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Date: 8/21/2015 Taylor paused in front of the bookstore, tipping her head to look up at the sign for a moment. She'd heard about the grand opening but avoided the crowd. It would be just her luck that there'd be some cross dimensional entity looking for a magic trinket and needing a smiting. After all the history here, Taylor would rather not get things off on the wrong foot by throwing some demon through the storefront window. Sure, she could fix it but that wasn't the point. She took a deep breath as she stepped through the door, pausing to admire the entrance. Taylor had always enjoyed a good book store, especially those of the more esoteric variety. It was nice that she could dovetail catching up with an old friend and browsing for new additions to the library at the same time. Taylor looked like she hadn't aged a day, which was the literal truth. But for the fact that her hair had grown, Taylor looked exactly like the last time Lynn had seen her; fresh faced and dimpled and dressed in worn jeans and a tank top with the incongruous amulet glittering in the hollow of her throat. "Hello?"

For rolls and suchlike when looking for a good deal.

Noontime August 1st, 2015 Bayview, Freedom City House of the late Leland Comtois Leland Comtois had lived a full life, as evidenced by the photographs on his wall. As a child he was standing in waders next to a goat in the mud; as a young man he was smiling broadly, one arm around a woman and the holding a smoking cigarette. Then he was in uniform, marching under a French flag. There was a gap in the photographs, the next one being labeled 1951 and Leland standing in a group of severe young men, none of them smiling, all of them facing the camera like it was an execution. More photos from the 1950s showed him either in art galleries or walking out of police stations. Then the 70s and he was in New York City, and later decades saw him move to Freedom City. He was seen wearing doctoral robes and standing authoritatively at the front of a FreeSA classroom. Books lining his shelves bore his name, biographies of people like Andre Breton, Salvador Dali, and Jacques Vache. Most of the art had already been tagged with red banners marking it as SOLD, but it was still displayed and it showed the clear influence of Surrealists. Of course, all of this was a backdrop to the estate sale. The sale of the art was being handled by an auction house in the city; on display for the crowd to peruse were the numerous pieces of furniture, books, crockery, upholsteries, gewgaws, wines and bourbons, knick-knacks, old clothes, and a thousand other pieces of detritus collected over the antiquarian’s long life. They were all for sale in his rambling Bayview mansion, all discreetly tagged and priced according to how impressive the estate handling agency considered each piece.

GM Post Calcutta, India 1892 AD "... which is why me and my Associates are very displeased with your policies in the Bengali province, Captain Ayres." The man in the red suit said. "We are invested in the proper development of the area, and quite frankly, your policies, appart from brutal, are in conflict with our interests." The man in the blue suit added. "Your objections are noted, gentlemen, I assure you. However, understand that I have to deal with a rebelion here, one incited by Korean spies who would sooner see India burn than have it prosper under Brittish rule. I've always acted on the behalf of the Company's interests, which I was given to understand were YOUR interests as well." Captain Ayres was very upset, but he held on. The men in the suits were hard to deal with, given that they always seemed to be wearing their expressions like a man wears a suit; fittingly, but it was obvious that the clothing was not an actual part of said man. "And that was why you chose to align yourself with Feng Huan Po?" "..." That had hit a nerve. Captain Ayres had taken the utmost of precautions to ensure that whatever dealings he had with Feng Huan Po remained under wraps. "Surely the governor-general isn't very appreciative of your alliance with a follower and representative of the Old Ways." "Feng Huan is... a necessary concession on our part. He ensures that the Chinese will keep to themselves, while also posing a significant threat to the Koreans from attempting an outright invasion." He tried to explain. The expressions of the two men warped, as they tried to imitate concern. "He is more dangerous than you realise, Captain. Feng Huan Po moves in circuitous ways, ensuring that his actions largely remain concealed from our eyes." "It is imperative for our plans that the people of Calcutta, and India in general, enjoy a secure, safe, and prosperous for them enviroment." "If you fail..." "... we will have to take action against you. Even if that means..." "... that the East India Company meets a premature end." "It is our hope that we have made ourselves clear." "If you think... IF YOU THINK THAT I WILL CAVE UNDER YOUR HOLLOW THRE-" "There is NOTHING hollow about our threats, Captain." "As your superiors no doubt have informed you, the Spanish once tried to dare us into action." "You ARE aware of the Battle of Gravelines, aren't you?" "Heed our words, Captain Ayres. You are walking a very thin line as it is." "Do not cross us." "..." The Captain remained further silent, as the two men took their leave. Their warning was clear as a day. However, the Captain remained undeterred in his resolve to proceed with his plans. "If the East India Company is the sacrifice needed to ensure 'our' future... then so be it." He silently mouthed. He knew that forcing the two men into action was tantamount to challenging god's wrath. So that was why... Present Day, Freedom City Tuesday, June 16th, 2015 Midday, 14:35 The tears closed as soon as they opened, and everything they enveloped vanished completely. Sometimes, other random stuff would emerge from those energy swirls. Not only where they fast, the tears appeared at random places, from the City's center to Parkside, from there to Hannover, then the Great Bay, Lincoln, Riverside, Ashton, and Southside. The tears would continuously open and close in each of these areas for approximately an hour, before moving on to another place. This had been going for the better part of the last day, with reports of similar phenomena accross the country. The superhero community were as stumped as the scientific one, about what was going on, much less its cause. Thankfully enough, though, the tears didn't seem to affect humans, so barring a few indirect injuries caused by the odd falling piano, there was very little cause for panic. The news made sure to keep updates of this peculiar phenomenon, keeping the citizens informed of the tears' current emergence location. Last sighted, they'd appeared in Kingston, while for the last 10 minutes, they seemed to start appearing over at West End.

