[Game Thread] Act 1: TO THE STARS!

[Drifter One]

Oh go on then, one more post...

The Surface of Titan As the smoke and green(?) mist of disintegrated squiddies dispersed, Brute was seen smiling broadly as he chewed the soggy end of his cigar with a grim satisfaction. Princess Kala was not so impressed however, and she made her disdain known. Brute slung Janine over his shoulder and bent over to lean on his knee, still smiling at the Princess. "Aww honey, sometimes words need a bit more...well, you know...oomph! Don;t worry though, I've got your back." he chortled, a deep, heavy guffaw causing his large chest to heavy up and down. Brute then proceed to step through the wreckage of twisted tin foil metal and pulped remains of alien body parts to stare towards the horizon yonder. It was a peculiar Wisconsin Field Alien Landscape, and Brute suddenly thought he should probably of checked if the atmosphere was breathable to humans before blowing the doors off, so he Obviously he was checking himself that the atmsphere was breatheable on behalf of the team and didn't really forget, 'cos thats what leaders do, right?retrospectively called over his shoulder. "Brute Force! Suit up!" As the team donned their M5 All-Purpose Environmental Spacesuits, they gathered outside, shielded by the shadow of the crashed Mustang-5. Brute had taken n board what Kala had said, so his itchy trigger finger and gun-ho attitude was kept in check, for now. "Kala is right, we should head for the dome first and try and find the leader, for the longer we remain on a sight seeing trip, the more Hunter Teams of Squiddites will be after us. And I don't they'd appreciate their buddies being turned into clam chowder!" he said with a sniff. "Now, they seem to have kindly left us a vehicle, and that paired with the All-Terrain Vehicle in he Cargo bayWildCat we have plenty of transport. Max. You will lead the Vanguard in the Squiddite Machine, take Bob with you as he can work out the mollusc tech if required. Myself, PJ and Kala will take the WildCat and bring up the rear, can't have royalty on the frontline now, can we?" He said with a smirk. And Pariah, Brute looked at the Space Elf and paused. His gaze, hidden behind his glasses, darted between him and Kala, he needed to keep them apart. "Pariah, you go with Max and Bob. You have the keenest eyes in the Galaxy, and we need those eyes up front!" Brute new flattery would get you far with the Pariah, so hoped his words would be enough to place him in the front vehicle. It was at that point, Kala leaned in close to Brute. "And remember the mission, we are here to try and make allies of them!" Brute nodded, scratching his chin as he was scolded. "Aww, Princess. Politics takes the fun out of everything! Alright, people! Any questions?"

 

Character Name: Brute Maddox

Playbook: The Gunfighter

Highlighted Stats: Agility and Muscles

-Stats-
Muscles: +1
Agility: +2
Magnetism: 0
Drama: +1
Swagger: -1

Playbook Moves: Gun Ballet - All ranged weapons you use, no matter the type, count as having the -area special ability.Gun Ballet, This Is My Gun - Any time a ranged weapon is in your hand, combat or not, you receive a +1 to all Stunt moves.This is my Gun

Script Move: Integrity Breach: When in space, in a ship or otherwise, you have a new option added to the list of choices you have when you make a Violence move:
- You cause a breach through which the void rushes in.Integrity Breach

Gear: BFG (3-harm, -deadly, -loud, -autofire, -area, -messy). A big ol' gun of whatever design you like. Mega laser? Sure! Rocket launcher? Yup! A miniature ship cannon mounted to your shoulder? Go for it!BFG

Current Harm: 1 /5

Star Power:

[Mitsubachi]

Kala Kala is lost for words for a few moments as Brute casually dismisses her objections about exploding the Squiddites. Honey??? But he quickly turns and starts barking orders before she can think of a suitable response. So instead she stamps her foot precociously, again. At least the B-SQUAD commander agrees to her plan to get to the dome first. She is not sure about his seating arrangements, though. Kala casts a longing glance toward the Pariah, whom she alone knows as Acharion. Since their moment of intimacy, she feels a special bond to him. And of course they have their secret plan to try and infiltrate Mong's fortress. At some point she is going to have share that plan with B-SQUAD, and she already knows what they will say. She has had a taste of it from Bob already; You cannot do this. He will betray you. He cannot be trusted. He will hand you over to Mong. It is true a small sliver of icy doubt has started to set in, despite her strong passion for him. She just prays that she is wrong. For now, it is better to work along with B-SQUAD. And there is some sense in Brute's reasoning. She signals this to the Pariah with her eyes and a nod. Just go with it for now. So she approaches the now disembarked Earthling dune-buggy called the Wildcat. PJ the always-grinning pilot is in the forward driving section. There is not much room in the back, and Brute takes up most of it. But she manages to squeeze in.

