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Player Name: Curious Key Character Name: Raiment Power Level: 10 (150/151) Trade-Offs: N/A Unspent Power Points: 1 In Brief: A scarf-slinging sorceress, imprisoned in the Netherworlds for an eon. Newly free, she tries to understand what it means to be a individual. Alternate Identity: Sanna Identity: Secret Birthplace: Dead, Forgotten World/Netherworld Occupation: Student Affiliations: Claremont Academy, the Netherworlds Family: Unknown Apparent Age: Late Teens Age: No One Kept Track. Adolescent. Height: 6'3" Weight: 220 lbs Eyes: Yellow Hair: Black/White In her human form, Sanna resembles an impressively tall and broad-shouldered human girl. She appears fair-skinned with dark hair that hangs about her ears. Her face is rounded, with wide, piercing eyes and a resting expression that can be best described as 'calm.' Sanna's outfits can vary widely, though he favorites tend to reoccur. She doesn't really know what to do with the attention that she tends to get in crowds, so she tends to pick wardrobes that come with jackets and coats that make her form seem bulkier while her bottoms vary from shorts to skirts to jeans to leggings depending on her wishes that day. She tends to wear a scarf as well, when she can. Her true form is more much more striking. There are several major deviances from the human form. Instead of two eyes, Sanna has three; two in the usual places and a third in the center of her forehead, two dark horns that spiral up and backward from her top of her head, an extra pair of arms emerge from her back, just below her shoulders and she has a long black tail, with a point in the shape of an arrowhead. Aside from that, symmetrical purple 'birthmarks appear as slashes around her normal eyes and her hair is stark white. This unusual appearance can lead people to consider Sanna unsettling, monstrous or even demonic. As Raiment, she wears a purple cloak to hide and keep from restraining her four arms with a hood that she can pull up over her horns. Below that she wears black and gray, tailored to fit her body and spun in a fashion meant to be sturdy and functional rather than pretty. Her hands end in fingerless gloves that overlap with her sleeves while her feet end in brown combat boots. The biggest break to the theme of purple and black is some sort of deep orange scarf around her neck. In costume Raiment cuts quite a striking figure. Power Descriptions: Some aspects of Sanna's powers spring from her inhuman physique. Her extra limbs and disconnection with this reality serve as reminders of her otherworldly origin as a fiend of the Netherworld and her third eye allows her to see magic, which helps to give her an edge which cannot be denied. However, what most defines her power is her influence as a namer. She can 'speak' in any language, to any creature, object or spirit, allowing her to communicate almost anyone or anything, including humans. In addition to broadening her speech, this adds a certain supernatural weight to her words and actions that makes people of all kinds more pliant and eager to please. However, the most the most obvious expression of her power is how she speaks with and Names most of her possessions. Her Named possessions shapeshift according to Sanna's will, allowing her to turn her coat into wings to carry her, unfold her sleeves into great fists, sharpened blades in her hands and much, much more. History: Once upon a time, there was a world that bravely resisted Una, who rules the Netherworlds. Whose heroes were many and brave. Again and again they cast her forces down and forced her back, creating a bulwark she could not surpass. Until she did surpass it, like she always does. Eventually. Una chained their souls into many-eyed towers that forever witness their ultimate failure and in spite seized every person that they had ever known. And before the towers she ripped these people from their bodies, burning their memories, names and selves until all that remained was a writhing, spiritual core, barely aware enough to feel the pain. And these souls she shaped into feral creatures, imps who would fight and die, living as vermin in the world their heroes' had sought to protect them from. Satisfied, Una moved on to her next prize and forgot these remnants of her vengeance. One such remnant, clinging to the aching echo of memory fought amongst the creatures of the Netherworld to preserve the bitter flame of its life, surviving. The creature that she became was scarcely capable of personhood and had no name. But her shell belied the soul inside her, which burned with a brightness that her body could not quite cage. Though true language was beyond her, she could 'speak' to the world, and the world spoke back. In time, the little fiend learned to befriend her surroundings. With a gentle variant of Naming, she set herself above her peers, building herself allies into the walls of her warren and the tattered scraps of cloth across her body. After some time, during a purge of magical vermin, the fiend proved herself to be a particularly resilient creature. Her nascent magery intrigued one of Una's agents, Dankava the Antiquarian, who obtained her, bound her and enthralled her. Intrigued by the fiend's curious magic and bright soul, Dakava carried her with him across the worlds that Una would collapse into the Netherworld. The fiend had no concept of time, but as universe after universe collapsed, her magic matured. Eventually, she grew powerful and self-aware enough to Name herself. She called herself 'Sanna,' and the shell that had imprisoned her soul blossomed into a vessel which suited her. Dankava was delighted by her evolution but he did not understand how much her Naming had weakened his enchantment over her. She continued to work under his thrall but her self-awareness tugged constantly at his spell, chafing under the weight of a heavy-handed compulsion designed for a far weaker-willed creature. In the name of Una's conquest, Sanna worked at Dankava's side on rituals--always thwarted--meant to undermine Prime and deepen Una's foothold. The last one should have worked; Dankava had done everything as he should have. He made his speech, threw open his arms and welcomed the armies of the Netherworld to storm Prime . . . And nothing happened. Eventually, the heroes found out why. Miles away, by the sea, where the sun had begun to set, Sanna had dropped her pieces of the ritual into the sand, stood by the water, feeling the tide wash over her feet and staring longingly toward the horizon. She was taken into custody, where there was some debate over how exactly she should be punished for her crimes against Prime. Ultimately, a mind control clause spared her