Wellwick|GM
The minutes ticked through to another fresh hour, the sun a few degrees further down and shades red. Soon it would be nighttime, but no one could see Brocade up on the rooftop anyway, looking down across the city.
He ran through the gangs in his head- The Renegades, Loki's Rats, Palace Circlets... There was even some news about the ex hero Lioness starting up a villainous band of her own.

Mall|Brocade
Brocade stood there, under the image of a civilian that never existed. Not much different than his days before he became a villain himself.
So the time came to become someone else. He would roam the city looking for any activity. Aiming to get some of the local gangs to serve his purposes. He was deemed to be a criminal one way or another

Wellwick|GM
He'd followed a few cop cars using the rooftops and the speed of his form, but there was very little gang crime happening- or at least, crime that was being reported. The city was still suffering from limited communication, so looting could be pretty common and still go unreported It meant that when a PRT truck (probably not containing more than four or five soldiers) rushed through the streets, Brocade took notice. Moving northwards, Brocade would probably be able to follow them using the rooftops and his long, skeletal limbs.

Mall|Brocade
Dropping back to his native form, He scrambles up the buildings, keeping up with the truck. Running and scrambling up the walls, he tries not to get the attention of the soldiers on the way, keeping his distance.

Wellwick|GM
He used a little of his camouflaging abilities, pushing himself to move as fast as he could.

Mall|Brocade
    ROLL: "ath" [3] = 3

Wellwick|GM
He hurried across the gravel of the rooftop, leaping from one building to another. A few of those jumps he fell short, and it took another few seconds to reach the rooftop again, and when he would crest the top again, the truck would be further away.

Mall|Brocade
    ROLL: "wits" [4] = 4

Wellwick|GM
Still, Brocade was more than capable of keeping track of the truck. He'd been lurking in the area for hours at this point, and had a sense of the streets it would be forced to go down, the points it would have to slow to round a corner.
It was nearly three full minutes of sprinting at top speed, an exhilarating feeling. He reached another rooftop just in time to see the PRT truck pull into an alleyway, a group of men and woman in red gang colours, a few even wearing small bandanas with painted on whiskers. They seemed to have been beating up a couple of men, people who owed money, perhaps?
Brocade crept over the lip of the building looking down on the scene as the PRT evacuated the car, the Rats backing away to cover in case they came up firing foam. The Rats outnumbered them, but they didn't have the weapons nor the training to fight back effectively here.

Mall|Brocade
He stands there processing the situation for a few seconds. Now is his time to shine. Brocade goes down the alley, far from both groups sight. Trying to put himself behind the Rats, he suits up with the red vestiments and gets ready for a fight.

Wellwick|GM
"Stop where you are and get down on the ground," Brocader heard one of the PRT soldiers shout. He peeked around the corner to see the armoured soldiers getting closer to the Rats, marching forward slow and steady, tasers and pistols at the ready.
One of the Rats cursed back at them, tossing a brick their way.
    ROLL: "Building a house at range" [5] = 5
    ROLL: "Dude, I'm a wolf. I would blow that right down" [3] = 3
    WOUND: [Torso] [Any 1] Demolished: If struck body part is unarmored, target suffers both type-specific consequences noted below.
[Torso] [Any 1] Internally Injured: -1 to the two lowest of the following: Brawn, Athletics, or Guts. If equal, apply in that order (Brawn first…) [Torso] [Any 1] Broken Rib: PAIN, torso.
It flew true, smashing into one of the PRT officers, eliciting a grunt as the plate armour slipped a little loose.
The Rat ducked low a moment later as another officer shouted, bringing their pistol up to aim at them.

