[CCrusaders] Bert says, "Log on."

[CCrusaders] Taleslinger says, "Might be a bit distracted due to escaped rat."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Oh noes."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Want me to talk to her? :D I can use rapport to get her to come back ;)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks (of Taleslinger), "Oh dear! The work of one of the six supervillains? OR... is the rat a supervillain themselves?"

[CCrusaders] Taleslinger says, "Well, she is a bitey half-blind albino who has tried to escape for a while soo.... she's a ratvillian."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to Taleslinger), "You are so genre-savvy in your pet choices"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Hehe"

[CCrusaders] Taleslinger says, "I'll probably just put out a live trap, though"

[CCrusaders] Jota asks (of Slinger), "CP's new nemesis?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Putting in laundry; here in a sec."

[CCrusaders] (from Jacob) Rat says, "Curses. Foiled by peanut butter again. Om nom nonm."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "heehe"

[CCrusaders] Taleslinger says, "Heh. I can't even spot which bit of unmovable furniture she's hiding under!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(back)"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Is everyone here?"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "sounds like it!"

GM exclaims, "Welcome back to the next episode of the Crownsford Crusaders!"

GM says, "You've just destroyed the dam that was causing the Crowne river to flood. There's a lot of property damage -- including Eben's car -- but thanks to the Crownsford Crusaders, nobody was hurt! And since the water level went down, it's now exposed a spire of ice extending up from somewhere below the surface of the river."

GM says, "Some current open plot threads that you're presently facing include a gang of six supervillains loose in Crownsford (setting aspect: Supervillain Prison Break!), Supremo's poisoning (although Eben may have a lead on an antidote), a hostage situation at the Springside Mall, a recent incident at a classy east-side bakery, and who knows what other mayhem."

GM says, "Meanwhile, some of you are drenched and chilly (Is anybody's phone waterproof?), and all of you are muddy as you gather on the water-logged riverbank. The two sopping wet children that you just saved are just starting to come out of shock, and as they see Wanda looking over them protectively, they begin to scream."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Haha, oh no."

Wanda backs away to give the kids some space. "It's okay! It's okay!"

Little Boy says, "Waaaaaaaaaah!"

Eben pats the children on the back. "It's OK! That's my granddaughter!"

Little GIrl says, "Aaaauuuggghhh!"

Cuddlepaws has connected.

GM says, "Two adults come running from the group who had been gathered in the road."

Jacob stands back awkwardly. He's particularly not good with children.

Eben exclaims, "She's a superhero!"

Mother says, "Jessica! Frederick! Are you alright?"

Little Girl says, "SPIDER! SPIIIIIDDEEERRRR!"

Little Boy just sobs uncontrollably.

Cuddlepaws stands next to Wanda and little pillars of steam begin to rise off her fur.

[Crows-Nest] (from Jacob) Wanda shrieks. "Spider??! Where???"

Mother says, "Are you... are you the Crownsford Crusaders? And... the 'Scarlet Spider'?"

Eben exclaims, "That's us!"

Eben says, "Your kids took a ride in the river, but I think they're OK now."

Mother hugs her children. "Oh no -- did you save them?"

Eben says, "You should get to safety--there's several supervillains in town right now, and it might take us a bit to round them all up."

Little Boy climbs into his mother's arms, while the girl hides behind the father.

Eben asks (of kids), "Are you two going to be OK? Are you going to do what your parents tell you to do?"

Father says, "Thank you -- that's a good idea. Come along, Jessica, we should do like the good heroes said."

Mother says, "We'll take you away from the big scary but probably very nice spider."

GM says, "And the four of them make their way back to the crowd, to pass on your warnings to the rest of the people in the neighborhood."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Haha aww"

Eben grins. "*Definitely* very nice."

Wanda says, "Thanks, Grandpa."

Cuddlepaws exclaims, "She ate very way kids lately!"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "'She hardly ever kills *anyone* these days!'"

Eben says, "OK! Spire."

Eben says, "So."

Eben's voice drops a bit.

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "snrk"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "(And he's forgiven her by now anway...)"

Eben says, "I think they're using the ball-and-chain to transport them to safety if they get in trouble. So aquadude here will probably teleport away if we get the upper hand. So before that happens, get one of these tracking devices on him, so we can tell where he's going."

Eben hands everyone a small sticky button tracker.

Jacob slips it into his pocket.

Cuddlepaws swats it around.

Eben then heads over to the spire, portal gun at the ready.

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Now I'm wondering if Wanda has fanny packs on each leg for transporting stuff :D"

Eben leaves one portal open on the side of the house from before.

[Crows-Nest] Eben says, "leggy packs"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "yay"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "haha, 8 fanny packs is a great mental image"

GM says, "The ice spire is poking up out of the middle of the river. It's hard to see much from the bank, but you can tell that it seems to be part of a larger structure below the surface."

Wanda asks, "Hmm, so this supervillain can change the phase of water as well as manipulate it?"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "What was this one's name, again?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Hydrolax"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "*Hydrolyx"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "ooops, I turned the guy into a laxative"

Deka will grow to go investigate.

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Oof."

Cuddlepaws jumps on Deka's shoulder.

GM says (to Deka), "From your new altitude, you have a better view! You can see that there appears to be a building underneath the water, like a kind of fortress, the size of a large house."

GM says, "It's roughly square shaped, and there seem to be some kind of markings on the (flat) roof."

Deka will walk out into the water to get a better view.

[Crows-Nest] Eben says, "'I can't see anything!' 'Not with that altitude, young lady.'"

GM says, "OK! From here, you can see the markings better -- they look like this, with the spire in the center: https://i.imgur.com/0ajnAFq.png"

GM says, "And you can also see that under the water, there's an open archway in one wall."

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Is anyone else riding on Deka's shoulder, or just CP?"

Cuddlepaws says (to gm), "Would you allow an Investigate overcome to er investigate those markings"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Yeah, I'll tag along."

[CCrusaders] GM says (to CP), "You can already see them pretty clearly from your perch, but you're trying to figure out what kind of symbols they are, that would be Lore vs. +2"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I suppose I'll hop along, as wlel. And the nI can do the Lore."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Also I cannot type."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK!"

Wanda climbs up Deka's clothing and onto her head, just for fun.

Jacob rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: +1 +1 0 +1 | Legendary (8)

[CCrusaders] Jacob :D

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Success with style!"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says (to jacob), "I'll just assume you're typing with a baby on your lap and blame all typoes on her"

[Crows-Nest] Jacob says, "She's at the park, but sure, haha."

GM says (to Jacob), "You immediately notice two things about them: one is that they remind you a lot of the medieval alchemy symbols for the four classical elements, except modified a bit."

GM says, "(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dMn8w6JmG7k/UzAGF49IegI/AAAAAAAABDY/FfvP62XnndA/s1600/Basic+Elements.jpg are the standard symbols.)"

GM says, "And the other is that... you've seen this arrangement of symbols before."

Wanda asks (of Deka), "When did you last wash your hair?"

Jacob thinks back.

GM says, "It was on the cover of an antique book that you found stored away in a part of the Crownsford library for particularly valuable that's off-limits to patrons (but you, of course, have your own ways)."

GM says, "It was big, with a white leather cover, with this symbol on the front."

Deka asks, "just now. We had a fight in a river, remember?"

GM says, "The writing inside seems like mostly gibberish to you, but it was filled with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations of birds and mountain tops and winged hybrid bird-people."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Ooh"

GM says, "As you recall, that was roughly around the same time that you first started to notice your powers..."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "The Nichvoy Manuscript"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "Jacob's one of them! Get him!"

Jacob mentions part of this to the others, being a little vague about it. "So, I've seen that symbol before. On a book at the library. I couldn't really read it, though."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "wondering now if Deka's hair is actually dry because increasing her own mass didn't include the water added to her hair"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "also yay Jacob getting some more spotlight :)"

[Crows-Nest] Jota says, "@mutec crows=fixed"

Cuddlepaws says (to jacob), "Something YOU couldn't figure out? First time for everything, I guess"

[Crows-Nest] Deka says, "Dekas hair would be dry"

Eben says, "So... is this house new? Or old? The spire's new, at least."

Jacob says, "It looked like, uh, chicken scratch."

Eben says (to Jacob), "From your birds! Ha ha ha"

Wanda exclaims, "The granddad jokes are back!"

Jacob coughs awkwardly. "Anyway. They're the symbols for the elements...." and he launches into an explanation.

Eben says, "Hunh."

Eben tries shooting a blue portal inside the archway, then turns to look to see if water is gushing out of the orange portal on the side of the house.

