My second novel, [url=http://www.amazon.com/Strong-Wind-Steve-Semler/dp/1511594756][b]A Strong, Strong Wind[/b][/url], is now published and in-print (paperback and Kindle ebook) on Amazon! Here is an excerpt for sharing, and a kick-off to an open RP thread.
[i]Author’s Note: The intro story about Aspen, mother of the main character, Gayle Magnuson (aka Gayle Force), was originally written for the League of Titans’ Memorial Day remembrance thread in May 2006. It fills in a bit of the backstory about Gayle, the K’rk’ti invasion, and the nature of heroism in the world of Venture City. A CoH player and SG member, Shaun Parrish, originally suggested the concept behind “So That Others May Live” and I am deeply indebted to him for prompting me to tell the real story about what happened to Gayle's mother, Aspen, on the first day of the K’rk’ti invasion. Getting that brief story written gave me an anchoring concept for much of what would haunt, challenge, and motivate Gayle as a character from that point onward.[/i]
(OOC) I will kick this off with the "prologue" story, a couple of posts about Gayle in Titan City, and then open it up.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
[i]Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 31, 2004[/i]
Aspen soared over the Milwaukee skyline, enjoying the late afternoon view of the lake and the people walking along the shoreline. She didn’t get enough flying, these days. Her job and her teenaged children took up so much of her time. She stretched her arms out to her sides and then brought them in quickly, spinning in a tight, fast barrel roll with the wind roaring against her face. It wouldn’t be long before Gayle would be able to do this, Aspen thought. She realized that she was looking forward to the day when her daughter could ride the wind, too. It was especially hard for her, now that she had to settle into yet another high school. People just didn’t understand or accept, despite all that talk about diversity and respecting differences.
Wearing the costume felt good, too. It took a lot of perseverance to stay fit with a desk job and a family to take care of after work. Being a purchasing manager had its perks, though. She had company discounts on lots of things Chad and the kids enjoyed. She had outfitted the new basement with a decent fitness room and had followed her aerobics workout religiously since they had built it a few years ago.
Aspen noticed a sudden flashing from the airport several miles away and turned to get a better look. Then she watched as one of the Air Force KC tanker jets exploded in a slow ball of flame. “Oh, crap,” she whispered and flew as fast as she could toward the airport.
As she drew closer, she couldn’t believe her eyes. The Air Force Reserve base on the south side of the runway was being destroyed by some sort of strange armored beings. From what she could tell, they were humanoid, but oddly shaped—definitely not human. They carried energy weapons and had already blown a crater in the south runway.
The green-caped hero soared into action, laying into the villains with bolts of lightning and powerful gusts of wind. Aspen decided that she wasn’t too out of practice to dodge most of the energy blasts, but the few that landed really hurt!
She dropped quite a few of the strange soldiers and had ducked behind the United Airlines hanger momentarily when she caught sight of an inbound jet. It was trailing smoke and on a final approach for the south runway. Risking a quick glance, Aspen also saw that there were now two squads of the alien soldiers teleporting in along the runway. With a shock, she also realized that her radio had been silent this entire time. The pilot of that airliner may not be able see the dangerous crater, probably had no contact with the tower, and certainly didn’t know about the hostile threat from the armored soldiers. It was up to her to do something.
She jumped into action as two of the aliens winked in on either side of her hiding spot. Blaster beams dueled with lightning bolts in a game of fast-draw and rapid fire. Aspen was pushing the limits of her powers, but managed to drop the two assailants and fly as fast as she could to the runway. She saw a dozen of the alien troops lined up a few yards back from the edge of the runway. The crater was in shadow from the clouds, probably not visible yet to the pilot, but spanning most of the width of the runway. It looked like the aliens were waiting for the plane to land and hit the crater—anticipating the explosion, Aspen thought.
She could buffer the plane’s landing with a major gust and drop its airspeed without running it into the crater, but that would take all her concentration and energy, and that would still leave the plane at the mercy of the soldiers. There was no more time. There was another jet on final approach a mile behind the first. Aspen grimaced and prepared for impact as she launched herself at top flying speed into the nicely ordered line of aliens, from one end to the other, toppling them like a pinball bouncing off tenpins. She dropped to the ground, spun, and called the wind into a protective tornado about the plane.
Even the smaller commercial aircraft are heavy and fast. The sudden drag on the tornado jerked Aspen off her feet and slammed her into the ground. The DC-9 was wobbling terribly as it came, port wingtip scraping a shower of sparks from the runway, but it slowed and glided over the crater as Aspen had hoped. The plane skidded around the far corner of the runway and off to the terminal—damaged but intact. She got to her feet and wobbled, realizing that the attention of the alien soldiers was now on her.
“Yeah, come and get me, you bastards!” she shouted, waving a fist at them. She cast a quick glance back over her shoulder at the second plane. Just a few seconds would do it. An energy blast seared her arm and she cried out in pain. Still others were now aiming their weapons at the incoming jetliner. Summoning her reserves of energy, she unleashed another hurricane-force wind at the aliens, tumbling them back down to the ground and away from the runway.
“Last tornado of the season,” Aspen muttered, quickly wiping away the sweat from her eyes. She summoned another whirlwind to hold up and slow the second jet. Another alien energy blast caught her in the ribs. “Ooow! That... hurts....” Aspen dropped to her knees, wavering on the edge of consciousness. The plane had to land. Had to get to safety. Last chance....
Jet engines are hellishly loud, and the reverse thrusters on landing can kick up many thousands of pounds of force. Aspen grabbed some of that wind power and siphoned it off into a lethal battering ram, sweeping the alien soldiers with a fluid pressure of hundreds of pounds per square inch. Alien battle armor buckled and shattered. The bodies of the runway squads were battered and thrown more than a hundred feet away, lying unmoving where they fell. Then, as a group, they winked out and disappeared.
Aspen gasped for breath. She barely registered the plane’s escape from the alien soldiers and from the lethal runway hazard. She swayed with exhaustion, bleeding from her eyes, nose, and ears. Channeling the force of a jet engine, even for a moment, would be a challenge for the strongest and most well-rested mutant, and she was already drained and pushed well beyond her limits. Aspen couldn’t hear or feel anything further as she fell over onto the grass beside the runway. She choked out a final whisper, “Get ‘em... to safety... Gayle.”
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
-----
The official citation given to the family listed Jennifer Magnuson, aka “Aspen,” as dying in the effort to save the passengers and crew of the two jets from a small unit of aliens in the opening hours of the K’rk’ti War. The final line read, “This extraordinary woman exemplified heroism. Because of her efforts, the lives of 129 people aboard two aircraft were saved, and many more in danger from the hostile forces were undoubtedly protected from death or grave peril. She gave herself, that others might live.”
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
[i]Titan City, Ironport, May 25, 2015[/i]
Another Memorial Day, another year, and another threat defeated.
Gayle Magnuson, known to the city as Gayle Force, heaved a tired sigh and banked over the port, headed for home. The eco-terrorists had tried to smuggle the Green Thumb serum into Titan City again. She stretched her shoulders and rubbed her sore hip. All accounted for, but she was looking forward to a soak in the hot tub in her Riverhaven apartment. The wind in her face tousled her strawberry blonde hair and rippled along her lean, costumed body to make her cape flutter behind her as she flew. Gayle was wearing her most recognizable costume. Inherited from her mother, the heroine Aspen, Gayle Force wore a shimmering light green spandex outfit with matching leather boots. Her shoulders, arms, and belly were bare to the wind. She wore a golden headband with stylized metallic wings rising from either side. Over her upper chest was a circular emblem of an aspen tree in gold and forest green. Her belt and wristbands had a metallic gold finish that matched her headband. With a calf-length diaphanous cape of alternating green and spring green vertical stripes and her strawberry-blonde hair ruffling in the ever-present breeze around her, she looked every inch a hero.
Even at 28, she still had a young, cheerful face. The angsty urban sophisticate expressions currently popular on the music scene that made up her "day job" just didn’t work for her, and Gayle didn’t really care about fashion, anyway. She was her own girl. Her fans kept telling her they liked that about her, and she was happy that way. Lean and pretty, fittingly curvy but not what most people would call beautiful, light and breezy—that was her style, and it was natural. And nature was what she was trying to protect, at the moment.
"No killer mutant plant creatures attacking the city today!" she muttered. "We'll see what Ravenger and his crew can think up for tomorrow, but for now the city is safe."
She took in a big breath of air, freshening and clearing out the Ironport stink, and turned back toward the river.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
Gunnhilde Swan, wearing synthetic motorcycle "leathers" and a full helmet, opened up the throttle of the rebuilt Suzuki. That was what the MassDoT was calling it, and if they hadn't cared to ask about any non-cosmetic changes she'd made beyond making sure it was street legal when she had taken it in to get it registered that past Friday morning, that was no problem by her. She wasn't sure she liked the idea of having her address on the driver's license, though...
