Thanks, GM Xzaral, for run it was well done. Unfortunate that you can't continue but you have to take care of yourself. As Prime said it's just a game. Good Luck!
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... on the other hand, hello? Are you continuing, GM, or is your situation such that you can't? Just like to know, more M&M games are coming up. Hope things are improving for you. Thanks.
Know what it's like to have health problems, just hang in there. Do what you need to do for you, as Straightjacket said, it's just a game.
After leaving Tyler resumes his normal routine, working on his studies and assisting the Prof. He gets a call from the med agency and agrees to take an evening shift as a medic to allow some other guys to get much needed rest. He sends a text to his sister to not wait up for him. He gets out at about 2:00 A.M. Catches about six hours sleep and shows up in costume for his interview. GM: • Can you please give us an overview of your powers inasmuch as you’re familiar with them? Did some experimenting, when I tap my chi I'm super-fast, can run at a peak of of 2,000 Mph, double that if I push it for a few minutes. Also can do a day's worth of work in a minute. Otherwise I'm stronger, tougher, and a better fighter. The first power I noticed was Fast Healing, I don't need to concentrate to do that. I can run up walls and over water, if I don't stop. Bit better at jumping too. I think that's it but it's still early. • How long have you been operating as a “hero?”
• What motivated you to start?
• What were you doing on the day of the Silver Storm that you were able to get there so quickly? Had personal business in the area. • Did you know any of the others before Mars recruited you? No, none of them seem familiar to me. • Did you know Maximilian Mars previous to your encounter with F.O.E. and the Freedom League at MarsTech? Only by reputation, never met him before. • Are your powers dangerous to others in any way… other than when you use them on someone? Oddly no, I can move at Mach 5 or more right next to someone and they are unhurt, though sometimes papers scatter. Violates the laws of physics but that's what happens. • Where did you get your powers, or if you’re not comfortable revealing that, what’s their origin? Noticed I had them shortly after that silvery storm. I did some checking, it seems that some advanced nano-tech has attached itself to me. I'm trying not to freak out about that. • How long have you had your powers and how experienced are you with them? Since the storm, not experienced at all with having Superpowers, I do know how to fight though. • Why did you decide to become a, pardon the term, vigilante instead of joining a government agency or program? Hadn't any time to think about it at all. Mr. Mars made his offer; I was invited to see him, thought it was just a photo-op thing, and wanted to make a good impression on the movers and shakers of this city. It seems pretty good an offer and gives more freedom than a government job would. • Do you have military experience? No. • Do you hold advanced degrees of any kind, such as engineering or the like? No, wish I did, that would be helpful. True but incomplete statement. • Do you know first aid? Yes, I'm pretty good at it.
"Ok, that shouldn't be hard then, but some questions might not be answered if that would give away the secret ID." Going through another security clearance, but in this way they have less reason to trust, our questions are light but these guys are paid to go deep.
"I'll be here." Breakneck takes the number.
Breakneck backs off at Mars's words. "Okay then, the personal motives are your own, I won't question them again. But you're saying that more dangerous, extraordinary crime has been going on in this city than is publicly known - for long enough to make all this seem a good idea. We'll need to be briefed on that, at length, sometime. Otherwise it didn't make sense, other places would need a team more. I'll do what I can to help."
Breakneck zips back and walks up to Mr. Mars. He depowers and adopts a non-threatening posture, but moves just a little to close to him. "This is great, really great. Millions, no tens of millions of dollars of equipment. Must have taken years of planning and work." Breakneck appears to be admiring the whole place then turns back to Mr. Mars. "So that begs the question, why? Until yesterday, Emerald City had no need of a team of supers. So what happened, what did you know, that led you to do all this? And you're a billionaire businessman, I don't think you went to all this effort on a lark or a maybe; you have a compelling reason for this for many years. I'd really appreciate you sharing it." Breakneck waits for Mr. Mars's response.
