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Holding Out For A Hero: An Original Superhero Quest

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Agent 99 said:
He died of injuries sustained while fighting The Vigil. Most likely, through head trauma that he sustained, as he never woke up after being rendered unconscious.
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Hmm, depends on whether any death scene investigation is done, because the IV bag not containing IV solution is itself a major tip off that he was murdered to a halfway competent medical professional - the bags drain at a fixed rate, and they should know to the minute how long it'd take to empty out.

So it depends, which of the below they value more?
-Disguising the means of death
-Speed of death
-Certainty of death
-His level of fear and suffering

The chosen means of using an empty IV bag shouldn't work at all, because getting air into your veins need positive pressure in excess of your blood pressure to do so and IV drips are literally incapable of doing so, a neglected patient on an empty IV drip would only suffer dehydration eventually, but it'd take days to kill him.

Actively injecting an air bubble into his veins would kill him and fairly quickly, but the needle mark could be seen and there's no doubt that it'd be deliberate.
Contaminating the IV drip could kill him at a variety of speeds and detectability, depending on what was fed in. For instance, you could swap the bag out for concentrated salt solutions, which might take a few hours to reach a lethal level(depending on which salt, sodium takes a while, potassium could potentially work faster, but be more obvious something is wrong), but would be likely blamed on the saline manufacturer for a production error.

Suffocating him could also work and be quick, there'd be little physical signs left, any evidence of struggle would probably be put down to his fight earlier. It'd be suspicious though. Considering they already taped his mouth shut they could probably get away with that.
 
Agent 99 said:
He died of injuries sustained while fighting The Vigil. Most likely, through head trauma that he sustained, as he never woke up after being rendered unconscious.
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Given that I sincerely doubt that an actually competent/authentic autopsy would come up with that because I very much doubt the IV bag murder tactic is that invisible - I think that the implied corruption problem of Dr. Mad Scientist's plot line is about is a tad bigger than we thought.
 
Add in also that he died in a Prison where he killed a guard and things start looking funky with people experienced in that world. I doubt the police will do much except say they never touched him as he was transported back.

Prison will have to get an autopsy and what's written will be key.

I should say I'm not too worried depending on how the GM writes things.
 
I just realized that I should've clarified that the IV was full of air. When the assassin squeezed the IV bag, that forced the air into Profligate's veins, killing him.
 
Alright, guys. I'm writing the intro to the next part of the quest. But before I do, I'd like to get a roll for Sonya's IQ. During the time skip, she's going to be learning Hapkido. By default, it's going to be DEX-3, so that leaves her at a skill of 8 after getting the basics. However, since she's actively learning over some time, I'm asking for an IQ roll minus 2 to determine how much she increases her skill by. Failing the IQ roll won't decrease her skill, but for every point Sonya succeeds the IQ roll, her skill will increase by 1.

Of course, there will be further opportunities to improve her Hapkido skill in the future. This is just going to be how she's doing after the time skip.
 
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Old Man's Legends. By Valkur
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    • Hey all! I made a thing for the quest with some help from @Agent 99

    Omake - A Quite little Cathedral


    'Hartford was a city known to experience mostly dry weather with few showers of rain sporadically in the months. It was common among the older tribes that roamed here before Colonization to see rain as an ill-omen sometime including death but mostly catastrophe.'

    - Old Man's Legend



    It just so happens that on one Thursday Afternoon rain did in fact fall on Hartford. The clouds before seemed few and very light but very chaotically changed to a darker color and drizzled onto the city. Thunder was heard across the city as a runaway storm broke the well-mannered peace of the sky. A car pulled up to the Cathedral of Saint Margaret in Old Hartford forcing a build up of water from the road. A man with a grey sweat jacket and khaki pants quickly got out and closed the door as he ran for the entrance and weighed down slightly by his watertight clothing.


    Stomping to the entrance he opens the doubles doors to the entrance of the large holy building. The panoplies are empty, and the front of the church is populated by only burning incense. A man wearing the traditional cassock of the Holy Church in black smiles at him.

    "Brian Zolph?" the priests asked.



    The man in the grey sweatshirt answered with an approving nod but before he could say anything the priests pointed down a hall where most members of the clergy enter from.



    "Your friend has already arrived. God be with you, Mr. Zolph."


    Brian stood only for a few moments before nodding his head and moving along. He blew air from his mouth audibly as he made his way into the halls. The halls were beautiful and brightly lit with the floor clean with an almost metallic finish. The thought of the cleanliness only reminded him that this was a holy place one devoid of violence.

    In a hushed breath Brian muffled the name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost in forgiveness.