heavy incarceration, but all the same, it wouldn't do to let an ancient, adolescent netherworlder out onto the world no strings attached. Ultimately, she was deemed an orphan child, which allowed her to be legally established as an orphan child. Claremont Academy was quick to offer a place for her to stay, and the establishment at Freedom found that in a matter of hours she was already being escorted, confused, out the door and into a car. In Claremont, she could have space to learn to be her own person. And in Claremont . . . She could be carefully watched, just in case she was not what she seemed. Personality & Motivation: The work Sanna does with her magic has done a lot to shape her personality. At the heart of it, her magic comes from empathy, from negotiation, from compromise and mutual respect. While she's generally more used to talking to objects and animals than peers, these skills translate well into Sanna's interactions with her peers. She listens intently and with absolute earnestness, which can make her easy to talk to . . . If her predisposition toward quiet doesn't put you off. Ultimately, her worldview revolves deeply around names. She has spent a long time listening to the worlds. Its stones. Its beasts. Its spirits. Each of them with a unique voice, something thorough, vivid, deeply and thoroughly their own. Their own personalities, boiled into the essence of who and what they were. A unique and precious thing, worth respecting. But, as Una conquered worlds, she seized these unique things, paved over their unique names, their unique selves and burned her own into its place. Just as she had once burned Sanna. That is the one thing that raises Sanna's ire. The theft of agency, the erasing of a name. Much crime can be boiled down to that, and she feels it is her obligation to stop it wherever she finds it. Powers & Tactics: Ultimately, it is Raiment's first instinct to negotiate. To talk before a fight breaks out. She will often move into confrontations with an intent to deescalate and hopefully end the combat before it starts and she will leverage every nuance of her supernatural charm to make it happen. If that fails, Raiment prefers to proceed in a supporting role. Restricting her targets, pushing to force them to reveal openings. snaring and inhibiting their movements to try to make it a little easier for anyone she is working with to pick them off. On her lonesome, all her clever tactics of support go out the window, and instead she becomes intensely focused on finishing the fight as quickly as possible with as much force as possible as she reverts back to her original mode of fighting; with fierce focus and brutality. Complications: New Cloak Who Dis? — Raiment's magic only works with clothes which she has had time to get acquainted with. It can take a few days for her to become familiar enough with a new garment to properly name and manipulate it. This can cause problems. Verbal Magic — Sanna's magic relies heavily on her ability to speak. If she can't speak, she can't give instructions to her clothes, which greatly inhibits her ability to use active powers. Netherfiend — Sanna's nature as a magical creature of the Netherworlds comes with many downsides. Many barriers designed to repel supernal intrusion will recognize her as a magical beast to keep out and spells which compel magical creatures into service affect her even if they would normally not affect humanoid creatures. As if that weren't enough, her true form is considered by many to be deeply sinister, which often leads to immediate distrust by those who are predisposed to judge her. Illiterate — Sanna cannot read any of earth's languages reliably. In a society like Freedom's which relies on literacy to navigate, this can cause some problems. The Antiquarian — One of Una's lesser lieutenants, Dankava, is a collector of exotic magical creatures and artifacts. Her ongoing independence galls him, as he considers her to be a fascinating specimen that must be enthralled in his service. Given the opportunity, he will try to snare her again. What's more, others on earth have run into her before, when she was under the Antiquarian's thrall. And not all of them have forgiven Sanna for the things she did . . . Abilities: 8 + 0 + 14 + 0 + 8 + 4 = 34PP Strength: 18 (+4) Dexterity: 10 (+0) Constitution: 24 (+7) Intelligence: 10 (+0) Wisdom: 18 (+4) Charisma: 14/20 (+2/5) Combat: 8 + 8 = 16PP Initiative: +0 Attack: +4 Base, (+10 Ensemble) Grapple: +8 Defense: +10 (+4 Base, +6 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -5 Saving Throws: 0 + 7 + 3 = 10PP Toughness: +10 (+7 Con, +3 Protection) Fortitude: +7 (+7 Con, +0) Reflex: +7 (+0 Dex, +7) Will: +8 (+4 Wis, +3) Skills: 36R = 9PP Knowledge (Arcane Lore) 10 (+10) Sense Motive 4 (+8) Notice 6 (+10) Diplomacy 10 (+12/16) Bluff 6 (+8/12) Disguise 0 (+22/27 Morph) Feats: 14PP Fearless Taunt Fascinate (Diplomacy) Distract (Bluff) Power Attack Dodge Focus 6 Inspire Luck Uncanny Dodge (Auditory) Powers: 3 + 28 + 1 + 1 + 18 + 6 + 3 + 3 + 4 = 67 Protection 3 [3PP] (Enchanted Garb, Descriptor: Enchantment) Ensemble (25PP Array, Alternate Power 3) 28PP (Descriptor: Enchantment Unless Contradicted) BP: Move Object 10 (25 ft; Feats: Affects Insubstantial 2, Accurate 3, Precise, Split Attack; Drawbacks: Reduced Range 2) 24/25PP (Ensemble Hand) AP: Snare 10 (25 ft; Feats: Affects Insubstantial 2, Accurate 3, Tether, Homing; Drawbacks: Reduced Range 2) [25/25PP] (Ensemble Snare) AP: Damage 6 (Extras: Autofire 10; Feats: Affects Insubstantial 2, Extended Range 2 (10 Feet), Improved Crit, Mighty, Accurate 3) [25/25PP] (Ensemble Lashes, Descriptor: Slashing) AP: Flight 5 (250 MPH, 25000 ft per round) [10/25PP] (Ensemble Wings) Feature 1 (Ontological Inertia) [1PP] (Dimensional Vagabond, Descriptor: Dimensional) Immunity (Aging) [1PP] (Netherfiend, Descriptor: Biological) Comprehend 9 (Understand Languages, Speak One Language at a Time, Speak To Objects, Speak to Spirits, Speak to and Understand Beasts) [18PP] (Namer's Speech, Descriptor: Enchantment) Enhanced Charisma 6 [6PP] (Namer's Charm, Descriptor: Enchantment) Additional Limbs 2 (Two Arms; Feat: Innate) [3PP] (Armed And Dangerous, Descriptor: Biological) Super Senses 3 (Magic Awareness [Visual]) [3PP] (Third Eye, Descriptor: Biological) Morph 6 (“Human Sanna”, +20 Disguise Check) [4PP] (“Sanna”, Descriptor: Enchantment) DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch 18DC Toughness Damage (Physical) Ensemble Lashes Touch 25+ Autofire DC Toughness Damage (Physical) Ensemble Snare Ranged 20 DC Reflex Entangled/Helpless (Physical) Totals: Abilities (34) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (10) + Skills (9) + Feats (14) + Powers (67) = 150/151 Power Points

