Adventures Assemble S3E3: The Great Brain Robbery!

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kenseido
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by kenseido »

Jason Maxwell, aka Spellbinder
HP: 5, Condition: Fine

Jason nods in confirmation as Moonlight and Genie offer their opinions.

"We'll give Spellbinder a try and see how it works out." Byron would be furious if he heard them discussing this in the middle of a dangerous situation.

"Actually, Moonlight, stone walls are a good idea. They came here expecting to go through the doors. Cutting metal and cutting stone are two very different things. And if they have a way to open the doors mechanically, a second barrier of any kind will also be helpful. Anything that slows them down is good for us. Giving us more time to prepare for what they present."
Ysariel
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Ysariel »

Moonlight, Nightbird & Spellbinder
Section 3 -- Monitoring room

The guards are roughed up, but not very seriously injured, and they dust themselves off as you free them. "We can get back into action immediately," one of them says. "We have small diesel-powered submarines that are used for patrol and inspection of the facility's exterior, and cameras that we can use to see outside the facility. But we don't have any mines, nothing that would work against some kind of giant sub. We don't even know how big it is!"

"This place was always designed to defeat escape, not external attack," another says. "Everyone assumed any massed attack would be intercepted by the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard. Anything that could slip through could be handled by the close-in defense systems. We didn't expect an attack from within taking them out."

The speakers crackle to life again. "Attention heroes; this is control. The unidentified submarine is drawing close to the facility. It's trying something funny at the docking bay! Are you seeing this?!"

(If you follow them:)

The guards are able to lead you to the monitoring room on Section 3 that operates the external cameras and floodlights, a cramped, dark place strewn with printouts and beverage cans and lit only by the pale glow of monitors. At first all the screens show is blackness; it takes a few moments for the guards to figure out that what's incoming is so large they have to zoom out to see it properly. And for the first time, you glimpse what can only be the Ragnarok that Catastrophe spoke of earlier.

Image

Vast does not even begin to describe it: it dwarfs the Navy supercarriers that visit Phoenix Bay's ports and naval bases. The only larger vessel you have ever seen was Lord Steel's battleship.

"Look!" one of them points at the screen. "It's lining up right next to us. Something's coming out!"

The starboard side of the ship inches very close to docking bay doors of Deep Six. What looks like a very large metal pipe or tunnel extends from the ship's hull and mates itself to the docking bay doors. Then you hear a horrible drilling sound, like all the world's worst neighbors simultaneously doing home improvement work together.

"They're trying to drill through the doors!" One of the guards exclaims.


OOC

The monitoring room is directly adjacent to the docking bay itself. For the Ragnarok to cut through the door takes 19 turns, or almost two minutes.
Last edited by Ysariel on Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:58 am, edited 2 times in total.
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kenseido
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

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Jason Maxwell, aka Spellbinder
HP: 5, Condition: Fine

"Okay idea time. No ideas are stupid. So, spit out what you got.

We open the door and flood the bay. With the tube, they seem to be planning on keeping the bay at current water levels with the tube. However, this is stage one of their plan, so it's hard to know what the next step is. They may also have a contingency for this as it's something that the base personnel might do without superhero intervention.

We find some way outside and attack the tube. Similar risks to attacking the sub, though it's probably not as tough. Definitely not flimsy, though, and we may get stuck out there.

Moonlight puts up a stonewall, maybe with some magical reinforcement from yours truly and mess with their drill bit. Need a contingency plan for that one failing."
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Gilliam
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Gilliam »

Nightbird
HP: 5 LP: 1
Condition: Normal


"Yip that is a biggun" Imogen comments after seeing the Ragnarok on the screen "One option is using subs or something to punch a hole in the tube hopefully flooding it, my voice can weaken objects so I could try and blast the drill bit but it would mean opening the doors so I could see it and depending whats on the other side we might not be able to close them again. "

Tapping her finger against the side of her face "You want stupid how about flooding the dock then Moonlight turning it all to ice, they wouldn't be expecting that."
Ysariel
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Ysariel »

Gelert
General Arms Systems -- Underground STARS Assembly Plant
stavaros_the_arcane wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 7:23 pm Gelert fires again at the damaged STARS unit, trying to put it out of commission so that he can help Amethyst with the other one.
The factory lights seem dimmer for a moment as your blue laser blasts the STARS drone's head clean off its shoulders and sends a rain of smoldering metal parts flying across the room. Being a drone, this doesn't bother the STARS unit as much as it would a human, but the machine is very heavily battered by now and unlikely to stand up to another assault. You're preeetty sure that just one more good shot will do it...