[CCrusaders] Jacob goes to refresh her memory from last week's transcript..

GM says (to Eben), "It's a tricky shot from out here, but you remember to take into account the refractive index of the water, and peg it right on the floor just inside."

GM says, "Immediately a rush of water begins to flow from the orange portal you left on the house."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Ok, my thought doesn't pan out. Carry on :)"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks, "The archway is the only visible entry, right?"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to CP), "Right."

Eben says, "OK, I'm going in."

Eben dives into the water and follows the current to the blue portal, then cancels it so he's inside the archway himself, then tries to swim inside the house further.

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Are you diving into the water here, or going back to shore and climbing into the orange portal?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Diving in here. I've learned not to try to swim upstream through ocean hoses ;-)"

GM says (to Eben), "As you swim down, you see that although it's the size of a large house, the building is boxier in shape, with walls fortified with columns, like a fortress."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "So the current should take me to the blue portal, because it's being pulled through."

GM says, "The archway leads you into a small vestibule. From here, you can see a number of narrow corridors leading further inward. The walls of the corridors are polished smooth, but they're curved, with awkward angles and pieces jutting out in random places."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "No need to numerically solve the Navies-Stokes equation this time"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Is it all made of ice? Or some other material?"

GM says, "Some of those ice walls are transparent, letting you see a distorted view of what's behind them, while others are highly reflective, like a funhouse mirror."

GM says, "Everything you see is made of ice -- and standing inside of it, you're getting pretty cold."

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "I guess Jota watched Die another Day recently"

Eben goes further into the house!

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks (of eben), "Maybe portal us in?"

GM asks, "OK -- are you choosing a corridor at random?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Yeah."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "I'm a walking radiator"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "I guess I'll follow the left-hand rule."

GM says, "You swim inward, and the corridor immediate branches out into two more, and each of those then takes a blind turn, and behind one of those it joins again with another corridor, and you quickly start to lose your bearings..."

GM says, "And as you explore, you notice a large grey shape approaching, with a bit of pink..."

GM says, "...but you realize it's behind several of the transparent ice walls and whatever it is may not have noticed you yet."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Remember 'Never let the wizard go first'? Well, we should also add 'Never let the grandpa go first'"

GM says, "Also, you've been holding your breath for a while."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "even if he is a tech wizard"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Hee"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Can I text the group?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I somehow imagined it would be dry inside"

GM says, "Also, regarding portals: remember that the walls (and floor and ceiling) in this icy Mirror Maze (aspect) are all curved and angled with various protrustions."

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Is your phone waterproof?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "It's Eben. Of course it is."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Ha."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Then yes!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "It's also fireproof and foolproof"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "So I can't create portals here, even on the floor?"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Or is it just more difficult?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Not inside the maze."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(I mean, you're you, so I can never completely say 'no, there's no possible way', but as far as *I* know you can't.)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "The only flat surface Eben has at his disposal... are his feet *canned laughter�"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "If it's all ice, I suppose I could try to flatten a surface with an ice pick or something, but OK."

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Do you *have* an ice pick?"

Eben turns around and follows his, um, strokes, this time using the right-hand rule to get out again.

GM says (to Eben), "Since you've been taking care to intentionally use a strategy to avoid getting lost, the Investigate overcome to get back is only +1 instead of +3."

Eben texts the group what he saw.

Eben rolls Average (1) + 4dF: +1 +1 -1 +1 | Good (3)

GM exclaims, "And as you take the time to send the text, give me a Physique Overcome vs. +2 to keep holding your breath!"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "If I fail, can I just not send the text? Or do I need to do that first?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "The Physique check is more or less as you finish sending the text."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "OK, I'll just go, then."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "And not send the text."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK!"

Eben retreats, then swims to the surface again.

GM says, "Eben emerges from the water, gasping for breath."

Wanda says (to Eben), "Are you okay? I should have come with you"

Eben describes what he saw.

Cuddlepaws says, "Too bad we can't portal in there"

Eben says, "So, there's someone in there, in the middle of an ice maze. And there's no good way for me to make a portal, unless I bring in a flat surface with me, which is definitely an option, or if we can flatten out/carve flat one of the walls."

Eben asks, "So maybe we can just smash the whole thing?"

Cuddlepaws says, "Guess we'll leave this to some sort of water-based superhero team"

Eben says, "There are other options, it's true."

[Crows-Nest] Jacob sends in a squad of untrained, but very friendly ducks.

Cuddlepaws asks, "Wouldn't you guys need breathing gear?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Hee."

[Crows-Nest] Jacob says, "s/friendly/angry/ ? hehe"

Eben exclaims, "That's also an option!"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "It's a nice day in the ice palace, and you're a horrible team of geese."

Wanda asks (of Eben), "Smash... or maybe melt?"

Eben says (to Deka), "Do you think you could smash this place? It seems pretty fortress-y."

Jacob asks, "Why not both?"

Eben asks (of Wanda), "Maybe you could melt me a flat surface for a portal or two?"

Eben says, "Or just melt your way straight in through the top."

GM exclaims (at Wanda), "This seems like a good time to offer you a compel of Mutant Fire Spider [...]!"

Wanda asks (of GM), "Oooo! What is it?"

GM says (to Wanda), "While you were in the water, you felt a bit uncomfortable. You're concerned that if you try to use any of your fire powers underwater, it could be physically harmful to you! Say, two physical stress each time."

GM sets his current fate point total to 5.

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "(also the 'in a skin suit' part shouldn't be there anymore, I forgot to delete that)"

GM asks, "Do you accept the compel?"

Jacob sets her current fate point total to 3.

Wanda exclaims (at GM), "I do!"

GM gives a fate point to Wanda.

Wanda sets his current fate point total to 1.

Wanda sets his current fate point total to 2.

Wanda says, "Water is kind of not my favourite element, though..."

Wanda says, "Won't be easy."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Is it palladium? I'm betting it's palladium."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "hee"

Cuddlepaws says, "You could bring something with you inside, a sheet of metal or something, and we'd portal through that"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "Arachnium"

Deka Will try to smash it, unless anyone objects.

Eben says (to Deka), "Sounds good to me! We can at least check to see if it's possible."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Are you going in via the roof or a wall? (Either way, it's a +6 Physique overcome.)"

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "wall"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK!"

Deka rolls Legendary+1 (+9) + 4dF: +1 +1 -1 +1 | Legendary+3 (11)

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Wait... oh nevermind. No advantage needed :-)"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "smassshhh"

GM says, "You easily succeed with style. Ducking down under the water, you deliver a mighty blow to the fortress's fortified wall and smash a huge hole in it."

[Setting the zoned flag.]

GM says, "The crash is loud enough to hear from the surface, and no doubt anyone inside is now even more alerted to your presence than before (an extra free invoke on Forewarned (which is what I renamed the aspect from Wanda telepathy last time, since it sounds cooler))."

Deka will try to pull it apart by the hole she made.

GM says, "Inside, you see the shattered remains of a section of the mirror maze. Heacy shards of glass-sharp ice litter the area within. It looks like you've broken into the middle of the maze, easily bypassing at least half of it."

GM says, "The fortress is too big to easily tear the *whole* thing down, but the entire party could easily fit through the hole you've torn. Although with the sharp chunks of ice everywhere, you'd each need to be careful not to injure yourselves."

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "I will make the aspect "cracks appear on the wall""

Cuddlepaws exclaims, "I'm not getting in the water!"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "OK! Create Advantage with Physique vs. +4."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "That was the boost from the success with style."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Oh, right!"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Even better :)"

Eben asks, "So, do some of us rush in and try to portal him out where we can attack him not underwater?"

Eben asks (of Cuddlepaws), "Maybe you could make a forcefield bubble of air?"

Cuddlepaws says (to eben), "That feels like ... a stunt, I can't perform"

Cuddlepaws asks, "But maybe I could use shielding to create a dry area inside?"

[Crows-Nest] Eben asks, "Am I remembering correctly that you can spend a fate point to gain access to a stunt?"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Avatar: The Last Furbender"

Cuddlepaws says, "It would be weak shielding if anyone attacks it, but it should hold"

Eben asks, "Oh, what if I created a portal on a sheet of metal, and you created a force field over it?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "You can buy a stunt mid-way through a session if you want, the same as you do between sessions. It involves reducing your refresh (as usual) and giving up the fate point you had gotten from that point of refresh."

Cuddlepaws asks, "But we should have some sort of means of breathing underwater, no?"

Eben asks, "If you can expand/contract the force field over the portal, you'd be bringing in air from the outside. You could even hang out near the orange portal, maybe?"

