>>232057
Shitfuck, must be that other robot dude. Get out your other gun and take him down. You know the drill, sword through that faceplate. Then grab his laser cannon and finish the fucker hiding behind the desk.

throw it throw it THROW IT! (At either the robot dude or the jerk behind the desk - whichever is easier and faster)

ueah, it's a grenade now. use it like one. then begin weaving your way to whoever yu didn't throw it at.

1/3 Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/09/25(Sat)23:38 No. 234055 ID: f4963f
File 128548313612.jpg - (146.07KB , 841x600 , Ch5_Tyrael_17.jpg )

>It's a grenade now.
Tyrael makes fireworks.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/09/25(Sat)23:39 No. 234056 ID: f4963f
File 128548318184.jpg - (151.29KB , 841x600 , Ch5_Tyrael_18.jpg )

With a flourish and a sweep, Tyrael has the last mook at gunpoint. The mook drops his gun and surrenders in sheer awe. Tyrael can't help it. He's both frightening and handsome like that.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/09/25(Sat)23:40 No. 234057 ID: f4963f
File 128548319937.jpg - (195.29KB , 841x600 , Ch5_Tyrael_19.jpg )

The doors to Lab A whoosh open, revealing two battered but familiar figures. The scent of ozone is accompanied by a strange odor not unlike pickles. Though Nicolas' flight is impressive, Tyrael quickly reminds himself that running leaps and heroic acrobatics are much more stylish.

"Lab A is secure," says Joel.

Notice Nic's flying guns. Ask why he didn't think to just use a few swords, for style points.

Nicolas has magic powers, so anything he did doesn't count. Joal didn't start the battle with the most powerful melee weapon so she is understandably beat up more and had to EARN her victory.

anyway, get someone to tie up the mook and lead your troops onward.

Man, that makes me wish we played them instead. I mean they went up against two hovertanks plus I can only imagine a whole buncha mooks.

And now we will never know their body count. Whatevs, we got a car crash scene. I can only imagine the XP, load up on guns and prototypes and shit. See if the guitar of death was made or not by the deliciously tan pigtailed girl.

>>234057
Congratulate them on their good work and remark how much quicker you would have done it.

Then suggest that we stop standing around here dillydallying and get a move on. Evil corporations won't crumble just by you guys standing around there.

Tell Nic not to keep his feet level while he's floating. Toes down is the far more stylish poise whilst levitating.

>>234078
Also this. We must obtain the fire and lightning guitar.

1/3 Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/01(Fri)11:58 No. 236902 ID: f4963f
File 128595949374.jpg - (158.79KB , 775x600 , Ch5_Cleanup_01.jpg )

"The front lobby is clear," says Tyrael. "Though if I had really tried, I could have done it twice as fast."
"I'm sure that's very true," replies Nicolas wearily.

After some deliberation, Nicolas offers Tyrael rope to tie the hostages up with. Nicolas fills him in on what he's missed. "Your sister's turned to world domination, everyone and their grandmother has magic detection, the guards are insufferable pricks and the scientist with the pigtails won't shut up. If I could find my DM, I'd slap him senseless for setting up this deathtrap of an infiltration."
"Nic, you're talking weird again," says Joel.

"We don't have much time to waste," he continues. "We were going to free the researchers, so that should be our next step."
Joel and Tyrael agree and quickly go about tying up the survivors. Tyrael finds that the second armored mook's laser rifle is still intact, so he claims it for himself. After about a minute, the party is in the elevator on its way to the 20th floor.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/01(Fri)11:58 No. 236903 ID: f4963f
File 128595951149.jpg - (154.98KB , 841x600 , Ch5_Cleanup_02.jpg )

"I'm glad you're not planning to bail," says Tyrael. "I still want my guitar."
"We're sticking to it," replies Joel. Her gaze remains fixed on the doors.
"I'm surprised to hear you say that," says Nic.
"Me too," she says, "but something has to be done. I thought the military would have stomped out the MIB in a week, but they haven't. Rastin's dead, and they've just moved to Colorado and kept building. I-I decided on the way that I was going to go to a nice café on the west coast and sip spiced coffee until the problem went away, but it's becoming obvious that it won't."
"So you need someone crazy enough to drive straight into the heart of Denver to save a caption website," says Nicolas.
"Right."

The elevator dings and the doors slide open.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/01(Fri)11:59 No. 236904 ID: f4963f
File 128595954769.jpg - (144.37KB , 841x600 , Ch5_Cleanup_03.jpg )

The party is greeted with thundering gunfire and flashes of light. Bullets and lasers fly between the lab room and the various MIB stationed in the hallway outside. It looks like the researchers and the MIB aren't on good terms - and the scientists are getting their asses handed to them.