Then something very strange happens.

The battered STARS drone stops and turns towards another inactive drone. Scarlet lightning arcs from the old drone to the new one, causing it to shudder with uncontrollable spasms. As the last of the lightning fizzles out, the old STARS drone topples over to the ground, inanimate. A second later, the new drone whirs to life and tears free of the restraints!

"Gelert, did you see that?" Amethyst says over radio. Behind her, her drones are dragging Rex into the elevator with the last of his employees.

"I know what's going on. The technopath's an energy being that possesses machines. As long as it can keep body-hopping from drone to drone, we can't beat it for good. But... given that we're in a room full of power-nullifying robots, I think we have the kryptonite we need on hand."

She dodges a nullifier beam from the STARS drone attacking her, flies off, and lands next to another of the inactive STARS units. She taps on the controls of the computers surrounding it, and the machine's chest and abdomen open up to admit a human pilot like you saw in the promotional video, like a battlesuit.

"I'm going to try turning off its machine possession. Once it's vulnerable, it's up to you to take it out!"


OOC
AA Toughness DC 28: 1D20+10-3 = [15]+10-3 = 22

The Stars Equalizer is now at -4 and very flimsy. On its turn, it uses Digital Transference as a standard action to abandon the STARS drone it was controlling and possess a fresh drone instead, becoming STARS Equalizer #3, with a fresh damage track.

STARS Equalizer #2 uses Power Nullifier Ray on Amethyst, but misses.

Amethyst also flies next to an inactive STARS unit. As a standard action, she shuts down its AI core with the technology skill and takes manual control of it. Getting into the STARS unit is a move action, however, so she can only operate it on her next round.

Round 4
23 Gelert *
11 STARS Equalizer #3 (inhabited by technopath)
11 STARS Equalizer #2

10 Amethyst

You are up!
Ysariel
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Ysariel »

Spellbinder, Nightbird & Moonlight
Section 3 -- Monitoring room

It's hard to tell for sure through the cameras, but the drilling tunnel will likely be much less armored than the hull of the Ragnarok itself, especially if was added for this attack only and not originally part of the ship's equipment. It would also provide an entrance to attack the interior of the ship.

Moonlight judges that she can easily create a wall that blocks enough of the docks entrance completely. It's possible that the drill might be able to break through, but if the material is hard enough, the drill bits will jam and prevent access completely.

"If you want to attack their tunnel... drilling... thing," one of the guards says, "We can open the maintenance airlock next to the docks. You'll need a suit to survive underwater, unless you have, ah, powers for that kinda thing."

OOC

Moonlight's transmute is too low ranked to turn enough of the water in the docks to ice (only rank 4), but using Create to block the docks is possible. I would probably rule this as an opposed check between Create and the drill's affects objects only damage rank, and if you win, the drill jams on the material it cannot penetrate; otherwise it breaks through.

To get suited up in the spare suits of MAX armor and through the airlock will take at least 30 seconds, or 5 rounds, before the drill gets through the door. (Moonlight doesn't need a suit, but presumably she will attack together with you.) This leaves 14 turns before the drill breaks through.
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Psistrike
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Psistrike »

Moonlight
HP: 4 LP: 0

"I can create a barrier of layered quartzite, and granite to try and block the drill, but it will block the dock's entrance completely. Should I attempt this or do you think we should attack the drill directly?"

OOC: I don't want to jump the gun and make the decision for all three of us by Moonlight just blocking the entrance immediately, it needs to be a team decision.
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Gilliam
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Gilliam »

Nightbird
HP: 5 LP: 1
Condition: Normal



"How long will it take you to make the barrier Moonlight and Spellbinder are you able to reinforce it?" Imogen asked the other two heroes.