    A modest wooden door marked the end of the hallway that felt wrong. It was the place where the Ornamentations and Symbols of God ended and were the plain reality began. This part of the hallway had only the lights above with a solid eggshell white color decorating the halls.

    Brian opened the door and inside modestly sized room. It had less light with only a hanging sealing light bulb turned on. It was just the one lighting a small round table where three chairs surrounded it.



    Father Humphrey sat in one with his white polo shirt and khaki jeans. He was a more well-off man than most gave him credit for, but he was very frugal with his spending. At least, that is what he tells most people. Besides Humphrey, was the man who set the table and paid for its use. Jonathan Moores who wore a classic business dark blue blazer and a white undershirt underneath and his clothing sang the tune of a laid-back millionaire. Jonathan owned a distribution center and a growing portfolio of warehouses in Hartford as the property values continued to fall. He reigns supreme as the biggest patron of police officers on the take in the whole city and with that came the respect of other crime lords and gangs.

    They both looked up at Brian as he walked in somewhat disheveled in his casual and wet attire. Humphrey with a more pained expression with Jonathan with a small exaggerated look.

    "Sorry for being late, I got caught up on traffic. How are ya'll doing today? Good?" Brian began as he walked to take his place at the table.

    The two nodded and exchanged pleasantries as Brian opened his dry folder that he had been clutching on his chest.

    "Very well boys. I pray that this will be fruitful for the two of you. I'm only here to arbitrate as you both agreed and y'know lets just be square here. The community here wants to see an end to the violence and so we have to all keep that in mind as we go forward." Humphrey said as he looked to both men but kept his eyes on Jonathan.

    "Yes Father, I don't think we'll have an issue here today. Brian and I go way back so, y'know, lets just get this going yeah? So, what do you have for me on Vigil?"

    Brian nodded once and looked down at his papers.

    "So here is what we know as a fact about Vigil. Whoever they are, they seem to like Motorcycles. We have evidence of a custom-made Bike using mostly common items but really well put together in a way that isn't something you can buy off the market. Its something Vigil or someone the Vigil knows put it up for them.

    HPD is looking at suppliers for Motorcycle parts as well as metal suppliers for the metals on Vigils Armor.

    We also have seen Vigil like to appear in the Southlake area in Hartford but our beat cops in the area and detectives can't find many more clues about Vigil at all. But that is not going to stop us the guys from trying though. Then again, I assume you also want because of Artillery?" Brian said has picked apart the papers in his folders. Jonathan simply smiled.

    "Who knows Brian? Maybe we all just want to know where Vigil gets their hair done?"

    A small laugh came out of Jonathan mouth and the others forcefully laughed themselves just a bit to join in the fun. The two men exchanging words and facts. Jonathan nodding slightly along before writing down on his phones notes app something or the other.

    Finally Brian finished. He was slightly tired, and the rain outside had subsided for somewhat to the joy to the men inside. Jonathan using his phone clicked around his phone "Very nice work Detective. I'm setting up the transfer now to your retirement account.".

    "Good. This is my last one John." Brian replied seriously "Cities too damn crazy and Warman is about to start living up to his name.". Humphrey raised an eyebrow at that.

    "What do you mean?" Humphrey asked. "Is he trying to clean house or something?"

    "He's doing more than just clean house man. He somehow got some outside prosecutors to look into the guys at the station. But somehow, he's getting a bigger budget from the City and the Feds to go after the big players in the City. Charlie got put into administrative leave after a trial and it feels like they actually have good evidence on him.

    I'm getting out before they put too much on me though."

    Jonathan looked dumbfounded a bit with a large mix of confusion. "Damn bro. Your telling me this shit now? I wanted more information down the line y'know?"

    Brian simply nodded no to him. "Fuck that shit man. You better watch out for Warman's moves if you know what's good for you. Motherfucker cannot be talked around with and the Mayor has his back pretty good."

    "Alright. Well your shit got wired man. If you need a job you can let me know man. I can put you on some game." Jonathan said. But Brian simply declined as he closed the folder and slid it over to Jonathan.

    "Those are copies John. Just go through them again if you forget anything but do not call me to rehearse for you. I have to go now if there's nothing else wanted from me. My girl and I are looking to move to Florida finally."

    When done Brian got up and moved away from the room. He hunched slightly and moved a little faster from the halls with his heart rate increasing. Almost power walking through the hall and back into the nicer parts of the Cathedral. Behind him the two men simply relaxed on there chair and shared yet another conversation about real estate in New Hartford.
     