Spotting the heroine in green flying by, Gunni turned to take a bridge that would let her keep her in sight. The hum of electric wheel motors stepped up in pitch as she accelerated to the speed limit.
(oops, forgot the MassDoT was closed for Memorial day!)
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The waves on the Aurora side of the river sparkled invitingly in the mid-afternoon sun. The strip of beach at Riverhaven looked like it had a speckling of people setting up Memorial Day picnics. Gayle had a gig to play in Bradford this evening, but there was still plenty of time before stage call. Time enough for a soak, anyway. The band would meet her at the Green Line, just east of the downtown area, an hour before showtime. Stevie and Slash and the other guys had the amps and the rest of the equipment in the van already. She just had to get there with her guitar and sax.
She rolled her eyes and hoped this performance would go peacefully, with no villainous interruptions. She giggled and returned the waves of a trio of young guys riding along in the back of a pickup truck across the Highway 55 bridge from Clarkstown. She chuckled to herself as she noticed a leathered-up motorcyclist crossing the bridge behind the truck and wondered if that gear was hot on a sunny day like this one.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
It was the smile that clued Gunni in. She hadn't actually looked at the covers of any of the albums after uploading them to her computer. But that was definitely Gale Force.
Gunni used her left hand to break and raised her right in a Vulcan salute as she pulled off to the side of the street...
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Gayle blinked in momentary confusion and pulled back to a hover, tilting her head to one side as she regarded the biker. "Huh?" There was something unusual about that salute that sparked her curiosity. She casually applied her air cushion shield, just in case, and swooped back to the side of the street to say hello.
"Hiya! Live long and prosper, yourself, lady! How is your Memorial Day going?" she said with a grin as she flew close, careful to avoid causing a traffic hazard.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
As the cargo vessel pulls into Ironport, all Jacob could think was "Titan City... had to dock here for shore leave did ya? It'd be more peaceful at sea." The large man wearing a long brown trenchcoat steps off the boat and takes a deep breath. His face goes sour as the polluted air of Ironport enters his mouth.
"Oh boy."
He instantly heads to the nearest pub. He sits down at the bar and calls the bartender over.
"Grab me a pint o the stongest shite ya got."
The bar tender stares blankly at him for a moment.
"A beer! I want a pint o beer ya goof."
The bartender grabs a pint glass and starts pouring him a beer.
"Bloody-"
Out of the corner of his eye he notices a group of thugs harassing a woman in a booth in the corner. Had this been a year or two ago, he would've put a stop to it in an instant. But this time he was hesitant. If he were to act it would certainly stir up some trouble and bring him some much unwanted attention. He just wanted to enjoy a beer and have a peaceful memorial day. He got his pint and began sipping, watching the thugs, and stewing over the decision he had before him. Two other thugs dressed in similar colors walked in and sat beside him. Inaction seemed to be the best option. But a lady being harassed was certainly one of his biggest pet peeves. He continued to drink, deep in thought.
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Gunni pulled off her helmet, revealing scandinavian features and platinum-blonde hair in a pixie cut. Her voice had a definite New Zealand accent. "Pretty good so far. I put about a hundred and fifty kilometers on this thing today, and only used up about a fifth of a charge. And I got to say 'hi' to one of my favorite singers. Hi! I'm Gunni Swan. Umm, d'you mind if I get a picture of you?" She opened her jacket enough to pull out her phone.
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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At about that moment, with a buffeting wave of heated air preceding her, a bright-haired woman with a flaming contrail screamed by.
Close enough to touch, she casually reached out and brushed Gayle on the shoulder as she passed. "TAG! You're it, tree-hugger!" Flashpoint crowed as she abruptly went vertical and headed for a low-hanging cloud meandering across the sky. Dani reached the cloud and zipped through it, coming to a stop on the other side and peeking around it like a hiding child.
[color=#FF7F50]Putting yourself in another persons shoes emotionally is something that everyone has to experience eventually. It's part of learning to be a human being. Roleplayers do it for fun.[/color]
Gayle's jaw dropped in surprise as Flashpoint zoomed by and tagged her. "Uh... Flashpoint!" she shouted with delight as she recognized her. "Oh, yeah, I'll catch you!"
She shook her head and said with a grin to the biker, "Sure, Gunni! Pleased to meet you! Do you want one with both of us? I can have an air servant take it. And maybe I'll sucker my friend into coming in closer, too." She winked and laughed.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
Gunning laughed at Flashpoint's antics as she set the phone to camera mode and held it out for the Air Servant to take. She thought about joining them in their game; she'd put the vehicle through its paces as a bike already, maybe it was time to test the hidden features...
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"There we go. One fresh pic!" Gayle said as the air servant clicked the picture and handed the phone back. It had captured a decent shot of both Gunni and Gayle against the motorcycle. It had no real judgment at all, but it could follow subtle directions, and that was good enough for simple point-and-shoot photography.
Gayle winced as the turned on her sore hip trying to keep an eye on Dani. "Ugh. I've gotta do something about that. You aren't a healer by any chance, Gunni? Or any relation to the Swan family from Duluth? Josh, Bobby, and crew?"
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
Dani had taken to swimming across the sky, small puffs of fire escaping her lips whenever she breathed. As Gayle looked up at her, she began floating upside-down, her cape fluttering down behind her head. She smiled and gave a little wave to Gayle.
[color=#FF7F50]Putting yourself in another persons shoes emotionally is something that everyone has to experience eventually. It's part of learning to be a human being. Roleplayers do it for fun.[/color]
"Nope, a miss on both counts. Unless its cybernetic, I could do something for you then... And as far as I know I don't have any close relatives this side of EnnZedd. Although, I don't know yet what my father's brothers or my mother's sisters have gotten up to lately... But the 'Swan' name my parent's just took when they settled down in Christchurch back in the late '80s."
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Gayle chuckled ruefully and rubbed her hip again. "You know, I never can catch that Flashygirl, but it's still fun to try. I'll give it a shot for a bit, but I'm looking forward to a soak in the tub. Hero business can be exciting, but...." She shrugged expressively. Her eyebrows narrowed for a moment and her forehead furrowed. She looked at Gunni with a curious sparkle in her eye. "Uh, cybernetics? Really? Like, building, programming, or what?"
She waved Dani down closer.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
"Mostly building and repairing, for now. I'll be taking a lot of computer science classes once I start at Ephesus University this fall, then the programming will get easier." Gunni considered for a moment, then decided to take the plunge. "The 'or what' part gets complicated. Want a demo?"
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Dani righted herself and flew lazily downwards until she was about five feet away from the other two women. She then settled back like she was sitting in an office chair and kicked her feet up.
With a grin, Dani began slowly orbiting them. "Who's your friend, Gayle? Nice chopper, by the way."
At this distance and speed, her uniform was now visible. She wore white boots with a gold fire pattern and her legs were uncovered until her one-piece uniform started with a pair of hot-pants that led up into a long-sleeved high-collared top. Her hands and forearms were encased in long gloves and on her face was a mask that covered from her hairline to just below her cheekbones, then wrapped down along her upper jawline to attach to her top at the back and sides of the neck.
[color=#FF7F50]Putting yourself in another persons shoes emotionally is something that everyone has to experience eventually. It's part of learning to be a human being. Roleplayers do it for fun.[/color]
"Hey, Flashpoint, this is Gunni Swan," Gayle explained to the floating flamester. "And actually there is [i]no way[/i] I'm going to catch you until I get these bruises taken care of! I'm feeling a bit battered after taking out those smugglers. The Fauna First guys weren't so bad, but Ravenger was giving them Vengeful Earth backup, and they were expecting me. Ugh. Still...," She paused for effect and grinned again. "Stopped 'em!"
"Oh, yeah! Concert at the Green Line tonight, too! I've got my Memorial Day annual booked. It's no giant crowd thing like Milwaukee, but it should be fun."
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
Dani made a face at the announcement that there wouldn't be a game of tag, then looked at Gayle with concern as she straightened up and floated closer.
"I'd help you out, but so far I've only figured out how to heal myself." she said, shrugging. "Maybe you should go see Doc? He can take care of you in no time. He's probably in his lab." she said.
She nodded at the concert information. "Yup. Already got my ticket!"
[color=#FF7F50]Putting yourself in another persons shoes emotionally is something that everyone has to experience eventually. It's part of learning to be a human being. Roleplayers do it for fun.[/color]
Gunni smiled at the praise of her bike, and started pointing out some of the features. "Thank you. I started with an old Suzuki GS1100 frame, and made a battery pack based on the latest metal-air cells from Tesla Motors, and flat motors for the wheels... It wound up looking a lot like the bikes in [I]Mospeada[/I], except for not having a chain drive..." She trailed off, not sure whether she wanted more interest in the bike or not...
