Radavel's Untitled Campaign

Game Master Radavel

Mr. Frank smiles and nods sagely at Robert and Fae's efforts.

"Zephyr, Lifehack, who are your respective partners?"

"My partner is Teruo." Zephyr takes up his position at the starting line, wrapping the air around him as he does so. A vortex of dust swirls into a miniature cycle that envelopes his lower half, and his feet hover above the earth. The thought of cheating crosses his mind, but he dismisses the notion just a quickly.

Fae steps away from the track, panting hard from the exertion. Her wings trail glitter as they regenerate tattered edges. "I don't think I've ever flown that fast."

Teruo takes his place at the starting line, spreads his wings and adjust his position so as not hit Alekos with them. "I'm ready."

"Go!" Mr. Frank snaps his fingers and a thunderous sound signals the start of your race.

Teruo dashes forward with a swift flap of wings, raising dust around himself. He is surprised when he reaches the 100m mark almost four times faster than he usually runs it.

I'm flying with Flight 4. 4 seconds for 100m.

Sorry I've been busy. GF visited over the week from Canada.
"My partner is Uryu." Shu said very bluntly, as he approached the starting line.

Zephyr doesn't need much in the way of acceleration.
Zephyr propels himself forward using the full power of the winds around him, leaving a cloud of dirt and grit behind him. Thanks to the short distance, he is able to momentarily out speed Teruo. Afterwards, he approaches his winged rival. "That was a good race. I know that you would beat me in and kind of distance race though."

"The inconvenience of wings. It takes some time to slow down too." He grins and flaps his wings. "But I get more style points!"

"My dear students, those who haven't run yet, will all run the race together. So take your places. There are 8 lanes, more than enough for those remaining."

"Alright, guess I'm up.

Uryu makes his way to the starting line, and on the signal, makes a sprint. He runs around as fast as a normally fit person, but when he finishes, he is covered in layers of sweat, as if he had been running for hours.

"Sorry. That usually happens."

Not sure how fast Lifehack can run, so I'll leave out who wins for later.

Moving onwards, participants in the assessment get +4 hero points.

After the assessments, you go to your "normal" classes and study things like math, history and others. Next day, after being duly advised of your activity, you arrive for homeroom class in your costumes. Mr. Frank is there waiting. He smiles and tell the entire class to follow him to the school bus. You all file in. The ride is quick you arrive at a massive structure similar to the Colosseum of Rome. You enter and are directed to a room where you find a holographic display of the area which has been configured to resemble a blasted landscape. In the middle of the said area, you see a blinking light.

"My dear students, each of you have been paired with a classmate and each team will enter the arena from a separate entrance. This will be a full-on test of your abilities in order for you to reach the center. This is a time contest as well, so you are also competing against each other."

"The last team to arrive will suffer consequences."

During his ordinary classes, Toshi seems to rapidly oscillate between being hyper-attentive and being incredibly lax and perhaps even on the verge of falling asleep. He keeps meticulous notes though, often recorded the very moment the speaker is finished talking.

He keeps breaking his pencil though, and by the time the first day is done, he'd gone through half a box of pencils.

The next day, he shows up in his costume, testing the material and stretching as best he can in the outfit.

"All riiiight!" he cheers enthusiastically at the announcement. "Who's my partner!? This is gonna rock!"

His suit seems to pulse with a neon hex pattern across the surface in time with the beat of him hopping in place. Assuming this is the costume design we talked about in the discussion, right?

Shu pretty much spent most of his classes gazing out the window. It wasn't that he wasn't paying attention, but rather that he was more of an audible learner. Besides, anything that he didn't learn in class, he knew he was gonna get a lecture from CICADA afterwards, whom was sitting and paying attention to every little piece of information. Might as well be the teacher's pet, even without a proper body himself.

The next day, he showed up in homeroom in what could be described as a costume straight out of Mission Impossible. "Oh yeah, now that's what I'm talking about!" Finally he could see the new costume in action, it wasn't much, but it was still pretty sweet. He could definitely upgrade it later with all sorts of tech and tools that CICADA could possess.

"Don't get too carried away, remember that we're competing," CICADA reminded Shu.

"yeah yeah yeah, and we need to find a partner," Shu just waved the spark away for a bit. Ugh, he hoped that he wouldn't be paired up with someone too bossy, he already gets that with CICADA, he doesn't need another person nagging his other ear.

Uryu pays little attention in class, clearly uninterested in most of the subjects. He perks up during history, even taking a few notes, but afterwards grows bored again.

