Freedom's Knights [IC:2] Taming Dragons

[badpenny]

Raptor

Tanner suppressed a grunt as he recognized the dame from his sparring days. She was no one's dump doll, and those who'd tried to get with her usually got shivved if they didn't take her seriously. The two guys he recognized, but he couldn't place from where.

Knowledge [Heroes & Villains] DC 15 (1d20=19)

[Tattooedman]

Foreshadow’s voice comes across the communicators. “This is interesting……seems that we have some bigger fish checking on the operations here.” He singles out the man in the more traditional green and yellow oriental garb. “Jade Phoenix; a cold blooded killer that has developed his martial skill into a respectable array of superhuman abilities, he’s spent many years working for whoever would pay him the most for his skills. It looks like he’s finally found a permanent employer.

Foreshadow indicates the man in the dark green costume with a dragon imaged on a shoulder pad. “Green Dragon; he’s mostly worked for Tongs in Bay City and has been trouble for the Champions on a number of occasions. He’s strong and hard to injure physically in addition to being a respectable martial artist.”

He finally gets to the woman that is with the two men. “Black Lotus, another martial artist of impressive skill and questionable motivations. She’s been working for Doctor Sin for almost a decade now; there have been rumors she’d been moving up in his organization. This confirms it.”

Foreshadow’s untrained Knowledge Check: 1d20+3=21, good enough for him to know all 3 of the new players.

Raptor made the roll as well, so he’s pretty familiar with who these 3 are and what they can do.

“If she’s here then that can only mean that Hurang has ties to Doctor Sin. That explains why he had that run in with FORCE Ops a month ago. Rumor had it that someone had stolen information from him and had tried hiding here. Of course Sin wouldn’t let something like that go unpunished and sent his prime agent, the Crimson Katana with a few dozen ninja to take it back. Needless to say when they ran into FORCE Ops it didn’t go as they’d planned and FORCE Ops must have managed to figure out Hurang’s connection and confronted him.” He pauses here for a moment, “FORCE Ops isn’t the most subtle of teams if you haven’t noticed.”

A quick Investigate Check: 1d20+13=21, yeah that’s good enough for Foreshadow to have figured that out.

“Lets see what’s brought these three here tonight. Caliber must have something in mind for them.”

Another round of Stealth Checks for everyone.

[catsi563]

Panda
HP: 3
Condition: Black bear eating chocolate in a closet at midnight

"Dr. Sin? As int he one who gives the Raven fits?" she whispered quietly with a shudder.

Ginger was pretty well fearless as it was but even she remembered the one time that Dr. Sin had visited the base she was at. He had looked at them all simultaneously like they were pieces of meat to be consumed, and like he was their grandfather. When he had looked at her with those cold eyes it was like she was being paged through like a book. Hell even Mongoose normaly snarky and defiant had been silent while he was there.

Knowing the skills of the three involved now Ginger made sure to be extra cautious when she moved. Still With her Shadow Cloak up she was as unseen at the wind, and as quiet as the shadows she hid in. Those shadows whispered softly to her as she observed the proceedings carefully.

Panda taking 10 for a 26 on her stealth check, and just to be safe remember she has close range on shadow cloak so someone would have to be within 5 feet of her to make a notice check.

And she is staying well away from anyone actively moving to keep a safe distance.

[kenseido]

Stryke

As Foreshadow described the three new people, Tyler tried to keep his distance. Stealth is not his forte, and his luck would only last so long. These guys delt with the big leagues; they were probably the people that could tell you were behind them by the way the air moved across the tiny hairs on the back of their necks.

Stealth: 1d20+6=20

[badpenny]

Raptor

Raptor remained cloaked from view and out of everyone's way with his antigrav flight suit. Between the mooks and the formidable martial arts talent, now was not the time to be getting froggy--talk about being outnumbered.

But Tanner wanted to know what Caliber was up to. He knew what these fools were up to: earning some coin and exerting their influence because he knew just what they were like. But Caliber. She was the real mystery....

Visual Concealment and subtle Flight

[Tattooedman]

As the four of you settle into your current hiding places the meeting going on below between the three martial artists and Hurang continues.

"The Master wishes to know why you have not made more progress Hurang." Black Lotus says, her tone is mostly neutral save for a hint of irritation.

For his part Hurang wastes no time in responding. "We have been recovering from the Freebooter's theft from the Master." He says plainly and to the point. "Added into the rebulding from the attack FORCE Ops of one of our more useful front operations there has been new compitition in our other ventures; the Red Shadows finally made their move and we have been hard pressed to hold them at bay while still dealing with Driogano men. Also it seems that there a woman, calling herself Caliber has taken a personal interest in our operations as well. She has sent several of my top street operatives to jail as well as destroying a decent portion of our product."