"Concert tonight? Are there still tickets available?"
http://www.gearsonline.net/series/mospeada/mecha/human-mecha/mospeada/proto-mosp-02.jpg
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"That's a good idea, Flashy. I'll see if I can catch Doc when I get back. Or Sheena, whoever I run into first. Different methods, but whatever heals the hurt, heals the hurt, right?" She grinned.
"And... tickets, yeah! Just a sec...." Gayle tapped at her bracelet commlink. "I'll mark it for two. And... there we go! Where do you want me to send this, Gunni? Text or email confirmation?" She made the arrangements using her club booking system access.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
Gunni gave her email, which had a freyani dot org dot nz domain name, and the confirmation went straight to her phone. "There's a healer who lives in my apartment building, but she's over at a hospital most of the time, not sure which one. And I know of a [I]gydhja[/I] over in Rhinehart Park, overlooking Lake Verthandi, she has a bit of healing magic."
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Gayle laughed cheerfully. "Oh, no problem, Gunni! It's just bruising, and I'd recover quickly, anyway, but I thought I would ask."
She looked thoughtful for a moment, and glanced at the traffic passing by. "You gals haven't heard of any special villain plans to disrupt stuff today, have you? It's weird... 'cause there's usually some sort of thing they want to do on Memorial Day to mess with the 'powers that be,' but I haven't gotten [i]any[/i] warnings coming my way. I wonder if they all took the day off. That would be...," she gestured aimlessly, "...weird. Even the Rooks seem quiet today."
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
After his 6th pint, Jacob slammed the glass down and advanced toward the the thugs in the booth. The two that were sitting beside him began staring him down. He stood over the booth and crossed his arms.
The thugs looked up at the stone faced man.
Thug #1: "What?"
Jacob: "That aint no way to treat a lady, is it boys?"
The second thug flashed a knife and grinned.
Thug #2: "You might wanna mind your own business."
The two thugs at the bar got up and advanced towards Jacob. Jacob sighed and rolled his eyes. He grabbed the two thugs at the booth by the head and lifted them up. The one with the knife tried to stab him in the wrist but the knife broke on his skin. He threw them across the room and they hit the wall, knocking them out. The two thugs that were advancing behind him charged at him. Jacob turned round and raised his arms. Some cement burst out of the floorboards and surrounded the two thugs. They struggle to escape but can't move.
The girl at the booth ran out of the building crying.
Bartender: "Great, just what we need... more capes."
Jacob pulled out his wallet.
Jacob: "I hear ya buddy."
He pulled out $500 and threw it down on the counter.
"Fer the beers and yer floor."
He left the bar and decided he would check out the nicer parts of the city. He'd never been in Titan City long and when he had it was always for business. The rest of the city couldn't possibly be as bad as Ironport.
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After looking about for trouble again, Gayle studied the Suzuki and shrugged apologetically. "It looks cool, Gunni, but I don't know a thing about motorcycles. I wish I could appreciate it better, 'cause if you've worked it yourself and you're a cybertech, then I bet it can do some pretty awesome stuff. That you've got it to run on electrics sounds neat, anyway."
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
Gunni smiled. "Yeah, some things are a lot better demonstrated than described. Thanks for the tickets! Now I just have to find someone to bring along..." She put her helmet back on, entered the pass code to activate the bike's systems, then took off, accelerating quickly into the flow of traffic.
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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"Now for that soak," Gayle chirped. "But first...." She bobbed up into the air and swooped toward Flashpoint. "...tag!"
She giggled and accelerated toward Riverhaven, pretty sure that Dani would catch her easily, but willing to play, anyway.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
Dani, busy watching Gunni depart, was completely surprised when Gayle bounced upwards and tagged her on the outstretched arm. Her mouth dropped open as Gayle went evasive and sped off towards Riverhaven. "Why you... c'mere air-head!" Dani hollered as she blasted off the mark and tore after Gayle.
[color=#FF7F50]Putting yourself in another persons shoes emotionally is something that everyone has to experience eventually. It's part of learning to be a human being. Roleplayers do it for fun.[/color]
Gayle laughed as she dodged away, "Not air-head... [i]wind controller![/i]"
(scene)
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
The skinny kid with the green scales and the sinuous tail whined incredulously as he trailed after his friend. “Seriously, Danny? This is your idea of revenge?”
“Shut up, Jules! She dissed me, betrayed our cause, and got a bunch of our people shot up by the Jackboots! And they call [i]her[/i] a nature lover? I think she deserves a smackdown, courtesy of me, the Badger!” The heavyset bruiser hunched his shoulders and thrust his lower jaw out stubbornly, seeming for all the world as thick as his namesake. He glowered at people on the Clarkstown sidewalk as he stumped onward with the strange lizard boy following in his wake. They returned nervous glances and gave him a wide berth. The Badger grunted again for effect. “And I ain’t as sweet as no honey badger, neither!”
“Heck, Danny, the Terras were chasing her! With guns! It’s not her fault they ran into the Jacks. Besides, she hardly even knows you exist!”
“Well, she will after this!” He gritted his teeth and kept walking.
“You’re gonna get caught. And I ain’t gonna help you. I mean, it’s not like I even got any useful powers from that green stuff, like you did—just scales and this tail.” Julius grumbled, “I look like a freak, my skin itches, and my pants don’t fit.”
The Badger shrugged and sneered, “So? Didja give up on saving the earth, then? Just gonna pack up your stuff and go home? Let the corporations do what they wanna do, with no one to stop ‘em?” He snorted once. “Maybe you just need another dose of that stuff, if we could get any.”
Julius shook his head emphatically. “No, thanks! My folks are freaked enough as it is.”
“Fine. You just stay out of trouble and let them screw over the world, then. I’ll do my part to fix it.”
“But what good is messing up a concert gonna do, anyway?”
“It’s gonna start somethin’, Jules. That’s all it takes. Just one person brave enough to stand up and start somethin’. And then the tide’s gonna turn on her.”
“Yeah? What makes you think so?”
The Badger stopped walking. He turned with an impatient frown. “The bird told me so.” The corner of his mouth twitched with irritation.
“Uh…? Bird? What bird?” Julius looked suspiciously at his friend.
“The Cardinal. The guy all dressed in red, you know? The nature avenger who changes into a bird? That one.”
“You talked to [i]him[/i]? Cool! When did [i]that[/i] happen?”
“Just after she caught most'a the Terras and grabbed the Green Thumb shipment. I ducked outta the way and she missed me. But the Cardinal was watchin’ the whole thing.”
“What? Just this afternoon? Seriously?”
“Yeah. And he told me what to do. I break up her concert, and then all Hell’s gonna break loose.”
“But, why do you gotta do that? What’s he need you for?” He raised his hands as the Badger glared at him. “No offense, man!”
“Somethin’ about the righteous fallen, or ghosts of ‘em, or somethin’. Whatever, it’s gotta be Memorial Day for what the Cardinal’s gonna do. I think he needs me ta start it, so he can control it.”
Julius shook his head and muttered softly as his friend stomped down the street again, “All this because Gayle Force turned you down for a date? Way overkill, man!”
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
“All this because Gayle Force turned you down for a date? Way overkill, man!” echoed in the drains of the clarkstown. There were many forms of life in a city most people would never notice, among them were the rats. A few of these rodents looked up at the drain gutter above hearing the voices. All but one went back to the normal life of a rodent in the big city.
The one that didn't went running along the concrete drain to an intersection that was the home for a homeless man. Eric walter held his hand to the floor and the rat crawled onto it enjoying the ride as he picked it up. "Hello my friend, what do you have for me?" Life in the world was hard, in the wilds or in a city rules of life was always the same. Scavengers always have something to find. Tibbits of info here, or there was worth money to the right folks. People do tend to never notice a rat.
Scavenger listened to the nearly silent voice of one of his pets. He didn't speak rodent he could however hear their thoughts. Telepath that what they called it, why he was able to do it easer with rodents than humans who knows. Maybe it just the chaotic nature of the human mind. "The Cardinal making a move against Gayle Force huh. Terra, fools like earth needs them to protect itself."
He settled back into the corner of the drain intersection letting the cool of the concrete seep into his body. He was scarred thought the fire that nearly cooked him alive was long gone his flesh seems to remember the burning. The rat ran up his arm and onto his shoulders snuggling against his neck. "Now how to make some profit from this? What do you think Splinter? Would Gayle Force be willing to pay for this? Or maybe we can get some reward money from the capture of Cardinal and those terra nuts?" He tilted his head "What... oh yes your reward. Really you are greedy aren't you." He pulled out a granola bar from his army jacket and broke of a piece then handed it to the rat. "Where oh where would Gayle Force be at this time of day?"