Kala
Muscles: -1 / Agility: +2 / Magnetism: +2 / Drama: -1 / Swagger: 0
Current Harm: 2 / 5
Star Power: * *
Experience:
Link to character sheet

[Acathala]

The Pariah can tell Kala needed a bit of reassurance and comfort. He walks over to her, and flashes that devil may care smile at her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Everything will be fine. Even if it’s not, I’ll make it fine." Kala has him, and he is going to be everything she needs. Maybe he needs her too. To inspire him to be a better man worthy of her. Truth be told hiding his identity from Mong is only half the reason he wore the mask. The other half is hiding his identity from Kala, so she would never know the horrible things he did in pursuit of Mong. The Pariah can’t help but worry she would leave him if she knew some of the things he did. She’s probably had poison poured into ear about him by his “allies”. To be fair, if she had been any other girl, they would be right to worry.

Dear Brucie barks out orders, and the Pariah absolutely does not buy that the compliment is genuine. However Kala wants him to get along with them, so the Pariah fake smiles right back at him, and salutes. He gets into the other alien vehicle. "I’ll drive, my darlings, as I have experience with this vehicle." The Pariah drawled as he took the pilot’s seat. Speed demon is a term that could have been invented for him. He goes fast, darting and weaving across the terrain.

OoC Dice Stunt: 2d6+3 (4, 1)+3 Total = 8

[YodaGandalf]

Bob Still reeling from his epic fail of a one-liner, Francis Redenbaucker's ego was visibly deflating on set as he reconsidered his entire acting profession, and he forgot to react to what was going on around himBob didn't even notice as Brute served up a sizeable helping of minced Squiddite. But upon hearing his name, Bob managed to shamble to his feet and shuffle along in the direction of the newly abandoned Squiddite vehicle. He shook himself off and did some sort of Francis reverted to college acting days, and he did a couple physical warmups to get himself back in the zoneweird dance as he walked. On the way, he got Max's attention by playfully shoulder checking her. "Thanks for saving me. I guess you don't completely hate my guts after all."He smiled at Max before making his way with a bit more pep in his step to the vehicle and climbing in. He took one more look at her and smiled before his face took on a form of abject terror with the erratic propulsion of the vehicle by the Pariah. He turned to face forward and grabbed whatever he could get his hands on, steeling himself to prevent both his expulsion from the craft and the expulsion of his lunch from his gaping maw. With green face and clenched hands, off they went.

 

Actor Name: Francis Redenbaucker

Character Name: Bob Joe Frank

Playbook: The Thespian

Highlighted Stats: Drama and Magnetism

-Stats-
Muscles: 0
Agility: -1
Magnetism: +2
Drama: +3
Swagger: -1

Playbook Move: When you deliver a solo speech about what’s going on in the current movie, trying to piece together the events unfolding around you,
roll +Drama:
- On a 10+, you gain insight into the emotional or physical nature of the conflict underpinning the plot. Name one thing that will happen related to the plot, no matter how big or small. The Director will make it come true, at no cost to you (though it may involve cost to others).
- On a 7-9, same as above but the events come true at great cost to yourself.
- On a miss, your ramblings are the product of self-delusion about your abilities and/or powers of insight. Take -1 forward and the Director can make a move against you.Soliloquy

Script Move: Once during your movie, introduce an invention that breaks the laws of nature. Describe its purpose. Roll +Drama.
On a 10+: pick three.
On a 7-9:, pick two.
On a miss: pick one, and you may make this move again later in the movie.
- Your invention mostly works.
- Your invention doesn’t mutilate or transform people nearby.
- Your invention doesn’t open a rift in reality.
- Your invention doesn’t require all nearby power.
(So basically, whichever of the above items that you DON'T pick will affect your invention.)Short Circuit

Gear:Environment/space suit (2-armor), tools, welding kit (2-harm, -hand).

Current Harm: 0 /5

Star Power: 2

Experience:1

[Iron Signet]

Get it done "I never said I hated you Bob. I just don't like like you." Max responded to Bob, but the warm way she clapped her hand on his shoulder implied that just maybe, they could be friends after all. After receiving her orders, Max leaps into the ramshackle squiddite vehicle just ahead of the Pariah and Bob, posing enthusiastically. As the Bob and the Pariah settled themselves into the front two seats, Max positioned herself standing between them, a hand on each of their shoulders and a foot on the center console. As the vehicle set off in spurts and starts, then began to rapidly pick up speed and skitter across the alien landscape (totally not on earth, for sure), Max whooped enthusiastically as the saturnian wind blew through her hair. "Come on Parry, quit driving like a grandma and let's see what this thing can really do!" She shouted excitedly.

OOC I rolled a Killer One Liner of 13. I get +1 Forward and add another +1 Camaraderie.