SFX Power Level: 10 Unspent Power Points: 0 Trade-Offs: None, (-5 Def/+5 Tou) In Brief: Genius teen creates nanobot swarm to emulate film special effects. Alternate Identity: Zhu Xieng, "Alexa" Birthplace: Shanghai, China Residence: Freedom City Base of Operations: Freedom City, Claremont Occupation: Student, Intern at ILM Affiliations: Claremont Family: Bao Xieng "John" (father), Shin "Shae" (mother) Catchphrase: TBD Description: Age: 17 Apparent Age: 15 Gender: Female Ethnicity: Asian, Chinese Height: 5’2” Weight: 100 Lbs Eyes: Dark Blue Hair: Black Zhu is a bright eyed young Chinese girl who seems to barely contain her overwhelming enthusiasm and passion. She is short and thin with shoulder length straight black hair which is usually pulled back in some fashion. Her face is a little rounded with large expressive eyes which seem to drink up all around her. Frequent exercise has given her the body of a runner, long and lean. She typically dresses in modern fashions with a tendency towards the functional even if she has wide tastes in clothes. It is unusual for her to not be wearing bracelets and other simple jewelry. Her body and face have not quite caught up with her age and she looks younger than she is and is often mistaken for an underclassman. History: From an early age, Zhu was a very different child. Able to speak to and understand machines almost before she could speak to her parents, her education took a very different path. While she attended normal schools in China, her persistent connection to the Internet let her accelerate her learning far beyond that of her peers. While others were taking courses in rudimentary mathematics, she was testing and writing AI routines all while presenting a polite conformist front. Being so far ahead in schooling allowed Zhu to tailor her own learning to her interests, which lay in technology and special effects. She adored the movies, and while the plots and stories were fascinating, what she really enjoyed was all of the visual effects that continued to improve from picture to picture. When she was 12, she started her first YouTube channel dedicated to short films she had produced. All of the effects and equipment were created with things she had built from whatever parts she could find around the house. While this obsession baffled her parents, they were accommodating and understanding, even if they didn't realize how special their daughter was. For the next two years, she pushed the envelope of amateur cinematics gaining the attention from companies like ILM and other major studios. Their daughter's skill was finally revealed after the invention of her first nanobot swarm. The cloud, aptly named Clarke's Third Law Mk1, accelerated her ability to build and prototype things, making items and objects as if out of thin air. They now had confirmation of what they had always guessed, their daughter was very special indeed. Applying and receiving a Visa based on a very special offer from the prestigious Claremont academy. Transition to the US was difficult as they didn't have much in the way of money and her parents didn't speak English, landing in Lincoln in a small, but clean, row house. Zhu found her life very busy as she began attending classes at Claremont as well as helping her parents navigate life in a foreign county. Yet, even as hectic as it was, things seemed manageable until their small convenience mart was robbed by one of the many gangs. Blessedly, no one was hurt and while it shook them all up, no lasting harm was done. It was then that she really noticed what was going on in her new found home. Protection rackets, gang turf wars, drug deals and more seemed endemic. The themes and motifs of Claremont resounded a little more and primary goal of being the premier SFX artist suddenly became more of a means than an end. It didn't take long for a new fledgling hero to appear on the scene as SFX moonlighting on her scant free hours trying to relieve the burgeoning problems in the city. Personality & Motivation: Cheerful, bright, and seemingly full of boundless energy. Zhu has a passion for learning, technology and all things popular culture. She has a very strong opinion on what is right and wrong and will often interceded to help those that she feels are being oppressed. Living in more of a binary world, she doesn't really like shades of grey and often struggles with things that can not be delineated as right and wrong. She has very strong ties to her family and that extends to close friends and neighbors. She still wishes to make her mark as a profession special effects artist, but that is being tempered by her growing sense of responsibility to those around her. She works very well with others and will often step aside to give credit to anyone else for her actions. Powers & Tactics: SFX has had very little formal training with fighting and doesn't know the first thing about punching anyone. Even though she's Chinese, she definitely doesn't know any marital arts. Instead, she relies on her Nanobots to change the landscape around her. Creating barriers, moving columns and other objects that batter her opponents while she just does her best to keep as much of her objects between her and them. In addition, she tries to use her holo projector to baffle and confuse people making sure they never quite know what is happening. Finally, when part of a team, she would rather support others and help them shine as much as take center stage herself. She is a big fan of planning ahead and using whatever is around her to her best advantage. Power Descriptions: SFX's powers are easy to see and hard to notice. Objects and images spring to life around her, only to fade back to dust a short while later. While it isn't obvious she's controlling the show, she is usually at the epicenter of the maelstrom of effects. Her bots and holograms are all controlled by two bracelets which are often transformed to look far less techy. Complications: Family Ties: SFX has a responsibility to protect her parents and their small enterprise. That often takes precedence over the most pressing issues. Something out of Nothing: Nanobots are amazing, but they need source material. While they can often use a little here and a little there, other times they have to make noticeable and unwanted alterations to their surroundings. Also, if she's in a drastic environment, they might not have what they need (IE: Ocean, etc) I'm a Nanobot not a Miracle Worker!: While the nanobots can do amazing things, precision takes time. For her most elaborate scenes, they take time to revise the raw shapes into something fantastic. Zero Shades of Grey: SFX doesn't like to believe that there is anything other than right and wrong for an issue. She struggles with non absolutes and has a hard time letting things slide. Don't make waves: Zhu's background is from a culture that stresses conformity and fitting in. She often has difficulty either taking credit for her accomplishments or stepping outside the expected norms. Abilities: -2 +0 +6 +10 +4 +1 = 20PP Strength: 8 (-1) Dexterity: 10 (+0) Constitution: 16 (+3) Intelligence: 20 (+5) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 12 (+1) Combat: +4 +2 = 12PP Initiative: +0 Attack: +4 Melee, +10 Ranged, +4 Base Defense: +5 (+2 Base, +3 Dodge Focus), +1 Flat-Footed Grapple: +3 Knockback: -7 Saving Throws: +5 +6 +8 = 19PP Toughness: +3 / +15 (+3 Con, +12 [Protection]) Fortitude: +8 (+3 Con, +5) Reflex: +6 (+0 Dex, +6) Will: +10 (+2 Wis, +8) Skills: 88R = 22PP Computers 15 (+20) Skill Mastery Craft [Artistic] 3 (+8) Craft [Mechanical] 11 (+16) Skill Mastery Craft [Structural] 8 (+13) Disable Device 5 (+10) Disguise 0 (+26 [morph]) Knowledge [Physical Sciences] 15 (+20) Skill Mastery Knowledge [Popular Culture] 5 (+10) Knowledge [Technology] 15 (+20) Language [Mandarin, Chinese] Language [English] Language [German] Language [Russian] Notice 8 (+10) Skill Mastery Feats: 18PP All-Out-Attack Attack Focus (ranged) 6 Dodge Focus 3 Improvised Tools Inventor Jack-of-All-Trades Master Plan Power Attack Skill Mastery 1 (Computers, Craft [Mechanical], Knowledge [Physical Sciences], Notice) Teamwork 1 Equipment 1 Online Research [Voice of the Machine] Well-Informed [Voice of the Machine] Equipment: 5EP = 1PP Cell Phone Laptop Computer Multi Tool Night Vision Goggles Concealable Microphone Powers: 37 +17 +5 = 59PP Device 8 (Voice of the Machine; 40PP Container; Hard to Lose, Restricted to Computers 15+) [33PP] (Technology) Protection 12 (Feats: Force Field) [12PP] Create Object 8 (Feats: Progression 3, Stationary, Precise, Selective, Subtle; Extras: Moveable, Duration 1 [continuous]; Flaws: Action 1 [Full]) [33PP] AP: Damage 10 (Feats: Indirect 3, Precise, Split Attack 1, Subtle 1; Extras: Ranged 1 [100ft]) [26/30] (Bludgeoning) AP: Snare 10 (Feats: Subtle 1; Extras: Area[Burst 50ft - General], Selective Attack; Flaws: Range; Drawbacks: Custom 1 [Created Objects Only]) [30/30] Device 4 (Holo Projector; 20PP Container; Hard to Lose, Restricted to Computers 15+) [17PP] (Technology) Illusion 7 ([Hearing, Sight] Feats: Progression, Area 3) [20 PP] (Light, Sound) AP: Obscure 4 ([Hearing, Sight]; Extras: Selective Attack) [12/20] (Light, Sound) AP: Confuse 8 (Extras: Area[Burst 40ft - General]) [16/20] (Light, Sound) AP: Morph 5 (Broad Group [Any Human]; Extras: Duration 1 [Continuous] ) [15/20] (Light, Sound) Datalink 2 (Voice of the Machine; Feats: Machine Control, Online Research, Well-Informed) [5PP] (Mutation) Drawbacks: 0 = -0PP DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Create Object Area 40ft DC 23 Toughness Damage Confuse Area 40ft DC 18 Will Confuse Damage Ranged DC 25 Toughness Damage Snare Area 50ft DC 20 Reflex Snare Totals: Abilities (20) + Combat (12) + Saving Throws (22) + Skills (22) + Feats (19) + Powers (55) - Drawbacks (0) = 150/150 Power Points

