Read the previous chapter here
[Begin a Session: External factors create new danger, urgency, or importance for a quest]
Thread: Alien Tech Aftermath
Oracle: Find Target
Everything fell apart for Ryker Vane the day the Space Agents filled the sky above his home world, Essifum. Vane’s tribe consisted of pacifist farmers. It was the Space Agents’ war against Bale and his Deathvoid Inquisitors that ended this idyll. Crops were burnt and houses razed as both cosmic forces battled, taking little heed of the innocents caught in the middle. Ryker would learn that to many, the Space Agents were considered heroes. He found the truth to be far different.
When he had the chance, Ryker went off-world and sought help from those who could fulfill his only wish: the destruction of Earth and its heroes, particularly their precious Space Agent, Jack Briscoe. Ryker found what he needed, the laboratories of Oguds, a warrior race that used genetic engineering to improve their chances on the battlefield. Ryker was infused with a cocktail of chemicals that turned his insides into fire. His physical form was augmented with implants, and he was a whole new being when he emerged from the gestation chamber.
When the Naxramman Alliance announced their plans to invade Earth, Ryker joined unofficially. He didn’t want to serve under the command of anyone. Instead, he put himself in cryofreeze and had his ship’s autopilot take him into a hidden orbit of Earth’s moon. He paid a desperate soldier to place his beacon on one of the troop ships. It would activate once the ship landed and awaken Ryker from his slumber, letting the invasion act as his advance men, softening up the target before his glorious revenge was taken. But something clearly went wrong.
Now, he stands overlooking Forge City, home to so many of Earth’s heroes. The invasion clearly failed; only minor damage was visible. He will burn this precious jewel to the ground. Ryker Vane will make sure the inhabitants of this planet never forget his name or the fate of his people. It is time to begin killing.
Main Story Thread: The Machine Collective
Oracle: Persevere Safety
Kismet stumbles through the corridors of sub-basement level 3 beneath the Victory Academy. His side bleeds from the razor tendril that just slashed across it. Cortex, one of the deadliest villains ever known, had been secretly imprisoned in a strange cube hidden in Aiden Bell’s secret laboratory. The Academy’s headmaster has been plotting to force its graduates into serving the Forge City PD against their wills, too. More and more, the school leader was looking like a worse and worse choice.
Oracle question: Can Kismet find his way back to the surface? Odds: Likely. Answer: [Ask the Oracle: No]
Kismet realizes he’s disoriented. Cortex must excrete some sort of neurotoxin from her mechanical tentacles. It’s in his bloodstream and making him lose track of what’s up and down. He has to focus and see through the haze to get out of here and get help.
Face Danger w/Iron – [Weak Hit: 5 + 2 + 0 = 7 vs 7 | 4] – Take -1 Spirit
Kismet has to concentrate and push himself to stand up, step forward, and actively look for signage pointing toward the elevators. He gets there and slams the button to call one down. It arrives, and there is no sign of Cortex stalking after him, so he jumps onboard. He’s profoundly worried about Nano and Grail, whom he was forced to leave behind. Not as much for Silver Sentry, but he doesn’t want the hero dead.
Kismet bumps into Panthra, whom he initially thinks is Panthra. He starts spilling, explaining how Grail showed up with Sentry and that Bell has plans to forcibly enlist the students. Then Panthra’s form ripples and reveals herself as Incognito. “Sorry, Jude. I was just practicing,” she apologizes. Jude’s mind swirls like a carousel, and he collapses onto the floor, blacking out.
Interlude – Thread: Alien Tech Aftermath
Oracle: Command Barrier
Ryker Kane strides through the streets of Forge City’s Central Island. He emerges from the water near the southern docks. He punches some tankers in the harbor, triggering devastating explosions that simply slide off Ryker’s impervious form. Within moments, soldiers still stationed in Forge City, due to the alien invasion, try to keep the attacker cornered against the water. Ryker lifts an armored jeep from the ground and chucks it at a group of soldiers taking cover behind a warehouse. Another explosion rocks the docks.