December 17, 2014. The West End, Silverman’s Books. Unknown Parallel Earth. Unknown amount of time after sunset. The books were getting a little dusty. Wynn Epstein hadn’t been inside in a few months, since the rebellion’s last gasp took a few employees…off the payroll. But today she was back, and cleaning up. New glass windows to replace the boarded up and broken ones. In the morning, a few new eager employees from Claremont would be by to help out, and best of all, a Carson security robot was schedules for delivery to keep things orderly. Everything was going to go just fine, and soon enough, the store would reopen. That was the plan. Meanwhile, Cerwyn Pefr was chasing down a thief. Yes, the world was largely peaceful and crime-free since the rebellion had been put down, but crime didn’t just magically go away. Heh, magically. The thief was fast. No. She was a teleporter. Moving from shadow to shadow. He touched his commlink. “Kit, it’s Blod. Can you catch this one? I’m having some trouble here. Seems she’s a teleporter.†Christina Vance, alias Kit, rolled her eyes. “She’s not a ‘porter. Just faster than eyes. I’ll get her.†Chris wasn’t what anyone would call subtle about it, either. A massive ball of fire flashed past the thief, stopping her short. She glanced around for a hiding spot-and found a store with the lights still on. She bolted inside, never bothering to notice that the fireball didn’t actually damage anything. In fact, there wasn’t even a wisp of smoke to prove it was ever there. Blod frowned. “You call that getting her?†He jogged up near the store, stepped into a shadow, and vanished from sight. “The freshmen can do better.†Kit popped out of the shadow next to him. She towered over the diminuative Welsh boy. “She’s off the street, isn’t she?†Inside the shop, Wynn was quite surprised by her guest’s sudden appearance. “I’m sorry, but we’re not open yet. Try again in a week?†This young woman was an archer, judging by the bow on her back. And, as Lynn abruptly learned as she stepped up to Wynn in the blink of an eyes, she was very fast. “I’m sorry. There’s a couple of people after me. They’ve got bad intentions and I’m not anywhere near invulnerable, so I’ve been on the run for a bit. Can I hide out for a few minutes?†Wynn was prepared to tell her to leave now, please…but on closer examination she bore a striking resemblance to one of her lost employees. Her heartstrings twinged, and she sighed. “All right. Bathroom’s in the back. Water…should work.†But before either of them could do anything else, Blod and Kit burst into the store. The young woman tossed a glance that screamed “HELP!†in Wynn’s direction. The timid young woman refused to lose her dear employee a second time, and she activated her fae magic. Blod and Kit had no choice but to defend themselves. Magic twisted, clashed, and surprisingly melded. There was a brilliant flash of light, and the store was empty. December 17, 2014. The West End, Silberman’s Books. Earth Prime. 7:43 PM. Cerys Pefr was taking Lynn Epstein’s offer of visiting the store. The Welsh girl and the fairy were having one of the most disjointed conversations of all time when the store was abruptly illuminated by a bright light and four people tumbled out of the air and onto the floor. The lone male of the group grumbled in a familiar accent to Cerys.“Gods curse it, Toni. You couldn’t just give me back my vid, could you?†The boy could almost be from Wales, but something was slightly off. “Now, again. We’re in another dimension, again. We’re gonna have to figure out where we are so Kit can port us back. Again.†For the parts of Tona Baudlin and Samantha Vance, the two lovebirds were enjoying a night in, when the hubbub distracted them from their activities. Specifically, Robin Hood: Men in Tights (along with a few other choice Mel Brooks movies) and a truly ridiculous amount of snacks. A certain mutual acquaintance had recommended the man’s work, and well…so far, so good.

Well, you all know what this is for.

April 3, 2015 9PM It's springtime in Sapporo and the tourists have departed. The winter season that brings so much snow to this city of nearly two million has ended, bringing an end to the snow sculptures and snow festivals, and the cool moist spring has settled in comfortably here on the shores of Ishikari Bay. The big news in the city today is the recent beginning of baseball season - the famous Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters are playing a special exhibition game with the visiting Freedom City Comets, who themselves are on their way back to Freedom City tomorrow to begin their North American season with a game against Detroit. The 40,000 seats in the Sapporo Dome are packed with local fans and American "super-fans" from Freedom City who have flown in for the special game, many of them following the usual Freedom City pattern of wearing exaggerated superhero costumes alongside the usual Comets merch. It's a big day, and much to the delight of the home crowd, the Fighters are pulling ahead of their American antagonists. (The team's rivalry is old and arcane, as the best sports rivalries are, dating back to the early days of the Comets franchise in the 1950s when they clashed with the visiting Nippon-Ham Fighters in the West Coast of the US) Outside the rest of the city is bustling along quietly, though the cool, wet fog that's settled over most of the town tonight has kept many of the usual late-Friday-night crowd home or at least inside their favored establishments. Fishing is big here and you can walk into a local restaurant to find freshly-caught sea urchin, salmon, or crab on the menu, or perhaps the famous local jingisukan lamb barbecue. From the taller buildings in town you can see the mountains rising off to the east. Hokkaido has been 'tamed' since the late 19th century when American experts helped the Japanese government exterminate much of the local wildlife during the Meiji period, but at night when the Moon rises over the distant mountains of the island, glimpses of the old Hokkaido can be seen in the forest beyond. Inside the stadium, it's the seventh-inning stretch; a good time to wander up to the concession stand and get a beer or some soup curry, or maybe just sit in the stands and curse that bastard Kataoka and his murderous right arm. Errors by his own team have meant that the Nippon-Ham Fighters pitcher hasn't quite thrown a perfect game - but he's come close! The Comets have kept the Fighters dancing too, but the score is 18-9, and the Comets are going to have to pull off a miracle to win this one!