Mall|Brocade
Things are finally in their desired state. Brocade approaches the group and looks around for something he could throw at the soldiers himself.
    ROLL: "scavenging with the rats" [1] = 1

Wellwick|GM
He glances along the alley wall, only spotting a broom propped up on the side.
Two of the Rats make a break towards the PRT, the first being downed by a stun gun jabbed into their chest. They hit the ground convulsing, but the second one managed to close the distance to the PRT officer who managed to down the Rat and smashed at him with a two by four that he'd managed to grab from the ground.
    ROLL: "Strangth" [4] = 4
    ROLL: "Owie" [2] = 2
    WOUND: [Torso] [Any 2] Bashed: Knocked 10' away and back. STAGGERED.
The PRT soldier staggered, just about managing to stay on his feet, but in downing the first Rat, the scales were balanced in their fight. Four PRT officers, four Rats.

Mall|Brocade
The broom will have to do. Next step is to get in character. Wait for the next Rat to charge in and follow up with him. Work with the group you plan to fuck up later.

Wellwick|GM
It doesn't take long for an opportunity to present itself. A Rat off to Brocade's right had snuck around some cover and tried to blindside the PRT, but they were far too trained to fall for the attack from the side. They brought up a pistol, fired high enough to not be a threat, and the Rat sprawled to the ground just to be safe.
    ROLL: "Wits of those around" [4] = 4
One of the Rats cowering nearby saw Brocade and shrieked, panicked. Nobody else was attentive enough to notice him in time to act.

Mall|Brocade
Fuck, should've stayed behind
    ROLL: "stay in character" [5] (1) +1 = 6

Wellwick|GM
    ROLL: "AhhhHhHhhHhhhHHH" [5] = 5

Mall|Brocade
    WOUND: [Torso] [Any 2] Bashed: Knocked 10' away and back. STAGGERED.

Wellwick|GM
The hit sent the PRT soldier staggering back, still clutching their taser. Not fast enough to fire in response at Brocade, but it meant that he now had to deal with a PRT officer either side of him. One PRT officer was still struggling with a Rat, and the Rat had managed to pry their helmet loose but was now beginning to struggle against all that additional training.
The officer beside Brocade swung with the butt of his gun, the armour panelling of his front hanging a little loose from this hit from the brick.
    ROLL: "SQUISH THE BUG!" [1] = 1

Mall|Brocade
    ROLL: "spider reflexes" [3] = 3

Wellwick|GM
Easily dodged, the gun swung round and Brocade was already reacting to the second PRT officer's attack. A kick out at him, a little hesitant as they didn't want to hit their own teammate.
    ROLL: "Kicky" [2] -1 = 1

Mall|Brocade
    ROLL: "miss me" [1] = 1

Wellwick|GM
Another close shave clear, this time the agent managing to land a glancing blow, even as they ended on awkward footing.
    WOUND: [Head] [Any 1] Smashed: Knocked to the ground. This lesser wound goes away at start of next turn.

Mall|Brocade
As the bash lands, Brocade is dragged to the ground, only to see his threads ripped from his body. The silk is left stuck on the soldiers foot as the the greyish monster erupts as every string comes loose.
As a desperate attempt, scrambling up to his feet, he tries to bind the attacker after a comeback.
    ROLL: "monster attack" [5] (4) +1 = 6

Wellwick|GM
    ROLL: "Owie!" [3] = 3

Mall|Brocade
    WOUND: [Leg] [Any 3] Crushed: Two temporary lesser wounds, can bypass one layer of armor with the first to deliver the second. The target heals one of the temporary wounds at the end of the next round and the round following it.
    ROLL: "go web!" [2] = 2

Wellwick|GM
    ROLL: "More like Peter Pooper" [2] = 2
Brocade hit hard and fast, dropping the soldier to his knees before scuttling around him, wrapping him in the silky webbing. He shrieked out in panic, trying to fight back, but a moment later he was bound up, struggling, trying to break free.
    ROLL: "Let me out!!!!" [4] -1 = 3
The other PRT soldier reacted, trying to put Brocade down.
    ROLL: "Hitty smashy smash" [4] = 4

Mall|Brocade
    ROLL: "stop bullying the grey blob" [2] = 2

Wellwick|GM
Brocade taking on three officers at once seemed to have inspired the other Rats to fight, and they quickly joined the fray, even as Brocade took the hit.
    WOUND: [Torso] [Part] Winded: All lesser abilities with need for refreshers or a stamina cost are put on cooldown.

Mall|Brocade
Well, this went south fast. As infuriating as being outted is, Brocade knows he can't stay there. He needs to find a place to change.
    ROLL: "gotta run" [1] = 1

Wellwick|GM
    ROLL: "Hit that spider" [5] = 5

Mall|Brocade
    ROLL: "plz stop" [2] = 2

Wellwick|GM
    WOUND: [Leg] [Any 4] Jolted: Suffer PAIN, affecting all physical (Brawn, Athletics, Dex) rolls, for next round. Two rounds if recently shocked.
The soldier that Brocade had downed managed to fire off their taser, the prongs catching Brocade as he scuttled away. The shock hurt but he managed to put the distance behind him as he fled, the Rats closing in with an advantage now.

Mall|Brocade
Fucking hell, I'm not giving up on this. Body is hurting all over, but a plan comes to mind as Brocade tries to reach for the first Rat that was downed.

Wellwick|GM
Still shocked and shivering on the ground, the Rat seems to be starting to pull himself together again. He's more than a little frightened as Brocade got closer, the strange mutation more than a little horrifying.
    ROLL: "Paying attention" [3] -2 = 1
The rest of the PRT and Rats were too focused to notice what Brocade was doing.

Mall|Brocade
Brocade, making sure he wasn't being seen, mkaes sure that the Rat doesn't stand up with a good landing of his skeletal lower limbs.
    ROLL: "good night" (2) [6] +1 = 7

Wellwick|GM
    ROLL: "Can I even resist this?" [3] = 3
    WOUND: [Head] [Any 1] Demolished: If struck body part is unarmored, target suffers both type-specific consequences noted below.
[Head] [Any 1] K.O: Target must make additional Guts check or have all remaining wound slots filled with lesser wounds. Lesser wounds disappear at end of next turn if cape remains conscious. (No added effect) [Head] [Any 1] Skull Crack: Mildly CONFUSED for long duration, need to roll only 2+ to get bearings. Roll vs. Guts at end of encounter to shrug off, on failure, wait 1 day before rolling again, then wait 2.
    ROLL: "Guts check" [3] = 3
    ROLL: "Wits confused?" [3] = 3
    ROLL: "Stay awake?" [2] = 2
A solid blow to the head, and the Rat is out like a light.

Mall|Brocade
Perfect. It's much easier to be someone that actually exists. Brocade disguised the knocked down figure with the ground as he takes their form.
Perfect. It's much easier to be someone that actually exists. Brocade tries to find an alleyway or dumbster to dump him, to replace him later.

Wellwick|GM
He hurried, dragging the body behind him attached to the silk, pulling the Rat along the alleyway away from the fighting.
It was a good thing they were unconcious since it would definitely have hurt otherwise, but a few moments later Brocade had them around the corner, out of sight of the fight. Not by enough that if someone turned the corner they wouldn't see, but at least out of line of sight.
The walls around him were stained with either dark water damage or had so many layers of graffiti that the mess of colours just mingled together.
He dragged the body a little further, burying them amongst a pile of fully filled out big bags, trying not to notice the smell too much.

Mall|Brocade
Not wanting to miss on the fight, Brocade returns to the Rats, still as a monster.

Wellwick|GM
    ROLL: "PRT winning|Rats winning" [1] = 1
The tide had shifted the other way, it seemed. The taser expended, the PRT officer had climbed to his feet again, and had managed to beat one of the Rats to the ground, and they were hurting, bad.
    ROLL: "Breaking free?" [3] = 3
The PRT officer who had been bound up by Brocade was still mostly caught, though he was on his feet now, and was using his body weight and armour to charge into the Rats without use of his arm, even as partially blinded.
One of the Rats had pulled a knife, but it was scratching ineffectually at one of the PRTs body armour.

Mall|Brocade
Returning to battle, Brocade picks ups his trusty broom and heads in planning for a recovery. With the spiderlike limbs glued to the stick, he charges in for the closest officer
    ROLL: "smack" (1) [6] +1 = 7

Wellwick|GM
    ROLL: "Didn't even see it coming" [4] -1 = 3

Mall|Brocade
    WOUND: [Arm] [Part] Sent Flying: Thrown to one side and KNOCKED DOWN, STAGGERED on the ensuing turn.

Wellwick|GM
The broom swings around and the PRT officer practically flips onto the floor, their helmetless head crunching into the ground.
    ROLL: "Owie" [4] = 4
They groaned, rolling over and looking up at Brocade, reaching for their pistol. One of the Rats tried to intervene...
    ROLL: "Don't flush the spider!" [5] = 5
    ROLL: "Don't gang up on me!" [1] = 1
    WOUND: [Torso] [Any 2] Walloped: Thrown 10’ back or to one side and knocked down, staggered on the ensuing turn. If the individual cannot be thrown at least 5’ due to intervening obstacles, they instead suffer an added, temporary moderate bash instead (no associated effect, fades after one round).
    ROLL: "Awake?" [1] = 1
...smashing a baton that had at one point been the PRTs into their chest, sending them into a wheezing state of desperation.
Another officer spun around, noticing Brocade's arrival, breaking away from fighting another Rat far too late to stop him attacking.

Mall|Brocade
Just like in prison. The broom almost breaking with the hit, almost tearing apart between the monster's hands. Or what passed for his hands.
The whole situation has been falling apart since he got here. Perhaps, long before that.
Was it any surprise that Raphael found himself in another mess? Bare and exposed, reduced to fighting like an animal.
Useless thoughts. Distractions lead to mistakes.
Mistakes to broken facades Right now he's only Brocade. He's focused on the fight.
So he aims a blast of silk to the other officer's face. No need to play fair
    ROLL: "pew pew" [6] +2 = 8

Wellwick|GM
The guy got a faceful of webbing, and flinched back in surprise.

Mall|Brocade
While the soldier is blinded, Brocade aims behind him, putting up a tripwire
    ROLL: "trip" [5] = 5

Wellwick|GM
The soldier only panics a little, some of his training kicking in. He swings out wild in front of him, trying to make a wild strike.
    ROLL: "Wild one" [1] -1 = 0
Luckily everyone stays well clear of him. One of the Rats counter attacks, kicking out during an opening and the guard stumbles back, caught by the tripline.
    WOUND: [Torso] [Any 3] Crushed: Two temporary lesser wounds, can bypass one layer of armor with the first to deliver the second. The target heals one of the temporary wounds at the end of the next round and the round following it.
    WOUND: [Torso] [Any 1] Smashed: Knocked to the ground. This lesser wound goes away at start of next turn.
    ROLL: "So much temporary owies" [2] = 2
The one who had lost the armour plating was the last one left who wasn't running around blind. He was dealing with two Rats at once-
    ROLL: "Hit" [2] = 2
    ROLL: "Hit part 2" [6] = 6
    ROLL: "Blocking like a champ" [3] = 3
-but the PRT officer was still putting up a reasonable fight, only letting through every other hit.
    ROLL: "Hit back?" [4] = 4
    ROLL: "Do we get hit?" [6] = 6 :: [3] = 3
He even managed to get the occasional hit back against them.

Mall|Brocade
The tides change once again. Getting beaten had taught Raphael a lesson or two.
Now he was the big dog in the courtyard. The scary spider.
He closes the distance confidently towards the last officer and wacks him.
With his trusty broom.
    ROLL: "Pow!" [4] (3) +1 = 5

Wellwick|GM
    ROLL: "Too Many Of You!!!" [3] -1 = 2

Mall|Brocade
    WOUND: [Torso] [Any 2] Bashed: Knocked 10' away and back. STAGGERED.

