The Astounding Ocelot

[Jukeboxer]

[This is a written account of our first BASH session!]

The Astounding Ocelot
Issue 1

On a cool, drizzly October night in Cascadia, a peculiar silhouette landed silently on a cold steel girder high above the docks in Trinity Bay. It was 2:00 a.m. The figure froze for a moment, listening to the sounds of the sea lapping against metal and wood; the creaking of great ocean vessels rocking so very slightly; the breeze pushing water vapor through frameworks of steel and cable all around him - and voices - voices emanating from an open cargo deck at Pier 33. He was keenly aware of it all; a predator among men.

With inhuman grace the silhouette climbed effortlessly up the arm of a loading crane to get a better vantage point on the large Asian cargo ship at the adjacent dock. The soft light from below revealed the figure’s light yellowish outfit with spotted patterns like a leopard, form-* to a lithe but muscular frame of a gymnast. The ensemble was complete with a matching cowl featuring subtle cat-like ears and metallic claws, one of which tick-tick-ticked on the metal frame of the crane with anticipation. The Astounding Ocelot had arrived.

A voice shouted a command in Chinese and the motor on one of three cranes serving Pier 33 engaged. A panicked yell reverberated from the cargo hold and the cable from the crane swayed frantically. Seeing this, Ocelot leapt into the dark drizzle and lashed out with a high tensile swing line. In a fluid and silent motion the cat landed on the main deck of the foreign cargo ship. He had noticed the English translation on the port hull, it said Opulent Tanjong. The ship appeared to be a former military vessel – at least thirty years old - that had been converted for commercial use.

Finding a hatch unlocked, Ocelot entered the superstructure on the main deck. He rushed through deserted corridors toward the growing sound of peril. It was a male voice, shouting in full hysteria. Ocelot emerged onto a gridded metal catwalk and gazed down into the cargo hold. He saw a man tied at the ankles and hooked upside down from the crane dangling over a strong-looking container on the floor. He could sense the presence of a powerful beast. Something large paced within the container on clawed feet. Ocelot hunched down and counted six Chinese men, one of which supervised the operation from the bridge level above. He was an unusually large man with a sidearm holstered on his hip. Three men in the cargo hold were lined up along the starboard bulkhead. One of them held a remote device cabled to the livestock container. The final two men observed from behind a thick wire mesh on the port side. They all seemed quite entertained at the prospect of the captured man being lowered closer to the container as a reptilian growl rumbled off of the metallic walls.

There was no time to waste. Ocelot sprung forth with the swing line he swept down, feet first, on the three men with the control unit. The man with the remote was knocked cleanly away and propelled backwards - with a kong!!! - he bounced off of the bulkhead and slumped to the floor! Ocelot’s swinging kick also blasted the second man squarely in the chest and smashed him into the third man and they fell together in a heap against the fore bulkhead! The leader fired his pistol from above, but Ocelot deftly dodged the shot and the round ricocheted twice off of the steel surroundings.
Ocelot unleashed bolos and struck the leader around the shoulders. This briefly held him but he was able to shrug off the cord. On the floor of the cargo hold, one man regained his feet and Ocelot quickly dispatched him with a single powerful kick to the midsection that drove him back to the wall with a pang! Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the room, two other men entered the hold and manually triggered the door on the container. As they ran back to safety behind the wire, the leader prepared to fire his 9mm at the cat-like intruder. Ocelot extended his clawed gauntlets and fired metallic claws with shocking precision! The man’s gun was knocked away, clattering across the deck, and his hand was left stinging in pain! In obvious fury, the man yelled out a command and the crane began to lower the victim toward the mouth of the container.

Ocelot had to stop that crane.

With impossible power and smoothness the cat swung up and out of the hold and landed on the cabin of the crane. A somersaulting double kick was enough to blast open the door to the control room where he was confronted by an operator with a crowbar. In mere seconds, operator was swept to the floor and kicked efficiently to sleep. But the crowbar had busted and hooked into the control panel revealing a sparking wire. Ocelot struggled to stop the lowering of the cable in time and he could not retract it! Looking down into the cargo hold Ocelot could see a monstrous bipedal reptile had emerged from the container. It paused briefly, and then charged the port wall with a BASH! The creature was unlike anything Ocelot had seen – except in dinosaur movies! He tried once more to lift the victim out of the hold to no avail as the helpless man continued to scream and struggle at the end of the cable.

The smallish dinosaur took notice and coiled for a leap. Just as it sprung upward with its murderous fangs to severe the bait in two, Ocelot swept-in with great speed and snared the man away from certain death! Momentum was just enough to carry them up in an awkward loop. Ocelot kicked his legs back over his head and they landed precariously on the arm of the crane!

