[CCrusaders] Bert says, "Log on."

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Just waiting for Deka, right?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "See DTT"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Aw. Hopefully he'll be able to join us later when gets up."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Ellric told me to tell you he forgot to go to bed early last night, so he's not going to be able to make it. (At least not at the start.)"

Wanda says (to Jacob), "thanks for the comment on FB, btw :) glad you found the aliens cute, that short film took me months"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "By the way, before we start, I want to clarify something from an earlier session: there was a point when you suggested talking to Nichols, and I reminded you how you last left him, and mentioned that he didn't leave any way to contact you."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "With the pandemic, he usually stays up and gets up late, so he can have some alone time ;-)"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "And we said something about putting an ad in the paper, right? Did we actually do that?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "And I wanted to note that you do still have the option to *try* to track him down somehow, if that's a path you really wanted to pursue."

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "I don't remember anyone saying that you actually did that. Would you like to retroactively do that?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I don't remember that at all FWIW"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "The idea probably got lost in the general discussion, and/or it was something I thought up in my own head and never typed ;-)"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks (of group), "At any rate, I'd be up for putting something out there for him if we want. And now I forget why exactly we wanted to contact him--something about the antidote, perhaps?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I could probably get a line on Felix. We even have an aspect together"

[Crows-Nest] (from Wanda) Cuddlepaws says, "It's called A Litter of Kittens"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Yeah, if you wanted to declare that you had his phone number (or some other means of contacting him), that would be a perfect use of tagging an aspect to declare a story detail."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Felix, I mean, not Nichols.)"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "In any case, while you think about that..."

GM exclaims, "Welcome back to the next chapter in the breathtaking adventures of... the CROWNSFORD CRUSADERS!"

GM says, "You've just defeated Hydrolyx, Champion of the Atlanteans (and Obsessed With the Quaesitores Perditarum)! He's now sitting on the bank of the Crowne River in a muddy mess, dejectedly watching icy chunks of his broken fortress drift downstream. He's still wearing his swimming trunks and the black device strapped to one ankle, and the tattoo on his chest is now accented by several fresh burn marks that are just beginning to heal."

GM says, "Meanwhile, some other open plot threads include the other five supervillains loose in Crownsford, the Ball-n-Chayn device that should have kept them in prison, 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 probably more wrongdoings to boot."

GM says, "As you stand around deciding what to do with Hydrolyx -- interrogate him? bring him to the police? lock him in Eben's basement? -- something catches Jacob's eye: a lump in the pocket of Hydrolyx's swimming trunks."

GM sets his current fate point total to 4.

Jacob just walks over and yoinks the item out of the pocket without asking.

Wanda sets his current fate point total to 1.

Jacob sets her current fate point total to 3.

Cuddlepaws sets her current fate point total to 2.

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Plus, I get some extra fate points for conceding last time...)"

Eben sets their current fate point total to 2.

GM gives a fate point to GM.

GM gives a fate point to GM.

GM gives a fate point to GM.

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "So many invocations? This is truly Satanical"

GM says (to Jacob), "Hydrolyx pulls back slightly, but instead of stopping you, he just sighs."

GM says, "The item turns out to be a large, old-fashioned skeleton key. It's black and covered with elaborate angular gold filigree."

Jacob asks (of Hydrolyx), "Hey, what's this for?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Oh my god. I just realized it's hydraulics, not hydro-lyx."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "OHH"

Hydrolyx says, "She never said. She just told me to hold onto it and keep it safe."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "I am d'oh"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "well spotted Jacob"

Jacob cocks his head. "*Who* said?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Ha."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(I also had not noticed)"

[Crows-Nest] (from Jacob) GM says, "Me neither."

Hydrolyx says, "Oh, Thea Broma. You probably call her 'The Chocolatier'? She's the one who's been running this whole thing."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Every time Jacob cocks his head, I imagine that he's possessing a pigeon"

Jacob says, "Ah. Thank you." and walks back to the group brandishing the key.

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Note to self: include an IPA pronunciation guide for all villain names in the future."

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says (to dm), "Good idea. So nobody gets confused"

Eben asks, "What's the deal with the Ball-and-chain ankle ring?"

[Crows-Nest] Jacob says, "Good. I was going for an animalistic/bird-like head cock."

Cuddlepaws sniffs the key.

Hydrolyx says, "It's some tech that's supposed to keep us from escaping by teleporting you back to jail. They said that if you try to take it off, the thing will explode and take off your leg. Probably kill you. I'm not planning to test that to find out."

Cuddlepaws licks the key.

Eben asks, "So...why aren't you back in jail? Did Thea tell you?"

GM says (to Cuddlepaws), "It has a weird scent. It's not really like metal. The closest thing you can think of that it reminds you of is your own force fields."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Basically, I'm angling for a Investigation Overcome"

Hydrolyx laughs sarcastically. "Oh, sure. There's another piece of the Ball-n-Chayn thing, and she and her boyfriend have it. The deal was that the rest of us don't get to go free unless we help her with her plan."

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of CP), "Are you looking for more information than what I've provided?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "Yeah!"

Eben asks, "Got it. So. Who's her boyfriend, and what's the plan?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "OK! Let's call it a +3 opposition."

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

Hydrolyx says, "Keifer -- I mean, 'The Gatemaster' -- and her are trying to get revenge on some big tech company around here."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Oh."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Oh."

Eben asks, "Hunh! PayneTech?"

Hydrolyx says, "Yeah, that sounds right."

Eben asks, "And do you know what that revenge entails?"

Hydrolyx says, "Not really. I just know that it has something to do with how she got her powers. Apparently it was all their fault."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Do I want to succeed with a serious cost here? Probably not, right."

Eben asks, "So what was your part of the plan?"

Hydrolyx points at the key. "I was supposed to keep any wannabe 'heroes' from getting a hold of *that*. Which didn't work out so well, I guess."

Cuddlepaws says, "Well you kept wannabe heroes from it. Just not the real ones."

[peregaming] Wanda exclaims, "Have a good Chocolate Day!"

[peregaming] Wanda says, "Don't let the Zombie Jesuses bite"

Eben exclaims, "Hunh!"

Cuddlepaws says, "*cp-jacob fistpawbump*"

Eben says, "Surely keeping us from it would have been easier if you just skipped town."

Eben says, "And didn't make an ostentatious ice dam endangering the townspeople."

Hydrolyx says, "...I guess that might have worked too."

Eben says, "Or Crownspeople, as I call them! Hee hee"

Jacob groans a little.

Cuddlepaws says, "Yeah, blocking the whole river made the news and there were a lot of memes about it"

Eben asks (of Cuddlepaws), "Is that key related in any way to his ankle bracelet?"

