Issue #10 - "Chaos" (Continued)
-Cyber-Knight, the Duchess, Fang, and the Atlantean Soldiers vs. Acrobat Ace, Electrostatic, Puncture Proof, and the Scoundrel-
"So, heroes," the Duchess said. "I see you have survived the journey back from Pandemonium. That's too bad, because now we'll have to kill you..."
Acrobat Ace spoke up. "Listen, lady, I don't know who you are, but --"
"Oh, you'll learn soon enough," the Duchess interjected.
"Enough talk," Cyber-Knight barked as he drew his Vibrosword.
{Initiative: Acrobat Ace gets 26, Cyber-Knight gets 8, the Duchess gets 4, Electrostatic gets 33, Fang gets 10, Puncture Proof gets 13, the Scoundrel gets 28, and the Atlantean Soldiers get 5. The order will be Acrobat Ace, Electrostatic, the Scoundrel, Puncture Proof, Fang, Cyber-Knight, the Soldiers, and the Duchess.}
{Note: Of the 20 Atlantean Soldiers, 2 are Captains (PL 3) and 18 are Soldiers (PL 2). They are all Minions.}
***** Round One *****
Yow, there are lot of guys with guns, Acrobat Ace realized. Hmm, I wish I knew more about these villains' capabilities.
"OK, here's the plan," he announced to his allies. Electrostatic, you and Scoundrel take those groups of gun-toters there and there," he instructed, pointing out each group. "Luther, you and I have got some super-villains to crunch."
"Amen to that," Puncture Proof replied, taking to the air.
Meanwhile, Acrobat Ace drew two razor-sharp metal rings from his belt and hurled them with great accuracy at the bestial Fang. One blade hit the mark, drawing a cry from the villain.
{Acrobat Ace assigns a +1 dodge bonus to DEF vs. all foes (Dodge feat). He uses a Free Action on Leadership. Taking a 5' step, Acrobat Ace uses Rapid Shot to toss two Razor-Rings at Fang (FF DEF 16), hitting once with 17, and missing once with 12. Since Fang is flat-footed, he can't use Evasion, so it's a Damage save (DC 24). This is an Impossible Save since his Damage save bonus is +3, but he rolls a natural 20 for the save and only takes a Stun Hit.}
"As the lady said, let's get this party started," Electrostatic said, charging forward to meet the Atlantean soldiers. "You look like the leader," he said to the captain leading that particular group of soldiers. "Too bad." Electrostatic blasted the villainous fish-man with electrical energy, but the captain resisted.
"Tougher than you look, huh?"
{Electrostatic assigns a +1 dodge bonus to his DEF vs. all Foes (Dodge feat). As a Free Action, he turns on his Energy Field. Electrostatic moves 40' toward one group of Atlantean Soldiers as a Half Action. He fires his Energy Blast at the Atlantean Captain (DEF 13) and hits with 25. The Captain gets a Damage save (DC 21) and succeeds with 23 for no effect.}
The Scoundrel turned towards his assigned foes and drew his glowing Hellfire Pistols, their barrels already smoking. He fired at the closest soldier, dropping the Atlantean in his tracks. The Scoundrel thought to blow off the barrel to be cool, but thought better of the idea.
{The Scoundrel assigns a +1 dodge bonus to his DEF vs. all foes (Dodge feat). As a Half Action, he draws his two Hellfire Pistols. He fires one at a Soldier (DEF 12) and hits with 16. The Soldier gets a Damage save (DC 19) but fails with 11. There are now 17 Soldiers left.}
"Cyber-Knight," Puncture Proof said. "I had hoped you would have reformed yourself by now, old friend. I hate to have to face you again."
"Thine words bringeth me no comfort, traitor," Cyber-Knight replied.
Puncture Proof flew a little closer, but wanted to see what the villains might try, so he hovered in place near the top of a tree.
