"Necessary Evil" - supervillains save the world!

Game Master ZenFox42

Not sure if it matters now due to the guards fleeing combat but she would have hard stopped and then come around idk if that needs a roll. Given my luck with skill checks in other games lately i hope not XD Edit: also thomas i was expecting Team America's theme, but nearly died at that well played.

Crackerjack is agog at his teammates' stupidity.

"The point was to grab the book, get out, and look like professionals, you idiots! This is just pointless destruction that makes us look like common thugs!"

Seeing the normal guards leaving without putting up anymore of a fight Helion stays in the van but moves to pick Bio back up. "Thomas, please tell me you flew back to the base with the book. We're gonna head back that way. Bio get back in we gotta go now that they can't follow we can wrap this up. Enkidu sorry for calling you out but maybe you can get some exercise i guess, don't really know if it matters with your shapeshifting. Para, i can pick you up somewhere or you can head back on your own, Thomas's got your book where he is i have no clue."

Thomas sighs inwardly. He's absolutely dying to appear and threaten the men, maybe kill one to send a message. But it looks like the kids want their toy, so he demurs.

But he can't go away with nothing, so he takes a moment to probe the guards' mind, one at a time, trying to answer the question as to how they knew to follow them.

Mind Reading Guard 1!: 1d10 ⇒ 9
WILD Mind Reading Guard 1!: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Mind Reading Guard 2!: 1d10 ⇒ 10
Mind Reading Guard 2 ACE!!: 1d10 ⇒ 2 = 12
WILD Mind Reading Guard 1!: 1d6 ⇒ 4

'Success detects the target’s surface thoughts, and a raise reveals a single short memory (no more than 5 minutes) or
known facts about one specific subject in the same amount of time. Regardless of the result, the target is aware that
someone is in his head.'

That done he goes Intangible and flies back to base.

Paradigm, how are you traveling back to the base?

Thomas, with a Flight rate of Pace, it will take you quite a while to get back to base (say, 30 minutes).

Thomas - all these guys know is that they heard the alarm, and it was their job to get to their car to pursue anyone fleeing on foot or in a car.

As Biohazard gets shotgun, Tom just sort of appears in the backseat. "Next time we should park farther away, he says.

The easy way.. SelfKinesis

Paradigm replies to Hellion, "No, I don't feel like being followed any more than you do. I'll get back just fine."

With that, his nanobots alter the gravity around him and an invisible plane of force comes into existence under his feet. Willing himself forward, Paradigm floats home, staying just enough off the street to not look out of place.

"Right well... I guess that's a wrap. Nice of you to reappear Thomas thanks for leaving us for our own... not that CJ didnt have it handled apparently. Anyway let's get back before anything else s*%+ty happens."

Helion makes sure everyone gets piled back inti the van before taking off and going a roundabout way back to base, making sure to keep an eye for any followers.

About 30 seconds after Hellion takes off with everyone on board, you hear the sound of a V'sori scouter ship in the air. The sound of its engines is getting louder, not softer...

Tom sighs. His work is never done.

"Would either of you care to hang on to the book?" he calls to the front seat as the rotors of the copter get louder. "It seems they're playing my song."

"It may not be necessary. I've always wondered if my EMP blast works on V'sori tech; their technology seems to use a very different technological base than our own, so may not be affected by electromagnetic impulses. I'll test, before you take any other action. Your presence could skew the results."

"And hey if Crackerjack's anti-vehicle raygun doesnt work on it we get the chance to be part-time sushi chefs. So, win-win really, I'll start heading someplace that'll be harder for em to track us. Ya know incase plan A doesn't work out. "

Helion would try to head towards any structures that would make it difficult to be tracked by a flying pursuit, if she knew of any nearby.

any rolls or continuing with the rp?

Enkidu arrives on the scene.

It'll take Paradigm about 5 rounds to get back, if he decides to head back...

No rolls yet, continue RP to figure out what rolls are needed.

Paradigm sighs. If you want something done right... He shifts his flight around lifts into the air, heading back towards the van and the ship, homing in on the signal of the comms system.