He smiled and closed his eyes in the radius about a block all the rats looked up taking notice of the strange thoughts that entered there minds. The thought was simple find the person in the mental image and the one that does so first will get a treat. Rats were such greedy creatures and the went running down the drains and sewers for the one that the Scavenger wanted to find.
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
One of Scavenger's rats got very unlucky. Or maybe, from Scavenger's point of view, it hit the jackpot. Time would tell.
There was a light tapping at Scavenger's link with this rat, who was definitely terrified by the black and orange cat that had it pinned. *Who are you, and why are you sending out my lunch to look for this woman?*
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
*Interesting, well who I am. I'm a dealer in information. As for what I want with the woman short answer is her life is in danger as well as perhaps others. Long answer requires payment.*
He rose up and hunched over headed down one of the drain tunnels. At one point he stopped and pushed hard on a patch of concrete that was a different shade. It moved and opened a doorway. The city been rebuilt and some of the old sewer systems and tunnels still were about to be discovered. He went over to where he kept a lantern and turned it on the bulb glow grew as he looked about. Glow from the phosphorescent
mushrooms were overpowered by the lamp as he made his way along the long abandoned tunnel.
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
*Payment... Cash would be a problem, unless you're willing to accept faerie gold... Perhaps some small services in exchange for your information?* There was a trace of amusement, as if the cat was enjoying a private joke.
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
*Faerie gold. What would I do with that, even if it don't turn into rock or dirt when you leave. Not like I can go to a bar and put a bag of gold on the counter and buy what I want. Be too many questions at Pawn brokers, even if they will take pure gold. Gold items are made of gold and other metals, pure gold to soft. Heck gold coins are worth more for who and when they were made then their weight in gold. No gold faerie or not is of no use to me.*
He came to his more solid home if you would call the collected rubble forming a hut in a long forgotten subway terminal. *you got the face of Gayle Force, and I told you her life was in danger, perhaps even more than just her. So given you can't pay get her and meet me at this alleyway.* He sent a mental image off an alley one near a phoenix burger and dry cleaners. * shall be there in one hour, enjoy your meal*
Then he shivered the mental link to the rat. Truth was he could barely hold it the instincts of the rat and the pure fear of being caught by a Cat was overpowering his link. "Now who would want to know of a super powered cat that has connections to Faeries?" He settled down on old recliner to think.
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Sir Sings Loudly, Knight of the Summer Court, broke the rat's neck as soon as the mental link was cut. He ate quickly, then went off through the shadows.
His Squire was off doing things with his family, and would not be available. The collection of young heroes at the clock tower in Ironport seemed to be elsewhere, as well. He left message-spells at both residences.
The ghydja across the street from the clock tower promised to pass the message on as soon as they turned up.
It was at the ghydja whose shrine overlooked Rhinehart Part where he hit pay dirt. She made a call for him. "Hello Gunni? It's Mei Ling... No, only Robert from the clinic. But I've just got word that there may be trouble at the concert..."
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
*food?* came the soft whisper of thought across his mind and he opened his eyes to see the six pairs of eyes looking at him from the shack entrance. "Yes I got food my dears." He took out a Phenix burger bag and the six child size humanoid rats entered the room. The largest was black and the most mutated walking more like an ape he snatched a burger and scurried to a corner taking a bite paper and all. "No no Pinky take the paper off the good stuff inside." The ape like Pinky then took off the paper and went back to munching on the burger.
Two Brown humanoid rats were almost synchronized moving in nearly the same patterns. There minds were the most developed having more mental mutations then body. They did take the paper off the burgers, then the three littlest ones nither very physically powerful nor mentally augmented they were more true blend of human and rat. Two were gray and the smallest was white. The White one stopped eating and looked at Eric. Then broke her burger in half and handed half to him. "No Rosie the burger for you. I'm not hungry." Rosie the rat tilted her head not sure to believe him.
He stood up and went to a power generator and started it up. "Who wants to watch a movie?" *ME!* came six thoughts into his head. "Alright what movie do you want to watch?" This wasn't so unanimous but eventually they settled on Toy Story. He turned on the Tube style TV and put a Toy story disk in the DVD player. "There you go, now behave yourselves I have to visit a cat."
*CAT!* there was an echo of fear in the collective minds of the pack. "Don't worry it's not a threat to me, nor to you six anymore. You're big now remember. I be back by the end of the movie. If not Rosie you can start another movie. Perhaps the Lion King."
He left the shack and noted seeing Rosie put the half of hamburger in his seat when his back was turned. Rats were such greedy creatures, these six were as far from Rats now as he is from apes. "What am I going to do with you?" Sighing he headed out of the hide out and back into the drains and tunnels of Titan City's true underworld.
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
After arriving at Riverhaven, Gayle felt much better for a quick visit downstairs to have her friend Sheena rewind and reverse the effects of the battering she had taken. Good as new, she still took the time for a relaxing soak in the tub. Dani had, of course, caught up to her, despite Gayle's playful dodging and weaving. She could do some amazing things with and in the air, but raw speed wasn't her forte'.
Something still felt... off... about the day. Gayle flicked through the newsfeeds and law enforcement channels. No news about any other Memorial Day plots? She just had the feeling that something was waiting to happen. But no one could predict the future. Or, she reminded herself, I can't predict the future. Even if others can. She giggled and climbed out of the tub to dry herself off and prepare for the concert at the Green Line.
Just in case, she called ahead to her drummer and lead guitarist and warned them to be careful. Stevie, the consummate artist, asked, "Danger in the air? Do you want to change the lineup? Maybe change up the songs tonight?"
"Yeah, let's! You know what we've got. Get a list ready for me and I'll see you at 6:30."
"You got it, Gayle. Fly safe!"
She grinned and shook her head as she disconnected. Yes, they knew her well. She looked at her wardrobe and tried to choose the best outfit for a little unexpected trouble.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
Gunni pulled her bike, almost silently, into the dive-through of the Pheonix Burger, at about ten minutes before the appointed time that Sir Sings Loudly had been given; the temporary tags covered by a simulated vanity plate reading: CRUX. She got a burger, a soda, and chicken pieces, then parked in the small parking lot. She had barely gotten her helmet off to start eating when the Cat emerged from a shadow and leapt up onto the dash. She started just a bit when he spoke into her mind. *Hello, Gunnhilde. There are at least three rats that can see us, any one of whom may be eyes for our informant.*
"Right to the point, huh? You didn't think I might need to get used to the idea of a talking Cat?"
*Not really. I'm talking to the daughter of a Vanir Valkyrie swanmay and an Alfar magesmith, both of whom are an order of magnitude older than I am. And this is Titan City, after all.*
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
One of those rats stopped in it's tracks and stood up sniffing the air. Then ran to a telephone pole ran right up the side getting an overhead view. Of course this action would be strange it was too bright for the rat to come out in the open, to risky a raptor would catch the rat. So the only logical reason was someone else was using its eyes.
Letting the rat's mind go after getting a good look scavenger lifted the storm drain grate in the ally then claimed out. Replacing the grate he went to the alleyways exit and looked to the figure on the bike. "Alright cat your move." Then he moved farther into the alley entrance and into a shadowy nook.
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
*Well, it's showtime. I'll call if I need help.* Sings Loudly strutted across the parking lot, into the alley, and up to the shadowy nook. He didn't like the way this person smelled, but he wasn't sure if it was the person, or just that he hung around rats a lot. No matter. Time for the formalities.
*Hello. I am Sir Sings Loudly, Knight of the Summer Court. And what shall I call you?* One didn't ask for names directly in the Fae realms; there were too many folks whose names could give power over them.
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
"Yeah, two tickets. Get me in, no questions asked." The Badger growled at the scalper in the alley. Julius rolled his eyes. It wasn't like the guy was going to ask questions anyway, but Danny's tough-guy schtick wasn't going to help. Some people were classic meta-wannabes, and Danny had to be near the top of the list. Now that he had gotten what he had always wanted, he was turning into a Grade-A jerk.
"No problem, dude. Here you go. Two hundred bucks." The scalper looked like a classic surfer, complete with flip-flops, cargo shorts, and a floppy sun hat. He scratched his scraggly chin thoughtfully and glanced up and down the alley again. He watched The Badger, but his wary gaze kept returning to Julius.
"I'm gonna haveta ask you to make a donation to the cause on this one," the Badger growled. "We gotta get in to stop a villain, and we don't want to give ourselves away by goin' in all flashing lights and colors and stuff."
The ticket scalper hesitated. "Normally, I'd say no cash, no tickets. Are you guys registered?"