"And if it doesn't take too long then we could also attack the drilling tunnel before it breaks through"
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

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Moonlight
HP: 4 LP: 0
Condition: FIne

"It should take 20-30 seconds at most to make a barrier several feet thick and very tough, quartzite and granite are two of the hardest stones around. If we are going to attack the drilling tunnel directly I would have to form it behind us after we enter. Unless the maintenance airlock has to be shut immediately after we enter it, then we can only go with attacking the drill directly.
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kenseido
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by kenseido »

Spellbinder
HP: 5, Condition" Fine

Jason listens to the two women discuss.

"I think going out in the suits is a bad idea. We would be handicapped. Neither of us could use our powers, and Moonlight would not have the proper backup. Perhaps we should plan for their eventual penetration of the doors and stone wall. Even if they don't get through, it's better to be prepared for a breach and not need it, then get breached without being prepared."
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Gilliam
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Gilliam »

Nightbird
HP: 5 LP: 1
Condition: Normal


"Okay Moonlight block the entrance and we will prepare in case they break through." Imogen says after considering the feedback from Moonlight and Spellbinder for a moment. Turning to the guards

"Get ready we may have more incoming from outside the prison or those freed from in here."
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stavaros_the_arcane
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by stavaros_the_arcane »

Ysariel wrote: Tue Nov 30, 2021 1:51 am Gelert
General Arms Systems -- Underground STARS Assembly Plant

"Gelert, did you see that?" Amethyst says over radio. Behind her, her drones are dragging Rex into the elevator with the last of his employees.

"I know what's going on. The technopath's an energy being that possesses machines. As long as it can keep body-hopping from drone to drone, we can't beat it for good. But... given that we're in a room full of power-nullifying robots, I think we have the kryptonite we need on hand."

She dodges a nullifier beam from the STARS drone attacking her, flies off, and lands next to another of the inactive STARS units. She taps on the controls of the computers surrounding it, and the machine's chest and abdomen open up to admit a human pilot like you saw in the promotional video, like a battlesuit.

"I'm going to try turning off its machine possession. Once it's vulnerable, it's up to you to take it out!"


OOC
AA Toughness DC 28: 1D20+10-3 = [15]+10-3 = 22

The Stars Equalizer is now at -4 and very flimsy. On its turn, it uses Digital Transference as a standard action to abandon the STARS drone it was controlling and possess a fresh drone instead, becoming STARS Equalizer #3, with a fresh damage track.

STARS Equalizer #2 uses Power Nullifier Ray on Amethyst, but misses.

Amethyst also flies next to an inactive STARS unit. As a standard action, she shuts down its AI core with the technology skill and takes manual control of it. Getting into the STARS unit is a move action, however, so she can only operate it on her next round.

Round 4
23 Gelert *
11 STARS Equalizer #3 (inhabited by technopath)
11 STARS Equalizer #2

10 Amethyst

You are up!
"Understood." Gelert replies, before blasting the possessed STARS units. He's more interested in keeping their attention away from Amethyst than actually damaging them right now. "That's right robots, keep your eyes on the corgi."

OOC: Blast: Shapeable Area Damage 10 (DC 25; Shapeable Area: 30 cft., DC 20, Increased Range: ranged) at both STARS.
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Psistrike
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Psistrike »

Moonlight
HP: 4>3 LP: 0
Condition: Fine

"TIme to focus and create the toughest barrier I've ever created." Moonlight says to herself as she begins to manifest a layer of quartzite, followed by a layer of granite, another layer of quartzite, and a final layer of granite to the barrier over the dock's entrance.

OOC: Power check for Creations of Nature [stone descriptor]: Create Power check: 1d20+11 22 Don't feel like that is going to be good enough, HP to reroll: Create Power check: 1d20+11 20 +10 for roll under 11 for 30 total.
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kenseido
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by kenseido »

Spellbinder
HP: 5, Condition: Fatigued

Jason grabs some paper and a pen and begins scribbling. It looks like some strange equation in Latin. He then reviews his work.

Sorcery is so ridiculously tedious. No wonder few mages study it. Way too much math.