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    • Season 3
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    • Monday, September 22nd, 10:43 PM

    It's been a day since you've taken down Profligate, and his subsequent death. His cause of death has been ruled as "Apparent health complications, combined with injuries sustained during a fight" and there aren't any further details. If you're honest, you're worried. You've fought, hurt, probably even maimed a few people in your time as a Vigilante. But this was a man that people could point out that you directly killed. Even when you tried to keep him alive, he ended up dying in police custody. The fact that he died while in police custody after blasting his way out of prison will probably be considered irrelevant in the investigation. You chuckle to yourself. Vigilantes generally aren't prosecuted for every crime they commit, just the few that will get them the most jail time. That means that you might one day go to jail for killing the son of a bitch, manslaughter if you're lucky.

    Honestly, you don't know what to think. You know you did everything you could not to kill him. And considering how strong his armor is, you shouldn't have hit him hard enough to kill him. But then, the human body is the kind of thing that works until it doesn't. You could fall a thousand feet and survive because the wind was right and you landed the right way. And you could die from slipping on floor and hitting your head. You're sure you didn't kill Profligate, but you can never really know. And if it goes to trial, unless you get an independent autopsy, and the autopsy proves that something else killed him, your best defense is "I hit him. I don't know that I killed him"

    You shake your head. Nothing you can do about it now except to not get caught.

    You're in your workshop. Business is slowing down, so you're waiting to receive payment on the job you have before sending the Jetstream statue you've made. While you're waiting, you keep looking for a Hapkido instructor in the area.

    Learning Martial Arts as someone with Super Strength has it's own challenges that people with Super Strength don't have to deal with. On one hand, it opens up new techniques. When you can lift an attacker off the ground and flip him like a pancake regardless of skill, it does tend to increase your options. However, you also need to practice restraint. After all, you could try to put someone in a submission hold and end up snapping their neck. You could try to flip someone over and their arm comes off.

    You eventually find someone, but they are a bit far. Master Kross, working for the Texas Regional Defense League. Their building is outside of Hartford proper, in the city of Blue Ridge, but not only does she have good reviews, but she's strong enough to be able to teach things specific to you. You send an email asking about class times before you go back to waiting for confirmation on that payment.

    That's when you hear a slight buzzing, along with some vibrations coming from your pocket. You take out the small, black cylindrical communicator Stampede gave you a while back. You open the communicator and see a text message.

    "GANGBUSTER AND DEPRIVED BUSTED OUT OF JAIL. DEP TOOK A BULLET. TRIED AN AUTODOC I MADE. DOESN'T WORK. WOUND DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. THINK YOU COULD HELP?"

    [] Y
    [] N
     
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    • [X] Y

    Besides attempting to avoid deaths - I do very much like the idea of Vigil becoming essentially the medic of the vigilante community just for wanting to see what happens with the dynamics with the vigilantes having something of a support net.
     
    [X] Y

    Let's go collect ourselves some more social capital.
     
    Valkur said:
    I wonder what kind of moves the mafia and the cops are up to atm.
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    Storyteller said:
    Not investigating the implied shady dealings that got the mad chemist on the war path.
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    Yup. Just another crazy that had to be put down. As long as you ignore those files that Detective Baker is shredding over there.

    Anyway, someone has just bought a few hundred tickets to the Policeman's Ball, so they need to prepare for that.

    Anyway, I'd like for someone to roll Mystic Arts. to see how this back alley patch job goes.
     
    Back Alley Doc
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    • 15 minutes later, you're back in Roanoke Junction, near back entrence of the Lucky 7s. It looks a lot different during the day, in fact, the alley it looks even dirtier. The only saving grace is that there aren't any windows that someone could look through or homeless people camped out here. What you do see is an old car. An old car with the backseat covered in blood. If this isn't the car that brought Deprived here, this neighborhood is worse than you thought.

    You're in the same disguise you used the last time you were here, an illusion of a dirty blonde-haired man with a bit of stubble covering you. You quickly put in the code, and hear a loud, metallic *thunk* and the sound of the door unlocking.

    As you walk down the short hallway, you see droplets of blood on the floor, forming a trail that leads into the small, private bar. Ray, the owner, looks up at you as you come inside. He's carrying a bucket with some soapy water in it in his good hand. He looks perturbed by this situation.

    "So, you're the sawbones that Stampede was talking about?" He asks in a rough voice.

    "Yeah" You say, before looking down at the trail of blood. "I assume that's from Deprived?"

    Ray nods. "Jules and them are in the store room over there. Do what you gotta do. And tell your friends that next time someone's bleeding not to bring 'em here. I got enough problems, especially if the poor bastard dies in by bar"

    "I'll pass on the message" You say before moving past him into a back room. As you walk closer, a copper smell hits your nose, causing you to wince.