The Badger nodded. "Yeah. I'm The Badger. This is Green Julius, my sidekick." He nodded at Julius.
With a sigh, the scalper shrugged. "All right. I done this before a couple times. Hang on while I write out a receipt I can get paid on. You sign it, I turn it in, the city pays it, and if they have any problems with it, it's on you." The Badger grunted agreement. The scalper fished a sticky note out of his pocket and wrote it up. He handed it to his customer to sign. "Always nice to help the capes stop the bad guys, eh?"
"Yeah. 'Preciate it, buddy." The Badger signed the receipt and handed it back. He tucked the tickets into his pocket. "Stay safe," he growled as he tapped Julius on the arm and turned to go.
"Give my regards to Gayle Force," offered the scalper.
The Badger chuckled darkly, "Oh, I'll be sure to do that." With Julius in tow, he hunched his shoulders and slipped out of the alley.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
"Sir Sings Loudly huh" He was dressed in faded jeans an army vest with many pockets, green hoodie with the hood up shading his face. Turning a bit Sir Sings Loudly would see a snout with whiskers wiggling a bit and eyes slightly larger than human, but still retaining a human look. His fur was black where the scar tissue wasn't. "What ever name I had is useless, now call me Scavenger."
He scratched the scar tissue on the side of his snout his fingers were slightly longer than a human hand and his fingers ended in claws instead of fingernails. "I gave you enough for you to know of the treat, and to have made preparations. So what you want from me is details. Now you see me you know gold and even cash isn't worth much to me so what do you have to offer?"
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Sings Loudly stretched and sat down. *Nice to meet you, Scavenger. Not much use for cash? Well, so much for Plan A. Next question is, what do you need? Food, water, clothing, shelter, internet, medical? Or maybe contact with customers, if you're going into the information business...*
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
"I do have contacts that could do my shopping for me.. however I prefer not to intrude on their lives. Besides Food would be what I would use any money on, followed by clothing. Seems with these changes came increased metabolism and nothing as heartbreaking as hearing a little one whimper trying to sleep... never mind. Yes food will do." Then his head turned as if he heard a sound. It was a thought from one of the rats he sent to find Gayle Force. A rat that was now looking out of an air conditioning vent at a skinny lizard like kid. "It seems the two I was going to tell you are now in the building where the concert taking place."
"One is named Danny calls himself Badger, I don't know what he looks like. To many people to figure him out... lights are bright hurting my spy's eyes. The second is named Jules he got scales and a tail. They were walking by one of my lookouts when they got overheard. Seems Danny tried to get Gayle to have a date and she turned him down... would figure they are both young teenagers not sure. Jules lives with his parents still. They are just puppets of someone called the Cardinal he baited Danny into causing trouble. Likely scenario is they are distraction."
He then looked at Sir Sings again. Breaking the link to the rat and it forgets why it was in the air vent and goes about it's business. "That is the information, I heard stories about deals with Fay even the ones who are not out tricking mortals tend to cause trouble with deals. That's why I wanted a human contact, then again trusting Homosapians how I became this."
"I gave you the information consider it a demonstration. I do accept tips." He chuckled as he does the cord belt came undone and moved of it's own. The cord turned out to be his own rat tail. "So what you offer, time wasting and I have a deadline."
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Sings Loudly nodded. *My colleague has two hundred dollars, and we can get another eight hundred by the end of the week. If you prefer, we can use it to buy food for you and your family, but it seems that will have to wait until later.* He opened up his spell to include Gunni, and repeated the information Scavenger had provided. *Send that to Gayle Force.* He looked over the wall of the nook, and then laid a paw on a brick. *Tomorrow, that brick will be hollow, we can use it as a drop.*
Gunni quickly typed into her smartphone and sent the message, to Gayle's public email with a copy to the TCPD, using the same email the tickets had been sent to. She hoped the message wouldn't get lost in the crowd of other messages also marked "URGENT". She restarted her bike and drove it to the mouth of the alley.
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
"Seems I need more practice at this informant act. I told you to much. Well anyway I will accept the two hundred now, the manager at that phoenix burger knows me." He looked at the storm drain then at Sir Sings Loudly. "I have a greater need for a power source I'm not an electrician so I haven't hacked into the city power grid. There no means of refrigeration down below for me. A power supply that don't require burning fuel. Down below burning gas is risky I have to leave the door open to vent the air."
"Of course any food still welcomed. More contacts would also help with long term survival."
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Gunni eased her bike into the alley, being careful not to block anyone's path out. "You're in luck. I'm new at buying information, too." She handed him the ten twenties as she looked at the grating. "I have some gear that can help out, but it's too big to fit through there, I'll have to reassemble it down there. Hopefully, I'll be able to come by in the morning."
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
"I chose this location because I know that grate hard for many to get in through. It's not the only entrance to the city's drainage ways." He looked at Gunni "But why should I trust you enough to show you where my home located?"
A pair of eyes looked out from the grate framed by white fur then they vanished as rosie hid again.
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
"For three kilowatts of clean, unstolen, power. For three hundred and fifty liters a day of clean water. " Gunni pointed to the sewer grate where Rosie had just disappeared. "For the phone numbers and addresses of two women who aren't doctors, but have enough healing magic to make a trip to see either of them worth [i]her[/i] while, and maybe yours as well."
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
He looked to the grate *we speak about you following me later Rosie* he sent mentally and from below *did..didn't want cat to hurt you.* He sighed and nodded "Very well there a larger drain pipe about a mile south west from here. You can transport larger items into the drain network that way." Once again he scratched the scars on the side of his snout "There are places where the new city systems connects to the old. I have taken up housing in what was once a subway station. It's about two miles in from that tunnel entrance."
"For now you two better hurry, my problems are minor. What a powered fool might do in a concert is the bigger issue. I need to have a little talk with a little rat."
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
"Sings, could you go tell [i]gydhja[/i] Mei Ling what you've told me? I feel like we've missed something important. Maybe she'll be able to figure it out."
The Cat nodded, although he couldn't think of what it could be. He stepped through the shadows that Scavenger had just vacated.
Gunni knelt down, touching the brick. A faint line from the mold deepened into a crack, and she slipped two business cards into it. It would take tweezers to get them out, if anyone even noticed them. Or someone with long claws.
Then she got back on her bike and sped off towards the Green Line.
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
He went over and pulled out the cards. Then to the drain grate and replaced it. The hole would be a tough fit for a normal person, not impossible they would need to be flexible. For him now it was easy to get to the drain pipes. *Cat gone?* came that whisper of thought from Rosie who was peeking around the corner. *yes the cat is gone, you really shouldn't have followed me Rosie. It's dangerous.* Rosie's fur puffed out a bit *They were bad peoples?* He sighed *No they were good peoples even the cat.* *Then why dangerous?*
Why indeed. *because bad people still out there, they could have seen you even when the good people were just outside.* *good peoples, bad peoples... Peoples just con... co.. make head dizzy.* *confusing. And yes I agree lets head back.*
When they got to the brake in the tunnel wall it was dark inside but for the glow of the mushrooms. For a moment he was afraid something happened then he heard Eddie's mental voice then saw the five in the corner of the station all bunched up together. *Loud thing stopped working... it thirsty. Pinky gave it water but it didn't work so he broke it.*
He sighed seems he would have to trust that woman Gunni to deliver a power supply. *Well no movie then. Come little ones I read you a book.* *HOBBIT!* Walt chimed in. *Okay The Hobbit it is.* After closing the hidden door and relighting the camping lantern, he went to a pile of books and retrieved The Hobbit. Then moving the half of a burger from his seat he sat down and started to read. Talking with his mind was getting easier, but he couldn't do that and focus on reading at the same time.
"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with thing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort." *Like us!* *No silly this place is whet* "Quiet you two or I won't read." The six rat children bundled together as they listened. A smile on his face as he returned to the story. His old life was over, but like Bilbo baggins he was learning that perhaps happiness was beyond the comfort of the shire, or his case in a hole in the ground.
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Sam Beckett, a.k.a. Whipcrack, stepped off the bus and slipped through the partially open gates of the cemetery. He walked briskly between the tombstones, his grey eyes on the hill he had to crest before his destination would come into view. A slight breeze tossed his dark blonde hair back and forth as he started up the hill. Once reaching the apex, he looked out across the majority of the cemetery.
His gaze locked on to one of the tombstones and he moved towards it. One hand held a bundle of daffodils wrapped in brown paper as the other swung loosely by his side. As he reached the tombstone, he skirted around it to reach the plain brick of unpolished granite sunk into the earth. Attached to it was a bronze plate. Engraved into the plate were letters and numbers that always brought Sam to tears:
He knelt before the grave and tried to clear some of the grass and weeds from it. When his efforts proved less than fruitful, he looked around furtively, then created a blade of psionic energy around one finger. With a few deft cuts, the stone was clear again. He sat back on his haunches and set the flowers on his legs, then leaned forward and brushed a cut blade of grass off the plate. Even after five years and countless visits, it was still hard to talk.