"You've surely spared no expense here, Mr. Mars. Excellent equipment. I think these Dynometers could measure your strength, Straightjacket." Breakneck seems somewhat familiar with this equipment. "As for a name, I guess that's usable. If we want to go the locally touristy route something like 'The Knights of the Emerald City' could work." Breakneck flits around the rooms of the base checking everything out.
"Let's do the checkout, I doubt we're able to find anything but we should try." Breakneck looks ready to leave. "Where is this place? I could be there in a few seconds. Not that helps anyone else."
"At least the risks are open, and the other point I made is about the likelihood about being lowjacked by the perpetrator, we'll need to keep that in mind. For that a scan could be good, please go ahead Prime and do it." "I'll join in then, to help as best I can. Of course I have private obligations myself, mostly very mundane, my hours are somewhat flexible but sometimes I'll be working or otherwise engaged in the ordinary." Breakneck turns back to Mr. Mars. "Now to another point, is there any reason, besides your philanthropy, for you specifically, to be targeted by this person or group behind this Silver Storm? Are you working on nano-tech research, perhaps, so it/he/they would be eliminating a rival?"
Breakneck depowers and stands still as he listens to Mr. Mars's offer. His posture does not speak of a receptive attitude. At Evil Eye's statement he stirs, "The Silver Storm brought death and devastation to our city. Maybe some good will come out of it, maybe not. I'd prefer a name less associated with disaster. As for a team, it sounds good but I understand the mixed feelings; I share them." Breakneck starts pacing about, uncertainty in every step. "The timing is of these attacks on us was too precise to be coincidence. Not 10 seconds after I saw Mr. Mars, the bad guys showed and attacked us. Right after that, and I mean like less than a minute, the Freedom League shows up with a compromised Dr. Metropolis and attacks us. That could be explained by the Prime mover in these events keeping tabs on this office and sending in his 'assets' to take us out. But there is an even simpler explanation. Those of us with our powers bestowed by the strange and advanced nano-tech are 'bugged.' That would be trivial and easily concealable given the tech involved. That means those of us with new powers, like myself, are, however unwittingly, the greatest threat to this city. The risk is undeniable, the only question is, are the potential benefits worth it? Let those not potentially compromised judge the risk. I guess we should start with you Mr. Mars. Should those with powers granted by the mysterious, deadly, and untrustworthy Silver Storm be on such a team?" Breakneck stops pacing, folds his arms and waits the judgement of others.
Breakneck frowns a bit at Johnny's somewhat flippant response, not that it's visible. "Maybe it's inevitable but look about at this devastation. Can they afford such as us to lose our cool, ever?" Breakneck continues. "We don't know much more, the police are investigating some leads, they'll tell you what you need to know." Breakneck is clearly wary of sharing information that could lead to more unnecessary mayhem.
Breakneck tries to reassure Evil Eye, "One bad day doesn't wipe out years of good deeds. And there is something fishy about how Dr. M. was behaving, he may have been drugged or messed with somehow, give the authorities time to figure it out. In the mean time it might be a good idea to find out if the Freedom League knows something about what's going on." Breakneck turns back to Johnny, "Say do you guys have any idea what's up around here? I'm on the street, minding my own business, when a storm with some kind of silvery rain comes up, and all hell breaks loose. I soon figure out I've just become ... super in the midst of all that. I know I've got really advanced nano-tech in me now, and I'm trying not to freak out about that. So if you know anything, I have a really personal reason to want to know too. 'Preciate it."
"After the excitement of yesterday, I went off and did some practice. I found I'd been holding back, I think I have speed at around 10 on the Standard Super Power Scale. Pretty high, I guess somewhere around yours I think. But while I can control my punches quite well, I'm not so sure about running around or worse into, well people, at full tilt, I'd demolish them. So far, it's been okay because I don't see myself as moving fast really, more like everything else is really slow." At Johnny's comment about the Evil Eye, he says, "Evil Eye, I don't know him well at all, but I'll try. I sure this is all completely new to him as well; he's upset and overwhelmed and doesn't have my training to handle it." Breakneck zips over to the Evil Eye, and says reassuringly, "Hey buddy, I think you can stand down now. It went wrong when Dr. M lost it but he and his teamates have been together in many bad situations often. They trust each other, even when things go wrong. Now that they know that somethings wrong with their friend they'll work to fix it."
