Emerald City Knights: Riders on the Storm!

[Jedaii]

Dorothy: But ... how do I start for Emerald City?

Glinda the Witch of the North: It's always best to start at the beginning ... and all you do is follow the Yellow Brick Road.

 

Saturday, June 3, 2023, 12:34 p.m., 70°F:

Its founders dubbed Emerald City “the City of Destiny,” because for them it was the last stop on the continent’s edge. With nothing but the deep blue sea beyond, a man had no choice but to meet his fate there—whatever it was. Even in the present age of supersonic jets and a shrinking globe, Emerald City remains the last stop for most who journey there, both for reasons joyous and tragic. Today, first-time visitors are greeted by twin giants: one a monument of God’s creation, and the other of man’s.

The dormant volcanic peak of Mount Stanley has framed the city skyline from the start -

- and in 1968 was joined by the Emerald Tower, looming impressively towards the heavens.

In the last two decades, Emerald City has grown almost exponentially, becoming a true boomtown. The city proper is quite large, surrounded by a number of expanding suburbs and bedroom communities. Driving this growth was the establishment of MarsTech, Inc. (MSTI on the New York Stock Exchange) by the flamboyant plutocrat and techno-wizard, Maximilian Mars. As MarsTech and other high-tech companies flourished, so did Emerald City, transforming the once-sleepy burgh into a leading center for the computer industry and other high-technology businesses.

Nothing marks Emerald City newcomers more than making a Munchkin joke in public. They think it’s clever, but to longtime residents (and in truth) they’re just being punch-ably obvious and annoying. It’s all an understandable offshoot of the city’s 70-year-long love/hate relationship with The Wizard of Oz. There are many businesses and organizations that work overtime to avoid any association with the classic stories and legendary film, while others embrace the eponymous association wholeheartedly. Those who revel in the city’s L. Frank Baum connection with the enthusiasm of flying monkeys successfully lobbied to have the open-air walking mall in the downtown shopping district dubbed the Yellow Brick Row. There, the street is indeed bricked just as advertised, duly painted yellow every year on the official birthday of the city, August 27th.

Today, there’s enough sunshine to make most anyone glad to be alive, and seemingly all of Emerald City has ventured outside to take advantage of it. Every downtown street is lined with people out roller-blading, walking their dogs, people-watching at sidewalk cafes, or doing a little shopping. Bargain-hunters are preeminently drawn to Yellow Brick Row, and most local merchants have sidewalk sales set up to greet them. Food and beverage carts aren’t hard to find, and city newcomers are bound to notice the Row’s restauranteurs offer cuisine with an Asian flair. There are plenty of burgers and fries to be had, but just as many good spots to grab some Pad Thai, Teriyaki, and other Eastern delicacies ...

Edited July 28, 2023 by Jedaii (see edit history)

[Draidden]

It is a lovely afternoon in the Emerald City. And today finds young Jordan Holland filling his roll as a tour guide. Today he is leading a group of people down the Yellow Brick Row and spouting off facts about all the shops and buildings around them. The info contains many historical facts about the city as well as humorous references to the movie The Wizard of Oz. For this particular tour his boss insists he wear a costume based off of the wizard from the story The Wizard of Oz.

Jordan stands around 5’11” and while not a scrawny person he is not overly muscled either. He has light blonde hair that drops just below his shoulders and his eyes are sky blue in color. Currently he is wearing a suit. He has on a white button-down shirt with a medium green vest with golden yellow buttons and a green bow-tie, pin striped matching green pants and a pair of black dress shoes. Luckily, they only look like dress shoes and are actually very comfortable to wear. His suit coat is a darker green. It is open in the front and hangs down to midway point between his waist and knees. And the whole thing if topped of with a top hat that matches the color of his coat.

The whole outfit makes him glad it is such a nice day outside.

He points out the regular stores and restaurants that line the street and help sponsor these tours as well as the ones that have taken on the Oz themes. Of course, he does not mention that they are sponsors only that the tourists might enjoy checking them out too.

And here we come to “The Lollipop Guild”, one of the largest candy stores in the city with one of the largest selections you will find anywhere. We will make a short stop here so that you all can look through some of these stores and maybe grab a lunch. I will restart the tour at one thirty, so please don’t be late or you will miss out on the last half of the tour.