----

[Pseudonymous]

A Brief Intermission BEGIN INTERMISSION The concept of a film intermission began during the silent era and made a resurgence in the 3D film fad of the 1950's. Their popularity decreased significantly from that point onward, becoming near nonexistent by the late 1980's. It was odd, then, to see the strange glowing INTERMISSION title appear at this point in the Brute Force film. It was unclear whether this was an artistic choice to fool the audience into thinking the movie was so grand and long that they'd need time to refill popcorn and mentally process everything they'd just seen, or if the Director had just been too lazy to write during the prolonged holiday season. It was indeed a grand mystery. Either way, the intermission, which seemed to last three weeks but really took about fifteen minutes, played its smooth jazz remix of the theme song until those brave enough to return to the theater retook their seats. Let's do this. END INTERMISSION

Back to the Action! The film cuts back directly into the action with Real Drivin' WildCat and Squiddite Speeder toys are available now! Real Drivin' Brute Force action figures REALLY sit in the seats!* *Real Drivin' WildCat and Squiddite Speeder vehicles, Real Drivin' specialty vehicle wheels, and Real Drivin' action figures are all sold separately. Real Drivin' Brute Force action figures may not actually fit in the Real Drivin' vehicles.WildCat and the Squiddite Speeder shooting across the desolate wasteland of Titan in a completely believable manner that totally doesn't involve speeding up the film. The strange alien landscape (again, it's totally a distant planet and not an abandoned gravel quarry that some of the crew stumbled across on a late night "smoke break") blurs into a haze around our intrepid heroes as the mysterious white dome structure looms ever closer. From within the WildCat, the on-board short-range radio device buzzes. PJ, who conveniently remained back at the Mustang with Blippy to work on repairs, has been providing remote assistance and an ongoing stream of colorful commentary. "Ok, boss," he says, static beginning to drown out his words, "Looks like you're fina[kssh!]ly leavin' the range of the radio. Scans show that whate[KSSSHT!]er that dome is, it's chock full of lifefor-[ksssshhh]s, so keep on your toes. Must be a h-[KSSHT!] of a party going on in there. Me n' B-[KSSSHT!]-ippy will keep workin' on th Musta-[i[kssht!][/i] so she'll be ready to fly when you get back. So do whatcha gotta do and get ever[kSHsht!]one back in one piece, you hear me? Don't you dare get yourselves killed and leave me al[kssshhht]one on a crappy planet with nothing but this stupid [KSSSHT]ing robot!" "BLIPPY!" "What did you just call me, you little--[KSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!]" Aaaaaand there goes the radio. Conveniently, PJ's commentary ends just as the team reaches the Or a cardboard cutout thereof, cleverly pasted onto a sheet of glass to give the illusion that it is a building taking up actual space in the world.alien structure. The dome is much larger than the Brute Force may have first believed, easily matching the scale of the magnificent Radical Cola-Dome Amphitheater and Convention Center here on Earth, which is conveniently sponsoring the film! As the team approaches, they can hear the roar of a great crowd cheering from within. Large flags with Squiddite and Mong Empire royal seals line the walls, and a massive banner with the words SIX THOUSAND WELCOMES TO OUR GREAT OVERLORD AND ALLY, MONG THE MAGNIFICENT stretches across the front. It sounds like some kind of pep rally is going on ahead of Mong's arrival. An evil pep rally. The building is shaped like an arena, with tall white walls topped by the aforementioned dome. The dome looks like it has the ability to retract. There is what looks to be a very large main entrance at the front, with a cavernous hallway leading within. It could easily accommodate several vehicles, should such an entrance be desired, and while it is currently blocked by a gate, such things are trivial for heroes such as the Brute Force. There also seems to be a handful of Squiddite-sized doorways along the front and sides.

[Mitsubachi]

Kala The scene cuts from an internal view of the Wildcat buggy to an external long shot of it tearing through the rocky landscape. Then, back to internal. Kala finds herself still sitting next to Brute, but somehow now it is a to match the toy designtwo-seater and the leader of B-SQUAD is driving. No explanation is ever given, and the continuity paradox becomes legend amongst the cult fanbase. As they get nearer to the alien structure, Kala becomes aware of the roaring crowds within. Her brow crinkles with confusion. I have not yet asked King Sucklor for the right of Trial by Combat? It must mean something else is going on. But what? Then she sees the flags and welcome banner. "Oh..." she lays a hand on the massive forearm of her driver. "Mong is coming here! That will complicate things very much. It will be much harder to convince the Squiddites not to hand me over straight away." The Venusian princess bites her lip. "What are we going to do?"

