SwordCoastTaxi
 OOC 
 Dice Rolls 
     "Call of the  Shepherd !"    
  
 Day:  Friday
 Time:  0900 hours
 Weather:  75° &amp; Sunny
 Location:  Avalon

  "Good Morning Avalon! I am Dan Quavers, my-cohost Mona Taylor is on vaca' and it is 9 a.m., time for your KLUV morning show! Let's GOOOOOOOO!! Hey! Today is National Women's Day, so fellas: do something nice for the ladies and don't be a Chad, okay? Maybe take that special lady to a movie, if you have $100 to burn, or there's a Women's Day parade this morning downtown from 10 a.m. to around noon. If it's free there, you can be there! Last night Avalon PD responded to an unconfirmed burglary at UniTech's southside facility and while no suspects have been apprehended the investigation is ongoing, supported by the enigmatic vigilante, Midknight. In sports news your Avalon Knights pulled off a miracle signing all-pro receiver Josh Kinlaw away from the NYC Dragons! Take that Big Apple! Can you say Championshiiiiiiip?!? Whatever happens I'm here for it people! Yesterday was a bit of a disaster as the Department of the Navy reported the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Corsair suffered a terrorist attack that resulted in over 100 injured servicemen. The ship was only a few miles off the coast of southern Florida when the incident occurred and local DOD liaison Maj. Annabelle Ashburn reported government officials have launched a widescale investigation. All of us here at KLUV wish all the injured servicepeople a quick recovery. Man, where's the Champions when you need them? Can we at least get Aquamarine involved? This morning's broadcast is sponsored by the Roivas Corporation: if your business is creating more questions than answers, the Roivas Group can help with industry-leading financial consultation. Call 842-438-7424 today for a free professional assessment with the Roivas Group, a locally-owned company. After the break - is J-Lo getting divorced AGAIN? We'll figure it out, it's K-luuuuuuuuuv!"  

The summer sun was rising fast bathing the metropolis of Avalon in bright light and growing heat. The city streets were already packed with vehicle traffic and the sidewalks teamed with fast-walking pedestrians. Bikers darted in-between automobiles trapped in gridlock as high above the downtown skyscrapers, helicopters drifted towards their rooftop helipads. All across the city the smell of vehicle exhaust competed with the morning breakfast menu as locals jogged and walked their dogs. Like any Friday, Avalon was humming with energy as the over 1,000,000 residents readied themselves for another hot weekend with all manner of entertainment awaiting them once the workday was done. With temperature's forecasted into the upper 80's, Avalonians were expecting hot day that cruised right into an even hotter and exciting weekend!


 
 Spoiler: Intros 

Welcome to your city! Players can make a posts introducing their superheroes: Who are they? What do they look like? Where are they? What are they doing? What's on their mind? Are they with anyone? What are their plans today and the weekend? Are they having problems or fun or both? Let the group see the person behind the mask and don't forget to farm Karma 🙂
 
Mordar
NOTE:  Choosing  Turquoise  for my first-person color if it works, since it seems to have an airy element to it.  Bold for   IC out loud   speaking?

Drin listened to the KLUV morning show with half an ear and smiled.  Five topics covered in 30 seconds...that generally fit his preferred level of focus!  Always an early riser, he'd been up for a couple hours but had done little more than sweep out the litter from the building hallways and have a pleasant breakfast on the roof.  For an old building in an old part of town, it was not too bad at all.  Of course, always getting to have exactly the level of breeze you want, exactly when you want surely helps make the mornings more enjoyable.

  High 80s, huh?  I better get Ms. Armenta's air conditioner fixed up first thing.  Then I can take care of Jaime's shopping list for him,   he thought, stretching and moving towards the door leading to the main stairwell.    Probably can help Terry at the shop for a bit before lunch, too.  

People always commented on how this one mid-rise building always seemed a little cleaner than others...never any trash or little in the halls or stairwells...and the boiler and old elevator always seemed to work just fine.  The place doesn't even have an on-site Super...intendent, anyway.  Ms. Armenta was on 9, so he stopped there first.  The not-so-little old lady had her door open to take advantage of the cool morning breeze before the heat of the day really set in.  He knocked and called her name.

She answered from the kitchen, and he walked in saying "  Just here to check on the air conditioner for you!  ".  Five minutes later he was done, having replaced a wire and a switch with bits from his pocket, and only used the lightest of magnetic touches to slide the dated and heavy unit back into the window structure.  "  All set!  " he called, passing by the kitchen on his way out the door.  Ms. Armenta was at the stove, minding a couple of pots.  She smiled, telling him to stop by later and she'd have a couple dishes for him.  She always made the best paella and felt that "someone has to look out for the skinny Daren!"

