The glowy metal woman giggles softly as Sarah shivers and shirks away. "So cute," she coos to herself. She steps away from Sarah as Sarah does the same, her bare feet making a distinct metallic scraping sound against the asphalt.

She turns her gaze back upon the babbling, flustered Justin. She cocks her head and places a hand on her hips, smiling beatifically as he stumbles over his words. "Nothing so esoteric as any of that, sweetie," she softly refutes his speculations. She decides to show some mercy to the poor boy, reaching into the reflected world within her metallic skin and pulling out a gray leather jacket. She pirouettes around as she slinks her way into its heavy folds, coattails and sleeves helixing around her as she turns dressing into a dance. Then, she is covered and modest... well, as much as a streetwalker might be, in any event.

The woman's disposition seems to sour some as the self-titled Star Phoenix speaks of going to see the meteor personally. She opens her mouth to say something, but hesitates. "Nothing can go faster than light," she objects quietly. It is clear that is not what she was originally going to say.

---

Spoiler for gameplay mechanics: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
19:00, Yesterday: Anathema rolled 14 using 1d20+5+4.  Init.

---

Sensing that Blue...Fathom is feeling a little cornered, Psyche decides to make a little room for her.

Psyche glances at Fathom, and then she looks at the mysterious naked woman who is not naked any more.

"So, uh. Do you have a name we can address you with? Because Not Naked Lady does not roll off the tongue."

Sarah cocked her head to one side, distracted. Then she stiffened as if blown by a freezing blast.  Her eyes widened behind the sunglasses and a wave of pure, gut-wrenching you-can't-get-away panic set in.

She gasped, audibly.

Private line
This message was last edited by the player at 07:54, Sun 13 Mar 2022.

Psyche sighs quietly, and then takes another couple of steps away from Fathom, La Blue Girl, whatever she's called. Well, that went swimmingly, she rolls her eyes, more disappointed at herself than anything else.

Metal-girl cocks her head, frown intensifying. Internally she polls her myriad of reflected instances, asking if any of them see anything untoward.

In reply to Anathema (msg # 24):

Star Phoenix smiles, "I would tend to agree, but that does not explain the observations I've experienced.  I made it from Earth to the sun surface in 5 minutes... an impossibility as light is known to reach earth in 8 minutes.  And I know I could have done it quicker.. I wasn't really trying on my first star flight.  But.. honestly it kind of scares me the thought of actually attempting an intersteller flight to even alpha-centauri.  The void of all that darkness within a sea of stars seems so very lonely."

He looks at those present and grimaces noting they all seem to be put off by his honest openness and takes several steps back pondering {perhaps they'd react better if I was an asshole? But not happening ... that's not me, they are perfect strangers... so...}

He sighs, "..look I'm clearly freaking you all out. Sorry, just trying to be honest and helpful. You clearly want none of that so... maybe its best we just do our own thing.  I'm staying to see if someone shows up so stay or leave as you see fit."

He begins to turn away...
This message was last edited by the player at 12:14, Sun 13 Mar 2022.

"If science says you can't do it but you can, then clearly some more science is required. Shutting our eyes and singing tra-la-la does no one any good." She shrugs.

Jeremy could not help but notice that things were a little tense. It wasn't helping that the kid was just rambling on about how to deal with changes and what was good or bad. There would be enough time for judgement later.

Although, he did have a point. There was a part of him that had longed for this. Longed? Desired! Wished! It was both strange, surprising, frightening, and utterly delightful, at the same time. What was the word he liked to use for moments like these? "Odd". He chuckled to himself.

"You know,...", he spoke out loud, musing to himself, his eyes looking all around, "... thing is, I just got like this two days ago. It was weird. But there is someone or something out there that knows that this happened. I got a request to come here and meet... whoever it is... at 7pm tonight." He checked his watch and confirmed. "It's now 7:18 and whoever it was that wanted me here hasn't showed yet."

He looked at the assembled group.

"The fact that you are all here tells me you might have gotten that same message? This is more than a coincidence. But, that means that someone knows this has all happened, and knows enough about us to find us, send us this invitation, and then keep tabs on us."

He started to look around the park.

"I think we should look for whoever this is. They are probably watching us right now. They might know something about why this happened. At the very least I want to know who this person is, and what they want. I don't like the idea of someone watching me like this.