Kala
Muscles: -1 / Agility: +2 / Magnetism: +2 / Drama: -1 / Swagger: 0
Current Harm: 2 / 5
Star Power: * *
Experience:
Link to character sheet

[Acathala]

"Actually I think it’s a lot worse. If he’s here or coming here, then either Mindbreaker is operational, or soon will be. Time flees from us. Good thing for us, Kingy likes to have a secret exit for himself in every major building. I doubt this will be any exception. Find that, we find a nice easy way to him." Pariah stated with utter confidence.

[Drifter One]

The Surface of Titan The Yep, still using fossil fuels in the far future!diesel fuelled stench filled the set as the duo of buggies blasted across the The abandoned Quarrydesolate alien landscape Brute gripped the steering wheel like he was clinging on to his ast love, muscles bulging with intensity. As they approached the If you look close enough, it *may* resemble a ping pong ball glued into half a toilet roll tube...Giant Dome Kala expressed her concern, placing her delicate hand on Brutes massive forearm. The mercenary Captain glanced down at her hand and his bushy moustache twitched briefly. It appeared a Ceremony had been laid on for Mongs arrival, which would complicate things. Well, completely derail them actually. That was why Brute Force always had a Plan B - Brute Forces own natural energy drink! When your coffee just wont give you the pick up you intended, rest assured there is always a Plan B! All naturally sourced synthetic ingredients only! Not suitable for under 5s!Plan B. "Grrrrrrrr...."Brute growled, slamming on the anchors of the WildCat and it came to a halt in a cloud of dust. "Team! Hold Up! Plan A is off the table and things have just gotten a whole lot more complex. We are gonna reshuffle our deck!" The Squiddite Buggy pulled up alongside the WildCat and Brute lit 30% Of the films budget went on Franks cuban cigars.another cigar and stepped out of the buggy onto the desolate landscape. He stood for a moment, chuffing away, with his hands on his broad hips as he looked on towards the Dome. "Actually I think it’s a lot worse. If he’s here or coming here, then either Mindbreaker is operational, or soon will be. Time flees from us. Good thing for us, Kingy likes to have a secret exit for himself in every major building. I doubt this will be any exception. Find that, we find a nice easy way to him." The Pariah had said, his voice as irritating to Brute as his dance moves. But the space elf was right, and Brute just growled again. "Yeah, I agree." He said, hiding the fact it took a great deal of self control to agree with The Pariah. "I think you need to find us that Usually a sewer or tunnel which otherwise serves no actual purpose other than a way in to a given complex.secret exit. But take the Princess with you, I can't compromise her so need her out of the way. Max, you come with me, I'm gonna need you. We are gonna create one helluva entrance and crash this ceremony! Create a diversion to give you enough time and distract the King and Mong so you can find and disable Mindbreaker." Brute let out another of his deep, growling sighs. "And tool up, kids! This is gonna hurt!"

OOC: So Brutes idea is to drive the WildCat straight through the main gate using "Integrity Breach" script move to disrupt the ceremony and get some attention. Maybe even submit to capture, depending on how the breach goes...

Rolled a 7 so will take the +1 Forward and 1 Harm.

 

Character Name: Brute Maddox

Playbook: The Gunfighter

Highlighted Stats: Agility and Muscles

-Stats-
Muscles: +1
Agility: +2
Magnetism: 0
Drama: +1
Swagger: -1

Playbook Moves: Gun Ballet - All ranged weapons you use, no matter the type, count as having the -area special ability.Gun Ballet, This Is My Gun - Any time a ranged weapon is in your hand, combat or not, you receive a +1 to all Stunt moves.This is my Gun

Script Move: Integrity Breach: When in space, in a ship or otherwise, you have a new option added to the list of choices you have when you make a Violence move:
- You cause a breach through which the void rushes in.Integrity Breach

Gear: BFG (3-harm, -deadly, -loud, -autofire, -area, -messy). A big ol' gun of whatever design you like. Mega laser? Sure! Rocket launcher? Yup! A miniature ship cannon mounted to your shoulder? Go for it!BFG

Current Harm: 2 /5

Star Power:

[Mitsubachi]

Kala The Wildcat catches up with the Squiddite vehicle and the team decides what to do. The Pariah sets out the grim reality. But there is the hope of finding a secret entrance and trying to get to Mong and King Sucklor. Then Brute - chuffing away on his cigar - proposes the ultimate play. For B-SQUAD to crash the party and create the biggest chaotic distraction possible! It is brave, audacious, and crazy. So it just might work. Kala slinks to beside the Pariah. "This speeds up our plans to confront Mong, but one thing we know: they will not fire the Mindbreaker while he is here on Titan." She looks down to her high heels, where the mysterious mercenary hid the lock-springing mechanism. This may be the time to play the pretend-to-bring-her-in-as-a-prisoner ploy. Then the Venusian princess looks up into the deep, emotional eyes behind the mask. "It will be dangerous, but together we can defeat this evil, before Mong destroys all the galaxy!"

