The World's End - Maximum City [A Mutants & Masterminds Campaign]

Game Master DM_Lazer_Beam

Elli raises an eyebrow.

I'll lay my cards down if you do, deal?

I'm a geographer working for the museum and the MCCC. I'm originally from Vermont and moved down here for work like Baker. I was taken on by the Sphinxonium and MCCC as an independent contractor that would work on their projects and do some research. Things have kind of dried up with me too. I'm not getting the recognition I deserve from my work... but I doubt this is the stuff you guys want to hear though.

Elli puts her hand out and lights a small fire in her palm.

I woke up the night of the December 21 to the earth quakes only to find that I was on fire and that my family's home was burning to the ground. I even burned my dad when he was trying to get us out of the house.

She curls her hand into a fist to extinguish the flame.

So, yup, I'm a mutant. Don't worry, I'm already registered. I never thought about what I wanted to do with these powers. I always thought I should just lay low and play it cool. People don't seem to trust me as much when they find out I'm a mutant and a pyro to boot. Sometimes I don't blame them though, what I can do scares even me sometimes haha. She finishes with a smirk.

Who's next?

I am Timeline I cant tell you to much of the details about why i am here other than my future is endangered and im here to find away to save it and I think I may have found a solution. Miss Elli I give you the same secret I gave the group in knowing my alter ego and I hope this shows my trust.

Looks to the group
I think we can become something great, a fighting force of good. Some one to stand for the little guy, the ones that needs someone to fight for what they can not. If we work together we can accomplish much more than what we can do together. One can make a difference, but many can change the world. So what do you say to an alliance for the better good?

You got your facts straight, Mr. Nile, Risen Fate is my other half. I can tell you that story some other time though. For now, suffice it to say that I am most certainly in.

@Elli,
I don't know much about you, but if these fellows trust you, i can for a while.
@Emit
You said you wanted to call a meeting, for what end? You helped to save those people as did Baker. i appreciate the help, but i am not sure you have me pinned, i helped because i was there. i do not actively seek out this sort of trouble.
@baker
You still haven't shown us your friend? it seems like you are implying that we should help the city, but when they needed help, you left. he is the one needed here, and i thank you for getting us together but i am going to wait until he shows.

Baker smiles at Joe.
I see you are a very skeptical man, Mr. Fankenburg. Very well. If visual proof is what you need, allow me to show you.

Baker takes a moment to turn into Risen Fate.

I had not shown you earlier because I was unclear of your intentions. However, if you are in the business of saving others and putting yourself in harms way for the good of others I think I can trust you with this secret.

Fate takes a moment and turns back into Baker Scott.

No reason to sit around costumed up for longer than necessary. I push my luck on a regular basis as it is.

Baker looks back at Joe.

Is that enough to convince you, Mr. Fankenburg? And you may not go seeking trouble, but I find, as I'm sure you do, people of our disposition tend to have that sort of trouble find them. I asked you all here because I believe that working together will help us both in the hassle of our normal lives and also to put four minds on the questions of the museum and the trouble caused there, rather than work separately.

Exactly Mr.Baker this is our chance to do something we all know is right. Mr. Fankenburg I know as a fellow professor you do what you do for the betterment of mankind, to teach the future of this world is to change it. But let me tell you there is people out there that mean to change it as well for the worse and if there isn't people like us who is there to stop them what then? Im sure I don't have to tell you that anti mutant groups and the like have been making it difficult on students to attend classes and most quit due to ridicule on a day to day basis. What if we can change this by showing that just because we are different, doesn't mean we are freaks, doesn't mean we cant share this world. I now ask you is that something worth fighting for? A better future a better way of life what do you say?

@Joe You can trust me. I want to fight for this and I'm also not one to keep anything hidden. If you have any concerns or questions about me, voice them. That actually goes for everyone.

@Baker and Emit I will fight by your sides, but I should warn you that I am not a super hero by any means. I've gotten in a few fights; the most recent one with that Factor X group. I want to show people that we don't mean any harm and I'm tired of my friends getting hurt by anti mutant groups. Count me in.