After grabbing the shopping list from Jaime on 2, he stepped out onto the sidewalk.  It was stiller, and louder, down here, and the smell of exhaust was a bit unpleasant.  A light breeze picked up, just enough to lift his loose-fitting linen shirt and cotton pants off his body, and wouldn't you know it, take the car exhaust fumes out of his direct path.  A few people greeted him with a smile as he glided down the street.  Always a bit smaller than most men - and many women - he found it easy to get lost in the press of people, but on mornings like this when it wasn't so busy out he enjoyed seeing his neighbors and almost-friends.  The bodega a few blocks down covered the shopping needs, and Drin paid as he usually did in somewhat weathered cash and coins.  Knowing precisely who Drin was shopping for, Mary behind the counter slipped a few treats and a copy of the morning paper into the bag.  "The crossword is extra tough today...Fridays are always hard, but this one shoulda been saved for Sunday!" she smiled, "Tell Jaime I finished it in 38 minutes."  Mary always looked out for her older customers, especially the ones that had to have someone fetch their groceries for them.

It took just a few minutes to carry the bags back to the apartment building, and as expected Jaime scoffed at the idea of a tough Friday puzzle.  "That child doesn't know from hard crosswords.  If I can't beat 20 minutes they can take me to my grave today!" the elderly man said with the usual gruff voice and smiling eyes.  Drin didn't understand how Jaime had never married or had children.  It seems very sad that someone with such paternal affection for the 40-some-year-old "counter girl" at the market had no children of his own.

Still, his errand made Drin smile.    Now, the Junk Shop  , he thought, and started the walk 5 blocks uptown to the appliance and pawn shop he "helped out" a few times a week, as much for the family owning the shop as for the small wage they paid him when they could.  Contented, he almost seemed to float above the sidewalks as he unhurriedly made his way.
Naysmith
Patricia Young sat up in her bed and bew a couple of her orange locks out of her view.   "I've been hearing about Midknight for a while now"  , she muses.   "I wish I'd seen him on patrol last night. UniTech? If Midknight is working on external invaders, maybe I should look into internal. Before I got my powers, fraud was the most likely culprit. After supervillains, it's still the second-most likely.  

Patricia slid into her daywear, which was quite comfortable but also hard to tell that it was higher-quality than what most people wore. Today, it was a pink top with the sleeves rolled up and fine black slacks. She glided to the kitchen, casually using her power. Others of her wealth would employ a serving staff or at least a butler, but she liked it personal and cozy. Serving  contractors  were another matter when she occasionally hosted parties. She had an egg carton half-out of the fridge when she remembered,   Oh, right. Fred had to cancel last night. Cross-referencing a paper and an office deadline.   She put the carton back and grabbed a pair of small potatoes from the pantry. It would be hash-browns today.

The sound of footsteps heralded Ash arriving. "Hey, cuz," Ash greeted her. Patricia turned in midair to face 'her'. "  You're up early. For one of your days off.  " Ash's odd shifts of three days in a row at 12 hours each followed by three days off was nothing the accountant in Patricia couldn't keep up with. Patricia watched as Ash reached for the austere cereal-and-milk start she liked for every day and then grabbed a few fruits that Patricia couldn't tell apart. One of them was grapefruit, but it looked a lot like an orange.

"It's gonna be blazing hot," Ash groaned. "With all the things going on, there's gonna be a lot of fires on the weekend. There's going to be so many cookouts by people who don't know fire safety." Patricia nodded grimly. "  I'll keep a lookout for issues. Call me if you can, so I can help.  " Ash rolled 'her' eyes. "Telekinesis is cheating." It wasn't much of a gripe; easy rescues made it easier for everyone.

The hash-browns were ready soon, and Patricia dug in. Some apple slices followed it. "  If you need me today, I'm going to check into if the Navy servicemen need any healing, and then I'll look into some business records. My healing powers aren't flashy and forensic accounting isn't glamorous, but both could help   . "

 
 Spoiler: Minor OOC stuff 

Should I roll for the healing power, since there's about a hundred, or can we just use an average? What about for for Intuition to research the records and/or find Midknight to suggest a cooperative, two-pronged investigation re: the potential they did it themselves? (One of the first things I thought of was that Superman TAS episode where Luthor sold an armored war suit to terrorists and they pretended to steal it.)
 
Rook.Gamer
Walter furrowed his brow as he listened to the latest news, pausing his sweeping of the classroom floor. The story about the navy wasn’t completely new to him but hearing his sister’s name on the radio didn’t bring him the measure of joy it should have.  He’d spoken to her earlier in the morning and got barely more than the public briefing.

He wanted to help but she insisted that they had the matter in hand and didn’t want the scene to become a circus by having flashy super types showing up and of course the inevitable media that followed.

Walter returned to his work.  Getting the school ready for fall following the ongoing renovations was going to take a while.  At least his classroom had been finished.  Would’ve been nice if the workmen did a better job of cleaning up after themselves, but you get what you pay for, and the school certainly had a limited budget.

Overall though the improvements will be welcome. The upgraded network and power capabilities will definitely help with his math and science classes.  But what he’s really looking forward to is when the new AC systems start running.   Dang it’s hot! , he thought.

Walter is a lanky man in his late twenties but dresses like an older gentleman. He wore dress slacks and an off-white button down shirt. His shoes needed a good shine and his sleeves were rolled up neatly to attempt to coax a little cool air to make the work more bearable. He had a bit of a five O’clock shadow and his salt and pepper hair was a tad out of sorts over his silver rimmed glasses. Otherwise he looked like a teacher out of a fifties movie.