    As you open the door, you see that the center of the store room has been cleared out and a table has been set up. On the table is Deprived. He's an older white man, with gray hair that's down to the back of his neck and clean shaven. He's wearing what looks like a guard uniform, but the shirt has been cut open, exposing a gunshot wound to the chest.

    Beside him, is a young man with light brown skin and a beard. He's still wearing his dark red prison jumpsuit with "Hartford Department of Corrections" on the back in white letters. He's keeping pressure on Deprived's gunshot wound to slow the bleeding.

    "Hey Vigil! You're just in time. I don't think that Dep looks too good" You hear Stampede say. Looking to the side, you see her, both hands covered in blood, and one of them holding a smartphone. "I was about 5 minutes from looking up how to treat a gunshot wound"

    Gangbuster looks up at you briefly. "This the guy?" He asks. After receiving an affirmative from Stampede. "And you trust him?" He follows up.

    "Phil, this ain't the time" Deprived says. "When someone says they're gonna heal you, and your blood is pouring out like it has an eviction notice, you don't ask too many questions."

    "Hey, I know what I'm doing" You say. "This'll be a walk in the park"

    After a few seconds, Gangbuster nods. "Alright. On three, I'm going to back up. You do what you have to do"

    You begin gathering your magic power., ready to cast Heal. "Ready" You say.

    "Alright, 1... 2...3!" You cast Heal. Gangbuster is engulfed in a bright light. His wounds start to knit themselves closed. You look for a few seconds, not breathing as it happens. Stampede, and Gangbuster look as well as your magic does it's work. Eventually, the wound closes, leaving only a small patch of discolored skin as proof of any wounds. Aside of the blood all over the room of course. Deprived lets out a deep breath and slowly, but surely, gets up. He's unsteady on his feet, but, using the table for support, manages to stand.

    "Hey, careful. You aren't at 100% yet. I just made sure you didn't die in the next few minutes" You say as you help steady the man.

    "Heh... you even got rid of that pain in my back... whatever hocus pocus that was, keep it up" Deprived says with a wide smile. He then calls out to Ray. "Hey Ray, get our friend here a bottle of the good stuff. The Jaunche Rogue. It's on me. A reward for a job well done!" Deprived says.

    "You'd better be able to pay for it this time" Ray calls from the front. "I have a business to run, you know?"

    "Don't worry, Ray. I'm good for it" Deprived says.

    With that, comes a pause before Stampede speaks up. "So, hey guys, since you aren't dying anymore, was, any particular reason for..." Stampede gestures to the remains to the prison guard uniform that Deprived is wearing.

    "It was a prison transfer. It was going to be our cover for escape" Gangbuster says. "The plan was for Jules" He gestures to Deprived. "To play the part of a cop after delaying the guy who was supposed to be on guard. Once we got on the prison bus it was just us and the driver. Once we were away from the prison, we'd take down the guards, steal a car, and be in El Paso before anyone knew what's what."

    "Apparently, that didn't go to plan. Mind if I ask what happened?" You ask.

    "Driver clocked us before I could clock him." Deprived said. "Honestly don't know how he managed to do it. I look a lot different without the beard..." He says.

    Gangbuster continues. "The driver managed to radio the rest of the cops before we could knock him out. After that, we stile a car and got away, but... I'm sure you can figure out the rest"

    "Thanks for the help, young man" Deprived says, shaking your hand with the strength he can muster.

    "Uh... your welcome" You say. You're disguised as a man, but you weren't really prepared to actually be called a man, much less a young one.

    Gangbuster taps you on the shoulder. "Hey Vigil. Thanks for helping Jules. I owe you one"

    "Same here, Kid" Deprived says, before looking up and smiling. "Maybe I made a mistake in retiring. This old man's got a few fights in him yet"

    "I don't know" Stampede says. "You might wanna break out the pirate treasure you stole back in the 1700's and migrate to Florida with the rest of the retirees"

    "Hah! Like you did after you got out of jail?" Deprived says, matching Stampede's smile.

    This is when Gangbuster speaks up. "So, uh, was this a one time thing? Patching someone up, I mean" Gangbuster asked. "Stampede said you healed her back when you first met, so I thought that it wasn't, but I wanted to make sure"

    [] "Don't worry. This isn't a one time thing, but I'm going to have to charge you after this. We've all got bills to pay"
    [] "Don't worry. You get hurt, call me and I'll try to be there and patch you up"
    [] "Sorry. I don't wanna take any more chances."
    [] Write in

    Gained Allies: Deprived and Gangbuster.
     
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