@baker
Sorry for the mistrust, but from my experience, never show your cards until the other players have. I'll show you mine
I use my thousand faces to turn into Star of Zion.
I have been fighting for my people for well over 70 years trying to bring peace to my people. know this, while i will help you and your group, my allegiance lies first and foremost to my military, and judging from recent events, i am being transferred to your military. but i am glad to help you with your team up, but i don;t want you to have me under false pretenses.

Well good I think now we should talk about the first plan of action for this new alliance. Also I may have a place for us to operate out of its not much but its a start a fixer upper you might say but it should work nicely. I will prep it and try to make it ready for our first mission. Now Baker any thoughts on whats first,maybe trying to find death mask hes still on the loose and very dangerous as we all know.

Who's death mask?

You quickly change back into your mild manner forms as you hear the double doors from the backroom open up. Ron comes by the corner booth whistling and carrying a tray of fresh-made doughnuts and drinks. there are Karmel Kandies, Recovering Chocoholics, Peppermint Sweets and Ron's famous Apple Turnover Collider. He sets a smaller tray down next to Joseph with what smells to be a doughnut that smells suspiciously like matza balls. The man is a miracle worker with pastries. He also sets down one of his amazing expressos down next to each of you.

Sorry to interrupt you folks, but you all can't be getting much done on an empty stomach. Fresh from the oven. Now I've got to head home early today anyways. Baker, here's the spare key, remember to lock up behind you. You can set the dishes in the sink in the back, I'll get to them tomorrow. Now don't stay up too late!

Quick refresher for everyone: The current main "good guy" groups in town are the military, SHRU, and the Guardians of Earth. I will post spoilers for each of them on the campaign tab when i get a moment, hopefully tonight.

Elli Death Mask was the one after the eye and crashed the Gala and he got away from us there at the end. Hes very dangerous and should be locked up. Also we should look into the knights that attacked the gala as well and see if there's any connection between them and Death Mask or Dr. O., Dr. O attacked us at the museum as well and it seems odd that three different groups would all attack on the same night we have to find out if this coincidence or not.

Elli raises an eye brow. So that's what happened...

Yeah, we should look into that. Thanks for catching me up.

Ok, now that we've got that all settled, we have some things to consider.

Baker looks to the group and pulls out his PDS and activates the mini-holo; a useful tool for showing overly complex tech procedures to a non-tech savvy clientele. Baker pulls up a notepad file on the holo and starts ticking off items to the group.

I've been writing down some questions I've had about this whole occurrence that I think we really need to look at. First off, Why take the Eye? I agree with Emit that it is highly coincidental that three different supers would all make an attempt on the museum at the same night at the same time. What's so special about the eye? We need to know more than what we've been told so far; maybe Archy at the museum or Mrs. Madelyn knows more. Furthermore, what do we know about the man who took it and what did Death Mask want with it? Was he just a hired gun, or did he have a personal stake in it? That and i'm sure we haven't seen the last of him, he got away last time...

Baker frowns at the memory.

Another thing I would really like to know too is why did none of the major supers show up? Maximum Silver and the others. Was this just a small-time job, or did they not know or even care? I'll do some digging on that one, I have someone I can talk to who may know more.

Baker looks around.
Those are my major thoughts and concerns. Anyone have an leads, answers, ideas, or things they would like to share that I can add to the list?

Do we truly know that all three villains came to steal the eye? Dr. O seemed to be more obsessed with those holo-cores.
that could also explain why the museum did not receive all the parts for the holo-core that was in your back story baker that i read today
the knights at least seemed like religious group, i'll try to remember something about their group.
expertise religion: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Rory help me, your my only hope
I'm sorry, but investigation is not my forte. i'll help aas i can, but i don't think that it will count for much. But maybe if you still have Dr. O's staff we can look into it and try to find out more about his intentions, as well as possibly finding his watch-thing that Emit ported away.
as for Deathmask, was it that gem that he was after or something else, using the gala as a distraction. i didn't interact with him much, but you guys did, anything he mention or say about why he was there other than his propinquity for pungent warfare.
also Emit, i caught some knights fleeing from the museum by way of parachute, did you have something to do with this, and also the police didn't find their helicopter that we all witnessed them fly in on. i'm guessing that was your doing Mr. Nile.