While he worked Walter mused over what his sister might do if he turned up on the ship anyway. Maybe he’d go and look into the Unitech burglary.

it was going to take him a while to get this room ready.  He’s only a sub, but Mrs. Lancaster, who he has often worked with and subs for in the past has taken a year off to write a book of something.  So Walter gets to substitute full time.  It’s a big chance for him and he’s eager to make a good impression.  Getting the room in tip top shape is just as important as all of those lesson plans he’s been working on these past few weeks.

He can probably spare a little time this evening to go out on the town and take a look at Unitech.
SwordCoastTaxi
 Day:  Friday
 Time:  12:06 p.m.
 Weather:  89° &amp; Sunny
 Location:  Downtown

 
 Spoiler: Sylph 

At the 'Junk Shop', the older couple had just handed a laptop computer to Drin so he could perform an inspection and let them know it was fully functional. The old man was negotiating jewelry prices with a regular customer and his wife had no clue about computers. She just shrugged and smiled and patted Drin on his shoulder. Over his Drin's head, the store's TV screen played the couple's favorite daytime game show as the honking of vehicle horns could be heard from outside the shop ....
 

Suddenly, cell phone alarms begin sounding! Emergency alerts of    "BREAKING NEWS!"    flashed across TV and computer screens! Reports of multiple gunmen stalking the downtown Avalon area are broadcast by on-scene reporters ducking behind the cover of vehicles and available shops! The sound of automatic gunfire echoes over the panicked voices of the reporters! The gunmen seem to be chasing one or more unidentified persons and were last seen in the vicinity of the Skyview Mall downtown! Citizens live-streaming from the downtown area were saying an army of terrorists are attacking the downtown area shooting pedestrians at random!

Live TV and streaming internet images show crowds of people screaming and running in all directions downtown! Traffic is bumper-to-bumper and some drivers were abandoning their vehicles! Men, women and children ran and cowered in fear trying to save their own lives! There was no live footage of the shooters but live video showed the  windows of downtown businesses blasted out! There were even images of bloodied, crying bystanders and inert bodies laying on sidewalks and in the streets!

Local news reporters promised to stay live and maintain the broadcast providing as much emergency information as possible as long as this dangerous situation continued! Sirens began to blare across Avalon as emergency services activated!

 But where were Avalon's heroes?!?! 
truemane
      
      Arlandria Roivas     
  Dark Heiress  
  Health:  60/60 
  Karma:  100/100 
  Defenses: 
 
 Eldritch Shield-AM(50) 
 
  
 
  

Deep in the library in the sub-basement of Roivas Tower, Arlandria smiled when she heard her family's name over the radio. Her family was old money and many of her relations were scandalized at the idea of  advertising . Not that she cared overmuch. They could complain all they wanted, but they were happy enough to spend the money in the trust funds the family's wealth provided.

And dragging the Family into the current century (kicking and screaming all the while) was not only good for business, but it was good for repairing the reputation that had been damaged again and again by ancestors of the same people who were doing the most complaining.

She lifted her head and frowned as the news of the attack spread across the news and internet. Her family's name was on plenty of things in Avalon, from the third tallest skyscraper, a number of housing developments, and enough university buildings to fill Rhode Island, and there were plenty of properties and interests with silent Roivas money as well.

All of which meant that she (Arlandria) was invested in this place. Financially, socially, and emotionally. An attack on Avalon was an attack her Family. Which was an attack on her.

And she could not let that stand.

She carefully closed the book of lore she had been deciphering, gathered up her notes, and placed them all in the small safe built into the heavy desk in the centre of the room.

She stood and swept out of the library with the grace and elegance of a duchess at a formal ball. She locked the library as she left and got into her personal express elevator and pressed PH.

She'd be on the roof in moments. And moments later she would be airborne and on the way to the mall.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Nil
 
Mordar
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
I assume I am relatively close to downtown given the general localization of poor neighborhoods and downtown...proceeding assuming as much
 


Moving over to the front windows, Drin glanced outside.  Traffic noise wasn't unusual, but any stretch of the imagination, but it did seem to suddenly spike.  Considering the news alert and the relative proximity to the danger, best to be safe!  "  Sounds like trouble close by!  Terry, why don't you guys go in the back and I'll lock up the front.  I call you when its all clear!   he said, much more a direction than a suggestion.  He moved outside and quickly pulled down the metal shutter that protected the front of the shop during off hours.

  Too many people out here...   he thought, and Lightning Speed ducked into the nearby alley.    I really need to figure a way to carry a full costume,   he mused, pulling on the sky-blue cowl the covered enough of his features to make identification tough.  Sylph gathered the air currents beneath and behind him and leapt into the air, a few hundred feet above the ground and moving in the direction of the mall, looking to pinpoint the immediate danger.  And since a flying man with no cover presents an attractive target, Drin was prepared to dodge any incoming fire.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Will roll the Init (10, go us!) and Dodge (45, Green, -2CS) in the Rolls thread.
 
Mordar
Sylph's plan was simple - find the conflict, use his mastery of wind and air to protect the innocent and allow evacuation of the injured.  Once the risk to bystanders is reduced, then the threat can be eliminated.    Kind of sounds like they are chasing someone, though,   he considered.  So if they are focusing fire it will be much easier to limit the collateral damage.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Sylph has two primary options for buying time to let the injured and innocents escape - the preferred option is a shield of wind at IN rank (as a base component of Matter Control - Air) that is "effective against all physical missile attacks of that rank or lower".  If that is incompatible with the situation, he will fall back to Magnetic Manipulation and drag the heaviest available vehicle into place as a portable shield.  With AM rank a tank wouldn't be too big.
 
