Aeon B-Team (Nomads) Season 8 Session 10 Of Skulls and Cats

 

Cast: The Nomads

• Amie-Belle T. W. Lee aka Whisper (Played by Curtis): Cold War era super-soldier/spy that got put in the Freezer, because she got poisoned. After getting thawed out and cured she tried to back to work, and was given an “adjustment period”. Uncle Sam called 2 years later, with work… because once you’re in, you’re in for life. Tagline: “In and out without a whisper.” Absent
• Beauregard K. “Bo” Ratnam aka Wirerat (Played by Brice): Technopath, inventor, and hacker. He specializes in co-opting enemy systems and tech assets. Tagline: “Nice tech – I’ll borrow that.
• Stainless Steel Rat aka “Sir” (NPC Ally): Bo’s best friend and assistant. A sentient drone in the shape of a stylized shiny metal rat mindlinked to Bo. Specialties are rapid repair construction and modifications. Imagine if K-9 and R2D2 made a baby and it looks a bit like a rodent. Tagline: “Repairs and upgrades in progress”
• Derrick K. Ratnam aka Ledgerdemain (NPC Ally): Spin doctor and media liaison for Project VANGUARD. Twin to Bo. Tagline: “Well, actually that’s not how it happened.
• MIA Sentient AI made from recovered tech on a prior mission.
• Rafe Hanlon aka Nyx (played by Chris D.): An umbrakinetic petty thief still on work release several years later, on his way to becoming a true agent and hero. Tagline: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”
• Layla A. de Blackburn aka Nox (NPC): CIA-trained child assassin all grown up to be Daddy’s Little Monster. Maybe a little mad. Argues with her shadow often. Tagline: “No, we shouldn’t do that…should we?”
• June B. O'Neill aka Prodigy (NPC): Savant with hyper-intelligence that may have cracked the universal power-dampening conundrum. Fresh out of the Meraki Institute for the advanced and gifted. Extremely intelligent, but young (she's 16).
• Vincenzo L. dePrezzo aka Threshold (Played by Rory): Doctor, Mathematician, and Scientist (yes, capitals) and Spatial Manipulator. Threshold can bend space like a pretzel, teleport, obliterate things, and has extraordinary senses. He’d rather be in a research lab than fight. Better known for his work with Doctors Without Borders, the United Nations, and disaster relief than famous battles. Tagline: “I can be there in a snap!”
• Nawang Sonam aka Wan Shi Tong (NPC): Martial Artist with a mysterious past. Thresholds mentor, experienced and highly capable, indeterminate age.
• Eleanor C. Bulli aka "Bubbles (NPC): Manipulates bubbles of energy, short range teleportation, can fly on the bubbles, use them for shields or attack and even see through them.
• Grant L. Wojcik aka Fridge Boy (NPC): Can control ice/cold, but mostly the ability to create ice that explodes. 16 year old emancipated orphan, Our janitor. 
• Rudy A. Coldwater aka Gimmick (NPC): Mildly hyper-intelligent savant. Stutters. Makes very accurate guesses. Typical nerd, not yet 20. Wants to make a difference, assigned to support duties.
• Summer Stratos aka Chain Jacket (NPC): Ferrokinetic
• Vargas Manwell Tilium aka "Impulse" (NPC): Speedster.

Post Conflict

Its been a week since we stopped Erebus from destroying NYC and stealing a bunch of powers from the metas in the area. With the darkness dispelled reinforcements and supplies are arriving into the city, people can go back to work, and overall things getting back to normal.

Rikers Island is still under siege with prisoners holding a cellblock, using many guards as hostages. Threshold and Wirerat offer to help repair some of the damage and for the Nomads to go in and rescue the hostages.  Between our teleporters and all the stealth we can bring to bear Threshold thinks the team can take care of that situation but HQ denies us on either.

Instead we are told to patrol our area and mainly relocate prisoners captured by other teams to secure facilities.

Threshold talks to the crystal skull he got and it gets annoyed with him and teleports him all over the universe, doing a bunch of damage in the process.

It did not like being called a computer, and when Threshold asked it about the possibility of it being captured by someone and forced to do their bidding it opted to show off and make a point.

It's telepathic voice comes off as fatherly, unusual choice for an AI personality.

* The Player knows the history of the Crystal Skulls in the campaign but Threshold is a pragmatic scientist. He does not believe in the supernatural, so will take some convincing to accept they are what the player has been told. The GM was perhaps mildly annoyed at his stubbornness - nothing new there though :)

Threshold goes into his office and finds a giant mole buried in his couch. It has been there about two days, but Threshold was busy in the labs and the field. After a brief examination and discussion the team decides to keep it around for observation and see what happens.  We recently picked up two sapient dogs, and have those squirrels hanging around so are becoming quite the zoo.

Though with tensions between Wirerat and Nox going down, its possible the squirrels will go away and stop appearing in the base. Especially if we get that wall patched up!

Space Cat

Then of course there is Space Cat.

Space Cat has been kept unconscious since its capture almost two weeks ago. Threshold gives it a though medical exam (Medic!; Pararadar with Bioscan, Microscopic, Penetrating; and some other abilities) and determines its sentient (which we figured from the fight). It was used by the bad guys as a clone of Threshold so he kind of feels attached to it (unlike the screaming head that was also a clone of him) and it was raised and controlled by villains.  He feels its unfair to lock it up and the authorities might treat it as an animal and simply euthanize it. He talks it over with the team and takes it to the roof where part of the team watches. He wakes it up after damping spatial powers in the area and Prodigy turning its powers off. Threshold doesn't tell anyone but he thinks the skull can also dampen its powers based on what it did to Thresholds powers during the fight with Erebus. The skull and Wan Tong wanted to keep things secret and Threshold respects that idea.

When asked what to do with it the skull teleported in a messenger bag for Threshold to carry it around in.

Wirerat makes a translation collar for the cat and they have a conversation. The cat is not overly friendly but is told what is going on and seems to accept the situation. Threshold gives it fresh tuna upon request.

This may easily wind up being a very bad thing but its only fair to give the cat a chance and the team has a history of rehabbing bad guys. So it feels like the right thing, if not the wise thing.

A cat that can teleport itself or others and disintegrate things is a rather scary thing to have running around the world. On the other hand Threshold with a cat familiar gives me Gary 7 vibes and is just cool. Don't even have to buy it on Constant Appearance despite its ability to teleport. After all cats tend to be independent and like their sleep.

Aeon B-Team (Nomads) Season 8 Session 9 The finale of the Erebus Saga

 

Cast: The Nomads

• Amie-Belle T. W. Lee aka Whisper (Played by Curtis): Cold War era super-soldier/spy that got put in the Freezer, because she got poisoned. After getting thawed out and cured she tried to back to work, and was given an “adjustment period”. Uncle Sam called 2 years later, with work… because once you’re in, you’re in for life. Tagline: “In and out without a whisper.” Absent
• Beauregard K. “Bo” Ratnam aka Wirerat (Played by Brice): Technopath, inventor, and hacker. He specializes in co-opting enemy systems and tech assets. Tagline: “Nice tech – I’ll borrow that.
• Stainless Steel Rat aka “Sir” (NPC Ally): Bo’s best friend and assistant. A sentient drone in the shape of a stylized shiny metal rat mindlinked to Bo. Specialties are rapid repair construction and modifications. Imagine if K-9 and R2D2 made a baby and it looks a bit like a rodent. Tagline: “Repairs and upgrades in progress”
• Derrick K. Ratnam aka Ledgerdemain (NPC Ally): Spin doctor and media liaison for Project VANGUARD. Twin to Bo. Tagline: “Well, actually that’s not how it happened.
• MIA Sentient AI made from recovered tech on a prior mission.
• Rafe Hanlon aka Nyx (played by Chris D.): An umbrakinetic petty thief still on work release several years later, on his way to becoming a true agent and hero. Tagline: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”
• Layla A. de Blackburn aka Nox (NPC): CIA-trained child assassin all grown up to be Daddy’s Little Monster. Maybe a little mad. Argues with her shadow often. Tagline: “No, we shouldn’t do that…should we?”
• June B. O'Neill aka Prodigy (NPC): Savant with hyper-intelligence that may have cracked the universal power-dampening conundrum. Fresh out of the Meraki Institute for the advanced and gifted. Extremely intelligent, but young (she's 16).
• Vincenzo L. dePrezzo aka Threshold (Played by Rory): Doctor, Mathematician, and Scientist (yes, capitals) and Spatial Manipulator. Threshold can bend space like a pretzel, teleport, obliterate things, and has extraordinary senses. He’d rather be in a research lab than fight. Better known for his work with Doctors Without Borders, the United Nations, and disaster relief than famous battles. Tagline: “I can be there in a snap!”
• Nawang Sonam aka Wan Shi Tong (NPC): Martial Artist with a mysterious past. Thresholds mentor, experienced and highly capable, indeterminate age.
• Eleanor C. Bulli aka "Bubbles (NPC): Manipulates bubbles of energy, short range teleportation, can fly on the bubbles, use them for shields or attack and even see through them.
• Grant L. Wojcik aka Fridge Boy (NPC): Can control ice/cold, but mostly the ability to create ice that explodes. 16 year old emancipated orphan, Our janitor. 
• Rudy A. Coldwater aka Gimmick (NPC): Mildly hyper-intelligent savant. Stutters. Makes very accurate guesses. Typical nerd, not yet 20. Wants to make a difference, assigned to support duties.
• Summer Stratos aka Chain Jacket (NPC): Ferrokinetic
• Vargas Manwell Tilium aka "Impulse" (NPC): Speedster.

Get Ready to Rumble!

We start off reviewing and tweaking our plans from last session. Nyx is going to meet Erebus at Frank's Franks a street hot dog vendor and local health hazard. The rest of the team will be hiding about a quarter block away waiting for a signal. Were monitoring Nyx using radio, various powers, and our normal senses for whatever signal Nyx chooses at the time. Threshold will then portal everyone in and if that fails for some reason most can get there on their own. Nomads is a team of primarily teleporters and speedsters so it should be quick.

Threshold makes his Leadership! roll for foresight for the tactical rerolls (optional rule from Pyramid the GM wrote) but apparently does not do well enough to get any.

The GM lets everyone know their current status on Karma Points and Wildcard points for rerolls. We expect to need them.

Combat!

Nyx wheels over the chair on a dolly to where Erebus is waiting impatiently, apparently he got there a bit early. Nyx goes over the deal and is told he can go. Nyx then baits Erebus into having him test the chair first to prime the trap. This goes well then Erebus gets ready to sit in it and we all Warp in. Threshold crits his roll and the GM lets Threshold create multiple portals (effectively granting the Rapidfire enhancement), placing the party around the area saving them some movement.

Whisper, Nyx, Wirerat, Threshold, SSR, Chain Jacket, Bubbles, Impulse, and Wan Shi Tong make 9 combatants on the PC side and Erebus summons 4 constructs for 5 on the villains side.

14 combatants, a lot going on and you should check out the GMs recap when it comes out for full details. The author of this blog was trying to plan the fight and missed or forgot a lot of details.

Wirerats drones light up the area using glowworms frequency so we can all see clearly. Whisper runs up and crits Erebus in the head with her axe - Doom is invoked and she loses her axe, but damage is taken.

SSR shoots his autocannon and Erebus fails to dodge - Doom invoked again.

Doom was invoked a lot here, the GM had a bad day for defense rolls!

Everyone else takes their attack and Erebus summons four minions to deal with us. Eventually Threshold takes his shot and crits with his Obliteration Beam but a minion power parries (more Doom invoked). Erebus power dodges using his teleport around the battlefield to avoid incoming fire and Threshold uses his Escher Bubble (Obscure plus Slow Move on a 4 yard radius) hoping to limit his movement and vision but he Warps out as a Dodge.