What do you say? Let's search this park."

Star Phoenix will pause at Shadow's suggestion of some cooperation.

Nodding his way, "Work together? Finally some comradery, sure Shadow.. I'm game to help with the search the park sounds fine! I too want to know who called us here and how they found us.. though I'm pretty certain with my powers its was not hard.  And though I know what I can do... having you willing to help with you powers would be awesome if it turns to conflict.  I'd rather have back-up and another alternative to spraying down a public park with charged solar plasma..."

He gestures, "Which side of the park do you want? I'm gonna stay powered down until a threat actually presents itself... safer that way to avoid property damage and innocent bystanders."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:39, Sun 13 Mar 2022.

As the group continued to talk, Anathema was the first to remark a strange phenomenon, a swirling mass of darkness was appearing at 30 feet of them. An instant later, it collapsed, revealing two figures.

The first was a floating thin man with a dark hooded cloak seeming made of shadows. In it’s left hand was a large shadowy scythe. The second was a brown bear but its eyes betrayed its intelligence.

The thin man suddenly slashed its weapon and a silver crescent appeared from nowhere and struck Phoenix in the chest, knocking him backward and leaving a large gash.

[OOC: Combat! I made a Perception check for everyone and only Fathom failed it, so no first round for you. The Initiative order is:
Fathom > Reaper (the thin man) > Star Phoenix > Anathema > Psyche > Medved > Shadow
Reaper attacked Phoenix with a with a ranged weapon +8, Damage 7 (Penetrating 4, Affect Insubstantial 2 and Incurable). He touched with 26 vs Dodge 8 (DC18) and wounded, Toughness check 16 vs Damage 7 (DC22). 2 degree of failure (>5), you are dazed and have 1 blessure).
Next is Star Phoenix. Then Anathema. Then Psyche. Then me. Then Shadow.]

Star Phoenix noticed the swirling mass of darkness some 30 feet away and the figures that appeared at first thinking they were more super powered arrivals, but the unprovoked attack on himself... was wholly unexpected.  Of those standing there ~ he, Shadow, and Psyche were the most normal and nonthreatening looking; so why he of all of them was attacked made little sense to him?

It was certainly not what he was expecting.  He was more expecting either SWAT team forces sent to apprehend them or some man in a suit to make them an, 'offer they can't refuse'.  Immediate direct sudden unprovoked violence... not so much.

He gasped at the sudden wound across his chest, the pain slowing his reactions somewhat but he was clear it was no normal wound he could feel his natural solar regeneration hindered from healing him... and the mindless violence was starting to make him angry.  But he noted that the Blue Girl was completely caught off guard and was not reacting.

He placed a hand to his chest would, "K-Koff~!! ‘Gasp’ THAT was completely uncalled for... but if you insist on hurting people I will not allow that..."

Justy was staggered but his purpose was not stymied... he moved away from his associates about 10'ft directly between Blue Girl and the hostiles to intercept any approach to her then he jumped into the air ~ to those with a keen eye the force of the leap cracks the concrete slightly... but all that is likely lost in what happens next as Star Phoenix drew the light in his surrounding into his body like a star forming in his heart ~ and he exploded into roaring golden flames!

His clothing changed into a body suit, forming like a reverse of something immolating ~ like ash turning into fabric; clothing him in a red and gold bodysuit stylized like perhaps a cycle racer's speed suit but emblazoned with a golden emblem of a fiery bird on his back.  The flames he seemed to be the source of coalesced into a golden fiery corona around him shaped like a bird composed of flames some 10 to 15 feet in wingspan with Justy at its center; as if to punctuate the effect a thunderous shriek like a hunting cry of a bird of prey roars forth from the blazing effect as it finished forming!

Star Phoenix took flight the leap just enough to keep the pavement from being charred as a wave of heat washed over all present from the heat effects of the firebird effect corona surrounding him.  The fiery bird was not some static image it moved as if a thing alive literally its gaze scowled at the attackers.  Justy had changed as well his skin an inky black, his hazel eyes now glowed a bright amber with flickering flames inside and his hair... replaced with a mane of stellar fire!  The radiance of the effect was almost as bright as the sun above.