He cleared his throat, then spoke, trying to sound cheerful. "Hey Vi! I got you some daffodils, your favorite. Sarah couldn't be here because she's still at work. Mom's at home... she still can't come here because it hurts her too much. Anyways, I got something for you besides the flowers."
Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out a long piece of glossy paper. "Guess who's in town, sis... yeah, it's Gayle Force!" he said as he flipped the ticket around so the front was facing the tombstone. Buying two tickets for her show when she was in town was a tradition Sam had started a few years after Violet's death. Gayle had been her favorite since the beginning, even before the singer was really famous. "And it ain't the cheap seats either. Green Line, fourth row, dead center."
Sam tucked the ticket in amongst the daffodils, then set the bundle lengthwise at the bottom of the plate. He leaned forward and set his forehead against the plate. "I'll see you at the show." With that, he rose smoothly to his feet and headed back towards the gates. He turned to walk backwards as he said loudly, "Don't be late, little sis!"
(Learn more about Violet [url=http://cityoftitans.com/comment/35539#comment-35539]here[/url].)
[color=#FF7F50]Putting yourself in another persons shoes emotionally is something that everyone has to experience eventually. It's part of learning to be a human being. Roleplayers do it for fun.[/color]
As she rode through the city, Gunni did some research.
"Carmen, access internet. World Wide Web dot CapeChaser dot org. Search Cardinal. Read results."
The voice interface in the smartphone built into the bike accessed the CapeChaser website and began the search...
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
CapeChaser Results: [b]The Cardinal[/b]
FBSA Threat Level 50 Vigilante, Magically-active human male
Identify By: Red full-body skin suit with crimson clerical robes, black domino mask, peaked crimson headpiece emulating a bird's feathered crest
Notable Powers and Abilities: Piercing sonic screech attacks (stunning, disorienting, and shattering effects have been reported), manipulative subsonics (suggestions, compulsions, and sleep effects have been reported, including mass- or crowd-influencing effects). The Cardinal can fly (presumably using magical abilities). The Cardinal can become invisible to normal sight and detection (presumably using magical abilities). He can also use magical summoning rituals to call spirits of dead individuals or groups (four cases reported). This is considered necromantic magic. The origin and specific nature of this ability is unknown (see comments for speculation).
Goals: The Cardinal seeks to protect wilderness and natural areas from development, and he seeks to bring justice to individuals and organizations that have harmed or failed to protect the environment, whether through action or inaction. The Cardinal considers justice to be the "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" type of retribution. He shares aims with many nature-oriented heroes, but his methods are often clearly illegal. He has stated that he has no patience with the American justice system and the "justice for money" nature of society.
Big Splashes: The Cardinal has become a folk hero of the violent eco-terrorist movement in and around Titan City over the past two years. Big splashes include driving three oil tanker ships aground in the mud off the coast of Titan City, thereby forcing the oil companies to fund expensive recovery and public relations efforts; disrupting and defacing web and TV advertising by energy companies during media events, including the US Superbowl; and assassinating the CEO of UK Petroleum during a corporate shareholder meeting in retaliation for the massive UKP oil spill in 2012.
Origin: Specifics unknown, but believed from The Cardinal's comments to be religious- or faith-based in part. (See comments for speculation.)
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
"Uh-oh. Carmen place call to Mei-Ling Kowalski." Gunni waited for the gydhja to answer; then briefed her on what the web search had found. "I can't be bringing Robert into this, but it might be a good idea if you could come. Thanks! Carmen end call."
Another person who might be able to help occurred to Gunni, but she didn't have his number. "Carmen place call to Jai at Whitehold." Again she waited, and asked the Whitehold superintendent to pass a message to Ron Bolton: "Cardinal, known necromancer, may be planning strike at Gayle Force Concert at Green Line tonight." She thought for a moment, then decided her real name was already associated with the warning email to Gayle and the police. "Sign it, Gunni Swan. And if he asks, please give him my cell number. Thanks! Carmen end call."
Short of her mother the Valkyrie coming in from New Zealand, a Champion of Hel would be the best magical backup she could find. She hoped that backup wouldn't be needed.
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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It wasn't long before Gunni phone started ringing. When she answered it "This is Ron Yah be having a problem with undead? Fill me in. What is it with Necromancers seems they be all over the place. This is what tha fourth one this year? rhetorical question so what's up?" Ron was at his clean up job the school was regular pay but the clean up was higher when it pays. Besides Summer was coming and he needed something till next semester.
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Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Gunni blurted it all out. Well, most of it. "A friend of a friend overheard a couple of wannabe ecowarriors planning to disrupt Gayle Force's concert tonight, and Cardinal is supposed to be behind it. CapeChaser says this Cardinal has been known to summon spirits of the dead, in addition to mass mind-control type stuff. Not sure what Cardinal's plan is. Thought you might be interested."
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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"Mind control and spirit summoning? Damn someone high on the powers list." He lowered the phone and yelled to the crew superviser. "Hey Danny! I got to get going another cleanup. Cape stuff." She would hear Danny cursing but wasn't clear what was said "Yeah some big mumbo jumbo magic. Of course I punch out! Yeah up yours too." He brought the phone to his ear "Sure the supervisor gave his okay. I be at the party... NO DANNY NOT A REAL PARTY... Wait you said Gayle Force's concert... might be a real party after all. I bring some beer might as well enjoy the concert after we trash the party crasher."
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Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
"I've got a spare ticket, if you want I can email it to you. And there's a diner attached..." Gunni wove in between cars waiting for a green light. "I'm about five minutes out."
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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"Alright I meet ya there. What we got in terms of team? Lets see... Gayle force..." He put her on speaker phone and then swiped the screen bring up the Cape Chaser's website. "Wind Controller with some pheromone power. Hmm haven't ran into anyone with pheromonal abilities. I wonder with my stronger sense of smell would I be more affected or being dead less so... Okay I doubt that would work on mind controlled people. Wh... hmm I didn't know Gayle did porn, huh I think I knew that producer. Talk is he had telepathic abilities and a silver tongue so smooth he could get a nun to do a gang bang. Might be the wrong guy been a long time since I been in those circles." He talked as he walked into a portal for a moment there was a bit of static as the signal switched towers.
"Anyway back to combat I don't want to have to hurt any affected civilians and if this Cardinal fellow the type to mind control others I bet he use the concert folk as cannon fodder. Undead tend to be disorienting the unnatural nature of them can make it harder to hit. Of course it does depend on what spirits he can bring. Zombies not so much, but others can do some major mind scrambling. Fear, terror, blurring of eyes, so be prepared for that. I'm betting they are the spirit type, compliments his own mental abilities. "
He was now in his apartment and looking over his gear "Give me a few minutes to change. I normally do the lineman meat shield act, more single target attacks. Something satisfactory punching someone face to face ya know. However this sounds like we going to be facing a mob so I call on Hel and bring my own Undead allies to the party give him a taste of his own meds. Hmm think we might need some defensive aid in this, someone who can keep that fellow and his pets out of our minds. Well not mine being dead I have more resistance to mind control, ya and anyone else thought would be more susceptible."
Choosing a newer outfit of a black tank top and black combat flexible leather pants, his normal combat boots, and some brown belts and straps here and there for utility holding and of course to break the solid black of the outfit. "What ya skills, Gayle got the control, I cover some debuffing and the zombie backup. Oh yeah send that E-mail be less alerting if we can just play normal goers to the concert."
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Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
"Carmen forward email Green Line Concert tickets..." The voice control program forwarded the email, while Gunni answered Ron's question. "About journeyman-level magesmith powers from my Dad, and a fair bit of strength from my Mom, and I'm not sure what Valkyrie powers I may have gotten from her beyond knowing how close to dead people are. I've got a pair of blades blessed by a local [I]gydhja[/I] of Freya who will be close by, my riding suit is fairly good body armor, and I've got some non-lethal options. And if I can find a parking spot close enough to the fire exit, I'd be able to pop out and get my powered armor. Also, we expect at least two flunkies, one with a tail and scales called Jules, and the other is called Danny but calls himself Badger. Not sure if he's into old comics or internet earworms or what. Apparently Gayle turned him down for a date."
Gunni pulled into the parking lot of The Green Line and tried to identify which door would be the fire exit from the club side of the establishment...