Take me out to the DEATH GAME

Player Name: Heritage Character Name: Grimalkin Power Level: 13 (250/250PP) [283] Tradeoffs: +2 Defense/-2 Toughness (+2 Attack / -2 Damage, +2 Defense / -2 Toughness, in Pixie Form) Unspent PP: 0 In Brief: Shapeshifting faerie with a human soul, recently returned to Freedom after a three-year absence. Alternate Identity: Lynn Epstein Identity: Secret Birthplace: Atlantic City, NJ Occupation: Bookstore owner Affiliations: Former member of the Knights of Freedom and the Interceptors, currently freelance. Partner of the Shrike. Family: Elaine Epstein (mother), Harold 'Butch' Epstein (father), Benjamin Epstein (brother), Edna Epstein (sister). Zachary Reynolds (son), Ruth Reynolds (daughter), Jonathon Reynolds (son) Description: Apparent Age: Mid-twenties Actual Age: 108 Gender: Female Height: 5'3" Weight: 121 lbs. Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown; shoulder-length and curly as Lynn, short and spiky as Grimalkin Lynn is a lovely young woman who typically wears comfortable jeans, T-shirts, hiking boots and a denim or suede jacket by day, but is wrapped in skintight leather of black and midnight blue, complete with domino mask, when she prowls the dirty streets at night. Unless she is going undercover, she always wears a leather lanyard around her neck, from which dangles a dark black ring with a row of diamonds set along the top; she frequently fiddles with the ring while deep in thought. Her ears are pointed and tapered; as Grimalkin, they are clearly visible, but 'Lynn' keeps the tips discretely hidden under her hair. History: A young runaway from Atlantic City, Lynn Epstein turned to a life of panhandling and petty crime to survive; one day it became too much, and she crawled into a dark alley on a chill winter night to die, but instead awoke the next day transformed! For many months she used her powers selfishly, living the high life and swindling 'suckers', until one night she saw a young streetwalker attacked; the FCPD's profound indifference to the crime appalled her, and she swore that night to use her powers to help those the Powers That Be would not help. For several years, she was a member of the West End-based superhero team known as the Interceptors, along with Dynamo, Fulcrum, Jack of All Blades and William 'Colt' Reynolds. Three years ago she married Reynolds and retired from active crime-fighting, and she had not been seen in Freedom City since. Upon her return, Lynn reopened Silberman's Books, the store she inherited from her grandfather on her twenty-second birthday; the building had been shuttered since she and Colt where married in it 2011. Lynn currently occupies the apartment above the shop. She recently revealed to her former teammates that time moved differently on Colt's world, where she'd been for the last three years, and she's now closer to one hundred and eight. She has recently taken on Gretchen McDaniels as her 'personal crimefighting assistant' (Gretchen's preferred term), though the world will soon come to know her as 'the Shrike'! Personality & Motivation: Being that she's a shapeshifter, it's perhaps not surprising that Lynn is rather hard to pin down; she lives very much in the 'now', making few great plans and doing her best not to dwell on the past, even though she still misses Colt terribly. Her emotions are intensely felt, and she can switch from playful to angry to sad almost in the same sentence. Lynn also finds comfort in the little things, everyday wonders like bike rides in the park and lazy afternoons spent lying in the grass; she never seems to have enough of the simple pleasures, which makes her cherish them all the more. Since becoming a mother and having to leave her family behind on another world, she has taken a very motherly attitude towards her friends and coworkers. As a crimefighter, Grim is driven by many things: the desire to see a wasted life blossom once more, an end to cruelty, injustice and indifference, and a strong personal desire to constantly improve her technique. She likes teaming up with other heroes to see how she measures up and maybe pinch a trick or two, but she is frequently very self-critical of her own performance, to the point of downplaying her many successes. Like a trickster goddess with a vengeful streak, her personal brand of justice might seem somewhat capricious, but she would never willfully take a human life in the pursuit of the law. Powers & Tactics: Grimalkin's powers come from her faerie nature; some of them are innate, such as her keen senses and high tolerance to cold, but many of them come from her ability to manipulate glamour, the very essence of the fey. Seeing as her body is now wholly composed of glamour, she can alter it in a number of ways, such as completely changing her appearance, making herself nearly undetectable, or eluding capture; a favorite form is that of a pixie, just under one foot tall with a two pairs of gossamer wings for flight She can also create various objects seemingly out of thin air (actually her own glamour), which she uses as props, furniture or just her own amusement; she has now found a way to maintain a connection with these objects, and can use this link for surveillance purposes. In combat, Grim prefers the stealthy strike to take better advantage of her claws; when forced into a 'fair fight', she uses her wits and charm to befuddle her foes to level the playing field. She has also learned how to use glamoured objects to capture or obstruct her opponents. Complications: Cannot Eat Normal Food: Though she can still consume mundane liquids, Grim's faerie body can no longer process mundane foodstuffs; her body violently rejects any human food. Enmity of the Fey: As a fey with a human soul, and thus the capacity for genuine creativity, Grim is resented by most faerie creatures, and sometimes even considered an abomination. Momma Bear: Grim is very protective of those she cares about, especially friends, family and the staff of her bookstore. Prejudice (The Rich): Due to her lower middle class upbringing, Grim frequently has a hard time sympathizing with the well-to-do. Secret Identity: Though she doesn't go to the lengths some heroes go to