Control has switched to Nicolas.

>>236904
Force the turret to fire upon that other MIB back there, before Tyrael destroys it with his high-powered laser.

That should be all the goons we see right now. After that, set up some cover inside the lab and tend to the wounded.

Nic: Shoot that guy behind the tank.

Not-Nic: Freem the tank with your big laser guns.

>>236905
IF you can force the turret easily enough. if not then just shoot the guys. after getting a defensive perimeter set up tend to the wounded with your powers by TKing the bullets out of the wounds.

After destroying the mib and tank, use your gun or something to smash the window on the 2708 door and make sure there are no MIBs behind there. Otherwise, it could be an ambush at your back. Plus smashing fragile things is cool!

>>236904
Well then fucking help them. Tell Tyrael to handle the tank while you deal with the mooks. His laser thingy should dent the tank pretty nicely and you got 3 fucking guns to shoot with.

1/3 Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/05(Tue)19:46 No. 239060 ID: f4963f
File 12863331975.jpg - (176.21KB , 1080x600 , Ch5_Cleanup_04_WIDESCREEN.jpg )

Tyrael and Joel open fire and batter the tank's primary gun.

>>236907
>Nic: Shoot that guy behind the tank.
Nicolas loves this gun.

The tank swerves erratically and then lands with floor-shaking impact.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/05(Tue)19:47 No. 239061 ID: f4963f
File 128633324586.jpg - (193.32KB , 1080x600 , Ch5_Cleanup_05.jpg )

>>236905
>>236909
>Set up cover
>Set up a defensive perimeter
Nicolas loves telekinesis, too.

>>236963
>Check room 2708
Nicolas uses the tank-induced lapse in gunfire to investigate the room. It turns out to be a computer lab. The room's unoccupied.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/05(Tue)19:49 No. 239063 ID: f4963f
File 128633337375.jpg - (201.10KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Cleanup_06.jpg )

>Tend to the wounded, etc
With the assault halted by a massive tank, Nicolas, Tyrael and Joel rush into the lab room. "Behold!" shouts Tyrael with a flourish. "Your liberators have arrived!"
The research scientists seem to have tucked themselves away from the door - in all, there's about twelve of em. Among the group, Nicolas only recognizes Miku, who's holed up at one of the computer terminals typing. The other eleven are armed with the same laser-weaponry the guards are working with. There's a moment of awkward silence before one of them speaks up.
"That display out there... that was very impressive. Look, I have no idea who you guys are or who you're working for, but..."
"You mean they're not with the military?" says another.
"Hardly," replies Joel.
"I could totally qualify for the SEALS," says Tyrael, "but they'd make me cut my gorgeous hair. That's just unacceptable."
Some of the scientists have used the break in fire to move the wounded out of the hall, and apparently one of them has healing powers, which is good, because Nicolas knows nothing about medicine.
"Look, we're trying to retake the building," says the first scientist. "Miku says you took out everything on the first floor. That's, like, half of their manpower already. Just tell us what we need to do and we'll repay the favor. Promise."

>>239063
Half their manpower? We should be able to take care of it on our own, then. Just have the healer waiting on standby behind cover so we can run back to not die, and the rest of them will provide suppression fire and/or guard the healer. Every time we clear an area, they move up a little to secure the area, but the three of you will be the primary attack force.

Ask them to fix the lolcats server using their magic science.

Failing that, a clue and some cool gadgets!

Also, you need to make the remaining half of the enemy surrender. You'll need a megaphone and someone who knows how to sound like a larger than life megalomaniac.

Which is to say, you need a megaphone.

Where is the guitar? Also, ask delicious tan pig-tailed girl out on a date if you survive all this.

Nic, go back and retrieve A-Team van it is essential to part 2 of the plan. If it doesn't work we can just throw the damn thing with telekinesis because apparently you've become a telekinesis god.

Your audio illusion power can replace the megaphone. Just replicate Tyreal speaking in a loud, intimidating voice that can be heard throughout the entire building. Only Tyreal is prideful and ballsy enough to pull off a rally speech.

>>239063
Tell them to have the healing prepared, fix the lolcats server, get you the gituarr that shots lightning and death as well as gear you up with everything they have in magical totally awesome super rad gear.

Then it's time to finish off the enemy.

Alright, guys, forget the megaphone. Just ask these guys where the speakers for the PA system are. Tyrael has a surrender speech to deliver.

As for rewards, ask them to find us the exact location of the lolcats server, as well as a lightning guiter for Tyrael.