"Well I don't wanna take this with me," Tom retorts as he drops The Book in the driver's lap.

"Keep going. Try to buy us some time for the Professor to get here, then we can try to attack him all together.

Assuming we can stay away that long."

Tom goes Invisible and Intangible and sticks his head out of the roof to see how close the helo is getting.

Every now and again he drops down and gives Kat and...ooze...guy...an update.

Helion made a little oop sound as Thomas dropped The 'book' in her lap. "I can buy time.. not sure how much, but we'll still want to get this thing closer if we're going to engage. I don't think any of us are particularly suited to fighting something that flies. Heh.. if only Angel was here, always need something the second you don't have it."

She tried to maneuver back towards Paradigm while trying to find a good spot to break line of sight, understanding that outrunning an alien ship wasn't going to happen in a second-rate beater van.

Biohazard merely snorts in derision. "'Bout time the fins got involved." He cracks his knuckles, a very unsettling sound that reminds you of bubbling lava. "Lemme at 'em."

Does the helicopter get closer, or...?

I was waiting for other people to post their actions, but it looks like this is it, so...

Thomas - so far, the V'sori ship is gaining on you. They've got a spotlight on your car.

This is "Round 1".

Helion, make a Driving roll to try and lose the V'sori.
Anyone with a Ranged attack can try an hit the ship (-2 due to Range).

Enkidu? You've arrived on the scene...

driving: 1d8 ⇒ 2
wild: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Helion dips down another street trying to head towards a more advantageous place for them to get away.
"Anyone have eyes on, aside from you Thomas thanks for the updates though. If you can guide me i can try to help you line up a shot CJ. Enkidu you got any sight on em, CrackerJack's gonna try to blast em out of the sky."

She then almost casually and not even in the moment gives Bio a glance, "I don't really know what you can do, but you look like you need to be fairly close... that right?"

Biohazard snorts, a very wet sound. Holding his hands together, he spits a gooey mass into his palms. He shapes the mass into a rough ball, then hurls it at the V'sori ship. Unfortunately, it misses by a country mile, falling harmlessly to the street, where the blacktop begins to pop and sizzle, creating a large pothole.

Throwing: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0 Wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1

"Professor? Anyone got a 20 on the professor? When he gets here I'll assault with him.

In the mean time, good job Biohazard. Keep that up. Either they'll have to stay away or you might get your chance as they get closer."

Helion sneers at bio's act, "Guh... well that answers that, just... don't wipe your hands on anything in here please."

"I'm on my way, as fast as I can. I heard you brought some friends along, I'll see what I can do as soon as I get there."

Paradigm does his best to increase velocity as he soars towards the V'sori ship.

Guess I'll have to make this a regular combat, with vehicles (I use SWEX rules, FWIW.... Helion, if you want to do something special, describe it to me and I'll tell you what to do.)

The V'sori try to keep sight of the van :
Notice, +2 spotlight: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Helion, the spotlight stays on you as you weave thru the streets.

The V'sori shoot back at the van :
Shooting: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Doing
Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 7) = 8 vs. Toughness 8 for the van

Helion, the van has been effectively "Shaken" (not really). Make a Piloting roll (at -0) to stay in control. If you fail, roll a 2d6 to determine the results.

Paradigm will get here on Round 5
Crackerjack? Aren't you also in the vehicle?
Enkidu? You around?

Round 2!
Enkidu : 10C
Helion & Biohazard (and Crackerjack?) : 8H
V'sori : 5H
Thomas : 4S (I'm assuming you're out of the van at this point)

Helion, if you are happy with the status quo between you and the V'sori ship, you don't have to make a Piloting roll every round. If you want to pull away (-0) or lose them (-2 [sorry, changing the rules here as I go along]), then you do.

Enkidu keep his position, gaining a bit of altitude above the V'sori hovercraft, and ready to dive at it if he decides an attack would prove useful. He examines the ship, trying to spot if it has any exposed engines, power, or fuel supplies that might be vulnerable to an attack from one of his forms.