Showing up in his costume the next day, he eagerly inspects the material, content with its ability to absorb liquids. And, hopefully, it won't stain either. On the other hand, though, it was not built for much cold weather. I'll have to think about that... if it starts snowing, I'm in for a bad time.

Hearing Neon speak up, Uryu gives a nod. "Let's do it, then."

"Does the team get judged on when the first member makes it to the centre, the last, or what? And are we allowed to fight other teams? Just to knock them out, obviously, not to hurt them"

During the rest of the school day, Setsuna seems attentive. She takes detailed notes and occasionally asks questions. Rather humorously, the vampiress gets slightly agitated when the afternoon sunlight briefly shines on her through a window.

Setsuna's costume makes her look like a character from a fantasy setting. Her full-body dark armor fits greatly with her vampire theme. While her outfit is certainly intimidating and menacing, Setsuna's body language kind of ruins the effect. Given how easily she moves, it appears to be surprisingly light and comfortable. The shapeshifter keeps her hood and facial mask down for the time being. Her pitch black hair is tied in a military-style bun.

As the other students are paired up, Setsuna floats over to Shu and says quietly, "Looks like the two of us are partners."

She looks over Shu's assortment of gadgets and gizmos.

"Nice! I dabble in a bit in technology too. Mom got me one of those super smartphones professional heros use, and I've been collecting other gear ever since. I'm glad the school lets us actually use them."

"Does the team get judged on when the first member makes it to the centre, the last, or what? And are we allowed to fight other teams? Just to knock them out, obviously, not to hurt them"

"I - I think he said we're only competing on time." Fae stammers out, "But that's good, because, I really don't want to fight anybody."

Mr. Frank nods as all of you make your preparations. He smiles as if remembering something.

Teruo takes some notes during the classes, but mostly listens and tries not to fall asleep.

His costume is somewhat casual, almost normal looking - high boots, tight pants, fingerless gloves and a sweatshirt with high neck. Over all of this he wears a hooded overcoat. Each piece is a different hue of blue.

"Oh, a speed trail. That's great!" He looks around for his partner and sees Alekos. "Looks like we'll be a flying team."

Zephyr is careful to take good notes. While not dumb, he doesn't consider himself smart enoufh to know everythimg with studying. And of the class, he seems the most engaged in the lessons.

The next day, he looks over his costume before putting on the blue, white, and gray costume. The loose fit, cape, and wig fit together in a billowing mass once the young superhuman gets the winds raging.

"A speed trial? I was hoping for a bit more than just another race." Zephyr's impatience and eagerness for a life of action is beginning to show through.

"Well, we'll be competing with other teams. And there will be obstacles."

Moving forward.

There are sufficient entrances into the arena to accommodate all the teams. (Kindly announce which direction you will be emerging from in your post.)

The doors open and you are greeted by a otherworldy scene. The arena has been modelled into a battlefield. Blasted shells of various building litter the landscape. The burn stench is everywhere. Lighting is minimal. (Those with darksight or similar senses do not experience any trouble) The air feels hot like the aftermath of some massive explosion.

Over in the distance you see familiar landmarks like the Statue of Liberty (head decapitated) and the Empire State Building (a burning hulk).

You are in a nightmare version of New York.

A pillar of light marks your destination.

Approaching from the north, Uryu gives a cool whistle. "Really pulled out all the stops on this one. Still, nothing too out of the ordinary. Regardless, its an urban environment. A little on the dark end, but still."

He turns to Neon. "You could get to the center no problem, but unfortunately, I have to get there too. And we're up against teams that can get there rather quickly. So..." He trails off, as his arms begin to drip liquid. "We'll have to be a little more smart about this."

"How much can you carry... or drag without losing much speed?"

Coming in from the south, Robert turns to Fae.

"I still think that I'm missing something but shall we just fly towards the centre? What could possibly go wrong? :-("

Approaching from the north, Uryu gives a cool whistle. "Really pulled out all the stops on this one. Still, nothing too out of the ordinary. Regardless, its an urban environment. A little on the dark end, but still."

He turns to Neon. "You could get to the center no problem, but unfortunately, I have to get there too. And we're up against teams that can get there rather quickly. So..." He trails off, as his arms begin to drip liquid. "We'll have to be a little more smart about this."

"How much can you carry... or drag without losing much speed?"

Toshi shrugs. "I can probably go about half my normal speed, maybe a little faster. Depends on how lubed up you can get? Thinking what, sweatskis?"

"heh, I'd like to see your collection sometime then," Shu gives a smile. "though we should probably talk strategy. One thing that CICADA and I don't....exactly *cough* have is speed. Most of our opponents are fliers, and fast too." He remembered the race from yesterday.

