Khellendrosiic

Has Paragon mentioned when it's coming out? We're a couple of weeks into the month already and I thought this was a monthly deal.

Just wait until you find a Valentine from yourself.

Oh hey look, proof that Toy's a 50! And geez, nobody from Protector yet?

Just checked back on this to see you don't have anybody from Protector. Even though I'd love to have Toy in this (as he's my main), I think there's going to be more than enough Virtuites in the running. I can provide a Hero or a Villain from protector, whichever you'd want more.

And for future reference, my global is @Khellendrosiic, like my forum name.

Ok, let's see if this works. I figure I'd offer up an alternate villain choice for Virtue. Or Rogue choice, as the case may be.




Alias: Toy Dispenser
Alignment: Rogue
Server: Virtue
Archetype: Mastermind/Blaster
Power Sets: Bots/FF/Mu or Elec/EM/Elec
Origin: Technology (With a fair bit of magic tacked on)

Bio: Droid Control Prototype Unit 2 was concieved as a pair of circuit boards and several pieces of scrap metal that survived Unit 1's only trial run. Several million dollars and a few months later and Unit 2 was ready for testing. The only problem was finding a suitable facility that would test both Unit 2's abilities and new AI. Eventually it was decided that Unit 2's tremendous processing power and its ability to link with and control most military hardware would be best tested in the prison known as the Zig.

Unit 2 spent one uneventful month, or as uneventful as handling hundreds of formerly super powered villains can be, before Lord Recluse decided the time was nigh for the Destined ones to come forth. Unit 2 was co-ordinating the air defense systems when an Arachnos spy managed to infect it with a powerful virus. This virus interacted with Unit 2's AI and created a new entity. Calling itself Toy Dispenser, Unit 2 escaped from the Zig, ready to start life anew as a villain of the Rogue Isles.

Additional information can be provided if necessary. Also, if you end up without anyone from Protector, I have a couple 50s there I can dig up. But yeah, this looks interesting and I've always been a fan of inter-connectedness.

Edit: I forgot to add that either of those two costumes up there would work fine. It's just one is more serious than the other, but the first is more true to the character.

Every time I read one of these threads I feel like making some popcorn and munching away while the sparks fly. It seems like everyone would benefit from taking a step away and doing something else for a little while, especially people like Friggin Taser, who seem to be on some sort of crusade against those with differing opinions.

And on that note: I dislike the new trials, I think they're a horrible new direction and it's a pain in the *** to go from incredibly survivable Mastermind to road-kill almost faster than it takes for my Assault Bot to recharge. But I'm going to do them anyway because I want my freaking ACU, damn it.

I've been playing through the new Praetorian events and run into a problem. Whenever I complete the 'Great Escape' or 'The Protest' events my reward list is always missing the Badge choice, among other things.

I don't know what to do about this, I've beaten down the Failed Experiments three times by now with no different results. Anyone else having this problem?

"What? What!? Who is this, whos is callin- oh. Nitro Kitty."

It sounded like the mutant human smuggler was just as nervous as usual when Nitro Kitty called, about a minute passing before she was even connected due to the necessary secrecy. Tunnel Rat was the best at her job and the Resistance didn't want her compromised by any means.

"Information? I can do information, information is safe. Don't know anything about riots or protests. Too loud, too noisy, too much smelling of anger and violence. Oh I avoid them alright. Can ask around, see what others say. Not much asking, certain people, limited exposure. Take a bit of time, five minutes? Ten?"

Depending on if Nitro had any more questions, Tunnel Rat would then hang up with a curt "Call you then," but that was her nature. Unforetunately it left Nitro with as little information before and surely time would be running short as even now the less responsible members of Powers Division would be closing in...

***************************

By the time the disparate members of Powers Division began arriving, the crowd had swelled to over a hundred people. Less enthusiastic people swayed over by the initial bravery of the first few and perhaps a few subtle 'suggestions' by the shadowing Resistance squads. But then the real challenge was coming up, the PPD having formed a cordon at the end of the street the protesters were marching down, about a dozen officers with their force gauntlets already up and charged.

"The time is past for warnings!" shouted the lead Sergeant, an especially grizzled looking representative of the force. "But if any of you come closer you will meet the full force of Emperor Cole's displeasure! One last chance to come quietly, traitors!"