"I'm in position above the hover ship. Anyone have a suggestion as to parts that would be most vulnerable to attack? As a gryphon or giant eagle, I could likely tear off an engine or rip out a fuel line, so long as I could find them; the body of the craft is too big for me to be able to do much damage to it though."

Notice: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 101d6 ⇒ 1
Science: 1d6 ⇒ 61d6 ⇒ 2
Science Ace: 6 + 1d6 ⇒ 6 + (5) = 11

SwEx you mean extended not explorer's edition correct? Also does Star city have a subway station. From my understanding it's basically New York but an off the coastal us island. Barring that i've got a few ideas. Shrink the van and have hawk-idu grab us. Break LOS via under ground parking with a service exit. Enter the metro where it cant viably fly or use height against us. Or try to ram it in a stupid stunt jump off of a high parking garage. Or pull a shanghai and stop right next to a sewer grate and scramble down it right before they explode us so they think we died.Cause i doubt our beater van is gonna outrun a space ship.... suppose all these plans gone on me making this first check but still good to have options.

"I read this article once," Tom quips as he flies up, getting out of the rolling death trap as the van takes fire, "that the rear fan on a helicopter is the most important part. Apparently without it it would just spin around at incredibly high rates until it either tore itself apart or straight up crashed.

Maybe go for that?"

Assuming we are still normal-sized, Biohazard throws another ball of goo at the V'sori ship. Another miss splashes onto a parked car, causing the metal of the hood to buckle and warp.

Throwing: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3 Wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

"I read this article once," Tom quips as he flies up, getting out of the rolling death trap as the van takes fire, "that the rear fan on a helicopter is the most important part. Apparently without it it would just spin around at incredibly high rates until it either tore itself apart or straight up crashed.

Maybe go for that?"

My impression was that it is a V'sori hover-ship/dropship kind of deal, so it likely has something more akin to repulsor thrusters or anti-grav engines than a traditional rotor. Enkidu would know how to attack a helicopter, but I'm pretty sure this is not that.

Paradigm will get here on Round 5
Crackerjack? Aren't you also in the vehicle?

Indeed.

Crackerjack fiddles with his Magnum some more, takes aim, and fires another finely tuned EMP at the V'Sori ship.

Spirit: 1d6 - 4 ⇒ (6) - 4 = 2
Wild: 1d6 - 4 ⇒ (4) - 4 = 0

Ace!: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Total: 5.

He blows some nonexistent smoke off the top of the Magnum, flourishing it before holstering the high tech gun.

"Excellent. Not even the V'sori's advanced technology is a match for the unparalleled genius of Crackerjack!"

Glad to see so many new posts! Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to post until mid Tuesday morning because of work...

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo! Curse you Caronavirus! [I dunno. I'm just blaming everything on the caronavirus right now. =]

driving: 1d8 ⇒ 6
Keep it together: 1d6 ⇒ 3

There's the don't crash roll you requested

Driving: 1d8 ⇒ 4
Let's get some distance: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Helion manages to keep the van from swerving off the road and puts her foot down again, pulling around another corner in an attempt to get some meaningful distance from the hopefully disabled ship. "Well it depends, did CrackerJacks shot do any good?"

Thankfully, not due to coronavirus, altho we just had our first confirmed case in my county yesterday...

Let's see...

Hellion pulls a little farther away from the V'sori ship.
No subways on Star Island. EX stands for Explorer's Edition. AFAIK, there's no Extended Edition, just Deluxe and Advanced.

The ship is indeed not a helicopter.

Enkidu, you notice a tube running from the wall of the ship back to the engines. You figure it might be a fuel line, but it'd be at -4 to hit just it...

Crackerjack's shot has no apparent immediate effect on the V'sori ship.

The V'sori ship tries to gain on the van :
Piloting: 1d10 ⇒ 8 = a Raise

And not only regains the distance Hellion got, but moves in a little closer...