GM says, "As you're talking, Deka notices movement from the hole she just created in the wall."

Eben says, "Oh, good, or he can just come to us."

Deka exclaims, "Hello!"

Eben looks for a broken shard of ice that he could create a portal on.

GM says, "Two large grey shapes resolve themselves into a pair of bull sharks! One with a pink bow on its head, and the other with a blue bow under its 'chin'."

GM exclaims, "Roll initiative!"

GM clears the initiative.

GM rolls Average (1) + 4dF: -1 0 +1 -1 | Mediocre (0)

Jacob rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 +1 -1 -1 | Fair (2)

Deka rolls Average (1) + 4dF: +1 0 0 -1 | Average (1)

GM registers GM at init 0.

Eben rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 -1 +1 -1 | Mediocre (0)

Wanda rolls Good (3) + 4dF: -1 +1 0 +1 | Great (4)

Eben registers Eben at init 0.

Wanda registers Wanda at init 4.

Cuddlepaws rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 -1 0 0 | Fair (2)

Jacob registers Jacob at init 2.

Cuddlepaws registers Cuddlepaws at init 2.

[Crows-Nest] Wanda exclaims, "Oh no! We're fighting against gender stereotypes!"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "Our old enemy ... The gender binary Sharks!"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "They are real trouble."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Indeed"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "(They, get it)"

Deka registers Deka at init 1.

Wanda displays the initiative: Wanda(4) Cuddlepaws/Jacob(2) Deka(1) GM/Eben(0)

[CCrusaders] GM says, "I'm about to share a map -- if it offers to show you *other* white boards as well, please do not do so :)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Heh"

[Crows-Nest] Eben says, "Ha"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Sekrets"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "https://miro.com/welcomeonboard/DfxuRD2TTWz7LMLGTbXvxcHyjbo3qd2urdMqFDZk3oy69xspU4hGuyrkWJ2cYNNE"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Aww, not Laverne and Surly?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Hee."

GM advances the initiative: WANDA(4) Cuddlepaws/Jacob(2) Deka(1) GM/Eben(0)

GM exclaims, "Once everyone has placed themselves on the map... Wanda!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "waiting until we know where Deka is, since I'm on her head"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Oh yeah, I forgot about that 1"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Er, !"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "hah, me too"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I didn't entirely forget, but I thought maybe we'd hopped off at some point, given the whole smashing thing"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Did everyone get a bath when when ducked down to punch the wall?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Some of you might no longer actually be on her shoulders after that.)"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Right, we would have dismounted before the smashing commenced"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "I think I've been treading water since I entered the maze."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "I think that's everyone in place. So it's Wanda's turn."

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "So the sharks are at the surface of the water now?"

Cuddlepaws displays the initiative: WANDA(4) Cuddlepaws/Jacob(2) Deka(1) GM/Eben(0)

GM says, "You can see two fins just poking out above the surface."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Maybe they're just here to take us to their leader."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "And we can hop aboard :D"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "No man, these are evil binary sharks"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "I want to check whether they're sapient or just mindcontrolled? So a Notice overcome?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "wait"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "that's a silly question,"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "I already know they're not sapient because I detected only one unfamiliar mind earlier"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "True!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "maybe those bows are mindcontrol devices"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "So I guess I can try dive-bombing one of the sharks? and grabbing a bow before bouncing back up?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "OK! That seems like an Athletics overcome."

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "OK!"

Wanda rolls Great (4) + 4dF: -1 -1 +1 +1 | Great (4)

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Which one are you going for? Either way, this seems tricky, so I'm calling this a +4 opposition."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "A tie! Success with a minor cost!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to GM), "I get drenched? (Also what did you mean 'which one'?)"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Perhaps the cost is that you can't fully control your fire power in your excitement, so when you reach into the water, your earlier compel kicks in?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to GM), "That works too"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Wanda), "Laverne or Lenny."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Ah, ha. Let's say Laverne."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "So that's another 2 stress (on top of the ones you took when helping to smash the dam)."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Narrate at will!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Wait, didn't I take 3 stress last session? Let me check."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "ticking a 3-stress box""

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Ooh, yes! Thank you."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Yay, honest players.)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "So I tick my 2-stress box now"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "We're still in the same scene as last time, then?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Yeah, I figure until you either get away from this area (or take a break for a while or something), it'll still be the same scene."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Sounds good."

Wanda springs into action! She leaps from Deka's head in a perfectly calculated arc, landing on top of one of the sharks (the one with the pink bow)! However, something happens which Wanda had not anticipated: her fire powers activate in reaction to the cold water, and she can feel the cold actually eat away at her very essence as the two elements clash! She managed to grab the bow, however, and leap off the back of the shark before it can strike back.

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Important question!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Since my fire powers triggered involuntarily due to a compel..."

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "...does that mean that the shark took 2 stress?"

GM says, "Laverne, alas, seems undeterred -- and as you came close to her, you also briefly sensed her mind. What you detected felt like a normal animal -- a well-trained animal, carrying out its orders -- but not one under mind control."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "That seems fair!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Woo!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "See, being an honest player encourages honest GMing"

GM advances the initiative: Wanda(4) CUDDLEPAWS/JACOB(2) Deka(1) GM/Eben(0)

GM exclaims, "Cuddlepaws!"

Cuddlepaws exclaims, "I'd like to create advantage with shielding - creating shields before and behind Lenny that hinder his mobility!"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Ooh. OK! Lenny will actively defend!"

Cuddlepaws rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: +1 +1 -1 +1 | Epic (7)

GM rolls Good (3) + 4dF: +1 +1 0 +1 | Fantastic (6)

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Wow. Close call."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "You succeed!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I call it "Sharkcage!""

Cuddlepaws says, "Hey Lenny - watch your nose!" as shimmering shields appears underwater before and behind Lenny, momentarily boxing him in.

GM says, "Lenny is now hindered by the forcefields (your free invoke) and won't be able to get out of this zone."

GM exclaims, "Jacob!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "...how do we know their names? :D"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Convenience"

Jacob calls out to Laverne, "Hey. Hey, Shark. What's your story?" (I don't have a goal here yet, unless you want me to roll rapport to even get her to respond to me.)

[CCrusaders] GM says, "You don't! But fortunately the comic book narrator in those little text boxes in each panel does."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "hehe"

Laverne says, "You INTRUDE on the MASTER! I DEFEND against INTRUDERS!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "Describing the crusaders as a comic book on the wiki for years finally pays off!"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(You've got the polyglot thing, right?)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I do. I can't do it telepathically, so everyone else is like "WTF? oh, it's just Jacob being Jacob.""

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I speak whale^Wshark"

Jacob says, "Hey, what's your name? Tell me about your master. We're friends, not intruders. (rolling to convince her of such maybe? advantage or overcome)"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Ooh. That'll be a Deceive overcome!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Damnit."

Laverne says, "I am LAVERNE! You broke the WALL! You are not FRIENDS!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "How about I spend a fate point and use lore instead of deceive? :D"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK!"

Jacob rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: 0 0 -1 +1 | Superb (5)

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: +1 -1 +1 +1 | Fantastic (6)

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Grrr"

Jacob spends a fate point, leaving her with 2.

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Are you also going to tag anything?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I was gonna take a cost, I think"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "You have a 'Jacob's lore boost' on the list."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Oh!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "There's that"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Jacob has been reading a lot of political speeches in the library"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "So yes"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Yay."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Narrate how convincing you are at tricking sharks!"

Jacob rambles on about how he understands the symbolism of the markings and the spire (making it up, mostly, but using that boost) and tells the sharks what we already know about the master, as if nobody else could possibly know such details.

Jacob also apologizes about the wall. Accidental!

Laverne says, "You... you ARE a FRIEND! I will go TELL the MASTER that you are HERE!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Haha, oops."

Laverne turns and swims back down into the hole in the wall.

GM advances the initiative: Wanda(4) Cuddlepaws/Jacob(2) DEKA(1) GM/Eben(0)

GM exclaims, "Deka!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Haha, Jacob was right"

[Crows-Nest] (from Wanda) GM adds another free invoke to 'Forewarned'

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Hee."

[CCrusaders] Deka asks, "Is the other shark convinced?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I feel like other shark was ignoring me because he's got this shield thing to deal with"

GM says, "Lenny, meanwhile, has been butting his nose against the force fields and wasn't really paying close attention to the conversation."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "That"

Deka will grapple the other shark

Cuddlepaws exclaims, "Haha, just a stupid animal aided by some tech!"

GM exclaims (at Deka), "OK! That sounds like your Physique opposed by its Athletics!"

