02/07/2022

It is a sunny day in Thisab, Resaba’s capital city, as the parade winds through the crowded streets. Queen Hadad sits in the back of a convertible car, smiling and waving to the crowds. She is dressed in a beautiful red silk gown that her mother wore when she was introduced as Queen to the people of Resaba.

As the car turns down one of the narrow streets of Tishab, a group of armed men emerge from an alley and move into the middle of the street in front of the parade. The cars come to an immediate stop as the soldiers that were walking around the car point their guns at the armed men. Queen Hadad stands in the back of the car and yells out “Hold your fire!” She exits the car and walks defiantly towards the armed men, her gown flowing in the wind behind her. One of the men, appearing to be in his late fifties, steps from the group and approaches the Queen, meeting her halfway.

• We will stat Major Awad as a soldier and give him 50 followers that are militants so we will use Green Troops.
• We will use the Mass Combat rules for the fight so the group will be treated as a Platoon (Force Rank 5).
• All are minions.

“Major Awad, what is the meaning of this interruption?” Queen Hadad‘s voice was firm as she demanded an answer from the armed man in front of her. The man looked directly at her as he spoke. “I faithfully followed your father but I do not agree with his decision to make you the ruler of Resaba. It should fall back to King Amenenheb, the Serpent Pharoah. He is a strong ruler that will bring back the glory of Resaba.” Major Awad aimed his pistol right at Queen Hadad.

• Initiative: Major Awad 8, ‘Queen Hadad’ 22.

• Queen Hada will go Full Defense this round.
• Major Awad will fire his pistol at the Queen. Attack: 11, Defense: 25. A miss for the Major.

“LONG LIVE KING AMENENHEB, THE SERPENT PHAROAH!” Major Awad fires his pistol at the Queen. She stands there unflinching at the action of the Major. He seems surprised by the lack of reaction from the Queen. She holds out a hand and drops the bullet onto the ground. “My turn.” The face of the Queen quickly morphs into Era, the Goddess of Past Time.

• Era attacks the Major. Attack: 26, Defense: 15. That is a hit that wins by 11 so that’s 3 ranks of success for a +5 to the Damage DC for a total of DC 25. The Major rolls well for a 21, but he is still knocked out of the fight.
• She uses Move-By and Takedown 2 to move on to attacking the group of militants in the street. Attack: 30, Defense: 9. That gives her another +5 to damage. Toughness DC is 25, Toughness check is 14, that is 3 levels of failure so that is a Disrupted, Demoralized, and Staggered. They are out of the fight before they get a chance to act.
• Era will allow them to flee instead of engaging with them.

Era moves in a red blur to the Major. She slams her fist into his elbow, breaking his arm in several places. She grabs his face and drives his head back into the street, knocking him unconscious. Without hesitation, She then moves into the group of men in a streak of colors. In a series of punches, kicks, and elbows, Era has decimated the militants in the street. Many of the men pull themselves up and rush out of the street as the screams of Era’s victims fill their ears. As she returns to her initial spot in the middle of the street, Era’s face is once again that of Queen Hadad. She walks slowly back to the car and into her seat as her soldiers remove the form of the Major and the men from the path of the parade. “Take them to the jail and await further orders.” She turns to the driver of the car and nods with a smile.“Let’s continue to the temple. I shall not be late to the ceremony at the Palace.” There is silence among the crowd as the parade continues.

Scene End: Era is brutal against minions. She can change her appearance, including clothing and voice, to match any woman to ever live. She also can speak any language that has ever been muttered. That was really handy here to get the Queen’s assassins to let down their guard. The heroes still need to locate the Serpent Pharoah and stop him. I will start using the Covetous Poet’s Oracle for Mid-scene interrupts and the direction of the adventure. This scene didn’t last long enough for an interrupt.

Open Threads: Locate and Stop Serpent Pharoah, Protect the Queen

NPCs: Queen Hadad, Serpent Pharoah, Major Awad

PC Status:
Doc Battle: 2HP
Corporal Canada: 2HP
Era: 2HP
Freezerburn: 2HP