He is a little more nervous than usual as this particular group has a couple of friends he has made on campus, joining in to see what the tours consist of. He has been keeping an eye on Phillipe during the tour. He knows that even though Phillipe is in a wheel chair that he can take care of himself, but there is always that small voice in his head that tells him to help him if he can. Luckily their friendship has taught him not to hover like mother. The other one is the new cute girl, Olivia. She is wickedly smart in areas of science that he has no clue in, but despite that she is a pretty cool person and easy to talk to.

As the group breaks for lunch he walks over to them.

So, shall we grab a little lunch or do you want to do some shopping during the break?

As they move off to wherever he asks,

How do you like the tour so far?

[Inquisitor D]

"C'mon, Lia! We don't wanna be late!"

An energetic girl in a beret bounds down the row, clutching a hefty looking sparkling book with one hand, and pulling her friend along with the other. She's a picture of happiness and excitement: wearing a simple brown dress and with a rucksack full of books bounding up and down on her back. She's quite unlike her friend: a gloomy looking gangly young woman sporting dark shades atop a black jacket

To go with the city's theming, it's a little like a tiny Dorothy Gale is excitedly pulling the Wicked Witch down the street.

Cordelia Redgrave sighs, though she can't quite keep the smile off her face. If this were any other part of Emerald City, they'd probably stand out. Less so in the perpetual hustle and bustle of the Yellow Brick Row. She glances down at the tickets in her remaining hand.

Signing and Q&A: mangaka Tsumugi Hakura. Second Floor, Book Crooks.

This was not something she expected to be giving up her morning study session for. Still, Cordelia's here, her own copy of A Thousand Red Strings waiting for her behind the counter at Book Crooks. It's an obscure store, down a back alley, but she's visited it a few times with her grandma. She's fairly decent at improvisation when she has to be.

"It's not like there's going to be a queue to get in. This is pretty... niche, Roh-Roh. We might be the only ones there."

"Then we'll have more time to talk to her!" Iroha beams, somehow even more excited at that idea. It's hard to dissuade her from a course of action once she's set upon it. Cordelia murmurs for a second, but ultimately has nothing to say to that, simply grinning at her friend. She quickens her pace, though doesn't let go of Iroha's hand. Even if this does get awkward, together, this should be a good day.

[JagrHunter]

Mic McKenzie strolled out of the bustling "Whole Latte Love" coffee shop, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the air. Finding solace on a nearby bench, he savored a sip of his rich brew while observing the eclectic mix of passersby - students, scientists, tourists, and an assortment of characters. Little did they know about the various personas Mic embodied.

One of Mic's alter egos was that of a petty hood, adept at low-level shake downs and getaway driving, though often falling victim to the clutches of law enforcement. His telekinetic abilities, while modest, had led to his banishment from all the distinguished casinos in and around the EC. High-rolling cheaters were not kindly received in those establishments, even if their methods remained unproven. Then there was Mic McKenzie, known as PsiStar, a figure donning an advanced, state-of-the-art armored suit. The suit, unfortunately, had believed Mic to be a Psionic expert, capable of extraordinary feats.

Lastly, there was Supervisory Special Agent in charge McKenzie, overseeing the operations of the American Elite Government Intervention Service, or AEGIS for short. It was a prestigious role bestowed upon Mic after a life-altering encounter that involved his capture and subsequent offer he couldn't resist from the enigmatic Senior Director of AEGIS, "Harry" Powers.

After being whisked away to an AEGIS training camp for exceptional recruits, Mic was assigned to the EC field office, where Powers saw untapped potential and a dire need for Mic's unique skill set. that being a highly intelligent AI and an alien armor bonded to him alone, Mic chuckled at the thought of this. Six months had passed since Mic's arrival at the AEGIS EC office, and aside from a few instances of technology theft, there had been little to capture AEGIS' attention. Powers, though occasionally irksome, usually possessed a keen sense for trouble on the horizon.

In that moment, a mental tremor jolted Mic's consciousness, signaling a connection with ORACLE. Disguised as a standard AEGIS comm link in the form of a sleek smartwatch, it was, in reality, a conduit to ORACLE and Mic's formidable suit. Additionally, the device allowed Mic to utilize the functions of a typical commlink, complete with a specially encrypted link to Director Powers. "Eagerly awaiting your input, O.," Mic casually remarked, although he could effortlessly communicate with the AI through his thoughts alone. "Please, refrain from calling me that. ORACLE is the designation I prefer. Being surrounded on a planet where the pinnacle of AI technology is akin to what you humans refer to as a toaster is demeaning enough, even without your crude allusions," ORACLE retorted.

Mic chuckled, relishing the witty banter. While Mic basked in what ORACLE called a caffeine-induced euphoria, it reminded him of the ticking clock, signaling that in two and a half hours, Mic could employ the tickets in his possession for the Emerald City Ospreys' much-anticipated "Double Header" event. ORACLE's playful commentary on the term elicited yet another chuckle from Mic. "Got it, O. Thanks," Mic replied with a mischievous grin, imagining the AI sighing if it were capable of such a gesture. Discarding his empty cup into the nearby trash, he resisted the temptation to reach for a cigarette, opting instead to clear his throat and set off toward the nearest bus stop, destined for MarsTech Park, where the game awaited.

---

Saturday, June 3, 2023, 12:34 p.m., 70°F:

 

AEGIS Agent Hilde Whitestone came to a gradual halt, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead, as she triumphantly completed her invigorating 3-mile run along the scenic riverfront. Clad in a sleek black and grey workout ensemble, she relished these weekend workouts, finding them remarkably less chaotic than their weekday counterparts.

Normally, she would wrap up her jog before reaching the bustling Cannery, but today was different. A craving for a luscious blueberry/banana smoothie had taken hold of her, and she knew that the most divine smoothie joint in town, nestled along the enchanting Yellow Brick Row, held the coveted elixir she sought.

This particular stretch of the city, adorned with its extravagant devotion to the iconic movie, was something Hilde typically avoided, finding the ostentatious display unnecessary. Yet, fate had a way of leading her to the very heart of it all, for it was here that she would find the illustrious "Smooth Criminal" smoothie shop among the finest establishments. With a weary sigh escaping her lips, Hilde stepped onto the vibrant yellow pavers, determined to satisfy her craving at last.

 

 

Edited July 31, 2023 by JagrHunter (see edit history)

[Zen Gypsy]

Pinnacle, Paragon of Emerald City

DODGE: +6 | PARRY: +6 | TOU: +14 | FORT: +10 | WILL: +10

HERO POINTS: 1 | LUCK: 2

ACTIVE EFFECTS: None

CONDITIONS: None.

---

Saturday, June 3, 2023, 12:34 p.m., 70°F:

Quentin, was a broad shouldered youth, walking down the Yellow Brick Row, he was clad in a white and green Predator's tee, a pair of nylon joggers, and a thin soled, athletic shoe. His typical workout gear, having woken early for his morning 5k, his father, fully aware of his son's training regimen, didn't question him as he left the house, other than to remind him that they had dinner with Selma at quarter of six, somehow she had gotten them reservations at Nguyen's in Royal Heights. He hadn't been, of course, the haute couture neo-asian cuisine and décor put it in a very exclusive category that neither he, nor his father could typically afford, but Selma wanted to celebrate her latest victory at KTBS, an exclusive interview with the enigmatic Maxmillian Mars, the enigmatic philanthropist behind Mars Tech.

As he left the house, he felt a pang of guilt, he wasn't lying to his father, but he, also, wasn't telling him the full truth. Jackson assumed his son was going for his daily run when he left the house, then probably meeting up with Jenkins and Knox, his running back and wide receiver, respectively. In truth, Quentin had spoken with his mother, Adrienne, earlier in the week. She had asked him to come to the open air market, to see her, she sounded clean, she sounded happy, and Quentin hoped she was still attending her meetings, and as much as neither his father, nor Selma, approved, he liked to spend time with his mother. She sounded good, though he was cautious, as he'd been hurt before, he wanted to visit her, help her if he could. So he found himself along the Row, a bouquet of sunflowers and wildflowers in his hand, walking towards an art stall where his mother, and her current boyfriend were selling her canvases, small, hand painted, many of them of the urban decay, old alleys, abandoned warehouses, but the splash of sunlight through broken skylights, the splash of greens and yellows from weeds stubbornly pushing through cracked brick and mortar, a mix of tragedy and hope. Endings and beginnings.

"Q!" Ariette screamed, running up to her son, throwing her arms around him and giving him a tight embrace. He thought how, the last time he hugged her, it was like holding a bird in your hand, so small, so fragile, that fear that you'd injure it unwittingly. But now, she seemed grounded, perhaps, happier, "Hey mom," he said sheepishly, "got you these from the market. Figured you could set them up at your stand, or maybe take them home." She looked over her shoulder, "Kent, be a love, and get a vase from Mallory's stall will you?" Kent, a short, but thick looking man of, maybe fifty years, nodded, "Hey Quentin, good game Friday, think you'll do as good against the Sasquatches next week?" Quentin stepped away from his mother, his hand dropping to hold hers, "Hope so," he replied as the man walked down the Row towards a glass workers stall, he turned back to his mother, "Those paintings look nice, when did you take up painting?" The woman chuckled, brushing an errant curl of steel grey hair back beneath her tie dyed hair wrap, "Honey, your mother is an artistic soul, Kent put a brush in my hand and it was like I was born to hold one. You should try." She pointed towards an easel and a small 8 by 10 canvas, Quentin shook his head, "I'm too clumsy for that mom, you know that." His eyes were scanning the crowd, stopping a moment, before he started chuckling. The woman smacked him on the arm, "You need to have faith in yourself honey," she saw his smirk, followed his eyes, and turned back to her son "What are you laughing at Quentin Raleigh?" He nodded his head towards a young man, just under six foot, blond hair poking out from beneath a forest and emerald green hat, with bright brass buckles, a waist coat over a white dress shirt and green vest. "Just wondering where the pot of gold is." She gave him a smack on the arm, "Quentin! Your father raised you better than that. At least Jordan has a job, the tour comes through the Row every weekend, and he's been nothing but a kind young man." Sheepishly Quentin nodded, "Sorry mom," he said softly. She looked away for a moment, then her eyes lit up, "Oh! Q, I forgot, I got this for you!" He brought up a small crystal point set in a dull silver filagree on a leather thong. He took it from her hand, looking at it curiously, the sun filtered through the green crystal, "What is it?" She smiled, "Oh Barbara makes them," she indicated an older lady at a stall some distance past where Kent was haggling with Mallory over a vase. "It's a viridian crystal, it focuses your intentions, channels energy into you and protects you." She reached up and took it from him, clasping it around his neck. Quentin shrugged, he wasn't one to belief in astrology, crystals or tarot, but it made his mother happy, so what could he do besides tuck it beneath his tee. "Thanks mom, I should be going. Jenkins and Knox are waiting, we've got a lunch." Adrienne smiled and waved as her son made his way through the crowd towards Good Luck, Food Truck, which served skewers of crispy, seasoned duck. "Bye mom, love you!" Quentin called over his shoulder, Adrienne, for her part, sat down at the blank canvas and started painting, while Kent wandered back with the vase. "Love you too baby," she whispered as she watched her son move through the crowd.

Edited July 31, 2023 by Zen Gypsy (see edit history)

[Laird_Thorne]

Like any other morning, as the sun rose on this Saturday Phillipe was already up and working at his desk. This time, unlike other times, it wasn't for his blog but for fun. One of the few things he enjoyed spending time on outside of school and his work at the ECU paper was getting into discussions regarding the current state of technology and all the upcoming releases in the world of computers. Today though, the discussion was centered on the impact that heroes and organizations like The Albright Institute and ASTRO Labs has had on the technology used by the average person over the last century. Most of the people in the chat were in Freedom City or other American locales, but what he found most fascinating were the insights that people from outside of the US in places like Australia and Egypt had.

Participating in these types of discussions and learning about the world was Phillipe's subtle way of getting to travel the world. With his condition, international travel was very unlikely as there were too many things that could go wrong. He had been lucky to make it to Emerald City from the Bahamas with no issues, but he wasn't quite ready to take any more chances like that anytime soon. His attention was suddenly drawn to a grumble from his stomach reminding him that eating was a necessary thing. Shaking his head, he stood and stretched, careful not to overextend himself like he had that one time in Judo class.

"Yeah, I think I gave Master Chen a near heart attack when he heard that pop of my finger breaking just from hitting the wall when I was stretching." He looked at the clock. "Damn, I better get going if I want to catch Jordan's tour. The bus runs regular, but it'd be nice to not catch a crowded one and get those looks like every other time..." He gathered his things in his backpack, slipped it on and rolled out the door.

Saturday, June 3, 2023, 12:34 p.m., 70°F:

As Jordan wrapped up the first part of the tour, Phillipe couldn't help but be impressed. His friend, which Phillipe was still getting used to having out here in the real world, demonstrated that he knew a lot of facts and trivia about the city and definitely deserved the article that Phillipe was going to write about this experience. Maybe he'll actually have an uptick over Cordelia and her upscale readers. He smiled to himself and nodded. Yeah, with the notes he'd taken, he could fluff this up and give Jordan a great review.

His attention was drawn to Jordan and that he was asking about lunch.

"I vote for lunch. I forgot to eat this morning." Before his friend could rib him about his lack of appetite, Phillipe grinned. "Yes, I know. Again. Got wrapped up in a discussion about tech and next thing I know it was time to catch your ... show." He finger quoted the "show" before continuing.

"Which by the way has really, honestly been fascinating. I can't believe I haven't come along sooner. You really know your stuff."

[Rayth]

Olivia's morning usually starts early. Ideally, before the sun is even up. She makes a light breakfast and gets in some quick exercise; either a brisk run or some weights, depending on the day. Saturdays are cardio, so she'd gotten in a quick run before the sun was truly up. That gave her just enough time to suit up and find somewhere to watch the sun glide over the darkened city. She had been worried that someone would see her floating in the air, but luckily the parking garage she'd found was deserted this early on a Saturday, and no one was looking up about two hundred feet in the sky. That let her drift gently in the wind and watch daylight overtake the world around her. Suitably relaxed after her run, she dropped to the ground, dismissed her armor, and walked back toward her apartment. She knew she had the tour with Jordan later that morning, and wanted to make sure she was presentable.

---

Suitably showered and dressed after her morning run, she met up with Jordan and his friend Phillipe in time for the tour to begin. Thankfully for her sore legs, the pace was pretty slow. The weather was nice, and the subject was broadly interesting, too. Olivia was an Emerald City native, but she hadn't ever delved into the quantity of lesser-known facts about the place, so she had some earnest interest to show.

It helped that Jordan seemed to have that interest himself, despite the outfit his boss made him wear. It looked quite uncomfortable, and more than a little silly. The only saving grace was that the weather was cool enough that he wasn't likely to get heatstroke. But Jordan, to his credit, took to the suit with aplomb, managing to keep the tour moving along while throwing in the occasional Oz-related joke.

As the tour pauses for a lunch break, Liv smiles at Jordan's question. "The tour has been great! Phillipe is right, you're really good at this. I vote for lunch too, as long as you don't mind me tagging along."

As the group presumably moves toward getting something to eat, Olivia turns toward Phillipe.

"What kind of tech? Did you get wrapped up talking about, I mean."

[Laird_Thorne]

On 7/30/2023 at 12:59 PM, Rayth said:

As the group presumably moves toward getting something to eat, Olivia turns toward Phillipe.

"What kind of tech? Did you get wrapped up talking about, I mean."

Phillipe rolled along slowly and smiled. "A little of this, a little of that. Some of it though was a discussion about using some of the same type of servos and other systems that some of the power armored folks use and applying that to exoskeletons for those with ..." he gestured to the wheelchair, "less ability to get around or as some might say, are more defective."

He sighed. "Of course, I'm lucky. I'm not one hundred percent stuck to this chair. It's just simpler to use it to get around so I don't take a wrong step and and run into a wall, shattering most of whatever body part I hit the wall with. And I'd be in real trouble if I hit my head. Be stuck in a neck brace and head cage for months. And that wouldn't be good for my social life for sure..."

[Draidden]

Thanks, I have always found the history of this place to be fascinating.

Food it is then. I know this vender over there that serves the best pulled pork sandwiches you have ever tasted. Stuff just melts in your mouth. Interested?

He leaves out the part where the guy gives him free food while he is leading a tour group. He hoped Carlos would offer free food to his friends, but he does not want to assume that and then be proved a liar.

Hardly waiting for the others to agree, he leads them over to the "Frying Pig". It is a large portable cart with a large umbrella over it and the picture of pig in bakers' clothes holding a frying pan over a fire. As he approaches, he waves hi to the man manning the cart. The man is in his mid-forties, a bit of a belly, and wearing the white coat and hat of a chef. He has black, short hair with a Mario style mustache.

Hey Carlos! I have told my friends here how good your sandwiches are, so can we get three with drinks please?

The drinks are several types of sodas, lemonade, sweet tea or water.

Edited August 1, 2023 by Draidden (see edit history)

[Rayth]

Olivia's expression turns thoughtful as Phillipe talks, though she does her best to keep a scowl off her face at his mention of being "defective". She didn't know the man well enough to be able to tell if he was just a fan of self-depreciating humor, or if he really felt that way about himself. Olivia, ever full of compassion, didn't want him to feel that way if she could help it, somehow.

As he continues, it seems clear that he is joking, or at least making light of the issue. So Olivia gives him a small smile.

"That's a field I have some experience in, actually. The problem becomes sourcing the materials to make parts like that at scale, and a power source to fuel them. It's easy for Daedalus to make bespoke parts for his suit, but less so to make a million of them at the same quality. Though, of course, Daedalus puts his equipment through much more stress than most people ever will, so the bar for quality doesn't need to be as high..."

She realizes she's rambling, and looks a little embarrassed. These two didn't sign up for a science lecture. Eager to have something else to focus on, she's thankful for the prospect of food, ordering a sandwich and a lemonade.

She's not opposed to talking shop, so to speak, but knows she can be a little intense about it compared to regular folks. Having something to eat will at least slow down her talking to something approaching normal human conversation, and let them get a word in edgewise. Her thoughts speed along unimpeded, however, contemplating the engineering necessary to fix Phillipe's problem.

Servos and such are fine and all, but maybe a sheath of hard light around the legs and lower body, with an emitter to propel him forward...

[Blue Firebird]

Saturday is Celeste's favorite day. The morning is her favorite time. Of all the cities she can remember visiting on Earth, Emerald City is her favorite city.

 

This is a good day.

 

Yellow Brick Row is so full of life! In places like these, she can feel the buzz of it, the pulse of it, warmth that still glows even when she closes her eyes. She sees that living energy, feels it, as a woman might know the direction of the sun even with her eyes closed. On mornings like these, hopes and dreams, thoughts and feelings, they all come together to bloom into a fragrant garden of pure life.

 

The angel is here for it.

 

Angel though she is, Celeste looks like any other woman. Oh sure, she's rather statuesque, wearing a form-fitting white tank top and blue-white yoga pants that flatter her well, and her eyes are a little more radiant, but it's nothing compare to her true form. Today, she is just a lovely blonde woman on a stroll down Yellow Brick Row. She's taken it before and loves it each time, absently nibbling at a Pocky stick as she goes. Her eyes are round and deepest blue as she takes in all the wares, many of them handcrafted and homemade, and has to continuously remind herself not to buy everything. It doesn't stop some of the vendors from wanting to simply give her things, but Celeste is vaguely aware this has to do with her mortal seeming.

 

Yellow Brick Row offers a wealth of treasures, and gives her half-glimpsed flashbacks of celestial pathways among realms glowing with the warmth of hospitality. Celeste smiles at anyone who looks at her, a smile that almost literally lights up a room. The day is just a perfect one so far, though she is growing hungrier for something a little more substantial than a Pocky stick.

Or a box.

 

Or several boxes....

[Jedaii]

The Yellow Brick Row, 12:59 p.m.

 

As everyone is enjoying shops, cafes and restaurants of the district an ultra-brilliant flash of light explodes across the entire area! The loud, heart-stopping sounds of an explosion and shattering glass along with the accompanying shock strike you all without warning. Within moments, a strange cloud of silvery mist blankets the surrounding area! Just as panic and flight are about to take hold, the cloud begins to swirl without any evident prompting from the wind! It whips itself into a cyclonic mass, discharging what appear to be bolts of bluish lightning both within itself and outward around its immediate vicinity!

Tempest:

Jordan's struck by a lightning bolt that knocks him senseless sending him tumbling through the air over a hundred feet and he lands on the roof of a nearby building!

OOCWhen Jordan comes to his senses and stands his first few steps cause him to slowly drift upwards from the rooftop!

 

Analyst:

Cordelia's struck by a lightning bolt that sends her crashing through the window of the bookstore where she crashes into a table sending books flying everywhere inside the shop! An explosion of crackling flame ignites on the outer shop and begins spreading inside as the customers scream in terror!

OOCWhen she comes to her senses, she'll "hear" the panicked thoughts/emotions of the people inside the shop!

 

Psi-Star and Whitestone:

At the bus stop, Mic see the massive flash of light from the Row and the accompanying shockwave nearly knocks him into the street! After that enormous energy-twister unleashes lightning everywhere the screams of pedestrians fills the area!

Whitestone was just getting her drink when the brilliant flash and shockwave hit her location! Windows shattered, debris flew everywhere and lightning flashes across the Row! She saw smoke rising from the Row and pedestrians sprinting away - some carrying children and injured companions!

 

Pinnacle:

Quentin is struck by a lightning bolt that sends him semi-conscious crashing through a nearby restaurant window and he lands at the feet of panicked customers! Then the ceiling cracks front to back and begins to sag preparing to collapse on the horrified crowds who were enjoying their food and drink!

OOCWhen he comes to his senses, he will FEEL his new powers physically as he now moves much faster and with greater power!

 

Crystal Titan:

Phillipe is struck by a lightning bolt that slams him from his chair across the street and through a shop window where he tumbles on the floor into clothing racks! Startled customers begin to panic at the sudden catastrophe!

