laus

11:07:59 AM <Wildbow> Previously, on @WD_Lausanne... Silvi ran away from home to live with her cool, bohemian artist father. Things seemed really cool up until she found the hidden cameras.  She triggered, and went back to her mom.  She triggered with the abiility to create splashes of hologram, which form into fragile but convincing images. Struggling with power incontinence, she was unable to hide, and told her...
11:08:01 AM <Wildbow> ...mom.  On her first night out in costume, she crossed paths with Crane, a martial artist who trains hero and villain alike, provided they're young and obedient.  Returning home to find her mom hospitalized and her dad expecting to take custody of her, she ran for it, heading to Crane's dojo.
11:11:25 AM <Wildbow> A number of other junior capes are there, including two heroes, the burly and handsome Griffe and the braided brunette only referred to as B.B. or Bonbon.  There are three neutral parties, including bespectacled Pascal, the young lady 'Clique', and Percival, an apparent healer, who beat Silvi in a sparring match.  Rounding out Crane's dojo are three villains; the short, blonde, pink and...
11:11:27 AM <Wildbow> ...bitey Enfant Terrible, sneering Calibre, and the grinning, pixie-cutted Parfait.
11:12:40 AM <Wildbow> But there's a bit of a snag.  The members of Crane's dojo are over for a three day trip, and they know that they have some free time toward the middle of the day.  After Silvi turned down an offer on the part of the heroes to hang out, the villains have made their claim, making it clear they expect her to come with them, as she has no standing obligations.
11:12:46 AM <Wildbow>  ------------
11:13:07 AM Dolyn → Dol|Rainbow
11:15:00 AM <Wildbow> Silvi wakes in the girl's room.  Beds line one wall, separated by very boring nightstands.  She chose to sleep in her costume, and residual dirt and sweat have made her uncomfortable and the costume wrinkled.  Others are just getting ready, preparing their hair.
11:15:44 AM <Wildbow> "We start the morning session soon," B.B. tells you.  She seems more distant than before.  You remember the look she gave you as she saw you talking with the villainous trio.
11:15:46 AM <Wildbow>  //
11:19:10 AM <Dol|Rainbow> "Ah, thank you," I reply to the other heroic young woman, a bit more vacantly than might be considered polite. Yesterday had been a very trying day, and, though sleep had helped, I had no idea what was going to happen in my future. It was just one of the many problems that had come up since I got powers. I offer the other girl a brief, awkward smile, glad that I chose not to sleep in my scarf.
11:22:12 AM <Dol|Rainbow> My expression turns somewhat sheepish as I reflect on my social mistakes with her. "I want to apologize about last night, B.B. It had been a very long night, and all I wanted was to sleep. I think you and Griffe are amazing, and hope that I can manage to live up to your expectations for a hero."
11:23:07 AM <Dol|Rainbow> I attempt to strike a heroic pose, one I had practiced in my mirror at home repeatedly, before continuing.
11:23:15 AM <Wildbow> ((Social))
11:23:23 AM <Wildbow> ((Can do in-channel now))
11:23:31 AM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6 Social
11:23:31 AM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Social" [3]  = 3
11:23:47 AM <Dol|Rainbow> "I might be terrible at this now, but Rainbow Idol can only go up in the world!"
11:23:50 AM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
11:25:43 AM <Wildbow> "You might need to work on your poses a bit," Enfant Terrible comments, from further down the room.  She's changed into a dance top and skintight shorts, and both are pink.  It seems very likely that she doesn't own anything in any other colors.
11:25:44 AM <Wildbow>  //
11:26:28 AM ↔ iridium248 popped in
11:29:02 AM <Dol|Rainbow> The piercing wound through my heroic heart causes me to deflate, my pose slacking into simple weariness. Why did Enfant Terrible have to be such a villainous villain? Based on her fashion sense, we probably could have been friends.
11:29:06 AM → Megafire joined ([email protected])
11:30:02 AM <Dol|Rainbow> "Still," I mutter out, trying to at least get my apology to B.B. through, "I'm sorry. I'm really glad to have had your help last night."
11:30:04 AM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
11:32:27 AM <Wildbow> She gives you a nod, clapping a hand on your shoulder.  "Best of luck, whatever you end up deciding to do this afternoon.  If you survive this morning's training, that is."
11:33:40 AM <Wildbow> She takes her leave, stepping out of the room, leaving you standing by the foot of your bed.  Enfant, Parfait, and Clique are all nearby.  Out in the hallway, some of the boys are talking.  It seems they're socializing before heading down to the dojo.  This serves as a possible opportunity for you to reach out to others, though time is limited.
11:33:41 AM <Wildbow>  //
11:35:23 AM <Dol|Rainbow> I need to talk to Griffe. He had tried to do me a favor when I arrived, and I had spurned his advice. Hopefully going to him for advice on a major topic, such as Crane's options for fighting styles, would get my foot out of my mouth a bit.
11:35:39 AM → iridium248 joined ([email protected])
11:36:17 AM <Dol|Rainbow> I'll smile, nod and wave to the villains before I leave, though. If I'm going to be a hero, I'll have to manage at least being polite to people I share a room with.
11:36:40 AM <Dol|Rainbow> With any luck that won't come back to bite me.
11:36:42 AM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
11:38:37 AM <Wildbow> Stepping out into the hallway, you see Griffe talking to Percival.  Griffe is shirtless, wearing only shorts.  It's a good thing the building is kept warm, though the warmth might well make it so that when you start sweating from the exercise, you ~really~ start sweating.
11:39:06 AM <Wildbow> "Rainbow," Griffe greets you.
11:39:07 AM <Wildbow>  //
11:41:18 AM <Dol|Rainbow> "Hi Griffe," I greet the young, shirtless hero in response. I find myself hoping that sweating isn't too much of an issue, as I have exactly one other set of clothes, before realizing I'm distracting myself.
11:41:48 AM <Dol|Rainbow> I shake my head a bit, trying to clear it, then ask, "Could I talk to you for a bit? I was hoping for some advice, and maybe to ask a couple questions?"
11:42:47 AM <Dol|Rainbow> The hope that he'll accept, showing that I hadn't burned heroic bridges, is obvious in my voice.
11:42:48 AM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
11:44:53 AM → Somecrazyguy joined ([email protected])
11:45:01 AM <Wildbow> "Sure.  We only have a minute, so you'll have to be quick," he replies.
11:45:03 AM <Wildbow>  //
11:46:20 AM <Dol|Rainbow> "Oh, okay," I stammer out, forming a quick list of the things I was hoping to know. "Alright, uh, what's a whirling dervish, is a harrier anything other than a bird, and what does salacious mean?"
11:47:01 AM <Dol|Rainbow> I'd never fought in the past, so a lot of what Crane had said regarding fighting styles went over my head. I was also bothered by what my dad had said about me to the police officer, even if my vocabulary had never been the best.
11:47:03 AM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
11:49:53 AM <Wildbow> "I have no bloody idea on the first bit.  I'd need context," Griffe tells you.  "Except for salacious.  That means... indecent.  Slutty.  Lecherous, but in a sly way?"
11:49:54 AM <Wildbow>  //
11:50:28 AM → Nepene joined ([email protected])
11:51:21 AM <Dol|Rainbow> I reel in surprise, taken aback by what my dad had evidently said about me.
11:51:37 AM → Centra joined ([email protected])
11:53:03 AM <Dol|Rainbow> I'll deal with it later, though. My time right now is limited. "Sorry," I continue, if not quite as steadily, "Crane asked about what kind of fighting style I would want, and I didn't know what half of them meant."
11:53:57 AM <Dol|Rainbow> I shrug, trying to look apologetic. "I thought I would ask you, as you seem," I pause a bit, searching for the word, before hesitantly finishing, "informed?"
11:53:58 AM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
11:55:10 AM <Wildbow> "Oh.  OH," he says.  "Geez.  She's just giving you examples.  What kind of fighting style would you prefer?  What kind of combatant do you want to be?  Do you want to move fluidly around the battlefield, striking at your enemies?  Do you want to dart in and out, striking at your enemies and disabling them?  Or do you want to hit hard?  Or do you have something else in mind, maybe?  Looking...
11:55:11 AM <Wildbow> ...at you, you might not have that 'hitting hard' thing in mind.
11:56:02 AM <Wildbow> "Geez.  She asked you this last night?  She's going to expect an answer in... a minute and thirty seconds.  We should go, and you should come up with an answer to give her if she asks," he says.
11:56:04 AM <Wildbow>  //
11:57:47 AM <Dol|Rainbow> I reel even further, eyes widening in shock. Did Crane expect me to be thinking this over in my sleep? What had I gotten myself into here?
11:58:39 AM <Dol|Rainbow> Thinking it over, the main difficulty I had was that I could never actually seem to distance myself from the people who wanted to hurt me. My dazzles were too fragile to really put up a buffer, so I'd have to do something extra if I wanted to avoid large crowds, or people who were just stronger than me.
11:59:18 AM <Dol|Rainbow> I nervously swallow, trying to think of an answer that would work.
12:00:14 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Okay," I reply to Griffe, trying to hide my nervousness. "Thank you. Moving fluidly sounds good to me, I keep needing to run away, but do you have any tips before I have to answer this?"
12:00:41 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I look down to the ground, not bothering to fake any confidence at all. "I'm kind of out of my depth here."
12:00:42 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
12:03:20 PM <Wildbow> "If you can give her your own answer instead of parroting back an idea she suggested to you, it'll get you bonus points, show her you're interested," he says.  He starts walking toward the stairs, still facing you.  "Speaking of, I really hope you've got proper clothes on under that costume, because we're due downstairs and you -really- can't show up wearing your costume again.  She'll kill...
12:03:22 PM <Wildbow> ...you.  She'll kill you for being late, too."
12:03:23 PM <Wildbow>  //
12:05:53 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "What?!" I cry out in response, nervousness starting to give way to panic. "Okay, no, calm down, you can handle this," I tell myself without much conviction. "Thank you for your help, Griffe," I thank the young man, before dashing off as quickly as I can towards the locker rooms.
12:06:39 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I didn't want a repeat of what happened last night. That was terribly painful, and I don't want to have more interactions with anyone without at least a sports bra.
12:06:50 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Oh God, I hope I could make it in time.
12:06:51 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
12:06:58 PM <Wildbow> ((Ath roll))
12:07:12 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6 Ath
12:07:12 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Ath" [2]  = 2
12:09:13 PM <Wildbow> The locker rooms are adjacent to the main room where Crane holds her classes, and to get to them, you have to pass through the room.  As you pass by, people are already assuming their positions, facing Crane.
12:09:15 PM <Wildbow>  //
12:11:32 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I was going to die. This was the end. My mind races, trying to think of possible solutions. The only one to come to mind is unpleasant, horribly so, but I don't want to die. Crane had been very explicit about the consequences of clothing, but Enfant Terrible had worn just shorts and a normal bra.
12:12:32 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Gritting my teeth, I decide to put my life before my pride.
12:13:48 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I shuck my dress, setting it next to the entrance to the room, and leaving me to enter wearing nothing but my underwear.
12:14:26 PM <Dol|Rainbow> The near panic was not at all helped by being almost naked in a room full of people, but hopefully I would come out of this alive.
12:14:30 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
12:14:38 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((underwear and mask*))
12:15:00 PM <Wildbow> ((Given the nature of your trigger event, this is harder for you than it might ordinarily be.  I'm going to suggest a Guts roll))
12:15:14 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((I appreciate that, Bow.))
12:15:20 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6 Guts
12:15:20 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Guts" [1]  = 1
12:15:33 PM <Somecrazyguy> hahahahahaha
12:15:38 PM <Somecrazyguy> ((my bad))
12:18:33 PM <Wildbow> As you start to disrobe, you feel a deep horror and disgust settle into your bones.  Bad memories, the idea of the other students looking at you in the same way those cameras did- it forms a knot in your belly.  You pause.  If you stopped here, this alone would be bad enough, ruin your day.  But you do have the option of pressing forward, despite the climbing anxiety.
12:18:35 PM <Wildbow>  //
12:20:01 PM → Faustus joined ([email protected])
12:20:08 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I grit my teeth, trying to power through. I form some razzle in my hand, a half baked plan of dazzling myself to look like I was wearing more appropriate clothing.
12:20:09 PM ↔ Faustus nipped out
12:21:35 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Why did I keep ending up in lose-lose situations like this? I had to power through, though. Maybe the dazzle would help. I'd managed to keep a dazzle mask in place last night, maybe I could manage the same with more appropriate clothes.
12:21:44 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I really, truly hoped this would work.
12:21:47 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
12:22:02 PM <Wildbow> ((Using your power?))
12:22:21 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Yup! Faking decency)
12:23:03 PM <Wildbow> ((What sort of costume?))
12:23:28 PM <Wildbow> ((or clothes?))
12:23:51 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Oh, just going for a sports bra and shorts, if more concealing than would be typical for the garments.))
12:26:35 PM <Wildbow> You pull off your dress and slap on the razzle dazzle, painting yourself with the fragile fabric.  The last people are adopting their positions in the room as you glance over.  The pit of negativity still sits in your stomach.  It's hard to put out of mind, especially because those bad memories make you think about your dad, which makes you think about your mom, who is currently in a...
12:26:37 PM <Wildbow> ...hospital room.  That, in turn, feeds into other worries, other fears.  Like where you're going to go when these three days are up.
12:27:49 PM <Wildbow> The teacher bows slightly to the class, and the other students respond in kind, though they bow deeper.