OOC It is an attempt to emote, but unfortunately Katie does not quite get the smouldering look or tone of the line right. I am not sure if I am carrying a +1 forward from anyone, and if not that means a fail and now a -1 going forward!

Kala
Muscles: -1 / Agility: +2 / Magnetism: +2 / Drama: -1 / Swagger: 0
Current Harm: 2 / 5
Star Power: * *
Experience:
Link to character sheet

[Acathala]

"I’ll wish you the best of luck, then Brute. See you inside, old boy." There is no snark, and the Pariah actually uses the name Bruce wants to go by. It’s probably a testament to the seriousness of the situation, or perhaps him showing a teeny bit of respect for the man.

Kala assumes Mong is making an in person visit, whereas it could just as easily be a holographic visit. He decides not to enlighten her, and let her retain that hope a while. As she stares into his blue eyes, with those chocolate pools, he reaches out and strokes her hair tenderly. "In it together, partner. For life."

Now he has to find a way in. Which he does. It is unfortunately located up the dome. High up. He can see there’s controls up there, so there shouldn’t be any problems getting Kala up. Unfortunately he will have to go first. By going first means using bit of his natural agility and acrobatic skills to get up there. Sighing he turns to Kala. "I’ll be right back, after I do something heroic and probably stupidly fatal."

So the Pariah makes his move. Acrobatically vaulting form place to place, finding handholds where there were only the slightest ones. Ascending the dome almost like a superhero, at the very limit of mortal skill! Relentless in the pursuit of his goal. Finally he’s nearly at the hidden balcony, making the last leap. Whilst he makes it, the landing is heavy, and he’s sure he’s cracked a rib. The Pariah has landed, and seeing the controls, he releases the stairs, so Kala can walk up.

OoC I rolled a partial success on stunt, so I get a forward, take a harm.

[YodaGandalf]

Bob In the somewhat less than award-winning cinematography of the alien landscape and the speeding vehicles, there is a blip of action which went unnoticed until the inevitable replays and intensive analyses that come with being a cult classic revealed it years later: Bob, ever so majestically and in about x2 speed, vomiting over the side of the vehicle. When they came to a stop and everyone discussed the matters at hand, Bob disappeared for a second behind the alien tech to- um- deface its sleek extraterrestrial exterior with a bit of human flair. Bob reappeared just in time to see everybody leaving him behind, the Pariah and Kala heading off on foot and Brute driving away in the Wildcat with Max. He clocked the Pariah and Kala's direction before looking at the alien vehicle. He reached into his bag to pull out his welding helmet, adorning his head with it as a king with his crown and slowly pulling the visor down before raising his That magically appeared in his handwelding torch and lighting it in a sudden burst of blue heat. He bent down to get to work, and the scene Too much time, too much money, too much energy to show all that gobbledeegookquick cut to the moment right after his efforts. He reaches into the vehicle and pops back out a second later as the alien craft speeds away after Brute and Max. Hopefully that helps with the distraction... After sending off his runaway bomb for better or for worse, he ran off in the direction of Kala and the Pariah, hoping to follow them and protect Kala from any harm that might come her way.

OOC I rolled a 10 to make the time bomb and send it speeding after Brute, so it succeeds! I want it to aid in the breach and the distraction, but perhaps it also serves to explain the harm that comes to Brute?

 

Actor Name: Francis Redenbaucker

Character Name: Bob Joe Frank

Playbook: The Thespian

Highlighted Stats: Drama and Magnetism

-Stats-
Muscles: 0
Agility: -1
Magnetism: +2
Drama: +3
Swagger: -1

Playbook Move: When you deliver a solo speech about what’s going on in the current movie, trying to piece together the events unfolding around you,
roll +Drama:
- On a 10+, you gain insight into the emotional or physical nature of the conflict underpinning the plot. Name one thing that will happen related to the plot, no matter how big or small. The Director will make it come true, at no cost to you (though it may involve cost to others).
- On a 7-9, same as above but the events come true at great cost to yourself.
- On a miss, your ramblings are the product of self-delusion about your abilities and/or powers of insight. Take -1 forward and the Director can make a move against you.Soliloquy

Script Move: Once during your movie, introduce an invention that breaks the laws of nature. Describe its purpose. Roll +Drama.
On a 10+: pick three.
On a 7-9:, pick two.
On a miss: pick one, and you may make this move again later in the movie.
- Your invention mostly works.
- Your invention doesn’t mutilate or transform people nearby.
- Your invention doesn’t open a rift in reality.
- Your invention doesn’t require all nearby power.
(So basically, whichever of the above items that you DON'T pick will affect your invention.)Short Circuit

Gear:Environment/space suit (2-armor), tools, welding kit (2-harm, -hand).