Also - see if they have anything that can let you see through walls. So you can use it to see the MiB guys on the next floor through the ceiling and blast them with nifty-gun.

1/3 Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/10(Sun)22:52 No. 241961 ID: f4963f
File 12867763206.jpg - (153.35KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Cleanup_07.jpg )

>Apparently you've become a telekinesis god
Why thank you. You guys told him to practice til he dropped, and that's exactly what Nic has been doing. It's been almost half a week, and having had to pop an Advil every three hours to fight off psychic-induced headaches has paid off. Both his illusions and his telekinesis have improved - particularly his telekinesis. That is what we upgraded last time, after all.

And as long as he's breaking the fourth wall, Nicolas might want to add that this is still TOTALLY your fault, poster 6a5a08.

Psychics are supposed to gain their powers pretty quickly. Nicolas doesn't appear to be an exception. The apparent downside is that they hit a glass ceiling at some point and have great difficulty getting more power. Unless they steal more crystals, of course. Who knows what would happen if you could get enough crystals. You might just become a living god.

>Bring the A-Team Van up.
Nicolas would love to bring the van up here, but he doesn't think he could apply enough sustained force to lift it up 20 (19?) floors. Besides, it's served its purpose. It's kinda trashed.

>Megaphone + megalomaniac = Instant Psychological Warfare
>You can audio illusion a megaphone
>Let the scientists give you the PA system.
Nicolas politely asks if they can hijack the PA system and scare the enemy into submission.
"Ah, you're in luck. The MIB took em over, but Miku happens to be a technomancer. She has a shard that grants her the ability to MANIPULATE TECHNOLOGY."
Oh god, not Miku. Nicolas thinks he'll try the audio megaphone first.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/10(Sun)22:52 No. 241962 ID: f4963f
File 128677633222.jpg - (130.29KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Cleanup_08.jpg )

>Gadget to see through walls?
>Load us up, baby!
The scientist dutifully explains that Tamana's a big jealous bitch and locked up a lot of the projects she saw as SUPERFLUOUS or TOO THEORETICAL. The only stuff they have on-hand is the weaponry they've been developing and various components to them, as well as ONE HEALER and ONE TECHNOMANCER.

>Half their manpower? We can do this on our own. Just have a healer on standby so we don't die.
>Tell them to have healing prepared
"We'll take it from here. I just ask that you provide healing assistance in case we become injured."
"Of course. Uh, Jake, can you trail them?"
"I can do that," replies Jake.
... that's a boy?!
"Hey," says Joel. "You're kinda cute."
"Ehheh," he replies, "... thank you."

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/10(Sun)22:53 No. 241963 ID: f4963f
File 128677638935.jpg - (140.72KB , 739x545 , Ch5_Cleanup_09.jpg )

>Fix the lolcats server
>Make us a guitar that shoots lightning and death
>Cool gadgets!
>Super Rad Gear
Nicolas lists off their terms.
"You want us to fix... a server in Denver?"
"Yep."
"You drove halfway across the country and gunned through hordes of armed maniacs to bring back an archive server?"
"Yep."
"... I want to say something here, but all I can think of is that XKCD comic with the sysadmin."

Nicolas asks Jake to heal the party before the next leg. If he knows his tropes correctly, one of two things is going to happen: Either the rest of the facility is going to be a curbstomp battle to show how awesome the PCs have gotten, or else the MIB will release some crazy experimental weapon or robot on the party to incite a CHALLENGING BOSS FIGHT.

Plus, Tamana is still unaccounted for. Joel says that she blipped out of sight seconds after throwing Nicolas into the tank room.

How should the party proceed?

>>241963
Carefully. Clear each room they pass while someone stands outside it to make sure we don't get attacked from behind.

>"... I want to say something here, but all I can think of is that XKCD comic with the sysadmin."
...That is EXACTLY what we're doing, isn't it? Damn.

Anyway, only one way to solve this mess. Keep on heading up, one floor at a time.

>>241963
With Tyrael on point, because he's awesome and stuff. Then Nic and then Joel. Take it slow and examine rooms before proceding to make sure there's no ambushes that place your nuts in a vice.

 

Hmm, I'm curious if you could make a telekinesis field around Tyreal's katana to make it impact with more force and sharpness. It might be able to let him cut through a tank if science and magic work that way.

If not, well we can always pull a Blasto, the hanar spectre and lift a whole bunch of guns

1/3 Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/12(Tue)17:07 No. 242627 ID: f4963f
File 128692843550.jpg - (173.76KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Cleanup_10.jpg )

>Telekinesis Field around the katana?
Unfortuantely, Nic can't do that. They could totally ask for weapon upgrades after this, though.