Even with his helmet mics cued on maximum volume he could barely be heard over the chanting and cursing from the huge crowd, but even so the mass paused about ten feet from the line of police. Waving their signs like battle standards it didn't look like they would be halting for long, but it seemed like the ones up front were holding the tide back as though waiting for something. A pair of enforcers exchanged uneasy looks moments before a new voice cried out.

"Badgers are the goldenest target dummies! Cheese 'em!"

...and then a pair of Heavy Barrels stepped out of an alleyway on either side of the PPD cordon, perfectly placed to fire straight down their line. The Sergeant had a brief second for a stunned realization that their every response had been planned for before both guns erupted and sent the officers flying in a cloud of light and dust.

"Hells to the yeah!" cheered one Barrel as he started pulling back. "Goldilocks burnt out think-boxes ain't barely skitter in Scott's shadow!"

But then a single extra shot rang out and the boasting Barrel hit the ground with a surprised expression on his face, a hole neatly drilled right above his ear.

PCU Talon lowered its pistol, visor glowing red and subtle vents opening up along its sides, glowing green light seeping into the air. It might have been more dramatic if it wasn't noon, but the menace was unmistakable.

"Powers Division responding," it stated loudly. "Your rights have been forfeited by continued resistance and collaboration with subversive elements. Lethal force is in effect."

"Chomp you!" screamed the second Heavy Barrel, swinging his massive gun around to bear on Talon and quite about to fire... unless someone had something to do about it.

((Alright. Aside from Mr Heavy Barrel, there's about 40 other Resistance goons ready to fight and protect the protestors. When you show up, feel free to have people react however you wish and whatever numbers of Resistance come at you. Arek has direct control of whoever he grabs, but anyone else can take out who and what they wish. This is the fun part! Go nuts! ))

((A'ight, let's get this part out of the way.

Now, I've noticed that there has been a distinct lack of Praetorian stuff going on around here and I figured I'd change that. Americans and Europeans are all equally welcome, though I'm not sure if the Unionverse would abide such chaotic members messing about in their version of Praetoria. But if any of you want to join, come on! It gets boring RPing with just the same old crowd all the time, you know.

Anyway, rules. It's been a while, so bear with me.

First of all: This thread is set at some indeterminate amount of time before all the official Praetorian arcs. Therefore none of those arcs have come to pass, so both Cleopatra and Washington are alive, there isn't any Longbow or Arachnos invading Neutropolis, and nobody knows who the heck is controlling the Destroyers. I'll get back to this point in a moment.

Second: No godmoding. You know what I mean. We're all stuck at level 20 anyway, so godmoding would be hard enough as it is.

Third: Coming off a stint of GMing some pen and paper games, I'd like to exert some control over this thread of mine own making. I'll start things off and keep a close eye on things until we're all settled and stuff, but then after that I'll let people go wild.

I apoligize if I sound a mite bit preachy or something, but eh, I'm writing this at 6 in the morning.

Anyway, about the 'before official arcs' thing. Basically we have to survive with not changing the established figures. Personalize them, sure. Kill em off, nawh. Not even Hatchet, though I sure would like too. So instead we'll have to come up with our own NPCs to mess with and kill off and get story arcs from. I don't think I need to worry about any lack of imagination around here, do I?

But for the start, let me get the ball rolling my own way. Speaking of which...))

"All units in North Aetna, on alert. Seers indicate a large riot about to take place. All units in North Aetna, on alert."

"Dispatch, this is Unit 19, affirmitive. Michals and I have a bird's eye view of the whole thing. I'm counting fourty plus civilians and the local gang members are all gone."

"Confirmed, Unit 19. I am rerouting Units 35 and 83 to your location. Do not attempt to intervene until backup has arrived."

"Roger that, will hold position. Better hurry though, it looks like some of the-"

"Dispatch! Unit 20 here, officer is down, I repeat officer is down! It's the Cole damned Re-"

"Unit 20? Unit 20, respond.

...

Damn it. All avaliable units in Elyssian Avenue report to the corner of White and Shield. Expect armed resistance as the protestors move down toward the Magisterium."

"Unit 42, responding."

"Units 13 and 15, responding. I think I can hear their chanting from here."