Cuddlepaws says, "No idea. But it smells kind of like my telekinetic shields"

Hydrolyx says, "I mean, I *did* have some other stuff I planned to do around here later. But I guess I could have just come back after it was all over."

Wanda asks (of Eben), "Don't you mean 'Crownsfolk'?"

Eben says (to Wanda), "Hmm, good point."

Eben asks (of Hydrolyx), "Like what?"

Hydrolyx says, "Oh, there's a... *thing* I was trying to find. I'm trying to save the world, and that's part of it."

Hydrolyx says, "But I guess that's going to get put on hold again."

Eben cocks his head. "Endangering people's lives is usually not a great way to save them."

Cuddlepaws asks (of hydrolyx), "Wait, does this have to do with the symbols on your palace thing?"

Eben says, "Yeah, well. It's the world I'm interested in, not the humans."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda asks, "Did Eben just say that?"

says (to Cuddlepaws), "Yeah -- did you recognize them? Have you seen them anywhere before?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "+Hydrolyx"

Cuddlepaws says, "Not the faintest."

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks (of GM), "Are the puppet strings controlling YOU?"

Hydrolyx says, "sighs. "Oh.""

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Uh, no, not Eben."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Sorry, I am apparently bad at typing today."

Cuddlepaws (when Hydrolyx is not looking) glances at Jacob with a, "You wanna say something?" look.

Hydrolyx says, "Yeah, well. It's the world I'm interested in, not the humans."

[CCrusaders] Jacob asks, "About the symbols?"

[Crows-Nest] (from Wanda) Shippers start shipping feverishly.

Eben says, "But look. If that thing can be put on hold, let's put that on hold for now. But in the meantime, Thea has, I think, the ability to transport you back to she and Keifer, and will probably want your help again. If you help us instead--either just refusing or helping once we show up--we can put in a good word for you at the sentencing, and we might be able to help you look for your 'thing', too."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "yah"

Jacob rambles a little about having seen the symbols in a book and knowing that it means he's... he avoids the word "obsessed"... with whatever that group was. The seekers of something.

Eben says (to Hydrolyx), "I think you'll find that if you're nice to the humans, they tend to help you out."

Hydrolyx says, "A 'good word'? How about if you maybe... *don't* turn me in when this is all over? Just look the other way, and I'll skip town, just like you wanted?"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "they're bad with humans, good with animals, kind of moody, like arcane symbols..."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(FWIW, he does look human to you.)"

Cuddlepaws asks (of Hydrolyx), "And I mean, if Thea kind of blackmailed you, you're not on good terms with her, right?"

Eben asks, "Don't you want to be actually free, and not just on the run?"

Eben says, "I mean, I play Bridge with the Red Menace on Thursdays; he's living a great life now."

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

Hydrolyx says, "Tell you what. If you can help me with *my* plans, then I'll agree to your deal."

Eben asks, "Your plans to look for the thing?"

Hydrolyx says, "Right, and to save the world from all the tyrants and bullies who are running it right now."

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "Sorry, we may be superheroes, but we're still beholden to the patriarchy"

Wanda says, "That actually sounds like a plan to me."

Cuddlepaws says, "Well, if you want to use your thing to save the world but not the humans, that could be problem"

Hydrolyx says, "I'm not going to try to intentionally *kill* them all or anything. I just don't think they should be running things anymore."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda exclaims, "This is my ploy to take over Earth!"

Cuddlepaws exclaims, "But they are so malleable!"

Wanda asks (of Cuddlepaws), "I'm not sure that's actually a good reason to leave them in charge?"

[Crows-Nest] Eben says, "Ack, afk; back in a sec;"

Cuddlepaws jumps into Jacob's arms. "(to Wanda) Good enough reason!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks, "Do we wait?"

Wanda laughs, but remains thoughtful.

Hydrolyx says, "So you're fine with war and oppression and environmental devastation and economic inequality and restricted education and cruelty to animals, so long as you can manipulate someone into feeding you?"

Hydrolyx says, "That soudns like a pretty human kind of attitude, to be honest."

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "Dude, my life expectancy is 20 years at best, I don't know what to tell you"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Oh, dang, I completely missed Jacob's line earlier about the book -- mind if I pretend it happened right now?)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Ok"

Cuddlepaws says, "I'm not the one who put kids at danger, Mr. High and Mighty."

Hydrolyx says, "You've seen it! You've seen one of the tomes of the Quaesitores Perditarum? Which one was it? What color was it? Where is it?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(From the previous transcript:)"

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

[Crows-Nest] Eben says, "Back! Sorry; mom/phone."

[CCrusaders] GM | 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."

Jacob says, "Uh, it had birds in it. Which is sort of my thing, so.. I couldn't read any of it, but it was really pretty."

Hydrolyx says, "The Tome of the Ornitheri!"

Hydrolyx is getting excited now, and seems to be almost forgetting that he's supposed to be ticked off at you guys.

Hydrolyx says, "That's one of the four lost peoples. They're a race of reclusive winged people -- 'bird-men' -- who used to live up high in the mountains."

Hydrolyx says, "They're extinct now, of course, as far as anyone knows. Like the rest of the four lost peoples. But if you could get me that tome..."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Once, all four peoples lived in harmony, but everything changed when Homo Sapiens attacked"

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

Jacob says, "Maybe? It was at the library.. kind of well hidden in their archives."

Eben asks, "So, you want... these four lost races to be in charge instead? Or someone else?"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says (to GM), "I watched it recently as a matter of fact ;)"

Hydrolyx says, "Well, the original four races are extinct now. Or at least, I couldn't find any of them. But if the right person reads one of the Tomes created by the Quaesitores, it can... well, it can *change* them. Turn them into one of the four Champions."

[Crows-Nest] (from Wanda) Wanda reads the fire peoples' book, becomes OP

Hydrolyx says, "And if I can find, or create, and team up with the other Champions, then the legends say it'll increase our powers even more. And with the four Champions in charge of the world, we can fix everything!"

Wanda says, "That's a good story."

Jacob's eyes go wide for a moment.

Jacob asks, "What if those, uh, champions don't want to help you?"

Eben says, "OK, so, like, that sounds great and all. But what I've found is that people treat others the same on a large scale that they do on a small scale. If you're kind to your neighbor, you're likely to be kind to your neighboring country."

Hydrolyx asks (of Jacob), "Why wouldn't they?"

Eben says, "So if you want to be fit to rule the world, you're going to have to start by being fit to rule this river, and you did a crappy job at at that."

Jacob asks, "What if they didn't want to rule the world?"

Cuddlepaws wriggles in Jacob's arms and purrs at him gently.

