[Marvel Heroic] Marvel Noir: Operation SHIELD- ACT 2: Power

Zonugal

"Call the fire brigade, because you have sparked an interest..."

Auralynx

You know, Zonugal, until now I was only reading @Houn 's version of Doctor Strange over in Breakout in the voice of Doctor Orpheus, but you just swung me over to doing it here as well.
E: wrote Doctor Strange twice, sorry, Houn.

Grunt's Ghosts

Fury waited until the rest of the group was gone before continuing. "A friend of mine in the FBI has asked that I send you to a warehouse they discovered last night. At first I didn't know why he would want you, but he showed me this." Fury dropped a few photos onto the table. In one of the photos there was a metal ring with a metal star inside it. Wires were connected to the ring. "Seems like someone is mixing science and magic. I'd like you to head there and investigate the place. My friend is Lieutenant Sawyer. See if you can discover what this was being used for and if it worked. I'll own you one for this."

ACT 2: Power

By the time the group arrived at the power plant, the Union workers were already there. The plant's front gate was guarded by a line of police men, each armed with batons and guns.
"We want our pay!"
"How do you think we can work in that dump?"
"I got kids! I have to feed them!"

Behind the police was a well dressed man, trying to yell above the crowd. "Look, look. These are hard times for everyone! We will pay you as soon as we have money. We are logging everyone's work hours and you will be paid soon!"

"Tell me this, Mr. Slogan" a big man came forward from the crowd. "What am I to do with my child? I can't feed her on promises!" This gained a deafening roar from the crowd.

"Please! Please! We can not pay you at this time. We are sorry but we are as broke as the rest of the country."

Another man yelled from the crowd, "But you can eat lobster with Rockefeller and such while we eat rat soup! And look at you, pot-bellied pig man. You aren't starving, but my children are!" Another roar come up from the crowd.

The situation was tense and any wrong move could spark a riot.

Doom Pool: 2d6

Kaiser Chiefs- I Predict a Riot!

Zonugal

"For a favor from you? That's motivation enough," Stephen said stuffing one of the photos into a jacket pocket.

"I'll embark as soon as your secretary, the Russian fire-bomb, provides me with all the sufficient details."

Zonugal

Auralynx wrote: »

You know, Zonugal, until now I was only reading @Houn 's version of Doctor Strange over in Breakout in the voice of Doctor Orpheus, but you just swung me over to doing it here as well.
E: wrote Doctor Strange twice, sorry, Houn.

It is really hard not to do any form of Orpheus when playing Stephen Strange...

Grunt's Ghosts

After the Black Window gave Dr. Strange the adress ("Call me fire-bomb again, Doctor, and you see why its cold in Russia.") he found himself outside a what was left of a factory. In the distance he could see the twin smoke stacks of the Manhattan Island Power Plant, where the rest of the team had gone. The factory itself was undistinguishable from any of the others in the district, except something had ripped the roof in. Or smashed it in, it was hard to tell, but the damage covered most of the the building. "Interesting isn't it." An older man in a black suit said. "Lieutenant Sawyer, FBI. And you must be Doctor Strange. Fury said you are an expert in the field of Mysticism."

Zonugal

"I am an expert in many fields, schools, and ideas," Strange said stretching out his hand, "As well as in courtesy."

Grunt's Ghosts

Sawyer shakes the Doctor's hand. "As long as one is Voodoo Witchcraft." The two cross the police tape and enter the factory. "This was an automoblie factory until a few years ago. Its been vacant since then. But last night someone reported seeing, and I quote, 'A black tornado with a face.' That wouldn't have been enough to warrant your presence but then..." Sawyer turns to a back room. All along the walls are machines of different types that Strange can't identify. But its the ring in the center that baffles him. Its made of copper with the star made of silver. Although he couldn't see them in the picture, there are symbols written on the floor around the ring. Demonic symbols. "And we also found this. Boys can't read it, but we though you might be familiar with it." Sawyer hands Strange a leather book. It has the same pentagram symbol burned into the cover. Inside are more Demonic text, with handwritten notes in German below. Some of the German is related to the Demonic text, others seems to be mathematical or chemical formulas. "I'll give you a moment to look around. Tell me if you find anything."

Zonugal

"Science mixed with mysticism? What will does a scientist have to control a conjurer's cage? None..."

Dr. Strange begins walking around the crime scene, gaining a sense to its edges, borders and spirit.