Breakneck takes Johnny's hand. "I can only speak for myself, the rest of us just met yesterday, but they seem good people so it should be okay. I'm just sorry it happened at all, many people were hurt that shouldn't have been, and I can't even calculate the damage done here, thousands may be thrown out of work. For myself, I certainly accept the apology, but for so many other, helpless, innocent people, I can't speak on their behalf." Breakneck sweeps his arms out, as if to embrace all the terrified people in and around the building. Breakneck continues, "On a better note, can you give me any tips on how to use my new powers so I don't endanger others? I'm not concerned about me, I can take care of myself but even a moment's slip could hurt someone else. I can't let that happen"
"Finally, some common sense." Breakneck looks around, "Uhm, no, I can't, I don't know where he went, we don't have a fixed group really yet. I'm not sure I even know everyone that's helping; there was a voice of someone, trying to talk Dr. Metropolis down, don't know who that was." Breakneck points to himself. "As for me, I've had ... super-human abilities for maybe 20 hours, give or take. Seems like months but it's been less than a day. Still trying to learn the ropes."
Breakneck sees another round of pointless combat starting. He calls out, "Everyone STOP!" He puts himself in-between any attacker from his side as best he can. "Johnny Rocket is starting to see reason, let him talk his teammates down, or take care of the problem themselves. This has to stop before any more people get hurt or killed." Will interupt action if I can.
DM: I'm taking the above post to mean that I wait till next round before acting. This round is the talk with Johnny.
Breakneck grabs the last of the endangered civilians, taking them to safety. The fire out, Johnny Rocket runs up and asks the first sensible question the Freedom League has made. Breakneck replies, "Wish I knew, after yesterday's events we were invited to talk to some bigwigs here,we thought, including Mr. Mars. Thought it was some photo-op thing. Also, as far as I know Mars isn't wanted for anything but if there is a warrant, execute it legally with my blessing. Anyway when we got here, Cyber-knight and company showed up and attacked us, reasons unknown, we defeated them and then you guys showed up. I certainly didn't want to attack you guys, you're suppose to be heroes but then Dr. Metropolis there attacked like a homicidal manic, endangering innocent lives and injuring Mr Mars without even giving him a chance to surrender. The other guys seem to think that you guys are being mind-controlled into insane attacks. I don't know what to think, I'm just trying to keep everyone alive until the cops arrive. But Dr. Metropolis needs to be stopped before he destroys this building and endangers more people than I can protect. Is this the behavior you expect of heroes?" Breakneck keeps up his defenses but make no move to attack, leaving the ball in Johnny's court.
Breakneck seeing that Johnny Rocket is losing the battle against the flames, moves to rescue those civilians that are threatened by the rising fire. He'll dodge any attack made against him. "Save the innocents! Dr. Metropolis, if you keep attacking, thousands will die!" Breaknecks makes his desperate plea as his moves on the threaten civilians.
Breakneck seeing innocents in danger springs to action. He taps his chi, starting to vibrate again as his superpowers spring back. "You're killing these innocents." He attempts to rescue the pinned people, as many as he can reach, taking one to the ground a bit away from the building and coming back. He'll keep this up as long as he can. He's taking the nearest pinned bystanders, grabbing them, then running down the building and a bit away, then running back up for more. He defends but he's not trying to attack anyone yet.
Breakneck, seeing a disaster unfold before his eyes as supposed heroes assault good people, makes a decision between fighting, running or something else. He thinks of calling 911, then realizes that the overburdened city could take hours to answer. He strides in, taking care not to close with Johnny Rocket. He states clearly, "If you have a lawful warrant for Mr. Mars, who I just met a minute ago, execute it with no inference from us. But stop attacking people that have done no wrong. I'm sitting down and shutting down my superhuman abilities, and will peacefully wait for the police to arrive, and more unjustified violence will be on you." Breakneck follows his words sitting down, and stops the odd quivering that accompanies his superpowers. He looks and is quite defenseless. They better be true heroes, or I'm not going to live through this. But someone has to make a stand for the right.