 

Star Phoenix hovered in the air some 5 to 10 feet above the ground still between the Blue Girl ready still to intercept any approach to her and invoked his plasma sheath of fiery protection an inner corona of distinctly red flames surrounded him.  His pose shifting to one of readiness for a defensive attack as he points at the two assailants and unleashed a star burst of golden light targeting their area brighter than the sun…

He addressed the assailants, not yelling, but his voice now crackling with power, “Now that I have your attention, Who are you and Why did you attack us unprovoked?”

Actions –
Move Action: 10’ft {ground}, Flight 10'ft;  Jump to give a little distance between himself and pavement to avoid charring the surface 'roughly 2ft'
No Action: Instant Change into costume
Free Action: Activate Plasma Sheath-Protection [+8 Toughness Saves]
Standard Action: Defensive attack w/Star Burst – Dazzle, Dodge now 13 [DC23 dodge]

10:00, Today: Star Phoenix rolled 16 {15} using 1d20+3.  "Star Burst" Ranged Area Attack w/Defensive attack max {Dodge +5, Attack -5 'aimed at ground 30'ft radius} [+3]. – 16
Notes: ~ Opps, forgot he's dazed so an additional -1 to his attack, so only a 15.. but he's aiming at a spot on the ground between Medved and Reaper... so its not dodging
- Resist w/Will, DC18 or Impaired+

09:58, Today: Star Phoenix rolled 10 using 1d20+8.  Jump {Trying to avoid charring the concrete with flight & FF side effects}. – 10
~ Gah sorry been a while since I played the D20 system.  Ignore this roll I'm just going to take 10- with it.  Athletics 18.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Mon 14 Mar 2022.

Possible complication triggers:

• Metallic Skin (due to the sudden wash of heat)
• Photosensitivity (due to the sudden bright light)

Metal girl cocked her head curiously at the newcomers, wondering what their contribution to this fun little outdoor party would be. They contribute wordlessly but enthusiastically. "Oh boo, so much for that burgeoning camaraderie," she says, coy and unconcerned.

Her too-cool-for-this disposition doesn't survive the Star Phoenix, however.

With a surprised yelp she raises an arm to shield her eyes. The length of a blink later and her image shatters like a sheet of plate glass under a hammer blow, leaving nothing but shimmering shards to settle into the shallow puddle of rainwater she had been standing in. Both are rapidly evaporating, now.

From a safer distance, she observed and calculated. A dozen more of her did the same and double-checked her math. The conclusion was clear; giant flaming fire man probably has it under control. She elects to simply use her mysterious influences to shield Sarah and cover the escape she looked to be halfway to commuting towards even before their attackers showed up.

Using Deflect 10 to protect Fathom.

Psyche freezes up as the strange darkness appears before discharging a pair of attackers at them. It is at this point that she realizes something:

1 - someone was obviously expecting them to be here
2 - someone was planning to ambush them here
3 - she doesn't know anything about them
4 - she doesn't know anything about the others either

Now, she doesn't think any of Fathom or Shadow or Justy or Not Naked Lady are bad guys, but she doesn't know anything about them, and even if they aren't the villains here trying to pose as a fifth column to pincer them with these obvious aggressors, she has no experience fighting with them and she has no experience fighting, period.

Which brings her to her next course of action. She should run, of course. Best form of self defense is to never get into a dangerous situation in the first place. But then what if they were planning for her to escape? She was probably spotted flying around on a beat-up armchair;  since this was a planned ambush, would they really not have taken any countermeasures against that? Like, who knows, a surface to air missile launcher or something.

No, best not to risk that. Besides, it's not a good look to take off while the others are in the lurch. But then, what should she do?

Phoenix is big and obvious... what if I were the opposite? What if... they didn't see me?

And then, nothing happens at all. Psyche is still there. Except... People don't treat her like she's there. Shortly afterward, a voice speaks in everyone's heads.

I'm not gone yet. I'm just... monitoring the situation.

OOC: Activating Mental Invisibility Technique. Psyche will then get into the tree branches to set up her next action.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:36, Tue 15 Mar 2022.

Phoenix’s flare exploded at the just before the two aggressors, but when the light faded, the bear was charging the most vulnerable target: Fathom. Or at least that was the impression, when he struck why is claws the air rippled and the paw bounced back on its owner but failed to penetrate the tough skin.

[OOC: Phoenix, I made the dodge test for the two with DC18, Reaper succeeds (31), Medved fail (12). For the resistance check the two passes: Reaper 21 (DC14) and Medved 26 (DC18). No luck.