Deka rolls Legendary+1 (+9) + 4dF: +1 -1 -1 0 | Legendary (8)

GM says, "(As a Create Advantage.)"

GM rolls Good (3) + 4dF: +1 -1 -1 -1 | Average (1)

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Wow."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "(I literally could not have failed to fail that roll.)"

GM says, "You have a hold on him! init next when you're done narrating it."

Deka will grab it by the sides and hold it just above water. Periodically moving through the water so it doesn't drown.

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Should I init next, or are you still typing?)"

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "I am done"

GM advances the initiative: Wanda(4) Cuddlepaws/Jacob(2) Deka(1) GM/EBEN(0)

GM exclaims, "Lenny is enraged! He squirms and twists in Deka's arms, bending his neck around to snap at her with his mighty jaws!"

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: -1 +1 0 0 | Great (4)

GM exclaims, "That's an attack with Fight!"

GM says, "(And it's up to you to defend.)"

Deka rolls Fantastic (6) + 4dF: -1 0 0 -1 | Great (4)

GM says, "It's a tie! Lenny doesn't do any real damage, but all his squirming is putting you off balance. (Lenny gets a boost.)"

GM exclaims, "Eben!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Hrm."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "I guess I will try to find a portable portalable flat surface, like a sheet of metal as CP suggested. Notice? Investigate? And seems like an Overcome."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(or broken piece of ice wall)"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Investigate sounds good -- +2 opposition."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to Eben), "Maybe what's left of the roof of your car will do? :D"

Eben rolls Average (1) + 4dF: -1 +1 -1 -1 | Poor (-1)

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "bah hmm"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Eben discovers that his car was damaged by Wanda's collateral damage, and is too distraught to investigate"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Ha."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "My '76 Impaler!"

GM says (to Eben), "Oof. Deka is just *too* good: the pieces of the wall were pulverized; they're all too small to be useful. And since the river banks used to be under water until recently, everything else nearby has already washed away."

Eben frowns and sighs.

Eben advances the initiative: END OF ROUND

GM advances the initiative: WANDA(4) Cuddlepaws/Jacob(2) Deka(1) GM/Eben(0)

GM exclaims, "Wanda!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Hmm, now that we know the bows aren't mindcontrol devices, I have no clue what the plan is. I could help knock out Lenny."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Yeah, I dunno."

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Maybe set up an ambush for the guy coming out of his fortress?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Hmmm"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Or just hold action until after their move."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "If that's a thing."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "That is definitely a thing."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to GM), "Oho! (But how can I justify Wanda remaining poised and waiting to strike when there's a shark trying to chew on a family member?)"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "If Deka seems OK with it?"

Wanda asks (of Deka), "Need help with that?"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says (to wanda), "Just please, please"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "don't jump the shark"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Wanda), "*Wanda* doesn't have to be narratively holding just because you mechanically are."

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "go for it"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda exclaims, "but I already did!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to GM), "aha, hm"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Also, I will expose that the sharks are (depsite me giving them names) mechanically nameless NPC's, in terms of not having consequences and stuff.)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks (of Deka), "Are you IC saying yes, you need help, though?"

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "it can wait."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "OK"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(So who's going next?)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to GM), "If the holding an action thing can be purely mechanical (ie as if Wanda had rolled a lower init for this turn specifically) then that should work"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Wanda), "Yup, definitely."

GM advances the initiative: Wanda(4) CUDDLEPAWS/JACOB(2) Deka(1) GM/Eben(0)

GM exclaims, "CP!"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Just speak up when you're ready to un-hold."

Cuddlepaws will pick up mud and TK it into the world's largest floating ball of mud in preparation for the master.

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "So, um create advantage using TK"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "OK! +2 opposition."

Cuddlepaws rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: +1 +1 -1 -1 | Superb (5)

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Style!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I call this one "That's a lot MUD!""

GM exclaims, "Jacob!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Hm, none of my special effects apply, really"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "So just a second free invoke?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Hm.. thinking"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Yeah"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "If there's a chance the master will come out on the GM's turn, I'd want to hold my action until afterwards, but we obviously have no way of knowing that, and I'm not really asking for insight, just explaining my thought process"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I guess I can hold either way and see what happens"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK!"

GM advances the initiative: Wanda(4) Cuddlepaws/Jacob(2) DEKA(1) GM/Eben(0)

GM exclaims, "Deka!"

Deka Will karate chop the shark in the back of the neck to knock it out.

Deka rolls Fantastic (6) + 4dF: -1 +1 0 -1 | Superb (5)

Jacob looks away.

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I'm sure that's how sharks work"

GM says, "And as agile as a shark is in the water, they can be pretty clumsy when they're being held in mid-air..."

GM rolls Average (1) + 4dF: 0 -1 +1 +1 | Fair (2)

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "That shark never worked a day in its life."

GM exclaims, "But he tags his boost, because his squirming earlier put Deka off balance!"

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "it is if I hit it hard enoupgh"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Deka), "That'll be one point of stress, unless you're tagging anything."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Technically he's working right now, Eben."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "He's defending the fortress for the master"

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "I will tag the grappled affect, and the shark cage if I have to."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Not sure that comes with a 301k"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "(501k?)"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Excellent! That brings it up to five shifts of stress, which is enough to take him out!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "It's a different form for animals."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Narrate your victory!"

Deka, as it is trying to break free will chop its neck making it go limp.

GM says, "And as Deka is doing this, initiative is over."

Deka advances the initiative: Wanda(4) Cuddlepaws/Jacob(2) Deka(1) GM/EBEN(0)

GM exclaims, "You are victorious!"

Jacob says, "Poor shark.."

Jacob says, "He was just doing what he was told."

Eben says, "It'll be OK."

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Hmm, are bull sharks ocean-based?"

Cuddlepaws says, "You swim with shark, you get up with fleas"

Wanda looks at the pink bow she's still holding between her fangs.

Wanda says, "No mindcontrol here..."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "They're fresh and salt water. I looked it up."

[CCrusaders] Eben asks (of GM), "Do I think I could shove Lenny through my ocean portal if the other end was sufficiently under the river?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(or that Deka could)"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "I'm sure that Deka could."

Deka will

Eben moves the orange portal to the deepest part of the river, then activates Hello, Ocean just long enough for Deka to shove Lenny through.

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Put a christmas hat on Lenny and write 'merry christmas mother****'"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "send them a message"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "We should remember to put Laverne there, too, later"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Is Deka typing?)"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Nope. We're all just looking at the maze hole."

GM exclaims, "The salty water jolts Lenny awake, and he turns back to look at you in utter confusion as the portal blinks shut, stranding him in the middle of the ocean!"

[Crows-Nest] (from Cuddlepaws) Lenny is eaten by a great white.

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "great white supremacy is serious, come on"

GM says, "And so your attention returns to the maze hole. Inside, you still see the sharp, jagged chunks of ice, and the narrow corridors leading further into (or, in the other direction, back out of) the maze."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "so tasteless"

Eben:, seeing as how nobody is emerging from the maze, goes to look again for a portable portalable surface, now having more time to search further afield and more carefully.

GM asks (of Eben), "Then I'm sure you'll manage to find something this time -- what do you find?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "brb"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Coming from Jacob, it's hard to say whether that means that he'll be right back or that he's being distracted by a birb."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "haha aww"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws asks (of eben), "The hood of your car?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "I'm not sure that still qualifies as a flat surface, after the last session! (The trunk, on the other hand, is still fine.)"

Eben manages to find a piece of sheet metal in the detritus of the earlier flood. It's a little ragged around the edges, so he gets Deka's help to create weakened seams in the edges, which he folds off, and curls around so the edges are easier to carry.

Wanda will help finish polishing it if necessary with some concentrated flames.

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Ok, sort of back, but with a baby on my lap."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "awwww"

GM says, "You now have a portable portalable part."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "how sweet"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "(not the portable portalable part, that's just alliterative and also a tongue-twister)"

Eben says, "OK! So, it looks like this guy is holed up in there."

Wanda says, "Can't be much of a supervillain if he won't come out of the water."

Wanda says, "I guess being scary has its perks..."

Eben asks, "So let's see if I can take this in to him, and then the rest of you can come through or I'll bring him through this or something. CP, should e do the forcefield thing?"

Cuddlepaws says, "Not sure that'll work"

Eben says, "Well, let's experiment."

Eben creates an orange portal on the bank, and the blue portal on the metal.

GM says, "You have portals."

Eben says, "Ready? You put up a field, and I'll pull it underwater and see what happens."

Cuddlepaws creates a shield!

Eben pulls it underwater!