Naysmith
PSY turns around as Ash speaks, reminding her that the terror attack was multiple states over, well outside of where she can get to. Other heroes and doctors would take care of that.

"  Then I'll go straight to investigating the records.  "

Then comes the breaking news. Gunmen. Avalon's heroes were needed.

PSY crams the last hash-brown down her gullet. "  On second thought  ," she chokes out, "  The records will still be there in a few hours or even tomorrow.  " PSY books it to the door, then flies straight towards Skyview Mall as fast as she can. If she were driving on the city roads, this would have quickly earned her a ticket, though officers would likely turn a blind eye to only a few miles per hour over a full highway.

  Good thing I'm doing 60 in the air, not on the ground.  

She mentally computes how long it would take her to get to the Skyview Mall at a mile per minute and adjusts her altitude to have a good overwatch view of the field. She needed to know where to defend or to reinforce.

It was amazing how often that information would help.

  And terrifying, how often I need it.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Emotion Detection to find where the worst trouble is.

Depending on where I'm needed and/or what I see first, my options are:
1) Heal the wounded
2) Projected Forcefield to guard people under attack
3) Telekinesis to create non-forcefield barriers to protect people
4) Telekinesis to yank guns out of attackers' hands
5) Mental Bolts to subdue the attackers.

Preference for healing them while other heroes distract and subdue the gunmen, followed by barriers to let people escape.
 
 
 
Mordar
Arriving at the mall Sylph was shocked and saddened at the carnage.   So much harm for so little cause  , he mused.

Seeing no active threats outside, he counted on Avalon EMS to arrive and assist the wounded.  Finding and subduing the shooters became the new priority.  Landing, he shifted to Lightning Speed and ran into the mall, senses alert and head on a swivel.
Naysmith
Looking around for wounded to heal, PSY notices other heroes arriving.

"  I have healing powers! Get the shooters!  " she shouts, hoping they'll hear from a distance. "  I'll handle the wounded!  "

She rushes to the most-wounded she can see.   The less-injured can wait for the ambulances  , she judges.

PSY considers for a moment. "  And if anyone's hiding nearby and can hear me, be ready to run! I can make a barrier to get you out of here if they show up again! Yell a warning if you see them!  "
SwordCoastTaxi
 Day:  Friday
 Time:  12:07 p.m.
 Weather:  89° &amp; Sunny
 Location:  Downtown


 
 Spoiler: PSY 

There's three injured people within a 60 foot radius of the superheroine! She begins administering aid to a man bleeding badly on the sidewalk near the mall entrance! Psy also notices another superhero speed by headed into the mall!
 

 
 Spoiler: Sylph 

As the hero rockets towards the mall he spots FOUR gunmen wearing black masks, black bodysuits and black boots standing just inside the mall entrance! They're all armed with sub-machineguns   which they're aiming at Sylph!!  
 

As people cower and hide in horror some still scream while others continue to video-record the scene! High above the street a news helicopter sails into the area and spins slowly! Horns continue to honk as panicked drivers try to get through the vehicles trapped in traffic! Roughly a hundred feet away in all directions crowds of astonished people have started to gather &amp; stare at the arriving superheroes!


 
 Spoiler: Map 

This is just to give players an idea of positioning. I'm not using a grid. I thought GitP had image editing but ok. Only one player gave me a hero pic so I used avatars 😛
 
 
Mordar
Sylph landed just outside the main south entranceway to the mall, angered by the sight of at least three shooting victims.  Seeing the costumed woman crouching near one of the injured and shouting that she could help them, he turned his attention to the doorway.

Standing just inside, conveniently grouped into a small area, stood four black-clad, SMG-armed figures.    Clearly not security,   he thought, extending his hands towards the shattered doors and the gunmen.

  "Lay down your weapons and surrender now,"   he directed, just before whipping a violent wind through the entryway.    That's safety glass, so it shouldn't hurt them too much...  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Using Air Control to generate the wind-shield at IN rank that should handle any shots fired out of the mall, with the added bonus of whipping bits of broken door glass at the shooters.
 Not expecting any damage, and the masks probably protect their eyes, but it might be an added distraction with a nice visual effect.
 
truemane
      
      TENDRIL     
  Creature of Shadows  
  Health:  60/60 
  Karma:  100/100 
  Defenses: 
 
 Phasing-AM(50) 
 Regeneration-EX(20) 
 Eldritch Shield-AM(50) 
 
  
 
  

On the roof, Arlandria closed her eyes and uttered a short series of deep, guttural syllables that were an entreaty to the sentient-yet-mindless darkness that ruled the Darkforce Dimension. Her entreaty was heard and her body seems to dissolve away, leaving behind a semi-solid humanoid shadow trailing long, roiling coils of shadow behind it.

The creature smiles and takes to the air, streaking across the sunny afternoon sky toward the mall.

Surveying the scene from the air, she circled down, passing over the heads of the chaotic crowd.