Then we have Anathema and Psyche, no test.

Medved move to Fathom (30 feet) and attack her with claws (+10/dam14), Since Anathema as a deflect on her I did the clash: Anathema with 24 vs Medved with 21. Since only Medved is in range to redirect I made the check myself (tell me if I got it wrong). You hit with 24 against Parry class of 18 but you don’t wound (I had a 32 against DC29)

The turn of Shadow, then Round 2 with Fathom first the Reaper]

"What the...?"

Shadow was a bit taken aback at all the sudden action. A reaper and a bear showed up out of nowhere, and the kid turned to fire, hurling fireballs.

"Hey. Hey! That's not cool. Stop it!"

Shadow's tried to manage the situation, which had gotten seriously violent at this point, but he doubted these new-comers had any intention of talking.

His instinctive mind took over, and his body began to ooze dark inky blackness, which billowed all around him and hid his form down to a silhouette. Not wanting to get too much in the way, he decided to shift position to about 30 feet past and behind the reaper, looking for an opening to strike a good blow.

The blackness around him fully swallowed him up, then reduced itself to nothing. About 50 feet further away, and 30 feet past the 'reaper' figure, it reappeared again, tossing Shadow out of it's confines with a bit of an unceremonious shove. He stood there, taking the conflict in, and examining the possibilities.

OOC: Activating defenses (Move Action), then taking a move to a new position. Next.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:28, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

What actually happens is that the air before the bearmonster shimmers and ripples, forcing him to face am ethereal and silvery reflection of himself. The reflection parries his blow and counterattacks before shimmering away, failing to do meaningful damage.

It all fell out so fast.

Two people just appeared in a cloud of smoke and immediately attacked them. No introductions, no therats.  Guy-with-a-scythe--a scythe?-- slashed Star Phoenix who exploded into a floating man-on-fire thing.  Psyche, the metal-woman and Shadow all just kinda disappeared.  Or maybe it was just that Sarah lost track of them.   

The bear-thing leapt at Sarah, scary claws swiping at her.    She swore she should have been dead right there.  But something happened.  Like, the bear-thing was fighting itself for a moment?.  Sarah was terribly confused, but she didn't have time to ponder it.

Grateful for whatever had given her a precious few seconds, Sarah felt dramatically outclassed.  So, the imperative was absolutely clear: get the hell out of there!

There wasn't time to waste.

Sarah pivoted then, out of range, reflexively reached for the water in the shallow puddle Anathema had been standing in.  All she wanted was a barrier between herself and the bear-thing.

The water from the puddle erupted outward and expanded dramatically, forming a barrier nearly 10 feet tall, six feet across, and one foot thick.  It was made of hardened water--not ice--but shaped water.

Then, she turned tail and fled.  She wasn't concerned with the others--she simply wanted to live through this.  She could beat herself up about it all later.  "Suki!" Sarah shouted. "It's going south!  It's really going South!"

--

Start of second round.
Removed Stunned & Vulnerable conditions from Fathom
Move-Action: Pivot & move out of Medved's immediate claw range
Standard Action: Create Construct: simple barricade, 10' tall x 6' wide x 1' thick = 60 cubic feet, Toughness(10), Descriptors: water, opaque
Move-Action: Run away.  Since the GM says we're not near the ocean, I'll leave it to them to define which way I run...


Edited for semantics.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:41, Fri 18 Mar 2022.

OOC: Just in case Shadow's move may have been misinterpreted, I have edited my last post with a bit more detail on his actions. He only teleported to a rear position. He's still very much "in the fight".

As Fathom tried to run the battle toward the edge of the park, the cloaked man floated until he was standing on the water barrier and raised his scythe. Bands of dark energy came from it and snaked their way to everyone at least than 30 feet, safe for the bear.

Everyone touched by the bands was feeling like icy water was running in their veins and that their strength was diminishing. But the adrenaline in their blood was enough to keep them fully alert and the feeling could be easily ignored.

[OOC: Reaper uses a Burst Fortitude Affliction with the selective, concentration and cumulative modifier. You all pass your dodge check and fortitude check.
Following: Star Phoenix, Anathema, Psyche]

Star Phoenix frowned, "So that's how you wish to do this?  No dialogue, No conversation ~ none of us here have done you ANY harm and you only seek naked violence against people who know nothing of you and no desire to harm you?  Fine then.. if Violence is the only thing you understand than violence you shall have!"

