Araris Valerian

The game is over! I'll put up the aftermath thread for now, though there won't be a writeup yet.

Around 3.5 hours left in the cycle. If folks are interested, I can reduce cycle times down to 24 hours, starting next cycle. Let me know in GM PMs (or docs, I'm reading those), but please don't discuss in the thread. If I get confirmation from everyone then I'll make the change.

After the removal of the Association, the uneasy truce that held between the remaining Epics quickly broke down. Everyone still paid lip-service to Mindstorm and his plan to remove the Reckoners, but it was clear that the two remaining groups of Epics were primarily concerned with removing their rivals, with Helios looking to boost his reputation however he could. Still, however, it seemed that neither the Reckoners nor either faction of Epics felt confident enough in their knowledge to launch a direct assault. Much of the local population could sense that it was only a matter of time before the situation boiled over into open conflict. Cycle 5 has begun, and will end at 5PM Pacific Time on Sunday the 23rd! Vote Count: Coffee (4): RBM, TUA, Kidpen, Ash Ash (2): Kas, Coffee TUA (1): Cadcom Player List:

The cycle has ended!

Roughly 2.5 hours left until rollover!

For some reason, all the gathered Epics believed some kind of manipulation had happened, and there was a near-unanimous call for Fish's weakness to be released again. Fish went along with only a minor protest that this was meaningless, though he didn't clarify why. - An evening later that week, several shadowy figures converged on the stronghold of the self-proclaimed "Association of High Epics": Fish, Electro, and Pinch Hitter. "I'm still a bit uneasy about this one. We don't have confirmation of Hitter's weakness." "His powers are using a baseball bat, so he's not a High Epic. We take him out after the others, just like we planned." The plan called for the elimination of Fish first, since he was the most elusive. His weakness was some weird plant called a sundew, which, while uncommon, was actually native to several small swamps in Idaho. Cody snuck several pots to the entrance of the Epic base. When Fish appeared, he immediately became corporeal, falling to the ground. A shot from Abraham killed Fish. Everything was going according to plan. Hearing gunfire, Electro burst from the lair, limbs crackling with power. The High Epic saw Cody first and raised an arm to blast him with electricity. Rather than fleeing, Cody grinned and pointed his mobile at a nearby wall, where a projection of a pixelated cat began to dance up and down on a flowing rainbow. The bizarre display was accompanied by an extremely obnoxious sound that could possibly be called music if one had no standards. Immediately, Electro fell to the ground, powers neutralized by the playing video. A *crack* followed, and then only Pinch-Hitter remained of the Association. Abraham leveled his gun at Pinch Hitter and shot. The final Epic became a blur of motion, his baseball bat deflecting the bullet, and it whizzed off into the darkness. The sniper frowned and squeezed off another round. Pinch Hitter reacted just as quickly, and this time he somehow hit the bullet straight back at Abraham, striking him in the leg. "I'm hit. Jacket deflected it, but I'm going to be slow getting out. Prof, I don't know that we can take this one out. Bullets aren't working, and explosives aren't an option" Pinch Hitter scanned the nearby area, eventually spotting Cody's hiding place. The Epic grabbed a large rock, tossed it lightly into the air, and swung his bat. The stone struck Cody's head, knocking him out cold. "Prof! Cody's down. With my leg, I'll need you to haul him out. We need to pull out, now!" Seeing that Abraham was still mobile, Pinch Hitter bent down for another projectile. While the Epic was distracted, a small figure blurred out from the shadows towards him. As the newcomer approached, it resolved into a tiny man carrying some kind of paddle. The Dwarf then rapidly grew to full size and swung a cricket bat, of all things, at Pinch Hitter's arm. For whatever reason, the Hitter's powers failed to engage, and The Dwarf's blow clearly shattered his arm, leaving the baseball bat to drop to the ground. Prof, seeing that Pinch Hitter was disabled, threw a grenade at the two Epics. When the dust cleared from the explosion, little remained but fragments of a baseball bat and a miniature cricket bat. - The Association of High Epics (Sart, Aeoryi, Aeternum) has been destroyed by the Reckoners! The Independent Epic "The Dwarf" (Mat) assisted in the takedown but has been presumed slain as well. Cycle 4 has begun, and will end on Friday the 21st at 5PM Pacific Time. Vote Count: Aeternum (7): Kas, Coffee, Aeoryi, Ash, TUA, Mat, Cadcom TUA (1): Aeternum Mat (1): RBM Player List:

The cycle is over! No PMing until the writeup is posted!

~4.5 hours to rollover!

I mean, if I made it so removing an IE counted toward the IE win con then that could potentially work.