protect it, Grim does try to keep the two sides of her life from intersecting. Sometimes it even works. She's the Boss: Lynn employs a small number of employees at her recently-reopened bookstore; sometimes they are overly curious or manage to get into trouble. Yente: Grim is in fact a Jewish grandmother, and sometimes cannot help herself from meddling in people's lives, i.e. trying to patch up relationships, acting as matchmaker, etc. Abilities: 2 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 4 + 16 = 50PP Strength: 22/12 (+6/+1), 4 (-3) in Pixie Form (Heavy Load: 520/130 lbs., 20 lbs. in Pixie Form) Dexterity: 26 (+8) Constitution: 18 (+4) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 26 (+8) Combat: 24 + 12 = 36PP Initiative: +12 Attack: +12 Ranged (+14 in Pixie Form), +12 Melee (+14 in Pixie Form) Grapple: +20, +12 in Pixie Form Defense: +14 (+6 Base, +8 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed. +12 Enraged (+6 Base, +8 Dodge Focus, -2 Rage), +3 Flat-Footed. +16 in Pixie Form (+6 Base, +8 Dodge Focus, +2 Size), +4 Flat-Footed Knockback: -5, -4 in Pixie Form Saving Throws: 6 + 8 + 8 = 22PP Toughness: +10 (+4 Con, +6 Defensive Roll), +8 in Pixie Form (+4 Con, +6 Defensive Roll, -2 Size) Fortitude +10 (+4 Con, +6), +15 Enraged (+4 Con, +5 Rage, +6) Reflex +16 (+8 Dex, +8) Will +10 (+2 Wis, +8), +15 Enraged (+2 Wis, +5 Rage, +8) Skills: 156R = 39PP Acrobatics 12 (+20) Bluff 12 (+20) Craft (Artistic) 8 (+10) Craft (Structural) 8 (+10) Diplomacy 7 (+15) Disguise 0 (+8, +38 Morph) Drive 2 (+10) Gather Information 7 (+15) Handle Animal 2 (+10) Intimidate 2 (+10, +6 in Pixie Form) Knowledge (Arcane Lore) 8 (+10) Knowledge (Behavioral Sciences) 3 (+5) Knowledge (Civics) 2 (+4) Knowledge (Pop Culture) 3 (+5) Knowledge (Streetwise) 8 (+10) Knowledge (Tactics) 1 (+3) Knowledge (Theology and Philosophy) 2 (+4) Language 1 (Hebrew) Medicine 3 (+5) Notice 13 (+15) Perform (Dance) 2 (+10) Perform (Singing) 2 (+10) Pilot 2 (+10) Ride 2 (+10) Search 13 (+15) Sense Motive 3 (+5) Sleight of Hand 7 (+15) Stealth 14 (+22, +30 in Pixie Form) Survival 3 (+5) Swim 4 (+5) Feats: 34PP Acrobatic Bluff Ambidexterity Benefit: Wealthy Defensive Attack Defensive Roll 3 (+6 Toughness) Distract (Bluff) Dodge Focus 8 Elusive Target Equipment 4 [From Rewards] (20EP) Evasion 2 Fascinate (Bluff) Grapple Finesse Improved Initiative Move-By Action Power Attack Rage 4 Setup Sidekick 41 [From Rewards] (205PP) Sneak Attack Takedown Attack 2 Taunt Uncanny Dodge (Auditory) Equipment: 3PP = 15EP Silberman's Books (PL12 HQ) [15EP] Size: Small [0EP] Toughness: +10 [1EP] Features: [14EP] Communications Computer Fire Prevention System Gym Library Living Space Powers 4 (120PP, see below) Security System 2 (DC 25) Workshop 2 [Electronic, Magical] Concealment 1 ( ESP Effects, Extras: Area [General, Burst], Duration [Continuous], Feats: Progression [Area] 4 [100ft/rank = 100ft radius], Selective ) [9PP] (Magic Wards) Dimensional Pocket 2 (Flaw: Range [Touch], 250 lbs.) [2PP] (Magical Safe) Nullify 12 (Summon, Super-Movement [Dimensional Travel], and Teleport Effects of Any Descriptor, Extras: Action 3 [Reaction], Area [General, Burst], Duration 3 [Continuous], Selective, Flaws: Range [Touch], Feats: Progression [Area] 1 [10ft/rank = 120ft radius]) [109PP] (Magic Wards) Rusty's Ranch (PL12 HQ) [5EP] Size: Medium [1EP] Toughness: +10 [1EP] Features: [3EP] Combat Simulator Gym Security System 1 (DC 20) Powers: 4 + 18 + 3 + 21 + 7 + 12 + 12 = 77PP Comprehend 2 (Languages 2 [speak Any, One At A Time, Understand All]) [4PP] Glamour Creation 8 (16PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 2) [18PP] Base Power: Create Object 6 (6 cubes, Toughness +6, Lifting Strength 30 [Heavy Load: 1,600 lbs.], Extras: Duration [Continuous], Feats: Innate, Precise, Progression 2 [25ft cubes], Selective, Subtle, Drawbacks: Limited [Cannot Create Metal], Power Loss [Contact with Iron], Flaws: Feedback) [16PP] Alternate Power: ESP 7 (Range: 200 miles. Auditory, Visual, Flaws: Medium [Created Objects], Feats: Subtle) [1PP] Alternate Power: Teleport 7 (Range: 200 miles. Extras: Accurate, Feats: Change Direction, Change Velocity, Disadvantage: No Extra Weight, Flaws: Medium [Created Objects]) [1PP] Dimensional Pocket 3 (Flaw: Limited [Storage only], 500 lbs.) [3PP] Glamour Body 9 (18PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 3) [21PP] Base Power: Morph 6 (Any Form, +30 Disguise, Extras: Continuous, Flaws: Limited [Cannot Mimic Metal]) [18PP] Alternate Power: Concealment 10 (All Non-Tactile Senses, Flaws: Passive, Feats: Close Range, Selective) [12PP] Alternate Power: Emotion Control 9 (Extras: Action 2 [Free], Area [Perception/Visual], Flaws: Limited to Fear, Range 2 [Touch]) [18PP] Alternate Power: Flight 4 (100mph / 1,000ft per Move Action, Drawbacks: Power Loss [Wings]) [7PP] + Shrinking 8 (Tiny: 2.5ft Space / 0ft Reach, -8 Strength, 1/2 Carry Capacity, +2 Attack, +2 Defense, -2 Toughness, -8 Grapple, +2 Knockback, -4 Intimidate, +8 Stealth, Feats: Normal Movement) [9PP] (Pixie Form) [16PP] Immunity 7 (Aging, Cold, Disease, Heat, Starvation and Thirst, All Suffocation) [7PP] Strike 6 (Extras: Penetrating [2] [DMG 7, 12 with Rage], Feats: Improved Critical 2 [18-20], Incurable, Mighty) [12PP] (Dark Faerie Claws) Super-Senses 12 (Accurate Extended [100ft Notice Increments] Hearing, Accurate Acute Extended [100ft Notice Increments] Tracking [1/2 Speed] Smell, Communication Link [with Shrike], Darkvision, Danger Sense [Auditory [12PP] Drawbacks: (-2) + (-6) = -8PP Vulnerability (Iron, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Moderate [+50% DC]) [-2PP] Weakness (Iron, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Moderate, -1 CON per minute [10 rounds]) [-6PP] Abilities 50 + Combat 36 + Saving Throws 22 + Skills 39 + Feats 34 + Powers 77 - Drawbacks 8 = 250/250 Power Points DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Medium DC16(18*) Medium w/ Rage DC21 Tiny DC12(14*) Claws Touch Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Medium DC22(24*) Medium w/ Rage DC27 Tiny DC18(20*) Create Object Touch DC16 Reflex Trapped Fear Perception/Area DC22 Reflex No Effect DC22 Will Shaken/Frightened/Panicked *Sneak Attack

