point to give her a -2 penalty to all physical stats until she feeds on a living thing. Nobless Oblige: For all her snobbery, Starlok firmly believes nobility comes with duties like protecting the lesser folk. The GM can award her a hero point to force her to drop what she is doing to protect the imperiled. How Dare You!: Starlok has an ego the size of a large nebula, and it is easily bruised. The GM can have award her a hero point to have her focus on an enemy who has insulted her, or to forgo her turn out of spite if another PC offends her. A Countess Should Keep Her Word: Starlok is painfully honest, and will always keep her word even if it would benefit her to break it. She is similarly almost pathologically unwilling to lie, something which has caused numerous problems for her in the past. The GM can award her a hero point whenever her honesty causes problems for her. Abilities: 10 + 4 + 16 + 16 + 2 + 6 = 56 PP Strength: 20 (+5) Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 26 (+8) Intelligence: 26 (+8) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 16 (+3) Combat: 8 + 8 = 16 PP Initiative: +2 Attack: +12 Melee, +4 Ranged Defense: +12 (+4 Base, +8 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Grapple: +17/+21 Knockback: -6/-12 Saving Throws: 2 + 8 + 8 = 18 PP Toughness: +12 (+8 Con, +4 Force Field) Fortitude: +10 (+8 Con, +2) Reflex: +10 (+2 Dex, +8) Will: +10 (+1 Wis, +8) Skills: 48R = 12PP Diplomacy 7 (+10) Intimidate 12 (+15) Knowledge (Cosmology) 2 (+10) Knowledge (Theology and Philosophy) 2 (+10) Languages 3 (Nokton [Native], English, Galstandard, Lor) Perform (Oratory) 7 (+10) Pilot 8 (+10) Sense Motive 7 (+9) Enhanced Skills: Notice 8 (+10) Feats: 33PP Attack Focus (Melee) 8 Dodge Focus 8 Equipment 11 Fearless Jack-of-All Trades Luck Status (Nobility, Wealth 2) Equipment: 11PP = 55EP The Pale Rider (Vehicle; Spaceship) [55 EP] Size: Colossal [4 EP] Strength: 70 [4 EP] Defence: 2 [0 EP] Toughness: 13 [0 EP] Features: Living Space Powers Damage 10 [Extras: Ranged] [20 EP] Flight 10 [10 000 MPH] [20 EP] Super Movement: Space Flight 3 [Intergalactic] [6 EP] Powers: 29 + 2 + 7 + 14 + 3 = 57 PP Device 7 (Panoply of House Nos; Flaws: Hard to Lose; Power Feats: Restricted: Bloodline [House of Nos]) [28 PP] (Multiple items) Sword Damage 7 (Blade of the Blood Drinkers; Power Feats: Mighty 5, Penetrating 3, Takedown Attack) [16 DP] (Physical, Slashing, Piercing) Girdle Flight 3 (Wings of Nos; 50 MPH) [6 DP] (Cosmic, Gravitic) Forcefield 4 (Invisible Armour of Estep; Extras: Impervious 2; Power Feats: Selective) [7 DP] (Cosmic, Gravitic) Super-Strength 4 (Micropulse Muscle Stimulation; Flaws: Sustained) (Cosmic, technology) (4 DP) Helmet Enhanced Skill (Integrated Sensors: Notice ? [2 DP] (Technology, Computational) Immunity 1 (Perfect Telomeres; Ageing; Power Feats: Innate) [2 PP] (Alien, Biological) Impervious Toughness 8 (Natural Resilience; Power Feats: Innate) [9 PP] (Alien, Biological) Natural Weapons Array (12 PP Array; Power Feats: Alternate Power, Innate) [14 pp] (Alien, Biological) BE: Damage 3 (Thirsting Talons; Extras: Vampiric; Power Feats: Mighty 5) {12/12} AP: Drain Constitution 8 (Plasma Drain; Power Feats: Progression 4 [20 minutes] {12/12} Super-Senses: Darkvision (Hunter’s Eyes; Power Feats: Innate) [3 PP] (Alien, Biological) Drawbacks: (-2) + (-2) + (-2) + (-5) = -12 PP Vulnerable (“Fire” effects; Frequency: Common. Intensity: Minor) [-2 PP] Vulnerable (“Light” effects; Frequency: Common; Intensity: Moderate) [-3 PP] Vulnerable (“Silver” effects; Frequency: Uncommon; Intensity: Moderate) [-2 PP] Weakness (Daylight; Frequency: Very Common; Intensity: Moderate [-1 Constitution; Time: 20 minutes) [-5 PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 20 Toughness Damage Thirsting Talons Touch DC 23 Toughness Damage, Vampiric Plasma Drain Touch DC 18 Fortitude Drain Constitution Blade Touch DC 27 Toughness Damage Totals: Abilities (56) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (18) + Skills (12) + Feats (33) + Powers (57) - Drawbacks (12) = 180/180

"Yeah, Leroy, I'm gonna pass on food for now, not really, ah, feelin' hungry," she said, narrowing her eyes. She recognized what Leroy was attempting to do, but she really wasn't in the mood for defusing things. When Eira began transforming, Mia folded her arms, leaning back in her chair. Okay, she's a robot. Whatever, she thought to herself. "Cool," Mia said in a monotone. "My godmom is a cyborg, my half-sister is a weird clone baby. Somehow, they both manage to not act so goddamn high and mighty despite also not fitting the whole 'normal' thing. Like, you clearly think you're better than us, and like your situation is supposed to be unique? But we're all 'not normal', and somehow the only person with a problem here is you." "Everyone here is hard done by, none of us are normal, and yeah, a lot of us would have rather not gone here. Join the club," she said, spreading her hands wide. "But you know what? We all got over it, and you will too, but it will be a hell of a lot easier on you and all of us if you start trying to do that now."

"I am gonna level with you," Mia said flatly. "You're whining an awful lot. This Halloween, we were all kidnapped by an evil haunted house and I recently fought my ex-best friend because it turns out super-science turned her into a living curling iron. I don't really like you assuming stuff about me or this group" "Seriously, lose the attitude. You might have super strength or whatever, but I can blast people as hard as a missile can hit people and crash world economies, Lulu can turn your brain into pudding with a mean thought, Davyd's successfully befriended an army of poultry that regularly fought off the Grue, Abby's the Craft but in real life, Leroy helped make life... Like, you're not that impressive, so, you know." "Get over yourself."

Corona Serena nodded at the plan. "I think that could work out, but you guys better be careful. I don't want anyone else getting hurt on my behalf, especially not up here in space. So if you do run into trouble, we gotta be prepared to regroup as fast as we can." Looking out the window again, she took the time to regard the earth in greater detail. It was hard to believe everything was all down there, while they were up here. She promised herself she was going to return, her resolve strengthened by the thought of the people she loved back on Earth. "Alright, then we're all agreed on the plan? The sneaks get dropped off first in the rear, then we go in for an assault?"

"What the heck was that, just there?" Mia asked, tilting her head at the newly arrived duo. She didn't know why they would try to trick the new girl by pretending to be one another. Maybe to just see it they could get away with it? "And uh, Leroy, it's considered Not Cool to just start witnessing to someone when you've just met'em," she said. "Anyway, welcome to Orange Squad, Eira. We are kind of the misfit group but we're all pretty cool," she said with a smirk. "Could also be considered the 'weird power' group. Lulu's a telepath, Davyd's a shapeshifter, and Leroy..." She trailed off, staring into the ceiling, before looking at Leroy. "I just realized I don't know what your powers are."