The V'sori ship takes a shot at the van :
Shooting: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Doing
Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9 vs. Toughness 8 for the van

Helion, the van has been effectively "Shaken" (not really). Immediately make a Piloting roll (at -0) to stay in control. If you fail, roll a 2d6 to determine the results.

Thomas, if you have been waiting for the V'sori to take their action, now's the time. If you aren't going to take an action this round, please post that too.

Thomas, Invisible and Intangible, flies up to the same height as the V'Sori ship and stops. He lets their speed carry them into him, at which point he catches a ride and sees what the interior looks like.

Enkidu hovers into position above the V'sori craft, getting ready to strike. Once he is happy with his angle, he shifts into a downward dive, switching forms as he goes. By the time he makes contact with the alien craft, he is a full sized gryphon. The 1000 pound beast from legend slashes at the fuel line with both forward talons.

Talon 1: 1d12 ⇒ 51d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + (4) = 10
Damage 1 w/Raise: 1d12 + 1 + 3d6 + 1d6 + 1d12 ⇒ (12) + 1 + (5, 6, 3) + (5) + (11) = 43
Talon 2: 1d12 ⇒ 41d6 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + (6) + (4) = 16
Damage 2 w/Raise: 1d12 + 1 + 3d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (3, 2, 1) = 9
Reminder: His talons are heavy weapons.

Driving save: 1d8 ⇒ 5
wild: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Helion has to let off the gas once again as the Van rocks and threatens to go out of control from the shot. She lets out a frustrated grumble, "Guess the emp trick didn't work this time. Guess this is gonna be a brawl."

She pulled free her handgun and rolled down the window keeping her focus on the road for now.

Helion has to let off the gas once again as the Van rocks and threatens to go out of control from the shot. She lets out a frustrated grumble, "Guess the emp trick didn't work this time. Guess this is gonna be a brawl."

Crackerjack looks at the readout on his gun.

"No, it worked." he corrects Hellion, smugly. "Just not on propulsion. They seem to have some kind of safety device that prevents the spread of malfunctions to other systems. Something, somewhere on that ship isn't going to work when they want it to, which means the advantage is ours."

Thomas, with a Flight speed of Pace, I'm having a hard time envisioning how you're "hitching a ride" with the V'sori craft - when you're intangible, the ship will just pass right thru you, and you can't fly fast enough to keep up. If you're turning tangible while the aircraft passes thru you at high speed, you're going to have to make a Smarts roll at -2 to time it *just* right. Or you can change your action.

Hellion, just FYI : if you make a Driving roll (on your turn, not in reaction to a Wound) *and* shoot, that's a -2 MAP to both rolls.

Thomas' action was the last action of Round 2. So...

Round 3!
V'sori : JOKER!
Helion & Biohazard & Crackerjack : 7S
Enkidu : 6D
Thomas : 2H

Enkidu's attack above actually takes place during Round 3. Hmmm...what's the Parry of a moving flying ship? I'm going to say that with the -4 to size, your first attack of 10 missed the tubes, and your second damage of 9 didn't get thru them.

The V'sori take another shot at the van :
Shooting+Joker: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Shooting ACE!: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Doing
Damage+Raise+Joker: 2d8 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 2) + (5) + 2 = 15 vs. Toughness 8 = 1 Wound

Hellion - you know the drill...but now your rolls are at -1 because of the Wound.

Frustrated with his attacks apparent failure to penetrate the vehicle's armour, he swoops up under the craft, slashing at the base of the weapon firing at the van. He's trying to damage the machinery, or the power supply to the weapon, not just slice the barrel off.

Attack: 1d12 - 4 + 1d12 ⇒ (12) - 4 + (8) = 16
Damage w/Raise: 1d12 + 1 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 1 + (5, 6) + (3) + (6) + (3) = 30

"Rargh! I'm gettin' about tired of you fins!" Biohazard slings another fistful of toxic sludge at the V'sori ship.