{Puncture Proof assigns a +1 dodge bonus to his DEF (Aerial Combat). He flies 50' as a Half Action, 20' vertically and 30' horizontally. Puncture Proof takes no further action.}
Fang, already smarting from Acrobat Ace's Razor-Ring to the temple, growled and leapt toward his attacker, trying to bite Acrobat Ace, but the agile hero shifted aside and jumped out of the way, landing on one hand, and then bouncing back to his feet a short distance away.
"Gee, furry," Acrobat Ace replied. "Ever see a dentist? One you didn't eat anyway?"
{Fang assigns a +1 dodge bonus to DEF vs. all foes (Dodge feat). The villain gets a Will save (DC 20) to avoid going berserk, and succeeds with 20. He leaps 40' to Acrobat Ace as a Half Action. Fang claws at Acrobat Ace (DEF 31) and misses with 19.}
"Another vainglorious fool," Cyber-Knight said, charging forward on his mechanical steed toward Acrobat Ace. "I remember thee," the villain remarked as he swung his Vibrosword violently yet inaccurately. "Thine curses still ring in mine ears."
As he rolled aside and popped to his feet, Acrobat Ace smiled. "I didn't know you had ears, metal-face."
{Cyber-Knight rides 45' toward Acrobat Ace as a Half Action. Cyber-Knight swings his Vibrosword at Acrobat Ace (DEF 31), but misses with 21.}
The captains, speaking in the Atlantean tongue, ordered the soldiers into position, and the Atlanteans opened fire on both Electrostatic and the Scoundrel with their Rocket Rifles, sending dozens of tiny red rockets flying everywhere.
"Was it something I said?" Electrostatic asked sarcastically as he jumped aside to avoid the rockets.
{The Atlantean Soldiers near Electrostatic move 15' toward the hero as a Half Action, and then fire their Rocket Rifles, all missing (highest result was 20). The group near the Scoundrel move 30' toward the hero as a Half Action and then fire their Rocket Rifles, all missing (highest result was 20).}
Two new heroes, the Duchess realized. Trickster said they were old enemies of his. I wonder how powerful they might be.
{The Duchess refocuses this round. Her new Initiative is 21, and will slot in between the Scoundrel and Puncture Proof.}
***** Round Two *****
"Keep at them, guys," Acrobat Ace suggested as he spun backwards and let loose a barrage of razor-rings in his general area. The tiny blades simply bounced and clanked off Cyber-Knight's armor, but Fang wasn't so lucky, and took one right in the abdomen.
{Acrobat Ace takes a 5' step back. He uses a Free Action for Leadership. Using a Half Action, he activates Spinning and uses Blade Storm to fire off an area effect of Razor-Rings. Cyber-Knight and Fang are within the affected area, and get Reflex saves (DC 19) for half damage. Cyber-Knight succeeds with 19, and Fang fails with 11. Cyber-Knight ignores the effect since his Protection (+7) is more than the halved damage bonus (+5). Fang gets a Damage save (DC 24), and fails with 18. Fang takes a Stun Hit and is Stunned.}
"You can't shoot what you can't aim at," Electrostatic remarked, as he ran right past the group of soldiers, zapping one of them with his energy blast, dropping the soldier to the grass.
There are a lot of these guys, Electrostatic realized. I need to get them in a bad tactical position. Perhaps that tree...
{Electrostatic uses a Half Action to run around the Soldiers. He fires his Energy Blast at a Soldier (DEF 12) and hits with 34. The Soldier gets a Damage save (DC 20) and fails with 18. There are now 16 Soldiers left.}
Though no one could detect it beneath his mask, the Scoundrel smiled, blasting two Atlantean soldiers with his Hellfire Pistols, dropping both men where they stood.
He backed away, knowing that it would be very bad to get surrounded. The Scoundrel operated much better with a little room to manuever.