OOC for >this thread.

Silberman's Books. Friday, May 1st, 2015. 12:08pm It looked like it as going to a really nice weekend weather-wise, which usually meant busy mornings and afternoons at the small independent bookstore at the corner of Pratt and Frederick; as much as purists might scoff, Lynn knew when she reopened her family's store that adding the cafe elements would help drive revenue. True, some people just stopped in for coffee and a bagel as part of their daily routine, but they often grabbed a paper, magazine or gift card for a friend, so the hassle of milk and coffee deliveries was, in her eyes, totally worth it. Except for days when the milk order was running late; then Lynn wanted to hang herself. They were out of skim by 10:30 and almost out of soy, which tended to make many of the older lactose intolerant customers grumpy; they still had lots of almond milk, but there were often allergy issues. Lynn was in her office sitting behind her massive desk, trying to reach the dairy for the third time since before opening. "Oy gevalt, this is nuts; who doesn't have voicemail in this day and age?" Meanwhile on the sales floor, Maddy was helping a young couple find a special book for their niece's fifteenth birthday, and Lance was working the bar, a bandana covering his head as usual. Meanwhile Gretchen, Lynn's personal assistant, was sitting at one of the tables with her MacBook, a stack of completed applications and a large Americano within easy reach. - - - There was indeed a 'Now Hiring' sign taped to the window next to the front door, just as Fast-Forward said there would be; now Sam just had to go up the stairs and head inside.

Lynn Epstein's West End apartment. Monday, April 13th, 2015. 3:05am "Fuhh!" Lynn abruptly woke up in bed, her heart racing; the sheets were tightly wrapped around her and the pillow was on the floor. She sat up and blinked her eyes, the darkened bedroom as clear as day to her faerie eyes. Two of her cats were curled up on the bed, clearly upset at being disturbed by her rude outburst, so she reached out and scratched between their ears with her claws, just the lightest touch. "Sorry, babies; Mommy had another nightmare." It had been one of the bad ones; she and Bill were at the ranch, celebrating the twin's birthday. Her parents were there, along with Erik and Ellie, and the kids were enjoying pony rides. Then Viktor arrived fashionably late, laughing with an armload of packages, and everyone was excited to open their presents, but only Lynn could see the long black spider legs poking through wrapping paper, and Ruthie eagerly reached out to grab her gift- The ageless changeling went into the bathroom, ran the sink and splashed her face with water. She filled a cup with water and drank it, more out of habit than any real thirst. Lynn contemplated her face in the mirror, the perfect flawless mask, and sighed. "Ya need help, kid; better go get some!" - - - ArcheTech's Hanover facility, 9:22 am that same day Lynn didn't feel like flying; at times like this, the mindless jostle of public transportation was somehow more appropriate, and she could just veg out in her seat like everybody else. It took a lot longer, but eventually she made it to Hanover and what was left of Dok's legacy; she realized belatedly that she'd never stepped in this building before, and wasn't sure what to expect. She'd opted for a sort of 'office casual' look, with a tweed jacket over a simple cotton blouse, dark Capri pants and brown ankle boots. Reaching under her blouse, she found the familiar ring on its thong; she pulled it out, gave it a quick kiss, then tucked it away as she headed for the main entrance. Once inside, she made a beeline for the security desk, and offered the security guard on duty a dazzling but nervous smile. "Hi! I'm not sure who I should talk to; I'm sorry, I didn't make an appointment." She leaned in closer. "My name's Lynn Epstein, and I was hoping to talk to someone about Viktor...Archeville?"