Star Phoenix flies in low but fast his phoenix aura of stellar flames licking the pavement briefly... low so he can come in below the Water wall that Reaper is standing atop... so he can aim Up and risk not damage to the park or innocent bystanders or if he misses the bolt hit nothing but open air.  From that brief tactical position he unleashes a pure solar plasma bolt at Reaper in an all out power attack for maximum destruction aiming at him above the water wall.

His shot fired Star Phoenix continues his move-by action to return to the skies some 50'ft up, never once coming within melee range of Reaper.

Actions -
Move-By: 100'ft {25'ft to firing position, 50'ft up [25'ft away/50'ft in altitude]
Standard Action:  All-Out Power/Attack w/ Plasma Bolt ~
”Plasma Bolt” {Damage}: 8 w/All-Out, Power Attack 12 (Cosmic, Elemental, Fire, Heat, Life Force, Light; Range 200/400/800’ft, DC23 w/All-Out, Power Attack DC28 , Affects Insubstantial 2 {Full Rank}, Dangerous 4 {CRT 16+}, Increased Range 1: Ranged [+1rk/Lvl], Penetrating 2 [+2rk})
11:44, Today: Star Phoenix rolled 27 using 1d20+8.  Ranged Combat: Energy Control-Solar Plasma [+8, All-Out {+5}, Power Attack {-5}]. – 27 - CRITICAL HIT 'Dangerous 4' {CRT 16+}

There is a blast of energy brighter than the sun and the Phoenix Aura surrounding Justy/Star Phoenix shrieks like a living beast in Thunderous Triumph of COSMIC RAGE Unbridled.. Fire made flesh in the sky above!
This message was last edited by the player at 18:07, Tue 22 Mar 2022.

Anathema continues to spectate from some intangible space not entirely of this reality. This is fun! Like a movie, or a play! If she threw an ear of corn at Star Phoenix, would it turn into popcorn on the cob? So many questions!

---

Anathema takes no meaningful action.

Psyche decides to gain more information about the situation. She focuses her attention on Reaper and does her best to stare right through his head...

OOC:
Using Mind Reading on Reaper. She wants to figure out what they're trying to accomplish, who sent them and their real identities, if possible.

The blast sends by Phoenix detonated just before his eyes, completely washing his vision in white bright light, blinding him. Nearly at the same time, Psyche infiltrated his mind, in the stream of thoughts the psychic was hearing, mostly about his current predicament, she distinguished his burgeoning doubts about the fight, and mainly if the money promised was worth it.

While Reaper was having problem, the bear ignored the water wall and turned his fight toward the only other person he could access, Shadow. With a growl he charged the man and mauled him with his claws leaving a deep gash and a little rattled from having received the weight of a adult bear at full speed.

[OOC: First Phoenix: You exchange damage for affliction blindness, Reaper is now blind (I rolled Fortitude).
Psyche you managed to roll 12 vs 9 to Reaper Will check, you have only Surface Thoughts for now.
Last: Medved vs Shadow, he rolls 23 vs your Parry (DC20) and then you roll 19 vs damage 14 (DC29). So, you have 1 wound, and you are dazed for until next turn.

Now: Shadow to finish the round, then Round 3 begin with Fathom, then Reaper]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:42, Thu 24 Mar 2022.

The women were not too eager to fight. That made sense. Seriously, who would. But these guys didn't seem to have gotten the memo. For them it was a fight no matter what.

Looked for an opening with the reaper figure.

That was a mistake. He underestimated the bear. Which came charging at him and tore him a new trachea, conveniently located between his ribs. Well, it would be scar to remember. But, dammit!, it stung.

"Hey! Hey! Not nice, little bear."

Shadow lifted his hands, fists closed. His arms became enveloped in inky darkness, and he struck a pretty simple jab at the bear.

"Here, beary, beary... "

Let's see how this bear likes to have his energy drained.


OOC: Hitting with Shadow's Essence. Trying to get him to settle down.

14:45, Today: Shadow rolled 27 using 1d20+10 ((17)).

That's gotta be a hit. Affliction 10 [Vulnerable/Dazed - Defenseless/Stunned] - Dodge/Fortitude