{The Scoundrel takes a 5' step and fires his Hellfire Pistols at two Soldiers (DEf 12), hitting with 22 and 31. Both Soldiers get Damage saves (DC 19) and both fail with 18 and 7. There are now 14 Soldiers left.}
"Destroy them, every last one of them," the Duchess commanded as she moved forward toward the front lines. The flying Puncture Proof was the closest hero, and seemed to be a good target for her special... charms. "Cyber-Knight, come here," she commanded.
Puncture Proof, seeing the Duchess come forward, was astonished at her brazenness.
She gazed right at him, with a look that might shatter a man's soul. "You come here as well, hero," she commanded. "I have plans for you!"
{The Duchess uses a Free Action for Leadership. As a Half Action, she runs 30' toward Puncture Proof. She attempts Mind Control on the flying hero. Her Mind Control check of 22 is opposed by Puncture Proof's Will save of 23. The attempt fails.}
Puncture Proof felt the vampire's grip on his mind, and barely resisted her. Perhaps he could play along anyway. "Yes," he said, landing next to a tree that stood between himself and the Duchess.
After he landed, as the Duchess looked away to observe the field of battle, Puncture Proof ripped the tree out of the ground and held it like a baseball bat.
"I'm here," he announced. "Didja want something?" he asked, brandishing the tree. "Cause I've got something for ya!"
{Puncture Proof flies down 20' to land as a Half Action. He rips a tree out of the ground as his other Half Action. The tree has a Hardness of 5 and a Reach of 3 squares or 15'.}
{Fang recovers from being Stunned.}
"Tis a trick most foul," Cyber-Knight yelled, and charged the tree-wielding hero, blasting Puncture Proof across the back and sending the hero sprawling some 15 feet way. As he flew, however, Puncture Proof managed to hang onto the tree.
He resisted my mind control, the Duchess realized. And tried to fool me as well. Clever... Maybe too clever.
{Cyber-Knight charges 15' at Puncture Proof (DEF 14) and hits with 21. Puncture Proof gets a Damage save (DC 22) and fails with 19. Puncture Proof takes a Stun Hit and is knocked back 15'. He gets a Reflex save (DC 15) to hang onto the tree, and succeeds with 23. Using Move-By Attack, Cyber-Knight moves another 35' after the attack.}
Despite their utter lack of accuracy, the Atlanteans continued pouring it on, firing salvo after salvo of rockets at both Electrostatic and the Scoundrel. The heroes were almost amused at how easily they sidestepped the rockets.
"Maybe you should just give up now," Electrostatic suggested. "Before things get ugly."
{The Atlantean Soldiers reposition themselves as Half Actions. A Captain and 8 Soldiers fire at Electrostatic (DEF 30) and all miss (highest result was 18). A Captain and 6 Soldiers fire at the Scoundrel (DEF 29) and all miss (highest result was 16).}
***** Round Three *****
Acrobat Ace saw Puncture Proof get pummeled by Cyber-Knight, and also saw that the vampire was closing in as well. Watch out, buddy.
"You don't give up, do ya, red?" Acrobat Ace asked as he dodged Fang's claws. "I used to know a good manicurist. Do want her number?"
The hero produced two more razor-rings and deftly winged them at the bestial villain, but both missed.
"What? I never miss!"
Fang smiled in response, his grin glistening with saliva.
{Acrobat Ace uses a Free Action for Leadership. He takes a 5' step and uses Rapid Shot to throw two Razor-Rings at Fang (DEF 20), but both miss with 15 and 19.}
Electrostatic jumped and spun around to avoid more rockets. "If I'm not careful, you guys might actually hit me someday."
He fires off a lightning bolt that decked another soldier. He then ducked behind a large oak tree for cover. "Ha ha," he taunted. "Can't see me!"
{Electrostatic fires his Energy Blast at a Soldier (DEF 12) and hits with 23. The Soldier gets a Damage save (DC 20) but fails with 18. There are now 13 Soldiers left. As his other Half Action, Electrostatic moves 20' to get behind a tree.}
Are we wasting too much time and effort on these worthless soldiers? the Scoundrel wondered as he pasted two more with his Hellfire Pistols. Our new allies are tough, but how tough?