12:27:52 PM <Wildbow> ((Reflexes roll))
12:28:23 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 2h6-1 Reflexes
12:28:23 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Reflexes" [5] (5) -1 = 4
12:28:59 PM <Wildbow> You keep in time with the group as they bow, and continue to do so as she leads the room through some introductory motions, stretching.
12:29:21 PM <Wildbow> Crane watches you throughout.
12:30:28 PM <Wildbow> ((Brawn, Ath checks))
12:30:39 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6 Brawn
12:30:39 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Brawn" [4]  = 4
12:30:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6 Ath
12:30:43 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Ath" [1]  = 1
12:30:51 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Brawn should be -1, and therefore 3. Sorry.))
12:32:00 PM <Wildbow> As the movements get more yoga-like, you find yourself struggling to keep up and to maintain your balance.  You lag behind a little as the opening routine finishes, and you're left panting for breath by the end.  Already, your entire body aches.
12:32:17 PM <Wildbow> If nothing else, though, it's the sort of thing that might help you pose better, after some lessons.
12:33:33 PM <Wildbow> "Now," Crane says.  "Pair off.  There are an odd number of students, so Parfait, you're with me.  The rest of you, I'll be watching while teaching Parfait.  Spar, with powers, and use what I've taught you."
12:33:58 PM <Wildbow> She leaves no special instructions for you, her newest and most inexperienced student.
12:33:59 PM <Wildbow>  //
12:37:13 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I stand in my position, sore and awkward, while I look around trying to spot a partner. Crane certainly wasn't making this training easier than it needed to be. I didn't want to interrupt any of the social dynamics that were already in play, so my best hope is probably going to be finding someone who would be up for sparring with me.
12:37:23 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Ideally someone who isn't Enfant Terrible.
12:38:19 PM <Dol|Rainbow> My hope is for one of the independents, based on Griffe's advice, even if Percival has already broken my ribs.
12:38:20 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
12:41:26 PM <Wildbow> Clique stands off to one side, hair dark, eyeliner heavy, wearing a sports bra and spandex bottoms.  Near her are Percival, platinum haired and scarred, and Pascal, narrow and wearing glasses.
12:41:28 PM <Wildbow>  //
12:43:32 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I nod to myself, deciding to check with Clique. I'd already tried a male independent for a sparring partner, might as well try a girl this time.
12:43:32 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
12:45:24 PM <Wildbow> The teal streak in her hair hidden by the way her hair is tucked back with a hairband, Clique meets your eyes and nods.  She gestures to an open area of the mat, where the two of you will have some elbow room.
12:46:20 PM <Wildbow> "The good news for you is I'm not very good, yet," Clique confesses.
12:46:43 PM → Bel|slep joined ([email protected])
12:46:53 PM <Wildbow> "The bad news," she says, "Is that you're outnumbered."
12:48:00 PM <Wildbow> That said, she distorts as she walks in three different directions at once.  Three different Cliques with three very different body types stand before you.  One shorter than you and quite rotund, the second skinny and tall, and the third muscular.
12:48:42 PM <Wildbow> All have Clique's general style, with dark hair streaked with a color (orange, royal blue and purple, respectively) and a few facial piercings.
12:48:44 PM <Wildbow>  //
12:51:35 PM <Dol|Rainbow> My mouth drops slightly at this show of power, my lack of confidence dropping further. All of my fights with multiple people had been barely survived, and only because I managed to run away. How was I supposed to take out three Cliques at once?
12:52:38 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I shift into the pose Crane had moved me into at the end of the spar last night, gathering razzle into my hands.
12:52:59 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I had some serious doubts about my ability to win, but the important thing was trying and improving. I hoped.
12:53:27 PM <Dol|Rainbow> If that failed, maybe I could disguise myself as a very Silvi looking version of Clique to confuse the other three.
12:53:27 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
12:55:55 PM <Wildbow> Muscled Clique comments, "When you're new, just try to survive.  I can pretty much guarantee that if you can stick it out to the end of the session today, she'll give you some one-on-one time, and that's -always- worthwhile, you get me?"
12:55:58 PM <Wildbow>  //
12:58:38 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I nod, very grateful but still holding my pose. "Thank you, Clique. That's really good to hear." I offer her a smile, but quickly drop it when I have a realization.
12:58:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Please don't kill me?"
12:59:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> The constant references to being killed, survival, and general fatality are not making me feel good about this. Hopefully I'd still be in good enough shape to take Crane up on her offer to leave whenever I want, if I ever truly needed to.
12:59:44 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
1:00:59 PM <Wildbow> "Take the first move," Clique offers.
1:01:02 PM <Wildbow>  //
1:02:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I nod, more than willing to take Clique's offers and advice. I might well need all the help I can get to survive these next few days, not even mentioning whatever would come after that.
1:03:58 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I form a dazzle in my hand, as I'd done with the dazzle sword yesterday. It had failed, but I knew I was capable of it. Crane had suggested that I try to use my rainbow dome to get out of sight and attack, and that's what I was going to do.
1:04:45 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I was going to punch tall and skinny Clique as soon as she couldn't see me, hoping that she'd topple the most readily.
1:04:55 PM <Dol|Rainbow> It wasn't a good plan, but I had to try something.
1:04:55 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
1:06:38 PM <Wildbow> (Creating a dome, then punching tall & skinny?))
1:06:52 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Yes, if I can manage to do both. Elsewise just a dome.))
1:10:23 PM <Wildbow> You fashion a dome, and, on ensconcing yourself within it, you use the cover it provides to hurl yourself at your enemy.  (Your choice of Brawn or Dex roll))
1:10:50 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6-1 Dex
1:10:50 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Dex" [2] -1 = 1
1:11:30 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2h6
1:11:30 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow [6] (6)  = 6
1:14:41 PM <Wildbow> Clique's tall clone easily sidesteps the swing and delivers a light tap to your side ((roll defensive))
1:15:07 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2h6 bash attack, lesser.
1:15:07 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "bash attack, lesser." (5) [6]  = 6
1:15:13 PM <Wildbow> ((Defensive roll))
1:15:14 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6 Withstand
1:15:14 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Withstand" [4]  = 4
1:15:20 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6 Withstand
1:15:20 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Withstand" [4]  = 4
1:15:32 PM <Wildbow> $lesser bash
1:15:32 PM <[ATM]> [Torso] [Any 1] Smashed: Knocked to the ground.  This minor wound goes away at start of next turn.
1:16:06 PM <Wildbow> She sends you tumbling to the floor.  Only one of the three clones actually moved.
1:17:20 PM <Wildbow> "Try again," she says.
1:17:23 PM <Wildbow>  //
1:18:22 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Okay," I grunt out in response as I pull myself back up to my feet. Once I'm up I try to resume my pose, hoping to repeat the same trick.
1:18:55 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I could make this dome-punch combination work. If it works well, maybe I could even come up with a clever name for it.
1:19:28 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I attack the tall one again, hoping to confuse Clique by repeating the exact same plan.
1:19:33 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
1:20:45 PM <Wildbow> ((Attack roll))
1:20:52 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2h6 defensive roll
1:20:52 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "defensive roll" [4] (1)  = 4
1:21:02 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6-1 Dex Attack
1:21:02 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Dex Attack" [5] -1 = 4
1:21:49 PM <Wildbow> This time your attack clips clique.  It's nothing fancy, but it's contact, a blow to the chest that will make her sore for a while, if nothing else.
1:21:52 PM <Wildbow> ((Two brawn rolls))
1:22:15 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 2d6-1!
1:22:15 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow [3]-1 [2]-1 = 2, 1
1:22:37 PM → Fulvus joined ([email protected])
1:23:19 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2d6
1:23:19 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow [4] [1]  = 5
1:23:47 PM <Wildbow> The muscular one of the bunch seizes you by the arms, holding you and keeping you from getting away.
1:24:15 PM <Wildbow> The tall skinny one you just hurt swigs for your abdomen
1:24:21 PM <Wildbow> ((Defensive roll, -1))
1:24:27 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6-1 Withstand
1:24:27 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Withstand" [3] -1 = 2
1:24:46 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2h6
1:24:46 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow (3) [6]  = 6
1:24:47 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Oh, the minor wound from earlier faded, yes?))
1:24:52 PM <Wildbow> ((Yes))
1:25:39 PM <Wildbow> She socks you one in the middle ((lesser wound)), and her clone backs away.  "Maybe you should use your power more?  All the others are doing it."
1:26:42 PM <Wildbow> As you look over your shoulder, you can see the larger group. Enfant terrible has bifurcated her body, with teeth on either half, as if her entire body was a large mouth, with the corners of said mouth at her belly button and the small of her back.
1:26:53 PM Bel|slep → Belaris
1:28:12 PM <Wildbow> Percival heals himself after every few blows, healing his allies while keeping himself in the fight.  Left alone, however, he might be an implacable foe on the battlefield.
1:28:39 PM <Wildbow> Griffe and B.B. are having at it, but their powers aren't clear to you just yet.
1:28:42 PM <Wildbow>  //
1:30:01 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I quickly form and fling a glob of razzle at the muscular Clique's head, hoping to block off her vision with a dazzle helmet.
1:30:29 PM <Wildbow> ((Roll 1d6))
1:30:33 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I have been using my power," I complain, my voice pained.
1:30:35 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6
1:30:35 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow [6]  = 6
1:30:47 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2h6
1:30:47 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow [3] (1)  = 3
1:31:01 PM <Wildbow> ((go ahead))
1:32:17 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I make easily broken structures, this is the best I've got."
1:32:22 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
1:34:16 PM <Wildbow> The skinny one works with the muscular one to remove the helmet, while the third, the heavyset one, approaches you.  She lunges, clearly intent on dragging you to the ground.
1:34:24 PM <Wildbow> ((Roll defense))
1:34:27 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2h6
1:34:27 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow [4] (2)  = 4
1:35:21 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6 Dodge (unless it's dex, in which case -1)
1:35:21 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Dodge (unless it's dex, in which case -1)" [3]  = 3
1:36:40 PM <Wildbow> She catches you around the middle-
1:36:51 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d100 50 below is break
1:36:51 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "50 below is break" [78]  = 78
1:37:19 PM <Wildbow> and the costume holds up, but you feel the solid impact of her fist digging ito your lower belly.
1:37:24 PM <Wildbow>  ((Lesser wound))
1:37:37 PM <Wildbow>  //
1:39:07 PM <Dol|Rainbow> A gasp of breath escapes me with the hit, denying me any chance for a witty retort. I'm on the ground, being held down and punched. My options are badly limited.
1:39:44 PM ⇐ iridium248 quit ([email protected]) Quit: http://www.kiwiirc.com/ - A hand crafted IRC client
1:39:47 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I try to leverage myself into a decent hit on the Clique currently holding me down, hoping an elbow to the face will get her to let go.
1:39:50 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
1:42:32 PM <Wildbow> ((Roll attack))
1:42:37 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2h6 defense
1:42:37 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "defense" [4] (3)  = 4
1:42:50 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6-1 Dex attack
1:42:50 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Dex attack" [1] -1 = 0
1:43:08 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((I feel like that would trigger power incontinence in a bad way. Goodness.))
1:44:43 PM <Wildbow> Your power leaks around your hands, limiting your movements as you strike out.  It's a pretty lame attack, and gets treated as such, with your punching arm being slapped aside with embarrassing ease.
1:45:20 PM <Wildbow> The helmet-glob destroyed, all three leap in your direction.
1:45:24 PM <Wildbow> ((Defensive roll x3))
1:45:38 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 3d6! Withstand
1:45:38 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Withstand" [2] [5] [2] = 2, 5, 2
1:46:14 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2h6!3
1:46:15 PM <[ATM]> Invalid roll.
1:46:21 PM <Wildbow> (( :( ))
1:46:25 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((2h6x3))
1:46:28 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2h6x3
1:46:28 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow (1) [2]  = 2  ::  (2) [5]  = 5  ::  (4) [5]  = 5
1:46:54 PM <Wildbow> $roll 3d2 break on one
1:46:54 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "break on one" [1] [1] [1]  = 3
1:48:35 PM <Wildbow> The three Cliques strike you in concert, using the effect of each other's blows to enable their own.  It's a brutal combination series, and one that seems designed to tear you down and drive you to the ground.  Worse, it's one that happens to strike at your chest and hips, demolishing the illusory clothing you'd created.
1:49:29 PM <Wildbow> As you tumble to the ground, your clothing goes to pieces, leaving you on the floor of the classroom, wearing nothing but your underwear.
1:50:01 PM <Wildbow> Some of the fights around you pause, as eyes turn your way.  There's a few sounds in the background, mocking, but not so articulate that you can make out what they're saying.
1:50:23 PM <Wildbow> That ball of negativity that had found itself into your midsection now threatens to consume you.
1:50:24 PM <Wildbow>  //
1:51:19 PM <Dol|Rainbow> As quickly as I possibly can, I gather razzle and touch it to the ground. I need to be out of sight, right now.
1:51:54 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Maybe dying during training wouldn't be so bad. My hopes of building up a reputation as a hero worth admiring are seeming ever farther fetched.
1:51:55 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
1:52:35 PM <Wildbow> ((Roll guts))
1:52:46 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6 Guts
1:52:46 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Guts" [5]  = 5
1:53:58 PM <Wildbow> Your cumulative injuries and overall exhaustion threatening to consume your senses, you manage to stay conscious.  You erect the razzle around yourself (what's it look like?))
1:54:34 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((just a small dome))
1:55:00 PM <Wildbow> The rainbow-hued dome surrounds you
1:55:16 PM <Wildbow> You can hear some jeers from one place or another in the classroom.
1:55:17 PM <Wildbow>  //
1:56:24 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I grit my teeth, struggling through the pain to try and give myself another dazzle of near decency. I have to get back up there and try to continue.
1:56:42 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Although letting myself simply pass out is a horribly tempting option.
1:56:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
1:59:53 PM <Wildbow> You fashion some clothes around yourself, but it's plain knowledge that most present have now seen you in only your skivvies.  It sits badly with you, mingling with other feelings.  You think of your dad, of your mom in the hospital, of home, a lack of home, of being here, of being hurt, and panic starts to well-
1:59:56 PM <Wildbow> ((Roll guts))
2:00:18 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6 Guts
2:00:18 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Guts" [1]  = 1
2:02:30 PM <Wildbow> Panic starts to overtake you.  Nausea wells, your mental faculties start to feel shaky, and your physical faculties feel shaky in another, more literal way.  A part of you wants nothing more than to devolve into simple, primal, fight-or-flight mode.
2:03:03 PM <Wildbow> ((Pick two: nausea, mental freakout, physical freakout, fight/flight))
2:03:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Mental & physical freakouts))
2:04:29 PM Faustus → Faustaway
2:05:44 PM <Wildbow> Your hands tremble, and you find yourself making noises at the stress of the recent moments and the seemingly unwinnable confrontation.  You're not functioning on a higher-brain level at this point, and your body is no longer at the point where you can pull off 'normal'.
2:05:58 PM <Wildbow> You feel disconnected form it all.  A small panic attack, here, in the midst of a serious fight.
2:06:00 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:07:31 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I was going to die. This was it, the end of it. Crane was going to kill me, or get rid of me, or let Enfant Terrible eat me. I'd never be able to be a hero after this. I'll never be able to see Mom again. Why did I have to be so difficult to her? None of this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been so stubborn about my stupid dad. What had Mom ever done to warrant this from me?
2:07:49 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I won't even get to see her again. It's all over, and I never even accomplished anything.
2:08:29 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I try to curl up, around my pain, and thank whatever small mercies decided my power would only be good for letting me hide.
2:08:30 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
2:10:47 PM <Wildbow> An undefinable amount of time passes.  When all clears away, and thoughts start making sense again, you're lying on your side on the ground, clad only in your underwear and the costume you painted yourself in.  Many of the others stand near you, staring down, their eyes like so many cameras.
2:11:03 PM <Wildbow> "Stand up," Crane orders you.
2:11:05 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:12:29 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I gulp, and try to ignore everything that's happening. There's just Crane and myself in the room. I can do this.
2:12:40 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I may not have any hope, but I have to do what she says or I'll be even worse off.
2:13:09 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I try to lift myself off the floor, following Crane's orders. I don't have another choice.
2:13:10 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
2:14:13 PM <Wildbow> "The rest of you carry on with the sparring," Crane orders.  She looks down at you.  "You.  With me."
2:14:22 PM <Wildbow> She indicates the way to the back door of the facility.
2:14:24 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:14:45 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I nod, saying nothing and following her orders.
2:14:47 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
2:14:51 PM ↔ CupofCoffee popped in
2:16:55 PM <Wildbow> She leads you to the back of the building, still inside.  There's an electric kettle there, and you watch as Crane puts it on.
2:17:38 PM <Wildbow> "You're a challenge," she says.  "A bet I might lose.  What on earth possessed you to show up to morning training wearing nothing but your underwear?"
2:17:41 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:19:39 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I thought I ha-didn't have time to change," I meekly answer, looking down at the ground. "You said not to show up in normal clothes, so I, I thought, well, not wearing anything would be better than showing up in my costume..."
2:20:14 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I trail off as I finish my stammered explanation, feeling distinctly like I've managed to disappoint everyone in my life. Even people I'd only met the day prior.
2:20:15 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
2:21:50 PM <Wildbow> The electric kettle is quick to boil.  She pours out some green tea, and sets it before you.
2:22:03 PM <Wildbow> "Drink.  Hydrate."
2:22:07 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:23:00 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I drink without hesitation. I'm not going to stop following her orders. I might not be hopeless, if I could just stay obedient.
2:23:03 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
2:25:54 PM <Wildbow> "Good.  I thought you might be one of those children who find their way to me, looking lost and disheveled, and who quickly pull themselves together.  You are having some clear difficulty with the second part of that exercise.  Why?  What happened?"
2:25:55 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:28:52 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "It's my dad," I answer as I start to gather some razzle. "He, um, well, he took photos of me. He did other things, too, but it was mostly that."
2:29:46 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I hang my head a bit, applying the razzle to myself in order to make a dazzle of my usual costume. "I went along with it, all of it. It took me most of a week to realize what was happening, then I got powers."
2:30:06 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I drink more of the tea, trying to keep myself functional and together.
2:30:38 PM <Wildbow> ...
2:30:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Then he ruined my life, and now I have nowhere to go but here, and I'm terrible at this."
2:30:50 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Nix that, then.))
2:30:54 PM <Wildbow> ((is fine))
2:31:16 PM <Wildbow> Crane doesn't appear to be a particularly empathetic or responsive listener, but she at least listens, rather than adding her two cents or commenting on what you're saying.
2:31:17 PM <Wildbow>  ///
2:33:42 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Being indecent freaks me out," I continue, looking Crane in the eye and trying to show my honest feelings. "I really don't want to disappoint you, though. I want to be a hero, and you're my best chance of doing that."
2:34:22 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I avert my gaze again, then finish in a rush, "Also my mom's in the hospital, my dad wants custody, the police are after me, and I have no other options."
2:34:23 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
2:36:18 PM <Wildbow> "I'm not interested in teaching you to be a hero.  I'm interested in teaching you to be competent," she says.
2:36:48 PM ⇐ Gundor quit ([email protected]) A TLS packet with unexpected length was received.
2:37:06 PM <Wildbow> She tops up your green tea befoer she serves any to herself.  Then she gets a box of candy and places it on the table in front of you.  It will, given the fact that you woke up and immediately jumped into the thick fo things, be your de-facto breakfast.
2:38:56 PM <Wildbow> "I felt powerless as a child.  The powers that be saw fit to balance the scales and correct that.  I've made it my duty to keep others from experiencing that, while adding to the beauty and grace of the world by furthering my art.  Seeing you as you are now... frustrates and disappoints me.  That's on me, more than it is on you."
2:39:19 PM <Wildbow>  //
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2:41:27 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I curl in on myself somewhat, then think better of it and straighten my back a bit. As upset as I was, I was more hungry. I hadn't eaten since I had most of a fish the night prior, and Crane was offering food. I'd be a fool to turn it down.
2:43:50 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I'm sorry, Crane," I stammer out before starting to eat. "I don't want to disappoint you, or anybody. I'm just..." I wave my hands a bit, frustrated. "I'm not good at things. I want to be, and I'll do whatever it takes to get there."
2:45:03 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I slump a bit, despite my earlier convictions, as I continue talking, "I just don't know if you have the time for that, or would even want to."
2:45:17 PM <Dol|Rainbow> It was good to hear Crane's reasoning, though. It helped to explain a lot of her character.
2:45:34 PM <Dol|Rainbow> As I was finished talking, I went back to the box of candy in order to eat some. I was famished.
2:45:35 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
2:48:05 PM <Wildbow> "I have time.  When you're done treating yourself, I'll give you a lesson.  Something basic.  Had you gone to more lengths to be creative with your power in the fight against Clique, I might be more incline to teach you something special.  For now, this will do.  But a question for you first.  I asked you last night what fighting style you'd want to strive for.  Have you made a decision?"
2:48:07 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:50:02 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I take a few moments to think it over before answering, idly hoping that she'll still teach me the 'something special' in the future. I should strive to be more creative with my power as well, but I'd have to figure out how.
2:52:01 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I think back to my previous several fights, then nod. "I need to stay on the move. I'm not very strong, and I don't think that I'll be able to just punch my enemies into submission."
2:52:47 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I'd like to move around a lot, have more space to make dazzles that'll last longer than a few seconds. Whittle down whoever I'm fighting against, rather than shattering them outright."
2:53:54 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I flash a hopeful smile at Crane, then finish, "It would also be amazing if I could actually climb on my dazzles. I know it's possible, but I'm awful at it, and I shouldn't be."
2:53:55 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
2:56:02 PM <Wildbow> "Create some of this... dazzle? for me?"
2:56:03 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:58:10 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I reach out with a hand, amassing razzle and forming it into a dazzle cube the size of my hand. I offer the dazzle, hopefully a good example of the stuff, to Crane.
2:58:11 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
2:59:03 PM <Wildbow> She prods and tests it, analyzing it for weak points and stresses.
2:59:55 PM <Wildbow> "Did you know, miss Rainbow, that soap bubbles are not actually popped by the sharp edge of whatever it is that touches them?"
3:00:58 PM <Wildbow> "Soap bubbles are pierced by heat."
3:02:42 PM <Wildbow> "My feeling, looking at this, is that there is no reason this couldn't theoretically support your weight, given the right shape.  Finish your tea, finish whatever candy you want to eat.  Then come with me for an exercise."
3:02:44 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:02:58 PM → Gundor joined ([email protected])
3:04:35 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I happily comply, quickly eating and drinking my fill. It might not be as nutritious as a fish dinner, but food was food. I was also terribly excited to see what Crane was thinking of.
3:04:37 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
3:06:17 PM <Wildbow> As you move away from the table, she puts her hands on your shoulders and back, adjusting your posture.
3:07:04 PM <Wildbow> "Produce your power, again," she instructs.
3:07:06 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:07:27 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I do so, reforming the same dazzle cube I had made earlier.
3:07:28 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
3:08:19 PM <Wildbow> "Look at how it springs into being.  It pushes upward and outward.  With this in mind, throw it down, step on it before it's fully manifested."
3:08:21 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:09:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Somewhat nervous about what might happen, but taking comfort from Crane's proximity in case something goes wrong, I attempt to do as she said.
3:09:50 PM <Wildbow> ((Ath roll x2))
3:10:01 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 2d6! Ath
3:10:01 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Ath" [2] [2] = 2, 2
3:12:06 PM <Wildbow> As she'd suggested, the growths do spring into being.  There's a solidity to them, and they're most solid in the moments of their formation.
3:13:17 PM <Wildbow> In the process, however, they leave you with very little footing.  You effectively catapult yourself one foot up into the air and one foot forward, and careen onto the ground.
3:13:58 PM <Wildbow> "If you want to try again, I won't stop you.  If you don't, then I can explain where I believe this might go."
3:14:00 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:15:16 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "One more try, then an explanation?" I ask, both stubborn and hopeful. I had an idea of where this was going, and it seemed like it could lead to wonderful things.
3:15:35 PM <Wildbow> "As you wish."
3:15:39 PM <Dol|Rainbow> My dazzles could get to be fairly large, after all.
3:15:46 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
3:15:53 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 2d6! Ath
3:15:53 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Ath" [6] [3] = 6, 3
3:17:51 PM <Wildbow> The maneuver, this time, does launch you a moderate distance into the air, only a little bit more than it might have if you'd jumped on your own.  You stumble on landing.
3:19:09 PM <Wildbow> "Now for explanations," she says.  She moves the chairs away from the table, then turns to the cupboard.  She removes jars of jam, peanut butter, powdered milk, large cans of pineapple juce, and more.
3:20:05 PM <Wildbow> She gestures, and a large droplet appears in the air.  A massive lens, through which everything appears flipped upside down.
3:20:19 PM <Wildbow> "Now... this is my... what did you call it?  Dazzle?  Let us both pretend I have your power.
3:21:18 PM <Wildbow> She holds all of the assorted containers and jars in her arms as she steps up onto the chair.  She ends up poised, standing on the chair back, maintaining her balance so the chair doesn't tip over.
3:21:32 PM <Wildbow> "I want to reach a high place.  So, I throw down-"
3:22:53 PM <Wildbow> She lets the jars fall in a controlled way, tapping one with a foot to control its movement, before hopping up.  The jam lands atop the peanut putter, which lands balanced on the chair back.  She stands on the stack of condiments and furniture.
3:23:23 PM <Wildbow> *butter
3:24:07 PM ⇐ Faustaway quit ([email protected]) Quit: http://www.kiwiirc.com/ - A hand crafted IRC client
3:24:30 PM <Wildbow> "Not sustainable for long, but I can hop up further, using the technique in quick succession.
3:25:17 PM <Wildbow> "Or I might throw it against the wall, and use it to help me run along the wall as I might along the ground.  Do you see what I mean?  Used with care, it's a way to produce stepping stones and footholds."
3:25:25 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:26:19 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "That was amazing," I reply, utterly boggled at the idea and demonstration. "Crane, you are so incredibly cool. Wow."
3:26:39 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I take a few moments to really think about it, letting the idea sink in.
3:27:33 PM <Dol|Rainbow> A realization hits me, and I frown a bit. "This seems like something incredibly useful that will require a lot of very painful practice to get correct. Especially considering how bad my aim is."
3:27:42 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Do you really think I could figure that out?"
3:27:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
3:30:43 PM <Wildbow> "I think, with some careful lessons, you could become able to do this reliably.  I find that those with powers have something... deep, deep inside of them, that craves to work with this kind of technique.  The young find it more easily.  I can teach you martial arts, and I can teach you a kind of reliability with this technique.  But I can't work with you while you're struggling with outside...
3:30:45 PM <Wildbow> ...distractions.  I want you focused.  Which means you have a task to look after.  Extinguish the distractions."
3:30:46 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:32:13 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I frown, confused. "You want me to extinguish my dad?"
3:32:26 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I quickly shake my head, rethinking it. "No, no, that's wrong. Sorry."
3:33:36 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I look at her again, somewhat hopeful. "Would you be able to find out what happened to my mom? She was hurt while working at the hospital, and I don't know what happened."
3:33:54 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "If I knew how she was, I don't think I would mind my dad being out there as much."
3:34:07 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I offer the older cape a nervous smile, hoping she doesn't get upset.
3:34:09 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
3:35:36 PM <Wildbow> "I don't believe in giving a man a fish.  I believe in equipping that man to fish for himself, and feed himself for the remainder of his life.  No, Rainbow, I will not investigate this for you.
3:37:15 PM <Wildbow> "That isn't to say I'm heartless.  With this in mind, I'll say that if you were to recruit anyone to help, then I wouldn't enforce a particularly strict curfew.  Gather allies, direct them, use them to resolve the situation you're struggling with.  Do you understand?"
3:37:29 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:39:29 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I think so," I answer, not entirely certain. I think she was saying that she would give me extra free time if I tried to solve this myself, and encouraged my doing so by making friends.
3:40:09 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "So, I should try to make friends with the other students, and try to figure out how to solve this myself?"
3:40:10 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
3:41:24 PM <Wildbow> "Yes.  Take some with you.  I know they get up to things between my morning and evening classes.  Put them to constructive use.  You'll learn from them and, provided you bring them back in one piece, you should rise in my eyes and the eyes of others, in esteem."
3:41:25 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:43:32 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I nod in affirmation, more certain than my previous answer. "Thank you, Crane."
3:45:47 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I then decide to take a chance, and try to resolve an issue. "Ah, um, I had a question," I say, quite nervously, "about the future, I mean. Once this training camp is over, if I continue trying my best and being obedient, could I keep training with you?"
3:46:45 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "You said that several weeks would be helpful, and I don't want to stop learning only a few days into it."
3:47:15 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I offer a nervous smile, not voicing that it would assure me of having somewhere to sleep for the next couple weeks as well.
3:47:16 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
3:48:28 PM <Wildbow> "We can revisit the discussion when the time would come to part.  But I would not jump straight to saying no.  It may well be that this is the only way to make a proper combatant out of you."
3:49:18 PM <Wildbow> "Now," she says.  "Let's talk about punching and kicking form, shall we?  We can go through the techniques, and see if we can't instill some basics?"
3:49:20 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:50:15 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I nod, thinking back to my failed attempts to punch either Percival or Clique. "That sounds really good, thank you."
3:50:18 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ||
3:51:51 PM <Wildbow> The pair of you work through the basics of form, of punching and kicking, effectively striking at enemies.  As you finally start settling into the rhythm, she takes a candy from the box and pops it into your mouth, as sudden and eerily human gesture of kindness.
3:53:20 PM <Wildbow> It takes roughly half an hour, and leaves you dripping with sweat.  She decides it's best to cut your training short after those thirty minutes and go look after the others, and you follow.
3:54:05 PM <Wildbow> As you return to the main room, however, you can see a mild commotion.  What was once eight students is now nine.  Much as you arrived last night, another student has joined the ranks.
3:55:09 PM <Wildbow> Clad in armor that seems power-made, he stands in the company of some adults, several of whom are talking to B.B.  Just behind him is a statue of an archer, which turns its head as he does.
3:55:39 PM <Wildbow>  ////
3:55:54 PM <Wildbow> ((Gonna call it quits because I'm sleeping, and because I'd like to wrap this up with Lex))
3:56:13 PM ⇐ Megafire quit ([email protected]) Ping timeout: 181 seconds
3:56:15 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Yeah, that seems like an excellent stopping point))



12:40:55 PM <Wildbow> Last time, in Weaver Dice: Lausanne, Silvi runs away from her father and police after hearing her mother is in the hospital.  She makes her way to the dojo of the villain she met on her first night out in costume, and has made herself a student of the martial arts cape.  Her first two training sessions have been a struggle, but Crane has hinted about additional techniques.  Meanwhile,...
12:40:56 PM <Wildbow> ...outside of the training, she's stuck with the group of villains among the students wanting to get up to trouble, and being fairly insistent on bringing her along.
12:41:11 PM Lexicon → Lex|Panopy, Dolyn → Dol|Rainbow
12:44:39 PM <Wildbow> Elsewhere, Lucas, bearing powers that mirrored those of his crush and friend, went out in costume, only to find his friend's powers had pushed him over the edge.  Discovering his friend to be a dangerous murderer, he formed a temporary alliance with a group of heroes and devised a clever ruse, before stopping his friend.  But in the close of the fight, his friend, Anthony, used his emotion...
12:44:40 PM <Wildbow> ...manipulating power, putting both Lucas and one of the heroes into a rage, which served as suicide by cop.  In the rage, Lucas killed Anthony.
12:45:44 PM → Megafire joined ([email protected])
12:46:00 PM <Wildbow> His conviction to do good won out, but at the cost of someone he cared about.  In the wake of the event, the heroes, the Dogs of Valor, bring Lucas to Crane's doorstep.
12:46:05 PM <Wildbow>  ---
12:46:30 PM → Teller joined ([email protected])
12:47:52 PM <Wildbow> As Crane looks away from her lesson in progress, the leader of the Dogs leans close to Lucas and murmurs, "You can decide if you want to stay or not, but our emotion reader thinks you shouldn't be alone right now."
12:47:53 PM <Wildbow>  //
12:49:36 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
12:59:14 PM <Lex|Panopy> Their emotion reader —Albescent, I vaguely recall— is probably right. But right now I don't want to have to face anyone. i just want to go home, and lie in my bed and forget everything.
12:59:14 PM <Lex|Panopy> But I can't do that. If I leave myself with no other distractions I know, I just fucking know I'll start to think about him.
12:59:23 PM <Lex|Panopy> No, I owe it to the people here to be a hero, and this place could make me a better one.
12:59:23 PM <Lex|Panopy> I force myself to look the leader in the eyes.
12:59:23 PM <Lex|Panopy> "I'll stay." It sounds weak, but I don't have the energy to care at the moment.
12:59:23 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Thanks for... Thank you."
12:59:36 PM <Lex|Panopy> /
12:59:41 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
1:01:37 PM <Wildbow> "A word?" Albescent asks Crane.  The Dogs join Crane in stepping off to the side to have a private conversation.  It leaves you facing down a group of youths.  A muscular, shirtless boy with the scruff of a beard and black tousled hair, a girl with a braid, green sports bra and shorts, a boy with glasses, again shirtless, a girl with a streak in her hair... nine in total.
1:02:16 PM <Wildbow> A few of them look like nastier sorts.  The looks in their eyes mirror something you saw in Anthony's in the last minutes.
1:02:18 PM <Wildbow>  //
1:02:44 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
1:15:17 PM <Lex|Panopy> I do my best not to flinch as I recognise those looks. These are children, none of them could be any older than me, but they still remind me of him. Are.. they like him? Or... was he like them?
1:15:17 PM <Lex|Panopy> Anthony wasn't like that before, he was a good person. There's no way these kids started off like he was. Something must have changed him. My Anthony wouldn't have done what Citizen did. What these kid could end up doing. So what was it?
1:15:17 PM <Lex|Panopy> Maybe... maybe I could have could have caught it? Seen it coming, and helped him, stopped him from becoming Citizen. There's no way I can rest unless I know if I could have helped. I turn my empathy sense on the nine students before me. What is it that sets the nastier seeming ones apart?
1:15:27 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
1:17:52 PM <Wildbow> There are three.  The smallest is dressed in a pink bra and shorts, her hair blonde.  She brims with hostility and violence, as if she's just barely holding herself back.  Her focus changes repeatedly, from person to person, and it's never wholly pleasant or warm.
1:18:48 PM <Wildbow> The boy of the trio is tall, dark haired, and shirtless, wearing skintight shorts.  He reminds you of Anthony maybe more than anyone.  He's cold, detached, arrogant, and you get the feeling he's searching you for weaknesses already.
1:19:10 PM <Wildbow> And the oldest of the trio, maybe eighteen or so, is a young woman with a pixie cut.  She exudes confidence and amusement.
1:19:12 PM <Wildbow>  //
1:23:30 PM <Wildbow> ((Dol, you're welcome to chime in, whether you want to address him directly or no))
1:24:27 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Ah, thanks Bow.))
1:25:09 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
1:29:12 PM <Dol|Rainbow> A redheaded girl still dripping in sweat, wearing both an outfit composed of too many pastels and a tired smile, steps forwards from the group with her hand outstretched towards Lucas.
1:29:12 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Hello," she greets in German-accented French. "I'm Rainbow Idol. I just got here last night, so it looks like we'll be new to this together."
1:29:12 PM <Dol|Rainbow> /
1:29:16 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
1:29:58 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
1:40:54 PM <Lex|Panopy> My reading of the three students is interrupted by a girl, mid-teens probably, moving at me, outstretching her hand in my direction. I snap my gaze to look at her, slightly too fast to feel natural. She's not one of the three, why is she... She's just introducing herself, I'm over-reacting.
1:40:54 PM <Lex|Panopy> I shake her hand quickly, and reply "Panoply. Guess so."
1:40:55 PM <Lex|Panopy> I might have said more, but I found my gaze drifting over to the dark haired boy again.
1:40:55 PM <Lex|Panopy> Villains. The word has been skirting the edge of my mind for a while now, and it comes to the forefront now that I'm looking at these three. The ones who remind me of Anthony. Are they just... bad? Was Anthony like this all along, and I just didn't realise?
1:40:55 PM <Lex|Panopy> No, that's impossible. I couldn't have missed something like that. I barely took my eyes off of him, I'd have known if he was evil.
1:40:55 PM <Lex|Panopy> I shake myself a little, don't get distracted. I turn my focus back on the girl in pastels .
1:41:00 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
1:42:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
1:46:23 PM <Dol|Rainbow> She's frightened. She smiles, somewhat narrowly, despite her feelings. Upon closer inspection, her outfit is starting to fall apart at her joints. Not as fabric might, but as though it were a brittle object starting to break. "Good to meet you, I guess," she finishes before taking a quick step back into the group.
1:46:24 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
1:46:53 PM <Wildbow> ...
1:48:54 PM <Wildbow> The girl with the brown braid and the green sports bra and shorts steps forward.  "I see you met my dad, Panoply?  I go by B.B."
1:48:55 PM <Wildbow>  //
1:49:21 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
1:57:00 PM <Lex|Panopy> Her dad? When would I- wait, the leader of the Dogs? He's a father? It's just strange to think that a cape could be a parent.
1:57:00 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Hi." That doesn't feel like enough, so I add, "Does that stand for something?"
1:57:03 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
1:59:18 PM <Wildbow> "It does, but I'm trying to move away from the name.  There are groups that register mercenaries and vigilantes, and the Dogs have registered.  I cannot change my name easily, and it's a name I chose when I was very young.  If you are with them, then you are a hero, I believe?"
1:59:19 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:00:00 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
2:04:05 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Yeah. I'm here to try to be better at it." I'm quite curious of what the name was, but even I can tell B.B doesn't want anyone to pry.
2:04:05 PM <Lex|Panopy> "You're one too?"
2:04:12 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
2:04:48 PM <Wildbow> "I'm a Dog of Valor, even if my parents want me to train and train and train before they deem me ready.  I'll probably be twenty before they let me go out on my own.  I'm antsy," she says.
2:05:16 PM <Wildbow> "Looks like we're even in numbers," the girl in pink says, stepping forward.
2:06:30 PM <Wildbow> "The new guy, B.B., and Griffe for the heroes, we've got Percy and Clique and Pascal for the undeclared, and then we've got Calibre, me, Parfait, and Rainbow for the crooks.  Heroes aren't outnumbered two to one anymore."
2:06:32 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:07:00 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
2:08:54 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow Idol lifts a hand, waving it slightly for attention. "Hi, yes, Rainbow Idol, hero. Not a crook," she informs, her tone frustrated. She had no idea why people kept thinking she was a villain, given her outfit.
2:08:55 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
2:09:22 PM <Wildbow> "She doesn't know what she wants," the girl in pink says.  "She's with us."
2:09:47 PM <Wildbow> The boy with the dark hair, Calibre, comments, "Enfant is a bit spoiled.  Once she sets her teeth into something, she doesn't let it go."
2:09:49 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:10:02 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
2:10:38 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow crosses her arms, frustration evident in her face. "I'm not going to be a villain just because you keep saying so, Enfant Terrible. I'm Rainbow Idol!"
2:10:39 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
2:11:53 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
2:15:46 PM → Faustus joined ([email protected])
2:20:16 PM <Lex|Panopy> I crack a slight smile, though it's tinged with bitterness. If only I could have handled Citizen like that. At least now I have names to put to the young villains.
2:20:16 PM <Lex|Panopy> Out of curiosity, I focus my empathy on Rainbow Idol. She was the first to step up to me, and seemed fairly friendly. But the strange wear on her clothes, and her predicament here, was odd, to say the least.  And if this Enfant was going to hassle her... I'd felt what her focus was like, and it wasn't something I'd wish on a good person.
2:20:18 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
2:20:36 PM <Wildbow> ((Whatcha feeling, Dol?))
2:21:11 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Pleased about the private session with Crane, worried about how I'm functionally naked, and generally horribly concerned about my current state of affairs. Not sure which is more prevalent.))
2:21:30 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Oh, and annoyed with Enfant Terrible.))
2:22:13 PM <Wildbow> ((@ Lex - it's probably not that detailed a picture, keep in mind))
2:22:29 PM <Lex|Panopy> ((Got it))
2:24:44 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
2:34:01 PM <Lex|Panopy> At odds to her bright, carefree outfit, I get feeling Rainbow Idol is a very worried person. Some kind of self-consciousness mixed with shame, and a general sense of worry plagues my sense of her. I don't want to leave her with Enfant if I can at all help it.
2:34:01 PM <Lex|Panopy> "So, I guess I push it out of balance a bit? Four heroes, three undeclared, and three villains." Maybe if I make a point of it, Enfant might give up. Her attention earlier seemed flighty at best.
2:34:04 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
2:34:46 PM → Camtist joined ([email protected])
2:34:54 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
2:35:47 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow straightens her posture a bit with a more earnest smile. "Thanks, Panoply!"
2:35:50 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
2:38:18 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
2:44:32 PM <Lex|Panopy> Though now Enfant might feel like it's a challenge. If my recount had gone uncommented upon, she might have ignored it. Now, I'm a little worried Enfant might try setting those teeth Calibre mentioned. Perhaps a big enough distraction might make her forget about it. At the moment though, I'll wait and see.
2:44:38 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
2:45:48 PM <Wildbow> "Yeah," Parfait comments.  "I probably wouldn't have done that."
2:46:17 PM <Wildbow> Before you can ask why or push the subject, Crane approaches.  She looks Lucas over, head to toe.
2:46:30 PM <Wildbow> "Do you need a place to stay?" she asks.
2:46:32 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:47:11 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
2:51:28 PM <Lex|Panopy> Her bluntness throws me for a second.
2:51:28 PM <Lex|Panopy> "I have a place. To stay, I mean. For this month." I feel like an idiot, tripping over my words.
2:51:28 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
2:53:11 PM ⇐ Faustus quit ([email protected]) Quit: http://www.kiwiirc.com/ - A hand crafted IRC client
2:54:20 PM <Wildbow> She nods.  "The Dogs of Valor are available if you want them at a later point.  They were impressed with you and said I might be interested in working with you.  Should you wish to contact them, B.B. will put you in touch.  My name is Crane, and I teach people martial arts custom tailored to them.  You may or may not want to work for me.  For now, lessons are over, but my students are free...
2:54:22 PM <Wildbow> ...to do as they will for the day.  Should you want a lesson, come back tonight."
2:54:55 PM <Wildbow> She pauses.  "B.B.?  Your father has asked that you look after him for the time being.  Don't get into too much trouble."
2:54:56 PM <Wildbow>  //
2:55:32 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
2:59:41 PM <Lex|Panopy> Huh. They were impressed with me? I unconsciously stand up straighter.
2:59:41 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Thank you, Crane. I will." Any opportunity to be a better hero is one I'll take. I'm not too sure how I feel about being babysat though. At least B.B. seems pretty nice.
2:59:41 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
3:01:37 PM <Wildbow> "Dismissed," she says.  She steps away from the group.  The group of villains gives you a few sidelong glances before they walk off to get changed.  The undeclareds, Griffe, B.B. and Rainbow remain.
3:01:50 PM <Wildbow> "Guess you have permission to go out after all," Griffe says.
3:02:03 PM <Wildbow> "Maybe," B.B. replies
3:02:51 PM <Wildbow> "Any ideas on what you want to do?  We could patrol, but there's a chance the trio over there is looking to get into trouble..." Griffe says.
3:03:11 PM <Wildbow> As he says it, Enfant Terrible looks back, eyeing both Panoply and Rainbow.
3:03:33 PM <Wildbow> "...and yeah, I actually agree with Parfait.  I wouldn't have done that.  They might actually be gunning for you two now."
3:03:40 PM <Wildbow> "Sore losers," B.B. says.
3:03:42 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:04:01 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
3:07:39 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I've been saying I'm a hero this entire time, though!" Rainbow complains, her shoulders slumping. "Why does everybody think the worst of me like that?" A flash of sadness and betrayal goes through her as she says that, as she thinks of the events from the prior night.
3:07:39 PM <Dol|Rainbow> She looks around a bit at the gathered heroes and independents thoughtfully. "I need to go put on actual physical clothes really quick, but after that, do you think you guys would be willing to help me with something?" She asks, her voice hopeful. "I need to know what happened to a hospital worker last night."
3:07:40 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
3:08:44 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
3:15:01 PM <Lex|Panopy> I'm not entirely sure how to respond to the clothes part of that sentence, so I focus on the other bit. I don't know why she needs to check on a hospital worker, but it sounds harmless enough. And the villains wouldn't start anything in a hospital, surely.
3:15:02 PM <Lex|Panopy> "I'd be willing to help. And I guess we could patrol on the way there and back?" I reply, glancing at the other two heroes.
3:15:02 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
3:17:22 PM <Wildbow> "For this hospital task, should we be in civilian clothes or costume?" B.B. asks.
3:17:24 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:17:33 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
3:20:06 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I don't actually know," Rainbow answers, somewhat uncertainly. "But," she trails off, pausing for a little while, seeming to struggle with her words. "The police will be there, and I can't let them see me." She slumps again, blatantly upset with herself over being a hero who is wanted by the cops.
3:20:07 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I'm going to go get dressed, back in a bit," she adds in, quickly walking off towards the hallway rather than the dressing room.
3:20:08 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
3:21:49 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
3:23:19 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((If memory serves, I left the dress portion of my costume in the hallway. I need to grab that before I can actually shower and such.))
3:23:31 PM <Wildbow> ((Yeah))
3:28:48 PM <Lex|Panopy> So the police are after Rainbow? Or at least her civilian identity.  It's not exactly damning, but it's still fairly suspicious. Maybe it's the for the same reason Enfant was so keen on labeling Rainbow as a villain. I watch her leave the room, then turn to Griffe and B.B.
3:28:48 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Is Enfant going to be a problem? I was trying to help Rainbow, but with the reactions I saw, I'm not sure if I did."
3:28:48 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
3:29:16 PM <Lex|Panopy> -the
3:30:46 PM <Wildbow> "Enfant is always a problem," Griffe says.  "She reins it in while working under Crane, but she's the kind of lunatic who thinks it's a good idea to attack Taoua Tower while it has a perimeter of police and capes protecting it, and charge through the interior, where a whole hero team has set up shop."
3:30:49 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:36:47 PM <Lex|Panopy> Suddenly I am far less sure about her not making trouble at the hospital. I got that she was unstable, but that's just crazy.
3:36:47 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Taoua Tower? That's where the Angel is, right? What could she have been hoping to achieve?"
3:36:47 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
3:37:29 PM <Wildbow> "No idea.  Lunatic," he says.
3:38:49 PM <Wildbow> "You want to come upstairs?  Just need to get ready, and Crane will be upset if we let you out of our sight while we're supposed to be watching you."
3:38:51 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:39:04 PM <Wildbow> ((Dol, what's your plan for getting dressed/sorted out to go?))
3:40:14 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Was going to grab my dress and the towel B.B. lent me, then go take a very quick shower and put my full regalia back on, changing out of it later if needs be.))
3:46:14 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Yeah, sure. I might need to change to, depending on if we're going uncostumed."
3:46:14 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
3:47:23 PM <Wildbow> "We should ask Rainbow for something more definite, and work out a plan."
3:48:18 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:50:06 PM <Wildbow> ((Assuming you move upstairs to intercept her, discussion can carry over to the showers))
3:50:54 PM <Lex|Panopy> ((Yeah))
3:52:05 PM <Wildbow> You head upstairs, to where Rainbow is just heading back downstairs with dress on and towel in hand.
3:52:06 PM <Wildbow>  //
3:52:17 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
3:53:29 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Oh, hey," Rainbow remarks in surprise. "Did you need something from upstairs?" She seems a little offput by the idea of someone trying to talk to her after what she had said to the assembled group before she left.
3:53:31 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
3:58:05 PM <Lex|Panopy> "We wanted to to know whether you wanted us all in costume for the hospital thing. Oh, and the others need to change anyway." It feels awkward following people around. Hopefully we can go soon. I need to stay occupied.
3:58:05 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
4:01:07 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow averts her gaze, deliberately not looking at Panoply. "I'm really not sure," she answers, her voice quiet and hesitant. "All of my plans so far have ended really badly, so I was hoping to get advice."
4:02:58 PM <Dol|Rainbow> She lets out a breath of frustration, then continues, "If we go as civilians, the police will recognize me. If capes ask about my mom, they'll be suspicious about why they care." She looks back at Panoply with a distinct lack of hope in her expression. "Anything I come up with is going to end badly."
4:02:59 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
4:10:30 PM <Lex|Panopy> Her mom? Oh. The hospital worker she wants to find out about...
4:10:30 PM <Lex|Panopy> I glance at the other two heroes with me. Rainbow Idol had essentially just exposed her real identity. She must be desperate.
4:10:30 PM <Lex|Panopy> "What if someone else visited as a civilian? I could pretend to be one of her friend's kids, something like that? Unless anyone has powers that could help?"
4:10:30 PM <Lex|Panopy> This is a pretty involved situation, and my powers aren't much of a help here.
4:10:31 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
4:14:38 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow looks down at the bundle of cloth in her hands, then back up at Panoply with a small smile. "Is there any way we could talk about this once I've actually put my dress back on? I'd really like to get that done as soon as I can."
4:14:45 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
4:16:52 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Right! Sorry, I'll- uh... yes. You go, do that."
4:16:52 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
4:17:53 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow smiles at Panoply again, then quickly continues descending the stairs and heading towards the showers.
4:17:55 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
4:18:42 PM <Wildbow>  You make your way down to the showers, where the other students are midway through or wrapping up.
4:19:16 PM <Wildbow> "Rainbow!" Enfant greets you.  She grins, revealing a mouth of sharp teeth.  "You're too slow, you're going to hold us back.  We've got stuff to do."
4:19:18 PM <Wildbow>  //
4:21:07 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Uh, yes," I quickly reply, wanting to put on actual clothes again as quickly as I could. The sparring that morning had left me in a very bad way, and actual clothing needed to happen as soon as I could make it.
4:22:06 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I'm going to take a shower and change," I inform the villain, hefting my bundle to illustrate my point. Hopefully she'd just drop the joke and let me move past.
4:22:08 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
4:22:20 PM <Wildbow> "Great!  I've got some clothes to wear if you want to add some pink to that ensemble."
4:22:22 PM <Wildbow>  //
4:23:22 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I look down at the dress, confused. "My dress is already pink, Enfant?" I reply, making it a question to check if she had noticed.
4:23:23 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
4:23:47 PM <Wildbow> "You can never have too much pink," she tells you.
4:24:19 PM <Wildbow> She finishes rinsing her hair and skips out to go get her clothes or costume on.  "I'll be waiting for you outside."
4:24:20 PM <Wildbow>  //
4:26:14 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I pause a bit, startled by the conversation that had just happened. Being a cape was such an odd experience. I shake myself a bit, trying to get rid of my concerns, and make my way into the shower. I needed to just rinse off, deal with my sweat, and then get dressed as quickly as I could. I had no idea what Enfant was up to, and I wasn't sure I had any interest in finding out.
4:26:25 PM <Dol|Rainbow> At least she had sensible taste in colors, though.
4:26:26 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
4:28:37 PM <Lex|Panopy> ((where is everyone is this? Griffe and B.B.? Panoply? Not too sure on things))
4:29:31 PM <Wildbow> Following Rainbow rushing into the shower, the trio split up, with B.B. going to get changed without showering, and Griffe staying in Lucas' company.
4:29:33 PM <Wildbow>  //
4:31:27 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((I'm just going to shower, don't mind me.))
4:32:22 PM <Lex|Panopy> "So, uh," I search for something to say now that I've been left with Griffe, only able to come up with, "What's it like being trained by Crane? She seemed a little... intense?"
4:32:27 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
4:34:32 PM <Wildbow> "Are you going to stick it out?  Because the last person I gave advice to didn't listen," Griffe says, indicating the direction that Rainbow had gone.
4:35:27 PM <Wildbow> "She's intense.  The training is dangerous.  But she's good at what she does.  B.B. is a little ways into it, and she can hold her own against her dad in a sparring match.  Now he won't let her spar with him again."
4:35:29 PM <Wildbow>  //
4:41:34 PM <Lex|Panopy> Shit, that's impressive. If I got that kind of training... It's what I need to make a difference. I can't rely on Anthony to shore up me weaknesses in a fight anymore. I'm on my own.
4:41:34 PM <Lex|Panopy> I look Griffe dead in the face. "I'll do what it takes." It's not a boast. It's a statement, and a promise to myself.
4:41:34 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
4:41:51 PM <Lex|Panopy> *my weaknesses
4:46:37 PM <Wildbow> "That's good.  Then we can talk about it later.  But for now, it's kind of frustrating to not know what to do, in terms of what to wear.  Should we go with civilian clothes, and you can talk to Rainbow's mother, do you think?"
4:46:38 PM <Wildbow>  //
4:50:43 PM <Lex|Panopy> "That sounds like it would attract less attention, yeah. I'm at a bit of an advantage here though, don't need to carry my costume around with me."
4:50:43 PM <Lex|Panopy> I demonstrate, letting one of my gauntlets fall away to dust, then regrowing it.
4:50:43 PM <Lex|Panopy> "We'll just have to make sure Rainbow stays mostly out of sight."
4:50:43 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
4:52:42 PM <Wildbow> "Perfect," he says.  "I'd volunteer to do the talking, but I'm bad at that sort of stuff."
4:54:24 PM <Wildbow> As Rainbow emerges from the bathroom, fully dressed, Enfant comes out with her, seizing her by the arm.
4:54:27 PM <Wildbow> It seems you have a leech to get rid of.
4:54:29 PM <Wildbow>  //
4:56:42 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I jump, startled at the sudden physical contact. "Uh, yes?" I ask, concerned. "I can get myself out of the dressing room, Enfant."
4:57:22 PM <Dol|Rainbow> I can't help but grow increasingly concerned that Enfant might have had some reason behind the confidence of her claims regarding my company to villainous establishments.
4:57:23 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
4:58:33 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
4:58:55 PM <Lex|Panopy> Something tells me this won't be fun.
4:58:55 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Rainbow, we're going to miss visiting hours if we don't go soon." No idea if that's true, but we need to get away from Enfant.
4:58:55 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Enfant, Rainbow needs her arm back, please. She has personal things to do."
5:04:57 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
5:05:10 PM <Lex|Panopy> (Sorry, forgot it))
5:06:28 PM <Wildbow> "Visiting hours will be for ~forever~," Enfant says.  She smiles, and you can feel the hostility pouring off of her.  It's not much different from the feeling of someone under Anthony's influence.  "And I want her ~now~.  If you want to take her, then you'll have to do it over my beaten, bloody body."
5:06:30 PM <Wildbow> She pauses.
5:06:43 PM <Wildbow> "Oh wait.  You're not allowed."
5:06:59 PM <Wildbow> "Crane's rules," Calibre says, from the other end of the room.  He leans against the doorframe, arms folded.
5:07:01 PM <Wildbow>  //
5:07:11 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
5:09:58 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I don't think I'm something you can just take turns dragging around," Rainbow offers with a distinct lack of conviction. "I'm going to go with them, though," she continues, nodding her head towards the gathered heroes. "It's important," she finishes with all the conviction her earlier statement lacked.
5:09:59 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
5:10:41 PM <Wildbow> "See, you're wrong," Enfant says.
5:12:10 PM <Wildbow> "There are only two people who have ever said no to me.  One of them told me I couldn't have something I wanted.  The other forbade me from doing something.  My mom and dad."
5:12:24 PM <Wildbow> "I ate them alive," she says.  "So please do take that into consideration."
5:12:26 PM <Wildbow>  //
5:12:48 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
5:14:10 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow freezes, horror running through her at the image and implied threat. She swallows, then stammers out, "W-why do you even want me?"
5:14:26 PM <Dol|Rainbow> This couldn't be a thing that was actually happening.
5:14:27 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
5:15:45 PM <Wildbow> "I like your colors.  I liked the look in your eye last night, when you came in those doors, and there was barely a glimmer of hope in them.  I want to see more of that look.  The Rainbow with all of the colors on the outside and only emptiness on the inside.  I want to see what she would do."
5:15:47 PM <Wildbow>  //
5:16:27 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
5:25:04 PM <Lex|Panopy> So she really was a monster. The look in her eyes that reminded me so much of Anthony at his worst swallowed up my attention. She wanted to use her power to act without constraints, to lord it over those who weren't as strong.
5:25:05 PM <Lex|Panopy> No. I'm not letting that happen. I won't let her get Rainbow. Them win, the Anthony's of the world.
5:25:05 PM <Lex|Panopy> "She's coming with us. You say we can't fight you, because of Crane's rules? I'd imagine eating us would be something her rules would cover as well. You can't force her to stay. So we're leaving."
5:25:05 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
5:26:23 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
5:27:23 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow just stands there, frozen in the supervillain's grip. She was horrified, and had no idea what to do about it.
5:27:24 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
5:27:46 PM <Wildbow> ((Social roll, @ Lex))
5:28:19 PM <Lex|Panopy> $roll 1d6-1 Social
5:28:19 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panopy "Social" [1] -1 = 0
5:28:53 PM <Wildbow> Your statement is met by some sniggers from the rogue's gallery.  Off to one side, Calibre says, "Hey, Enfant?"
5:28:57 PM <Wildbow> "What?"
5:29:21 PM <Wildbow> "Challenge them to a sparring match.  Anything goes.  That fits Crane's rules, yeah?"
5:29:23 PM <Wildbow>  //
5:29:35 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
5:30:57 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "No!" Rainbow quickly interjects, alarm apparent on her face. "No, Enfant, I'll go with you. Don't eat anyone, they haven't done anything to deserve it."
5:31:33 PM <Dol|Rainbow> She didn't want to go along with the supervillain, but heroes were supposed to put the lives of others before their own, right?
5:32:38 PM <Dol|Rainbow> She turns to face the assembled heroes, her expression serious. "Please just go without me. Her name's Petra Keller. You can just tell me tonight?"
5:32:59 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
5:33:24 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
5:38:18 PM <Lex|Panopy> "No. She doesn't just get away with this. I'm not leaving you with her. I know what her kind are like."
5:38:18 PM <Lex|Panopy> I get what Rainbow Idol is trying, but giving up won't change anything. You have to stand up to the monsters, or they'll only get worse.
5:38:18 PM <Lex|Panopy> I turn to Enfant. "If fighting you is what it takes, then I'll do it."
5:38:18 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
5:38:54 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
5:39:32 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Panoply, no," Rainbow replies, her voice stern. "She just wants me to wear some clothes and go to some lounge with her. It'll be fine. Don't worry about it."
5:39:33 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
5:47:28 PM <Lex|Panopy> "That's how it starts. Believe me, it's won't end there. "
5:47:29 PM <Lex|Panopy> "You wanted to go to the hospital today. What ~she~ wants doesn't matter. You need to see her yourself, or you'll never stop worrying. I can tell how much it's affecting you."
5:47:29 PM <Lex|Panopy> Why won't she just let me help her? Doesn't she see that Enfant will just keep stringing her along, until she ends up a villain herself?
5:47:29 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Help me or not, she's not getting away with this."
5:47:29 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
5:49:32 PM <Wildbow> "Okay, then" Enfant Terrible says.  "Since it seems like you've made up your minds.  I challenge you."
5:49:34 PM <Wildbow>  //
5:49:49 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
5:50:19 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "No!" Rainbow cries out, pivoting to look at the girl holding her arm. "No no no, don't do that. I already said I'd go with you!"
5:50:20 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
5:51:52 PM <Lex|Panopy> ...
5:52:54 PM <Lex|Panopy> No more victims.
5:52:54 PM <Lex|Panopy> "I accept. Rules? Powers?"
5:52:54 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
5:55:46 PM <Wildbow> "No damaging the dojo," she says.  "I'd prefer use of power, but I'm open to argument."
5:55:48 PM <Wildbow>  //
5:56:48 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
5:57:49 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow slumps in the girl's grip. "I don't want this. I just want to find out what happened at the hospital."
5:57:53 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
5:59:04 PM ⇐ Megafire quit ([email protected]) Connection closed
6:08:03 PM <Lex|Panopy> "You're going to find out, in person. I promise."
6:08:03 PM <Lex|Panopy> I think it over. Enfant's had training with Crane, so she's almost certainly better at hand to hand. I'll have to hope my less obvious powers can take her by surprise.
6:08:03 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Powers. Non-lethal, no permanent damage."
6:08:03 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
6:09:02 PM <Wildbow> Enfant Terrible shrugs.  "Deal."
6:10:44 PM <Wildbow> A moment later, she distorts.  A mouth opens across her stomach, so wide that the corners of the mouth touch her spine, with pirahna teeth as long as Lucas' forearm connecting the jaw.  Other mouths open, extending from her neck to one armpit, and at her arms, dividing the arms into narrow, crocodile-like mouths.  Her fingers turn into clusters of enmeshed teeth.
6:11:49 PM <Wildbow> It takes only a few seconds for her to finish, leaving her roughly six feet tall -a step up from her height of four and a half feet before-, with absolutely no part of her that isn't bristling with teeth.  Her head hangs, her hair hiding her expression.
6:11:52 PM <Wildbow>  //
6:12:16 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Wasn't she holding me? This is horrifying.))
6:12:54 PM <Wildbow> ((You backed off a bit earlier))
6:13:27 PM <Wildbow> ((I assume when you startled at the physical contact))
6:13:36 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Oh! That works. Thank heavens.))
6:14:53 PM <Lex|Panopy> ((we are in the sparring area, right? Don't have to walk from the bathrooms like this?))
6:15:02 PM ⇐ Camtist quit ([email protected]) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
6:15:27 PM <Wildbow> ((Bathrooms are adjunct to sparring area))
6:16:58 PM <Lex|Panopy> ((The Archer is still set up?))
6:17:28 PM ⇐ CupofCoffee quit ([email protected]) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
6:18:08 PM <Wildbow> ((I must've missed where you set it up?))
6:18:29 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((You'd mentioned it was set up at the end of my last session, Bow.))
6:18:41 PM <Lex|Panopy> ((I mean from the end of Dol's session))
6:20:32 PM <Wildbow> ((Ah, that.  ...Sure.  We can say it's still up, though it's degraded a touch))
6:21:39 PM <Wildbow> ((Only in an aethetic sense))
6:21:50 PM <Lex|Panopy> ((Ah, cool))
6:25:21 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
6:26:08 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Enfant, can't we just go? You don't have to fight over this. I already like pink!" Rainbow tries one last time in a desparate bid to avoid conflict.
6:26:48 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "And I don't think we have time for this and everything else, anyways."
6:26:50 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
6:28:59 PM <Wildbow> Enfant talks using her stomach mouth, producing a deeper voice, "I don't think he's willing to back down."
6:29:01 PM <Wildbow>  //
6:30:39 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
6:32:02 PM <Dol|Rainbow> In a final bid of frustrated effort, Rainbow declares, "So what? Who cares! I don't care about this, I need to get things done."
6:32:28 PM <Dol|Rainbow> As she finishes talking she flops onto the floor, taking a seated posture. "This is the worst."
6:32:29 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
6:32:38 PM <Lex|Panopy> ((sorry, forgot to do ... before))
6:33:28 PM <Lex|Panopy> I take a step back toward my archer at the sight. Confronted with this, I'm feeling like I might not win.
6:33:28 PM <Lex|Panopy> Too late for second thoughts now. I walk over to my statue, and use my armor creation ability to place blunted, heavy covers over the arrow. I form a shield and a thick baton, more of a very blunt sword that something a nightguard might use.
6:33:28 PM <Lex|Panopy> I turn my thinker power onto Enfant, ignoring everyone else. She'll probably charge for me as the fight opens. If she does, I'll do what I can to trip her, hit her in the shins.
6:33:58 PM <Lex|Panopy> "You ready?"
6:33:58 PM <Lex|Panopy>  //
6:35:29 PM <Wildbow> She nods, and adopts a fighting stance, facing the statue, not you.
6:35:31 PM <Wildbow>  //
6:41:36 PM <Lex|Panopy> Or she'll go for the ranged threat. Damn, I'm not thinking straight. If she charges the Archer, that might give me enough time to expand my armor. Her teeth might not be able to get past that. I make up my mind. If she goes for the statue, I'll have it try to hit her with one of the skewers by swinging it at her. She won't expect that. During that time, I'll
6:41:36 PM <Lex|Panopy> let my armor keep growing.
6:41:36 PM <Lex|Panopy> "Then let's go."
6:41:36 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
6:44:23 PM <Wildbow> She walks very slowly, shifting between what looks like three different fighting stances, her arm-mouths raised in front of her, crossed at the wrist.  She keeps her attentinon focused on the statue, while keeping you in her peripheral vision.
6:44:24 PM <Wildbow>  //
6:54:49 PM <Lex|Panopy> Damn it, I can't predict her at all. I've got to think smarter about this. She's confident, she's trained in a personalised martial art, and she's an utter monster. I can't have the statue shoot at her without damaging the dojo, and I need Crane's training. I need to keep her distracted, on edge. If that's even possible for her. As my armor grows, I move
6:54:49 PM <Lex|Panopy> slowly to the side, forcing Enfant to turn more if she wants to be able to keep me and the archer in view.
6:54:49 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
6:55:55 PM <Wildbow> As you do so, a gap opens in her face, from chin to forehead.  A mouth opens there, increasing the space between her eyes, allowing her to track the statue with one eye and track you with the other.
6:55:57 PM <Wildbow>  //
7:01:27 PM → ExecuteDumbo joined ([email protected])
7:03:09 PM <Lex|Panopy> This girl is bullshit. Hopefully she'll be affected by the lack of depth vision, but I get the idea she's just making sure I don't get up to anything before she gets the chance to go for the statue. I'll have to capitalise on that before she has the chance.
7:03:09 PM <Lex|Panopy> I circle around her further, and swing my baton at her. The moment she focuses on avoiding me, I'll have the archer draw their bow.
7:03:09 PM <Lex|Panopy> //
7:03:31 PM <Wildbow> ((Attack roll))
7:03:57 PM <Lex|Panopy> $roll 1d6+1 Attack
7:03:57 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panopy "Attack" [4] +1 = 5
7:03:58 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2d6+1 block
7:03:58 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "block" [6] [1] +1 = 8
7:04:43 PM <Wildbow> She strikes at the baton, batting it aside, then makes a counterattack.
