[Game Thread] Chapter 1: New Beginnings

[Anarchy]

Heavy winds feed into the incessant downpour, providing a vivid reminder that you are now in Australia during monsoon season.

“Wait, what are you d…”, Grace reaches out to grab Emilia’s arm, as the front passenger-side door unexpectedly opens, but she is too slow, her fingers finding only air.

Panacea’s feet dig into the sodden pavement, the friction of which should tear the flesh from the woman’s bones, but her force field holds. Still, a great deal of heat builds up, melting two long furrows down the asphalt, seeking to rip the Greek superheroine from her braced position, but she is Successful Red Strength Feat versus Good Intensitydug in like a tick and is able to help to help divert the path of the vehicle away from the girl.

Ian beckons and the winds answer him, gently raising the swimsuit-clad girl off the wet pavement high enough in the air to avoid an unfortunate culmination of the current situation. As with the flaming tent the previous night, Ian’s issue is not one of raw power, as he could probably launch the girl into low Earth orbit if he wanted to, but doing so without causing harm is a difficult business. So fine is his control that the girl barely stirs as her filthy towel flaps in the winds, held aloft by a cushion of air just beyond the reach of the approaching ute.

Without warning, Julian simply disappears from his position in the back seat behind the driver, reappearing a heart pulse later in mid-air in the path of danger. It takes a split second to recognise that the girl seems to be levitating upwards. His fingers gain purchase on the girl’s elbow and pull her into a tight embrace, both of them gone a split second later. Even in unconsciousness Julian tries to protect the girl, wrapping himself around her body and sacrificing his own flesh to take the brunt of the impact. Alysa buoys these efforts, entombing the girl in a matrix of force fields yielding enough that even though the girl is thrown free of Julian's arms, she Julian: 20 blunt damage taken, unconscious for 12 seconds (2 rounds).
Girl: 0 damage taken, unconscious for 54 seconds (9 rounds), but she will come to on her ownsuffers no additional harm, though the same cannot be said of Julian who arrests his own forward momentum by slamming into a parked car.

As the two are assessed you find road rash on Julian’s right buttock and shoulder, and while he is unconscious when you reach him, he comes to shortly thereafter, aided by rainwater merrily waterboarding him.

The girl is safe thanks to each and every one of you, and the revelations of what has been revealed, or confirmed in some cases, will change everything.

Grace stares at each of you in turn, her attention lingering on the smoke drifting up from the ground at Panacea’s feet, the normally unflappable septuagenarian agog for the moment as she tries to make sense of what she had just witnessed. Several failed utterances show her to be speechless before she finally muses sotto voce to herself as much as any, “This gives a bit more insight about the strange events of last night.”

[Great scene, everyone take +100 Karma!]

[Classic Gamer]

The air control maneuver went better than Ian suspected. Most assuredly because the Ute had already came to a complete stop thanks to Amelia’s fancy footwork. Oh, and Julian just happening to teleport in and cover the girl at the exact same time as as she began to levitate.

Ian glanced at Grace, other than her remarkable driving skills, it did not appear that she had displayed any unique abilities. He could not tell about Alysa. Ian did not get a good look at what she was doing during the lightning fast happenings. That did not keep him from being suspicious.

Something had to be said. Either now or later. Such occurrences did not transpire only to be completely ignored, no matter how much the involved parties might desire that to be the case. Ian wasn’t sure if the others were still taking in what had happened or waiting each other out. He decided to go against his earlier decision to remain silent. “That did not go nearly as bad as it looked like it was gonna.”

 

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[RedMoney]

Almost probably mortally wounded, Julian tries to stand up but just ends up slumped against the car on the ground. The rain stung his abrasions as he stared at the sky and contemplated his mortality. At least my last act in this world was saving a woman and destroying a Ford PoS he thought to himself as his gaze wandered to his companions. He looks to Emilia first.