With Gretchen looking to become Grim's Sidekick, this means fewer hands minding the store on a regular basis, which means one thing: Lynn's hiring! If any PCs, especially recent or soon-to-be Claremont grads, are looking for a job with built-in story hooks, please note the ad below: Silberman's Books is looking for part-time help over the summer, with the potential for full-time employment after 90 days. We're a friendly neighborhood used bookstore and cafe in the West End, and we want you to join our team! Good pay and benefits, excellent job for students. Cafe and/or retail experience prefered. Contact Lynn Epstein.

Player Name: Heritage Character Name: The Shrike Power Level: 8 (135/135PP) Tradeoffs: Defense -2/Toughness +2 Unspent PP: 0 In Brief: Snarky barista/musician with three magical artifacts. Alternate Identity: Gretchen McDaniels Identity: Secret Birthplace: Portland, ME Occupation: Barista/bookseller/personal crime-fighting assistant Affiliations: Grimalkin, Silberman's Books Family: Evelyn Woolsey (mother, deceased), Mark McDaniels (father), Caroline Clement (aunt) Age: 23 (DoB: November 21, 1991) Gender: Female Height: 5'1" (5'4" in costume) Weight: 113 lbs. Hair: Brown Eyes: Blue Gretchen is an attractive young woman in her early twenties; she tends to keep her brown hair loose, and has a lightly-muscled athletic build. She has several tattoos on her body, including bars of music on both forearms, inspirational lyrics on various parts of her torso, and the words 'The Future Is Unwritten' on the four knuckles of her left hand. Her ears bear multiple piercings, mostly a mix of rings and ear spikes. Gretchen usually doesn't wear much makeup, but she experiments with lips gloss and eyeliner. As far as clothing goes, she sort of falls into the 'hipster chick' look, mostly because she just hits the same resale shops she favored as a FreeSA student, so comfortable jeans, hi-tops, combat boots, fatigue jackets, plaid shirts, t-shirts, vests, etc. When she's feeling frisky, she'll show some skin (typically a more revealing top), but if she's feeling antisocial, she'll dress down. She often wears rings and bracelets, but always has a silver ring with a large red stone on her left index finger. The Shrike is a mysterious figure wrapped in black; her costume is mostly reinforced black leather with silver accents, topped with a hawk-like silver half-face mask bearing another large ruby in the middle of her forehead. Her heavy reinforced boots add three inches to her height, much to Grim's annoyance. A black hooded cloak reaches down to her ankles; when she pulls the hood up, the Shrike disappears from view! A silver ring with a red stone is visible on the index finger of her left gloved hand. History: For most of her life, Gretchen McDaniels has been disappointed; by a father who abandoned her mother to raise a child alone, by a world that seems more concerned with money than reducing human suffering, and by a music industry obsessed with churning out catchy crap. Growing up in Portland, Maine, young Gretchen was drawn to the performing arts from an early age; her mother Evelyn was a successful attorney specializing in labor law, and though their family was small it was full of love, and the budding musician never lacked for love and encouragement. There were piano lessons and violin recitals, and Evelyn couldn't be prouder. But then when Gretchen was fourteen, her mother was killed in an accident while driving home in a New England ice storm; with her father nowhere in sight, it was decided it would be best for the girl to live with her free-wheeling aunt Caroline in Freedom City. Moving to a much larger city during her freshman year of high school, especially right have her mother's tragic death, proved to be particularity painful for the introverted girl, and she began to slowly build walls around herself. However Caroline, who was also musically inclined, offered something to Gretchen to help with the pain: classic punk rock. The anger, passion and energy of the music struck a chord with the unhappy girl, and even though she often struggled to express her grief and frustration through words, she could always turn to punk to feel better Personality & Motivation: Gretchen is keenly aware of life's injustice, but for most of her life, she felt powerless to do anything about it; her BFA opened a few doors but didn't lead to steady employment, so like many recent college graduates she turned to the world of retail to make ends meet. She frequently found herself 'working with idiots to serve idiots', and her dry humor and rather surly demeanor did little to enamor her to either her coworkers or customers. Powers & Tactics: The Shrike is still learning to use the three Gifts; her ability to communicate telepathically with her partner Grimalkin allows them to better coordinate attacks, which means the elder heroine can provide her with both needed advice and intel. The Shrike's combination of flight, stealth and ranged attacks make her an ideal infiltrator and combat 'sniper', and the psychokinetic power of the ring allows her to grab and detain foes as well as move objects and remove obstacles with ease. Abilities: 2 + 4 + 4 + 6 + 2 + 4 = 22PP Strength: 12 (+1) [Heavy Load: 130 lbs] Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 12 (+1) Intelligence: 16 (+3) Wisdom: 12 (+1) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 8 + 12 = 20PP Initiative: +2 Attack: +4 Ranged, +4 Melee, +8 Ring of Power Grapple: +5, +12 Ring of Power Defense: +6 Knockback: -8 (-1 without Cloak) Saving Throws: 6 + 6 + 5 = 17PP Toughness: +2/+10 (+2 Con, +8 Protection) Fortitude +8 (+2 Con, +6) Reflex +8 (+2 Dex, +6) Will +6 (+1 Wis, +5) Skills: 142R = 24PP Bluff 2 (+5) Computers 7 (+10) Craft: Electronics 7 (+10) Disable Device 7 (+10) Investigate 2 (+5) Knowledge (Current Events) 2 (+5) Knowledge (Pop Culture) 7 (+10) Knowledge (Technology) 7 (+10) Medicine 2 (+5) Notice 9 (+10) Perform (Keyboards) 8 (+10) Perform (Singing) 8 (+10) Perform (Stringed Instruments) 8 (+10) Search 2 (+5) Sense Motive 9 (+10) Stealth 8 (+10) Feats: 4PP Attack Specialization 2 (Ring of Power) Improvised Tools Precise Shot Powers: 20 + 8 + 20 = 48PP Device 5 (Cloak of Mystery, Magical Cloak, 25PP, Flaws: Hard-To-Loose) [20PP] Concealment 4 (All Visual Senses. Power Feats: Close Range) [9PP] Immunity 2 (Cold and Hot Environments) [2PP] Protection 8 (Power Feats: Impervious 6) [14PP] Device 5 (Helm of Truth, Magical Helmet, 10PP, Flaws: Hard-To-Loose) [8PP] Comprehend 1 (Read Any Language) [2PP] Super-Senses 8 (Detect Magic [Ranged, Visual], Vision Counters Illusion, Vision Counters Invisibility, Vision Counters Obscure [Darkness]) [8PP] Device 5 (Ring of Power, Magical Ring, 25PP, Flaws: Hard-To-Loose) [20PP] Blast 8 (Power Feats: Affects Insubstantial 2, Dynamic) [19PP] AP: Flight 5 (250 mph) (Extras: Continuous Duration, Power Feats: Subtle) [2PP] AP: Move Object 8 (Strength 40, Heavy Load: 3 tons. Power Feats: Precise, Subtle) [2PP] Feature 1 (Quick Change) [1PP] Super-Senses 1 (Communication Link) [1PP] Abilities 22 + Combat 20 + Saving Throws 17 + Skills 24 + Feats 4 + Powers 48 - Drawbacks 0 = 135/135 Power Points DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC16 Toughness Damage (Physical)Blast Ranged DC23 Toughness Damage (Physical)