Throwing: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1 Wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4 Ace!: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0

4 total. If that is a hit, each round of contact destroys 10 pounds of matter. Living beings must make a Vigor roll or suffer a wound.

drive save: 1d8 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
wild: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

drive save: 1d8 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4
wild: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Hellion cursed again, "Alright this is getting ridiculous, Paradigm can you guide us to a parking garage, preferably with a quick escape route or tunnel, i'm not sure how long this piece of junk will hold together." she peered back through one of the holes melted in the roof. "And soon enough this swiss cheese van is gonna go up or they're just gonna get a lucky shot."

shooting: 1d10 ⇒ 7
shoot wildly: 1d6 ⇒ 5
damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 2) + 1 = 4

Helion takes a shot through the hole of the van roof getting really annoyed with thr continued harrying.

oof, rolled maxed 6s in my MASKS game, kinda hoped my luck would trickle over x.x

Enkdiu rips the gun turret below the ship completely off, forcing the pilot to make a roll or go out-of-control :
Piloting: 1d10 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5 Stays in control

Biohazard - you rolled a 6 (you don't include the bonus/penalty from the first roll on any Ace rolls), which since its a ranged attack, hits. I'm not sure how to run that, so I'm going to say it does 1 Wound.

Piloting: 1d10 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7 Stays in control

Oh, and from the enemy's action this round, Enkidu sees a figure jump out of the flying ship, and come at him. He's encased in flying armor...

Crackerjack & Thomas?

1 Wound

Crackerjack takes aim at the approaching copter, flicks a switch, and fires a blast of eye-searing red energy.

Shooting: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Wild: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Damage+Raise (Presumably) AP 2: 3d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 1) + (3) = 8

...

The V'sori ship does not react to Crackerjack's attack (I'm assuming this is damage, and not another EMP?).

Round 4!
V'sori ship : AS
Thomas : QS
V'sori flyer : JC
Enkidu : 9S
Helion & Biohazard & Crackerjack : 8S

If anyone's looking, a figure leans out of the V'sori ship an fires a weapon at the van :
Shooting: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Doing
Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12 vs. Toughness 8 = 1 Wound

Hellion - you know the drill, but now at -2 for Wounds...

Thomas?

don't die: 1d8 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0
wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2
'ere we go lads!
YEEHAW: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10
slip: 1d6 ⇒ 1
okay so skid 1d6" left/right(if a maneuver) or away from the attack

Helion looks at the ever deteriorating condition of the van and pockets her gun holding onto the artifact tightly, "Alright, I think it's about time we bail out, gonna try to stop us real fast... let's hope I can still pull this off..." Helion stamped on the break and threw the vehicle sideways in an attempt to quickly stop them completely so that the passengers could get out and use the van as cover.

drive(bootleg reverse(-4): 1d8 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2
wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2
we'll benny that
drive(bootleg reverse(-4): 2d8 - 6 ⇒ (8, 7) - 6 = 9
wild: 1d6 - 6 ⇒ (3) - 6 = -3

Through the smoking vehicle and tires she yelled to the others."Alright get'cher dukes up we're brawling this out cause Our craptastic van will not survive more, Burn everything you've got before reinforcements show up!"

lemme know if i need to change any of the modifiers or anything, if possible i'll try to pocket the book artifact thingy and get out of the vehicle.

The V'sori ship does not react to Crackerjack's attack (I'm assuming this is damage, and not another EMP?).

Correct, since the ship apparently has so many subsystems that it can lose one and not have any sort of impairment whatsoever.

Storm Dragon - or, there could be something going on behind the scenes that you're not aware of...

Hellion stops the van without flipping it over, allowing the passengers to get out. You're in the middle of the street, with buildings on both sides, but no cover in the street other than the van. Hellion grabs the book and tucks it inside her jacket.

While we're waiting for Thomas, the V'sori flyer flies over to Enkidu and fires :
Shooting: 1d10 ⇒ 7

Doing
Damage: 3d8 ⇒ (7, 8, 5) = 20
Damage ACE!: 1d8 ⇒ 1 = 21

Enkidu - I have no idea what the Toughness of your current form is, so please let me know so I can tell you what damage it does.

Biohazard, Enkidu, Thomas - you're up!

question for future post, how high up is this vehicle?