Solo (d10) + Earth's Arcane Defender (d8) + Mystic Regalia's Mystic Senses (d12) + Mystical Master (d10)

Okay I got:

d10: 10
d8: 3
d12: 11
d10: 4

So lets go with: 21 with a d10.

Auralynx

Lucas Cage
Cage, though perfectly willing to head to the riot, has no idea what to do when he gets there. He glances at Peter.

"I'm BSCP - signed up in Chicago, few years back - but these folks don' 'pear t'be. Dunno if Milt Webster'd want me gettin' into this. You local, whatcha wanna do?"

Grunt's Ghosts

Strange starts to push his will out, feeling for anything mystical, spiritual, and supernatural. Immediately he feels the lingering energy of a dark presence filling the space around the circle. The magic was dark, that was for sure. But the mix of science twisted even this already twisted art. The dark energy also came off the remains of a strange wheelchair, left broken and discarded in a corner. And then the energy seem to split, one remaining the original energy, and the other being a slightly weaker source, bound to the original. This one started from the wheelchair and moved outside the room towards the back of the factory.

Doom pool can't bet that so no use rolling.

Capfalcon

Colossus

"Well, we can't let it get out of hand. If there's a riot, it's either going to start as bloodbath with cops and organizers going for each others throats and end up putting everyone for miles into the cold and the dark. That ain't gonna help anyone. So, I think we need to make sure things stay peaceful and knock a few heads if anyone starts gettin' ideas of doing anything else." Colossus spits on the ground, adding, "Of course, if that pig behind the gates got roughed up, I won't lose any sleep."

Buddha73

"Yes. We must protect the union workers but also prevent a riot at all cost. And since your a union man, colossus i believe you should take the lead."

Mikey CTS

Rogue

Anna Marie purses her lips and pushes her shades up on her eyes, then crosses her arms and hmphs. "Ah don't see how this is our responsibility. We should just leave this ta local authorities.

"Sides that, these men aught ta be grateful they even got jobs. Bunch a rabblerousers causin' trouble."

THIS DOES NOT REFLECT MY ACTUAL POLITICAL BELIEFS.

Auralynx

In the absence of any guidance about what kind of power station this is, I'm gonna say we're at the old 74th Street Station or someplace similar because old photographs of it exist and look cool, if that's all right.

Lucas Cage
"Nah, Danny, this ain't on us to solve. Fury told us sniff out gang trouble, not go brawling with Pinkertons. Don't nobody want things to go Pullman. Reckon we spread out an' keep our eyes peeled; these look like 'lectrical workers or steamfitters, so maybe Peter's got an in with 'em. I'mma find me some black boys, see if they know sumthin'."

Lucas heads off into the crowd to try exactly that, looking for bystanders or workers who happen to be black to talk to, as well as anything criminal going on, primarily the latter.

Grunt's Ghosts

I've never been to New York, but that sound ok. I figured most of this was going to take place in Manhattan so that works just fine.

Lucas starts going through the crowd until he finds a group of about six black men on the edge of the crowd. "We ain't no slaves no more, Mister! We ain't going to work for nothing!" one of the men shouts into the crowd. Even some of the nearby white men join in with them. "We are all free men! But we don't work for free!"

Zonugal

"Dark energy has tainted this area, painted it a vile color. I can not speak to the mechanics of science, but in the domain of the mystical my senses point me towards the very shadows of this structure!"

Strange grabs the wheel-chair and heads to the back of the factory.

Grunt's Ghosts

As Dr. Strange touches the wheelchair, he is brought back to a moment of his memories, to the night the Ancient One died. He was walking the halls of the temple at night, he remembered the dark, shadowy creature standing over his Master, his "hand" in the Ancient One's chest. Before Strange could even cast the simplest of spells, the creature ripped his Master's heart out. He remembered the eyes, pure white but still demonic. And the the teeth, rows on rows of sharp white teeth. And the snake like tongue it tried to eat him with. Only two people at the temple could have summoned such a creature. Himself and Karl Mordo. To this day, the though of the creature, a shadow demon, still haunted the dreams of Dr. Strange. It was the inspiration of the shadow creature he had used the night before, although his was an illusion. But now, after all these years, why did the thought return to him, and what, if any, connection did it have to the events that happened in this factory?