December 25th Continued from >Mind Over Matter Fast-Forward was back on the streets of Freedom City so fast he barely had time to grab a candy cane from a department store giveaway as he made his way to his first destination. It was evening New Jersey time when he appeared at Dancia Devons' front door in Lincoln, where his super-speed knock sounded like a machine gun's rat-a-tat before he slowed himself back down (and sped everything else up) until once again he was in sync with the normal world. Knocking firmly, he called, "Dancia Devons! Dancia Devons!" When she opened the door, the Discovery Channel personality on Dancia's doorstep said without preamble, "Scarab needs you to save the world from robot psychics from space." He glanced around quickly to make sure no one was in the hallway; luckily her neighbors were all still enjoying their Christmas. "How quickly can you get to Puerto Rico?"

Silberman's Books. Sunday, February 8th, 2015. 10:00am A small printed sign was taped to the inside of the front door window: CLOSED FOR STORE MEETING Shop owner Lynn Epstein was nervously pacing up and down in front of the the bar, her staff mostly seated around the main table in the middle of the sales floor; due to the step up into the older part of the store, this meant they were all looking down on her somewhat. Great; I already feel like I'm on trial. Kiki came from around from behind the bar, occasionally casting a reassuring look towards her friend and employer as she carried a tray with coffee and doughnuts to the table; she was the only one who fully knew what was going on, though some of the others might have a few guesses. Clearing her throat, Lynn finally began. "Uh, hey guys; thanks for coming in a little early today. I don't know how long this will take or...anything, really, so I figured it would be best if we just...well..." Her employees shifted uneasily and exchanged concerned glances; normally Lynn was not this tongue-tied. Sensing their nervousness, the petite brunette suddenly held up her hands. "Nobody's getting fired, if that's what you're thinking, and the store's not closing, either; all of you still have a job." "Where's Mrs. N," asked Cred0; typically he'd work with her on Sunday afternoons. This led to new murmurs of concern; the beloved Jewish grandmother was elderly, so it was certainly possible- Lynn rubbed her face and sighed. "No, Mrs. Nussbaum is fine, that's not why we're here." She sagged back against the bar for a few seconds, suddenly feeling very, very old; but then she took a deep breath and seemed to reinflate. With great effort, she met everyone's gaze, one after the other. "Look, I have a confession to make; several, actually. We've been working together side by side for six months now; we might not all be best friends, but I think we've bonded a bit, right? And some of you might have seen things or heard things, and I think it's time to set the record straight. Because friends don't keep secrets from each other." She paused, closed her eyes and shook her head. "I'm...not human." She grimaced and spread her arms wide. "There, I said it."

We will need this eventually.

Pier 13, Saturday, October 18th, 2014. 10:00 am GM A lonely construction trailer sat in the middle of a small sea of concrete at the base of the pier; beyond it stood the long enclosed shed which thrust some eight hundred feet out into the river. The shed was three stories tall and stoutly built, with a dark metal roof, and a concrete walkway some thirty feet wide went all the way around it. In front of the trailer stood Grimalkin, looking somewhat out of place in her domino mask and black-and-midnight blue leathers at this hour of the morning. Next to her was parked a man in a wheelchair, wearing a black bandana mask similar to the Dread Pirate Roberts from Princess Bride; he had a long salt-and-pepper ponytail and trim beard, and wore an old denim jacket, flannel shirt, jeans and paint-stained work boots. The wheelchair has covered in various rock band, leftist and union bumper stickers. "This is insane." "Best idea you ever had, if you ask me." They both drank their cups of Starbase coffee at the same time.