Hydrolyx says, "Who wouldn't want to save the world?"

Jacob pets CP a little too vigorously.

Eben says, "Saving the world is differnt from ruling it."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "(CP has empathy at +1, so might be noticing that Jacob is acting a little strange. Just for flavor.)"

Cuddlepaws looks from Jacob to Hydrolux but says nothing for now.

Eben asks, "Let me ask you something. If you found a way to create the four Champions, but you yourself couldn't be one of them, and they went off and saved the world without you, and did it their own way, would you be happy about that?"

Hydrolyx says, "Well, once we take out all the bullies who are in charge right now, maybe we can find some other way to run things. I'm flexible. The Champions don't have to *directly* rule everything. Just so long as we can kick out any rulers who are doing a bad job and replace them with whoever we pick."

Jacob makes a thinking face like, ok, *that's* not a terrible point.

Hydrolyx says (to Eben), "Sure, if they did everything right."

Eben asks, "What if their version of 'right' was different from yours?"

Eben says, "Well, they wouldn't be doing it right, then."

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

Hydrolyx says, "Well, they wouldn't be doing it right, then."

Eben asks, "And how do you know you're right about everything?"

Jacob laughs, but covers it with a cough.

Hydroylx says, "I guess I don't. But that's why there should be *four* Champions rather than just one!"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "New theory: Jota is secretly lps's secret identity as a GM"

Jacob asks, "One from each race? What if more than one person reads a particular tome? And who can actually read that gibberish?"

Eben says, "And that's why we have a democracy. That's why I fought in Vietnam. That's why the Red Menace changed his mind about the best way to fix the world."

Eben says, "That's why the group of us was able to defeat you instead of having to rely on a single hero that Thea managed to take out."

Hydrolyx says, "That's a good question. I don't know what happens if *two* worthy people read the same Tome."

Eben says, "The group isn't always right. But they're right more often than an individual."

Jacob looks at Eben. "Is that true? I mean, they could just be wrong in more ways?

Hydrolyx says, "OK, so you'll help me put together a good group? To find three other *worthy* Champions who can help me, even when I'm wrong?"

[Setting the zoned flag.]

Jacob asks, "So.. you are implying that you've read the, uh, fish person book?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I may have missed him actually saying that"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "But jacob is totally easily distracted."

Cuddlepaws has disconnected.

Cuddlepaws has connected.

Eben says (to Jacob), "Consensus tends to be better and healthier than individual decision makers. Again, there are exceptions for individual choices, but if you have to make 50 choices where knowing what the best decision is spans a wide variety of expertises, the group will be better at it than an individal."

Hydrolyx says, "That's right, the Tome of the Atlanteans. That's how I got my abilities." He twirls one hand in the air, and water rises up out of the river in the shape of a mermaid, spinning in the air, before splashing back down again. "I believe that one of my ancestors was an Atlantean, which is probably part of why it chose me."

Wanda asks (of Hydrolyx), "I'm wondering... so there were the bird people and the Atlanteans, but who were the other two lost peoples?"

[Crows-Nest] Eben says (to GM), "I don't know if you have plans for the other two people, but it would be really interesting if one of them was the Red Menace."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "I have a suspicion about Nichols' shenanigans"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Probably unfounded"

Hydrolyx says, "The Gessodrachen and the Medusae! The Gessodrachen were a race of large, intelligent lizards. And the Medusae... well, I haven't been able to learn much about them yet."

[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims (at Eben), "Noted!"

Cuddlepaws asks, "Okay, but as Eben said before, we should maybe shelf this. Or where Thea et. al involved with this?"

Jacob says, "Medusae. Huh."

Wanda says, "Wasn't expecting two water-themed peoples, but then again the four elements thing is just pseudoscience, right"

Eben says, "Yeah. Let's say that we're cautiously on board with your plan, but you have got to promise to start caring about individuals more, or we're not going to trust you with groups."

Jacob looks confused at Wanda.

Hydrolyx says, "Alright, I can agree to that. If you can get me one of the Tomes. Or, better yet, find one of the other Champions who'll join me, then I'll help you fight against Thea Broma."

Hydrolyx says, "But if you don't, then I'm going to have to do what I need to, even if that means helping her so that she'll free me to keep searching."

Wanda says (to Hydrolyx), "I don't know about the others... but *I'll* help you."

Wanda says, "And yes, I know, I just beat you up."

Jacob makes a show of shrugging, and says, "Well. If Wanda's in, then I'm in."

Cuddlepaws says, "Hm, I'm distrustful of this, but as a sign of my believe in democratacacity or whatever, I'll bow to the vote"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "So, wait. Which of those seems water-based? I would have thought medusae were earth and lizards were fire."

Hydrolyx says, "Thanks."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to Jacob), "I read Medusae as jellyfish"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Oh!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "but I'm maybe mistaken"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "after all, little is known about the Medusae, so Hydrolyx says"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "I was assuming the mythical Medussa that turned people to stone."

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Oh!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "OH"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Yeah, that"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "I am dumb, sorry"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "me too!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "And 'drachen' sounds like fire."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Wanda's Lore needs work"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "It migh be German for Dragon"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "What CP sai."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(but 'gesso' sounded like earth.)"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(It *might* even be a term you've heard before.)"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks (of CP), "What's 'gesso'?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says (to eben), "It does? I gesso"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "haha"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says (to eben), "That part's not german"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I only know gesso in the art supply sense."

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Google says it's chalk/white in Italian?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Jellyfish are 'meduses' (Medusae) because they look like Medusa's hair, I get it now"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Sorry, we've derailed :D"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I imagine we're all huddled together discussing this while Hydrolax is just chilling."

Hydrolyx gets up. "Now that we have a deal, I'm free to go, right? How do you want to contact me when you have the Tome, or the Champion?"

Eben says (to Hydrolyx), "OK! We're taking you to the local jail for now; if Thea breaks you out, you decide what you want to do then."

Wanda asks, "Is that necessary?"

Cuddlepaws says (to wanda), "Yes"

Eben says, "Yes, if he wants to be actually free."

Hydrolyx says, "Oh. Yeah, fair enough. If you get me the Tome of the Champion by then, then I'll be on your side."

Wanda says, "Oh right"

Hydrolyx offers to shake on it.

Eben says, "You may have to trust us. It'll be up to you."

Wanda says (to Hydrolax), "Pick a leg."

Cuddlepaws says, "I remain very distrustful"

Eben says (to CP), "Yeah."

Cuddlepaws says, "Remember his ice dam nearly killed those kids+"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "OK! Should we elide dropping him off at jail and move to the next scene?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Or if you have more RP you want to do first, feel free.)"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "Sounds good to me!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Idem"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Where are you going next?"