>Tyrael takes point, Nic and Joel behind.
>Do it room by room.
>One floor at a time.
Nic feels strangely familiar with this procedure.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/12(Tue)17:07 No. 242629 ID: f4963f
File 128692846336.jpg - (303.04KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Cleanup_11.jpg )

The next several floors are a breeze. The biggest surprise these guys have is another tank. There's still a few active ones in the hangar, so Nicolas has no objections to trashing this one.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/12(Tue)17:08 No. 242630 ID: f4963f
File 128692848489.jpg - (221.05KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Rooftop_01.jpg )

On the way up, Tamana's voice comes over the PA system calling for a tactical retreat. The last two floors are empty, and the party soon finds themselves on the roof, watching the silhouettes of retreating helicopters.

A hovering figure is here. Nicolas recognizes it as Tamana.

You have two options! Fight or Talk. This seems like a pretty climactic spot for a battle, but I feel like we missed some cutscenes or something.
Ask her why she's sided with the MIB. Get her to monologue!
Actually, get Tyrael to do it. It will be more hilarious.

IT SEEMS THERE MAY BE A BATTLE OF THE MINDS.

though... don't get too optimistic, there's a chance she'll be better than you, though she doesn't have a top hat or a derringer, so we clearly must have the advantage here.

>>242630
Ask her to surrender. Her forces have been defeated. Her brother has proven himself to be the superior sibling among them, in choosing his allies with greater care and in cleaning up the loby and the rest of the building.

Oh god tell me you can hear the OMINOUS LATIN CHANTING going on. It's time to crack your necks and prepare for a boss battle! Tell Tamana she can't win as long as she's on the douchebag MIB side. A roof battle is dangerous for your non-flying party members so get ready to catch them from a tele-swipe/burst in case she decides to trigger the battle.

PS: Weird, Nic, I never knew you were True Neutral. Neutral Good or Chaotic Good seems more your alley. You've must have lawyer-ed a few corrupt scumbags in your business dealings occasionally. Something has to pay the bills

>>242632
Perhaps if you point out her obvious inferiority in headwear, conflict could be avoided altogether.

>>242640
Nethack has three alignments and basically treats Lawful as Good and Chaotic as Evil. Nic's totally CG.

1/3 Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/14(Thu)11:17 No. 243478 ID: c6916c
File 128708022923.jpg - (236.14KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Rooftop_02.jpg )

>Ask her why she sided with the MIB
>Ask her to surrender
"Four days ago, we saw you at the sandwich store," Nicolas says. "Now you're working with the MIB. Why?"
"A golden opportunity fell into my lap," says Tamana. "That's all you need to know."
"We've got you in a corner," Nicolas continues. "Your troops have fled. Surrender."
"Are you that callous about all your ambitions? I wouldn't know, until recently I never had enough money to go to the sandwich store in a three piece suit... but you're right. We'll be forced to cut our losses here. That's unacceptable, but I'll have to live with it. Story of my life."

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/14(Thu)11:17 No. 243479 ID: c6916c
File 128708026230.jpg - (191.06KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Rooftop_03.jpg )

"Look, Tamana," says Tyrael, "Aspirations aren't bad. But you can't be so jealous of me. There's a very good reason I was left in charge of the family. It's not just because I'm handsome and charming," he says. "Although I suppose that would be reason enough. You see-"
"Tyrael," she snaps, "you're an incompetent oaf who squanders his talents on self-congratulation. I've clawed my way forward in life while you've glided along on that fortune you inherited from a business friend of yours. A fortune which I have never seen a penny of, by the way. Thanks for thinking of your dear sister. I'm sure she appreciates working below minimum wage because your accountant found some obscure loophole in the fair pay laws."
"See," says Tyrael calmly, "this is what I'm talking about. You're so passive-aggressive, Tamana. That's why you don't get paid as well as people who treat me-"
"I am this close to committing fratricide," she interjects.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/14(Thu)11:18 No. 243480 ID: c6916c
File 128708028339.jpg - (191.06KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Rooftop_04.jpg )

"I don't get it," says Joel, breaking the family reunion. "It's been less than four days since Rastin died. How'd the MIB get so big? Why did you move out into the middle of Colorado? How did you build an entire factory to attach to this Ignometics in that time? I-I've had it up to here with this. I thought my former employers would have been stomped out in small time after Rastin's downfall, but instead you're-"
"We took over Denver," says Tamana. "It's not as impressive as you think."
"I... why Denver? Why the one city we're heading to?"
Tamana crosses her arms. "... actually, I should thank you for that, Nicolas. Killing Victor was only good thing you ever did."