Breakneck returns from his six second checkout of the building and grounds to find all hell has broken loose.
"What happened? What's going on here?" Breakneck will defend himself but not attack yet.
Breakneck still thinking it's an amazing coincidence that the villains attacked just as they entered, says, "I'll just make a quick check around to make sure there's no problems. Back in a sec" And he will be or at least within 4 of them. Breakneck zips through the accessible areas of the building looking for anything unusual. Is there anyone of staff or visitors that seems less suprised? Are there camera crews? Do they all seems legitimate? Is there someone making a getway, not just trying to leave because a fight is going on? See something? To tell the difference between suspicious behavior and reasonable under the circumstances.
Breakneck hears the suggestion and is none to keen on the idea. "Best to leave her for the police. I suspect we'll get nothing out of her either, and I don't want her pulling some trick to escape. I just hope the local police are up to dealing with these, um, Super-villain types- that hasn't been common around here." Breakneck will live with the mystery for a while.
Breakneck lets the others banter with the villains, still suspicious of the timing he puts his attention to Mr. Mars. Wonder, does this have something to do with him. After Gargantua waves at the impassive billionaire, Breakneck says, "Are you okay, Mr. Mars? No harm has befallen you, has it?" He engages in conversation to assess trustworthiness. Was Mr. Mars surprised by these events or expecting them? Is his calm his nature, or knowledge he was in no real danger? But his overly fast metabolism throws off his usual ability to read people a bit and he gets, nothing or worse.
Breakneck is still a bit wondering about the timing of all this. Standing ready should the villains break their surrender, he asks, "What brought you here, why now, what were you after?" Breakneck is very quizzical, not liking his feeling he is being manipulated.
That's too long a hiatus, picking back up would be very hard. We can go slow with twice weekly updates through to Oct. If you think you'll be below a post a week though then a hiatus is inevitable, not much difference really. That's my opinion what do the rest of you think?
Wondering why the bad guys don't try to leave, Breakneck attacks all standing again. Suspicion now crosses his mind though, as he thinks, This is a big coincidence, I wonder if something else is going on, these guys talk bad but seem wussy, is this a test? "This is a bad showing miscreants, are you really up to no good or are you just acting the part and something's up?" Breakneck keeps his attack up but is showing to those with fast perception that he is getting a bit more careful.
Quickly looking over the group of villains, Breakneck notes too many are still standing, if looking a little worse for wear. Instead of his more direct charge and punch series of attacks, he launches into a set of short hopping kicks easily making the short distance between the standing bad guys. Again a whirlwind attack, while they remain bunched up. "The tide of this battle is against you, surrender." Makes a not so snappy statement.
Breakneck is surprised at his complete success at attacking all the villains, so he says, "No need to mess with success. Why don't you all take a nap now?" Breakneck hits them all again with another Whirlwind attack.
Breakneck tries to remember what he knows of Cyberknight and her affiliations. But he does his thinking while moving. Calling on his chi he starts his odd vibrations. He then moves at superhuman speeds behind the querulous quartet, so he is between them and their apparent target. As he goes he makes sure he hit each and everyone of the villains. Make a Whirlwind Attack: Close Combat: Burst Area on STR damage, Selective Unarmed 15 Damage: 5 On all four villains - I would think they would all be close enough together. If there is not enough room for him to get around them easily, then he will get around in a very fast swashbuckling way. What else does he know about CK and friends?
Thanks, was beginning to wonder if my posts were visible. And didn't you know? These boards don't run on a computer, it's a sorta bound demon. The price is that it eats posts and maybe the occasional poster. :)
That's good for me.