“Is this the best you can do?” Ryker shouts. “Where are your precious heroes? Are they too scared to face me? Do they know I bring their destruction?”
Back to the Main Thread: The Machine Collective
Oracle: Debate Life
Kismet dreams as he floats through his unconscious. He remembers the summer in New Mexico with his aunt, uncle, and their kids last year. He was riding dirt bikes with his cousin Luis. Luis warned him about the government facility and told him not to go down the path that followed the river. Jude didn’t listen. There was a flash of light. Everything looked like a photo negative for a second. When he woke up, Jude was in the hospital under observation. It all seemed fine until he returned home to Forge City. But…there was someone else there in the desert. Jude remembers now he was drifting in and out of consciousness, and someone drug him back to the path his cousin was on, ensuring that Jude would be found.
“Are you in there, Jude?” Incognito asks. Kismet’s eyes flutter, and he sees Incognito standing over him. “Sorry I spooked you. I was just tryin’ to see how closely I could mimic the headmaster.”
Kismet tries to speak, but his voice is a little rough. He clears it and rasps out: “Cortex. In the basement. Bell. Had her. Locked up.”
Minutes later, Panthra, Amaya, and other staff members gather in the command room and have Kismet explain what happened. Panthra says they must go down there to rescue Grail, Nano, and Silver Sentry. A debate erupts. Some of these heroes were around to see Cortex in action. They suggest activating the sub-basement lockdown protocols. Yes, they love Nano and Grail. There’s less for Sentry based on his recent behavior. The consensus among this group is that some must be sacrificed to protect Earth from Cortex’s return.
The command room alert lights flash. The monitors bring up images of a red-skinned behemoth wreaking havoc on the Central Island. Some staff and students start heading for the hangar bay. Kismet knows it’s going to take the effort of as many people as they can get to stop Cortex. And just where is Headmaster Bell, anyway?
Kismet explains what he learned about Bell and the EOD to keep people listening to him.
Secure an Advantage w/Heart – [Weak Hit: 4 + 3 + 0 = 7 vs 10 | 1] – Take +1 on the next roll
They are listening, especially now that they know Bell is selling them out, and he didn’t even plan on informing them of what would happen. Kismet believes this will convince them to enter the sub-basement and flush out Cortex.
Compel w/Heart – [Strong Hit w/a Match: 2 + 3 + 1 = 6 vs 3 | 3]
Kismet’s words had an effect. Both the veteran instructors and students are all in. Bell brought Cortex into their school, and now they will drive him, this villain, and anyone else trying to take over.
Develop Your Relationship w/Panthra – [Miss: 2 + 2 + 0 = 4 vs 5 | 4]
Kismet thinks his mentor Panthra will be proud of him and tries to speak with her to the side. She seems distracted. Maybe it’s the alert about another menace attacking Forge City or Cortex in the sub-basement. He also remembers her wife, who is Silver Sentry’s adopted daughter. Have Sentry and his daughter been reunited since his return?
Swear an Iron Vow: Battle with Cortex – [Strong Hit: 6 + 3 + 2 = 10 vs 4 | 4]
Kismet focuses momentarily and asks the instructors about triggering security systems in a domino effect-like way, pushing Cortex towards a choke point where they can destroy her current form. They recognize that Cortex is taking over the systems as they speak, so much of this work must be done manually.
Enter the Fray w/Wits – [Strong Hit: 5 + 2 + 0 = 7 vs 3 | 1] – +2 Momentum and has Control
Kismet suggests sending an overload of sensor feedback so that Cortex won’t know which bodies are real and which are being spoofed. Kismet finds Paragon and Mothgirl and tells them to follow him while the others split up and head to various control hubs to activate lockdown protocols. Kismet wants to see the state of his friends who were left behind. Cortex has cleared out of Bell’s hidden workshop. