System Supervillain, Chapter 152

Chapter 152 – Welcome to Srusk

There was a ‘welcoming committee’ for us when we got outside. Not too close, of course. Vehicle weapons could still be used on people, after all. However, that didn’t mean they weren’t out there. They were just under cover, was all.

The Rhuk’s sensors pinpointed several. Twelve Warrior Caste, with a Leader Caste riding herd on them. They were spread out, taking cover behind a couple nearby cargo shuttles, weapons trained on our ship. Clearly, the lizards decided to try and shoot whoever was the first to step off the ship. Not that I blamed them. It was the only chance they had against me, and mine, and they knew it.

Still, I wasn’t going to play the game by their rules. That was a Hero’s way of thinking. Fair fights were for exhibition matches and training. A villain knew that, when it came down to it, the best path to staying alive was to cheat as early and often as possible.

On the other hand, a successful villain also knew when to have a little flair for the dramatic. At my command, the Rhuk’s cargo ramp lowered, revealing myself, Bloodmoon, Mindtaker, and Mistress Midnight. And, as expected, the Gel-nak opened fire, their weapons splashing harmlessly against the ship’s shields.

Iceblade puts 2 CSLs to DCV (DCV 12)

Iceblade’s attack roll, (Leader), OCV 10: 3d6 = 5 (Hits DCV 16) (Hit)

Frost Ray: 8d6 = 36 STUN, 10 BODY (ED 20 after AP) (x2 Vulnerability)

Leader: 18/70 STUN (Stunned)

Iceblade: 47/50 END

It was a petty trick, and one that was obvious, once you stopped to think about it for half a second, but I was not in the habit of giving my enemies time to think about things. I blasted the leader in the chest with a ray of icy energy from the palm of my free hand, causing the lizard to go staggering back. The warriors paused to look at me, and I had to smile as I stepped off the ship. “Let’s go hunting, girls.”

Turn Order

Segment

Turns

1

2

Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Mindtaker, Leader

3

Warriors, Mistress Midnight

4

Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Mindtaker, Leader

5

Warriors

6

Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Mindtaker, Leader, Mistress Midnight

7

8

Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Mindtaker, Leader, Warriors

9

Mistress Midnight

10

Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Mindtaker, Leader, Warriors

11

12

Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Mindtaker, Leader, Warriors, Mistress Midnight

Segment 2:

Iceblade puts 2 CSLs to DCV (DCV 12)

Iceblade’s attack roll, (Leader), OCV 10: 3d6 = 10 (Hits DCV 11) (Hit)

Frost Ray: 8d6 = 31 STUN, 8 BODY (ED 20 after AP) (x2 Vulnerability)

Leader: -24/70 STUN (Unconscious)

Iceblade: 45/50 END

Bloodmoon’s Attack roll (Warrior 1), OCV 10: 3d6 = 8 (Hits DCV 13) (Hit)

Bloodmoon Tiara: 15d6+1 = 55 STUN, 16 BODY (ED 30)

Warrior 1: 30/55 STUN

Bloodmoon: 47/60 END

Mindtaker’s attack roll (Warrior 2), ECV 10: 3d6 = 6 (Hits ECV 15) (Hit)

Steal Mind: 10d6 = 37 Mind Control (15 Mental Defense after AP)

Warrior 2: 22/15 EGO Mind Control

Mindtaker: 35/40 END

Iceblade: 45/50 END

Bloodmoon: 47/60 END

Mindtaker: 35/40 END

Warrior 1: 30/55 STUN

Warrior 2: 22/15 EGO Mind Control

I strode forward, blade in one hand, and my other hand facing the Leader Caste. Another Frost Ray blasted the lizard, sending them sprawling to the ground. That just left twelve Warriors to deal with. Nothing we couldn’t handle.

Bloodmoon walked behind me, her eyes fixated on the closest of the Warriors. “The Bloody Moon falls upon you! Bloodmoon Tiara!” As she spoke, she threw her tiara at the warrior. It hit him clearly, but he was still standing when the tiara reappeared on her head. Understandable, since she wasn’t using cold, like I was.

Mindtaker stayed back, inside the ship’s shields. Smart, since she wasn’t a front-line combatant, and didn’t have any minions with her. However, she focused her eyes on another warrior, and whispered something under her breath. Whatever it was must have been a mental command to the lizard, because the Warrior immediately started looking for cover. Smart choice. Taking enemies out of the fight temporarily was just as good as killing them, when dealing with groups.