"Unit 35 here! Resistance presence is confirmed! I could use a little help down here!"

"Roger that, Unit 35. Powers Division support has been requested and approved. With Praetors White and Duncan elsewhere, you need to hold until the metas can arrive."

"Got it! Tell them to hurry the hell up!"

It was another fine day in Praetoria at the start. The sun was shining brightly, the weather was pleasant if a bit hot and muggy, and there hadn't been a single sighting of any of Hamidon's monsters beyond the sonic wall. But every day has the chance to end badly and this one certainly seemed to be taking a turn for the worse. In the shadows of the housing in North Aetna the usual gatherings of Destroyers and subtle lingerings of the more daring of the Resistance had all but vanished, only to be replaced by the even more ominous groups of normal looking civilians.

They would have been inoccuous if it weren't for the looks of grim determination on their faces, the signs held in their hands, and the vindictive slogans whispered under their breath as though in practice. PPD officers, simply thankful for the respite from their usual silent war against the real criminals of Praetoria, didn't take notice until it was too late, somehow even the Seers missing such a gathering of ill thoughts until the riot had begun. But by the time the blind women had turned their collective gaze on the protestors and the first officer had thought there was something off about the way that group was looking at him, it was starting.

The largest protest in months was storming down Shield Street straight toward the Magisterium and Cole Tower. Sign waving and slogan shouting it would have been contained, though not easily, by the Praetorian Police were it not for the silent, determined bands of Resistance running interference. It was nowhere near the usual standards of lethality held by the Resistance but it was much more obvious. Already news crews from TPN were responding, ready and willing to make headline stories for this otherwise dull day and the Resistance was just as willing to let them do their job.

Apparently forewarned, a damning thought, the protestors did not flinch as unsuspecting police officers were gunned down from the shadows and barely seen glowing armor shadowed their every movements. This was not to say that the protestors strode unflinchingly over the downed officers, rather it seems that several of the people in the group were trained medics or doctors, stopping just long enough to make sure a wounded officer was stable before hurrying to rejoin the march. Apparently even in those so rebellious as to march directly under Emperor Cole's watching eye a trace of humanity still existed.

Or perhaps the Resistance didn't want an officer's death to mar the news event, as they made sure to avoid killing shots. Of course, things would have to change very quickly as the true threat to this minor rebellion came to light: The members of Powers Division, any one of which would be a difficult fight. And Dispatch had sent word to everyone.

*******************************

"This is PCU Talon, responding to distress call."

Tall, the machine was, and gangly. Easily eight feet in height but lacking in enough bulk to make it seem anything other than skeletal. When still it seemed nonsense that anything built to such proportions could move normally, but when it stirred to action the range and agility of its limbs could easily be seen. Of course, one would usually not spend much time wondering at the machine's spindley limbs as the sheer aggressive posture of the thing generally captured the attention.

Built off of an enhanced Clockwork chasis, the Precision Combat Unit retained little of it's predaccessors mundanity. Bright red markings on its mostly dark grey armor drew attention to its movements and the angry tilt of its optics discouraged most normal people from looking it directly in the face. Not that there was much point, as aside from an armored grill over the lower half of its face it lacked even the rudimentary features of the Clockwork.

Of course, if one was of a military mind or even a dimly aware one, they would also notice the large, lethal looking pistols maglocked to each hip. The Unit's main armament, there was no mistaking for what purpose it had been created for.

Though apparently said purpose happened to include assisting the PPD in quelling a riot, as of today.

"We shall speak later," the android said to its compatriot, a heavily scaled mutant in the blue and gold of 'official' Powers Division colors. "I will be able to handle an outbreak of uncivil thought, but you are more needed investigating the Destroyer cell."

"Yesss, Reese will doubtlessly rupture my eardrums with his cursing if I don't find out what they are up too soon," replied Riptide, though it looked as if he'd much prefer doing something else. "Ugh. The fight would even be enjoyable if it weren't for the fact the smell of Crush clogs my sinuses so bad."

"If you require assistance, I am sure Aria would be quite willing," Talon shot back, already starting to walk away.

"Ha! As if I need that woman's help with anything!" Riptide tossed the retreating android a casual salute before heading off in the opposite direction, out from the shade of the Ministry of Information where the two had been talking.

Outlining the quickest route to the location Dispatch had provided over the Powers Division Nova Praetoria comm channel (as well as several alternate routes), Talon dashed forward in a blur of motion. He vaulted the moat surrounding the Magisterium proper in one jump and made a beeline for the protest. It would be interesting to see how many of the Division responded to the call and if the news crews would manage to arrive before it was all over...

((Final note: If you've got any questions at all, toss me a PM. Questions may range anywhere from 'What would my character's super senses see in that last post?' to 'I'd like to take over <PC created NPC> for a bit, you ok with that?' to 'Do you like long walks on the beach?' If you ask them, I will answer them. If you don't ask them, then don't expect an answer! ))

My name is Khellendrosiic and this is my favorite thread on the internet.

I'm going to have to remember the 'Golden Cole' thing for the future, it's almost too perfect. And did any of you notice when her posting style changed a few times? I think you managed to get her a little angry back when you were constantly making measured responses to her jabs. Nothing pisses a troll off more than when her trolling fails.

As a primarily red-side player, I am offended by the sarcastic tone given to my favorite ATs in your posters.

Falling through the wormhole was certainly not as planned. Hell, he had no idea that the elf lady could even do that. This was why he tried to avoid messing with mages. But in any case, he had more pressing matters to deal with than simply cursing his situation; namely the fact that he was alone on a building sized killer robot with absolutely no support. This called for fleeing, and the best way to do that would to try and get the Harvester make him into a fast ball special again.

Shutting down all active emissions, Toy spooled up his single working force field generator and formed the most solid shield around himself as he could. He then dropped down the leg he had been running up and lasso'd it again, blade out and ready to cut down any approaching grappler arms.

...but there weren't any approaching grappler arms.

"I don't suppose you play with your food before eating it, do you?" he asked the machine, not really expecting a response aside from renewed aggression.

The android wasn't about to be disposed of so easily, his left bracer glowing a bright white as a hoop of energy wrapped around the limb like a lasso. His feet certainly left the metal, a slight relief given how the defensive lightning was starting to do some damage, but he held on. The moment the leg returned to its at-ease position he was up and moving again, dodging nimbly around some of the attacking grapplers and slicing several others completely through with a runed hand-and-a-half blade that had emerged from his right bracer.

Things were looking good. If he could keep up this pace for a bit longer, he'd be off the leg and on something that the machine couldn't reach as easily. And with all his sensors still focused on scanning for traps, surprises, and other useful things, it wouldn't take him long to find an access port.

It was somewhat unfortunate that the engine chose that moment to explode, lurching the Havester about and sending it into the wormhole, one very surprised passenger clinging to it.

"Oh not agai-!"

"Sure would be nice if I could fly right now," Toy remarked in a casual fashion as he hopped from the tree, which soon suffered from a painful case of death by spider leg, and onto the flying cake.

Toy was light for a combat android, clocking in at only four hundred or so pounds, but the cake didn't have to hold him up for long. Half a second to regain his balance and then he was jumping onto the outside of the attacking leg. His lightning aura seemed to explode into activity as it interfered with the Harvester's own field, mitigating most of its effects as Toy planted both feet and started running up the leg.

Anti-grav at 10%...

He had been able to finesse enough capability out of his mostly burned out systems to give him what amounted to gravitic boots. He still had to fight against normal gravity, but this way he could climb the machine quite a bit faster.

"You know, if I had any more resources with me, your face would have a very angry assault bot stuck in it right now," he continued in a conversational fashion as he sprinted up as fast as he could toward the main body. He also directed the full force of his sensors at the path ahead, making sure that the Harvester wouldn't be able to spring any tricks on him, but also effectively giving him tunnel vision. His allies would have to just hold on on their own.

((You know... I actually never considered the possibility that Dr Mechano might have been in some completely different forest... Oops?))

The resounding boom of Mechano's firing almost caused Toy to miss a step, skidding across a moss covered stone and only recovering by blasting a force bolt forward. The bolt kicked up a huge burst of dirt and leaves, but balanced the android out. Grumbling for a moment about someone bringing an anti-material rifle to a bow and arrow fight, he took the time to glance behind and see who was coming. Jade, Cerelassion, and Kethara. Acceptable.

"Do what you do best, folks," he called out to them as he moved to sync with their formation. "This'll be a good test run to see how our combat styles will fit, yeah?"

Things were shaping up to be interesting, especially since the defenders appeared to be a mad scientist, a Shivan, and a pair of giant spiders. Also a giant cake. Huh.

"Hi there! We're here to help!" shouted the rainbow colored android as he got close enough to Dr Mechano and company. "Just don't hit me and keep being a deliciously distracting human, ok?"

Without waiting for a reply, Toy vaulted into a tree and started climbing. He needed to get high enough to jump down on top of the Harvester. Generally the maintainance ports were on the back of the neck and since the machine was flying, Toy needed the height. And just to cover all his bases, he started trying to jam the Harvester's communications and sensors. Without his bots, he was running with an annoying amount of free processing power, so playing games with an alien system would be fairly relieving.

Glancing around at the group and reading the various reactions to his plan made it child's play to notice Bisys was staring at him rather intently. He didn't have the faintest clue why, however, what with the satyr's face being immobile and her movements too jerky to display subtle body language. But that didn't matter much because as it turned out Bisys was completely correct in her suspicions. While he hadn't coded in an override, he had installed an off switch that would shut everything back down to when she was first stuck in her new body. He didn't intend to use it unless something unexpected happened, but it was there.

"The correct term for a sapient robot is 'android'," he said to Cerelassion, correcting the elf. "Metaloid would be a good term for a naturally occuring android, I suppose. I'm certainly artificial, but maybe Bisys would fit that term."

Shrugging some, as he really didn't care what Cerelassion called his kind, he turned to Kethara and Jade.

"Having a peacebringer of your mother's level along would be practically instrumental to our success, so we'll definately wait for her. If you could fill her and Idella in on what was discussed when they arrive that would be useful. And Jade... Once you've figured out this wish thing the elf brought up, I need as much information as you can remember on the Harvester and Hunter-Killer forms. I doubt you retain your former eidetic memory, but anything you can recall could help us defeat and isolate them."

But then Toy's head suddenly twitched upward, staring out of the roof of the shelter at something only he could see.

"...****, belay that. Something inside the forest's perimeter just radiated a damn powerful and encrypted signal. Something of the Hives' is already here."

Rolling his wrists again, Toy reached behind his back to detatch his pulse rifle from its magnetic clamps. Clutching it in both hands he hustled out of the door, pivoting on one foot to face in the direction of the databurst.

"No more time for planning, this is our best chance to get one of the *******! Whoever's coming with me, try to keep up! Everyone else, keep an eye out for reinforcements!"

And then he was off, sprinting through the trees towards Dr Mechano's camp and its robotic visitor.

Diagnostics running...

10%...

17%...

To the rest of the group, it looked as though Toy had gotten into the shelter then simply slumped back against the wall next to the door, observing as everyone else talked and discussed. In actuality, he was running a more thorough diagnostic and repair program to identify just what he could fix with the limited resources at hand.

34%...

53%...

He watched passively as Jade told his story, silenting rooting for the robots, only half in jest, and wondering how he could have done any better. He shied away from contemplating having to continue to live past the deaths of his friends and loved ones, though technically most of them were functionally immortal as well. Cerelassion's suggestion and Jade's problem started to link as he thought more about the circumstances of Patches and Rauk...

70%...

Dimensional energies detected. Locus 174 Alpha by 34 Gamma.

His first movement in the last several minutes, a slight twitch of the head toward the direction the cascading portals drew across the sky. He was perhaps the only person to notice the pith helmet landing squarely on top of a small gnome, trapping the faerie with a loud squeak. It seemed like there would be more guests shortly, the only question was how friendly they'd be.

82%...

Force field generators online, 50% functionality unlocked.

Rare materials exhausted, internal repairs aborting.

100%...

"How else would one locate a global defense AI run amok?" Toy said, pushing off from the wall and taking a step into the conversation. "You track where all the wireless signals are going. Doesn't matter if they're encrypted or not, you just need to find the control node."

He nodded in Cerelassion's direction as he continued.

"And one will likely lead us to the other. If we can neutralize and repurpose this AI's network to our own ends it will provide us with enough computing power and presence to grant a much higher probability of sniffing out the Builders' own node. Just get me in physical contact with one of these Harvesters and I can introduce Hal to how we do things in the Isles."