Current Harm: 0 /5

Star Power: 2

Experience:1

[Iron Signet]

Get it done Max grins at her father widely as he lays out their incredible stupid intelligent plan to disrupt Mong's ceremony. She was a woman of action after all, and all this negotiating and strategizing didn't do well for her constitution. As Brute hopped into the WildCat, Max instead vaults on top of it, where heavy equipment would normally be strapped down. Instead, she pulls out her available as part of the Wildcat complete boxed set onlygiant gun, (where was she keeping that thing anyways?) and straps herself to the top of the Wildcat like a figure fires real plastic darts at your friends and/or parents!makeshift artillery gunner. She radios her dad as the buggy surges towards the gates. "Alright Dad, let's make a hole." As the buggy crashes into the gates, Max lets loose from the buggy's roof, and the dogs of war ride forth.

OOC I rolled a 10 Violence to shoot things with my gun as Brute Smashes the Wildcat through the gates. I was going to pick messy and loud, but I just realized the BFG I'm using is already messy and loud, so I could use some suggestions.

[Mitsubachi]

Kala The plan is determined, and now it is time for the team to split up. B-SQUAD prepare their special "entrance" and the princess watches on with interest. Bob pulls out his trusty welding torch and completely re-works the alien vehicle. Now he has made a rolling bomb! Meanwhile, the giant Max straps to the roof of the Wildcat and pulls out a fearsome-looking mega-gun. Brute is similarly armed and it looks like some extreme ultra-violence is soon going to be visited upon the arena inside the dome. The Pariah is also busy. With astonishing super-human agility, the mercenary climbs-flips-leaps up the side of the dome and reaches the controls to a high-up secret entrance. With a flourish he lets down the staircase for her own ascent. It is hard not to be impressed, and Kala cocks her head to one side and raises an eyebrow toward the man of her passion. Oh please let him be a good guy in the crucial moment! She waves a farewell and says to B-SQUAD, in their vehicles and ready to go, "Good luck. See you on the other side!" Then the Venusian scampers up the stairs, making fast and silent progress despite those high, stiletto heels. Or does she? Do the little clacks of those heels attract attention from an unseen sentry???

OOC So I'm trying to shake my -1 and wanted to look awesome going up the stairs, but instead rolled a fail! The good news is I don't necessarily need to fall or look stupid (and at least I did shake off that -1). But I must hereby invite the GM to make a move against me.

Kala
Muscles: -1 / Agility: +2 / Magnetism: +2 / Drama: -1 / Swagger: 0
Current Harm: 2 / 5
Star Power: * *
Experience:
Link to character sheet

[Pseudonymous]