7:04:47 PM <Wildbow> ((Defense roll))
7:04:58 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2d6
7:04:58 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow [2] [5]  = 7
7:05:18 PM <Wildbow> ((Whoops, should be 2h6, my bad))
7:05:30 PM <Lex|Panopy> ((Withstand applies?))
7:06:13 PM <Wildbow> ((Can, yes, if you block))
7:06:33 PM <Lex|Panopy> $roll 2h6+1 Block
7:06:33 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panopy "Block" (1) [2] +1 = 3
7:07:37 PM <Wildbow> She catches your right hand in one of her hand-jaws, seizing you.  ((Brawn roll))
7:07:49 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d6
7:07:49 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow [4]  = 4
7:09:00 PM <Lex|Panopy> ((What's the brawn roll for? To escape her grip?))
7:09:22 PM <Wildbow> ((She auto-grapples on hit))
7:10:41 PM <Lex|Panopy> $roll 2h6+1 Brawn+Grapple bonus
7:10:41 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panopy "Brawn+Grapple bonus" [3] (2) +1 = 4
7:11:39 PM <Wildbow> She lifts you off your feet, leaving you dangling by one hand, holding you so you're between her and the statue.
7:12:00 PM <Wildbow>  //
7:13:52 PM Lex|Panopy → Lex|Panoply
7:16:44 PM <Lex|Panoply> Big mistake. She's still focused on the archer. I concentrate, letting absolute calm cascade into this tooth faced monster.
7:16:46 PM <Lex|Panoply>  //
7:19:03 PM <Wildbow> The calm wars with the intense anger and hostility that seems to swirl within her. She staggers visibly as it takes hold, her eyes -divided by a fanged maw- unfocus slightly.  You can see her making a visible effort.
7:19:08 PM <Wildbow>  //
7:22:49 PM <Lex|Panoply> I do my best to escape her grasp, doubling down on the calming touch the whole time. Calmed or not, i don't want to get chewed on.
7:22:53 PM <Lex|Panoply>  //
7:25:24 PM <Wildbow> ((Brawn check))
7:25:30 PM <Wildbow> ((5+ to succeed))
7:26:23 PM <Lex|Panoply> $roll 2h6+1 Brawn
7:26:23 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panoply "Brawn" [3] (2) +1 = 4
7:26:48 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d6 Guts Willpower
7:26:48 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "Guts Willpower" [6]  = 6
7:27:04 PM <Wildbow> $moderate rend
7:27:04 PM <[ATM]> [Torso] [Any 1] Destroyed: Moderate wound, and two benefits of costume on that part are stripped away.
7:27:58 PM <Wildbow> The teeth clamp down, and crunch down past the armor you've managed to summon up to this point, shattering it and digging into the flesh of your arm.
7:30:05 PM <Wildbow> "What now?" she asks you.  "What gives in first?  Your heroic spirit or your body?  You wanted a nonlethal fight, and as I see it, that ends with four amputations."
7:30:10 PM <Wildbow>  //
7:37:39 PM <Lex|Panoply> I gasp in pain, too distracted to point out the "No permanent damage" part of the deal.
7:37:39 PM <Lex|Panoply> The armor on my arm is broken, but that doesn't mean I can't make more. I will the armor to reform, and have it warp to fill the mouth currently biting down. I direct it to flow past the teeth and build up in whatever passes for her throat. I take a swing at her with my other arm, have to distract her.
7:37:39 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
7:38:10 PM <Wildbow> ((Attack roll))
7:38:27 PM <Wildbow> $roll 2h6
7:38:27 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow [3] (2)  = 3
7:38:29 PM <Lex|Panoply> $roll 1d6+1 Attack
7:38:29 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panoply "Attack" [4] +1 = 5
7:39:08 PM <Wildbow> ((roll $lesser bash head))
7:39:32 PM <Lex|Panoply> $lesser bash head
7:39:32 PM <[ATM]> [Head] [Part] Dazed: CONFUSED for one round.  Duration extends to three rounds if already been confused in last 24 hours.
7:40:10 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d6 Guts vs. calm
7:40:11 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "Guts vs. calm" [5]  = 5
7:41:18 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d6 Brawn vs. choking armor
7:41:18 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "Brawn vs. choking armor" [1]  = 1
7:43:17 PM <Wildbow> She strains the jaws that hold your armor, but the material that fills the gaps keeps the teeth from closing down any further.  That done, she begins opening up another mouth - it starss at the top of her head and descends to her pelvis, more than half of her body divided to make one gaping maw.  She holds you in position, clearly intent on dropping you into the mouth and taking a considerable bit
7:43:19 PM <Wildbow> e out of you.
7:43:20 PM <Wildbow>  //
7:48:58 PM <Lex|Panoply> I form an uneven and very sharp spiked ball in my free hand and drop it into the mouth to serve as a distraction while I force my armor to grow more and more. The second she moves me toward the mouth, I'll have the archer shoot her with the weighted arrow.
7:48:58 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
7:51:35 PM <Wildbow> The spiked ball falls into her mouth, and she doesn't seem to care overmuch.  It disappears into what looks to be a swirling sea of interconnected muscles and sprouted teeth, which serve as something of a meat grinder.
7:51:39 PM <Wildbow> ((Guts check vs. fear))
7:51:55 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d6+1 Social/Intimidate
7:51:55 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "Social/Intimidate" [5] +1 = 6
7:52:18 PM <Lex|Panoply> $roll 1d6+1 Guts
7:52:18 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panoply "Guts" [3] +1 = 4
7:54:53 PM <Wildbow> The tension of the situation, combined with the fact that you're not at your best so recently after the Anthony situation, it starts to get to you.  She makes a grunting, cackling sound with her distorted mouth.  "Cry uncle?"
7:55:15 PM <Wildbow>  //
7:56:05 PM <Lex|Panoply> (( am i still in the way of the archer?))
7:57:12 PM <Wildbow> ((Yes, you haven't really worked to move out of that range, and she hasn't moved either))
8:00:15 PM <Lex|Panoply> I struggle again, now desperate to put some distance between myself and that jaw. I layer armor into a short blade in my hand and hack wildly at Enfant.
8:00:17 PM <Lex|Panoply> /
8:02:22 PM <Wildbow> ((Growing the armor into shapes like that really should be taking a full round))
8:04:12 PM <Lex|Panoply> ((Ah, ok, Redact that bit))
8:05:54 PM <Lex|Panoply> I struggle in Enfant's grip, desperate to put some distance between us. I- I can't give up yet, I need to save Rainbow Idol, get her to her mom.
8:05:55 PM <Lex|Panoply> /
8:06:45 PM <Wildbow> ((brawn roll))
8:06:51 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d6+2
8:06:51 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow [5] +2 = 7
8:07:56 PM <Lex|Panoply> $roll 2h6+1 Brawn
8:07:56 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panoply "Brawn" (2) [5] +1 = 6
8:10:49 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d6 Guts
8:10:49 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "Guts" [2]  = 2
8:11:00 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d6 Wits
8:11:00 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "Wits" [2]  = 2
8:11:52 PM <Wildbow> Abused by the blow to the head and the calming effect, she slackens her grip.  Theoretically, you could take the shot, but there's a chance of being hit.
8:11:53 PM <Wildbow>  //
8:14:12 PM <Lex|Panoply> I don't think I can take a hit from my archer and manage to deal with Enfant as well. I struggle again. I can do more against her if I can make some space.
8:14:14 PM <Lex|Panoply>  //
8:14:32 PM <Wildbow> ((Brawn))
8:14:44 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d6+2 brawn + fear
8:14:44 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "brawn + fear" [4] +2 = 6
8:15:41 PM <Lex|Panoply> $roll 2h6+1 Brawn
8:15:41 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panoply "Brawn" (2) [6] +1 = 7
8:16:17 PM <Wildbow> You pull yourself out of her grasp, and drop to the ground in front of her.
8:16:31 PM <Wildbow>  //
8:20:21 PM <Lex|Panoply> I grab my baton off of the floor and back up towards my statue, and have it draw its bow. Keeping my eyes on Enfant, I focus on starting to grow my armor into its large, immobile form.
8:20:26 PM <Lex|Panoply> /
8:20:34 PM <Lex|Panoply>  //
8:21:04 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d6 Guts
8:21:04 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "Guts" [4]  = 4
8:21:53 PM <Wildbow> She gets her feet under her, and then she charges, claw-hands in front of her in the same way she'd had them before, when she had first adopted the fighting stance.
8:21:57 PM <Wildbow>  ((response?))
8:21:59 PM <Wildbow>  //
8:22:08 PM → iridium248 joined ([email protected])
8:25:49 PM <Lex|Panoply> I have the archer fire at her, then take a swing at her myself.
8:25:52 PM <Lex|Panoply>  //
8:26:53 PM <Wildbow> $roll 1d6+1 Catch
8:26:53 PM <[ATM]> Wildbow "Catch" [2] +1 = 3
8:27:05 PM <Wildbow> ((Aw))
8:27:15 PM <Wildbow> ((Roll attack))
8:27:48 PM <Lex|Panoply> $roll 1d6+1 Attack
8:27:48 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panoply "Attack" [6] +1 = 7
8:29:57 PM <Wildbow> ((Roll to wound, bash))
8:30:26 PM <Lex|Panoply> ((moderate bash, right?
8:30:30 PM <Lex|Panoply> ))
8:30:47 PM <Wildbow> ((Yes))
8:30:52 PM <Lex|Panoply> $moderate bash
8:30:52 PM <[ATM]> [Leg] [Any 1] Demolished: If struck body part is unarmored, target suffers both type-specific consequences noted below.
8:30:54 PM <[ATM]> [Leg] [Any 1] Sent Flying: Thrown to one side and KNOCKED DOWN, STAGGERED on the ensuing turn.
8:30:55 PM <[ATM]> [Leg] [Any 1] Fracture Leg: Leg DISABLED.  Roll Guts post-combat to see if it’s broken.
8:31:30 PM <Lex|Panoply> ((did i do that wrong?))
8:32:01 PM <Wildbow> ((No.  Demolished doubles down on wound effects if the condition is met, the effects are listed as #2 and #3 there))
8:33:03 PM <Wildbow> She moves to catch the arrow, but it flies too low.  It catches her in one leg, and sweeps the leg away, causing her to fly off to one side and tumble to the ground.  Just from the look of the impact site, the damage looks pretty severe.
8:33:36 PM <Wildbow> "We can call the match done here," Crane says, from one corner of the room.  "Are you badly injured, Panoply?"
8:33:37 PM <Wildbow>  //
8:36:01 PM <Lex|Panoply> I spin to face Crane. I hadn't even noticed she was there. How much did she see?
8:37:27 PM <Lex|Panoply> "I- my arm. Can't tell how bad yet." I dismiss the mishappen mass of armor from my injured arm, and my archer too.
8:37:29 PM <Lex|Panoply>  //
8:40:09 PM <Wildbow> "I don't believe Percival has left yet," she says.  "He's having tea in the back room.  This match can serve as your introductory sparring session, which I'd planned for later.  Hopefully you're this... gung ho about your practice.  Go see Percival for healing, occupy yourself with whatever nonsense you want to do for the day, then come back for tonight.
8:42:42 PM <Wildbow> "As for you, my young student," she looks down at Enfant Terrible, "I don't know why you're here, if you're not going to use what I'm teaching you.  Some blocks, some holds, but I remain painfully disappointed.  I had plans for the day, but it seems we need to instill you with some discipline.  At the conclusion of the punishment, I'll decide whether you stay.  Do strive not to disappoint me...
8:42:43 PM <Wildbow> ...twice in one day."
8:42:48 PM <Wildbow>  //
8:50:36 PM <Lex|Panoply> By what I'm feeling in my arm, healing sounds like a great idea right now. "Yes..."Ma'am? Teacher? Sensei? "Crane," I settle upon.
8:50:36 PM <Lex|Panoply> I turn towards the back room, avoiding the gaze of the others. With the adrenaline running down, I recall how opposed to this Rainbow was. I'd ignore what she wanted. I'd just wanted to hit something.
8:50:36 PM <Lex|Panoply> And Enfant was being punished? After what I'd done to her?
8:50:36 PM <Lex|Panoply> I stride quickly to the back room, hoping glad of how the armor hides my sickened expression.
8:50:36 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
8:51:08 PM <Wildbow> ((Dol?))
8:51:24 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
8:53:59 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow Idol remains seated, having propped herself up against a wall during the fight. She's curled up, her arms wrapped around her legs, and her head propped up on her knees. The fight was over, she'd seen what actual superheroes could do in fights, and what supervillains were like, and she didn't want to keep looking at anything.
8:53:59 PM <Dol|Rainbow> She had no idea how she was supposed to compete with anyone remotely like the people she saw fighting today, and it seemed like nobody cared about what she thought. Maybe she could just sit there and be ignored until it was time for the evening lessons.
8:54:01 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
8:56:35 PM <Wildbow> "That could have gone a lot worse," Griffe says.  "What do you say we go collect that fellow after he's seen Percival and then we go see your mom?"
8:56:37 PM <Wildbow>  //
8:58:19 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow just hums noncommitally, squeezing her legs closer to her chest.
8:58:20 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
8:59:55 PM <Wildbow> "Alright then," he says.
9:00:45 PM <Wildbow> A few minutes of non-conversation pass before Panoply returns, prodding an arm that looks tender but no longer grievously injured.  The awkward silence is palpable.
9:00:47 PM <Wildbow>  //
9:03:05 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((All you, Lex.))