"Yeah, but that might mean there's going to be some sort of obstacle that would stop them from just flying."

The teacher led the group to the place, it was pretty desolate, but something about it feels very deliberate.

"So what's the plan?" Shu asks to his two partners.

Coming in from the south, Robert turns to Fae.

"I still think that I'm missing something but shall we just fly towards the centre? What could possibly go wrong? :-("

"I guess so," she answers uncertainly, "But you're tempting fate, saying things like that."

Zephyr stares over the destroyed landscape and whistles. "There's something you don't see everday. I guess that light is where we need to get to."

Before I start the massacre, er, training session, some clarifications needed.
In the North
Uryu
Neon
In the South
Robert
Fae
Life Hack, Zephyr, you are with whom? Also Setsuna, you around?

I'm with Nishiwaki Teruo.

I'm with Setsuna

I'm with Shu. If he doesn't mind, I'll say that we're entering from the west.

Setsuna and Shu enter from the west.

"Unless there's some catch I'm missing, the fly boys will probably get first place. Second place probably depends on Neon; I don't think Uryu is super fast, but Neon can probably carry him really far in short bursts. Fae and Robert can fly, but unless she was holding back yesterday, Fae doesn't seem much faster than my resting flight speed."

Setsuna's physical form shifts and quickly "scales" up in size, assuming the form of a majestic dragon. She is somewhat larger than she was in her race against Neon, but her wings still look big and powerful to carry them both. Her costume has morphed and resized to accommodate her new form.

"Hop on," Setsuna says in a deep baritone as she squats down for Shu to climb on her back.

"Can you attack from afar? That will leave me free to navigate."

When Shu is ready, Setsuna takes to the air.

Radavel, here is Setsuna's new loadout. Feel free to review it. Besides obvious mental powers like Psychic stuff and the RAW mental stats of Fighting, Awareness, Intelligence, and Presence, the rules are seem to leave physical traits up to interpretation.

Dragon Form:
Dragon Appearance: Morph 1 --- 5 points --- 5/40 Points
Flight: Flight 8 (Wings) --- 8 points --- 13/40 Points
Growth: Growth 4 --- 8 points --- 21/40 Points
Scales: Protection 1 --- 1 point --- 22/40 Points
Impervious Defense: Impervious Toughness 8 --- 8 points --- 30/40 Points
Natural Weapons (Bite, Claws, Etc.): Strength-based Damage 1 --- 1 point --- 31/40 Points
Senses: Low-Light Vision --- 1 point --- 32/40 Points
Close Combat: Unarmed -6 ranks --- -3 points --- 29/40 Points
Close Combat: Natural Weapons +6 ranks --- 3 points --- 32/40 Points
Perception +4 ranks --- 2 points --- 34/40 Points
Advantage: Improved Initiative --- 1 point --- 35/40 Points
Advantage: Power Attack --- 1 point --- 36/40 Points
4 points left over.

As allowed by the Shapeshift power, I shifted her Close Combat: Unarmed ranks to Close Combat: Natural Weapons because it would be silly for a dragon to be punching things. Going by the sample Shapeshift build, the Close Combat skill counts as a physical trait.

I'm okay entering through the East side.

Uryu nods. "By fashioning it so that the bottom of the skis are turning back to liquid, and the sweat dripping back down on top hardens, the skis never lose any mass and I retain more of a smooth surface. By also fashioning my sweat into a rope... well, I suppose its more like an iron bar, but anyway. I can connect myself to you, and not lose much speed to friction. What do you think?"

Toshi grins. "Sounds good. Now I'll be trying to get there fast so you'll have to hang on. If you fall off or a fight happens out I'll circle back to grab you. If there's trouble like mines or something... well, I'm usually fast enough that they go off after I'm out of the danger zone but I'll have to see how fast we are together."

East if fine.

Entering with Alekos through the East entrance Teruo looks around. "That's a cheerful view. So Alekos, should we just fly straight to this pillar of light at full speed?"

"Yeah, but just in case. Stay close." Zephyr steps to within a few feet of Teruo. The air begins to gust around them and they become encircled by a tornado filled with the dust and small debris of the blasted wasteland. "I can keep us both protected from any surprises. It's the least I can do since I'll be slowing you down." When Teruo is ready, Zephyr will take off to the air with him.

Ok. Let's get this show on the road.

Mr. Frank's voice suddenly blurt out of the communicators sewn into your uniforms. "Students, stand ready. Head to the pillar of light. The exercise commences in 3, 2, 1. Go."