Segment 3:

Mistress Midnight +2 CSLs to OCV (OCV 9)

Warrior 1’s Attack Roll (Bloodmoon), OCV 10: 3d6 = 9 (Hits DCV 12) (Hits)

Kinetic Blast: 8 1/2 d6 = 26 STUN, 8 BODY (30 PD)

Warrior 1: 53/60 END

Warrior 2’s modified EGO roll (11-): 3d6 = 14 (Fails)

Warrior 3’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 10: 3d6 = 10 (Hits DCV 11) (Miss)

Warrior 3: 53/60 END

Warrior 4’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 10: 3d6 = 15 (Hits DCV 6) (Miss)

Warrior 4: 53/60 END

Warrior 5’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 10: 3d6 = 12 (Hits DCV 9) (Miss)

Warrior 5: 53/60 END

Warrior 6’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 10: 3d6 = 14 (Hits DCV 7) (Miss)

Warrior 6: 53/60 END

Warrior 7’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 10: 3d6 = 15 (Hits DCV 6) (Miss)

Warrior 7: 53/60 END

Warrior 8’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 10: 3d6 = 12 (Hits DCV 9) (Miss)

Warrior 8: 53/60 END

Warrior 9’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 10: 3d6 = 6 (Hits DCV 15) (Hit)

Disintegartion Beam: 3d6+1 = 8 BODY (rED 20 after AP)

Stun Multiplier: 1d6-1 = 1 (8 STUN) (rED 20 after AP)

Warrior 9: 53/60 END

Warrior 10’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 10: 3d6 = 11 (Hits DCV 10) (Miss)

Warrior 10: 53/60 END

Warrior 11’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 10: 3d6 = 10 (Hits DCV 11) (Miss)

Warrior 11: 53/60 END

Warrior 12’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 10: 3d6 = 13 (Hits DCV 8) (Miss)

Warrior 12: 53/60 END

Mistress Midnight’s Attack Roll (Warrior 9), OCV 9: 3d6 = 10 (Hits DCV 10) (Hits)

Shadowstrike: 4d6-1 = 18 BODY (rED 7 After AP)

Stun Multiplier: 1d6-1 = 2 (36 STUN) (rED 7 after AP)

Mistress Midnight: 56/60 END

Warrior 9: 19/30 BODY

Warrior 9: 26/55 STUN

Warrior 1: 30/55 STUN

Warrior 2: 22/15 EGO Mind Control

Warrior 9: 19/30 BODY

Warrior 9: 26/55 STUN

The warriors responded much as I expected them to. The one who Bloodmoon hit snarled, and called out in his native tongue, “Kill the Rhuk, capture the breeders!” Then, he fired his weapon at Bloodmoon, hitting the winged villainess square in her chest with what looked to be some form of kinetic blast. Unfortunately for him, it did absolutely nothing to her.

The warrior Mindtaker had affected scurried behind cover, calling out about how the cold was too strong. He was focused entirely on taking cover, which did not go against his Psychological Limitation about not running from a fight. He wasn’t running, after all, he was getting a better position to attack from. Thankfully, there had been nothing in the rules against me sharing what I found in the System with my pets, so everyone already knew the big limitations that all Gel-nak had, and could plan their attacks accordingly.

The rest of the warriors attacked me. Or tried to attack me. And they were not using the kinetic blasts, but the green disintegrator ray function of the blasters. Only one hit me, but the effect did not even eat through my Frost Armor, much less take me on directly. I’d had time to take the measure of Gel-nak weaponry, which was why I was comfortable showboating like this. There was a time and place for theatrics, after all. You just had to make sure you weren’t under any real threat, first.

Mistress Midnight snarled behind me, where she was still standing inside the shield bubble with Mindtaker. “No, you won’t be attacking our Master! Umbrae, indignos feriite!” As she spoke the last words, which echoed magic, her hand made a set of gestures, while her shadow disappeared, and her skin became black as, well, midnight. A bolt of shadow flew from her hand, piercing the warrior that managed to hit me, but not quite dropping him.

Segment 4:

Iceblade puts 2 CSLs to DCV (DCV 12)

Iceblade uses Martial Strike (+0 OCV, +2 DCV, +2 DC Strike) (DCV 14)

Iceblade’s attack roll, (Warrior 5), OCV 10: 3d6 = 10 (Hits DCV 11) (Hit)

Winter’s Bite: 5d6 = 24 BODY (rPD 7 after AP)

Stun Multiplier: 1d6-1 = 2 (48 STUN) (rPD 7 after AP) (x2 Vulnerability)

Warrior 5: 13/30 BODY

Warrior 5: -34/55 STUN (Unconscious)

Iceblade: 40/50 END

Bloodmoon uses Martial Strike (+0 OCV, +2 DCV, +2 DC Strike) (DCV 12)

Bloodmoon’s Attack roll (Warrior 1), OCV 10: 3d6 = 9 (Hits DCV 12) (Hit)

Bloodmoon Scepter: 17d6 = 59 STUN, 18 BODY (PD 30)

Warrior 1: 1/55 STUN

Knockback: 28m

Knockback Damage: 15d6 = 43 STUN, 13 BODY (PD 30)

Warrior 1: -12/55 STUN (Unconscious)

Bloodmoon: 45/60 END

Mindtaker’s attack roll (Warrior 3), ECV 10: 3d6 = 11 (Hits ECV 10) (Hit)

Steal Mind: 10d6 = 44 Mind Control (15 Mental Defense after AP)

Warrior 3: 29/15 EGO Mind Control

Mindtaker: 30/40 END

Warrior 2: 22/15 EGO Mind Control

Warrior 3: 29/15 EGO Mind Control

Warrior 9: 19/30 BODY

Warrior 9: 26/55 STUN

I was close enough now that I could switch to melee, which is what I preferred, anyways. While I was confident in my defenses, I only needed to be wrong once with those disintegrators to be in trouble. Fun thing about warrior cultures was that, even when they were trained in things like guns, and why ‘shoot the guy from across the room’ was the superior strategy, the individual warriors often were all too eager to give up those advantages when there was a chance for a ‘proper’ melee.