Dr. Strange followed the second presence out behind the factory, but it only lead to the water. Had he drown? Was he alive? What the hell what going on?

Capfalcon

Colossus goes up to the men that Lucas found and says, "Damn straight! They get rich off of our work and can't even find enough money for us to eat? I don't know why the cops are facing this way, because it's clear to me who's doing the crime here!"

Auralynx

Lucas Cage

Cage nods at Colossus.

"So what ain't they pay y'all for? Reckon it's about takin' the trains electric, but I ain't from 'round here. BSCP's wonderin' if y'all station boys need some help."

Grunt's Ghosts

One of the nearby white men walks up. "Damn right we do! We got only half our wages last month and now we aren't getting shit this month. But word has it Mr. Slogan and the company been "donating" money to that Wilson Fisk fellow for his election. Seems funny Fisk runs a campaign saying he'll fight for the little man when he's taking our paychecks!" The nearby men all start talking at once about Slogan and Fisk until another man comes out of the crowd. "You know what the crime is? Slogan there has a safe full of our wages, saw it myself. But its our tax money that's protecting it. Seems like the police should be working for us, helping us to get it."

As Rogue and Ironfist stand back out of the ever growing crowd, the two spot a few people in the crowd who don't seem to fit in. They are wearing long trench coats and, unlike the rest of the crowd, they aren't yelling, just standing in the middle, watching, waiting...

Is the BSCP the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters?

Auralynx

Yep. Behold the power of Google-Fu.

Buddha73

Ironfist elbows Rogue lightly in her side and points to men in the trench coats. "Am I the only one here that finds them out of place? Something big is about to go down and i don't think its a possible riot. We should watch them closely."

Grunt's Ghosts

I'm giving you all about another 24 hours to Roleplay because of the holiday before I press on.

Zonugal

Dr. Strange looked into the depths of the ocean. So calm, so relaxed and yet a power that could undo the world.

"Mordo..."

He grabbed the wheelchair and started heading to the street.

"Thank you Mr. Sawyer but I must conduct my own investigation. I will unveil you all the secrets you demand in due time."

And with that Dr. Strange & the wheelchair are teleported back to Strange's residence.

Grunt's Ghosts

Anything more you'd like to do while at your apartment? You pretty much have until the end of the Power plant stuff to do your investigation, which means it will be awhile.

Zonugal

I continue to run different mystical experiments.

Perhaps I will even conjure some help...

Grunt's Ghosts

Dr. Strange returns to his apartment and dives into the Demonic book found in the factory. Using his own knowledge of demonic text to translate the book, he finds that the person who wrote the German notes wasn't knowledgeable in the subject or fluent in the language. One point the German writes "The One who calls (the) Legion" when the text really says "The One Who Is Called Legion." Further reading reveals that the demon summoned by the German writer might be a "Shadow Demon".

Dr. Strange reads out loud, "The shadow demon is not one creature but instead a multitude of sins given form. It feeds on the darkness of mens' souls, devouring all the good from them. It whispers dark thoughts into their minds, thoughts that these men believe to not only be their own, but to be right along the person's mortal code or equal to their survival. Shadow Demons have caused mothers to kill their children to protect their homes from monsters, cause brothers to kill one another, and even bring kingdoms to war. The more honest the man, the harder it is for the demon to corrupt them, but time is on the side of the creature, and soon all men fall victim to its will. It is believed that the snake in Eden who tempted Eve was such a creature."

Further in the book, the German circled a phase and translated as "After the Shadow Demon comes Carnage."

The Doctor laid the book down on a pile of other books. The wheelchair was the clue to the German's identity. It was no ordinary chair. It had a few sticks which controlled a series of levers that controlled something that was attached to the back of the chair. However, in the chaos, the back was ripped off, and Strange didn't remember seeing it at the scene. But the chair was local made, judging by the label under the right arm, "Mason Machines, Manhattan, NY"

Zonugal

"In the city that never sleeps I conjure myself to the island that shall never quake! MANHATTAN!!!" Dr. Strange throws his arms up and begins swirling them around.

"By the wright's whisper and a demon's cackle I bend the corners of the veil to one another!"

Dr. Strange teleports himself to Mason Machines, Manhattan, NY. He might also teleport himself to a local diner before hand as he has been battling hunger for far too long.

Grunt's Ghosts

Ironfist barely gets the words out of his mouth when a loud pop rings out from the crowd. People in the crowd begin to move, looking for the source. "Hey!" One of the tench coat people yell, "They are shooting at us!"