Then while looking at the paper, he begins casting the spell. Unlike his other spells which fire off rapidly with quick, well-practiced hand movements, Jason slowly and methodically makes the hand movements required for this spell. As he comes to the end, he points at the stone barrier that Moonlight created and says the incantation "Lapis."

More stone rises reinforcing her wall.
Put Personal Magic Array into Enhance Sorcery.
Extra Effort to Power Stunt: Lapis: Create 11 (Stone Wall; Continuous)
Team check: 1d20+11 27
4 degrees of success means Moonlight adds +5 to her power check.
Ysariel
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Re: Adventures Assemble S3E1: Enemies of the State!

Post by Ysariel »

Nightbird, Moonlight & Spellbinder
Section 3 -- Submersible docking bay

Deep Six's outer shell is made of impregnable super-alloy, designed to withstand even a direct nuclear strike and fortified against teleportation, dimensional translation, magical transmutation and many forms of superhuman assault. The doors to the undersea docks are one of few relatively weak spots in the structure's perimeter where access is blocked "only" by 6-foot-thick doors of hardened super-alloy. It takes the Ragnarok's drill some two minutes to eat all the way through. You can tell, because the drilling noise lowers sharply in pitch as it finishes grinding through the armored door and hits the wall of magically fortified stone behind it, going from a deafening whirr to something more like a dragon grinding its teeth. You see the wall visibly shuddering under the attack from the drill bit, but can see no cracks from your side of the barrier.

A few tense moments pass. The prison guards accompanying you have suited up in the MAX armor, for what good it will do them, but even though you cannot see their faces you can sense the nervousness in their poise and gait. Then you suddenly hear a deafening KA-JANG! and all falls silent for a second.

An instant later, the sound of powerful motors revving up can be heard. "They're reversing the drill and restarting it," one of the prison guards says nervously. Indeed, a few seconds later the growl of the drill resumes, lower and deeper in pitch than before. This goes on for another few moments before there is another loud jamming sound, this time accompanied by several cracks and the shriek of twisting metal. The wall holds firm. You see no cracks, nor any sign of the drill bit from this side.

"The drill's jammed! It couldn't get through!" someone exclaims. Fist-pumps and cheers break through the brightly-lit docking bay. Even though you were the only ones who did something, everyone is celebrating nonetheless.

"Now we just need to hold out until the rest of the Champions and the U.S. Navy can get here," one of the guards says.

"What do you think they'll do now that their drill didn't work?" another asks.

As if in answer to that question, you hear a very loud WHUMP, as if someone hit the stone wall with a very large hammer, and a frostflake of cracks appears in its center. A second hammering sound follows, then a third, and upon the fourth the stone wall shatters inwards, spraying the docks interior with huge chunks of granite, twisted metal and diamond-tipped drill bits. Through the hole you see the twisted remains of the jammed drill -- red hot in places due to overheating -- and a dim metal corridor leading to what must be the Ragnarok's airlock. And standing in the middle of the opening, one foot perched on the edge of the half-melted docking bay door, is a tall woman with dark hair and glasses, clad in a skintight, glossy bodysuit:

Image

Beside her is a heavily-armored, bulky battlesuit in the stark industrial style reminiscent of Soviet-era war machines. The woman looks over you and narrows her eyes. "I recognize Moonlight and Nightbird," she says, and points directly at Spellbinder, "but not this one. Professor Pandemonium, explain."

"General Havoc," the figure in the battlesuit says, "Our intelligence files make no mention of him. I assume the Champions have called for reinforcements and he is the result."

The General looks directly at Jason. "You are not a hero, so I extend this offer to you. You will submit and join our crusade to dismantle the imperialist global order and forge a world free of nations. Or you will be executed along with the rest of the defeated Champions as an object lesson when I am done with my invasion of the United States. Make your choice."


OOC

The Ragnarok's drill bit is diamond-tipped with a monomolecular core and super-alloy frame, specifically designed to drill through the toughest materials, effectively a rank 15 affects objects only damage effect. Taking 10 on its check, however, it still can't beat Moonlight's result of 30 (after +5 from Spellbinder), so it jams. Note that even though General Havoc is able to punch through the wall, this still isn't a practical way for the Anarchy Command to move any significant numbers of troops or people through.
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