It's at this point that the man Foreshadow identified as Jade Phoenix speaks. "And what have you been doing to deal with these problems Hurang? The Master selected you for this venture based on your ability to juggle various interests at once." His tone is much harsher, almost like that of a disapointed father figure.

"I have changed much of how the day to day procedures are done and it has been working, Caliber hasn't been as effective as she originally was. We have just begun to see a profit from our opium trade and prostitutes." Hurang answers with a stern nod, satisfied he's answered the question posed to him. "She has not been able to discover anything about how we've been moving the Master's finances and I am ready for the next infusion to be converted."

"I shall pass that along, the Master will be pleased with that. Possibily enough to overlook your missteps in the other areas." Black Lotus comments. "I am curious as to how do you plan on dealing with this Caliber person however?"

Hurang pauses for a moment, almost like he didn't want to give this answer. "I was considering asking the Master to send the Dragoneye." He finally answers quietly.

Black Lotus tilts her head to one side at the answer as Green Dragon shifts his stance, until now he's not really seemed too interested in the proceedings, more focusing on Hurang's men, but the mention of this Dragoneye has seemed to draw his full attention. "Really? You think that he is truely needed to deal with a street runner? Wouldn't that be a waste of the Master's resources?" He asks with a thick accent. Meanwhile Jade Phoenix is looking around the entire space as the conversasion continues.

"Caliber is much like the Master's most dreaded adversary, the Raven. Very skilled and highly driven. I have learned that it is most unwise to underestimate her in any fashion."

That'll be another Stealth Check for everyone and I'll need a Notice Check as well.

[badpenny]

Raptor

Tanner knew how interesting it was to eavesdrop on the bad guys and this was no different. Caliber didn't seem to be that effective--at least these guys didn't seem to think so. That was interesting.

He'd be happy just to glean some more intel and then to amscray, hitting these fools when they least expected it. But he began to expect that with how long they were loitering, someone was going to tip to their presence and then the fit was really going to hit the shan.

Notice (1d20+9=20)
Subtle flight and Total visual Concealment (close)

[catsi563]

Panda
HP: 3
Condition: Sneaky

Panda listened from where she was carefully taking note of any information these guys gave away. It was easy to get info when the bad guys thought they were safe and unobserved. Still ever cautious she shfited her position every few moments to insure that she didnt get to comfortable or that a wandering sentry didnt get lucky.

Not that bouncing around the open area above them there was much chance of that happening she smirked.

Panda Notice check 18

Pandas gonna roll this stealth check, since I think things are gonna get funky soon 33

and as always someone has to be within 5 feet of her to even try.

[kenseido]

Stryke

Stealth: 1d20+6=18
Notice: 1d20+8=28

[Tattooedman]

Jade Phoenix seems to look right at each of you in turn. It’s downright creepy the way he stares, it’s almost like he can somehow see you despite the various forms of cover that each of you are making use of.

But he makes no hostile move of any kind; instead he turns his attention back towards the conversation going on between Hurang and the pair he arrived with. He does lean towards Green Dragon a few moments later though and whispers something to the other man that none of you can make out, which causes the other man to merely nod his head.

Meanwhile Black Lotus has continued questioning Hurang about how much profit he has generated with his various criminal ventures and the numbers are surprising considering he was just citing much interference from Calibur, then you learn that over half of what he makes is supposed to be sent back to the parent organization; in other words directly to Doctor Sin. As Hurang is making a point of pointing out exactly how much money he has managed to still generate for his master Green Dragon moves closer to Black Lotus and whispers something to her. Her expression doesn’t change one bit as her companion finishes having his say then moving away to rejoin their third member off side of her as Hurang finishes talking about money.

“Let me ask you this Hurang.” Black Lotus says with a cold tone to her voice. “Just how secure is this place?”

Hurang is visibly thrown by the question and as he tries to formulate an answer Black Lotus cuts him off. “You have followed all of the Master’s past rulings on such matter? You’ve trained your people in how to properly perform the Twin Rivers Defense? The Slumbering Giant? The Emperor’s Wandering Eye?”

“Yes, of course I have trained all of my guards in all of those styles of structure defense. Any of you can inspect the security of this safe house. I have total faith in my people as they all know the price of failure, to me as well as to our Master.”

“That is all well and good Hurang,” Black Lotus answers back, her tone still possessing that cold as ice tone to it. “but if what you say is true then why has Jade Phoenix detected the life forces of four people who are attempting to hide themselves in the higher parts of this structure?”

As Black Lotus speaks the words that reveals she, Green Dragon and Jade Phoenix are fully aware of your collective presence that Jade Phoenix lets out a warrior’s yell while putting his hands through a series of specific gestures that none of you recognize just before levelling a incredibly wide beam of energy that is aimed at above your heads and easily pulps the interior of the building and sends it crashing down upon you as well as many of Hurang’s men below you.