"God, why do sisters always have to be huge bitches about everything."

"Oh, so he really is dead? Really? Because I left him to bleed out, and that usually means that he's going to show up later stronger than I can possibly imagine. I am so glad that isn't what is happening here."

I suppose we could also ask why killing him was such a good thing in the first place.

It obviously has something to do with the lolcats server.

"What are you going to do with the lolcats server, you fiend! Or is this something to do with that one summon thing Victor mentioned."

>>243480
Tell her that you have done a few other good things. Like come up with the idea of a guitarr that shoots lightning and death! Also, you totally wrecked a tank with a piece of bread. That's just plain awesome.

Oh, and hint on victor not really being dead. Or possibly come back as a lich. Magic is in the air after all.

>>243512
>Magic is in the air after all.
Let's not get into a romantic subplot now. Not until after the BBEG is defeated, at least.

Say "Hey, you're a smart gal, right?"
When she snarkily agrees, say "So you'd NEVER do the supervillain thing where you let your troops get killed by guys whose ass you could kick. So, I'm not buying that you're a tantrum away from killing us. I think you're bluffing. Maybe stalling us... With that in mind, fix my Lolcats backup server or we'll keep trashing MIB bases until we figure out how to fix it ourselves."

Ask her what she's talking about in regards to Victor.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/18(Mon)12:48 No. 245623 ID: f4963f
File 128743128043.jpg - (278.65KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Rooftop_05.jpg )

>Ask why that's important
>Is Victor really dead?
"Seriously, that killed him? Neck wounds are never lethal."
Joel gives Nicolas a strange look. Tamana laughs emotionlessly. "I've seen the body, but the important part is that he lost control of a spell."
"He said he summoned something to destroy lolcats," says Nic.
"... wow, is /that/ why he did it? I hate him even more now."

>Ask about Victor
"He lost control of a summon?"
"Mhm," says Tamana. "I don't feel obliged to tell you much more. Suffice to say, there's at least one person who values merit on this Earth, and they don't even come from it."

>If we don't get lolcats back, all your base will belong to us.
"Alright, Tamana. Here's the deal," says Nicolas. "Your friend Victor made a mess of the archive server. We're going to storm through Denver until it's back online."
Tamana's expression grows more grim. "... seriously?" she asks. "That's your motivation?"
"Yes. I want my captioned cats, goddamnit."
There's a long moment of silence.
"Very well," says Tamana, "I can accomodate you. I have my own conditions, though."
"Shoot."
"You and your group will leave Denver immediately. In turn, we'll patch up the website, move the data to an even better machine, and return access to it to the website owner with a full written apology."
"Really?" asks Nic.
"Really. Do we have a deal, Mister Zere?"

wait, what about the scientists? she didn't promise anything about leaving them alone.

>>245623
Sure. Quest completed, let's get on our way.

Joel: After Nic accepts her gracious offer, smack him upside the head for having no standards.

>>245623
Nic: Have your inner battle with your demons/psyche/selfish needs for the sake of the plot already and unlock your true telekinetic potential because holy fuck you just went inside your head and you and your superego fucked up some bitches in there

>>245623
Throw in letting those scientists walk away if they chose as well as a guitar that shoots lightning and death and this sounds like an acceptable deal.

>>245628
Do this, do this!

Suggestion 2010/10/18(Mon)13:42 No. 245642 ID: 1ef7bb
File 12874345607.png - (4.29KB , 60x119 , Sigurd_RAGE!.png )

>>245623
... well, really, the truth is we were kindof trying to find where this whole 'MIB taking over the world' thing was heading. Lolcats is just an excuse. I mean, we love lolcats. Who doesn't love lolcats? But we were also, kindof, like, maybe, trying to avoid the whole shonen hero, row row, "I don't really understand what's going on, but I will fight it anyway!" power motivation. ... and now it's like you've gone and made us do that anyway.

This is really the kindof motivation better suited for particularly crazy, freakishly tall people, wielding shotguns and poor mannerisms, followed by a collection of flat characters representing briefly defined abstract philisophical concepts. And we're a well-mannered, suave mother fucker who's only followed by ONE flat representational character, thankyou very much! And a pretty well-rounded dynamic character as our friend! AND, ALSO, WE'RE WEARING A TOP HAT, DAMNIT. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?!

GOD DAMNIT, TAMANA! STOP BEING REASONABLE... YOU... YOU BITCH!

FUCK IT! FUCK EVERYTHING!

KICK HER ASS. THEN KICK THE ASS OF EVERYONE WHO GETS IN YOUR WAY.

We're taking Denver.