Sunday August 13, 7am The shuttle van passed by street after street of mansions (and family owned bed and breakfasts that used to be mansions) while the students from Claremont attempted to both remain awake and not roast in the back seats of the vehicle. Sitting in the back, Selena took a long pull from her bottle of water, nearly draining the entire container in one go and wishing the air conditioning reached further back than the driver and passenger seats. Turning to look at her winged friend Jann she sighed, "Think the park employees would get mad if we flew up to the top of the Ferris wheel? Half the rides this place has lose a little something when you can fly."

I'm back and I'm better tha- *has Eric Bischoff's theme cut off* Sorry. Anyway, I'm thinking of having Gauss/Selena and possibly some other Claremont kids visit Ocean Heights and things go wrong (no spoilers :P). Anybody want to join the Magnetokinetic for some fun and fights around the park?

Recently I've been toying with the idea of bringing back an old PC of my mine, Jeena Vandermol, aka Cubic. I didn't get to use her much before I left back in 2011, which I've always regretted. I have three unused Rewards, so obtaining a new slot wouldn't be hard. The original sheet (linked above) was mostly the work of someone else (possibly a certain Brain-y fellow) and would probably require extensive revision. While I could age her up to 22, this being a superhero world, she could have been stuck in a stasis field for six years; not sure which would work better. I'm not a hundred percent sure on this, but I'm looking for suggestions and feedback; not having her twin brother Covalent around would be a big change, but to be honest, he was a bit of a trouble making hothead, so she might be better off without him.

