Zenith Comics Presents: The New Centurions! (IC Thread)

[Volsung]

Narrator's Voice: Sorry for the absence, been busy with family visiting, there will be an update this week. Thought moving forward I would expect about a once a week commitment minimum from me and spurts of more when the energy is there

Don't worry, life comes first^^

[AslanC]

So I missed another deadline. I am so sorry guys, but I am knee deep in my projects right now.

I think it would be best if I put the game on hold until I had more time available (once the first PDF is out things should clear up for me) and then see who wants to restart when that time comes.

Sorry again and I hope no one is upset, but I will understand if you are.

[Saker]

OOC: I just found this 2-week old plot hook in my email from AslanC on this Forum, which I obviously don't check. I figure we can start role-playing until AslanC is ready. cheers!

IC:
While the New Centurions are looking around their new base of operations, the static electricity in the room increases a bit to raise the hairs on their arms. Looking around for the source, they start to feel a slight wind blowing toward the center of the room where a vertical circular portal opens with a slight "pop" from a point increasing to a diameter of five feet about 1 foot off the floor. As soon as an older gentleman steps out from the swirling lights of the portal surface, the portal reduces to point and disappears with another slight "pop." The static electricity immediately returns to normal.

The trim gentleman stands about six feet tall in a dark double-breasted suit with fashionable gray tie. His receding white hairline is groomed short and combed straight back. He is clean-shaven and has piercing gray eyes.

With those that make a Mind 20 check, you recognize the gentleman as Dr. George Sinclair, a professor of history and comparative religions at the prestigious University of Centropolis. Three years ago, the local Clarion newspaper identified him as the hero “Professor Magic” when one of the local gangs summoned something from the very depths of hells and the fight became very public.

“Good afternoon gentleman,” he greets you in slight Scottish accent. “My sources told me that the Centurion’s base had new residents who are quite formidable. Excellent! I have recently learned that a local cult plans to open a doorway to another dimension. Ordinarily, this cult is quite harmless, but they have just acquired the last relic to complete their evil ritual. I suspect a mastermind, but we must first stop the puppets. An open doorway to that dimension will destroy the city. While I am quite capable in the arcane arts and could attempt to stop the cult by myself, the consequences of my failure would be catastrophic. Therefore, I am here to enlist your aid. When you are ready, I will open another portal to where we have to start. What say you, New Centurions?”

[Dustland]

If it were possible for an elemental's stone face to light up, The Elementals just did! The shifting stones clack together as he plods across the room.

"I know the dangers of such power. I will join you."

[Volsung]

Omg! a new character gives us a plot on a plate!
[bash="Mind check"]4 = 414181257 = Fixed[/bash]
If I fail that roll i'll protest^^ i've got photographic memory!

That was close!

"By all means Professor Magic! There's no time to loose.The new centurions must act"

[Saker]

While the Elemental and Detective Zero react, "Professor Magic" politely mumbles to himself and subtly gesticulates to conjure a Churchill length cigar in his left hand. Then, with a snap of his right hand, he creates a blue flame on the end of thumb that he uses to currectly light the cigar.

"Dr. George Sinclair at your service. Yes indeed, I have been saddled with that title of 'Professor Magic' by the local media. I will answer to it as well as Professor or simply Sinclair." Looking around at the rest of the group (not yet a team), he puffs his cigar and exhales in the general direction of no one. "I am the local warden of the mystical arts and have responsibility to keep the innocents ignorant of and protected from their reality of magical dangers. What say the rest of you?"

[Lindharin]

[bash="Recognition roll"]3 = 77317705 [/bash]

[Lindharin]

Tempest recovers from his surprise at the sudden arrival of the unfamiliar mage, and with just a hint of suspicion lurking behind his smile of greeting, says "Interesting 'sources' you must have, Professor, since we've only been here a few minutes. Word travels quickly in the realms of magic, eh? So what can you tell us about this artifact, or where you plan to take us?"

[Volsung]

I can't resist a bit of roleplay even if the situation is supposed to be critical^^
"Well, Greetings and welcome Professor. I'm Detective Zero."
He extends an hand towards the Professor awaiting for an handshake.
"I'd say most of us try to make a difference. To call a halt to the organized crime which grow powerfull since the Centurions's departure to their quest"

[Saker]

Turning to Tempest after exhaling, "The relic that they now possess is an ancient Etruscan wine press wheel, which by itself is innocuous. However, combined with the ritual with which the cult has been tinkering, the relic becomes the key." Sinclair pauses for a cigar puff. "I plan to open a portal to the last "safe" landing zone near the cult's headquarters in the city."

OOC: I'm totally making all this up as I have no other directions from AslanC. I heard about the Etruscan wine press on NPR the other day...

[AslanC]

Narrator's Voice: fire me off a pm to approve anything before you get too far in

[Saker]

OOC: OK I have a little direction to continue role-play... and a way to answer questions... thanks AslanC

IC:
Sinclair puffs another time on his cigar. "The local, innocuous cult calls itself Silver Dawn. They regularly congregate at an abadoned Catholic church just outside of town. I sense that they have started the ritual. By my understanding of the ritual, it should crescendo in four hours opening the doorway to another dimension. I will teleport us to the side entrance unless you have another suggestion."

[Volsung]

"Does that church house cultists only? No civilians around? And we only got to get that relic ,or at least to destroy it, to prevent them to complete their ritual? What else do we need to know? Do you got some suspicion about the mastermind's identity? "Detective Zero asks methodically.
"At first glance we could attack by the front. But we must be sure that won't be too careless. Magic is so unpredictable."

[Saker]

"The church should not have any innocents. Only cultists and conspirators should be there." Sinclair comfortably starting answering the detective's checklist questions.

"Rituals are similar to cooking. We can stop the ritual by disturbing the cooks, tools or ingredients. However, we can have an magical equivalent of an oil fire, if we attempt certain things. I will know the risks and opportunities when I see where they are in the ritual." He puffs his cigar and relaxingly exhales.

"No, I have no idea who the mastermind is. I suspect one, because this cult has not demonstrated the resources or sophistication to attempt something this big, since I've been keeping tabs on them. In my experience, that means a villain has arrived and is using his new minions, which are also very important to evil-intentioned rituals."

"As for magic being unpredictable..." Sinclair raises an eyebrow. "I suppose magic is as unpredictable as technology," he says smiling. "We can explore that discussion, Detective, after we save the city."

[Saker]

After the a long pause, Sinclair draws a significant puff on his cigar and exhales his smoke in the form of a three-masted frigate. "So you guys have been a team for awhile? What are your tactics? Who goes first? Who handles crowd control? Who takes on the big nasty? Who usually hangs back in reserve for the unexpected? I should probably know this, so I can best support you."

Sinclair looks around, "personally when I go in alone, I typically disguise myself as one of the perpetrators after I arrive to understand really well what the plans are. After I have analyzed the weakest or most fragile point in their activities, I first attempt to sabotage without them knowing, like spoiling a key ingredient or removing a key tool. As a last resort, do I drop the gloves and expose myself to a stand up fight. Too many potential surprises doing that, in my opinion. So what about you guys?"