>>245642
Ok, know what. Fuck what I said. We're taking over Denver and declaring independance.

Hey.
Let's do it.

...and then convince the military to take them out no matter what the cost, thus ensuring plot continuity.

Hey, what about the rest of the party? They have shit they want too.

1/4 Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/29(Fri)10:21 No. 249721 ID: f4963f
File 128837291574.jpg - (196.46KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Rooftop_06.jpg )

>Sure, Quest completed, let's get on our way.
This deal is too good to be true, yet Tamana seems completely serious. This is all Nic really wants. He came her to fix a site, he's gonna fix his goddamn site, and there's nothing that's going to get between him and that goal. ... right?

>What about the scientists? She didn't mention them.
... though that would mean that the Ignometics would be retaken. After all that work too, damnit! They wouldn't get that guitar for Tyrael. She'd have them stop making awesome things like magic duct tape and keep pumping out blocky lego laser weapons and hovertanks. Nicolas realizes he kind of likes Ignometics. He likes their craziness. The MIB's version of it is just cold, barren, spiritless. That's something worth fighting for, isn't it?

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/29(Fri)10:22 No. 249722 ID: f4963f
File 128837293323.jpg - (156.47KB , 840x502 , Ch5_Rooftop_07.jpg )

Nicolas tosses the proposition over in his mind. Accepting now would mean not butting into Tamana's future plans. It would mean not accepting any responsibility for whatever demon-thing Victor unleashed. It would mean leaving Joel and Tyrael to their own devices, and now that Nicolas thinks about it, Joel was looking for answers.

There are more Ignometics in the city. There's probably other factories that Tamana has built or runs in one way or another. The military hasn't wiped out the MIB yet, but the party just cleared a whole building full of them. Nicolas always was a bit chaotic. He thought that given this choice, he'd let the world go to hell. Lawyers are supposed to be bastards, right? And yet... no. Nicolas has realized something else. Nicolas is not chaotic. He's chaotic good. It's time to end this our own way. The craziest way Nic knows how.

Fuck the military. Fuck the MIB. Fuck continuity!

We're taking over Denver!

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/29(Fri)10:22 No. 249723 ID: f4963f
File 128837295381.jpg - (191.79KB , 840x600 , Ch5_Rooftop_08.jpg )

Nicolas voices his intents.
"What?" asks Tamana. "No! You can't just take over Denver!"
"Why not? You did."
"I HAD AN ENTIRE ARMY God you're stupid! Do you know anything about logistics? This isn't a fucking computer game! Look, I am giving you ONE chance to get out of this alive. You're meddling with forces beyond your ken, and if you had any idea how outgunned you will be when you set foot in that city, you would be thanking me profusely that I haven't hunted you down yet."
"Nicolas, sometimes I'd like to know what goes on in your head," says Joel, "but quite frankly, I agree with him. You're a crappy manager. If Denver's being run anything like Ignometics, it needs new management."
The wind whips across the rooftop.
"Fine," says Tamana. She begins to chant.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/10/29(Fri)10:23 No. 249724 ID: f4963f
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"I gave you a chance."
Tamana disappears in a flash of green light, leaving the party alone.

"Hey Nic," says Joel, lowering her weapon. "Thanks for not ducking out at the offer. You're kind of a weird guy, but..."
"It's nothing. Thank you for agreeing to take over Denver with me," replies Nicolas. "Really, it's a sweet gesture."
"It's a really strange move," she admits, "but you know, I'm getting used to weird these days."
"Of course it's unnatural, being around someone as talented as I am for so long," says Tyrael, "but don't worry, Joel. One day you'll be a complex and motivated individual too."
The building should be clear of MIB now. Nicolas is going to check out the security feed just to be sure. The psion considers what he should do next.

Start chanting Ominous Latin words like things are about to get serious, even if you don't know Latin the ominous chanting still gives the feeling.

All right so we need some good gear. There should be something here that might amplify your illusions better so the MIB can't see through them. Obviously they're one of those gag nose-glasses disguise things because that's how Igometrics rolls. Then ask Joel if she wants anything cool to amplify her abilities like something that would give her occasional bullettime. It's pretty obvious Igometrics would have a dwarven forge here with some rare or possibly even cursed metals so forging Tyreals katana to cut through the things like the tanks would be a great help. Also get him and Joel levitating shoes so everyone can fly like you can.

haha, Tamana doomed herself to you taking over Denver by being utterly convinced you couldn't do it. Not as genre-savvy as I thought. Besides, even if she WAS right you have amazing charisma you could probably start up a revolution lickity split. Something about how the MIB is anti-american

Alright, we need to find where she went and shut her down.