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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"Right, be there soon. Get thinking on how to block that Cardinal guy's brain waves. That the number one concern I have at this time." He hung up the phone and then got dressed before porting to the green line he sprayed some AXE body spray on himself. Sure the label lies and there no chance of him dating anyone but hell if he was going to a club might as well smell like it. Coughing when the spray hits his nose then he puts on some sunglasses. "Alright Hel let's unlock that orb power.... AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" He screams as the powers within him flare up, along his arms red runes ignite with reddish flame before dying down and fading. "Damn I hate doing that."
Soon after that a portal of darkness appears above the parking lot and he comes falling only to stop about a foot off the ground and hovering then landing with a simple step on the ground. Looking around he spots Gunni and heads over "Alright Just so we are clear, I'm not as tough in lich mode my powers are being used to control undead and affect others. Normally I keep it all to myself and I'm nearly unstoppable, like this I can be very hard to hit. Same rules apply, if I'm wounded there less brain function. If I go down I'm coming up hungry and insane till I consume something. With these powers I can draw on life force directly so if you see me having trouble make for the kitchen and grab a steek or two. Or make sure the first thing I see is a bad guy."
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Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
"Right. Important safety tip, thanks." Gunni handed him a pair of what looked like slightly long earplugs. "CC says Cardinal's mind control may be subsonic; these'll filter out anything outside of 'normal' human hearing. If I had a third pair ready I'd offer them Gayle. And [I]Gydhja[/I] Mei Ling said she'd be around with something we might need. And I think that's her minivan pulling in now."
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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Gayle stepped out and checked the sound system and the club. It was still an hour before the real concert. She and the guys were used to doing an impromptu live warm-up at the Green Line. It was almost a little pre-concert, interacting with the crowd, no pressure and no problem. The regulars at the Green Line loved it, and it created more regulars every gig they did. She waved to the club and said, “Hiya, folks! Good to see you! Warm-up time!” She and the band started running through their preparation. Gayle made sure that her sax was mic’ed properly and that her guitar was in tune and ready to rock. The noodling and tuning of the band went on as they got ready.
Gayle was satisfied with her setup. The warning about the Cardinal and his flunkies had reached her, and she had already made the preparations she could, so... the show must go on! She turned to the crowd. “Okay, what do you want to hear?”
“Potato in front!” someone shouted with enthusiasm. Most of the crowd burst out laughing and screamed its approval.
She laughed. “While you’re eating? You guys are brave!”
She turned to her lead guitarist. “Stevie? Are you ready? You wanna do this one with me?” He grinned and squealed into the opening chords with a flourish. Gayle smirked and winked at the crowd, then launched into the lyrics. Slash and the bass player crashed in, mostly together, and the keyboards came in and backed up the perky, staccato beat at the end of the first verse.
I was walking down the beach one day, just grooving in the breeze. And the muscle boys are flexing for me. I said ‘Baby, please!’ ‘You’re not gonna get me with all that bulky stuff.’ ‘It’s what you’ve got to thrill me that’s gonna win my love!’
So I walk on and from behind I hear this hot young guy, tell his friend this one weird trick to make the ladies sigh. ‘Make ‘em look, make ‘em drool, and you might have a chance. Wear a Speedo super-tight, and put a potato in your pants!’
Well, you know me, I had to see, what this guy was talking ‘bout, so I turned and looked him over and that’s when it all came out. I bit my lip, this little tip, the one weird thing that caught my ear, I had to grin, ‘cause the guy’s hot friend had slipped the potato in the rear!
(Chorus) Show me what you got! Impress me with your package! It’s all so smoking hot! You could really do some damage! But just remember while you’re showing off that long, fine power tool… I can see right through, if it ain’t you… and the potato goes in front! (Just a small word of advice, boys!) The potato goes in front! Yeah, the potato goes in front. (Really.)
(saxophone solo, dueling guitar and sax)
I didn’t want to hurt too bad the feelings of this guy, ‘cause he looked like he’d been kicked before, from sewer to the sky. So I walked back up to this guy, and his friend is freaking out, ‘cause here’s this chick in green back on the scene with a sexy little pout.
And I leaned over to the guy and I whispered in his ear, it’s who you are and how you act that will make a girl come near. With what you’ve got inside your head, you don’t need this little stunt. You’re not so bad, you can just be glad… and the potato goes in front.
(Repeat Chorus)
You may be built like Atlas, or hung just like a stud, but if you’re really class-less, you’re no better than a dud. It’s guys with class (and a cute …) that get my motor running, if you think you’re a god, you’re the potato squad, not where I get my fun in!
(Final Chorus and repeat)
By the end of the song, dozens of people were singing along with the chorus and most of the audience was laughing and giggling. She loved this one, and so did her fans.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
"Keep them. Like I said I'm not human, well not anymore. I be more affected by this fellow's spirit control then any type of mind control. My brain a dried up raisin by now, yar talking to a soul bound to his cursed corpse." He reached out to his right where a small portal formed his hand went inside then withdrew with a beer. "Would offer you one, but I think ya be wanting to have a clear head. Like mind control, beer and drugs don't affect the dead so I can't get drunk. Worst curse ever."
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Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Gunni looked at the beer, wistfully. "Yeah, I can't drink it in this country, anyway. Not for almost three years. But I could use that can when it's empty."
She wave down Mei Ling, who opened her window and passed out a small silk pouch. "I have this for you. Throw it in the air; It will stick to almost anything, except that bag. And it can't be made invisible. If you think this Cardinal is nearby, throw the glitter."
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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He downs his beer and hands the empty bottle to Gunni "Ya said ya wanted this. That glitter stuff be useful, best not to waste it thought. I want to have a word If I could with Gayle Force got a few ideas banging around in my skull. Like if she could produce a vacuum around the Carnal, sound needs air so if she could produce a vacuum barrier then no matter how hard he broadcasts those sonic sounds no one will hear it. Second I wonder how sensitive she is to air currents around her, a person even invisible will be something the breeze Cape Chasers says is always around her. If she can feel those currents she should be able to know where invisible obstacles are. Yeah I know my brain maybe a dried up raisin, but my head not empty. When I'm fully charged I'm kind of clever."
"Let's head inside it's not often we heroes get to get to lay a trap. We know these guys going to be here I want to be able to figure how to take them down before it's chaos."
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Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Gunni estimated how much she needed of the glass, then drew a line around the neck of the bottle, cutting through the molecular bonds. She also gathered most of the paint from the labeling and rounded the edges before handing the bottom to one of the staff as they entered the club. "Can you see that this gets recycled? Thanks!" She paused in her crafting to look around the club. Besides Gayle and her band, she was looking for the door her bike was parked near, anyone with scales and a tail, and anyone wearing anything that might imply "Badger". Sports team? 1980's comic book character of minimal sanity? Gunni tried to think of other possible ways this Badger might identify himself.
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
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'Potato in the Front' was just finishing up when Sam crossed from the restaurant to the club. People were still gathered in knots instead of getting seated, so he decided to make a few laps of the room and see if he spotted anyone he knew.
[color=#FF7F50]Putting yourself in another persons shoes emotionally is something that everyone has to experience eventually. It's part of learning to be a human being. Roleplayers do it for fun.[/color]
"There are two reasons I can think of why this Cardinal fellow got these two to cause trouble. One is to get whatever protection there is to be trigger. Second as a distraction, I'm betting on the distraction so when things start keep an eye out." Heading inside he went to the bar and sat down. "Bartender I want a rum and coke, Captain Marko's Bite spiced rum." Looking in the mirror he kept an eye out for anyone looking out of place. The lizard fellow or someone who was angry. He got his drink and turned to look at the stage, his eyes scanned the lights for anything that might be a trap. Then he looked to the farthest side of the Green Line figuring that the Badger would be staying away from the stage till he was ready to strike.
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Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Gunni sat down next to Ron. "Root Beer for me, please, Henry Weinhard's if you have it. And a couple of bar towels, for a moment?" The bartender looked puzzled, but laid a pair of fresh bar towels down while he saw to the drinks.
Arranging the bar towels to enclose a small section of the bar, she took the bottle neck and rubbed it briskly between her palms. A stream of tiny glass spheres, each coated over one half with a thin layer of white enamel, flowed into the enclosure. Then she pushed the beads around, forming an image of five stars. It would be almost instantly recognizable to any astronomer, or anyone familiar with at least one of the flags of several countries in the southern hemisphere, or with the heraldry of the United State's First Marine Division. When the root beer arrived, she took a drink, then wet a napkin on the condensation and laid it over her glass beads. She used this to move the beads, placing them on her jacket over her left breast. The beads sunk halfway into the vinyl, forming a retro-reflective image of the Southern Cross.