The man was out of harm’s way, but Ocelot peered down on the ship with menacing intent. Criminals like the men below would never feel safe in Cascadia.

[Jukeboxer]

Myself and Samuraidad got together last weekend and although we are in the middle of another game, we had to get BASH out and kick the tires a bit. With only a basic understanding of the mechanics, we were both very pleased with how smooth and FUN it was! Now I'm really excited about the prospect for a full-blown BASH-powered Cascadia campaign in the near future.

[Samuraidad]

Imho, it ROCKED!

[Dustland]

Dang that almost makes me want to move back north! You'll have to drop me a line if you guys find yourselves in the Austin/San Marcos area. Sounds like a fun game.

[Jukeboxer]

Dang that almost makes me want to move back north! You'll have to drop me a line if you guys find yourselves in the Austin/San Marcos area. Sounds like a fun game.

Thanks Dustland! You never know, maybe well hook-up for a BASH-fest somewhere down the road!

[Samuraidad]

Dang that almost makes me want to move back north! You'll have to drop me a line if you guys find yourselves in the Austin/San Marcos area. Sounds like a fun game.

I actually travel to Austin from time to time. Perhaps when I do we could get a one shot game together. And ofcourse, if you are ever up this way...give us a shout.

And I LIKE the idea of a BASH fest!

[Jukeboxer]

Cascadian Herald November 3rd, 2010

Half-Man, Half-Cat Rescues TBPA Inspector
By Rachel Corvin

An unusual scene unfolded at the Trinity Bay docks last night, according to Len Adams, a customs inspector for Trinity Bay Port Authority (TBPA). Adams told police that he was captured after boarding a Chinese frieghter late last night. The crew appeared to be Chinese nationals who did not speak english in his presence. Adams also claims that he was tied-up and suspended over a livestock container which apparently held a large reptile, such as an alligator. When it looked like the crew was about to feed him to the animal, a black-clad man literally swooped into the cargo hold and fought-off the crew and then rescued him from his captors.
Adams said, "It was astounding! I've never seen a man move like that! He saved my life!"
According to the TBPA, the ship undocked and went out to sea in haste, doing significant damage to the pier and another vessel. Damages are still being estimated at this time. Part of the ship's off-loaded cargo has been siezed and the pallets will be thoroughly searched.
Based on Adams's statements, are Cascadians to believe there is a new superhero in town? It is probably too early to tell. Cascadia has not had a resident hero since Radiomega joined The Front in late 2001. In those 9 years, the city has suffered numerous super-powered threats. Sometimes heros have come to our defense from other regions, but most of the time, the criminals get away. The city's SWAT units admirably do their best to confront super-criminals, but there is no substitute for real super-humans standing against super-bad guys.
So, if you are reading this Mister Half-Cat, let us know if you are here to stay. The Herald assures you the coverage you deserve with full-journalistic integrity.

[Jukeboxer]

Cascadian Herald November 12th, 2010

Half-Cat No More - Ocelot is here!
By Rachel Corvin

Late afternoon yesterday, a frightening scene developed right before this reporter's eyes. As I returned to my desk at the Herald offices, I observed as a CPD squad car arrived at the entrance of the Pacific Capital Investments (PCI) tower. Over the next few minutes, more CPD units responded and a perimeter was sealed-off around the entire building, causing early gridlock in downtown Cascadia.

As it turns out, four armed men had robbed the Gold Standard Management Firm on the 53rd floor and the perpetrators almost made it out the door before building security confronted them in the lobby. The robbers had also grabbed two Gold Standard employees as hostages along with an estimated $200,000 in krugerrands. One security guard was killed in the initial confrontation and the other guard was reportedly wounded later, but the delay was just enough for CPD to cut them off at the street.

For over an hour SWAT Sgt Chuck Franks tried to negotiate a peaceful conclusion to the tense situation - but things suddenly took a turn for the better when a true superhero arrived on the scene in a leopoard-like suit. After inquiring with Sgt Franks, the man whom I had previously labeled "Half-Cat" swung up to the side of the PCI tower and tore a ventilation grid off the wall with one hand! It was an astounding display of Oscillian power for all who witnessed it, including me.

Less than five minutes later, the hero emerged from the front entrance with one of the robbers slung over his shoulder like a sack of grain, declaring "Look what the cat dragged in!". As the police apprehended the criminals who were found in various states of semi-conciousness. I was just able to catch up with the superhero - who was clearly eager to make his exit - and got his name, "Ocelot". Cat-man indeed...

So citizens of Cascadia, our city does have a new hero; The Astounding Ocelot. Criminals who have found easy-pickin's in our town had better think twice. From what I witnessed yesterday, that even includes the likes of Manticore and his squad of freaks.