Check the basement, they always hide the evil sealed in a can in the basement.

get the scientists working on defenses. if someone thinks up a random cool idea then they can do it, but they should focus on defenses so the MIB can't take over again while you are out.

1/2 Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/11/06(Sat)23:46 No. 253565 ID: f4963f
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Nicolas resolves to avoid a retaking of the Ignometics building. He gathers the scientists together and makes plans for the institute's defense. They inform him that the Ignometics is in contested territory between the US Military and the MIB, and that contact with the former has already been made. They also have a few hovertanks deployed and are working on reprogramming an automated defense system that had already been in the works.

Nicolas knows very well where Tamana fled - she's fled back to Denver with the rest of the MIB. Fled back to the home base to unfold the rest of her evil plans.

Nic's mind turns to his purchases and favors.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2010/11/06(Sat)23:47 No. 253566 ID: f4963f
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The scientists tell him that they're willing to cut some losses to help him and his ragtag group due to them singlehandedly liberating the base. They're more than happy to make Tyrael a guitar that shoots LIGHTNING AND DEATH free of charge. They also have abundant parts for creating any of the weapons the building had been producing until it was liberated - Nic and co can have as many of the GAMEBOY GUNS, LASER MACHINE PISTOLS, and HIGH-IMPACT LASER RIFLES as they want.

They're also willing to provide TWO FINANCIAL FUCKTONS worth of upgrades free of cost, but any further upgrades will require Nicolas to dip into his bank accounts and start dropping down the financial status ladder. Fortunately, at the moment Nicolas is VERY WEALTHY. If he wanted, he could hypothetically purchase SEVEN UPGRADES with that money, at the cost of making him completely BROKE. Nicolas likes to think he'll have money to fall back on after the quest is over, though.

The party currently has:
>Two +1 magic shirts on Nicolas and Joel,
>a DAPPER DERRINGER with 2x Piercing upgrades and 1x Shocking
>2x Cure potions, on Nic's person
>Magic-detecting glasses, Ignometics prototype.
>A Thaumic Disrupter, which the scientists recharge for free. 5 charges.
>Magic Duct Tape of Repair.

The Ignometics is offering the following gun upgrades:
-Piercing, Flaming, Range/Accuracy, Impact, Shocking

As well as armor upgrades, sword upgrades, cure potions (3-pack), and other odds and ends.

They do have self-disguises, and they are indeed the Mr Boss glasses, but they're nothing beyond Nic's own powers. The only way Nic's getting illusions past magic detection is if he upgrades his illusions. Perhaps Joel or Tyrael could have a use for them, though.

Nicolas considers how to spend his money.

Alright.

1: Extra Shocking on the Derringer. We'll use it as our anti-vehicle and anti-personnel weapon.
2: Get Tyrael a +2 shirt and upgrade yours and Joel's to +2.
3: Get Joel a Mr Boss disguise kit. Tyrael wouldn't use it, but she would.
4: A 3 pack of CURE potions, for the road.

If I am doing my math right, that'll put us at exactly BROKE. Which is fine, we don't need money in the immediate future. You can always get more by sueing Paraply for damages to your car after all of this is over.

It is totally unacceptable that Tyrael's sword has less cutting power than the loaf of bread.

We should give his sword +1 piercing, and get him some low profile protection for his suit.

WAIT. This isn't going to be one of those things where we upgrade one guy and then he quits, right? That is even more unacceptable!!

Also, have the MLP and the Pigdog fight.

>>253566
>armor upgrades
>other odds and ends
If possible, get invisibility and movement speed enchantments. You can already effectively decimate those who oppose you- now you just need to be able to do so faster than they can notice you and react.

>>253566
Upgrade the sword, extra shocking for the derringer, give an armoured shirt for Tyrael and upgrade the one you and Joel have as well. That should cover it, and give enough cash to gain some more in the future.

>>253567
pro tip: it takes money to make money. Spending all of it now for short term gains is bad for the long run.

>>253566
Get Joel whatever gun upgrades she wants. I'd vote for piercing+flaming. Get Tyrael a long flapping scarf or cape. Permanently flapping, regardless of wind. Useful properties are a plus.


They said that small things are significantly easier to enchant, right? Get the SUPERDUPERBOUNCYBALL upgraded with flaming and impact. As many as possible.

Why the FUCK haven't we given the derringer accuracy yet?

1/4 Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2011/01/22(Sat)18:27 No. 273873 ID: f4963f
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After taking what feels like months to decide, Nicolas digs into his pockets to cough up some high-quality protection for the group. The Ignometics technicians beef up the protection in Joel and Nic's getups, and add two layers of protection to Tyrael's clothes. The new degree of protection adds limited protection to the exposed skin and, together with the kevlar vests, should render conventional bullets utterly useless.