Fish was the first Epic to speak up about who should reveal their weakness next. "Mr. Samith could be manipulating our conversations. I think we'd be better off without him." Whether from Samith's powers or from the other Epics, an immediate outcry sounded. Helios objected, perhaps out of protest from what he'd been forced into the other day, and Pinch Hitter took a swing at Samith, but their efforts were drowned out. Fish stepped through a wall, vanishing from view momentarily, reminding everyone present that he cared little for any physical powers they might possess. He returned a minute later, bearing a sealed envelope, which he turned over to one of Mindstorm's minions. Then, without another word he sank into the floor, his confident sneer undiminished. -At the Reckoner Base- "Y'know Prof, I reckon we sit here long enough, we can take down all these Epics. They keep telling folks how to stop them." "That's not what we're here for. We stick to the plan. I don't plan on confronting any extra Epics unless we are completely certain we can neutralize their powers." - No players have been eliminated! Cycle 3 has begun, and will end at 5PM Pacific Time on Wednesday the 19th! Vote Count: Aeternum (4): Cadcom, Coffee, Kidpen, TUA TUA (3): Aeternum, Sart, RBM Reminder that this VC and the writeup do not reflect any vote manipulation that may have happened Player List:

Alright, the cycle has ended! Again please refrain from PMing until the new cycle is posted.

The thread will lock itself, but I might not be around exactly at rollover, just as a heads up.

Just over 4 hours left in the cycle! Make sure to get your votes and actions submitted.

In the aftermath of the meeting with Mindstorm, the various factions of Epics had begun making shows of force, demonstrating bursts of power in hopes of cowering their opponents. These clashes were intermingled with equally hostile, though slightly less showy, private meetings and exchanges of packages. Who would be offered up for bait first? In the end, Helios was chosen, and the Epic scribbled something on a page before sealing it in an envelope. Mindstorm ran a hand over the envelope, then nodded. One of his lesser known powers was the ability to detect deception from any written document, but apparently the statement within truly contained information about Helios' weakness. Helios sneered as he left, clearly confident in his ability to withstand any attack the Reckoners might make on him. In the coming weeks, however, no attack was made. It seemed the Reckoners had more caution than had been credited them. So Mindstorm called for another Epic to be chosen, and stated that he would continue to do so until the trap had been sprung. Cycle 2 has begun (nobody died)! It will end at 5PM Pacific Time on Monday the 17th. Vote Count: RBM (5): Kas, TUA, Mat, Aeoryi, Ash Sart (1): Cadcom TUA (1): Aeternum Reminder that this VC and the writeup do not reflect any vote manipulation that may have happened Player List:

The cycle has ended! It may be a bit before I get the next one posted. Edit: Also, refrain from PMing until the cycle goes up, but feel free to use docs, since everyone in a doc dies together anyways.

Reminder: Just over 4 hours to get votes and action submissions in. Actions must be submitted through your GM PM.

By the way, for anyone that missed the announcement in the signup thread, PMs are open, they just need to include myself and Elandera.

Noted

11 arrogant stares bored across a table at the face hovering there, its features formed from jagged arcs of electricity suspended in the air. Mindstorm had a reputation as an especially powerful electrical manipulation Epic, but none of the rumors mentioned anything like the level of control this projection must have required. From within the face, a synthetic voice boomed throughout the room. “I suppose you are all wondering why I’ve called you here tonight. I’m sure you have all heard of those puny humans that call themselves ‘The Reckoners’. They have the audacity to strike down the likes of us!...” The figure went silent, briefly unable to contain its rage. “We cannot tolerate these peasants! And I have just the ticket to silencing them for good. You all decide amongst yourselves who will be our bait, and we shall release stories of their vulnerability out where those fools will surely hear of it. When they come to strike us down in their hubris…” Bolts of electricity lanced from the face, causing several of the other Epics to flinch. The blue-white streaks formed a sinister grin. “They will learn their rightful place.” The storm of sparks subsided, resolving again into a visage again focused on the other Epics. “Once the Reckoners are dealt with, those of you who remain shall be my right-hand servants. Now go!” As the Epics departed the scene, Mindstorm noticed most of them clumping up into factions, though a couple seemed to keep only their own council Not too far away, in a hideout, someone held a hand to an earpiece. “The ear fairies tell me them Epics are trying to bait us. But it also says they plan to leak some of their secrets. My vote is to stick around. Maybe show some of them how a real Scotsman fights.” Cycle 1 has begun, and will end at 5 PM Pacific Time on Saturday the 15th! Everyone should have received their PM by now. Please submit a weakness for your Epic to me in your GM PM. In the unlikely event that the Reckoners overcome your Epic, it will help with the death writeups . Player List: Quick Links:

Alright, signups are closed! PMs will go out shortly and I'll get C1 up once those all get sent.

Signups close in just over 24 hours!

Yes, all PMs should contain myself and Elandera. This also means that there will be PMs available before the first round of actions; during C1.

A quick announcement about a minor rule change: PMs will be open this game, rather than requiring an action as originally stated in the rules.

Mission accomplished, I suppose. Who knew Pooh was a master swordsman?

Certainly, so long as you aren’t concerned with potentially dying