Mallory Bibb, an account manager for Gold Standard, was one of the hostages held in the lobby. She described how Ocelot moved with raw speed and power. "Four armed men didn't stand a chance." she said, "They never even got a shot off!" According to Ms. Bibb, Ocelot did an acrobatic vault off of the 17-foot high electronic videotron and landed on one of the robbers while he was still looking in another direction.

Think about that: They never even fired a shot at him. What kind of man can do that? Criminals of Cascadia are about to find out.

[Samuraidad]

Nice recap man! Love the perspective being an article from the Cascadia Herald!

[Jukeboxer]

A low overcast was draped across the skyline of Cascadia making the greater skyscrapers appear as pillars holding up the sky. Lighted windows faded quickly to gray where the taller towers pierced the clouds.
Northeast of downtown, on the edge of Cascadia's chinatown district called "Little Qindao", a leopard-like hunter prowled above the streets; a hunter who preyed on other hunters. He paused on the edge of a flat roof to watch as a lone asian women walked along dimly-lit Fanyang Street. Ocelot sensed trouble. Less than a minute later, three men lept from a filthy alley and pulled the woman into the darkness.
Right on cue, he thought.
He swung effortlessly across Fanyang Street and landed quietly on top of the import fabric shop on the other side. Smoothly making his way to the opposite edge, he saw a loading dock where the three men had the women pinned to the brick wall. She struggled and tried to scream and was quickly muted. But there was more to it than that... Ocelot exhaled and focused his senses, behind a dumpster he could hear the heavy breathing of another thug hiding. Then he could hear a faint pulse coming from a second dumpster in the alley across from the loading zone as another bad guy pressed his ribcage against the hollow metal container. A large box truck also sat in the shadows in the alley and there was someone in the cab.
Not your typical mugging, he shrugged and lept from the roof, landing on one of the three muggers. The man collapsed to the pavement with ease. As Ocelot poised to take-out the rest of them, the woman began to laugh.
"What?" he said softly to himself. The other muggers turned toward him grinning and the headlights on the box truck came on, washing out Ocelot's sensitive night vision.
A silohuette stepped in front of the truck's lights. Ocelot could tell he was wearing a suit and tie.
"I am Hing Mai" said the man with a Chinese accent, "a prominent... businessman... here in Little Qindao. Ocelot is it?"
Ocelot gave an authentic growl in reply.
"Well then Ocelot... if you wish to play hero in our city, that is fine with me, but do not cross the Changxu Tong. We have done well to control our business in Little Qindao for decades and even the city government lets us be." Mai snapped his fingers, "Vicheng!"
An imposing figure stepped forward, blocking one of the headlights. He was a mammoth Asian man, close to seven feet in height, with long stringy hair and a thick muscular frame. The brute nodded as they exchanged brief words in chinese. Hing Mai then gave the signal for his men to attack.
In a blur of action, Ocelot smashed two thugs together, then delivered a leaping kick to a man that charged from behind a dumpster. The kick blasted the man backwards nearly 20 feet and he impacted the dumpster with a KRAAANG and slumped against the buckled metal. Another man rushed from his hiding spot and Ocelot tossed him aside. The man bounced off the front of the truck, busting out the driver's side headlight.
All was still for a moment as Ocelot squared-off with the giant Vicheng and the Tong leader Hing Mai.

To be continued...

[Jukeboxer]