"Give it to me straight doctor, how bad is it? Someone just... let my family know I died a hero." Julian makes a pathetic sounding fake cough, and pushes himself onto his feet, pushing rain soaked hair from his face

"I suppose the cat's out of the bag now, I didn't have time to hide that. Still, I'd appreciate discretion here, especially since doing what I just did is dangerously unreliable and I don't want people to get their hopes up that I'm some kind of superhero. It would also make my life back home rather complicated, since my dad is a cop and all. I don't want him or the rest of my family to have to deal with all the political mutant drama, you know?"

Julian looked over the group again with a sheepish, worried smile. He was rather grateful that Ian at least seemed to not be particularly reactive to the situation.

"Still, there was certainly some stuff that just happened that had nothing to do with myself. It doesn't have to happen right now, but perhaps if people are up for sharing we could discuss a bit about what we can do so we don't go overboard in the next emergency? Teleporting isn't all I can do but I'd like to hear a bit more about the rest of you before I show all my cards."

[Malkavianmilkball]

Panacea Emilia painfully unravels her arms from their makeshift anchor positions and begins to dig her feet out from the trench they dug into road. She sighs as she rips off the tattered remains of her shoes and socks leaving her with jeans that looked more like tattered capris. Once freed she rushes over to Medicine Check Intuition (Ex) Check [+1 CS] Dice Roll: 1d100 60 check the girl. She Healing Check Endurance 54 (Am) Check Dice Roll: 1d100 57 Healed for 24 pointschannels some healing energy into her to be safe. She goes to the truck and grabs one of the blankets from it for the girl. After confirming that her condition isn't life threatening Emilia moves to Julian as he begins talking. Emilia lets him continue to talk as she looks him over. She gently places her ear to his chest to listen to his breathing, and gently feels his limbs for broken bones to know where to Healing Check Endurance 54 (Am) Check Dice Roll: 1d100 62 Healed for 24 pointsstart. Without bandages to hide it's effects, the healing energy is more evident as golden light fills the cuts and gashes on Julian's skin. The bones of his hands become visible as the broken bones therein similarly glow as they are pulled together and mended. "I'm afraid it doesn't look good Julian. It seems for all your trouble... you won't even have a cool scar to show the ladies. She grins as she pats his cheek. "The pain will pass, but otherwise you are fit as a fiddle physically." Emilia stands up and dusts off her shredded jeans and looks at her feet "Hopefully they have spare shoes back at the stadium. In any case I agree with Julian, given recent events perhaps some openness is warranted. I think we all here have something special about ourselves. I myself possess the ability to heal others among other things."

[The Rat Queen]

Anima Alysa Raine Alysa stared at the aftermath of what had happened, with nearly everyone in the vehicle displaying some sort of superpower, and caught her breath a moment. Staggering out of the car, she looked at the rivulets of molten street and sighed. "If we could go, say, twenty-four hours without anything bizarre happening, I'd greatly appreciate it," she complained, then looked around. "Don't suppose there's anywhere to get a decent cup of tea around here? ...or a nice stiff drink?" At least her suspicions about what happened with the fire were confirmed. The proverbial cat was officially out of the bag, she supposed. With a sigh, she helped hoist Julian to his feet and dusted him off, muttering, "Oh dear God, do get up, before she applies a tourniquet to your neck." Glancing askance at him, she asked, "How is it that you manage to get yourself injured every time something happens? Have you considered dodging every now and again?" Turning, she addressed the open question about everyone's abilities. "Magic," she sighed. "I'm a sorceress, though rather a beginner, I'm afraid. So far you've seen the force fields, for lack of a better term, at the camp and just now. Also a bit of flying, a bolt of energy, and some mental tricks." She left out the ace up her sleeve, though it was primarily because she hoped never to have to use it.

[Malkavianmilkball]

Panacea "Wait! Wait wait wait, you can fly?! That is so coo- wait you can do magic?! Wait, magic is real?!" Emilia stumbles over her words as questions tumble out of her mouth as she takes in what Alysa says. "I mean I guess I shouldn't be surprised given that the origins of my abilities are from an ancient Greek Goddess, but you can do magic! That is much cooler, no offence to the goddess if you are listening." She cautiously looks at the clouds for an incoming thunderbolt. As she isn't immediately smote Emilia continues. "Force fields, flying, mind tricks... wait are you like a Jedi? Can you shoot lightning like the Emperor? Gods this is so cool to meet others like me. Emilia seems to brighten as if an unseen burden was slowly lifting as she effused about Alysa's stated powers. On a dime she turns to Ian. "Wait if Alysa is a magician and Julian is a mutant then what about you? What can you do?"