Wellwick|GM
The broom came down, and it splintered as it crashed into the PRT officers ribs. Wooden shrapnel sprayed outwards, bouncing off the nearby wall and to the floor.
The PRT officer grunted, dropping to one knee and pressed his hands to the back of his head, clearly trying to protect himself from any more injury.
He said something, but in the cacophony of noise and beatings, Brocade missed it. A surrender?

Mall|Brocade
"Enough!" Brocade utters, gesturing for the Rats to back off. It would be the dumbest thing to fuck up a PRT officer beyond repair. But since his last plan failed, he had another one taking shape. To be on the right side of the law for once. Wearing the skin of someone else, of course.
As he speaks, Brocade slams his upper limbs into the ground. Long enough to reach withouth him hunching. Silk leabving a visible trail on the floor. Even his voice seems less human. So unlike him. So very like him
    ROLL: "making friends" [1] +2 = 3

Wellwick|GM
    ROLL: "Abide by this spooky creature" [1] = 1
It's enough, it seems. The Rats halt, nervous, clearly unsure whether Brocade is about to turn on them instead.

Mall|Brocade
"Get the fuck out of here." He snarls. "And tell Crescent that you fuckers owe me one."
As he speaks to the Rats, he curls up his upper limbs. "I like to eat in peace".
    ROLL: "quick snack" (1) [5] +2 = 7

Wellwick|GM
One of them almost got out the question of who Brocade even is, but as the realisation of his intentions became clear, they scarpered.
The PRT agent, also believing him, panicked. Backing away, reaching for a combat knife at his belt.

Mall|Brocade
With a quick a movement of his prongs, Brocade silks up the man's hand to his belt.
Grinning, like only a man without a neck can do, he clicks his tongue. "You are too fatty for me, relax."
    ROLL: "totally harmless" [3] = 3

Wellwick|GM
    ROLL: "Where 1 = Oh god, that means that you're going to have to snap me up first!" [1] = 1
This, for some reason, seemed to only make the PRT officer more panicked. He struggles even more against the new bonds.
    ROLL: "Please, break, I don't want to die!" [5] = 5
THe webbing separates beneath his hands, and wildly, he swings a fist, trying to drive Brocade away
    ROLL: "Fight or Flight" [3] = 3

Mall|Brocade
    ROLL: "spider sense" [5] = 5

Wellwick|GM
Brocade has more than enough time to react, deflecting the wild swipe The PRT officer hesitates, suddenly realising that without that element of surprise, he is suddenly at a disadvantage.

Mall|Brocade
Deflecting with his prongs, Brocade just keeps talking. Making up a new story on the fly.
"No, really. Aren't your bosses hiring?". While speaking, he silks the officer where the prongs make contact.

Wellwick|GM
"Are they-? What?" he seemed confused, baffled by the turn of questioning.

Mall|Brocade
"Capes, stupid. Are they hiring new capes?", he asks as he continues to lay on the silk. Lies can serve more than one purpose.
For the Rats, Brocade is a frightening spider. Maybe he can convince the PRT that he is pest control

Wellwick|GM
"Hiring- No, fuck you, no. We're not going to work with you. Not after this," he said, clutching at the pain in his ribs.
He tried to stand.

Mall|Brocade
"You've seen me. I can always kill you and take your friends with me." He says as he licks his fangs. "why can't we be friends?" Then Brocade silks the officer's feet to the ground.

Wellwick|GM
He only stands there in sullen silence. Or maybe it was fear. Brocade couldn't really tell.
    ROLL: "Wits" [5] = 5

Mall|Brocade
"Just think about it". He says as he skitters back to the alley where he left the Rat. It was time for a new look.

Wellwick|GM
Brocade reached the Rat, leaving behind the trapped and bound officer.