"While it may seems distracting to deal with the town's big shots, their support could be helpful and their opposition would really hurt our chances of getting to the bottom of things, so let's see what they want; most likely is just to get publicity but you never know. It shouldn't hurt anyway."
Breakneck seems taken aback by Jack's praise. "Yeah, I'm not so special, just had something weird happen to me. Might be gone tomorrow for all I know. Do right, stand up when it matters, that's a hero, not powers." Breakneck turns to the others. "Well, the police can run down the facts about the van better than we, it seems to be the hard, unglamourous, real work of police that they're never appreciated enough for but get the job done. The city support could be handy, maybe we should go see what the powers that be want of us?- Besides photo-ops."
Assuming that Gumshoe is in a sharing mood. "No, I don't know where that junkyard is but it should be easy to look up. Still don't get it though, is this an attempt to frame Redshift? Why go to so much trouble to either fake the VIN or buy the junker and completely rebuild it, costing more than I'd like to think about? Seems very elaborate to me, but then when I read about ... super villainy I always feel that way. I guess we need to take a look. And that video needs to get to the police, maybe they can identify the driver and learn something. So far we're hunting shadows, be nice if we can find something solid."
Hi, it's been three weeks since I clarified my character revisions in post 151. I'd like know if that build is approved or not. Any comments or questions, GM or anyone?
"That is odd, I guess the police can run down the registration and VIN and see who owned the it. Every owner, since it was made. Both the registration and the vehicle itself, they might not match. And what caused the explosion? Just pressure from the tanks? Seems unlikely. Maybe a chemical bomb, doesn't look quite right for that either, not that I'm an expert. Something else, I don't know about? Anyone have a good knowledge of explosive? Just what did happen here? Well, I'm not helping much here, good at question, bad at answers. Anyone got a tape measure?" If Breakneck gets a tape measure, he starts measuring the distance from the truck to the edge of the blast. Is it circular? Are things further away from the truck more damaged than the truck itself? What kind of damage, can he tell? (Kinetic, Fire, Rad, etc.) Fires happened, from the explosion or secondary affect from damage(building shakes knocks over candle sort of thing? This'll need skills, disaster experts. Is the type of damage done to the area the same as to the truck? "With all the nearby damage, it's unlikely, but if any cameras, or recordings survived, maybe a pic of the truck coming into the area is around. Maybe worth a look. On the other hand with the power involved here, maybe the truck was flown or even teleported in."
Breakneck is slow to respond to Officer Brown, "I'm just using Breakneck for now, for my speed and fighting ability. I don't know more than you guys, some sort of advanced tech, really advanced like magic." Breakneck looks over the truck having little idea of what he is looking for.
Breakneck listens to Dr. Prim's even more detailed analysis than what the Prof. came up with. Nodding he says, "Much more detailed but matches what I came up with, as I said, by Clarke's Law, might as well be magic. I have to say I'm not too happy about this, the implications of this are extreme. The maker of this tech could do anything I could imagine and a lot more besides. Conquering the world would be trivial, though why bother with so much power?"
Breakneck gets up, finds that he forgot to set the alarm. He moves fast to call people to free his day and fix breakfast, freezing when he hears Tina stirring. He doubles up the food, and Tina comes out asking, "Hello, What was that noise, Tee?" Tee replies, "Hi, Just making breakfast, eggs, juice and pancakes."[b] Tina begins eating, [b]"Thought I heard some whooshing sounds, could make anything of it." Tee thinks for a second, "Maybe a plane or traffic? I wasn't paying attention." Tina says, "You never do, guess it isn't important. What's up for today? After yesterday's long hours I have a bit of time." Tee says, "I'm off to the dojo, and then on the campus. Running a bit late so I'll have to work my run in with all that." Tina: "Okay I'll just chill for a while." Tee takes his time to clean up from breakfast and grab his gear bag with his costume inside, and jogs away. When far enough he finds a private spot and changes over to Breakneck, speeds to a locker at Prof's lab, putting the bad away, and speeds off to the meeting, somehow managing to be late. He pulls up at the end of Officer Brown's statement. "Sorry, I'm here. Just had stuff to take care of. So anybody learn anything new?"