Timeline takes in everyone's data and tries to formulate motives and why they all were there at once. Basically trying to figure all this out using a investigation check or at least get a lead.

investigation: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Also Joe yes that was me and that leads me to my next bit of news that helicopter is now tuned up and painted and ready for the first team mission as the new team vehicle,seeing I had a sneaking suspicion we would get together. When the HQ is ready you will be able to see the new and improved Quantum Chopper patent pending.

Given both of your awesome rolls, I will allow you to aid another each other this time.

Once you have access to your computer system back at base (which hasnt been built yet) youll be able to research diferent vilalins with investigation check. Until then feel free to do some research but youll need to tell me how you are getting access to the info so i can roleplay it.

Templar is being held in a high security prison north of Maximum City. He may have more information on the Knights of Revelation and their goals.

I inform the rest about what is in the spoilers
so what do you want to go for now, without a computer set up, in some sort of secured position, we cannot investigate these people further. Maybe we should get on that.
cough cough, Emit reveal the thing, cough cough

No need to jump right back into heroing. Emit knows the base needs some work before it's complete which will give the rest of you some time to prepare yourself for the life of the hero and/or give you the chance to do some individual sleuthing. Joe could use his military channels to try to get a lead on any or all of the above people/organizations. Emit, you might want to mention in character that the base could use some funding and get Joe in on the action. Elli, your skill in Investigation could be used to glean more info on the three villains that you fought by just using the local library (not as awesome or as fast as the bat cave computer but it's better than nothing). Baker, you might be able to speed up how fast Emit can get the parts he needs through your various IT contacts (this could be something to spend Power Points on in the future as well). You could also use your Expertise (superhero) to try and remember if any of these villains might have history with any of the superheroes you know. My point is you guys have some downtime yet to plot plan and prepare. I would use it if I were you.

I have some idea on why the eye would be a target. I've actually spent the day digging up some information. I found out that the eye can be used to open gates to get to another world, but it can also be used to close them. I talked to a guy today who had apparently worked with this council that was making an effort to close all these gates. Opening these gates will not be good. I guess monsters of some sort can get through. There might be a motive in trying to get access to this other world.

Ok, i'll see what I can dig up in the next few days. Professor Nile, any idea how long it will take you to have this base idea up and running? Besides, I've got a regular job an all that'll keep me busy for a few days.

It will take awhile for me to get it up and running and any help with financing to get it where it needs to be right now. kyle that's for you to give me those points in game. But it will take time to set up and prepare. Baker it would take a little less time if i had a hand getting the systems up and running if you have any free time from your job or can take some time off. maybe even cut some of the time out of the process.Just give me a call if you get some free time and ill come get you and we can work on it together.

I can help you with the finances, i may not be wealthy, but i can spare most of my monthly income.
i will give emit 12 ep
hopefully this will kick start your operations. just make it really secure, and also a place that those who can't teleport and rely on public transport can get to. i can help you with building during the nights, i don't really, sleep. I don't know much of what to do but i can help with heavy lifting. you will have to pick me up though.

Of course Joe it would be much appreciated and i can also pick you up just give me a call and ill be there to pick you up. Also it would be great if we had a different way to communicate any ideas? Hint hint rob thats your cue maybe to bring that up. also kyle i thought it was 13 pts its ok if not Rory take out the holding cells for now.

yeah you can have 13, i can't remember what i'd said i'd give you. and baker can have the point for the comunicator

Also, if we're going to be a team, we'll need a better means of communication. I think I have something that will work. I'll keep you all posted about that.
I'll cover the cost of the comms with my limited EP

I am willing to pay for my fair share, but if you want to pay for the comms for all of us yourself, i am grateful. Emit looks like we have a bit more to work with.
I was thinking of eventually having a second base that really is just a phone-booth that holds the portal to the base. minuscule size gives a +4 to the costs, so with the two extra ep from baker, we have a total of 6 to work with, so secret 3, sealed, portal, and power systems. this assumes that this would be paid for separately. technically it could be considered a second base under the rules so it costs 1 ep as if it were an alternate effect in which case it just is super secret self repairing and has a lot of toughness as it would have 20+ep to spend on a minuscule base.