20 Questions Where are you from? I was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. How would you describe yourself physically? Is this different from how others would? I guess 'tall, blonde and athletic'? I hate to say it, because it sounds like bragging, but I guess I'm, you know, pretty. Or at least I am if you're into tall blonde athletic girls Guys tell me I'm 'cute' or 'hot' a lot, which is really a mixed blessing, because it usually means they're not listening to what I'm saying. Oh, speaking of listening, my hearing has gotten a lot better recently, which is really a mixed blessing, because now I can hear what they're whispering when they think I can't...ick. Girls...well, women usually say things like, 'Oh my gosh, you're so pretty!', which is nice, but obviously not every girl wants to hang out with you if you're a tall blonde, because then sometimes guys ignore them. I'm not going to be horrible and say, 'Oh my gosh, being pretty is a curse!', because it obviously it isn't, but, you know, everything has its downside, I guess. Wow, I sound so shallow; can we cut that part out? Ick! Do you have distinguishing speech characteristics or recurring mannerisms? I was brought up to not curse or take the Lord's name in vain, which I guess some people think makes me sound 'old-fashioned' or like a 'goody two-shoes', I guess. I don't know...I mean, if you wouldn't say something in front of your grandmother, why say it at all? (I do slip up from time to time; sorry, Grandma!) What is your motivation in life? Okay, this is going to sound cheesy as all get out, but I do try to live by the Girl Scout Law, which reads: "I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout." I mean, that pretty well covers it, right? That and being a good Christian, in my case. I know 'respect for authority' gets challenging when you're dealing with like, crooked cops or something, but overall...yeah! What would you consider your greatest strengths and weaknesses? I think I have a good attitude, which I really owe to my parents bringing me up right. I genuinely like to help people, and I'd like to think I'm getting good at it. I think my biggest weakness is...I think I try too hard to please people? And I don't think I always give myself the time to do what I want to do, you know, just for me. What do you love? What do you hate? Oh gosh...I love lots of things! I love the outdoors, like doing anything outdoors. I love animals, both dogs and cats, horses...I love flying, either on my own or in a plane. Oh gosh, I obviously love my family, duh! And I love helping people and hanging out with my friends, so...yeah! What do I hate? Bullies, of any kind. I hate the hatred and fear I see every day in the world; I hate racism, sexism, and people being beat up for what they believe in or who they love. This whole planet, the whole universe...the lives we live? It's a gift; all of it. I don't care what God you pray to, or even if you believe in God at all, but if you can't respect a person who's different from you, then you are not helping. You're making things worse. How would you describe your mental and emotional processes? Very fast! ? Seriously though, I like to think things through, to consider the possible repercussions of my actions, and not just charge blindly into a situation. Ideally you do research first, then recon, then plan, and then finally put that plan into action. Obviously, you don't always have the luxury of time, even if you do have super-speed! In term of emotions, I can get pretty emotional, though I try to keep my emotions in check when I'm out in the field during a mission; afterwards though, I may come home and cry my eyes out. I enjoy a lot of the same sappy stuff a lot of girls my age like; like, I used to love Twilight before I totally grew out of it. What do you fear the most? Causing someone's injury or death through careless use of my powers; I worry about it all the time. What is your greatest ambition? To make a difference, not just through using my powers, but by exposing injustice, corruption or suffering in such away that real change as a result. It's why I want to go into journalism. How does you feel about the state of the world and your place in it? There are lots of problems in the world right now, more than even one person with superpowers can manage; I feel a tremendous responsibility to make the world a better place, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak. Do you have any prejudices? How do you get along with others? I like to think I get along with everyone, but I know I have biases. I feel...very white sometimes; like that thing where you want to hold a bake sale 'to end racism and world hunger'? Yeah, like that; like am I just clueless and over optimistic, or somehow doing more harm than good? Also I recently came to realize I have no African-American friends, and other than a few girls in my troop back home, never really have had any. That time when I into the Fens with Robin? I was freaking out, and I was in no danger whatsoever! So yeah, I do think there's some racism in me; not the hostile kind, but the 'dumb scared white girl' kind. Ick. I have to be better. Where do your loyalties lie? In what order? Oh wow. Um, well, I guess I'm loyal to my family and friends first, then to my country. And then the Girl Scouts, I guess! Do you have a lover or sexual partner? How do they feel about you currently? Uh, that's very personal! Um, well I had a boyfriend in school back home; we mostly did, you know, kid stuff. We kissed, held hands, went on dates. I haven't had a boyfriend since coming to Claremont. So...my mom is a doctor, and she has strong feelings about sex education, which our local school district was pretty...uptight about; she bought me a lot of books and had some very honest (and kind of embarrasing!) talks with me about my body, my rights and my options. Dad was a little freaked out about this stuff (he's really old-fashioned), but Mom insisted, and I'm kind of glad she did. Um, can we go to the next question now? ? Do you have a family? If so, what is your relationship like? Not of my own, because I'm still a kid, but I have two parents and an older brother, like lots of people. I love my family so much, and they give me all my strength. My brother is still very protective of me, even though I can bench press a tank, which is very sweet of him. How would those closest to you describe you? Um, I don't know; 'nice and hardworking'? 'Kind of goofy', or 'a big cheeseball'? Nice things, I hope! My friends back home used to call me 'Head Case', because I'd take so much time to think things over; my brain's just a little faster now, but I still like to think things through. Do you consider yourself a role model? I think when you're a hero, or at least trying to be one, you become a role model whether or not you want to be; people just hold you to a higher standard. So it's important to consider your actions carefully. The trick is not to overthink what you do to the point that you don't do anything. 'Too much analysis leads to paralysis', as my field hockey coach used to say. Everyone makes mistakes, so obviously heroes do, too; the point is, if you're upfront about them and you have a good track record with the public, hopefully they'll understand and forgive you. I just realized that I kind of focused on all the bad things about being a role model; just to be clear, I love being a role model. I love inspiring little girls and boys, and grownups, too, either by example or just providing hope. I do a lot of hospital visits, but not just to the pediatric wards, which of course is awesome (and sometimes heartbreaking, to be honest). I also like to visit injured cops and firemen, or really anyone who was willing to sacrifice themselves to help someone else. They're always so surprised to see me, and I'll say something like, 'What, you didn't know that heroes like to hang out together? Don't you read the tabloids?', or something goofy like that. You just have to check with their doctor first before you start cracking jokes, because cracked ribs and smoke inhalation are not laughing matters! How spiritual are you? Do you follow a religious tradition? I was brought up Episcopalian, which is like 'Catholicism with less guilt', as Robin Williams once said. I believe in God and Heaven, but also helping people in this life. I think a life of service is, well, holy and just, though that might sound kind of cheesy. I don't believe in forcing my religious views on other people; I've met good people who were Jewish, Muslim and even athiest, and I don't think I'm any better than any of them. We have to live our lives as we believe, and good people can do bad things without even realizing it, often when they think they're doing good. If you live a life full of love, whoever you love...that's the best you can do. Are you part of a team, or would you like to be? Why? I work a lot with my best friend Endeavor; I might join her at AEGIS after we graduate. As to why, I think when you work with a good team, you make each other better; no one is so good at their job that they can't do better with some help. How do you feel about the treatment of metahumans and aliens on the Earth? I can't speak about the whole planet, but in Freedom City where I live and work, I think it's mostly good; I mean, you don't live in Freedom if you don't want to deal with the amazing and unusual. But I think sometimes, it could be better; I have a friend named Miss Grue who is, you know, a Grue, and I think she's had to deal with some prejudice because of that, when in fact she's the sweetest person you could ever meet. If you could give one piece of advice to your hero, what would it be? Go out into the world and meet more people; you actually had a pretty sheltered upbringing, and the world isn't as scary as you think. Edited Sunday at 09:43 AM by Heritage

So one of the appeals of anything set in a High School type environment is seeing the characters deal with the everyday problems of school life, especially if you've got the additional "curse" of powers. So I'd like to try something to hopefully allow characters to experience everyday life in Claremont. The idea I have is for a couple of characters to have a single short encounter with an everyday event, as much as things can be with powers, and have to decide how to deal with the situation. So for instance the characters are hanging out in the hall when they see a couple of students bullying another student. Then the characters would have to decide how they'd help out (because obviously they'd get involved). Depending on what they do they could get in trouble and even a dreaded visit to the headmistress and at least make new NPC friends and enemies. Obviously less confrontational events involving dating and making friends, though many events would depend on what the player wanted for there character. So is this something people would be interested in trying out?