Eben says (to group), "I think we should hit up PayneTech next. Not only might they have the antidote, but they're also a target, so they need to evacuate."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Jacob wants to get the CC alone at some point for an Important Conversation, but also he's not sure if he wants to. But that is a thing."

Cuddlepaws asks (of eben), "Shouldn't we deal with the situations we actually know about first? Like the hostages?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Oh, also: given the damage to Eben's car, how are you travelling?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Oh yeah."

Eben says, "Well, I could try to do the PayneTech thing on the phone..."

[CCrusaders] Eben asks (of GM), "Have the police give us a ride?"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Perfect!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Hopefully the cop driving me is not too freaked out :D"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Is ridding my phone of a virus a thing I could just do in the car, given enough time? Like, I imagine Jacob knows about this sort of thing and is just like "fine. i'll reset the phone and do a restore from whatever the cloud conglomerate is here""

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws yells, "ACAB!" *later* Oh, you meant the front seat?

[CCrusaders] Eben says (to GM), "I'm OK with not rp'ing a call to PayneTech if we want to elide that, too, since it's probably mostly an only-me-making-decisions thing."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Streamline away"

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Jacob), "Yeah, that seems reasonable, I think. Sounds like an Overcome... what skill do you think would be appropriate?"

GM says, "In the police car, on the way to drop Hydrolyx off at jail, Eben calls the main reception number for PayneTech:"

Phone says, "The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try your call again later. This is a record."

Eben says, "That's not good."

Eben tries calling some of his other contacts directly.

[CCrusaders] GM says, "+ing"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Lore or crafts or we've used burglary for hacking-type stuff before."

[Crows-Nest] Eben asks (of GM), "Aww, it wasn't vinyl?"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "Are those landlines inside of PayneTech, or personal numbers? (Also, are they people who would be in the office in the middle of the day?)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "But Lore seems like he read the manual at some point when he got the phone"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Jacob), "For fixing it, I think Lore or Crafts would be fine. +3 opposition."

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

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "He is the One."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Success with style! Your phone is fixed, and you get a boost!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Neato"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Feel free to describe it however you like.)"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks (of GM), "Given that I have no idea, maybe a Contacts roll?"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "OK! +2 opposition."

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

Jacob sits in the backseat, half looking out the window and half fiddling with his phone. Mostly it's a lot of waiting.

Eben calls a few numbers, and gets no responses.

Cuddlepaws naps.

GM says, "You try several numbers, including Randolph Dexter's, and they're all similar to what you got from the main reception line."

Eben frowns.

Wanda asks (of Eben), "Are we too late?"

Eben says, "This isn't good. I think that upgrades PayneTech to an 'active' problem, but in any event, it's too late to evacuate before something happens there. Let's continue to the hostages at the mall."

Eben puts in a request to the police to check out the building (from a safe distance) to do some reconnaissance while we go to the mall.

GM says, "As you drive around the area, the officer driving you fills you in a bit on the situation."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I'd offer to do some web searching for updates on that situation, but I'm rolling with this "phone finishes updating right when we get there and not a moment sooner" idea."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "but also: timing"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Oh--did the key seem at all related to the ankle bracelet? I asked, but either other people missed it, or I missed the response."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "It seems to be related to shielding technology, vaguely."

Officer says, "The situation has been going on for most of the morning. Things seem stable, but I'm not sure how long that'll last. As you can see from here," she points out the window, "They've set up a barbed wire fence through the parking lot, surrounding the entire building."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Oh, hey--maybe Deka can do an intel run at PayneTech."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Oh! You have a recognize-tech-on-sight thing, right? In which case, you A) recognize that the ankle bracelet is definitely a Ball-n-Chayn unit, and B) the key doesn't seem connected to it at all."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Sweet; thanks."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Ironically, the key is not the key to that mystery."

Officer says, "They're calling themselves some kind of 'militia'. But they won't tell us what their goal is. They keep saying that it's 'top secret', and to keep our distance to make sure no 'civilians' get hurt."

Officer says, "We're presently assuming that to be some kind of threat."

Eben . o O ( I guess another possibility is that the various side villains all hold pieces of something that will let us get at Thea. )

Cuddlepaws asks (of officer), "Any news from any of the hostages? Cell calls, anything like that?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Eben), "Do you want to assume that Deka is checking out PayneTech in person while the rest of you are working on this?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Right."

Officer says, "We got one call, right at the start. That's what tipped us off to the situation. But it got cut off almost immediately. They must have something set up to jam communications, since we can't get any calls in or out. Even our radios won't work from the parking lot. We have to go out to the street to report back to the station."

Eben asks (of officer), "And who is 'they'? A group? Does someone seem to be in charge?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I've read enough superhero comics to know what happens when someone checks something out alone."

Officer says, "The ones we've seen are a group of young men wearing military-style camouflage. There appear to be six of them in front of the main entrance; they won't let us get close enough to get a good look at them. We're pretty sure there are more inside, though. No telling how many."

Wanda says, "Not good."

[Crows-Nest] (from GM) Cuddlepaws says, "They get their own solo series!"

Cuddlepaws says (to officer), "Are there blueprints? Maybe we can get in through the roof. Or we sit before the front door until they open it, that usually works."

[Crows-Nest] Jacob says, "haha"

Eben says (to Cuddlepaws), "I mean, if you walked up there and rubbed against their legs, that might actually work."

Officer says, "That's a good question. I don't know much about that kind of thing, to be honest."

Eben looks around for any nearby tall buildings from which you could get a view (i.e. portal gun bead) on the roof.

Cuddlepaws says, "Usually malls have these skylights. We could go up there, portal in."

Wanda says, "I'm the best climber there is."

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "That seems like an Investigate overcome! This isn't in the middle of town, so there aren't many buildings close by. Finding a good vantage point is... +4."

[CCrusaders] Jacob tosses Eben a helper point, unless he'd prefer that Jacob does the search itself.

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "If that doesn't work, we could stealth up the roof, find a path for you clumsy bipeds."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(I mean, there are other stores, but they're across the street, or have trees in between, or aren't very tall, etc.)"

Eben says (to Jacob), "Yeah, if I can help you instead, that'd be great."

Eben explains to Jacob the sort of place he needs to get a good view of the mall roof.

Jacob nods and looks around.