Well, it looks like you guys have this all sorted out? Do you need anything from me?

I'm trying to figure out how to help right now, but you seem to have all your bases covered.

Well I do believe we have a plan in place for getting prepared before we jump right back into the Frey. Also when not working on the base any investigation will be good as well a little leg work goes a long way or so ive heard, don't do much walking these days...
Timeline laughs at his own little joke.
engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
technology: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

trying to figure out how long this will take or at least a ballpark with baker and joe helping also if we build the robots first then they could help with manual labor just throwing that out there let me know.

Well, I'm all for working on the investigation portion of this. That I can do.

not be be a buzz-kill, but it seems that we have said what we wanted to say, is there anything else we want to discuss?.
Hopefully when baker is done machining the communicators he will call us and we can pick them up. Emit here is my number so i can help you with the base. Ellie, if you could continue with your research, that would be good, and the link of the artifact to Massachusetts.

I will certainly let you know when they are done. That, and when the base is done might be a good time to meet again.

Sounds good
why don't we head out. Rory, oh mighty GM, see us out and into our "free time" activities so we can get moving. sound good everybody.
For my time I will help Emit, i will pay a visit to Kopel about trying secure a visit for myself and one other, probably to most persuasive in the group; emit or Eli possibly, to see Templar in Tempest custody. persuasion: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12. I will continue to investigate the knights over the next month along with anything on the cults of Cthulhu. For the month long check is it just a single profession, or is it assumed we take a 20 in that this is what we do everyday for 30 days? just want to know what i need to do. i am eager for something to occur.

Indeed I am off to go work on the base I will traffic you there to work on it as you are available. Until we meet again my friends.

Timeline teleports to the base and begins preparations.

Also I think its time to take some vacation. Seeing I never take it they should allow me a week or so. That should also make the time a little less as well seeing I can work on it around the clock.

Link to the HQ's stats are at top of page. Let me know if anything seems wrong/needs tweaking. Actually need 14 EP from Kyle to get everything you guys wanted but since he's not using it on the commlink that seems fine.

With a mixture of hopefulness and excitement, the new heroes head their separate ways to prepare for their first mission together as a real team.

The next week passes rather peacefully as Emit and Joe fix up the old military bunker.

Go ahead and start making rolls for helping out at the base, investigating the villains you have spotted already, and/or anything else that you want to do.

Baker, You get a recorded message from the Guardians of Earth asking you for a re-test. Something about the testing apparatus being broken because you scored a 120% which "just ain't possible". Tex Mathers friends you on Splatbook. Due to an unfortunate happenstance, Marrisa's friend gets sick and can't cover for her forcing Marrisa to work through the Rox Falls concert. BBE

Elli, Drake is released from the hospital at the end of the week on the condition he doesn't exert himself. A pair of police officers have been assigned to escort him to classes next week. You finally recieve an answer from the guardians of Earth about your application. They want to set up an appointment for you to test your abilities sometime soon.

Emit, Your roommate will not stop talking about how "awesome" and "life-changing" going on patrol with his new Guardians of Earth group was. He even hints in his own way that you might be interested in joining because it's more fun than "plain old teaching". Also Dean Holden is none too thrilled about you taking a week off but when you show him that you haven't taken a single day off in two years, he is forced to give you the entire month off as a paid sabbatical. On a side note, Robert is doing much better and is able to come to classes again next week.

Joe, Your classes for this semester are rather sparse. Seems a number of your students dropped the course when they realized it wasn't an easy class to pass. Which gives you a lot of extra time to work on the base. Colonel Kopel calls a couple times asking to have a short meet with you about a "development" in your position inside the Israeli military.

To Trent Yeah kid I get it you think its awesome but you know what they are just an over sized group of hero's that think super villains and global disasters takes precedence over the small crimes and the little people that those crimes may effect. Well I think there is no small crime just crime. But im glad you have something to strive for and at least your still doing some good.