GM Saturday, October 8th , 2016 Aaron Cage Gymnasium, Claremont Academy, Bayview 6:38 AM It was an early Saturday morning, the sun had not yet ascended over the horizon, the ocean east of Freedom City. It was a quiet Saturday morning too, with most of Claremont Academy’s students still asleep, some only recently having returned from nightly trips to various places, with various goals. Other places around the city were much the same. People slumbered, only few were up on a Saturday morning, and of the ones that were, hardly anyone did it voluntarily. However, like always, there were exceptions. In this case, the exception was Jann Fa-Re, also known as Bird of Arms, who had a strict morning exercise routine. And things like “weekends” or “days off” were not part of that routine. His weekend routine was different, granted, as the gym was empty during mornings. And that meant he could train there without any interference, which was something he appreciated. Plus, waking up his roommate was not something he was fond of. Another such exception was Aníbal Miramontes, also known as El Huracán, a student of Claremont Academy too. He had just been wandering past the entrance to the gym, as he noticed something happening inside. Another student, who had started this year, and was mostly noticeable for the fact he had wings, was currently going through the obstacle course inside the gym, using a variety of acrobatics, but not his wings, to proceed onwards.

Friday, August 26th, 2016 Roberta Isles Garden, Claremont Academy, Bayview 8:01 PM It was the last weekend before school started again. A great time for all those who still wanted to spend a lot of time on Freedom City’s streets to do just so, before the troubles and pains of school would return. Of course, there also was the Kick-Off dance happening at the gym, but not everybody felt like attending that, for one reason or another. Among those deciding to head out was Aleksander Nakani, or, as he was known in costume, Nevermore. In costume was what he was right now. He had been walking towards the garden, it offered a nice and not too obvious exit, preferable to the school’s main entrance in most cases. As he walked, he came by the Zen Garden, currently looking better than it had in a long time, one of the freshmen that had arrived earlier this month had spent a lot of time there. However, as he walked, he noticed something. Something out of the ordinary, something that shouldn’t be as it currently was. The carriage house, something about it was off. As Nevermore moved closer, he realized just what it was. The access to the subbasement. It had been used, broken into. It was not a big trace, only a slight misplacement. But Aleksander had seen these entrances many times, he knew when something was off, even if it only was by an incredibly small amount. While Aleksander was taking a closer look at the entrance, hidden but apparently not hidden enough, it just so happened that Jack Huang Faretti entered through the garden’s entrance up north, quickly spotting Nevermore, in full costume, doing something with the entrance to the subbasement, but from the current distance he could not tell just what the cowl was doing.

Friday, August 26th, 2016 The Athletic Field, Claremont Academy, Bayview 8:14 PM The sun was beginning to set, the Academy’s main building, located to the south catching a last few glimpses of sunlight. Most of the school’s students had returned or arrived already, in preparation of the new school year starting in just three days. Some had also stayed through the break, or arrived earlier, earlier in their summer break. Among the latter group were Jann Fa-Re, Selena Kwon and Alexander Lloydd, all of whom had been at the school for at least a few weeks now. They all got along, so they had been spending time together, and were doing so right now. While many of the students attended the Kick-Off Dance held in the gym, or were out in the streets of Freedom City doing their own thing, these three had decided to take the relative silence this day would offer, with most people doing the best with their last few days of break-time, to work on something. They had planned it, they had acquired the supplies they needed through various ways, and as the sun was now setting, it was time to put the plan into motion. Meanwhile, a few dozen feet to the south, Naomi Suleiman was spending her time inside her room. A dance did not interest her much, so she just was inside her room for now. Suddenly, something caught her attention. Through her window, she saw a group of people, three or so, flying above the athletic field. It was something unusual for a variety of reasons, including the fact almost everybody was currently at the dance.

Friday, August 26th, 2016 Aaron Cage Gymnasium, Claremont Academy, Bayview 8:03 PM The Kick-Off Dance was the first major event of any school year at Claremont Academy. Traditionally it was held on the Friday before the start of the year the next Monday. It was no different this year, and people had flocked to the gym, much to the delight of various students who had spent many hours during their summer break to organize it. Banners were hung alongside the wall. Somebody had actually brought a disco-ball. Along a table on the wall various bowls of punch had been set up, and bar tables with peanuts and chips on them stood scattered around the gym and just outside of it. A stage had been set up too, elevated just slightly, a DJ table slightly off to one side, with the rest of the stage for people that wanted to dance where everyone could see them, or some pre-dance entertainment. A smoke machine was not needed, the DJ, a now-senior student, provided the smoke with his powers. Outside, the sun began to set, while inside the lights had been dimmed, spotlights towards the stage. The entertainment phase had just ended, and the dance was about to start. A new arrival , taller and more muscular than most students, had just left the stage after a short vocal performance, the DJ was currently giving a few final words before switching to music for the rest of the evening. “Okay people, that was Hau Ta … Tayou … just Hau! He’s still looking for bandmates everybody, go talk to him if you’re interested! And now, a short break while somebody fetches a cup of punch for me, they’re free after all, and then it’s gonna be music the rest of the night. I’ve got some good songs planned, so don’t leave anytime soon!”

I'm looking to recruit two or four PCs for a quick thread. Explosions bloom above the downtown skyline as super-powered mercenaries attack ASTRO Labs! Can the heroes save the scientists? Why is AEGIS on the scene so fast? What was stolen, and where will it end up? Expect threats around a PL 8 range. Preference will be given to Claremont or space-affiliated heroes.

Here is my next new character, to debut alongside Critical! Chrome is a young man, infected/transformed by modified Communion nanobots. He's my latest Claremonter, and hopefully he'll make a big splash. As always, Please Examine And Comment Helpfully.

I'm planning a new Claremont character, based mostly off TT's Douglock build. The story is that an AEGIS scientist/officer has a kid with insert-traumatic-illness-here (I'm leaning towards MS) and he stages a villain attack during a military demo/parade/something that shows off the base. He uses the cover of this to grab the Communion nanites stashed at the base and 'infects' his son, which leads to Douglockness. I'm making this thread to crowd-source some of the details and flesh out the concept a little more. I'm flirting with the idea that the kid is 'out' about being super -- he has crazy Tron-lines all over his body, it's hard to hide those. So he won't have a secret identity, but I'm not sure how this works with keeping Claremont's secret. He's not going to go around blabbing about the Wreck Room, but at the same time anyone looking at him is going to know that he's not entirely human anymore. The second thing I need to work on is his name. I'm honestly leaning towards Douglas Locke as his birth name. I like the connection with John Locke's philosophy, but it feels like it's a bit too heavy-handed of a reference. At the same time I need a supername for him. A big part of the character is his joy at being able to get around and explore after a lifetime of being confined to a bed. A name that refers to adventure and physical movement would work as well as a name about being a computer-man.