"If there was Butt-Ugly Pageant, you'd be a winner", quipped Ocelot as he came face-to-face with the brute. Vicheng was a looming column of muscle. His scarred face, greasy long hair, and crooked teeth made him appear as if he were a cross between a pirate and a professional wrestler. The big man took two heavy steps forward and popped his fist into the palm of his left hand, grinning. Ocelot realized that the insult in english was lost this adversary.
Vicheng lunged forward with surprising speed and threw a right hook. Ocelot ducked it and came up with a kick to the midsection that Vicheng countered using both forearms in an x-shaped block. In a continuous blur Ocelot surprised him with a jumping punch that hammered his left cheekbone and snapped his head to the right. Ocelot paused momentarily as he realized that Vicheng shook-off the punch with no ill-effect.
Ocelot kept punching and kicking but this was one tough goon! Vicheng tried to grapple the half-cat and slow him down, but he was realizing that he couldn't match such super-human quickness. Ocelot looked to improvise and he spotted a cinder-block at the base of a weathered brick wall. He snatched-up the block and flung it sidearm and it hit Vicheng squarely in the chest causing him to stammer backwards a step or two. Chunks of the crumbled block fell around Vicheng's feet as he coughed and sputtered. Then Vicheng's enraged gaze locked onto Ocelot once again. The cat-like hero was cornered between the brick wall and a dumpster. Vicheng charged, leaving Ocelot only one option. He lept-up and vaulted off of the shoulder of his foe as Vicheng drove himself headlong into the corner of the wall and the dumpster with a tremendous crunch! Still he spun around to find Ocelot there behind him.
Ocelot spotted a warm pipe bolted to the side of the wall and he pulled it free, aiming a blast of pressurized steam into Vicheng's face. "AAArrrrraaaaahhhh!!" thundered Vicheng as he recoiled and fell back against the dented bricks.
When Ocelot turned to confront Hing Mai, he found himself looking at the wrong end of two automatic pistols. The Tong leader still had a sense of coolness about him that was somewhat unsettling. After a brief exchange of words, Hing Mai unleashed a storm of lead from both handguns! Ocelot went into full evasive mode with a series of acrobatic flips and handsprings until he could take cover behind the box truck! That was close. Ocelot realized that a couple of those bullets narrowly missed.
The truck engine rumbled to life and Ocelot sprung upward to the roof of the cargo container. Moments later, the truck lurched forward and rolled out of the alley and on to Fanyang Street. As Ocelot crept up to the roof of the cab he had that funny feeling - not so funny actually - that he'd better check behind him.
Vicheng's ugly visage was now even uglier with fresh reddened burns! The big goon smashed his fist downward and it made a crater in the cab roof where Ocelot's head had been a split second before! Ocelot used his claws to secure his grip and then twisted his body to use a scissors take-down knocking Vicheng off-balance! The large Chinaman teetered and fell from the truck, slamming into a parked car before stopping on the cool black pavement of Fanyang Street. Ocelot watched in amazement as the fallen man climbed back to his feet and cursed in Chinese.
Suddenly the truck made a hard left turn into another alley. Ocelot had only a second to see an oncoming conduit. He jumped and the conduit passed between him and the top of the truck. This alley was tighter and more cluttered. There were clotheslines, pipes, fire escapes, and plenty of loose debris. The truck smashed several garbage cans as is swept through at nearly 40 miles per hour.
Ocelot had to get off this thing. He waited for the right moment and then swung down smashing throught the driver's side window and knocking the driver aside. The driver stuggled mightily with Ocelot as the truck careened off of both walls! Ocelot grabbed the driver and slammed him into Hing Mai in the passenger's seat. Then he stuck his metallic claws in Hing Mai's face, advising him to surrender. Hing Mai replied with a pair of pistols back in Ocelot's face!
In this momentary standoff, Ocelot noticed as Hing Mai took a quick peripheral glance out the windshield. Uh oh... The Tong leader suddenly opened the passenger door and bailed-out into the alley. Ocelot looked up to see a dead end brick wall fast approaching! He climbed over the driver and dove out the door just seconds before the truck rammed into the wall and came to a violent sudden stop!

[Samuraidad]

Last night was radical fun man! Great narrative retelling!

[Saker]

I agree. Great narrative. I would really appreciate knowing how the following scene occured in game mechanics:

Vicheng charged, leaving Ocelot only one option. He lept-up and vaulted off of the shoulder of his foe as Vicheng drove himself headlong into the corner of the wall and the dumpster with a tremendous crunch! Still he spun around to find Ocelot there behind him.
Ocelot spotted a warm pipe bolted to the side of the wall and he pulled it free, aiming a blast of pressurized steam into Vicheng's face. "AAArrrrraaaaahhhh!!" thundered Vicheng as he recoiled and fell back against the dented bricks.

[Jukeboxer]

Last night was radical fun man! Great narrative retelling!

Thank you sir! It takes some good playing/characters to motivate me thusly. I've found that these sort accounts are great fun to look back on and preserve the heart of what RPGs are all about.

[Jukeboxer]

I agree. Great narrative. I would really appreciate knowing how the following scene occured in game mechanics:

And thank you! I enjoy writing these summaries as an extension of the hobby. To answer your question:

For Ocelot's defense we did an acrobatics roll and Samuraidad provided the details of how he lept over Vicheng.

Samuraidad asked if there was something he could do to blind his enemy. I described a couple options and he decided to go for the steam pipe nearby. Looking at the collateral damage chart, I ruled that half damage (20 pts in this case, not including the 10 pt soak) would be enough to bust the pipe. Of course, this pipe was not in pristine condition either... My general feeling on that chart is that half damage can break or compromise most objects, but the object could still be repaired. However, full damage would destroy the object beyond repair.

Soooooo..... Ocelot had a great exploding Brawn check to break it. I think we did a second Brawn check to attack with the steam, which Vicheng failed to defend against. Then we agreed that the effect of steam to the face was a Daze attack, per the power. Vicheng failed to make the Mind check and was dazed as a result.

Make sense?