Shame the MIB's using those less and less these days.

Nicolas invests some hefty money into the weapons too. He stacks a second shocking upgrade onto the derringer to nip the MIB's newly-acquired technophilia in the bud, and talks Tyrael into buying himself a sharpness upgrade to the katana. He asks Joel what sort of upgrade she'd like for the Glock, and she replies that Impact sounds fun. She says something about juggling bad guys in the air, and soon Nicolas agrees.

Nicolas also buys a three-pack of cure potions, and the scientists pitch in a fourth vial out of charity. That leaves two potions per person. Nicolas has a good feeling about their chances.

They also give the prototype super-bouncy-ball to him, though it's not able to be outfitted with weapon upgrades. Nicolas suspects it may serve a weapon-like purpose in and of itself.

Ugh. His bank account is going to hate him for this.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2011/01/22(Sat)18:28 No. 273874 ID: f4963f
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Nicolas, Joel, and Tyrael find a place for the night. The lawyer-turned-vigilante spends the night checking up on stories of the world outside his little circle for the first time all month. It seems that Tamana's nonsense caused quite a stir. A series of questionable government initiatives have kept the stock market from plummeting out of control, thank god, and reports of what's coming out of Denver get more and more outlandish the further one reads.

Speaking of Denver, Nicolas should learn something about it if he's going to take it over. This thought leads Nicolas to Denver's wikipedia page.

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2011/01/22(Sat)18:28 No. 273875 ID: f4963f
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OH FUCK YOU.

Frustrated, Nicolas decides to hit the sack. There, he has a strange dream...

Adept!!MvMGOwL2H3 2011/01/22(Sat)18:28 No. 273876 ID: f4963f
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He hears a voice over his shoulder.

"Magic detection, you say? It's a shame your illusions are so weak. Imagine if you had been able to fool a bottom-level cantrip. Imagine if you could turn invisible. Imagine if you could throw up a disguise for your entire party without breaking a sweat. Hell, how about full-party invisibility? Even in combat, mirror images would be quite useful, don't you agree? We could make you a well-rounded psion, Nic. I could offer all that for you."

"Don't listen to that scrub," says a voice over Nic's other shoulder. "You've already invested a level in telekinesis, one more and we will be gods. Would you like to throw a semi? Would you like to throw a semi with your mind? How about force shields? I don't know about you, but being invisible isn't nearly as cool as knocking in the MIB's front doors with a tank."

"Because the most sensible thing for a glass cannon to do is to run headfirst into legions of killer robots," replies the magician-Nic bitterly.

"You're right. Stealth has worked out so well in the past," replies tourney-Nic, chewing on gum.

It looks like they want him to make a choice.

One of them has a cape and top hat. Are you sure you can consider this a choice?

>>273876
Telekinesis. I have a sneaking suspicion that being able to throw a semi around will be supremely useful in the near future.

>>273876
Invisibility is awesome. Illusions.

Hmm. I'm thinking that invisibility is too good to pass up. Admittedly, I'm planning to mostly use it as a combat aid, but what a combat aid!

Invisibility is nice, but if you turn invisible, they can just keep shooting you.

If you turn invincible, they can't. Telekinesis.

subterfuge? nay, we need brute force, SEMI THROWING IT IS!

>>273876
Just eat both of them and see what happens. Take a Third option bro. Devour both of their powers because, honestly, at this stage of the game who gives a shit about balancing issues? WE SHALL BE AN TELEKINETIC GOD OF ILLUSION AND PUNCH THE LEVEL SYSTEM RIGHT ON IT'S FACE

Their is no reason we can not shoot them while invisible.

I don't care what choice he represents, go with the voice that has a cape and top hat.

You know, with the force to throw a semi around, you could probably squish some heads, too. Seems a lot faster than going through some silly subterfuge that will just delay having to kill someone anyway.

>>273876
Throwing shit with your mind is awesome. Lets keep on doing that.

Illusions! We are a LAWYER! We do not use brute force, we cheat, lie, and steal our way to victory! Plus, it's totally a cat thing to do. A DOG owner would choose power.

>>274068
Yes, we will not be dogs!

LOOOOOOOOOLDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGS!!!!

>>273938
This.
FOURTH-WALL CHAOTIC ACTION!

Barring that, put a level in Illusions. Disguises might be useful for infiltrating MIB Central.

Telekinesis.

The MIB cannot escape the long (invisible, intangible) arm of the LAW! Especially not if it's throwing a Semi at them!