Jacob rolls Epic (7) + 4dF: -1 0 -1 0 | Superb (5)

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "That's with the help"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Excellent! WHat do you find?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Hmm..."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "The dog food factory we crashed the mayor's bot in!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Hehe"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "I'm surprised no one wanted to have a spider-back ride up"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I'm thinking like.. something ridiculous and would have been overlooked."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Oops, brb. Need to process the baby."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "A statue of one of those inflatable tube men"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "'Process the baby'?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "Are they filling out a visa application to go to Happy Dreams Country?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I guess that's what you say on a zoom call at work"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "I'm imagining Jacob and Eben going on a portal quest where we travel all over the place through the portals until we get to the edge of a cliff or something. "OK, now let's go over there." "What, that corner of the building with two inches of scaffolding next to it?" "Yeah.""

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "She just got home, and I needed to remove coat and gloves and all that, and hold her for a few minutes (I've got her now on my lap)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks (of Cuddlepaws), "Wait, this is work? Where's the pay?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "The scaffolding is painted red, so you know it's climbable."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to Jacob), "awww"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says (to wanda), "We pay each other in fun, memories and friendships"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims (at Jacob), "She's helping!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to Cuddlepaws), "oh no I used up my awww's in response to Jacob's baby! take this heart emoji instead"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I like how babies, like pets, are just immediately cute no matter what they do"

GM asks, "So, you've found a vantage point... I assume you're portalling up there and taking a look?"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims (at GM), "Yup!"

GM says, "From here, you can see that the mall building runs essentially east-west, with a gentle curve in the middle. There's a barbed wire fence cutting through the parking lot, surrounding it, running a few yards away from the wall."

GM says, "There are some police cars in the parking lot near the main entrance, at the west end, outside the barbed wire. You can also see a glass skylight in the middle of the roof from here."

GM says, "And you also see the small group of men that the police officer mentioned guarding the front entrance."

Cuddlepaws asks, "Kind of weird for them to stand there, no?"

Wanda asks, "Remind me: what were the other bad guy's powers?"

Wanda says, "Wait"

Wanda says, "I know who this is"

Wanda says, "It's got to be One-Man Army"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(crownsford-3-1-1.html -- you can search for 'list of the criminals'.)"

Cuddlepaws says, "Oh, oh yeah. That makes sense."

Wanda says, "Ex-military, duplicates himself..."

Cuddlepaws says, "So if we interact with one copy, they'll all be alerted."

Wanda says, "Wait, not ex-military, wannabe soldier that's it. And yeah."

Wanda says, "This is going to be tricky."

Cuddlepaws asks, "Oh, I had another tought. Remember how The Lord of Atlanta or whatever told us that Thea forced him to do that? What if this is the same thing - and it's all just a distraction?"

Cuddlepaws asks, "And what they are waiting for is something Thea is planning?"

Wanda says, "Something involving PayneTech"

Eben says, "Well, if Thea gave this guy a thing to safeguard, we need to get it, too."

Cuddlepaws says, "Plus, he might still hurt the folks inside."

Eben says, "Yup."

Wanda says, "Yeah, that's the number one thing to worry about"

Eben asks, "OK, does it look like he has anyone on the roof?"

GM says, "You dont' see anyone on the roof."

Eben says, "Do we all go, or just one of us? Cuddlepaws has the best plausible deniability/meow."

Cuddlepaws says (to eben), "Yeah, let me go first"

Wanda asks (of Cuddlepaws), "You're sure?"

Wanda taps CP on the back gently.

Cuddlepaws says, "I'll just take a look."

Eben nods, takes a deep breath, aims carefully, and fires a portal at the edge of the air conditioning unit on the roof.

[Crows-Nest] (from GM) Cuddlepaws' fur catches fire.

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "ha ha"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "aw"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Evil!Wanda would do that"

GM says (to CP), "As you step out onto the roof, you hear muffled sounds from within the building."

Cuddlepaws says, "I'll peer through the skylight stealthily"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "It also occurs to me that, if this guy is prepared, he might have heard of our local heroes"

GM says, "Machine gun fire... mortar shells whistling through the air... airplanes...? Like, old WW2-style propellor planes? All punctuated by the occasional solid THUD."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda asks, "Is he having a war movie night in there?"

GM says, "Peeking through the skylight, you see the main central atrium of the mall. In the center is a water fountain. Scattered around the area, you see sandbags, small barbed wire fortifications, and other army-like detritus. <continued>"

GM says, "You also see a number of men -- about a dozen -- dressed similarly to the ones out front, with buzz cuts, carrying semi-automatic weapons, binoculars, walkie-talkies, and other army surplus gear. <continue>"

GM says, "Several of them are holding one of the mall's benches are are using it like a battering ram, repeatedly trying to smash through something, although it's hard to see from this angle what they're hitting with it."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda asks, "He's... is he LARPing with himself?"

[Crows-Nest] Jacob says, "They're trying to get into the LEGO store."

[Crows-Nest] Jacob says, "Or maybe Build a Bear :D"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks (of gm), "Can I sneak around the skylight to get a better angle?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Yes! This would be a Stealth Overcome."

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

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

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "You succeed with style!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Like a ...ca... like a very quiet cat."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "My boost is something like "Well hidden""

GM says, "You move to get a better angle and see that the entrance to one of the stores has been barricaded with a solid wall of furniture. Couches, chairs, tables, desks, bookcases and more, all stacked up neatly with no gaps that you can see between."

Cuddlepaws asks (of gm), "From the inside or the outside?"

GM asks, "How would you be able to tell?"

GM says, "(But the men with the bench are trying to smash it down, if that answers your question.)"

Cuddlepaws tries to call the team.

GM exclaims, "No signal!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "(on the phone)"

GM says, "You recall the police officer mention that something seemed to be jamming their radios, too."

[CCrusaders] Eben asks (of GM), "If the furniture is piled over this side of the door, surely he could just move it?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Yeah, that was a not well thought out question."

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says (to gm), "hence *tries*"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Not necessarily! Maybe there's some other sort of weird power going on."

Cuddlepaws sneaks back through the portal and tells the gang.

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "It's wedged in the doorway. It's the kind of mall store where the entrance is a big wide opening, and the furniture has been wedged tightly in there to fill it."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Got it. Hunh."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I think those goons getting inside would be bad"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Did we get those blueprints?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Maybe there's a vent a cat could get into that store that an army couldn't."

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Eben), "You asked the police officer, who didn't know where to find any. Did you follow up on that?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "I hadn't; maybe we can now after CP gets back (if he gets back)."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(She.)"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "She!"

[CCrusaders] GM | Cuddlepaws sneaks back through the portal and tells the gang.

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Sigh, right."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks (of gm), "What did the shop sign say?"

Eben asks (of Cuddlepaws), "Did you see the hostages?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "'Clyde's Comfy Couches'."

Cuddlepaws says, "No, just that guy playing army"

Eben says, "Hunh."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(The furniture that was piled up clearly included more than just couches, but perhaps the proprietor just liked the alliteration.)"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks (of GM), "I assume the wall around the door was just wall, not glass?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Right."