That was something I was more than happy to exploit, as my enchanted blade sent one of the warriors off to dreamland with a gash across his chest and cold running through their veins. My voice came through the translator in my cowl, “Which of you cowardly lizards is next? I was thinking about making new boots out of your hide.” If the Warriors fell back or tried to stay at range now, they’d be running up against two psychological limitations, the one against running from battle, and the one where they had to avenge insults. That made them predictable, and predictable was as good as dead.

“The Bloody Moon shines upon you!” Bloodmoon’s incantation was answered with a wet thud of scepter meeting scaled flesh, and the warrior who’d called her a ‘breeder’ going flying, until he crashed spine-first into a cargo transport several meters away, and slumped to the tarmac. It seemed she had not appreciated getting shot at.

I didn’t see what Mindtaker was doing, but I knew she’d done something, when another of the warriors started getting that wild look in their eyes. I didn’t have any notes on that. Mentalists were going to do mentalist things, after all. I would need to reward her properly, when this was done.

Segment 5:

Warriors put 2 CSLs to OCV with HTH combat (OCV 12)

Warrior 3’s modified EGO roll (11-): 3d6 = 14 (Fails)

Warrior 4 uses Martial Strike (+0 OCV, +2 DCV, +2 DC Strike) (DCV 12)

Warrior 4’s Attack Roll (Bloodmoon), OCV 12: 3d6 = 10 (Hits DCV 13) (Hits)

Bloodmoon uses Martial Dodge (+5 DC, Abort next action) (Miss)

Warrior 4: 46/60 END

Warrior 6 uses Martial Strike (+0 OCV, +2 DCV, +2 DC Strike) (DCV 12)

Warrior 6’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 12: 3d6 = 17 (Hits DCV 6) (Miss)

Warrior 6: 46/60 END

Warrior 7 uses Martial Strike (+0 OCV, +2 DCV, +2 DC Strike) (DCV 12)

Warrior 7’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 12: 3d6 = 9 (Hits DCV 14) (Hit)

Gel-Shar Warrior Blade: 8d6+1 = 20 BODY (rPD 40)

Stun Multiplier: 1d6-1 = 2 (40 STUN) (rPD 40)

Warrior 7: 46/60 END

Warrior 8 uses Martial Strike (+0 OCV, +2 DCV, +2 DC Strike) (DCV 12)

Warrior 8’s Attack Roll (Bloodmoon), OCV 12: 3d6 = 9 (Hits DCV 9) (Miss)

Warrior 8: 46/60 END

Warrior 9 uses Martial Strike (+0 OCV, +2 DCV, +2 DC Strike) (DCV 12)

Warrior 9’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 12: 3d6 = 12 (Hits DCV 11) (Miss)

Warrior 9: 46/60 END

Warrior 10 uses Martial Strike (+0 OCV, +2 DCV, +2 DC Strike) (DCV 12)

Warrior 10’s Attack Roll (Bloodmoon), OCV 12: 3d6 = 13 (Hits DCV 10) (Miss)

Warrior 10: 46/60 END

Warrior 11 uses Martial Strike (+0 OCV, +2 DCV, +2 DC Strike) (DCV 12)

Warrior 11’s Attack Roll (Bloodmoon), OCV 12: 3d6 = 8 (Hits DCV 15) (Miss)

Warrior 11: 46/60 END

Warrior 12 uses Martial Strike (+0 OCV, +2 DCV, +2 DC Strike) (DCV 12)

Warrior 12’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 12: 3d6 = 12 (Hits DCV 11) (Miss)

Warrior 12: 46/60 END

Warrior 2: 22/15 EGO Mind Control

Warrior 3: 29/15 EGO Mind Control

Warrior 9: 19/30 BODY

Warrior 9: 26/55 STUN

As suspected, another Warrior went scurrying for cover, thanks to Mindtaker’s helpful ‘suggestion’. Which was good, because that meant there were only eight Warriors looking to get into a melee, as they dropped their rifles on slings, and pulled out their big, two-handed blades. Unfortunately, the physics meant there just wasn’t room for them to all come at me, as I’d hoped. Instead, four turned to the other melee combatant past the shield, Bloodmoon. Thankfully, I’d trained her well, so she knew better than to just take the punishment, putting everything into dodging the incoming blades.

As for my four? Well, one was quick enough to catch me across my chest. However, thanks to the Frost Armor and my costume, I wasn’t even getting a bruise out of that. The dismayed look on the warrior’s face was priceless.