She can hear the gunfire and see the shattered glass. Seeing that the others are taking care of the onlookers, she flew into the mall.

 "I'm going in after them!"  she called out to her compatriots, her voice deep and echoing.

Flying into the mall, she saw Sylph facing off a small squad of masked, machine-gun toting figures.

Smiling when she saw him kick up a wall of concealing air, she swooped down above the figures and unleashed a torrent of inky black roiling darkness from her shadow-body.

 "Surrender now or be lost in eternal darkness!"  She cried. Superhero work was at least half good theatre.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Yellow FEAT. Would it make sense that Arlandria is familiar enough with Create Darkness for it to be a Yellow FEAT for her?
 
Rook.Gamer
Walter was walking a can of trash from his classroom out to the dumpster when he noticed a gathering of teachers in the staff room. Putting down the can and going over he immediately saw what was transpiring on the staff room TV; the crisis at the mall and the costumed heroes on scene. A grim smile appeared on his lips as the other teachers commented with depression at the state of world. He excused himself after sharing a few moments and comments with his fellow teachers. He picked up the can and quickly made his way to dispose of its contents. Returning to his classroom without drawing the attention of the other teachers he disappeared into his supply closet and closed the door.

First he opened a portal home. Once there he turned on the news while quickly changing into his costume. He studied the scene for several moments and he saw the hero in the street taking care of the wounded.  He then opens a portal to a location deep in an isolated forest that he often uses.  Best people don’t  look through his portals and see his living room. Once there he focuses his mind and initiates gravitational ripples eminate from his body (activating personal force field) causing a small amount of magenta and silver light to dance upon him. He then concentrated on the scene he saw at the mall and  opened  a portal onto the street.


Next to PSY, a crackling, swirling vortex of magenta and silver light appears and very quickly expands to form the outer annulus of a window to a dark forest. A man dressed in a black and magenta costume stepped through the portal.  Can I be of assistance? A doorway to an ER perhaps  He asked the hero as the portal collapsed and vanished behind him.
Naysmith
 

"  Success  ," PSY whispers. Louder, "  Get to cover  ."

She looks at the other two wounded and at the other heroes arriving to stop the gunmen. There was no time to think, only to heal.

PSY heads over to the other two to heal them, psychic healing powers at her beck and call.

"  Remain calm. I will make a way out of here when all of you can move.  "

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Healing is what I'm doing until something interrupts me, for two rounds. 20 Karma spent; I have a GREEN (Yay, Karma) for the first, and a YELLOW for the second.
 
SwordCoastTaxi
 Day:  Friday
 Time:  12:07 p.m.
 Weather:  89° &amp; Sunny
 Location:  Downtown


 
 Spoiler: PSY and Horizon 

After PSY healed the injured woman and instructed her to find safety, the superheroine rushed to the next injured civilian, just as the superhero Horizon walked out of a flashing portal! He offered assistance but PSY was too focused on saving lives at the moment! Sirens sounded closer and closer to the area as the shocked crowds inched closer to the scene and a news helo circled overhead! Suddenly a young couple rushed up to Horizon! The young woman held up her smartphone and began recording herself next to the hero,  "Heeey everybody! It's Joeline from Alabama! I'm in Avalon with a real live superhero, ya'all! There's terrorists here shootin' up the place! It's crazy ya'all! If you want to see more content like this, like, subscribe and comment on my channel! My fiancé Jimmy's here with me! Wave at 'em, Jimmy!"  Joeline from Alabama rambled on and on as the chaos on a hot summer afternoon seemed to be sprawling out of control!
 

 
 Spoiler: Street Map 

 
 

 
 Spoiler: Sylph and Tendril 

A blast of wind sent dust, trash and broken glass spinning into the air in front of Sylph as he commanded the winds to form an impenetrable cyclone at the damaged mall entrance!

Inside the mall, Tendril swooped in like a dark angel, confronted the armed madmen and engulfed them in a nightmarish tidal wave of complete darkness!! The heroine could hear the blinded gunmen barking profanities in maniacal frustration! Suddenly they opened fore with their automatic sub-machineguns spraying the area with hot lead but they were shooting blind and missed Tendril completely!

Panicked mall guests were hiding inside stores and behind benches and pillars, anything that might provide protection from certain death!
 

 
 Spoiler: Mall map 

 
 
Mordar
  Well, I didn't think they'd really surrender,   Sylph thought, a little sardonically.

  "I'll handle these four,"   he shouted to the scary looking black shadow...woman?    "Check for other shooters inside!"  