[Anarchy]

A shaken Grace slowly taps her way out of the vehicle to slide a knitted woollen shawl around the senseless girl’s broad shoulders, but finds that Emilia has already It takes a few attempts to get the bent passenger front door slammed shutaddressed the issue of exposure with a blanket. A few tendrils of the girl’s hair are gently brushed back by arthritic fingers, showing Grandma Grace's soft side.

Still, she does not share any of her cinnamon cookies.

Struck insensible by a mixture of fatigue, sleep deprivation, exposure, thirst, hunger, and the fear of a ute turning her into roadkill, you are all confident that the prepubescent girl was completely oblivious to the use of your powers.

The wisdom of wearing costumes that hide one’s secret identity, permitting one to act with impunity out in the open, is emphasised in this moment. Not everyone understandably wishes the limelight that comes with donning the cape and cowl, but having privacy is priceless, as is avoiding making one’s friends and family targets of any psychopath with a grudge.

Emilia finds the girl to be All wounds are non-life threatening/superficial. She needs food, water, some minor medical treatment (predominately on her hands, feet, and knees), and to get warm her teeth are chattering with the exposurescraped, bleeding, soaked, and definitely not dressed for the weather, as all she has on is a filthy towel wrapped around a colourful bikini, and cheap shower-type flip flops. Healing energy slips through the girl's system, removing the superficial scapes and bruises, though the disorientation of having her molecules torn apart and reintegrated elsewhere She will be lucid enough to overhear what you say and be interacted with for tomorrow's post, so if you have any questions please end your post with them and I will field them on the 'morrow.takes some time for her brain to come to grips with.

Julian feels the pain he was in moments ago disappear with such a sharp demarcation point that it all seems a bit surreal. One moment he was experiencing the rather painful effects of road rash and the second he looks like he is cosplaying as a crash test dummy with tattered holes in his clothing, but no wound to be found 'neath the drying wash of blood.

[RedMoney]

Julian Barone Julian took a moment to disassociate from his situation, feeling far to many things at once. In just two days, the number of people who were aware of him being a mutant went from one to five. By some stroke of fate, there are also other powered individuals among them. A part of Julian that was locked away for years was suddenly out in the open, and it was both exciting and terrifying. Emilia and Alysa fussing over him didn't help him cool his temperature either. "Well... honestly Alysa, it's a good thing I keep getting hurt, it's certainly helped me in getting to know people. Besides, a few burns were worth the lives of the three stuck in the kitchen tent. I get your point, though, I've been reckless. At any rate, as... exciting as this all was, we need to do what we came here to do. Let's get this young lady dried off and warmed up. Miss, my name is Julian, what's yours? Are there others nearby with you? If so, anyone injured? Mrs. Grace do we have some ponchos in the Ute we can give this girl?" Julian asks these questions one at a time and allowing for answers, turning his attentions to the nearby area. He scans the surroundings looking for any other people or hazards.

[Classic Gamer]

“Just a little air manipulation.” Ian said in answer to Emilia’s question. “Hence the little levitation episode.” And Alysa confessed to having powers as well, magic no less.

Ian began to mull over the abilities of the others. Teleportation would have certainly come in handy in bringing down the bad guys back in New York. And healing, that was useful in all walks of life. But magic? How versatile could that be? Could it be nearly unlimited? Ian wondered.

But for his own part, the ability to manipulate air flow was a handy enough ability. Useful at times, potentially deadly at others. Ian was thankful for his abilities. He suspected the others were for their own abilities as well. If they could be stealthy about it, their powers could do a lot of good in the disaster area. It would definitely make things interesting.