Toy snickered at the last, a glimmer of white light issuing from underneath his bracers as he rotated his wrists as though stretching them.

Same problem here. I've also got an Intel Chipset card, not an Nvidia. I submitted a tech support question, so cross your fingers.

Toy had cackled to himself in satisfaction as Trisys moved, back up to let Jade and the others have their turn at talking. He was particularly proud of himself at the moment, having effectively performed a feat of programming akin to building a house of cards in a wind-tunnel. The underlying structures he had laid down would hold firm under anything less than a direct cyber warfare attack and if his guess was right, Tri-...Bisys might eventually start self-programming. To a man with a keen interest in the development of sentience in artificial beings, this had been a very interesting experience. Kind of like doing everything in the wrong order.

"You are quite welcome, Bisys," he replied with a chuckle, glancing up at the sky as rain started pouring down. "But how about we all continue this line of discussion somewhere drier? I might be waterproof, but that doesn't mean I have to like getting rained on."

Hooking a thumb in the direction of the fleeing Cerelassion to indicate where to go, Toy followed the elf at a somewhat more leisurely gait.

Toy shook his head at Akat, raising both hands in a placating gesture.

"Sorry, sorry. My irritation at this whole situation is bleeding off in annoying ways," he said. "Borrowing a working cruiser, armed or not, would be invaluable. Though I would like to take a look at these hive-minded machines Cerelassion mentioned before we go...

"And speaking of going!" Toy exclaimed loudly, spinning around and jogging over to Jade and Trisys. "She's complaining about not being able to control her body, right?"

Hunkering down next to the satyr, he reached behind his neck to spool out his universal connector, hooking himself into the same port he had accessed before.

"When you got turned into a robot, I bet it didn't come with an instruction manual, did it? When I checked her out earlier she barely even had an table of contents, if you get my analogy."

Connecting in, Toy wrote up a quick little program to enable eye movement and installed it. He also started working on more complex programs, but this would suffice as a test.

"Right-o, can you move your eyes now?"

There was silence for a long moment as Toy just stared at Akat. Eventually he broke it with a soft clang as he facepalmed.

"You are entirely too nonchalant about having access to a spaceship," he ground out, other hand rapping irritably against his leg. "And not just that, but apparently the tech to quickly make another one?"

Throwing his arms in the air he walked around in a little circle.

"Well, that'll help! Though with my current luck it'll turn out we'll all get shot down in the first five minutes or something."

Toy was silent for a few moments as he analyzed this new information, letting the others talk as plans began formulating. He needed to get a hold of one of these 'reaper' machines. They were most likely the only things around here advanced enough to be cannabalized for repairs. And, of course, the useful thing about hive minds is that the intelligence of a single unit is usually rudimentary, which could lead to all sorts of other possibilities...

"It's unlikely that we'll require your spirits to leave the forest," he said to Cerelassion. "At the most we'll probably ask for supplies for those that need them and perhaps magical assistance, as long as it is not limited by distance to your forest.

"Escape is of course the overarching goal," he continued, looking at the three. "Our best bet would be to find a 'Builder' or a control node they used to create this place. To that extent, transportation would be useful."

He nodded sideways at Akat.

"There are other Khelari here, huh? And what kind of ship are we talking about?"

Toy grunted in satisfaction as Trisys started to melt back into an organic body and speak to Jade. He was very intrigued about the direction of their conversation, but decided it would be best to appear to give them privacy. He gestured for Cerelassion to follow him and crouched down to give Akat a hand up.

"C'mon, the drama is going to be thick for a few minutes so we can wait over here until they're done," he said as he walked a short distance away, back to the pair.

"I wouldn't worry about people mobbing on me, Lassion," he continued, gaze fixing in the direction of the fight, though to anyone else it was at an undetectable range. "I have contingencies for that sort of scenario. But that's besides the point. What is the point is a sitrep."

Crossing his arms, he started to pace back and forth a bit, fingers rapping gently in time with his steps.

"You elves here are apparently the good guys, that much is obvious. I can quantify that. But what's this about machines in the waste? I got a pretty good map of the surrounding terrain on my way in, but that was all. Human refugees? Attacked by the machines or something else? From where? I'm operating in a complete informational void right now and it's starting to get on my nerves."