Cuddlepaws says, "I guess it's a stretch to assume they're all in the shop, but maybe some of them are"

Eben says, "That would be weird, but yeah."

Eben asks, "Does anyone think they can find a blueprint of this place online?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(i.e. someone with better 'Research' than I ;-)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "heh"

GM says, "It doesn't seem like the sort of thing that would just be up on some easily accessible web site."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Jacob was on his phone the whole time."

GM says, "So you'd probably need a more detailed plan than just 'online'."

Eben thinks.

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "If I roll super well, I feel like we could say there are blueprints due to there being permit requests for construction recently."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "It's feasible, with a really high target"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "That seems like a plausible plan, yeah."

Eben says, "OK, I'm going to the roof. If I get a closer look at the air filtration system, I might be able to tell how it works."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "We'll call it a +4 Investigate."

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

[CCrusaders] Jacob :D :D :D

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Style!"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "He is the One."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "He found the blueprints for reality itsel"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "+f"

Jacob spends a couple minutes poking around on his phone. Then he sends something to everyone else.

GM says (to Jacob), "You do locate some plans! It looks like they decided to block off some old entrances a while back to increase security, and they needed to get construction permits for the variance. Luckily for you, that means the plans are all available to someone who knows the right place to look."

Jacob hacker voice, "I'm in."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I meant to put that on #crows, but I think Jacob would totally make that joke as often as possible."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Yay"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Ha"

[CCrusaders] Jacob asks, "So was that an overcome or a create advantage?"

GM says, "You're can easily identify both the main and rear entrances -- a wall of glass doors at the west and east ends of the building, respectively. There are also some doors leading into individual stores that the plan indicates are being permanently sealed off as part of the construction work. In addition to that, you're also able to lead Eben to some external ventilation ducts near the east and west ends of the building."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "I was treating it as an Overcome."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Ok"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks, "Is there ventilation leading to the couch store?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(I should clarify that 'leading into individual stores' means 'leading in from *outside*, not from the interior of the ball.)"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "And is it cat sized or person sized or giant spider sized?"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to CP), "No. One of the external doors did, but that's one of the ones marked as being sealed up now."

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims (at Eben), "Cat-sized!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Cuddespaws' Challenge"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I'm confused, I thought there wasn't ventilation."

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Did I say that?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "You replied 'no', but perhaps you were replying to a different question."

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Oh, when CP asked if there was ventilation leading to the couch store?"

[CCrusaders] GM | In addition to that, you're also able to lead Eben to some external ventilation ducts near the east and west ends of the building.

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Whereas the couch store is off of the main atrium in the middle of the building, where the skylight is."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "So there's ventilation into the mall, but not that store in particular."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Exactly."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Aha, now I'm unconfused."

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "I assume the ventilation is a twisty corridor, and not something that, if opened, I could fire a portal through into the main room of the mall?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Right."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks (of eben), "Can't you fire one through the skylight?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "It's glass -- you'd need to break or cut or otherwise open it somehow first."

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "Melting it with heat, how does that sound?"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Plausible!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "By having fire run across the glass"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "I assume I only need a small hole to fire through?"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "Wanda's leg start to burn and we just twirl her in a circle on the glass"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "hehee"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "The smaller the hole, the higher the Overcome opposition :)"

Eben asks, "OK, let's see. We could jump in and just attack, but we still don't know where the hostages are. Do we need to get CP in to do more investigating?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to GM), "That makes sense! Fortunately my Provoke is +5"

Wanda says (to Eben), "Portal, then Cuddles' recon, then plan."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I might get pulled into a work fire. I told my manager's manager that I'm not available, but it's the thing I'm the expert on, and ugh, also the person on call isn't reachable."

Eben asks, "I could get her in the ventilation, while we melt a hole in the skylight?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Can you get Wanda to manipulate the work fire too?"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Heh"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "If only I could"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "alas"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Ha."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "If it happens, I'm fine breaking until next time."

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Wanda), "So are you doing the class-cutting plan?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Yes!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Yeah, since this adventure has some juicy reveals about Jacob's mysterious backstory"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Small, deft fire-bending work"

Eben, meanwhile, sets up a portal next to the ventilation ducts so that Cuddlepaws can get to them.

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "Provoke Overcome, what TN?"

GM asks (of Wanda), "I assume you're going to try to do with without being noticed by the people inside -- no dripping molten glass on them or dropping any panes that might shatter on the floor?"

Wanda exclaims (at GM), "Yes!"

GM asks, "Are you trying to create a larger hole that will be easy for Eben to portal through (but harder for you to create), or a small hole that'll be easier for you, but harder for Eben to use?"

Wanda says, "First one"

GM exclaims, "OK! That makes the opposition +5!"

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

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "A tie! Do you want a minor drawback?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Do we want one here, guys? Because I can also spend a fate point..."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "(unless the minor drawback is entertaining)"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Minor drawbacks are usually fun."

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Eben), "Also, did you set up the vent-adjacent portal to be at the west end (near the main entrance -- also, identified on the blueprint as the food court) or the east end (near the rear entrance)?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "East, assuming that there aren't more army guys there."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Yeah, if it's a minor drawback, can't be as bad as 'oh no the bad guys spotted us'"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "...Right?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Hmm. For a minor cost... what if we give the people inside a nameless boost related to spotting you guys?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "that's not very fun"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(I mean, not that they *have* spotted you, but that they can tag later.)"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "OK. Hmm."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I'm okay with that"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "What if Wanda gets glass melted over one of her, uh, leg ends?"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "What if your manipulating limbs get covered in molten glass, making it harder to grab things?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Timing."

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims (at GM), "That works!"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Excellent!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Also will make wallclimbing harder ;)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "Shall I RP now?"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Is that also a negative boost, basically?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says (to eben), "Tarsus apparently"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Yes!"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Eben), "Nah, more like an Aspect with no free invokes."

[CCrusaders] GM adds 'Glass-Covered Tarsi' with no free invokes to the sheet.

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Meanwhile, is CP going to enter the vents before Eben changes up the portals?"

Eben says (to CP), "So, you won't be able to call us, but we'll be watching through the skylight. If you attack them, we'll know to charge in and join you. If you just come back, we'll be able to chat."

Cuddlepaws says, "Noted."

Cuddlepaws says, "I'll only attack them if I need to. Otherwise I'll try to get into the store somehow."

Eben says, "I'll try to work on something to break through the jamming signal, but I dunno if it'll be possible, and those guys look like they might break through that wall at any moment."