 

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[Malkavianmilkball]

Panacea Emilia stiffens as she remembers the girl they rescued "Alright, we will have to pick up this discussion in private. Play it cool, hopefully she didn't notice anything" She gestures to the girl in the blankets. Emilia goes to the ute and depresses the cigarette lighter in it's fishes around until she finds a packet of hot chocolate mix. She adds water to the mixture in a tin mug. "A shame we don't have milk" Emilia thought to herself as she catches the lighter as it pops out, not caring as the heated metal touches her skin, and rests the mug over the hot filament on the dash. After a few minutes the chocolate like concoction is steaming and Emilia mixes it together before bringing it to the girl. "Here drink this, something warm in your belly will help you feel better. As Emilia rests her hand on the girl's shoulder, she Healing: Restoring Endurance Rank Endurance 54 (Am) check: Target=26+ Dice Roll: 1d100 33 leeches some of the fatigue the young woman must feel from her body. Sometimes Emilia is about to release the fatigue into the ether, and other times she feels the fatigue settle into her own body. Luckily this was not one of those times as she feels the fatigue evaporate from herself as Emilia frees it from the girl. "How are you doing? I am Doctor Emilia Zurlou, I am with the Red Cross as a volunteer. What is your name? Do you know of anyone that needs help?"

[The Rat Queen]

Anima Alysa Raine Alysa braced for questions about flying brooms when Emilia began to excitedly ask questions, but instead wound up merely confused. "Am I a what?" she asked perplexedly, furrowing her brow. "A 'jedi'? Emperor? What are you on about?" At first, it was like the doctor had reverted to a different language, but then Alysa recalled some of the discussions several of her classmates had excitedly had around her. "Oh," she exclaimed, realization dawning. "You mean that Alas, Alysa hasn't seen any of the Star Wars movies.space movie?" She smiled and shook her head, "No, I'm afraid not. Nothing quite that exciting, just dusty old books and ancient organizations, sorry." Since the girl had enough people helping her, Ian hadn't been hurt, and Julian seemed uninjured at this point, Alysa checked out the condition of their vehicle. She was no mechanic, but she could at least see if it was still running, tires still attached, etc. She also looked around to see if they'd had more of an audience than a traumatized little girl, especially when they were...well, using superpowers.

[Anarchy]

Alysa walks the perimeter, casting her attention about for anything untoward, though the storm's fury makes You are barely able to see a maximum of 20 meters in front of you due to the heavy winds and torrential downpourvisibility be measured in scant meters, which brings confidence that no one else could see them either. Checking she finds that ute is damaged, but fully functional.

Grace checks her watch, looking torn and biting her bottom lip.

Via the provided rain poncho, hot chocolate, blanket, and divine healing, the teams tender ministrations are successful in rousing the 10-year-old girl. With tear-stained eyes she introduces herself as Katana. Katana describes the harrowing experience that caused her to still be in the exclusion zone. "I am a forward for the New Zealand Girl’s Rugby Team, in Cairns for a 7’s tournament. Coach fundraised a sweet as weeklong fishing trip for all of us girls, ending with a great view of the comet show, but there were so many problems with the boat and then it carked it. Coach warned us to get below deck as the comet impacted, but I was swimming too far away and the boat was capsized by a wave." She shares that she scrabbled back on board to free the others who were trapped below deck, but could not hold her breath long enough to get the jammed hatch open. Katana grabbed a life ring and swam for shore to get help 2 days ago, at the behest of her coach’s call for help yelled from the hold.

She is unsure where the boat was anchored, as this was her first time in the Cairns, but she describes weird silver fish above a shallow pool that was nearby, as well as a burned out military helicopter, and gives you a description of the fishing boat, as well as Katana points eastward from your current location, and judging by the crude maps of the major population centres found on the back of Julian’s map, the distance to the esplanade/Coral Sea looks to be 23 blocks. You are confident that you would recognise the capsized fishing vessel from her description if you were to get close enough.some directions on which way she travelled.