Week one 7 days as on your chart if i beat them by enough i will make another check on something else
Combat simulatortechnology: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
Communicationstechnology: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
computerexpertise computer: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
fire systemtechnology: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

based on your rolls, you finish the above tasks in 5 days instead of 7. The "danger room" is active after having installed the HoloCore Lite.

Your communications hub is state of the art (by this day and age's standards) and can readily access police bands and even a few military bands. You even programmed a randomized connection sequence to keep all but the most sophisticated triangulation devices from tracking your hacking attempts. (DC 20 Expertise(Computers) check to hack into encoded transmissions.)

Both the computer and reactive fire system are installed and in place.

All Expertise(Computers) checks made inside the base are at a +2 from the computer system.

with the extra time ill try to do the defense systems
Defense systemtechnology: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Much to your surprise, there is already a Defense System already in place at the bunker! With a few tweaks you get it up and running in only 1/2 a day!. They are gigantic Tesla Coils that can discharge energized bolts of ionized energy at enemies. (i.e. Ranged Damage 10 [Electricity])

workshop technology: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

You have successfully installed a workshop with everythnig you need to continue inventing.

Making a set of stylish communicators shouldn't be too difficult. I call in a favor from a friend in R&D who is able to run my designs through their prototype fabricator relatively quickly in exchange for a digital copy of the most recent season of the popular TV show "Survivor, Las Vegas."

They fit snugly over one ear and will transmit and receive up to a mile away at a simple mental nudge.

At lunch, I call the number I have to contact the Guardians of Earth, making sure to take necessary precautions to restrict my phone access, To see who I can talk to. I give them my confirmation number to schedule a re-test and let them know that I have the number of a very good IT specialist who would have no problem taking a look at their software to fix any bugs in the system if they need it. After that, I ask to be transferred to someone I can talk to about the museum incident.

(While waiting on hold I accept Tex's invite on Splatbook and send a PM to Marissa:

Hey Marissa, sorry to hear about you not being able to go to your concert... that really bites. Looks like we've all been kind of unlucky lately. Maybe you and I could see if there was something else playing on a different day to go to?

Roll a Persuasion check for Marrisa please.

Thank you sir but we at the Guardians Tower are quite capable of fixing any issues with the equipment. I was able to squeeze you in two weeks from today. I can assure you that the Guardians are well aware of the situation at the Sphinxonium. If you have any information that would help them track it down you should speak with the police. Would you like me to transfer you?

The proper channel is to talk to the police who then (theoretically) talk to whichever GoE team is assigned to the situation.

Tex invites you to play Cattleville on Splatbook. He gets 25 Cattlebucks if you register to play

for the garage strength check in week 2
strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 dc10
I fail that check, can i keep working on that for that week or even the week before?
hangar strength check
strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 dc10, success
Toughness of the base in week 2 and into week 3
strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
week 3 retry of garage
strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
since it just takes a day for that strength check, second retry of week 3
strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
third retry of week 3
strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
so by the end of week 3, everything except the portal, lab, and holding cells are done, correct?
during week 1 when emit does not need me, i call Kopel for a meeting. In addition i spend the week searching up anything upon the cults of Cthulhu.
is this a knowledge check for each day, or the whole week in one go? expertise religion: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28
Also i call Baker and Emit after the second week of building, asking that they both be present when trying to make the very experimental portal and the holding cells.

Sorry about the break guys, no internet for the weekend.

Elli leaves and immediately heads to the city library, finds a quiet corner with a computer, and starts research.

Investigation on villains whereabouts, origins, actions in past few years: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Investigation on Massachusetts area including urban legends: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
________________________________________________________

Elli also checks her work email to see if the museum and/or college has any work for her. If there isn't anything in her in box, she's going in tomorrow to talk to some people. She'll also call guardians of earth tomorrow to make the appointment.

I'll count the first investigation for Dr. Oz.

Investigation for Death Mask: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Investigation for Rampage: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Investigation for Knights of Revelation: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11