It just occured to me that while Casey is now 18, she doesn't have her driver's license; she's always just flown places. Which made me wonder, does Claremont even offers such a class? I can't remember it being discussed in Hero High or anywhere else, though I might be mistaken.

Well, here is the strangely quieter than expected trip to the unknown, featuring Torpedo Lass as the chaperone. Heri, feel free to tag here and follow.

Hey there! I had a excellent idea that'll get a little bit of time on screen for Torpedo Lass, AND get some claremonters something to do on a Saturday morning! Namely, things will start out on rented yacht, and the purpose of the trip is not only a fun outing, but to collect water samples... but that's when things turn extraordinary. Who's up for a sail into the unknown? I'm drivin'. I'm looking for up to Three. Two is lovely, Three is a comfy crowd.

Has there ever been a mention, either on this site or in canon, of a school paper at Claremont? It struck me that this would really be something Casey and maybe other students could work on.

Jane Williams' arrival at Claremont wasn't exactly subtle. A Freedom League plane got her from HQ to the airport, and then a Freedom League car took her from the airport to Claremont. During the trip, her escort took the time to remind her again and again the rules of her being at Claremont, including where she was and was not allowed to go, and that she had to ask permission and send an itinerary if she planned on going off-grounds. After all that talking, Jane was happy to get to step out of the truck. She squinted a bit at the sudden sunlight, and covered her eyes for a bit. The young woman was dressed as if she'd just had to throw together an outfit. A light-colored sundress, a motorcycle jacket, used sneakers, all of which managed to clash with the other pieces of the outfit. Her escort stepped out of the van long enough to hand her a piece of paper with her schedule, room location, and (once again) the rules of her stay at Claremont, then drove off with a simple reminder that she was always being watched. Jane Williams was left standing in front of the main building, taking her time to adjust and figure out where to go next.

Player Name: Cabochard Character Name: Rerun Power Level: 10 (150/150PP) Trade-Offs: None Unspent Power Points: 0 Progress To Bronze Status: 0/30 In Brief: Power Copycat Residence: Claremont Academy Base of Operations: Claremont Academy Catchphrase: “Nice trick, but I think I can do it better!” Identity: Anna Albright Birthplace: Fremont, California Occupation: Student (Sophomore) Affiliations: None. Family: Parents, brother, sister. Description: Age: 16 Apparent Age: Teenager Gender: Female Ethnicity: Caucasian Height: 5'9” Weight: 120lbs. Eyes: Blue Hair: Black A leanly-muscled young woman, standing relatively tall for her age, though she doesn't seem to be growing much anymore. Her hair is usually kept short and out of the way. Power Descriptions: Rerun only has one power, but it comes with plenty of versatility. She can make a copy of other people's powers, so long as she can touch them, her cells changing and reproducing rapidly to allow her to use a new set of powers – so long as they have a blueprint to work off of. History: Neither Anna nor her family has ever been quite sure when or how she first acquired her powers. The event that revealed them to others, however, they're quite sure of. Growing up, Anna had been a bored, depressed child. She made her way through life without finding any real enjoyment in things – not when she could watch TV and see people who's lives were so much more interesting than hers ever could be. This boredom is what drove her to, one day, run off to personally watch a superpowered fight that had somehow spilled over into a neighborhood within running distance of hers. Ignoring commands to stop from the police, she rushed through a barricade, and to the heart of the fight, where she thought she might finally be able to find a thrill. At the center of the small disaster area that was the center of the fight, she found a villain knocking a hero into a building, destroying half of it, and knocking the hero out cold. Working more on instinct than any actual thought process, the girl rushed to try to help the hero, hoping to drag him away or something of the sort. When she grabbed the hero's arm, everything clicked. For just a second, she understood the hero's power - a simple energy projection power - and how his body was designed to work with it. In the next second, her body adjusted to duplicate it, though she could only manage a far weakened version of it. Anna turned and unleashed her power at the villain. She only hit him because he wasn't expecting anything of the sort, but it was enough to at least hurt him. They fought a short, chaotic battle, as she struggled to figure out how to use her powers, and he tried to predict her actions – no easy task when even she wasn't sure what she was doing. The fight ended when a small team of heroes arrived and restrained her opponent. The young girl who'd used emergent powers to defend someone was commended, and returned to her parents with a strict warning not to do anything of the sort ever again, without training. With that warning in mind, Anna spent the next few months looking for a place where she could be trained, and then be allowed to experience the rush of battle once again. After much research, she stumbled across a rumor that Claremont Academy did such, once the powered had reached a certain age. She sent an email to the principal, informing him of her powers and that she would be interested in enrolling a few years later, and received a message telling her that they would consider her admission once she was the right age. Now the right age, having done research into the fields of genetics already, as well as working to learn various martial arts, hoping to improve her power with simple knowledge if not practice, Anna Albright AKA Rerun, is enrolled for her first year in Claremont Academy, on the way to becoming a superhero. As a gift for having received admittance, her parents are not only paying her tuition (of course), but also worked through various channels to acquire a jumpsuit inset with armored plates to keep her even safer.. Personality & Motivation: Anna's powers are well-suited to her personality, naturally. Much like she behaves in a fight, she prefers to attach herself to someone popular or otherwise powerful, socially, and act as a lackey, leeching off of their success to add to her own. When behaving on her own, she often shows deference to any conversational partner, but otherwise often acts bored and uninterested, except in two situations: whenever there is a chance of testing a new power, or getting into a fight with powered individuals, she becomes much more excitable and jumpy. Powers & Tactics: Rerun is only effective so long as she has powers to steal. Because of this, she almost always operates with a group of powered individuals who's powers she can fall back on. Given her ability to change powers on the fly in combat, so long as she can acquire contact, she is extremely versatile and adaptable, and is usually willing to jump into any situation or role, so long as she can be provided with appropriate powers. Complications: Secret Identity: Can't let anybody know who she is! Shhhhh. No Personal Abilities: Being somebody who's only power is to steal the powers of others isn't easy. If she doesn't have access to a hero who's power she can steal, she's largely at the mercy of others. Genetic Mimic: There are many kinds of powers out there – and just as many sources. Her powers come from her cells' ability to redesign themselves and copy someone else's, and they can't replicate a machine. She cannot borrow powers born of devices. Abilities: 6 + 14 + 14 + 10 + 10 + 6 = 60PP Strength: 16 (+3) Dexterity: 24 (+7) Constitution: 24 (+7) Intelligence: 20 (+5) Wisdom: 20 (+5) Charisma: 16 (+3) Combat: 20 + 12 = 32PP Initiative: +11 Attack: +10 Melee, +10 Ranged Grapple: +13 Defense: +10 (+6 Base, +4 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: -3/5 Saving Throws: 2 + 2 + 2 = 6PP Toughness: +7/10 (+7 Con, +3 [Jumpsuit]) Fortitude: +7 (+5 Con, +2) Reflex: +9 (+7 Dex, +2) Will: +7 (+5 Wis, +2) Skills: 20R = 5PP Computers 4 (+9) Investigate 3 (+8) Sleight of Hand 4 (+11) Knowledge: Life Sciences 4 (+9) Medicine 5 (+10) Feats: 10PP Dodge Focus 4 Improved Initiative Equipment [5EP] Defensive Attack Improved Block Improved Trip Instant Up Equipment: 1PP = 5EP Armored Jumpsuit (Toughness +3) [3EP] Flashlight [1EP] Multi-tool [1EP] Powers: 30 + 7 = 37PP Mimic 12 (60PP; All Powers (4PP/r*); Extras: Duration (Cont); Flaws: Tainted, Saving Throw, Partially Limited (Half-power with Magic effects); Feats: Innate) [30PP] *Before Extras/Flaws Strike 7 (Martial Arts Training; Feats: Mighty) [8PP] Drawbacks: (-0) = -0PP None. DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 18 Toughness Damage 3(Physical) Martial Arts Touch DC 25 Toughness Damage 10(Physical) Mimic Grab Touch DC 22 Will Duplicate powers of target (up to 60pp) Totals: Abilities (60) + Combat (32) + Saving Throws (6) + Skills (5) + Feats (10) + Powers (37) - Drawbacks (0) = 150/150 PP