"These results are disturbing, Professor. It not only implies very unethical experiments going on but that these abilities could be under the control of someone else. Not only that, but used as a weapon, it could kill, well, everyone. Not sure what to do about that." Prof. says some not very reassuring words and will continue to look into this. Tee's relieved that his sister is OK and goes home. Once there, though a bit tired, he spends a little time cleaning the place up, very well using superspeed. He leaves something reheatable for his sister in the fridge, then goes to bed. The next day he rearranges his schedule to allow him to meet with the others, after modifying his costume a little.
Getting concerned here, it's been a week since your last post GM Xzaral. Do you need a break, if so, please say for how long? If you cannot continue at all, also say so. I like this and want to continue but if real life has consumed your time, it's best to be realistic and admit it and tell us. If you are going to resume please let us know, and if not really let us know. Thank you.
@GM Xzaral: - Yes. As he extracted the Prof. it was him that noticed Tee's superspeed, Tee less told him then was exposed during Breakneck's rescue of the Prof. His sister hasn't been told and would likely have pulled a double-shift at the hospital helping out with the flood of victims. (The hospital would pull in every doc for a massive number of injured victims.) Not likely to tell her either, the Prof. was more by accident then anything else.
Sorry my error is one of using the wrong name: when I said Enhanced Advantage: Close Combat Rank 2 Cost 2 I should have written: Enhanced Advantage: Close Attack Rank 2 Cost 2 Each rank of Close Attack gives a +1 to all close attack values not just 2 of them. I found a spreadsheet for an interactive M and M charsheet. The output for Tee, a PL 5 Martial Artist(MA) is:
Abilities
Powers
Power Points
Abilities
Powers
(12 points) Equipment Advantages
Skills
Offense
Defense
Power Points
Complications
Design Notes
I like this build if you approve. Tee's to be a very broadly trained MA, that acquired superspeed. Thank you for your time and efforts.
In post #131 above I posted my attempt at a 2.0 revision of Breakneck and the reasoning behind it. It seems that the timing was bad on it as it passed by without comment. But now I need GM Xzarl, at least, to say what he thinks about it and if it is an acceptable revision so I can determine how to play him from this point forward. I still invite everyone else to comment as well. Of course if any changes are needed I'll work on them and resubmit. Thanks.
Breakneck breaks off the party and returns to the Emerald Dragon Dojo, swiftly enough as to not be seen in the costume. The professor is not there but he helpfully left a note saying he was going the the campus labs. He also wrote that he checked on everyone at the party and they are reasonably okay. Tee sends a quick text to his sister, telling her he was near the trouble but not harmed and spent time helping out. He then changes into sweats with sneakers that he keeps at the dojo and bring his very stuffed gear bag with him, as he jogs at an athletic but human pace to the labs. At the labs the Prof. and Tee discuss the day's event, and his part in it. Carefully making sure there are no hidden cameras or such about they test his new found abilites and see that he appears to have been holding back in his use of them earlier. After some hours of this he goes home, checking his phone again to see if any message have been left, most likely from his sister.
Looking at the screen, Breakneck nods and says, "Yep, that's very likely then the truck #3 is our mystery van but I'm sure there'll be paperwork somewhat proving it was stolen or sold or something, months ago. Someone is up to something fishy, I wonder if the company is behind it or only someone important there is playing games. Ha, guess I'm watched too many conspiracy tv shows." Breakneck sighs wearly, "I agree with the fact that we need more time to get used to what has happened, atleast those that just came into their extra-ordinary abilities like me. I think I need time to adjust and maybe learn to manage, even find out, just what I can do. I'm less sure that a few hours will be enough to even begin. Maybe those that are trained to find things out can work on it and I'll go home and reassure the family that I'm okay, then try to deal with me. How about tomorrow? Say 10, we can meet again, and go over what we know and what we can do."
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