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Now, if I remember correctly from the game Portal, if a portaled wall moved in a certain way (laterally?), the portal was fine, but if it moved the other way (toward/away from the portal?), it vanished. Is that correct?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Does this follow the same rules?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "In the game, portals couldn't be moved at all."

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Mmm. So how does that affect this experiment?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "But these have been able to move in general--the creation of the ocean portal; putting on on the car that was being used to hit me, etc."

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "So I'm going to let you make the call that you think is fair."

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Maybe a free tag of Unpredictable Basement Tech if they get moved too much?"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK!"

GM says (to CP), "You feel the pressure of the water pressing against your force field. You can hold it back, but it takes effort, and if anything attacks the field, it'll get a +2 bonus to break it."

GM says, "But it does seem to be watertight, for now."

Cuddlepaws says, "This takes some effort, so let's not dawdle."

Eben exclaims, "OK!"

Eben swims down into the maze!

GM says, "OK! Swimming through the jagged shards left from Deka's handiwork will need a +3 Athletics Overcome, if you don't want to get hurt."

Eben rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 -1 -1 -1 | Terrible (-2)

[CCrusaders] Eben tags 'cracks in the walls' for a re-roll!

GM says, "That'll be 2 physical stress, if you don't tag anything to succeed."

Eben rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 0 0 +1 | Great (4)

GM exclaims, "That'll be a complete success!"

[CCrusaders] Deka asks, "can deka fit through the portal if she stays large?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Hmm. I think logically, probably not. I assume that in her large size, she has to struggle a bit to get through even normal doors, right?"

Eben just about bumps into the jagged edge of a broken wall, but fortunately it crumbles before anything hurts him.

Eben continues.

GM says (to Eben), "So you realize that this point is nearly to the center of the maze -- a single Investigate Overcome (+3) should be enough to find your way there."

Deka will shrink down to get through.

[CCrusaders] Eben is not the best at investigate--can he get help through my phone?

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Sure! How will you do that while holding your breath?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "FaceTime"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "WandaTime?"

Eben Yeah.

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "er, yeah here."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(And remember, the longer you take, the more likely it is that you'll need to do a Physique overcome to keep holding it.)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I'll do it, if you send video/photos back to us"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "SOunds good! That should require much less fiddliness than texting."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Or can just help you. Whichever."

Eben facetimes with Jacob to show him what's going on.

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Whatever the GM deems preferable."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Eben can Twitch stream his superheroing"

[Crows-Nest] Eben says, "Ha."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "I think that if Jacob is doing the actual roll, it'll be 1 more difficulty than if he were there."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Depending on Eben's investigate, that might be preferable still"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "What if Jacob does the roll, and I have to do a Physique?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(I have Investigate 1)"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "In lieu of the +1 difficulty? That works."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Becaues I have +6 and can get a +1 if he's helping with the phone"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Oh, missed the +1 difficulty. I'll take that instead ;-)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Yeah :)"

Jacob rolls Epic (7) + 4dF: +1 +1 +1 +1 | Legendary+3 (11)

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Wow"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Hehe"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "That's, uh. A success."

Jacob glances at the phone and is like "you go that way and that way and watch out for that ice thing and then that way..."

Eben . o O ( Man, he's good a this. )

Eben travels Directly To The Heart! (boost)

GM says, "You find the end of the maze! You can see not far ahead, to your right, where the corridor opens up to another room. (Although you can't see what's in there from where you're standing.)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Honestly, Jacob is the best and we would be lost without him"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Literally."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Hee."

Eben texts CP OK, be ready to drop the field!

Cuddlepaws gets ready

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Is Eben immediately going through it as soon as it's down?"

Eben swims into the room, metal sheet in hand, ready to slam it and the portal over his head!

Wanda braces herself!!!

GM says (to Eben), "You swim into the room, and let me describe what you see..."

GM says, "It's a larger room, with a high ceiling held up by support pillars. You see two smaller open archways on the back wall. In the center is a half-completed ice sculpture of mer-maids and mer-men, frolicking."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda asks, "So explicit! What are comics coming to, these days?"

GM says, "Next to the statue, apparently still in the middle of completing it, is a man wearing blue swimming trunks and a black device on one ankle. He has a tattoo on his chest that matches part of the symbol from the roof, and he matches the photo you saw of Hydrolyx."

GM exclaims, "But he's not alone: in the room with him are also a giant squid, a giant crab, and the bull shark from outside (sans bow)!"

GM clears the initiative.

GM exclaims, "And if you're approaching him with hostile intent, that means it's time for initiative!"

Eben rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 0 -1 0 | Fair (2)

Eben registers Eben at init 2.

Wanda rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 -1 0 0 | Fair (2)

GM rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 +1 +1 -1 | Great (4)

Wanda registers Wanda at init 2.

GM registers GM at init 4.

Jacob rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 +1 0 +1 | Good (3)

Jacob registers Jacob at init 3.

Deka rolls Average (1) + 4dF: 0 +1 -1 0 | Average (1)

Cuddlepaws rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 0 +1 0 | Fair (2)

Deka registers Deka at init 1.

Cuddlepaws registers Cuddlepaws at init 2.

GM removes GM from the initiative list.

GM registers gm at init 4.

GM advances the initiative: GM(4) Jacob(3) Cuddlepaws/Wanda/Eben(2) Deka(1)

[CCrusaders] Jacob asks, "To save me from asking (or remembering to) when I finally see the tattoo.. I'm guessing it's the funky water symbol from the roof? Or another piece?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Yup, https://i.imgur.com/fRhgMlq.png"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Cool"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "https://miro.com/welcomeonboard/4tIXj3qgwXuNfQdahFLNmZqX19Ruqr9QIQGA12Cgj4Di0TdCVXQC6MaF1XddmpPO"

Hydrolyx turns to Eben. "You! What do you want here! Surly, Squiddie, seize him! Laverne, attack!"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "I'm sorry, I can't fight someone called Squiddie. That's just too cute."

[Crows-Nest] Jacob says, "Hehe"

GM exclaims, "The giant crab and the octopus both descend on Eben -- trying to grab him to Create Advantage!"

GM says, "Which you can defend against with Athletics."

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: -1 -1 -1 +1 | Fair (2)

Eben rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 0 -1 +1 | Good (3)

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "The old man has some moves!"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "I'm not sure where to put myself"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "I'm going to tag Forewarned!"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "#crows ..Wanda Hmm, yeah, I didn't take portals into account when drawing this last night."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "I'll tag Direct Path to the Heart--he was expecting me, but not *that* fast."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(but you have a second Forwarned I think)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "Other question: is the ceiling of the central chamber underwater?"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "And then I'll spend a fate point to tag Trained By Hydrolyx -- these aren't just any two random dumb animals; they know what they're doing!"

GM spends a fate point, leaving him with 4.

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "or is literally everything underwater?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Yup, all of it is."

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "They succeed!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Haha."

GM exclaims, "Then Eben now has the aspect Enclawed!"

Eben exclaims, "Ack!"

GM says, "As the giant crab crabs him around the middle with one of its giant claws."

GM exclaims, "And Laverne takes advantage of this to attack!"

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: +1 +1 0 +1 | Epic (7)

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "So, every time I use fire powers underwater, I take 2 stress?"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Yup!"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Defend with Athletics?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Yup, or Fight."

Eben rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 +1 -1 +1 | Good (3)

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Any tags, or do you take four stress?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Mild consequence (Shark Bite!) and a 2-stress box."

GM says, "Hydrolyx -- who, by the way, isn't wearing any breathing equipment, and whose voice thus sounds all weird and bubbly underwater -- speaks."

Hydrolyx says, "You fool! Did you think you could just waltz into my fortress and abscond with me without a fight?"

Eben shrugs and nods.

[Crows-Nest] Jacob says, "yay"

Hydrolyx unleashes a jet of scalding hot steam in Eben's direction!

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 +1 +1 -1 | Superb (5)

Deka exclaims, "No. The fight was part of the fun!"

Eben tries to block with the metal sheet so it's an attack on CP's shield instead of him.

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "Remind me that at the start of your turn, you'll need to start making Physique Overcomes to hold your breath underwater."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "Nice!"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "Will do!"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks (of GM), "What kind of roll would you like for that?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(for the defense)"

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Eben), "Did CP not drop the shield yet?"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "He did not!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "*she"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(She("

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "whoops!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "it's right in her twitter bio!"

GM says, "Then this seems like a relatively easy Overcome for Eben, followed by the actual Defend action from CP."

[CCrusaders] Eben says (to CP), "If you think Eben is on twitter..."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Say, +1 Athletics or Fight for Eben."

Eben rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 +1 -1 -1 | Average (1)

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "She crossposts to Facebook!"