OOCWhen he regains his senses, he will see his body begin to enlarge and shift from flesh to crystal!

 

Hardlight:

The blast's shockwave knocks Olivia off her feet and she tumbles several yards before coming to rest near a building! All around her she sees screaming panicked pedestrians and fires beginning to spread on many of the Row's structures!

 

Seraph:

Caught off guard by the sudden blast Celeste is blown backwards into a nearby wall by the shockwave! Lightning from the glowing tornado strikes several people and ignites fires on a half dozen Row buildings! Looking around she sees panicked pedestrians running for their lives, laying injured on the ground - or frozen in terror!

 

The Silver-Storm subside and begin to dissipate before anyone can arrive on the scene, leaving the dead and injured as the most immediate concern!

Scene

 The Map:

• "A" is a building on fire with pedestrians trapped inside
• "B" is a building on fire with pedestrians trapped inside
• "C" is building on fire with pedestrians trapped inside - Analyst is inside also (and gets 4 Hero points)
• "D" building on fire with pedestrians trapped inside - Pinnacle is inside also (and gets 4 Hero points)
• There's two additional buildings on fire
• Psi-Star is at a nearby corner next to "B" (and gets 4 Hero points)
• Agent Whitestone is around the corner in a small plaza
• Seraph is on the sidewalk near "A" (and gets 3 Hero points)
• Hardlight (gets 4 Hero points) is in the street across from the shop where Phillipe landed
• Crystal Titan (gets 3 Hero points) is inside a shop across from Hardlight
• Tempest is on a rooftop (thirty feet up) nearby "A" (and gets 4 Hero Points)
• There are no vehicles on the Row (Pedestrian Zone)
• Assume in each "crowd" token there are is at least one severely-injured civilian
• PCs thrown through windows are startled but uninjured due to their transformation
• Remember to simply post what your PC wants to do and I'll make a roll if necessary - please don't assume the outcome of an action unless it requires no roll

Questions? Just ask OOC 👍 

[Draidden]

TEMPEST

---

Jordan comes to feeling like he was hit by a truck. Well at least he thinks it is how you would feel if hit by a truck. Having never been hit by one he would not really know.

He slowly opens his eyes and finds himself staring up at the sky. Sitting up he groans a little and sore muscle complain to his movements.

Ooowwwwwww!

That is when he notices where he is. Some how he finds himself up on a rooftop looking out over the rooftops of Yellow Brick Row. Then he remembers he was with Phillipe and Olivia when that strange storm hit. He stands up and starts to move to the edge of the roof to see what is causing all the smoke he sees flowing up into the sky.

And if things weren't weird enough already, as he takes a couple of quick steps towards the edge he finds himself being lifted up slowly into the air.

Oooooooo crraaaappppppppp!

As he starts to panic he can feel some stronger winds blowing against and around him and he starts to rise higher into the air. And despite his panic he notices that several of the buildings below are on fire. He wishes these darn winds would take him down towards the fires. To his surprise they obey and he zooms down towards the closest fire.

Now he panics because he is getting way to close to that fire. He thrusts his hands out to try to protect himself from the flames. It did not occur to him he could have told the winds to stop moving him closer.

As he thrusts his hands forward, and huge gust of wind shoots out from his hands towards the flames and the scared people behind them. And while it looks like it might succeed at blowing out the flames, it also slams the poor people against the floor and back wall.

 

ActionsThe intent is that he used Down Draft to try to put out the flames. Not the intended use of the power but then again he has no idea what he is doing.

Complication of Accident in that he hit the poor people he is trying to save as well as the fires.

 

[Zen Gypsy]

Pinnacle, Paragon of Emerald City

DODGE: +6 | PARRY: +6 | TOU: +14 | FORT: +10 | WILL: +10

HERO POINTS: 1 | LUCK: 2

ACTIVE EFFECTS: None

CONDITIONS: None.

---

Saturday, June 3, 2023, Yellow Brick Row, 12:59 p.m.:

Quentin's entire world seemed to shift and change, time, itself, was a malleable thing, shaped and twisted by some omnipotent, omnipresent, entity, in a manner which left the citizens of Emerald City shocked, as an explosion ripped through the crowds of shoppers, tourists and sightseers who had gathered along the Row. A brilliant flare of lights flooded his vision, as this silvery cloud, debris, he thought absently, dust, enveloped him along the sidewalk, then an impact. He'd been hit before, certainly, both on and off the field, but this was different, he felt the impact in his core, it echoed through him, he couldn't think, couldn't breath. A kaleidoscope of pain, he felt as if his body was, simultaneously, being stretched, joints popping, ligaments tearing, skin stretching, and being compacted at the same time, suffocating, constricted, trapped. He could feel blood flood his mouth, he felt a hundred, thousand impacts, tearing through his body, tiny, stinging impacts, a dreadful sense of being pulled apart, with each impact another layer of his body was splayed open. In his mind he was like one of those biology texts, each page, each instant like a layer of his body being flayed apart, the pain was unbearable.