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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Gayle spotted Gunni at the bar and waved cheerfully. She looked around the club again, shook her head with a wry grin, and surreptitiously bubbled up herself and the band. Josie, the keyboard guru, cocked her head at the singer in a question. Without the mic, Gayle said, "Just a feeling. There's danger in the air...." Then, she grinned. "Yeah... 'Danger in the Air.' You know that one, Josie?"
"Nope. Give me a few bars, or something? I'll follow."
"Early '80s German metal. Big keyboard opening, but I think I remember the metal guitar part. Stevie?"
"No clue, but like she said, start us up and we'll follow!" He laughed and threw a few riffs into the simple rhythm chord progression he was repeating.
"Okay, let's play around a bit, and maybe we'll make up our own version." The air smelled like cool spring rain, always a good sign for Gayle's creative songwriting spirit. And, she figured that she might just generate enough power to mess with whatever the bad guys had coming.
Danny and Julius were already sitting at a table near the center of the club. Danny was nursing along a beer. His scaled green friend was trying hard to be inconspicuous while eating a huge organic beef and green chili burrito. Danny was just waiting with a surly, badger-like stubbornness for the right time. He stared at Gayle with a slight scowl on his face, ignoring the rest of the patrons.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
Gunni lift her root beer and smiled in response to Gayle's wave. Then she spotted Jules - unless there was another scaley green person in attendance - which meant that the angry young man would likely be Danny the Badger. An idea popped into her head. "Hey, Ron, did you ever see a silly movie called 'Blazing Saddles'?"
As the band started up again, Gunni tried to identify the song. She hadn't heard it before. "Ooooh, I think this one is new..."
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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"Saw it, but that was during tha time I could get drunk and all I remember is the bean scene." He noticed Jules and Danny as well again he hasn't really moved he was looking in the mirror. "Our badger fellow more brave than I expected. If he wasn't so self assured he would have chosen a seat more isolated. The other one Jules is the newbie to trouble making at least on this scale."
Then the next song started "I'm hoping ya could go over to the stage and fill Gayle in on what's going down. She waved to ya so might not cause suspicion ya going to have a chat with a friend. My instincts are telling me that Badger boy is a distraction. So I be expecting Cardinal to try something sneaky or a kidnapping rather than an assault."
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Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Gunni snickered at the - unintended? - pun. "My informant thought the same, that these two are the distraction. And I sent Gayle an email with what he told me, but as much as she likely gets, it might be a good idea to make sure."
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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"Can yar tech gizmo look up Cardinal's tactics? Is he a sneaky type manipulating from the shadows or out front commanding armies? There another possibility here I just thought of. He might want to try to push Gayle Force control of her pheromones out of control. She gets in fight with Badger boy, then he uses his mental manipulation on her and... anyone in range of her pheromones are suddenly in combat mode and ya got yourself an instant flash mob. So what is his tactics, and what could be his goal." He set down his glass and looked about again for any distortion that could hint at an invisible foe.
-------------------------------------------
Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
"All I know on Cardinal is what's on CapeChasers. But it does say his mind control is 'manipulative subsonics', so, the earplugs. Not sure if they'll work, but I had these two pairs made up... He also does sonic screech attacks, flies, can make himself invisible, and can call up the spirits of the dead." Gunni's face grew hard. "His goals are allegedly to protect the environment and wilderness areas, which I have no problem with, but anyone that runs tankers aground or kills people to make a point, both of which CapeChasers says he's done, by the way... They didn't say what he did with the spirits he summoned, but judging by his other tactics I think it's likely Freya and Hel would probably appreciate our stopping him."
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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"hmm interesting he's labeled as a vigiantie. Most of the one's I know try to minimise harm to those they see as Innocent, or at least not involved. Sure blow up a mob boss home with all the staff inside. Well the staff had to know who they worked for so they were guilty. If that mob boss was in a penthouse of a building they wouldn't blow it up, to much chance someone innocent below the penthouse would be hurt. Ya already told me the powers, I'm trying to figure out this guy's tactics. Someone with super strength could smash things with their fist, or like to throw cars more than punching, or even use chains turning a melee attack into an area or cone sweeping attack. All three of those fight styles can be super strength. When I was in the fight clubs that how I won even when fighting some superpowered brawler. I learned their tactics, how they fight, and adjust my style to counter. Well guess we can't count on Cape Chasers for all the answers."
He looked at Badger reflection. "I bet a hundred bucks that badger guy a punch you in the face type brawler. Likes to get up close and personal. The Lizard kid might back him up but will rely more on getting in a blow in when you aren't looking. Sneak attacks, fast quick. Of course being as nervous as he is there a possibility to talk him out of it."
"So Cardinal uses death and destruction for effect. Either distraction of emphasis. Reinforcing the idea that Badger boy and Lizer kid are just distractionary tools. Right now we have to wait, if we confront them we just blow our cover and Bird brain will just use something else, like a bomb. Stick with what we got, when the music stops go up and inform Gayle force. Might take something for her to sign pass it off as getting an autograph."
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Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Gunni nodded. From an inside pocket, she pulled out a CD case (Gayle's most recent album), as well as her spare earplugs and a Sharpie. As the band finished the song, she stood and walked over to the stage, the earplugs concealed by the CD. "Any chance I could get an autograph?" she asked in her best excited-fangirl tone. It wasn't a big stretch.
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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Gayle laughed as the band finished the impromptu version of [i]Danger in the Air[/i]. "That wasn't great, but it has potential, do you think?" she asked the crowd. Some patrons were waiting down in front, expecting a break where they could get a chance at an autograph. Gayle noticed Gunni making her way that direction, too, so she nodded to the rest of the band and sat down on the front of the stage platform to chat with the fans and do signings while they got ready for the show.
"Sure!" she answered Gunni's request.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
Having done a few laps and not really seen anybody he knew, Sam headed to the bar to get a drink before sitting down. As he approached, he noticed Ron sitting at the bar next to a statuesque short-haired blonde. As he approached, the blonde stood and headed towards the stage, so Sam appropriated her stool, spinning it to face Ron. "Sup Deadhead? You on a date?"
[color=#FF7F50]Putting yourself in another persons shoes emotionally is something that everyone has to experience eventually. It's part of learning to be a human being. Roleplayers do it for fun.[/color]
Gunni slipped the earplugs to Gayle along with the CD. "Thanks, I really appreciate this!"
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
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"Fraid not Sam. This is a business call. The lady is named Gunni, and she got a tip that a high threat villain going to cause trouble here. I'm her backup." He motioned to the mirror "look there see the lizard kid, and that other fellow with him. It's our believe they are a distraction. Turns out tha bigger one asked Gayle out on a date and she turned him down, so now he's pissed. He's also a pawn of the main threat a fellow calling himself tha Cardinal."
"Ya want in ask Gunni for a pair of ear plugs. Tha best guess is Cardinal uses sonic sounds to control people. Hate to have to put ya down."
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Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Sam sat back with a grimace. "Oh, now that's something I just can't allow. I'll get those earplugs. Thanks." he said, slapping Rott on the shoulder. He slipped off the stool and deftly wove through the crowd to where Gunni was waiting.
"Hey there, Ron sent me over here. He said you'd have something I need to help fight this Cardinal guy. Name's Sam, by the way." he said, holding out a hand.
[color=#FF7F50]Putting yourself in another persons shoes emotionally is something that everyone has to experience eventually. It's part of learning to be a human being. Roleplayers do it for fun.[/color]
He turned to stop Sam from going but he was out of reach already. Sighing he returns to his drink "Sam ya are tha flash to my Batman." He shook his head all the idea of having Gunni go up and get an autograph to not alert the bad guys out the window. He looked at Badger and Jules and hoped they didn't hear sam. Not to mention the real threat this Cardinal.
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Personal rules of good roleplay
1.) Nothing goes as planned.
2.) If it goes as planned it's not good RP
Gunni glanced back towards the bar as she took Sam's hand in a carefully firm grip. "Gunni. Or Crux. Why does Ron have his face buried in his hands?" she asked softly. She hoped she sounded concerned and not mischievous...
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
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Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
Gayle looked at the CD case with the earplugs and blinked, then put two and two together. She grinned mischievously and signed the case, "Always make sure that you can hear what you're missing! All the best, Gayle"
"Hey, Gunni, thanks! I'm good, what with my powers and sound monitors and all...." She tapped her ear and pointed a thumb back at the band, who had discreet earpieces in to be able to hear their playing better from behind the main speakers. Gunni might have recognized the tech; it provided an excellent buffer against sonics, as well. "...but I'm sure someone can use 'em! I'll try not to blow down everyone's eardrums, tonight, too. I'll be watching for stuff, but you'll probably have a better view of the show from the floor than I will from the stage. Everybody seems to focus on me," she hinted. "You might use that to get the best view, I guess!"
She straightened up and cheerfully signed another couple of autographs before easing back onto the stage to get ready for the main event.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
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