The crowd begins to panic, yell, and throw rocks at the police men. More pops, this time they are from the guns of the police and a few of the workers. With that, the crowd rushes the line, with some people running the other way. They attack the police officers, with fist, clubs, batons stolen from other officers, and the police fight back, using batons, shooting randomly into the group, Trying to hold their own against the rushing tide of bodies. Ironfist loses sight of the other people, except the Plant Owner, Mr. Slogan, being carried by the crowd by workers who have already broke the line. He tries to grab Rogue, but the crowd has already pulled her in, and soon even he is among the whirlpool of bodies...

Rogue wasn't sure if someone grabbed her, or if the wave took her. All she knew was people were touching her. A shoulder here, a hand there. Sometimes her face hit another. Sometimes she grabbed someone to keep from falling. But she was moving. Forward, there was no other direction. She saw thoughts of men; angry, terrible, murderous thoughts. Some times she felt fear when she touched someone. And once she saw a black monster with sharp teeth and claws. After what felt like forever in hell, the crowd spread thinner and she was able to leave and sit on the side to collect her thoughts. She was now on the inside of the Power plant's gates, in the main yard.

Colossus and Lucas Cage are among that wave. The shots rang out and the crowd moved, taking them with it. Both men look over to see two policemen beating their way through the crowd, holding their own against the flood. It seems like hours, but in a short few moments, the two are behind the power plant's gates and on the main ground, where the crowd moves into the plant itself. Workers, people who once gave hours of their lives keeping the plant alive, start smashing pipes and lines. Sparks fly and the the light flicker. The plant dies in seconds from the damage.

Scene Distinctions: Sparking Power lines, Angry Workers, Broken Machines.

Doom Pool: 2d6

[ ] Ironfist: 2XP [1PP]
[ ] Rogue: 2XP [1PP]
[ ] Lucas Cage: 2XP [1PP]
[ ] Colossus: 1XP [1PP]
[-] Dr. Strange: 1XP [1PP]

After a quick bite at Paradise Cabaret (and a great show), Dr. Strange moved on to address on the wheel chair. Soon Strange finds himself in front of a alleyway shop with a moving sign. "Mason Machines" reads proudly on metal sign, along with "Owner/Tinkerer, Phineas Mason". The door swings open and a voice from inside says "Come on in!"

I almost wrote Dr. Manhattan instead of Dr. Strange.

Zonugal

"What a beholden invitation, how could I ever resist?"

Dr. Strange enters.

Grunt's Ghosts

Strange enters into a strange mix of machines, car parts, and other devices. There are wind up toys, steam powered engines, and in the middle of it all sits a old man with a set of goggles with about 10 lens. "Yes, what can I do for you today?"

Mikey CTS

Rogue

Anna Marie omphs at the elbow in her ribs and looked at Iron Fist crossly. This boys club she was signed up for was starting to rub her the wrong way. "Ya'll always go everywhere lookin' fer trouble? I seen a few G-men in my time with the Brotherhood. They got all the telltale signs, including the cheap suits and sticks up their asses."

Capfalcon

Colossus

Now that the tide of people is spreading out, Colossus is able to move around without too much trouble. Looking around, he spots Ironfist and moves over to him, yelling over the din of the crowd "I bet some of these knuckleheads are going to go for that safe with the wages. They got the right idea, but I don't know if I trust a bunch of starving workers to make sure the money gets parceled out square. Lets see if we can beat them there, and make sure everyone gets their share."

Buddha73

"Fine. Lets get inside, Lucas and Rogue should stay outside to contain the riot best they can. There is more going on here then meets the eye. I can feel it." Ironfist shouts back to Colossus. Ironfist felt uneasy about all this. Something was wrong He just couldn't put his finger on it yet.

Grunt's Ghosts

Most people are in plant so really there is almost no reason to stay outside of it.

Capfalcon

I don't understand. I thought said safe with wages would be inside the plant, specifically the manager's office.

Grunt's Ghosts

Ironfist was thinking of keeping Rogue and Lucas outside to stop the crowd coming in, but most of the people are already inside. The safe is in the manager's office, like you thought.

Capfalcon

Ah, I see.

Buddha73

yeah i thought that we could slow the crowd with Rogue and Lucas it would make things easier on us getting to the safe.