Cuddlepaws says, "Into the vents I gooooooooo"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "(avk a sec)"

Wanda remembers how she felt when she became a 'meteor' back at the river. And she concentrates, but instead of letting all of herself become pure flame, only her legs undergo a similar transformation, allowing her to slowly and carefuly melt away a hole in the glass. She is so focused on her task that she only realized afterwards that she's now partially covered in molten glass, which begins to harden, making things trickier for her. Aside from that, it's a beautiful job, a hole wide enough for Eben to shoot a portal through.

Wanda says, "Never thought about using fire control like this before..."

Wanda asks, "Isn't it cool?"

GM says (to CP), "You slip through the vents into the main concourse of the mall. There are assorted stores lining the walls. In one direction there's a wall of glass doors, the rear exit to the mall. In the opposite direction, the mall continues to the large central area, where you can see the army men still trying to smash through the barricade. They haven't noticed you yet. Beyond them, the mall continues."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "This seems like a good time to provide you with this: https://jamboard.google.com/d/1NMIza3hbCSd0vdI4m_23Bi-Uvny05qa1YZdRvYYajkI/edit?usp=sharing"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks, "Are there any civilians in sight?"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Nope!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to GM), "The notes on that board are sticky"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Wanda), "That they are. (Unless you're not just making a pun?)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "It's a pun because of the jam board"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Ha. I thought it was just a pun because they were sticky notes."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "it's a pun with layers"

Cuddlepaws says, "I try to sneak up on the army men and try to get a better idea of wether there are people in the store (maybe I can see them through the barricade, or hear them)"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Does that board work for everyone? I'm experimenting with it."

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Wanda), "Like a jam sandwich?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "it works!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Works for me"

GM exclaims (at CP), "OK! Stealth!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "People saying "It works!" kept making the link escape upwards from my cursor. :D But yeah, it works"

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

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

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "Do you accept that result?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I tag Inconspic...Inconsi...I got through 3 of the Dresden Files books before I had to put them down. The author just cannot keep from commenting on how sexy every single female character is and how chivalrous and misogynistic Harry is. An example from the book: "She pushed back her asphalt-colored hair with one hand and gave me a look of pure calculation. Then she simply crossed her legs, so that the cut of her dress left one pale leg bare to midthigh. A subtle motion of her back thrust out her young, firm breasts, so that their tips pressed visibly against the fabric. Of course, Mr. Dresden. Im sure we can do business. The look she gave me was direct, sensual, and willing.""

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Oops, ignore that."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Inconspicious"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK!"

Cuddlepaws spends a fate point, leaving her with 1.

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks, "or does my boost from earlier still apply?"

GM says (to CP), "You get close enough to get a good view, hiding behind a pile of sandbags. From here, you can see that all the army men have the exact same face: that of Kurt Marshall, the One Man Army."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "One of them could be Any Body, though"

GM says, "There are no visible civilians, and the barricade looks *very* solid. Like, remarkably so: relatively few people would be able to construct something that secure. You can't spot even the smallest gap, and it's barely nudged by the relentless battering it's taking."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Hm, something more is going on here. We're missing something."

GM says, "You can overhear them grumbling to themselves/each other, a bit. Things like 'we're never gonna get through this' and 'oughtta just switch to grenades' and 'don't want to hurt any civilians, though' and 'unless we *have* to'."

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Eben), "Are you moving forward with the portals?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "I think I'll just wait for the others for now."

Eben, meanwhile, is trying to create an anti-jamming device.

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "OK! What are you building it out of?"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "Do you think there's a second supervillain and One Man Army is good? Or is there a wannabe superhero we don't know about trying to protect people"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "The stuff I always have with me, plus paneling and a few wires and stuff from the HVAC system we're sitting next to."

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "Can't help thinking this smells like a trap of some sort"

[Crows-Nest] Jacob says, "It's definitely a distraction, at least."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Sounds good. Since you don't know much about the jamming system that you're trying to anti-jam, and since you're using some pretty improvised materials, that'll be +5 opposition."

Eben rolls Epic (7) + 4dF: +1 +1 0 0 | Legendary+1 (9)

[Crows-Nest] Wanda exclaims, "And that wasn't even his final form!"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "(Why do I say things like that, as if '+5 opposition' were actually any sort of a real challenge?)"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "he could have rolled Legendary+3"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "That dude knows how to tinker"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "Ha ha ha. Because we're superheroes!"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "You succeed easily, and get a boost! And your phone suddenly has full bars again!"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws checks her daily rewards on Sweets Destroyer.

Eben Can I make the boost 'appears to still be working'?

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "Can I make the boost 'appears to still be working'?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "As in, giving up the free tag to turn it into that aspect instead? Sure, I'll go with that."

Eben calls the police. "Hey, can I get the number of that first call you got? I might be able to call them back now."

[CCrusaders] Eben says (to GM), "Works for me."

Officer says, "Hey, it's working again -- thanks! And it was... 555-2934. Good luck."

Eben calls the number!

Man says, "Hello? My phone's working again! Sorry, I gotta get off the line so I can call the police..."

Eben asks, "We're with the police! Can you tell us what's going on in there?"

Man says, "Oh, thanks god. There's a gang of lunatics with guns trying to break into the furniture store at the Springside Mall! We're all trapped in here."

Man says, "There's this old guy in here, I guess he's in charge now? He's the one who got us all in here, and he built a barricade to keep the gun nuts out."

Eben asks, "So you're safe for the moment? Nobody's in the main mall except for the bad guys?"

Man says, "Yeah, as far as I know. He was pretty quick thinking, getting everyone rounded up as soon as it all started."

Eben asks, "Excellent--can I talk to the guy?"

Man says, "Sure! Hang on..."

Red says, "Hello? Who's this?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Yay! I suspected as much."

Eben exclaims, "Red! It's Eben!"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "It's the Red Menace! Yay"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "woo!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Ha"

Red says, "Eben! Just the man I was hoping to talk to! Did you get filled in on the situation?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Our favorite communist threat :)"

Eben says, "You got everyone into the furniture store and are holding off One Man Army outside, but can't last forever."

Eben says, "I don't know why he's there, though, or what he wants."

Red says, "I'm not positive, but from what I overheard, I think he might be after *me*."

Eben says, "Oh! Hunh."

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws asks, "Was it actually the Vietnam war in the Crowniverse?"

Eben says, "OK. Do you need anything else in there? Sounds like we can just try to attack him and you'll be OK."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "It was"

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "as opposed to the Nietvam War"

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "The Thailand Tussle, no that sounds like a cocktail"

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

[Crows-Nest] Wanda asks (of Cuddlepaws), "A *Molotov* cocktail?"