Beyond Blunderdome! The scene breaks away from our brave heroes, cutting to the inside of the dome. The structure is set up like an arena, with concentric circles of seating rising up around a sand-floored "stage" in the middle, recessed into the ground like a pit. The lowest level of seating is still about 8 feet higher than the pit floor, and the pit is walled with smooth yellow sandstone. Several iron gates line the walls. This set is clearly a more budget-friendly ripoff of whatever sword-and-sandals gladiator movie was filmed here last. Banners of the Which looks suspiciously like the HYDRA logo from the Marvel comics that has been altered just enough to potentially survive a copyright lawsuitRoyal Squiddite Coat of Arms hang from the ceiling and sway in an inexplicable breeze. Currently, a massive hologram of a crowned Squiddite floats above the arena floor. This is probably King Suklor, given the whole "crown" thing, and he gives a dramatic speech, gesturing with his tentacles. The occupants in the stands watch in rapt attention. "MY SQUIDDITE SUBJECTS!" he booms, "FROM THOSE STATIONED ON OUR GLORIOUS HOMEWORLD, TO THOSE IN OUR MOON BASE ON TITAN--" --At this, the squiddites in the stands let out a tremendous cheer-- "AND THROUGHOUT THE GALAXY! TODAY IS A MOMENTOUS DAY!" "Wooohooo!" comes a cheer from the stands. "King Suklor RULES!!!" "--FOR TODAY, WE REAP THE REWARDS OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH EMPEROR MONG! LONG HAVE WE TOILED, LONG HAVE WE FOUGHT, AND LONG HAVE WE STRUGGLED TO PROVE THAT WE'RE JUST AS COOL AS THOSE HOLIER-THAN-THOU SPACE ELVES!" A chorus of hisses and boos rings through the arena. If anyone hears the sound of a masked space elf releasing a staircase (and probably cracking a rib or two in the process) a few feet away, nobody pays it any mind. "--THEY THINK THEY'RE SOOO SPECIAL WITH THEIR UNNATURAL GOOD LOOKS AND THEIR INTERNAL SKELETONS." ("And they only have four limbs! How weird is that?!" cried another voice from the audience.) "BUT TODAY, MONG HIMSELF WILL BE ARRIVING HERE ON SATURN, GRANTING US, HIS STRONGEST AND BEST-LOOKING ALLIES, THE HONOR OF SEEING THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF HIS SECRET NEW SUPERWEAPON! THAT'S RIGHT, US! NOT THE SPACE ELVES!!" Another great cheer echoes through the arena. It hides the sudden roar of an engine from just outside. "APPARENTLY THIS 'MINDBREAKER' MUST BE PROPERLY CALIBRATED HERE BEFORE IT CAN DESTROY WHATEVER PLANET FAILS TO GIVE UP PRINCESS KALA, SO I WANT ALL OF YOU ON YOUR BEST, MOST EVIL BEHAVIOR WHILE HE'S VISITING. EVERYONE GOT THAT? THIS IS OUR BIG CHANCE TO--" The hologram feed is temporarily disrupted as the entire arena begins to shake. "...TITAN BASE? WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE?" Things suddenly become extremely awesome. KA-FOOOOOM!!! A Where did this explosion come from? Who knows?fiery explosion rips through the grand entrance, and the WildCat ROCKETS through the flames and smoke, momentarily airborne for no adequately explained reason. In the driver's seat, Brute grins around a glowing cigar as he wrenches the steering wheel sharply to the right and sends the Wildcat into a sick donut in the middle of the dust-covered arena floor. Max opens fire from her perch on the roof, her face lit in flashes by the multitude of bullets, wind whipping through her hair, looking like a badass post-apocalyptic Valkyrie. Plywood, masonry, and calamari rain down as the Brute Force creates their bloody ballet. From the passenger's seat, Bob looks down at his watch. He counts down the seconds until his part of the performance comes into play. Five... "Squiddite Soldiers, to arms!!" cries one of the Squiddites. He's wearing a sash so he must be someone important. Four... Bob doesn't look up from his watch. Three... Another roar of an engine echoes through the arena as the hacked Squiddite vehicle careens through the hole left by the Wildcat. Two... Bob grins. One. KA-BLOOOOOOOOOOEY!! The rigged vehicle crashes into the wall, sending another violent shudder through the building. Empty rubber suits are thrown off a balconySquiddites go flying and huge chunks of very clearly styrofoamstone begin to fall from the wall and ceiling. Brute curses as a massive boulder crashes just in front of the WildCat-- He yanks the steering wheel to avoid a head-on collision, but he cannot avoid danger entirely. The metal shell of the WildCat dents with a crunch as the vehicle hits at an angle. This accounts for Brute's Harm from his last roll, and Bob will now take that one damage as the consequence I owed you from the Comms failure incident earlier in the game.Brute and Bob end up slamming forward into the dashboard. Max, inexplicably, is fine-- In fact, she opens fire on another chunk of ceiling falling at them and somehow manages to shoot it in half. Two even pieces land heavily to the left and right of the WildCat. No one is sure how this is scientifically possible, but things like "logic" and "science" were left at the door of the theater. The hologram of King Suklor returns, and he does not look happy about this. "INTRUDERS ON TITAN?!!?! DESTROY THEM ALL! UNLEASH THE SHARKLIONS!!!!" he yells. The Brute Force looks up to see that the Squiddites have regrouped after their initial surprise. Wielding an assortment of weapons from guns to spears to whatever-the-prop-department-glued-together-and-painted-silver, they crawl from the stands and into the pit, ready to do battle. An alarm blares out, and one of the heavy metal gates in the wall creaks open. A blood-curdling roar echoes from within. The ground shakes as two of the most terrifying, not-at-all-stupid-looking creatures emerge from the darkness... "BEHOLD, SHARKLIONS! YOUR DOOM INCARNATE!!!" Oh no, two real and believable creatures that are totally not just some dudes wearing lion onesies and shark masks! The danger is real!!!! Facing a swarm of Squiddites and a pride of Sharklions, the Brute Force is surely up for a fight!!!!