GM says, "Success with a minor cost! And I think that cost is that CP's target is +1 higher."

GM exclaims, "With the +2 I mentioned earlier from being underwater, that means CP is defending against 8 altogether!"

Cuddlepaws rolls Epic (7) + 4dF: 0 -1 0 0 | Fantastic (6)

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Tag something!"

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of CP), "Am I correctly remembering that your shielding says you can either take the full stress (2) or drop the shield and take half the stress (1)?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I was hoping we'd have free invokes left-"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Okay, new plan: take stress! you have a lot of mental stress boxes"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I can't take 8 mental stress"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Just 2."

[CCrusaders] GM says (to CP), "You rolled 6 on your defense."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "What they said."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Oh, okay."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "If you want to drop it, that could be amusing, too."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws ticks her 2 box!

GM says, "The scalding steam buffets the shielded portal, but the shield holds."

GM advances the initiative: gm(4) JACOB(3) Cuddlepaws/Wanda/Eben(2) Deka(1)

GM exclaims, "Jacob!"

Cuddlepaws hisses and winces as her shield is hit. "Grrr! Do something! NOW!"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "If you want to wait, I could take my turn first to see what happens?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "How far can I get on my move action? Like, in my goal of traversing the maze and getting into the-- ok."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "But my question still holds :D"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks, "If I drop my shield, won't all the water from the central chamber rush out?"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Jacob), "You could get into the hole as a movement, and then take an action to traverse the jagged shards, putting you inside the maze at the end of your turn."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Ok! I'll still let Eben go first, if he likes."

[CCrusaders] GM says (to CP), "It's the bottom of a river. So lots of water would come gushing out, but there's still a lot of water in the river."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "So if we place the sheet high up on the wall, we might get some air."

[CCrusaders] Eben says (to CP), "I would think so--it'll start to be replaced from the river, but at least some air pockets would presumably be created."

GM advances the initiative: gm(4) Jacob(3) CUDDLEPAWS/WANDA/EBEN(2) Deka(1)

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "But we might also not get through the portal since, you know, river rushing at us."

GM asks, "If Jacob is holding, CP is next. Unless CP/Wanda also want to let Eben go first?"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks (of GM), "Give that I'm grabbed, can I pull forward to attack Hydrolyx with the sheet, or would I have to break that first?"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "Kinda like the bubbles in a water cooler."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says (to gm), "That's why I am asking. Since I could go first, drop shielding, and we all go through the portal."

GM says (to Eben), "You would need to break free of the hold if you wanted to get within physical reach of him. You could attack the crab, though."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Or you could do other things that don't require being in arm's reach of him.)"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "One last question: are there flat surface in here? Like the floor?"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Lots of them!"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "woo!"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "All the walls, ceiling, floor."

Eben shoots a blue portal under Hydrolyx's feet!

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Although Hydrolyx and his minions are swimming rather than standing, at the moment.)"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(But, uh, water currents, I guess.)"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Right."

GM exclaims (at Eben), "OK! That would be an Overcome with Shoot!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Oooh, and I drop my shield and he comes floating out and we can attack him on land."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Right! If it works. And if not, you can come in here anyway."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "But, before that, don't forget to make a Physique Overcome."

[CCrusaders] Eben says (to GM), "I have: | Eben gets a +2 to Deceive when confusing enemies with portals"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Because you're still holding your breath."

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Eben), "Is this 'confusing' him or just 'trying to move him'?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "OK, yeah, trying to move him."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Actually, it's not Deceive, so I don't think that applies anyway.)"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "shoot it is!"

Eben rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 0 +1 +1 | Fantastic (6)

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Can you also do your Physique for holding your breath?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Physique:"

Eben rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 -1 0 +1 | Fair (2)

[CCrusaders] GM says, "A tie! You succeed. But you're feeling slightly dizzy (minor cost: aspect with no free invokes)."

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 +1 -1 +1 | Superb (5)

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks, "Okay, if I go next?"

GM exclaims, "Tagging Chosen Champion of Atlantis!"

GM spends a fate point, leaving him with 3.

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "That gives him a 7 on his defense!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Oh no!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "I will spend a fate point tagging 'The Red Menace is Still Out There' because we've been friends so long I know how villains think."

Eben spends a fate point, leaving them with 0.

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Excellent! Then you succeed!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "whoops, forgot to reset my fate points."

Eben sets their current fate point total to 1.

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "After you narrate, it'll be... Jacob's turn? Or CP's?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "CP"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Does he get pulled through?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Since she asked nicely."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "I lost what the stakes were ;-)"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(I'm assuming that just dropping the shield doesn't use up her action.)"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "it does not"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "Only if you succeed with style and use that special effect."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Which you could do if you tagged a second aspect."

Cuddlepaws drops her shielding and hits Hydrolyx, assuming he *is* flushed out, with the world's largest ball of mud (tm)

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Do you?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "OK, I'll spend my last fate point on 'Maybe if I tried it this way...'"

Eben spends a fate point, leaving them with 0.

GM exclaims, "Hydrolyx is flushed through the portal, like a teenagers special cigarettes when the police knock on the door, and lands in a dripping heap on the mud!"

GM says, "he staggers a bit, almost losing his footing -- it seems he's a bit Ill At Ease On Land."

Eben manages to place a new portal perfectly positioned under Hydrolyx, just where he *knew* he would dodge to when he saw a gun pointed at him, taking into effect the structure of the room he's in, and adjusting based on the currents that would appear when the portal appeared in it.

Cuddlepaws says, "SAY HELLO TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST FACEMASK"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(His Drawback -- no free invokes, but now you know it.)"

Cuddlepaws rolls Epic (7) + 4dF: +1 +1 +1 0 | Legendary+2 (10)

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 0 0 0 | Fair (2)

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Also, you jerks, now I can't use his +2 to Athletics while in the water."

[Crows-Nest] Jacob says, "Hehe"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "if that does not knock him out, the mudball has two free invokes"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "Tag 'em!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "He'll at least have to take consequences."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims (at gm), "Consider them tagged!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "afk"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "He's going to tag Champion of the Atlanteans -- his high concept -- Forewarned, and Unpredictable Basement Tech (because he came out of the portal at a confusing angle, which made it harder for you to get a good hit on him.)"

GM spends a fate point, leaving him with 2.

[CCrusaders] GM says, "The first is a fate point, the other two are free."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks, "That's still 6 shifts, right?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "This makes his defense... 8, versus your 14?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Yeah"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Bacl"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "A physical stress box, plus a Moderate Consequence!"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Do you have a good name for a Moderate Consequence here?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks, "Impaired senses (due to being covered in mud?)?"

[CCrusaders] Alex says (to Cuddlepaws), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that ) is anti-banana."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "Mudwhallopped?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "And... *now* is it Jacob's turn?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Or is it Wanda's?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I suppose staying out of the way and trying to investigate that specific symbol on my phone to create an advantage for us would be.. I dunno, weird? The other thing is to justdo my investigative thing that I was waiting to do inside."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "I for one welcome the opportunity to vent my water-related frustrations"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says (to jacob), "Check out the hot dude"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Investigating the symbol sounds good to me."

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Jacob), "It's up to you. I can go with either one."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Cool, I'll do that. (the symbol)"

GM exclaims, "+4 Overcome!"

Jacob rolls Fantastic (6) + 4dF: -1 -1 0 0 | Great (4)

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Tie! Are you going with a minor cost?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Might as well make it fun. yes."

GM says (to Jacob), "You hunt around a bit -- fortunately, you've seen the symbol before, so you remember reasonably well what it looks like -- and you learn that it belonged to a group called the 'Quaesitores Perditarum'."

GM exclaims, "Revealing Hydrolyx's Trouble with a free invoke: Obsessed with the Quaesitores Perditarum!"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(I assume you're OK with his Trouble being the aspect?)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Sure"

GM exclaims, "But since you're hurrying, you wind up clicking on a few links you maybe shouldn't have. Your phone screen goes all paisley -- you've got a computer virus!"

GM exclaims, "Wanda!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "I didn't mean hot dudes online!"

Jacob swears and dumps the phone back into his pocket.

[Crows-Nest] GM wonders if anyone plans to rescue Eben.

[Crows-Nest] Eben says, "I asked IRL for Deka's help ;-)"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "Son, you're my only hope!"

Wanda sees Hydrolyx reeling from Cuddlepaws' attack. Psychically, she broadcasts a warning to him: 'STAND DOWN, OR FACE MY WRATH'

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "That sounds like Influence!"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "An attack using Rapport?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Well, actually it's just basic Telepathy, for RP"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Didn't want to just blindly attack without giving him a chance"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Oh, ha ha."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "His reaction will determine my strategy"

Hydrolyx says, "No! YOU stand down!"

