Joe you are careful enough to avoid several dangerously unstable stair steps as you make it to the hallway where you see Timeline...just before he teleports elsewhere. The upper floor bedroom has a huge hole in the center and you think you can see half of a mattress somewhere in the dark pit.
Timeline Archy, half dressed in pajamas and fuzzy cat slippers, is hanging from the roof by the edge of the old rusted gutter. U-uup here, I don't think I can hold on much...
With a sickening groan another of the gutter supports gives way dropping Archy another foot towards the ground. His fingers appear to be slipping...
I stay with Ellie. If Joe and Emit have things covered, I can get some research of my own done.
First things first, I want to take a look at Emit's work in the other room and see if I can't borrow some tools from Robocorp to help him out.
After that, I want to do some poking around online and see what I can find about what's made Anvil Corp stock jump, see if I can't hack into their system and find something interesting.
While poking around online I notice that the MegaMillionz lottery is up to 264 Million by this point.
Finally, after doing that research, I'll head over to the Twilight Revenance church and wander in to see what they're preaching about. I'm always skeptical about that kind of nonsense.
Hold on ill get you down but you got to trust me.
Timeline points a finger like a gun at Archy and using his blink ability teleports him to the ground standing next to him.
Are you ok Archibald Who did this
i jump down into the basement to see if anything is amiss down the hole, other than the fact there is a giant hole.
Madness! All is madness! The Mouth is in the basement! Ms. Watkins, they got to her first then she got to me. *pant* Had to deal with her before she could deal with me! Ohhhh!
Archibald doubles over quite obviously suffering from frayed nerves and over excitement. A man of his years could be in serious danger of a heart attack...
You are also now aware that the entire front of his pajamas are covered in caked blood...
Joe, make a Toughness save and Dodge check for jumping down the hole please.
Calm down Archibald you are safe now we will deal with whatever did this if in fact its still here. But I cant deal with it while im worrying about you having a heart attack out here im calling you a ambulance but I need you to relax and wait here for it to arrive. Can you do that for me Madelyn would kill me if something would happen to you OK?
Timeline calls for an ambulance using his pip-boy
I got and aging man hes beat up pretty good and im afraid hes going to have a heart attack send an ambulance right away please.
Timeline gives Archy an understanding nod and then teleports back to the hallway just outside the room. using the fancy new comm device he contacts Joe.
I got Archy to safety and an ambulance is in route im coming back in to check the whole whats your location. Archy says its in the basement whatever it is that did this he said the mouth I don't know what that means but be careful.
too late on that buddy
your in the hole arn't you huh...
Timeline sighs a minute.
Be careful down there ill join you soon.
Joe you are jabbed by a number of jagged floorboards but they do not pierce your stony hide. You do not however, land on a flat surface and find yourself tumbling....right into a small pool of viscous fluid.
You are prone and while you do not seem to suffer any immediate ill effects, I will need a second Toughness save please.
It is pitch black down in the pit and you cannot tell how far you fell. You believe the bottom of the pit extends somewhat further than the area right below the bedroom but you cannot tell how far.
Timeline, Archy is curled up clutching his chest and trying to breathe. He continues to mutter nonsense under his breathe and is panting heavily.
911 Operator: Sir, we will have an ambulance out to you ASAP. Can I please get you to describe the situation? Just stay on the phone with me sir and I'll talk you through it. Just keep talking sir, your friend will be just fine.
I change back too and enjoy the freedom of being in more familiar clothes.
While Baker does his stuff, I'll do a quick investigation to see what I can find on the anti-mutant knives.
Once Baker and I are done, I join him in poking around the new church.
Baker Half the items in Timeline's lab are completely foreign to you. You have no idea what kind of tools he would still be lacking. He has all of the tools you can already think of including ones to help with the building, repairing, or disassembling of computer components.
The Anvil Industries firewall prevents you from accessing any pertinent data at the source. Luckily the computer system is able to keep your attempt from being traced. You do however manage to intercept a stray datastream from an anonymous outside source that is being directed towards the Anvil servers. You quickly copy the datastream and then re-send it towards Anvil. The servers at Anvil likely won't even notice the time discrepancy.
The datastream is encoded but you find an advanced decryption algorithm inside the computer that begins to crack the code. This may however, take some time.
Elli You use the secondary computer access terminal to try to find something about the knives that Shard gave you. You are unfortunately unsuccessful and after a few minutes of fruitless searching, find yourself playing Kitten Clicker.
Elli & Baker, your comms go off just as you are reaching the church. It would seem the other two still have yet to get the hang of single target transmission signals.