{The Scoundrel takes a 5' step back, and then fires his twin Hellfire Pistols at two Soldiers (DEF 12), hitting both times with 16. The Soldiers get Damage saves (DC 19) and both fail with 16 and 4. There are now 11 Soldiers left.}
"Quite a brave move, hero," The Duchess commented. "Had Cyber-Knight not seem through your ruse, you might have survived to swing that tree at me. But it seems fate is not going to be kind to you today." She concentrated on Puncture Proof, and he met her gaze, his will melting quickly.
"Now, destroy those costumed fools over there," she commanded, indicating Acrobat Ace, Electrostatic, and the Scoundrel.
Something made Puncture Proof resist this command, and so he just stood there for a moment.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" the Duchess demanded.
{The Duchess uses a Free Action for Leadership. He takes a 5' step and again tries Mind Control on Puncture Proof. Her Mind Control check of 17 is opposed by Puncture Proof's Will save of 9. He spends a Hero Point to re-roll and this time gets 17. It ties, so the one with the highest WIS (the Duchess) wins. The Duchess now has control of Puncture Proof. She commands him to attack Acrobat Ace. She needs to make a Mind Control check (DC 19), but fails with 13. She spends a Villain Point to re-roll, and gets 18, still failing.}
Since the Duchess' orders said nothing about Cyber-Knight, Puncture Proof turned to his one-time ally and flew straight at the mounted villain, batting him with the tree, destroying it in the process in a thunderous blow that nearly took Cyber-Knight off his steed. After the attack, Puncture Proof kept flying, and turned to see that Cyber-Knight was till upright, barely even harmed by the tree.
{Puncture Proof uses Power Attack to add +3 to damage and subtract -3 from attack rolls. He charges 30' at Cyber-Knight (DEF 14) and hits with 33, nailing the villain with the tree. Cyber-Knight gets a Damage save (DC 20) and succeeds with 30. The tree is destroyed. Using Move-By Attack, Puncture Proof moves another 30' after the attack.}
Fang growled and jumped at Acrobat Ace, claws bared. It was obvious that Fang was now enraged with fury and would probably not listen to reason. Acrobat Ace barely got out of the way in time to avoid Fang's claws.
{Fang regenerates a Stun Hit. He needs another Will save (DC 20) to avoid going Berserk and fails with 8. He takes a 5' step and attacks Acrobat Ace (DEF 31), missing with 21.}
"Keep thy shrubbery to thyself," Cyber-Knight commanded, as he charged toward the hovering Puncture Proof. He swung his Vibrosword, and the weapon struck true, stabbing Puncture Proof in mid-torso, but the blade did not penetrate.
Puncture Proof laughed in response. "See, my name's Puncture Proof for a reason, Knight."
{Cyber-Knight uses Power Attack to add +3 to damage and subtract -3 from attack rolls. He charges Puncture Proof (DEF 12) and hits with 17. Puncture Proof gets a Damage save (DC 25) and succeeds with 26. Using Move-By Attack, Cyber-Knight moves another 25'.}
The soldiers continued their assault on Electrostatic and the Scoundrel. Both heroes spent quite a bit of energy dodging rockets and such, but were still uninjured.
{The Atlantean Soldiers move into position to get flanking bonuses on Electrostatic and the Scoundrel. A Captain and 7 Soldiers fire at Electrostatic (DEF 30) and all miss (highest result was 18). A Captain and 3 Soldiers fire at the Scoundrel (DEF 29). Three miss, but one of the Soldiers hit with natural 20. No chance for a Critical Hit (since their attack bonus is too low to confirm), but the Scoundrel gets a Reflex save (DC 20) against the attack (Evasion) and fails with 17. He spends a Hero Point to re-roll and this time gets 25 for no effect.}
Next Up, Bombardier, Mana, Surge, and the Atlantean Soldiers vs. Harpy, Iron Dragon, MorningStar, and Pathfinder!