All of you realize that your only choice at this point is to try and ride the wave of debris down to the floor and hope that the gathering of criminals waiting at the bottom won’t be as ready for you as they think they are

None of you managed to make the DCs that were set for either of those checks, and IC screwed Foreshadow on them too.

Now for the good news; all of you get HP for the complication of being discovered and a second HP for having the roof rained down upon you and being forced down to the bottom level where all the bad guys are.

So at this point let’s have some dice rolls;
First off make either a pair of Acrobatics Checks or a pair of Reflex Checks [DC 15 no matte which you use] to get clear of the falling debris and not breaking your neck on landing a story below your current position.

If you fail the first DC you’ll have to make a Toughness DC 20.
If you fail the second DC you’ll have to make a Toughness DC 25.


After all that it’ll be time for the Initiative Rolls.

.

[kenseido]

Stryke
HP: 3, Condition: Out of the frying pan...

Tyler is nervous about staying here for so long. He is not as gifted as stealth as the others, and he is just begging to be caught the longer he stays. Unfortunately, it turns out they spotted all of them.

Tyler is caught off guard by the wave of energy and collapsing ceiling and floor. Fortunately, his enhanced reflexes keeping him from harm as he is deposited on the bottom floor.

Reflex #1: 1d20+11=16
Reflex #2: 1d20+11=22

Initiative: 1d20+14=27

[badpenny]

Raptor
Condition: normal
HP: 4

Tanner swore as he pretty much knew what was going to happen next. He'd seen it before: those whispers from man to man (and woman)--they'd been made. What he hadn't expected was the bolt of energy in their direction and the whole freakin' roof coming down on top of them!

He rode the building material down, zigging and zagging, even kicking on board out of the way with a deft side kick. He landed at the end of a somersault and it was a pretty damn cool feeling. Because at the same time he felt like an utter schmuck for going along with this harebrained plan in the first place. All of them hadn't needed to be in here--it had been begging for trouble.

Well now they had it.

With Acrobatics 15 he automatically makes both saves
Init (1d20+7=15)

[catsi563]

Panda
HP: 4
Condition: Dancin in the dark

Panda began to get a bad feeling when whispers began to go around the group but when Jade Phoenix decided to level the place from the inside. Panda avoided the blast it self by side stepping behind a pillar only for the balcony she was on to collapse. Thankfully her shadow cloak remained intact and she remained unseen.

But being unseen doesnt make you intangible to falling roof and wall debris nor does it render one protected from hitting the ground and splattering like a watermellon.

So Panda did what she did best. She danced. She danced from rubble to rubble, from broken piece to broken piece, from wall to wall to floor before finally alighting on top of a set of boxes as soundlessly as a feather.

Only get 1 hp for Panda after confirmation of Panda still being unseen ((might miss that HP later ))

Pandan dancing with acrobatics total of 19 and skill mastery means 2 rolls of 29 no sweat.

She'll maintain her cloak for now and keep a distance from the others so she can act in support of the group when the times right.

Panda initiative check 21

[Tattooedman]

As each of you make your way down among the falling chunks and bits of the damaged ceiling to the floor, Hurang is already making his way towards an exit with several of his people following after him (though some of them look to be keeping pace with him and acting as bodyguards).

The members of the Tong that stay have made sure to get themselves clear of the destruction that's been rained down and have pulled out an impressive collection of hand-held weapons; knives, small clubs as well as a couple pistols. By the way they are looking at Stryke, Raptor and Foreshadow and holding said weapons the Tongs are ready to put their tools to use.

Jade Phoenix and Green Dragon both assume a martial stance. Green Dragon looks as if he is ready to break bones but Jade Phoenix's hands are surrounded by an odd glowing effect. Black Lotus however, has pulled out a pair of edged sai instead but she looks no less deadly than her two companions.

Foreshadow, having pulled out his own weapons, a pair of black colored escrima sticks, calls out to the rest of you. "I've got Green Dragon!" And with that leaps towards his intended opponent with a smoothness that shows he's not afraid of the impending fight.

First off here's Foreshadow's Initiative: (1d20+8=14).

Alright, now for the bad guys;
Black Lotus Initiative: (1d20+11=15)

Jade Phoenix Initiative: (1d20+10=16)

Green Dragon Initiative: (1d20+12=18)

Remaining Tong members (x10): Initiative [group roll]: (1d20+2=6)

----
Initiative Order:
Stryke - 27
Panda - 21
Green Dragon - 18
Jade Phoenix - 16
Raptor - 15
Black Lotus - 15
Foreshadow - 14
Tong Members - 6
>>>
Stryke is up first.

[kenseido]

Stryke

Seeing the underlings arm themselves, Tyler decides to try and even the numbers up a bit. Using his super-speed strike, he lets force and momentum help him wittle down the opposing forces.

Take 10 against the Tong members for an attack roll of 19. Speed strike for DC22 Toughness and Takedown until somebody saves.