Outside Blunderdome! Meanwhile, Kala and the Pariah attempt their stealth mission through the outer areas of the Dome. Fortunately, most of the occupants seem to be in the stands of the arena, and the two humanoids are able to make their way through the hallways with little difficulty. They can hear the muffled speech and rousing cheers from within, but the only sounds from the hallways are the delicate click-click-clicking of Kala's designer heels. "--FOR TODAY, WE REAP THE REWARDS OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH EMPEROR MONG! LONG HAVE WE TOILED, LONG HAVE WE FOUGHT, AND LONG HAVE WE STRUGGLED TO PROVE THAT WE'RE JUST AS COOL AS THOSE HOLIER-THAN-THOU SPACE ELVES!" they hear from within the arena. As they walk, they begin to see doorways leading into what they assume must be the arena seating areas. General seating? Pfft. No need for that. If they want to find someone worth negotiating with, they'd need to find the classier seats. "BUT TODAY, MONG HIMSELF WILL BE ARRIVING HERE ON SATURN, GRANTING US, HIS STRONGEST AND BEST-LOOKING ALLIES, THE HONOR OF SEEING THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF HIS SECRET NEW SUPERWEAPON! THAT'S RIGHT, US! NOT THE SPACE ELVES!!" The voice from beyond the walls drones. Finally, they see an ornate door with a red brocade awning. Two Squiddite guards are posted outside, though they seem to be more interested in trying to hear what's going on inside. Ah-- this must be the VIP seating. If there's someone important attending this shindig, then this would be where they're seated. This, however, is where Kala and the Pariah's good luck ends. "Hey Vim, did you just hear something?" one of the Squiddites asks. It pulls its head away from the door and listens. "Hey yeah, Bim, I think I did," says the other. "It's like a... clicky-clacky noise." The first Squiddite--- Bim, apparently-- nods. "Yeah... Clicking and clacking. Like... those weird painful-lookin' shoe things that the bipeds wear. Y'know?" Vim's eyes widen. "Oh, right! I think someone's walkin' around in them high-heel shoes!" There is a moment of silence. "Wait a minute.... SQUIDDITES DON'T WEAR HIGH HEELS!!!" Both guards turn in time to see the Pariah trying to hide Kala and her extremely fancy shoes behind him. "INTRUDERS!! GET THEM!" But just then--- KA-FOOOOOM!!! The entire arena shakes as the WildCat makes its entrance in the arena below. The Brute Force's distraction has begun! "We're under attack!! Bipeds have entered the Dome!!" Kala and the Pariah hear the squelch of additional Squiddites running towards them from the hallways they had just come from. Things are getting dicey! "We'll make you PAY for this!" Bim (or was it Vim?) yells, surging towards them with a sword in hand! "Squiddite soldiers, to arms!" comes a voice from beyond the VIP door. The door rips open and a Squiddite in a magnificent sash leans out the door. He's dressed differently so he must be important! "You two, get to the arena floor! We've been--" He stops, seeing Kala and the Pariah. His expression curls into a snarl. "You!!!! How dare you--" KA-BLOOOOOOOOOOEY!! His rant is interrupted by Bob's timed explosion. The entire building shakes, and the floor beneath Kala and the Pariah begins to crumble!! The architect of this dome never planned on radical explosions! As the ground disappears beneath their feet, Kala, the Pariah, Vim, Bim, and the sash-wearing Squiddite tumble down into the gaping hole beneath them. They plummet into the darkness before landing harshly on a dark, dirt-covered floor. "Wh... Where are we? What happened?" the be-sashed Squiddite groans. A blood-curdling growl answers him. He freezes, a Presumably. The rubber squiddite masks don't convey emotion particularly welllook of abject terror crossing his face. "No..." he whispers. "The gorillagator den!" A clawed hand reaches out from the darkness, grabbing Bim (or Vim??) and drags him into the abyss. There is a scream, a Wait, I thought they were invertebrates? Why is there a crunch if they don't have bones?crunch, and then silence. "No! He was three weeks from retirement!" cried Vim (or Bim?? Whichever one wasn't just massacred by gorillagators). The Sash Squiddite runs towards an iron gate in the wall, which lets in a few slivers of light and through which the group can hear the sounds of battle and a voice calling to release something called a "sharklion." He struggles against the gate to no avail. "No!" cries the Squiddite in the sash, "Open the gorillagator pen! THE GORILLAGATOR PEN! Let us out!!" Something in the darkness behind Kala and the Pariah moves. Apparently it is finished with its first meal and is ready for the second course. It lumbers forward, revealing its terrifying visage in the light provided by the iron gate. What an impressively horrifying monster that is in no way a rubber dinosaur suit with gorilla ears on it! Locked in a room with two squiddites and a gorillagator, with the very building they're in crumbling around them! How will Kala and the Pariah survive?!

OOC PHEW! This took a LONG time to write, and my apologies for the text wall! So we've got: Brute's Harm from his post has been addressed. Bob takes 1 harm from the crash as the consequence I'd been saving from his failure with the comms device earlier in the game. Max's 10 on her roll gave the team an opening explosion and also kept her from taking damage by the rocks. The Brute Force is now in combat! You've got two giant sharklions and a whole slew of armed Squiddites bearing down on you! I've decided to use the Director Move "Put Someone In A Spot" to deal with Kala's failure. Poor Pariah gets pulled along for the ride. You two are now locked in a cell with a gorillagator, a guard Squiddite, and this mysterious Squiddite in a sash. An iron gate separates you and the arena where the Brute Force is fighting. You get to decide how to proceed from here!