It was the early evening when Samuel stepped out of his mom's car and walked through the gates of Claremont Academy. He wore a simple printed tee with the school's symbol on it, some jeans, and a black hoodie for protection against the cold; but what was really interesting was that he was carrying a sheathed greatsword that was just about as tall as he was and carrying it in one hand on the middle of it too, a sure sign of his super-strength. He also had a backpack on that was stuffed quite full. it was after school-and cold outside-so the courtyard was mostly empty at the moment. He wasn't quite sure how that suited him, since he did want people to ask about his greatsword, but there was also that feeling that maybe he should be being a little more discreet than he was already being about bringing a huge sword that people could probably easily identify his soon-to-be hero identity by... though here at Claremont that really shouldn't be a problem since some of the other students were supposedly heroes themselves and he had also thought maybe if he carried his sword in the open he would attract their notice. He still wasn't sure how to go about getting in contact with other heroes here, but he was quite sure that one didn't just go around asking random people if they were a hero or not. Like his dad, most of them did just want to live a quiet, average life and not worry about their powers ruining it... Samuel sighed, pretty sure that he was overthinking this whole sword thing, so he decided that he was just going to wing this situation and see where it went. He stretched his arms (and greatsword) above his head, put a cocky half-grin on his face, and started taking a roundabout route to his dorm. All the while doing his best to make it look like the sword in his hand weighed absolutely nothing, running the end of the sheath around things he passed by and giving it a good swing every now and then.

Naomi stepped out the cab. Spectacle’s contact here at Claremont had paid for the cab from the airport, so she didn’t have to pay the cabbie. It was the middle of Saturday, so she fully expected no one to be around. Maybe the office had someone? She shouldered her backpack and started pulling her wheeled suitcase. She hadn’t brought tons of stuff. As a proper teenager, everything was on her smartphone and laptop. The former was on her hip and the latter was in her backpack. She passed through the front gate and glanced around. Vacant, of course. Wasn’t there a mall nearby, or something? Some of the others here were superheroes, so maybe there were on patrol? She shivered a little. She should’ve though today’s outfit through a little better. A halter top, bolero jacket, and short pleated skirt were good for California, but Jersey was a bit cooler. The leggings she donned in the airport and her super cute knee high boots were probably helping, but it was still nippy. This was why she’s brought so few clothes, compared to the closet that was virtually exploding at home. Different climates demand different wardrobes. Well, that and airlines charge so much for checked bags. There was such a thing as taking advantage of a decent person’s generosity, even if they were richer than Bill Gates. Not that she knew they were, necessarily, but the point remained. Well, this clearly wasn’t the place to start, so she stepped back out the main gate and followed the fence around until she found an opening and the gardens. She could feel people, distantly. Must be in the dorms or something. And there’s a nice helpful sign. Administration building. Yes. Halfway to the goal. Now, if only they had someone who knew sign language. Because the pen and paper thing was getting really, really old. Her phone vibrated on her his. A text? From Spectacle’s burner? And she had to text her parents, too. She put her backpack down next to her suitcase and got to work. Her parents would be simple enough, but her little brother would have about as many questions as Spectacle, if not for the same reasons. She’d be taking selfies just to satisfy both of their curiosities. Not that that was a problem.

On her way out of the awful test from hell, Robin hesitated in her blue and yellow uniform, debating for a moment whether she out to give Riley a bit of time or head directly after him. She could pause and change, but the memory of Riley's stricken expression decided her. Pausing only to grab her worn leather jacket, Robin headed up from Claremont's underground tunnels until she could reach a level where there was window access. There were many weirder sights than a student in a training uniform sprinting through the halls and diving out a window so Robin only garnered an occasional look as she ducked outside and scaled up the side of one of the dormitories to reach the roof. She wasn't trying for stealth although her boots weren't all that loud as she landed on the shingles. "Riley?" Robin's voice floated out as she straightened up, her concern apparent in her tone.