Though he couldn't see the four terrorists, sight wasn't required to manipulate one of the primal forces of the Universe.  The Eridanian made a small gesture with his right hand, using magnetic forces to yank the four submachine guns straight up to the ceiling.  He couldn't recall if they had the weapons on straps or if they were just handheld, but it would be interesting to see if they held tight to the weapons or released them in the face of the amazingly strong pull to the ceiling.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Using Magnetic Manipulation to pull the four weapons to a common spot on the ceiling...pinning the guns there should eliminate any effective field of fire for them, unless Tendril lines up just perfectly inside the mall and the entryway is lower than the main mall space.  Will apply Karma if necessary to succeed (Rolled a Green Feat, should be sufficient for a pretty simple task?).  Dodge for defensive action (Yellow Feat, so -4 CS if anyone gets a shot at me), rolling team initiative (Rolled 5, PSY's IN Intuition adds 3, so 8) as well since no one did it yet.
 
truemane
      
      TENDRIL     
  Creature of Shadows  
  Health:  60/60 
  Karma:  100/100 
  Defenses: 
 
 Phasing-AM(50) 
 Regeneration-EX(20) 
 Eldritch Shield-AM(50) 
 
  
 
  

Tendril was a little dismayed at the hail of random gunfire. She felt like she should have foreseen that eventuality and planned for it. Someone might have gotten killed BECAUSE of her help. Rather than despite it.

  It seems that significant ability is indivisible from equally significant obligation.  

She smiled at the thought. It was not only a keen, unique insight, but also some pretty catchy phrasing. She would have to remember it.

She was considering what to do next when Sylph called out.

 "Thank you for handling them!"  she called out,  "I shall scout the remainder of the mall." 

She considered trying out her snappy new saying on him. But it didn't seem like the right time.

She flew off through the cavernous indoor space, looking for any other threats.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Nil
 
Naysmith
PSY glances at the gathering crowd.

  Only here... only here would normal people run  toward  active gunmen.  

Then, aloud, "  It's too dangerous here! Get to safety!  " she calls, knowing that it's in vain. Of course they won't run. But she still has to try.

Then, an inspiration. "  And more emergency services should be on the way! Make sure you're not blocking them!  "

Two in one: At least then, they might be less likely to take a stray bullet.
SwordCoastTaxi
 Day:  Friday
 Time:  12:07 p.m.
 Weather:  89° &amp; Sunny
 Location:  Downtown


 
 Spoiler: PSY and Horizon 

Much to the superheroes' dislike, the crowds pushed closer to the mall! Many people pulled out smartphones and began recording the scene and taking pictures! Traffic had started moving but the crowds were in the way, slowing vehicles from exiting the area! The news helicopter hung overhead! All the while sirens grew closer and closer!
 

 
 Spoiler: Sylph 

Horizon sees the cloud of darkness dissipate revealing the four confused criminals standing just inside the mall entrance! They look up at the ceiling for their weapons, then look back at Horizon!

 
 Spoiler: Map 

 
 

 

 
 Spoiler: Tendril 

Flying through the mall corridor, Tendril sees people crouching inside stores and hiding wherever they can leaving the wide walkways open! Rounding a corner, the superheroine sees eight gunmen, masked and dressed in black like the others, running in her direction! They see her and stop, aiming their assault rifles in her direction,  "KILL HER!!" 
 
 Spoiler: Map 

All 8 are easily within the range of Tendril's powers. Bystanders can be seen through the shops' tall windows.
 
 

 

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

The heroes have the first move.
 
truemane
      
      TENDRIL     
  Creature of Shadows  
  Health:  60/60 
  Karma:  110/110 
  Defenses: 
 
 Phasing-AM(50) 
 Regeneration-EX(20) 
 Eldritch Shield-AM(50) 
 
  
 
  

Tendril laughed a low, full-throated, echoing laugh.

 "FOOLS! HOW CAN YOU KILL THE VERY DARKNESS ITSELF?" 

She flew in and hovered close to the ground. She positioned herself between the gunners and the largest group of people. And, if possible, near the largest objects she could see. Chairs. Benches. Maybe one of those kiosks they have in the middle of the aisles.

And at the same time her lips moved in a swift incantation and the air around her shimmered.

 "RUN FOOLS BEFORE THE SHADOWS CLAIM YOU!" 

Arlandria loved performing. And often wished she'd had the chance to be a "theatre kid" in a regular High School.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I'm about to start throwing things at them with my tentacles. And I'm assuming I'll need to no longer be Phased to do that. So I'm putting up my shield. Like her Business Liability Insurance Lawyer always says: not safety first, safety ALWAYS. ;)

 Action:  put up my Eldritch Shield (AM).  Note:  this is now costing me one health per round.

 Free Defensive Action : Block! Using Psyche/Eldritch Shield to help keep the people behind me safe. Rolled -2 CS, which is RM(30) protection.
 
Naysmith
 
 Originally Posted by SwordCoastTaxi 
  
 Spoiler: PSY and Horizon 

Much to the superheroes' dislike, the crowds pushed closer to the mall! Many people pulled out smartphones and began recording the scene and taking pictures! Traffic had started moving but the crowds were in the way, slowing vehicles from exiting the area! The news helicopter hung overhead! All the while sirens grew closer and closer!
 
 
 

Between the gunmen, the healing, and the crowd, it's all a blur to PSY. She grumbles to herself about people not taking warnings and how this will make her job harder.

Low enough that people won't hear: "  But when did people ever pay attention to directions?  "   Guess it's the harder way, then.  

She gets back to her final healing, the third and final one before she can join the fray. She hears a " KILL HER " coming from the battle, so she needs to make this healing fast.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Already rolled the healing during R2; YELLOW
 
Mordar
 
 Spoiler: Clarification 
You said Horizon in the spoiler bubble for me...I am assuming that was obvious typo, so moving forward with that assumption.