Katana warns that she had made very slow progress moving into the city beyond the mud that leads to the esplanade, “I heard yelling. People are being taken, and hurt bad if they resist.” With that she has no real information to relay, outside of the fact that there were both men and women's voices that were yelling, as she hid when the screaming started, but she urges you to hide if you hear the sound of loud and deeply resonant engines.

Grandma Grace urges the girl into the ute she uses her cane to gesture South of your location, leaning in so that Katana does not overhear her words, though she has to speak louder due to the intercession of the storm's fury, “The Southern Emergency Response Station doctors were mid-surgery when they realised they had a critical supply deficit, as the refrigeration unit that stored of blood had failed, spoiling everything. I need to get these supplies to them now, as it might already be too late. I’ll take the girl and send whatever aid can get through this storm. I implore you to help her teammates and coach, if you can.” Her warm brown eyes linger on yours as she takes the measure of your character in passing.

A small smile quirks up the corners of her mouth, trusting each of you to do the right thing.

Still, no offer of a soft cinnamon cookie.

[RedMoney]

Julian's face sank into a grim expression as he listened to Katana's story. The girl was tough as nails, he had to give her that. To live through a shipwreck, swim to shore and survive out in this monsoon was well beyond a struggle even Hemmingway could come up with. Even now Katana was focused on the mission to save her teammates.

Julian tried to focus on the sense of pride and awe he felt for Katana rather than the absolute disgust welling up in the pit of his stomach as Katana told him people were being taken. He expected there to be scumbags taking advantage of the disaster to turn a profit, but capturing people for human trafficking was not something that crossed his mind. Julian turned to the others once Grace and Katana were on the road, looking to them all with a determined fervor in his eyes.

"Well, it seems it's completely up to us. I don't know about the rest of you, but I came here to put myself and my abilities to real use. I want to go track down this shipwreck and stop the abductors. I wouldn't blame anyone here if they did not want to get involved, though. I cannot imagine that slavers came here without weapons. That said, aside from teleporting, I can also turn myself invisible. It makes me a rather effective scout, so I can gather information for us to make a plan. I'm sure we are low on time but going in blind would put people at risk. We also have the advantage of looking like lost and weary refugees ourselves, so we might be able to lure them out as well."

Julian looks to each of the others in turn, hoping to see mirrored resolve.

[Classic Gamer]

“Weapons?” Ian struck a pose that was more than just bordering on the absurd. “I am a weapon.” And then he promptly burst out laughing. Pulling himself together, he continued.

“Seriously. I am here to help as well and people being abducted is something I can not tolerate. Count me in.” He thought about it for a second, then decided to add a little bit more. “Even in large groups, most people aren’t a match for a wind storm. And they start to panic when all the air near them suddenly moves away and they can’t breath.”

He thought it was a good enough summation of what he could do with his powers and he had not outright said that it was him who would be doing it. He trusted those here with abilities, and Grace seemed to be on the side of the angels, even if she was secretly a Cookie Monster. No need to spill the beans to Katana though. She had enough on her plate without the extra weight of knowing the secrets of Section 8.

 

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[The Rat Queen]

Anima Alysa Raine Alysa came back in time to hear Katana's story, only leaning in briefly to quietly inform Grace of the ute's serviceable condition. She could only imagine how horrifying it must've been for the girl, though if she was a rugby player, she'd be made of sterner stuff than most her age. Julian gave his speech, surprisingly serious considering his previous demeanor. Alysa nodded agreement and approval, though she spared an eyeroll for Ian when he struck his karate pose, or whatever it was, softening it with an amused smile. "Agreed," she agreed agreeably. "However, the first order of business is to save the people in the capsized boat. As I understand it, those are two separate issues," she clarified, holding up two fingers helpfully to illustrate. "I can fly at approximately 90 miles, for you Yanks. ;-)145 kilometres per hour, so perhaps I could reach the boat first and at least get them free while the rest of you secure some sort of way to bring them in." She shrugged, "I don't know if there are any boats in decent shape left, or perhaps some sort of raft?" "Once the rugby team is safe, we can deal with these...abductors," she finished with a palpable distaste in her voice for such individuals.