Kindly indicate in your post the mode (i.e. flying, running) and speed you will be using.

Zephyr takes off with Teruo and heads straight for the pillar of light at full speed.

Flying-Speed 7

"Got it."

Teruo flies with Alekos straight for the pillar at full speed.

Flying, Speed 7.

"Fannie, I'm going to transform into a falcoln and fly a little ahead of you. I'll try and draw any fire and find a path. If I need to talk to you, one cry means go back, two means come to me, three means danger"

With that, he transforms into a peregrine falcoln and flies somewhat ahead of Fannie, dodging in the air to try and make himself a harder target.

I think that a peregrin falcoln probably has a speed of about 5. Maybe very high 4 (its right on the cusp of 4 and 5). Lowered to about 3 since I'm dodging, looking around, and don't want to get too far ahead of Fannie

Setsuna takes a few seconds to sharpen her eyes.

Kicking another two points (4 ranks) into Perception for a total of +10. 38/40 points.

"I'll start off slow. Like car on a highway slow. Tell me if you feel comfortable going faster," Setsuna says as she takes to the air.

Unless Shu wants to move faster, we'll go Flying, Speed 5. That is 60 miles per hour. We could probably go Flying, Speed 8 for 500, but Setsuna is not sure if Shu is built for such speeds.

Setsuna has low-light vision, and since we are not in complete darkness, her vision should not be impaired.

Once Komaba is hooked on, and the teacher calls start, Toshi takes off at half speed, ramping it up to full throttle over the course of a few seconds. With Komaba making super slick skis, he's able to cover ground without being dragged down much, though he would likely not be able to keep it up for extended runs like he normally could.

Komaba will discover an interesting side effect of Toshi's powers: he can pass harmlessly through his afterimages, though they hum like the true electric lights do. Touching an afterimage causes it to disperse like they were made of thin lines of glowing gasses that lose coherence upon being interacted with. Whenever he has to make a maneuver or move around something, Komaba will see his neon afterimages make arm waves in the same way that a bicyclist does when they're signaling turns. Surprisingly, Toshi's reflexes are astounding when he's running.

I technically can 'see faster' while Toshi's using his run powers, and can see things happening around him 1000x faster than normal. This is how he can see obstacles and opponents while he's moving faster than the normal eye can track. He runs and can see things in bullet time, if you will.

"Well I..."

"Consider it done," CICADA interrupted. Shu looked like he was about to say something, but CICADA reiterated, "Consider...it...done."

CICADA jumped into the commlink in Shu's goggles, before continuing in private, "Look, we need to work on Level Two. We're not always going to have a giant dragon to help us. Besides, school is made for us to learn these kind of things. So come on, let's go kick some butt."

"Now you're speaking my language," Shu replied aloud. He turns to Setsuna and says "I can shoot lightning from my hands. It's a pretty good power, but...there are a couple of drawbacks. Nothin' you need to worry about though"

Shu's comm started to use the speakers on the outside of the glasses, "Remember, we don't need to get first, we just need to make sure we don't come in last place"

"Screw that, we're going for the top," Shu smirked as he said those words.

"Please, let's just...*breathe* let's just cooperate. We'll hash this out later"

Shu boards Setsuna, ready to go.

------------

As soon as the timer started, Setsuna took off with Shu holding on tightly. "Oh yeah! Now that's what I'm talking about!"

"Shu, pay attention, we need to be ready for anything," CICADA berated.

EDIT: this is what I get for leaving the post on my desktop, and not refreshing. lol.

"Fannie, I'm going to transform into a falcoln and fly a little ahead of you. I'll try and draw any fire and find a path. If I need to talk to you, one cry means go back, two means come to me, three means danger"

"Allright, let's go." Fae replies, then takes to the air following him. "If you get hurt, come back to me, ok?"

From the four corners of the compass, your respective teams head in towards the light. The smoke and debris arising from the destruction do not hinder you as the light is so intense that it pierces the darkness and serves as beacon for miles. What you discover at the end of your journey is not what you expected.

Four massive statues in prayer-like poses surround a radiant golden sphere. The sphere has an opening and you see survivors in long lines entering.

What do you do?

Robert lands, turns back into a person, and holds out his hand to Fannie

"Shall we go in? Together?"

"Let's go Teruo. We can't be the last in." Zephyr keeps his wimd barrier up and charges down towards the opening.

Toshi skids to a stop, absently reaching a hand out to catch Komaba before he crashes. "Woah there." he says. "Survivors?" he zips over to one. "Hey, what is the line for?" he asks.