Wanda says (to Hydrolyx), "Nobody orders *me* around. *eyes light up with fire*"

Wanda attacks!

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(I assume you'll be rolling something for it?)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Yep, Fight!"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Go for it!"

Wanda rolls Great (4) + 4dF: -1 +1 -1 +1 | Great (4)

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 0 -1 0 | Average (1)

[CCrusaders] GM says, "I'm going to use his last couple of fate points here."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Tagging Champion of the Atlanteans and Obsessed With the Quaesitores Perditarum (because he's on a mission, and he can't let you interfere!)."

GM spends a fate point, leaving him with 1.

GM spends a fate point, leaving him with 0.

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "That brings his defense to 5!"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Do you tag anything?"

[Crows-Nest] Eben asks, "You can tag his Imaired Senses?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "I'm going to tag Lost Princess (because nobody orders me to stand down!) and Family First (because Hydrolyx put Eben in danger) Thus annihilating that defense!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(except here)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "And if I have a free invoke on Impaired Senses, that too!"

Wanda spends a fate point, leaving him with 1.

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Woo! That's two fate points, and brings you up to 8, for three shifts of success."

Wanda spends a fate point, leaving him with 0.

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK, five shifts!"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "And am I correct that your flames add an extra 2 stress?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "And add 2 stress from the fire powers"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "yep"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "He takes a severe consequence and tags a 1 stress box!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "(I'm imagining that he goes 'I'm the Champion' and I retort 'well, I'm a princess!'"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "What is that consequence?"

Hydrolyx says, "You can't stop me! I'm the Chamption of the Atlanteans!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Sick Burn"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Ooh."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Ha ha"

GM advances the initiative: gm(4) Jacob(3) Cuddlepaws/Wanda/Eben(2) DEKA(1)

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "yay"

GM exclaims, "Deka!"

Wanda exclaims (at Hydrolyx), "Oh, is that right? Because I'm the lost princess of Ganymede and I've fought bigger things than you!"

Deka will charge the crab and try to tear off the pincer holding Eben.

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims (at Deka), "OK! To get through the portal, you'll first need to force your way through the water current. That's a Physique Overcome against +4!"

Deka rolls Legendary+1 (+9) + 4dF: 0 +1 +1 +1 | Legendary+4 (12)

GM exclaims, "Success with style!"

GM exclaims, "It takes up your action, but you make it through the portal easily, and get a boost in the process!"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Are you doing the Inflict Condition special effect again?"

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "I will inflict the crab with condition startled."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Excellent!"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "If you'd like to narrate, then go ahead and init next when you're ready."

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "The water gets pushed in front of Deka as she charges forward, which pushes the crab back a few feet."

Deka advances the initiative: END OF ROUND

GM advances the initiative: GM(4) Jacob(3) Cuddlepaws/Wanda/Eben(2) Deka(1)

[CCrusaders] GM says, "This is Hydroly'x collateral damage effect:"

[CCrusaders] GM | Impenetrable Fog: You can fill your entire zone with dense clouds that no one but you can see through. Anyone other than you attempting to take any action (including Defend) that requires vision has their opposition increased by +2. (If the action is defended against with active opposition that also requires sight, then the two penalties cancel each other out.) Even simply feeling around for an exit requires Overcoming a Fair (+2) obstacle with Investigation.

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Can *I* see through it? My super vision "cannot be impeded.""

GM exclaims, "Everyone on the bank of the river: the air suddenly grows foggy, and it's nearly impossible to see!"

Cuddlepaws exclaims, "Oh fiddlesticks!"

Hydrolyx takes advantage of the obscuring water vapor to leap into the river!

Wanda exclaims, "Coward!"

GM says, "Meanwhile, in the center of the fortress..."

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Can someone defence agaisnt that?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(against his movement)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "I could try!"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Also what Jacob said"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims (at Jacob), "Apparently so!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Yiss"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "So, could I try to cut off his route with a fire wall?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Wanda), "So, hmm. I guess that would be his Athletics vs. your Physique?"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Oh, or Provoke? Sure!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Provoke it is!"

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 -1 0 0 | Average (1)

Wanda rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: +1 -1 0 0 | Superb (5)

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "His is effectively a +3, because of the fog, but you still succeed!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Yes! I'll narrate:"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "While you narrate that..."

GM exclaims, "Meanwhile, in the center of the fortress, Squiddie swims toward Deka, all tentacles waving, trying to grab her!"

GM exclaims, "Create Advantage, defended with either Athletics or Fight!"

GM rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 0 -1 +1 | Good (3)

Deka rolls Fantastic (6) + 4dF: +1 +1 -1 0 | Epic (7)

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Squiddie should fight Wanda mano a mano a mano a mano a mano a mano a mano a mano"

GM exclaims, "But Deka succeeds in fending it off easily!"

GM says, "Laverne, as well, attacks with her teeth:"

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: +1 0 -1 +1 | Superb (5)

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Also attacking Deka?"

GM says, "And while that's happening, Surly tries to sink her claws into Eben."

GM rolls Good (3) + 4dF: +1 -1 +1 +1 | Superb (5)

Wanda strikes one leg against the ground, and a wall of flame blossoms, its light piercing the fog! She makes it flow, lightning fast, in time to cut off Hydrolyx's route and stop him from escaping into the water! 'Coward of the Atlanteans! *This* is MY element.'

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Yup, Lavern and Squiddie vs. Deka, Surly vs. Eben."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "also, I narrated my bit! how does hydrolyx feel about that"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Can I do Portal Dodge here?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Might be more difficult (or impossible) when grappled."

Hydrolyx says, "Such simple-minded 'heroes'. You have no idea what the would could be like if you just stopped enforcing the status quo."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Yeah, I'm having trouble imagining how that could work."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "OK, Athletics it is, then."

Eben rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 -1 0 +1 | Fair (2)

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Deka), "Did you roll your defense against Laverne?"

[CCrusaders] Eben takes 3 points of stress, unless you're tagging something.

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "I'm thinking I might be -- just waiting for Deka's roll first."

Deka rolls Fantastic (6) + 4dF: 0 0 +1 +1 | Legendary (8)

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Deka), "How concerned are you about Eben's well being right now?"

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "7.89 out of 10"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Say, if he were injured, trapped, and about to drown, might that distract you from defending yourself?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "If so, then I'm tagging Enclawed and Shark Bite to make the attack against you a 9."

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "(In which case, yes, you only have three stress to handle.)"

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "go for it."

Wanda says (to Hydrolyx), "Status quo? I'm not enforcing *any* status quo. I'm as far from the status quo as anything can be. You're a madman who puts bows on sharks."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims (at Deka), "OK -- then you take 1 shift of stress!"

[Crows-Nest] Jacob says, "Haha"

GM exclaims, "Deka's fighting skills are impressive, and normally the shark would be no match for her -- but she has her eyes on a certain old man and a giant crab!"

GM advances the initiative: gm(4) JACOB(3) Cuddlepaws/Wanda/Eben(2) Deka(1)

GM exclaims, "Jacob!"

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Wanda), "Also, hee."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Hmmm"

Hydrolyx says, "Well how do *you* suggest telling sharks apart?"

Wanda exclaims (at Hydrolyx), "A *real* Atlantean would probably be able to read their minds and tell the difference!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "My initial thought is that I could use the "obsession" thing to provoke him to do something or other, though I'd spend the FP and roll lore instead."

[CCrusaders] Jacob asks, "But is that helpful to anyone?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Christ. I'm on camera now."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Heh."

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Provocation is always good!"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Since you can see and others can't, maybe do something with that?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Yeah, that. I'm just not sure how/what."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Set up an advantage, put some glowy flags or air traffic lights or whatever"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "A Rapport roll to Create Advantage 'Jacob told me where you are' or someting?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "That would be good"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "it'd certainly cancel the -2 from the fog"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "If you want a beacon, I can just surround him in birds :P"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to Jacob), "But then I might hurt the birds :("

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Hmmm."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Or, I dunno, call in birds to flap their wings and blow away the fog ;-)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Oooh."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "If I rolled highly enough, would that be feasible? :P"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "That would be an Overcome vs. +3!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Neato"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "ha ha ha"

Jacob rolls Epic (7) + 4dF: 0 -1 -1 -1 | Great (4)

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Nice!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "..... bad dice."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "It's a success!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I like how silly and awesome that is at the same time"

Jacob calls in a swarm of ducks to flap flap flap away the fog.