Also uncertain if they are carrying additional sidearms, but am assuming they are.  Please advise if they have any other visible weapons.
 

  "Well, you had your chance,"   Sylph said, exuding confidence.    Let's see if they reconsider after this!  

Lifting both hands, palms out, Sylph pointed one at each of the terrorists on the end of the line.  Air pressure began to build behind him, and as he snapped both arms forward, propulsive blasts of air ripped forward and slammed into the two lucky targets.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
If I see additional weapons on the terrorists I will use my Defensive action to Dodge (-4CS), if not, I will be prepared to Block (-2CS, giving Typical(6) Body Armor against one attack) should they charge me.

Fighting roll was successful for 2 attacks, first one missing by too much to use Karma, second a solid Green/Hit result, damage starts at IN (40).
 
SwordCoastTaxi
 Day:  Friday
 Time:  12:07 p.m.
 Weather:  89° &amp; Sunny
 Location:  Downtown


 
 Spoiler: PSY 

The superheroine tends to the last of the injured on the street outside the Skyview Mall as crowds gather within sixty feet to record her! As the news helicopter hovers above, PSY sees several APD cops come sprinting around a corner a block away headed in her direction! The calvary may be arriving ...! People in the crowd begin asking PSY questions:

 "Is that woman okay?" 
 "Who are you?" 
 "What are you doing to those people?" 
 "Are you a medical professional?" 
 "Do you need help?" 

Horns begin to honk as drivers wave angrily at the crowds blocking the street!
 

 
 Spoiler: Tendril 

The second Tendril's force-field appears the gunmen unleash a barrage of automatic gunfire on her and the nearby civilians! They scream in terror - but the bullets ricochet harmlessly off of the shadow-barrier! But the stubborn criminals keep pouring wave after wave of bullets at Tendril, and as the field repels the rounds, the bullets smash nearby shop windows almost striking mall guests hiding in fear!

 
 Spoiler: Map 

 
 

 

 
 Spoiler: Orbit 

Leigh was in the Food Court restroom when she heard the gunfire - then the screams! Women rushed into the restroom looking panicked and hid in the stalls! In the Food Court mall-goers hid under tables and jumped behind restaurant counters trying to avoid the gunfire! Some people fell and were in danger of being trampled by the lunchtime crowds that had become like a massive herd of frightened deer darting in all direction for cover! Food and drinks spilled everywhere making the floor a slippery mess!
 

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I couldn't figure out if  Sylph  was attacking with Fighting or Air power? There's rolls for both but you can only attack with one or the other.

 Orbit  can act: she can help people in the Food Court or search the mall for the gunmen (four of them are just around the corner from the Food Court) and confront/attack. It's a Green power FEAT to use her Stunning attack. If she tries to attack multiple gunmen at once, the FEAT has a -4CS penalty but you can use Karma to increase the roll, if necessary.

 Tendril  can act.

 PSY  can deal with the crowds, wait for the cops (they'll reach her 30 seconds/5 rounds), help Sylph against the 4 thugs at the mall entrance, or do something else.

 Horizon  is out of the game.
 
Mordar
 
 Originally Posted by SwordCoastTaxi 
  
 Spoiler: OOC 

I couldn't figure out if  Sylph  was attacking with Fighting or Air power? There's rolls for both but you can only attack with one or the other.
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
In order to make the two attacks with the Air Power I am required to make the Fighting roll to see if I can (a) do both at -1 CS, or (b) make only one Air attack at -3 CS, according to page 30, "Multiple Combat Actions", counting the ranged air attack as shooting.
 


The blast of air hit the first terrorist like a brick, and he crumpled to the ground.  Sylph faced the other three with a disappointed look on his countenance.  He could hear sirens approaching in the distance, and someone out front was addressing the crowd, trying to get them to move away.  Letting the air pressure again gather beneath and behind him, Sylph floated a foot off the ground.

Glancing behind, he noted some empty vehicles and the approaching crowd, and exerting his innate control over the magnetic fields, lifted a large truck, and placing it just behind him, blocking the path from the mall doors to the sidewalk.  It didn't fit tightly enough to keep out a sufficiently committed individual, but should serve to limit gawkers and lookie-lous.
Naysmith
PSY sighs, calls over her shoulder, "  I go by PSY, altered human and psychic healer. My identity and powers are public record!  ", and then charges through the air at the gunmen,  trying to dodge their fire . While flying, she sighs and mutters,   "I suppose PSY is accurate; I do that a lot."   She lands next to them in a crouch (EDIT: Ready to evade their attacks).

Adjacent to the lot of them, she unleashes a blast of raw force upon their minds. All of them. "  Cease your attacks!  " a sound to resonate through their ears as PSY's blast resonates through their mind and rips apart their will to fight.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Mental Force Bolt at Psyche Incredible to hit
-4 CS for multiple targets
+3 CS and +1 result rank for point-blank range
Net: Remarkable to hit.
If this doesn't count as point-blank, still doing it and I'll eat the certain Karma use.
Per houserule, only using Karma if I don't score yellow -&gt; red or just plain red. I want a RED result to stun.