EMit: I got Archy to safety and an ambulance is in route im coming back in to check the whole whats your location. Archy says its in the basement whatever it is that did this he said the mouth I don't know what that means but be careful.
Mamm I don't have time to stay on the line I am trying to save the day here now get that ambulance here as soon as you can OK alright sweet cheeks? Good!
Timeline before taking off checks out Archy
so some team name ideas,
the quixotic quartet,
the quality quango,
the quixotic quagma,
the quixotic quaternion,
the quasi quarl,
the quizzical querents,
the quesited quartet,
i like the alliteration with q's, its like the fantastic four, but with Q's
so for that second toughens, and i agree with the acid thing,
I use my move action to stand and i remove my flashlight from my belt,
I relay anything i see up to emit
My team ideas are
Unknown legends
Mystery Elite
Mystery league
Legends Elite
Quantum League
Unknown Elite
Shadow Force
Maximum Watch
Maximum Elite
Quantum circle
Quantum Formation
Infinity Leauge
infinity force
infinity circle
infinity watch
just a few ideas
as for those names, i like the adjective quixotic, it means romantic, idealistic, extravagantly chivalrous, as for the noun, i like quango, it is a quasi-autonomous non government organization, which describes the GOE
Timeline, Archibald's condition shifts to dying. He is going to need some medical treatment within the next minute or he may very well die. The ambulance is likely 2-3 minutes away still as the manor is at the city limits.
Joe, you do not feel any effects from the puddle of hissing liquid. You confirm that it appears to be some kind of acid. The pit extends away from you for about 60 ft. before turning a corner. The tunnel walls form jagged striations of smooth, acid-cut stone in a spiraling pattern. Whatever made this tunnel...it wasn't human.
I relay that a tunnel carved by acid is below the house and it wasn't humans that created it, next i either stand above the acid or i punch the walls with my hand to hold myself up from the acid.
Into the comm: We're at that new church. Do you need us to back you up?
Team name ideas:
The New Defenders
The Fearless Four
Defenders United
The City Watch (or The Watch)
Maximum City Sentinels
I'm actually kind of partial to The Watch cause it's short and simple.
Well, glad to see the transmitters work. Ellie, should we go catch up with the others?
Wonder if I can triangulate their signal to get a fix on their location...
To the operator
He took a turn for the worse the ambulance wont make it in time call it back im taking him to the hospital myself.
Timeline to Joe
Archy took a turn for the worse im taking him to the hospital now just sit tight until i can get back and stay safe my friend.
Timeline doesn't wait for an answer and grabs Archy and teleports him the the ER of the hospital.Timeline appears in the middle of the ER people are surprised by the sight.
I need a doctor Now this man is dying, you there help me get him on a gurney.
Timeline gets a nearby nurse to help him get a gurney and put him on it.
Archy its going to be ok they will take good care of you.
Timeline looks to the doctor that just hurried into the room.
You Make sure he gets taken care of I need to get back to the scene.
Timeline gets a nod from the doctor and then ports back to the house.
@Baker: Yeah, let's start moving.
I start moving down the stairs away from the church waiting for Baker to follow.
i await patiently, avoiding the acid, and keep looking around waiting for something to strike, which i think it will, and soon.
also i like quantum watch
I am not your personal genie, mortal. Now speak what is on your mind so that I may continue my research in peace.
You ask him the question about Tempest again.
That buffoon appears to have a truly unique gift I must admit. He is a wild card in this game of heroes that you play. He does not spring from my ilk however if that is your question. He is not of the gods nor blessed by them...at least as near as I can tell from our encounter. While I admit I had thought there was a passing resemblance to the powers I granted you, in the end it comes from a different source entirely.
Whatever abilities he possesses likely stem from the unlimited potential locked away in you pitiful meat sacks. Why Gaia would waste her time with the likes of lesser beings like you is beyond my comprehension.
How many times must I explain it? Your "jump" was a manifestation of my will channeled through you. I simply reduced the universal gravitational constant as it applies to you. Simple really. If you insist on playing with you little friends I suppose I shall allow you use of this ability for the time being.
If that is all mortal, I wish to meditate further.
Baker, while you are attempting to triangulate the signal you realize that you returned the PDS to RoboCorp after the museum job (the only device I am aware that you had to use in the field that could triangulate signals) and that you remembered to hook the comms up to your GPS. You know their exact location (although Timeline's signal keeps jumping around).