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "It's beautiful."

GM says, "Exposing Hydrolyx, sitting on the ground where he fell back after running into the wall of flame. Badly burned and covered in mud."

GM advances the initiative: gm(4) Jacob(3) CUDDLEPAWS/WANDA/EBEN(2) Deka(1)

GM exclaims, "CP!"

Cuddlepaws asks (of gm), "So, can I TK that tracker thing into his mouth and force him to swallow it?"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Oh, wow. Mean. But yes!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Good thinking: he's probably on the verge of 'conceding' and getting away"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "That seems like your TK versus his... Physique, I guess?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "Works for me!"

Cuddlepaws rolls Epic (7) + 4dF: 0 +1 0 -1 | Epic (7)

GM rolls Average (1) + 4dF: +1 -1 0 +1 | Fair (2)

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Success with style!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Inflict Condition! Hmm..."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "After you narrate, it'll be Wanda's turn!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, ""Choking?""

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "or maybe "Tracked!""

[CCrusaders] GM says, "That sounds good."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "No longer on camera. And now I have somewhat lukewarm hushpuppies. Hehe."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Or 'Taken Aback By Hero's Cruelty!'"

Cuddlepaws says, "Crap, there's only pebbles here! Here, pebble to the face!" *tracker flies directly into Hydrolyx' mouth, who's probably on one of his "Champion speeches" and he shuts up with a *gulp*"

GM exclaims, "Wanda!"

Cuddlepaws advances the initiative: gm(4) Jacob(3) Cuddlepaws/Wanda/Eben(2) DEKA(1)

Cuddlepaws backs up the initiative: gm(4) Jacob(3) CUDDLEPAWS/WANDA/EBEN(2) Deka(1)

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says (to wanda), "Nothing a good laxative can't fix"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Hydrolax again?"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws asks (of jacob), "On camera?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I said i few minutes ago I was on camera."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I didn't understand it then, either."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Like, there was a laptop on a video call brought over to me and it was awkward."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "It was Jacob's turn in init."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Oh!"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Ha."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "I guess I misinterpreted that."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Wanda?)"

Wanda looms over Hydrolyx. 'Still going to ask me to stand down, oh great Champion of the Wet Sock? Or are you going to kneel?'

Hydrolyx says, "I... I..."

Hydrolyx slumps dejectedly.

Hydrolyx says, "I give up. You win."

Wanda says, "That's better."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(He concedes! Conditions are just that you don't hurt him anymore, not that he escapes or anything.)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "That's perfect!"

Jacob does an anime nod, like "Mhm hm!"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Wanda), "Are you doing anything else on your turn, or just gloating? :)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "You bet I'm gloating with all the panache of my lost princessyness"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Yay!"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Meanwhile, Eben!"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says (to wanda), "Get him to call of his goons"

GM exclaims (at Eben), "Let's start with a +3 Physique Overcome!"

Eben rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 0 -1 0 | Average (1)

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Hmm, I don't suppose I could tag 'startled'?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "If you don't tag anything, that'll be three physical stress as you fight to keep conscious."

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Eben), "Hmm. Do you have a justification?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Yes. Yes, I do."

[Crows-Nest] (from GM) Eben scrambles to think of what it is.

[CCrusaders] GM says, "If it's a good enough one, then yes."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "(Eben coming up with lengthy schemes is always so suspenseful)"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Oh! Finally got it. With Deka coming in and the portal having been open for a while now, there's now air pockets at the ceiling. When the crab startled back, he raised his claws and I got a gulp of air at the ceiling."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Hee"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK! That makes it a tie!"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "For the minor cost, I think it makes sense to just add a free invoke to Dizzy."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "That works."

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "And now, what do you do on your turn?"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Try to break out of the crab's hold! Or, hmm. Maybe wait for Deka to free me first?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Do you want to hold your turn and let her go first?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Yeah, I'll hold."

GM advances the initiative: gm(4) Jacob(3) Cuddlepaws/Wanda/Eben(2) DEKA(1)

GM exclaims, "Deka!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob asks, "I presume we're wrapping up once Eben is free and he and Deka come back to land? Is it ok if I duck out?"

Deka Will rip the crabs pincer off.

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "duck, eh"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Ha"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I'm getting guilt trips about not being at dinner right now."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "I was hoping to mention you in the conclusion, but I can leave that until next time."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims (at Deka), "An attack? OK!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Thanks"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to Jacob), "Have a nice dinner :)"

Deka rolls Fantastic (6) + 4dF: 0 0 -1 0 | Superb (5)

GM rolls Good (3) + 4dF: -1 +1 +1 0 | Great (4)

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "That's one point of stress -- not enough to take it out. Are you going to tag anything?"

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "I will spend a fate point."

Deka spends a fate point, leaving them with 1.

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "OK, what do you tag?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Also, that brings it up to three stress -- and as it turns out, five stress would be enough to take it out."

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "Rebellious teenager, because I will always get my way. If I want a crab pincer I'm getting my crab leg."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Good, good."

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Are you just going with the three stress, or are you tagging a second one too?"

[CCrusaders] Deka says, "and I will spend my second fate point on that as well"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "You can only spend one fate point on a give aspect at a time -- but you could spend the other one on something like Startled! maybe?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "And you'll take out the crab! You can narrate at will. Are you going to swim back out the portal as your movement?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(And after Deka narrates, it'll be Eben's turn.)"

Deka shoulder checks the crab in the face, and grabs the pincer. She then braces both her feet on its face and pulls. Ripping the pincer from its body

Eben, grateful to be released, grabs Deka, moves the portal underneath them again, and they both spill out onto the bank!

[Crows-Nest] Wanda exclaims, "Deka gains antihero points!"

Cuddlepaws says, "Ah, an old sea hag! Oh, it's Eben."

GM says, "All the Crusaders are back together again! And assuming no one's planning to go back down under the river again right now, you're out of initiative."

Eben turns off the blue portal so that he's not being sprayed with freezing cold water.

Eben says (to Cuddlepaws), "Hush, you. I'm a sea *warlock*."

Cuddlepaws headbutts Deka's leg. "Good job, kiddo"

GM exclaims (at Eben and Deka), "You emerge to find that Hydrolyx is sulking on the river bank, defeated. Another victory for the Crusaders!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Wooo!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "Yay us!"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "w00t!"

GM exclaims, "You all happen to notice Jacob staring at something, and following his gaze, you see... a lump in the pocket of Hydrolyx swimming trunks. But you'll have to wait until next time to find out what it is!"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "*juvenile giggle*"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Is that a lump in your swimming trunks, or..."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda asks (of CP), "you too?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "And with that, I'm going to end the Scenario early, since this is a good break point, and I don't know if there'll be as good a one next time."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "So everybody gets a significant milestone!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Oooooh"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Wooo"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "yay!"

GM says, "</SCENARIO>"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "And according to the schedule, that next time will be on April 3!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "We've beaten the Chump-ion of the Atlunkheads"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Is that the 'skill point' one?"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "It is!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Pointy skills!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "So I can now boost one of my +2's to a +3"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "And does it affect consequence regeneration?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Yeah, I'll boost Notice, I think."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I kind of want to exchange Ninja Vanish for something else, but I know it will be useful as soon as I do."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims (at gm), "Thanks a lot! Another fun and unique scenario!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "I could boost Athletics, Will, Deceive or Physique."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "A minor milestone lets you rename a moderate consequence, and a significant milestone lets you start recovering a severe one."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Ha, that's almost exactly my line of skills."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Athletics, Will, Notice, Physique."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to GM), "It was interesting to be in a situation where I could feel the limitations of my powers, but still be able to push through at a cost"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks (of GM), "So a Mild one just goes away?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "And once it starts recovering, a minor consequence will go away after a whole scene, and a moderate one will go away after a whole session."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims (at CP), "Also, thanks!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Got it."

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "So it's still there, but the slot is open?"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims (at Wanda), "Yay! I'm glad that worked nicely!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(and you tagged it already, so I don't have to worry about that.)"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "The slot is still occupied until one full scene after the recovery action."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(I.e., after the milestone.)"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I'm also amused that Hydrolyx swallows that bug for nothing, since we have him"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Also, this ends the *previous* scene, so all your stress boxes are clear!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims (at GM), "woo!"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Can we wait to spend the skill point mid-scene, or do we have to decide now?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "That's fine."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Actually, I'm just going to bump Physique, since that gives me a new +4 stress box."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "And that's much more commonly used than the mental stress boxes."

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "I could do that too! Or otherwise become more athletic?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(he says, giving the GM too many ideas)"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Hee."