The EDIT is because I forgot their guns were taken away, so I'll evade in melee. Same column; and I haven't rolled yet.
 
truemane
      
      TENDRIL     
  Creature of Shadows  
  Health:  59/60 
  Karma:  120 
  Defenses: 
 
 Phasing-AM(50) 
 Regeneration-EX(20) 
 Eldritch Shield-AM(50) 
 
  
 
  

Tendril laughs as the gunfire is deflected by her eldritch might.

 "FOOLS!" 

The long, wispy shadow tentacles floating behind her grow into massive twisted chords of pulsating darkness. They strike forward like vipers and pick up the long upholstered bench right in front of the store.

She flies up over them, drawing their fire away from the bystanders and hurls the bench into the thick of the group of gunners.

 "YOU WILL BE DESTROYED." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

There's a rectangle on the map, so I decided that's one of those long bench seats they have in malls. If that's off-side, let me know. Tentacles have RM Strength and MN Agility.

Action: Throwing Blunt, trying to hit as many of them as I can. Rolled a YELLOW.
Defense Action: Dodging in the Air. Rolled a GREEN.

On-going: Eldritch Shield-AM
 
Mordar
The woman who had been helping the wounded outside landed near the three terrorists still standing and as if a wave crashed over them they crumpled to the ground.    Glad she is one of the good guys!   he thought.    "I think there are more inside,   Sylph said, rather calmly, floating by PSY in a reclined position.    "Maybe secure them so they don't wake up and get away?"   he suggested, a little unsure in his voice.

Zipping forward into the mall proper, he moved towards the sound of carnage.  Seeing the five gunmen still standing focused on the shadowy female form, and bullets ricocheting from their efforts to hit her, Syph knows it is best to end this quickly.    Disarming worked well last time...  

Again calling on the forces at his command, he focused his mind on ripping the weapons from the hands of the 5 villains.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Dodge roll was just enough for Green -2 CS result
Attempting the same grab as before, aiming to pin the 5 weapons well above the reach of the shooters - achieved Green Feat on the Grab roll with the -4CS
Both rolls just barely scraped by!
 
SwordCoastTaxi
 Day:  Friday
 Time:  12:07 p.m.
 Weather:  89° &amp; Sunny
 Location:  Downtown


 
 Spoiler: Tendril and Sylph 

The hurled couch slams into three of the gunmen knocking them back several steps, but they don't fall! The other five gunmen take aim at the airborne superheroine! Suddenly their weapons fly from their grasp up towards the ceiling as Sylph enters the scene! Before anyone can react, a man in a suit emerges from a side hallway and opens fire, knocking down one of the crooks with a shot! Then, another shot sounds from somewhere as a bullet misses the man in the suit!

 
 Spoiler: Map 

Tendril and Sylph need to make a Green Intuition FEAT to locate whoever fired at the man in the suit. Five of the eight crooks are now unarmed.

 
 

 

 
 Spoiler: PSY 

PSY's psionic attack knocks three of the crooks to the ground, unconscious! Sylph takes out the last criminal with a blast of concentrated wind, then the superhero sprints into the mall! The crowds surrounding the block gasp and cheer as the crooks are defeated by their defenders! One of the women PSY treated runs up and gives the heroine a hug!  "You saved my life! Thank you so much!" 
 
Naysmith
PSY hugs the woman back. "  Just doing what anyone with this power should.  " Then she glances at the four downed enemies. "  I'll keep them as restrained as I can, but the police won't be here for half a minute. Best to get to safety until then.  " PSY gestures at the crowd as best she can without while returning the grateful hug, then turns her psychic power again upon the terrorists. Not to strike down, but to restrain if they come to before the police arrive.
Aglaophotis
A relaxing day at the mall for Leigh just wasn't in the cards it seemed. She'd been in the restroom when all hell broke loose. Peeking out of the stall she was occupying, she saw terrified women come running in to hide. The gunshots echoed cacophonously, and she frowned deeply as she shut the door and started rummaging around in the backpack she'd brought with her.

"So much for getting some shopping done...!" She mumbled, hastily changing into her costume. Placing the mask on her face, she completed her transformation into none other than Orbit! Securing her backpack for later, she opened the stall door and hurried out. Seeing the women huddled in a corner, she turned and gave them a salute.

"Stay here and bar the door! Don't come out until everything is clear!" She instructs, then proceeds to run out the door and into the food court area. Seeing people ducked down, terrified to move, she addresses them.

"Everyone! I can lead you all to an emergency exit if you follow me!"
Mordar
Sylph's first thought was that the terrorists must have other weapons...or additional backup.  It took a moment to register that it was one of the terrorists who had been shot!

  A mall security guard?  Or first APD officer on site?   he thought, looking around.  Seeing the man in the suit, he assumed it was an undercover officer or detective.
 Another gunshot echoed, and the man in the suit flinched slightly.  Sylph scanned the area, but unable to spot anyone else, the best bet seemed to be to get him to cover.

Rushing to his side, Sylph spoke   "Sir, let us handle this.  It is too risky for one officer!  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Pasting the Orokos link in the OOC, but it was a 25, so failed Intuition check.

I intend to gently pick him up and zip over to the wall nearby, or any available cover that is not closer to the terrorists.  I will not attempt to force him, and if he will not go willingly I'll get a wind screen up protecting the two of us.
 