Red says, "Before we got the barricade up, I saw that they had some bigger weapons than just rifles and pistols. If they switch to grenades or other explosives, I don't think my barricade will hold, and someone might get hurt. But that's the only real danger we're in right now."

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "At least they have enough seating."

[Crows-Nest] Wanda says, "BTW"

Eben asks, "OK. I don't suppose you could tell who the 'main' guy in the group was? Any way to identify him as opposed to his duplicates? Or do you think each of the duplicates is equal to the others?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "By the way, for the record, one of my special effects is Area Attack"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "So if I have to fight an army... all I need is to succeed with style."

Red says, "Honestly, I don't even know who this guy is. I noticed that they all looked alike, but that's as much as I can tell you. Sorry."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "(I know, I know, it's not so simple)"

Eben says, "That's fine. You did great, Red. I'm so glad it's you in there with the others. We'll get things sorted out on this end."

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "Humans all look alike to me anyway."

Eben says, "Thanks -- I know we can count on you and your team. Let me know if there's anything you need us to do on this side."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Grr."

Red says, "Thanks -- I know we can count on you and your team. Let me know if there's anything you need us to do on this side."

Eben says, "Just keep the people in there safe, and keep that barrier up. We have a shield maiden on our end that might be able to help with that, too."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "It's okay, we all want to be Eben"

Eben says, "OK, talk to you in a bit."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Eben and Red there were like that Spiderman meme"

Red says, "Good luck."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Mirroring each other's wholesomeness"

[CCrusaders] GM asks, "After you both hang up, what do you do next?"

Eben calls CP. "CP? See anything in particular? Looks like all the civilians are safe on the other side of the barrier--Red's in there with them!"

Cuddlepaws says, "No, the weekends soldiers aren't getting anywhere. They're thinking about grenades and stuff."

Eben asks, "That would be bad. I think we can attack them without endangering the civilians, especially if you're ready to add your shield to that barrier. I don't suppose you can take out any of their weapons stashes before the assault?"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks, "They all have their weapons on them, I guess?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "Yeah."

[CCrusaders] GM says, "There might be a few lying around loose that you could grab one of, but most of them are on them."

Cuddlepaws says, "No chance. Are you guys in position? I can throw up shielding whenever."

Wanda says, "If that guy wants war... he'll get more than he asked for."

Wanda looks intense.

Eben asks, "OK. Let's all go in at once, then? Wanda, do you feel like smashing through the skylight? And Jacob and I can portal through? Jacob, want some bird friends to join us?"

[CCrusaders] GM says, "I just noticed Wanda's sticky note."

[Crows-Nest] Eben exclaims, "Ha!"

Wanda exclaims (at Eben), "But I went to the trouble of making a beautiful hole!"

Wanda says, "Aw, well."

Eben exclaims (at Wanda), "And I'll use it first, and then you crash in behind me!"

Wanda says, "Yay"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Yes, yes I do. Hehehe."

[Crows-Nest] Cuddlepaws says, "as long as she gets to crash something."

Eben says, "I mean, you can also portal in, but it sounded more fun for you to smash in. And distracting to OMA in there."

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Jacob), "Are you going to do that before everyone jumps into action, or are you waiting to do it at the same time as everything else?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Provoke Create Advantage (to get the soldiers' attention, not to firebend)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I was about to ask if you wanted me to do it, or if you wanted uncontrolled chaos with my drawback :D"

[CCrusaders] Wanda asks, "?"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Uncontrolled chaos sounds very amusing ;-)"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "Your choice!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "chaosssssss"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Jacob), "Both sound fun, but I'm interested in seeing what you'll do with them. While reserving the right to try to compel you with them later on if more chaos is called for :)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "It does. And also I have to BRB. I am so tired of poeople."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Poeople, amirite"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "I am amusing myself saying 'poe-ee-oh-ple' again and again."

[CCrusaders] GM asks (of Wanda), "Also, the same question applies to you: are you planning to do the Create Advantage at the same time as everyone is doing everything else, or do you intend to do it first?"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "give power to the people, not the poeople"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to GM), "Well, it makes more sense that it's something I do through the way I come crashing in and start being all in your face with my princess-from-another-planet demeanour"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "so the former"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "OK!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "hard to intimidate people *before* you come on the scene"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "unless you have a good publicist"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Then if Jacob wants to summon birds before you start, that'll be a +2 Create Advantage!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "New plan: I'll portal a hole in the ceiling and we can drop pamphlets on them. Changing the hearts and minds of the people in as little as three months."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "lol"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "you mean"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "the poeople"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "I do!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Ok. Let me catch up."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks (of gm), "Is there anyone who already has a grenade launcher, RPG, anything like that ?"

[CCrusaders] Eben asks, "So, Jacob's Create Advantage, maybe a CP Create Advantage, then everyone bursts in?"

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

[CCrusaders] GM says (to CP), "Several of them have grenades on their belts."

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Rapport for birds"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says (to Cuddlepaws), "Hey, someone's been playing too much Retro Warfare"

GM exclaims, "A passing flock of birds takes a sharp turn from the previous course and comes to settle around Jacob on the roof!"

GM says, "Everyone is in place. The One Man Army has no idea you're coming, as Eben takes aim, Wanda prepares to leap, Jacob has birds perched up and down both arms, and Cuddlepaws quietly washes herself..."

GM exclaims, "And it's time to roll initiati<TO BE CONTINUED>!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Need to look good in a fight"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "awww!"

[CCrusaders] Eben exclaims, "Yay!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "Excitement!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Woo."

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims, "Thrills!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "And Deka can zoom up on Singularity and attack Squad Alpha ;-)"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "Excellent"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "Yes!"

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "No war movie is complete without a motorbike"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims (at gm), "Thanks so much!"

[CCrusaders] GM exclaims, "You're welcome! And thank you for playing!"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "Thanks. Sorry for being distracted by work and baby and dinner prep."

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Hee."

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws exclaims, "And baby prep!"

[CCrusaders] Eben says, "Yeah, thanks--this was fun."

[CCrusaders] Wanda exclaims (at GM), "That was great!"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws asks (of eben), "Is Ellric still sleeping?"

[CCrusaders] GM says (to Jacob), "We forgive you. And Cassie. (Work, we don't forgive. But you don't have to tell them that.)"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "I didn't tell them I was RPing. Just that I was not at my macbook and couldn't do much."

[CCrusaders] Wanda says, "you should have told them the fate of the city hung in the balance"

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "hehe"

[CCrusaders] Cuddlepaws says, "Maybe don't tell them "There's a hostage situation at the mall!""

[CCrusaders] Jacob says, "That would have made Mall Madness so much more fun, incidentally."