Erebus tries to dissolve Bubbles but Threshold manages to use Power Defense with Exoport to get her safely away (spent wildcard to do that and she's out of the battle). Chainjacket, Bubbles, and SSR entrap a minion. Whisper picks up her axe and takes out another minion.

Nyx is at a bit of a disadvantage (darkness vss. darkness) and things not looking too good for the good guys and does something to the chair. It had been slowly sucking the power out of Erebus but now starts to pump him up. Wirerat figures out it went wrong, Threshold is positive it went exactly right (failed Per based Science!).

Since the last Power Dodge* got Erebus next to the chair Threshold tries to block his teleporting using his ability to control Space, erecting a -10 skill selective teleport block in a 10y radius (most of the battle map).

*How is he doing that multiple times a turn anyhow? GM said we could buy that too. Limited ATR seems unlikely as the GM strictly limits that, variant Trained by Master? Seems to not be taking multiple penalties. 

Erebus starts growing as the darkness throughout the city is channeled into him and local darkness gets more intense so most of us cannot see.

Wan Shi Tong pulls out something that doubles Thresholds block. Whisper runs into the corrosive darkness aura Erebus had put up and is hurt pretty bad. Her attack bounces off his armor upgrade and she smartly runs out of the aura (a couple yards radius). Nyx uses darkness tentacles but they do little to no damage as well. SSRs chain guns do manage to do some damage.

Threshold decides its time to finish things and for the second time(?) in the campaign pulls out his Singularity power. He cant see Erebus but knows where he was last and creates the center about 10 feet up from there. Hoping the distance will minimize the attraction on everyone else, and the street.

It works and Erebus takes enough damage that he screams.

The chair is sucked into the hole and something weird happens. Rather than being destroyed the power chair merged with the singularity, creating some form of Khyberic tornado. Threshold tries to cancel it but can't. He runs over to his old friend Wan who he now sees was wounded. Wan is severely hurt and dissolving into the tornado, even though he is out of the wind from the singularity effect. He makes a dying declaration and hands Threshold a crystal skull. "This is yours now, take care of it and ask do not demand its help". Wan then dissolves in Thresholds arms.

Threshold asks the skull for help and is surprised when it answers telepathically. Rolling with it Threshold quickly explains the situation, the skull in a fatherly tone says it can see and understand then it says they need to get closer. Threshold holds it tight against his chest and walks into the tornado, knowing there is not much time to stop it. Nyx sees what is happening and using his shadow whips tries to tether Threshold to keep him from being sucked in. SSR uses a grappling gun and helps too. The skull does something and and cancels the khyberic tornado.

Threshold does not believe in ghosts, so thanks what he figures is a telepathic A.I. and quickly hides it.

Aftermath

A good long fight and epic end to a long build up. Were skipping a week ahead next session and then going after more Ryker escapees.

Threshold lost his mentor and long time friend, several people were hurt but the day was saved. Threshold will be talking to the skull and likely find out some of what the player knows about its history - including that it is one of a large set. There are 13 crystal skulls in the campaign, each representing a fundamental power set (think infinity stones or Realm Magic). I think based on what it did and that Wan said in his dying breath that he always knew it was eventually going to Threshold this is the "Space" skull. It seems like a big coincidence that it synchs with Thresholds powers but destiny is a thing and these skulls have a lot of power and can sense related powers so it could have talked and moved its way into this opportunity.

Not sure if Threshold is going to keep it, hide it, or what yet. But definitely going to be asking it questions. GM heads up, going to be asking it about that weird pocket watch!

No upgrades or character points spent during the break so probably be a few years before I put any points into the things that happened recently. After this season ends we move on to the GMs fantasy campaign then likely his monster hunter campaign.

Threshold though besides the usual skill and power improvements understands khyberic energy (source of powers) so that's a skill to get - possibly Weird Science. He may work on power effecting gadgets based on that.  The skull and pocket watch may lead to more or improved skills and powers.

Actually been thinking how to build something like the crystal skulls the last two days and think have some simple but useful baseline ideas.

Naturally the GM probably has ideas too, if not already a template.

Sad to lose his friend, but it didn't have as much emotional or story impact as the guy was never really fleshed out or played.