Silberman's Books. Saturday, October 25th, 2014. 5:01 pm Kiki, assistant manager extraordinaire, escorted the last customers out the front door, and then thankfully locked it; with her best friend and boss Lynn 'Grimalkin' Epstein being so focused on her big charity haunted house on Pier 13, most of the day-to-day operations of the store were resting firmly on her shoulders until after the 31st, and to be honest it was exhausting. When Lynn had mentioned closing early for an office Halloween party, Kiki surprised even herself with her excitement at the idea. "The customers, they are no more." That would be Gretchen on the intercom. Kiki adjusted her artistically-damaged thrift shop jacket and primly marched to the middle of the sales floor; she'd decided to go with a scarecrow for her costume, primarily because it was cheap and would allow her to wear a hat. "Boys and girls, we are closed; let the party begin!" There were whoops of delight, and Gretchen started up her new playlist, which started with a special spooky remix of 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)' she'd put together. Lance the barista, dressed as one of the zombie football players from Beetlejuice, was serving up punch behind the bar. "Hey, where's Boss Lady? I thought this whole thing was her idea?" Kiki rolled her eyes as she scratched at the straw poking out of her sleeves. "I think she's working on a dramatic entrance..." She indicated the door to the owners' office with a nod; there was a strange mist creeping out from under the door...

OOC post for featiring Grimalkin and Velocity. Presuming Grim is at the shop. THevshi, feel free to drop Velocity and co in whenever.!

GM Monday, August 19th, mid morning... A little book store in the West End... "Good morning. May I have some service please?" The man was only a few inches over five foot, and had a considerable belly. He was dressed in a fine quality suit, and had a hat that somehow seemed to be outrageous and conservative at the same time. His cheeks were red, as were his jowls, and he sported a pair of sideburns that looked like they belonged on a safari hunter from centuries ago. "I am looking for the owner, and have handsome money!" he declared without shame. His voice was neither high, nor low, but rumbled. It was hard to say how old he was, somewhere middle aged, but young and old too, all jammed into one squat body. His hair was flecked with grey and flowed long. Beside him stood a man almost two feet taller, and considerably broader. In his case, it was with muscle rather than fat. He wore a suit and dark glasses, and had blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. If ever there was a bodyguard, this man was it.

Wednsday, July 30th 2014. Silberman's Books. 10:00am Maybe she should have waited until next week for the grand opening, but Lynn just couldn't imagine making it through the weekend on pins and needles, so she just took a deep breath and opened the store in the middle of the week. Things would be a bit bumpy, of course, but that was to be expected with any new endeavor. Just to be on the safe side, she decided to have >her full staff for the opening, on the off-chance there were any actual crowds; back in the day, her grandfather's store had been something of a local fixture, and that was before Lynn's decision to add a full espresso bar and food. There was a good chance she was deluding herself, but better safe than sorry; she could always send some folks home early if it came to that. She turned a gaze over her team; they were all wearing brand-new brown aprons with the 'Silberman's Books' right across the front, and they all looked eager and ready to go. Well, except Cred0, but that was to be expected. For herself, Lynn was trying to look as relaxed as possible in a pretty summer print dress and well-worn pair of cowboy boots. "You guys ready?" There were nods all around; the brand-new proprietor lifted the dark ring up on its lanyard, kissed it for luck and dropped it back down her dress before turning the bolt and swinging the door open. "Good morning, and welcome to Silberman's Books!"

Lynn's apartment over Silberman's Books. August 3rd, 2014. 7:54pm A letter had arrived at the Espadas School of Self-Defense and Swordsmanship from Lynn Epstein, with a familiar West End address. Inside, was a handwritten note; the penmanship was graceful, almost archaic, but the writer's voice was unmistakable. The changeling was pacing again; it was humanly impossible to prepare for an evening like this, but Lynn had given it the good old never-finished-college try. The furniture was warm, earthy and inviting, she'd been scooting back and forth between the shop and her kitchen all day working on dinner, and she'd cycled through looks for a good half hour finding just the right balance of relaxed and respectable: a nice understated green summer dress, open-toed wedges and small pearl stud earrings (her current thing). As always, the lanyard with its ring was around her neck, and she fidgeted with it more than usual. Her curly shoulder length hair was gathered up, showing off her graceful neck and the points of her ears. Lynn's eyes flicked over to the clock on the mantelpiece, where it dully ticked down the minutes. Soon. Very soon.

Outside Silberman's Books, the corner of Pratt and Frederick. Monday, August 4th, 2014. 9:58 am Sitting on the stoop in front of her shop, Lynn checked the time on her smartphone again; whoever these girls were, they were far from late, but she really just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. Her ad had introduced the store owner and future landlady to a broad spectrum of Freedom's citizens, and she was being to feel discouraged. She was basically inviting someone to move into her house, so yes, she was being rather picky, but so far...eyugh. The Poodle Twins. Mr. and Mrs. Bowling Shirt. Patchouli Pete and his Amazing Jacket of Many Smells. I just want some who's more or less normal but still interesting; is that so much to ask? Or have I turned into an old fart? Lynn had on her favorite style of sunglasses, big clunky plastic things from a time gone by, a faded Willy Wonka t-shirt, boot-cut jeans and a pair of light hiking boots; her hair was in a practical ponytail and she fiddled with the ring that hung around her neck.

Here's where is all goes down!