As quickly as it started, it stopped, completely, utterly, still, the silence was deafening, he couldn't feel his own body, couldn't see, it was, as if, he were floating in a void, a vast sea of nothing, it wasn't that it was dark, it was primeval, an absence of light, an absence of everything. No, not everything, he thought, he could feel ... something ... that omnipotent, omnipresent, sentience ... watching ... waiting ... was he dead? Had he died? He was suddenly, unconsolably, sad, if his body hadn't been flayed into thin layers, it would be wracked with sobs. His father, his mother, his mother? She had been on the Row with him? Where was she, suddenly, in this void, under the scrutinizing gaze of something greater than self, Quentin, or what had been Quentin, began to struggle. "Mom?" He called into the void, "MOTHER!" His voice, was joined by others, a creaking, a groaning, the sound of chaos, of mayhem, light, painfully, sliced into his brain, as he called out again, "WHERE ARE YOU!" His eyes fluttered open, he was on his back, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling ... it was cracked, dust and debris floated in the afternoon air, his voice was calling out, surrounded by dozens of other voices, all raised in the same sense of shock and urgency, "Help!" "... oh God!" " ... dad? Mom?" "...art in heaven, hallow," "... wake up, oh please." He struggled to his feet, his body felt, odd, heavy, bruised, sore, he looked left to right, he was standing in the Smooth Criminal, the organic-foods franchise was, nearly, unrecognizable, Jackson's Hee-hee playing in a terrifying loop. He needed to find his mother, he needed to make sure she was alright. He shook his head, staggering as a wave of nausea hit him. He could almost hear Coach Walker in his head, 'A game is won a play at a time, at yard at a time. The end zone is the goal, and it's ok to keep that in mind, but your eyes need to be focused on what's right in front of you.'

"You!" He pointed through the debris, "Seahawks!" A man in a ball cap, broad shoulders, a little soft around the middle, probably an athlete twenty years ago, someone's dad, a young girl clinging to her hip. "9-1-1 NOW! Get your daughter out of here." He looked at the ceiling it groaned under it's own weight, he was at the door, how had he gotten there, the vertigo again, he reached out, his hand punching through the drywall as he steadied himself. Shake it off Q, he thought to himself, people are counting on you. "The rest of you, partner up, we have to get out of here, two by two, don't panic, just move. Find someone lost, someone injured, help them out, but we have to move ... NOW! Go! Go! GO!"

He watched, as people started to move, looked down, he saw a young man, not much younger than him, wearing the Smooth Criminal apron, that dark purple and yellow. His face was a mess of blood, torn skin, and shattered glass, Quentin wasn't a medic, his dad had made him take a first aid course in high school though, and he knew something was better than nothing, he looked at the name badge. "Okay Casey, this might hurt, but let's get you out of here, alright?" He grabbed a cloth, put it into Casey held it to the side of his face, tore a strip off of his shirt and secured it there, before grabbing him by the shoulder's and dragging him back towards the door where the crowd was exiting the building. "We're going to be fine," he told the red-haired kid, "just hold on okay?" He kept glancing up at the ceiling, praying it would hold, ready to cover Casey's body with his own if it collapsed.

Edited August 5, 2023 by Zen Gypsy (see edit history)

[Jedaii]

The Yellow Brick Row, 1:00 p.m.

 

Tempest:

The flying hero unleashes a howling gust of wind that literally blows out the building fire like a birthday candle - the blast was so powerful it knocked down several pedestrians and blew them along the sidewalk a few yards! But, they seemed unharmed and started to get up pointing at Tempest in stunned amazement!

 

Pinnacle:

As the customers rushed for and out the entrance past the crackling flames overhead, many of them had snatched out their phones, dialing 911 immediately! As Pinnacle escorted Casey out the doorway the damaged ceiling groaned and collapsed down - a shower of debris crushing the restaurant's interior completely! Outside the many pedestrians thanked Pinnacle and began giving details to 911 operators and checking for companions! There were still burning buildings and panicked civilians running or trapped on the Row ...!