Timeline, the doctor at Maximum City Mercy nods at you and begins to stabilize Archy. You find yourself in the back yard of Archy's place again and without the distraction of Archy's safety to worry about you notice a couple oddities.
The toolshed door is open and the lawnmower is on it's side outside on the lawn. The lawn itself is only half mowed and there seems to be something clinging to the mower's handlebar. Fresh mounds of upturned earth appear in several places around the yard and surrounding woods.
Joe the walls begins to rumble and you swear you saw movement in the tunnel up ahead.
Timeline goes to investigate the the thing on the Handlebar Very cautiously.
Joe im back and the yard looks like a mine Field up here there's upturned earth all over the yard and the lawnmower is running on its side and the shed is opened im going to poke around up here a moment call me if you need me.
The handlebar appears to be covered in some kind of hardened slime. it is a rather putrid green color and quite solid. Stuck inside the slime you make out an antique wedding ring.
Initiative:
???: 17
Joe: 15
Timeline: 13
Wild Fire: 13
Risen Fate: 9
The comms systems of Joe and Timeline have been disconnected by some sort of horrible screeching sound. Both Joe and Timeline recieve a for this complication. I will need spoilers from Joe and Timeline until the two groups meet or until communication is somehow reestablished.
Wild Fire and Risen Fate, I am placing you a minute out from the house so 10 rounds. You can use heroic effort to increse speed rank by 1 (effectively double your speed) at the expense of either being fatigued or spending a hero point.
Joe, as you stand waiting for Timeline to appear, a section of the wall explodes towards you. You catch a glimpse of hundreds of yard long spines radiating outwards from a long, segmented body before two large pincers close in around your waist!
Timeline grips his ears as the screeching sound fills his ears.
remember i have the uncanny dodge, so i am not vulnerable when surprised or caught off guard.
oh right a will save
luck reroll
Also, the monster has you in it's jaws and proceeds to burrow into the earth, one set of pincers holding you while the second, forward set continues to bore through the earth. You can hear the distinct hiss of acid being secreted from pores and down spines (but not the pincers). This thing seems to be fairly swift. You sir, have been Grabbed and are being towed along.
I attempt on my turn to break free, hopefully if i do, i can hold the tunnel walls and get clay from the earth.
all out and power attack cause i am already grappled anyway.
dc29
and for next round
so cause i fearless i didn't need to use my luck point on the last post's will save, so i will use that same luck point on the toughness save
that i rolled a 3 on.
Timeline afraid of everything around him acts almost instinctively and grabs a key from his belt and Summons his nice protective tank.
The tank will keep me safe for sure.. yes the tank is safe.
A tank appears around Timeline and timeline sits and waits for something to strike.
Round 2
vs. DC 29
You have been thrown into the air. Your turn begins while you are still moving upwards at a ridiculous velocity. This thing is really strong.
all out attack and power attack
dc29
after that the strength check for next round
hey timeline, does this still work, i could use some help with this.
What the heck!!
Timeline tries to grab onto anything he can inside the tank as the tank goes airborne.
Timeline manages to grab the steering levers of the tank keeping himself form hitting his head. He looks down at the large beast and aims his finger at the beast.
Lets see how you like it Beast.
The comms are filled with static.
Round 3
Timeline teleports back down to the lawn in one move action inside his tank.
so, it dropped me below ground, not when it was above and john attacked it, great. what kind of check to do anything?
spending a heropoint to get my clay hands into shovels to dig my way out
Round 4
Timeline using GPS to track Wildfire and Risen Fate and teleports to their location.
You guys see a tank pop out of thin air.
Timeline flips the hatch to the tank and motions to them.
Over Here quick there's not a lot of time!!!
Timeline waits until they get in and teleports them all into the battle field.
Real quick were facing a giant bug with pincers, dripping acid the hole nine yards also did I say Giant, OK lets show this thing what we got. Also the things messing with the comms so we will be without them. Oh and cover your ears its got this loud hisss it will drive you crazy,now that i think about it that might be whats interfering with the comms.
Hopefully i can reach the surface
I do not like being down in the dirt, clay maybe, but not dirt.
After about 30 ft. (a move action) you break into a small cavern. The walls show the same signs of burrowing and numerous ambient light sources. The sources of light appear to be boulder-sized sacs of green glowing slime that are attached to every open surface. They pulsate slowly with life.
The glow is light enough to illuminate a tunnel about 90 ft away. There are 4 large sacs that do not glow and are suspended from the ceiling instead of being attached to a surface. you will need to get closer to examine them.
I move towards the large sacs with my second move action