9:03:32 PM <Lex|Panoply> ((Oh, right, missed where I came back in))
9:07:11 PM <Lex|Panoply> Again, I find it almost impossible to look anyone in the eye. I turn my head towards Rainbow Idol.
9:07:11 PM <Lex|Panoply> "I'm... I'm sorry for that. I just- the way she was talking about you, what she wanted... Fuck, I couldn't- sorry. Just... sorry."
9:07:11 PM <Lex|Panoply> Fuck. Can't even apologize right. It was just too much, too close to Anthony.
9:07:11 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
9:09:45 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow slowly pulls herself up to a standing position, her posture one of weary defeat. "So, what's the plan?" She asks Panoply without anything resembling enthusiasm.
9:09:46 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
9:13:34 PM <Lex|Panoply> "Go to the hospital, find you a disguise, or some way to sneak into the hospital. We'd pose as concerned family friends there to visit. Find your mother."
9:13:35 PM <Lex|Panoply> She didn't acknowledge my apology. I don't blame her. I wouldn't have.
9:13:35 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
9:16:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow sighs, then shrugs and replies, "Alright." The bright colors of her outfit, mask, and hair sharply contrast her current demeanor.
9:16:44 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
9:18:10 PM <Wildbow> The journey isn't a bad one, and once you're all in your civilian clothes, it's isn't too painful a procedure to catch a bus and get to the right part of town.
9:19:22 PM <Wildbow> As you approach the hospital, you can see that there's something of a protective perimeter.  At one corner of the building, an explosion seems to have ripped a hole in the architecture.  Plastic sheets cover the gap, but it's a grim sign for a hospital to be in this kind of shape.
9:19:59 PM <Wildbow> Police are at the entrances, guiding people and providing protection.  It's a meager effort, really, considering the dangers that are plaguing the city.
9:20:40 PM <Wildbow> "You said something about a disguise," B.B. says.  "With all these police around, it might be warranted."
9:20:42 PM <Wildbow>  //
9:21:08 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
9:25:26 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow sighs again. "Alright. I really appreciate you guys helping me with this, so I'll just tell you. My name's Silvi Keller, and I'm wanted by the police. My dad's helping them. So, I really don't feel comfortable going into a building surrounded by police."
9:25:26 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I," she pauses, struggling to find the right phrasing. "Well, I'd rather let Enfant Terrible eat me alive than be caught. I can't let that happen." Her head drops, red curls covering her face. "I'm an awful hero, I just need to know that my mom's okay."
9:25:27 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
9:28:27 PM <Lex|Panoply> I don't have the right to pry after what I did. Griffe's already told me he's not good at talking, so I turn to B.B. to take charge.
9:28:27 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
9:32:01 PM <Wildbow> "I won't ask," B.B. says.  "Everyone with powers has a story.  We'll make sure you aren't caught.  So why don't you take my jacket, pull the hood up, and put on my sunglasses, here?  It's not perfect, but it should do for a basic disguise."
9:32:03 PM <Wildbow>  //
9:35:29 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Thank you, B.B.," Rainbow replies with a genuine smile. She then sets about donning the B.B. disguise to break in to the hospital.
9:36:08 PM <Dol|Rainbow> The thought that the heroes might turn in the wanted criminal to the police, and that there's nothing she could do about it, occurs to her, but there was, after all, nothing she could do about it.
9:36:09 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
9:37:22 PM <Lex|Panoply> ...
9:39:12 PM <Lex|Panoply> I take a second to watch the movements of the police guarding the hospital. They can't have adequately all of the entrances. Somewhere, there has to be a spot we can slip in.
9:39:12 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
9:39:40 PM <Wildbow> ((Roll sneak; Social))
9:40:07 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Both?))
9:40:54 PM <Lex|Panoply> $roll 1d6 Sneak
9:40:54 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panoply "Sneak" [4]  = 4
9:41:07 PM <Lex|Panoply> $roll 1d6-1 Social
9:41:07 PM <[ATM]> Lex|Panoply "Social" [1] -1 = 0
9:41:25 PM <Wildbow> ((Just roll social, apply sneak if you have it))
9:41:35 PM <Dol|Rainbow> $roll 1d6 Social
9:41:35 PM <[ATM]> Dol|Rainbow "Social" [1]  = 1
9:43:18 PM <Lex|Panoply> ((Whoops, thought sneak was seperete/Dex based))
9:44:03 PM <Wildbow> You make your way into the busy hospital, slipping by the police officer at an opportune time, but as you make your way into the maze of hallways and corridors, you can see some officers giving your group some curious looks.  You've drawn attention, which means you might want to make this quick.  Your primary problem now is that you don't know where Silvi's mother is.
9:44:04 PM <Wildbow>  //
9:44:58 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
9:46:23 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I don't suppose anyone knows how to find a patient in a hospital?" Rainbow asks, her voice quiet. She glances around, trying to be subtle, while she looks for a map or something similar.
9:46:24 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
9:46:46 PM <Lex|Panoply> ...
9:52:25 PM <Lex|Panoply> "Depends on how she's hurt. There's generally different wards for different types of injuries. Do you know any specifics?" I reply, voice low like Rainbow's. "Otherwise, we could sneak a look at their records."
9:52:25 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
9:54:24 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
9:55:23 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow looks down at her feet before answering, "All I know is that it might be lethal, and it was from a cape."
9:55:25 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
9:58:43 PM <Wildbow> "The most obvious thing to do would be to ask someone at the nurse's station," Griff says.  "If you don't want to do that, we could try the ICU, but getting into the ICU might be trickier than we're able to do."
9:58:45 PM <Wildbow>  //
9:59:58 PM <Lex|Panoply> ...
10:01:32 PM <Lex|Panoply> "The nurses station sounds easier. B.B, you any good at dealing with people? I don't think anyone else is a better choice."
10:01:32 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
10:01:41 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
10:02:14 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Actually, might be better for you, Panoply," Rainbow suggests. "They might think B.B. is me in disguise."
10:02:15 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
10:04:30 PM <Lex|Panoply> "I guess if the only description they have is 'teen girl'... You're right. I'll try it."
10:04:30 PM <Lex|Panoply> It's not like explaining how shit I am with people will dissuade her. She already knows.
10:04:30 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
10:10:10 PM <Wildbow> "You want me to approach the desk?" B.B. asks.  "I... suppose.  Your last name was Keller?"
10:11:07 PM <Wildbow> She makes her way to the desk, while the three of you hang back, looking out for trouble or any incoming law enforcement.
10:12:19 PM <Wildbow> As she approaches the desk, however, a figure makes his way there.  It's a man, one that Silvi recognizes.  He takes B.B. by the upper arm, turning her so that she's facing him, then looks at the nurse at the station, shaking his head.  He speaks to her for a minute, then backs off.
10:12:21 PM <Wildbow>  //
10:13:32 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Silvi tries to nonchalantly move herself behind Griffe without panicking. That didn't just happen, and couldn't be who she thought it was. She was imagining things.
10:13:33 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
10:14:30 PM <Lex|Panoply> ...
10:16:49 PM <Lex|Panoply> I see Rainbow —Silvi— try to edge herself behind Griffe. I move slightly, trying to block the man's line of sight to Silvi.
10:16:49 PM <Lex|Panoply> "You know that guy?" I whisper.
10:16:49 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
10:17:59 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Silvi glares at Panoply in response, mouthing the word "Quiet!"
10:18:00 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
10:19:56 PM <Lex|Panoply> Right, no talking. I focus on the man using my empathy sense. Should give me a heads up if he turns his attention toward us.
10:19:56 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
10:23:59 PM <Wildbow> He wraps up the conversation with B.B. and heads off down the hall.  B.B. walks back to you.
10:24:06 PM <Wildbow> "Your father?" she asks.
10:24:07 PM <Wildbow>  //
10:24:29 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Silvi nods, still trying to avoid panicking. This was not a good day for her.
10:24:30 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
10:26:51 PM <Lex|Panoply> "Did you find out where she was?" The quicker we find her, the better.
10:27:03 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
10:29:42 PM <Lex|Panoply> *is
10:30:05 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ((Actually, "was" might not be wrong.))
10:31:21 PM <Wildbow> "No," B.B. says.  "But he went down the hall to the rooms with the patients, and it looked like he sat down in a chair outside one of the doors.  I wasn't sure what to tell him about why I was asking about his wife, but I said I met you on the other side of the city, I didn't give details.  That you said your mother was hurt, and I knew your name, so I thought I'd ask and see if I could find...
10:31:23 PM <Wildbow> ...you again."
10:31:24 PM <Wildbow>  //
10:33:46 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
10:35:39 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Silvi looks down the hall way her father walked down, hoping not to see him heading back their way. "Can we go?" She asks, her voice stammering. "I think he won, and I just want to get out of here. I can't be in the same building as him. I'll figure something else out later."
10:35:57 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
10:36:40 PM <Wildbow> "We have powers, don't we?  There has to be a way that you can see your mom," B.b. says.
10:36:41 PM <Wildbow>  //
10:37:26 PM <Lex|Panoply> ...
10:37:58 PM <Lex|Panoply> We came so close, but I'm not forcing her into something again.
10:37:58 PM <Lex|Panoply> "We can go if that's what you want."
10:37:58 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
10:39:29 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "No, no," Rainbow replies, shaking her head. "B.B.'s right. We can figure this out."
10:39:57 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Maybe a distraction?"
10:39:58 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
10:41:40 PM <Lex|Panoply> ...
10:42:30 PM <Lex|Panoply> "My distractions
10:43:49 PM <Lex|Panoply> would probably be a little too much in this case. Anyone got something less dangerous to the hospital?"
10:43:51 PM <Lex|Panoply>  //
10:45:25 PM Thaliaway → Thalia
10:45:39 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I can do dazzles," Silvi quietly offers with a shrug, "but those aren't subtle until I've already made them."
10:45:40 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
10:46:30 PM <Lex|Panoply> ...
10:49:45 PM <Lex|Panoply> "We don't want anything that'd need the hospital evacuated. They'd have to move the patients. Maybe... maybe a cape showing up would be enough of a distraction? I could go out, armor up, and walk in. Say I'm here to help guard it or something. Not sure if that'd be enough for you to get in, but it's something."
10:49:45 PM <Lex|Panoply> I've got to get this right. I look to Rainbow for her answer.
10:49:45 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
10:51:11 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow looks around a bit before answering, "Is there anywhere more private we can talk about this?" She really felt uncomfortable with her current situation.
10:51:12 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
10:53:53 PM <Lex|Panoply> ...
10:56:40 PM <Lex|Panoply> I can't think of many placeswe could go. Hospitals aren't exactly known for their hideaway spots. "Empty rooms are a possibility. Or outside, but that means passing the police again. What do you want to try?"
10:56:40 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
10:59:20 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Anywhere else at all?" Silvi asks, horribly nervous. "I don't want to be this close to him."
10:59:21 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
11:00:20 PM <Lex|Panoply> ...
11:03:14 PM <Lex|Panoply> "Outside, then." Looking for a room would probably just be more suspicious. "Let's go. We'll block you from his sight on the way."
11:03:14 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
11:04:28 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "Thanks," Rainbow replies, eager to get away.
11:04:29 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
11:05:37 PM <Wildbow> You put some distance between Silvi's father and yourselves, and you make your way out of the hospital, joining the milling crowd
11:06:08 PM <Wildbow> "We need a strategy," Griffe says, "And I'm afraid that B.B. and I only have combat powers."
11:06:10 PM <Wildbow>  //
11:06:47 PM <Dol|Rainbow> ...
11:10:08 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Silvi looks at Griffe and B.B., then says, "You both saw me use my power, right? I can do a lot more than just rainbow patterned things." She then nods at Panoply, "My 'costume' earlier was a dazzle. Illusion, hologram, thingy. Breaks easily, looks like whatever."
11:10:09 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
11:13:44 PM <Lex|Panoply> ...
11:14:32 PM <Lex|Panoply> "That's perfect. You could disguise yourself as a doctor, or a nurse or something."
11:16:03 PM <Lex|Panoply> "But it breaks easily? So any distraction we try needs to bring people in fast enough that you can get in unnoticed."
11:19:15 PM <Lex|Panoply> "I could summon the archer or walk out there in costume, but that might do more harm that good."
11:19:15 PM <Lex|Panoply> Whatever happens, we need to commit to it.
11:19:15 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
11:19:54 PM ⇐ iridium248 quit ([email protected]) Quit: http://www.kiwiirc.com/ - A hand crafted IRC client
11:24:43 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I could disguise myself," Rainbow agrees with a nod. "Maybe you could cause a distraction out here to pull attention, and I could go in with B.B. and Griffe to see my mom?"
11:25:13 PM <Dol|Rainbow> "I'd, uh," she continues, hesitatingly, looking at Griffe and B.B., "really appreciate your help in getting out if Dad gets ahold of me."
11:25:16 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
11:25:35 PM <Wildbow> "Alright," B.B. says.
11:28:41 PM <Wildbow>  // ((Whoops))
11:31:44 PM <Lex|Panoply> "Right. You guys get ready to go in. I'll see if I can turn some heads."
11:31:44 PM <Lex|Panoply> I walk away, looking for somewhere to start growing my armor.
11:31:44 PM <Lex|Panoply> //
11:33:49 PM <Dol|Rainbow> Rainbow throws down a quick dazzle, making herself look like a nurse. She looks at the assembled heroes, then nods. "Let's go?"
11:33:50 PM <Dol|Rainbow>  //
11:36:20 PM <Wildbow>  ////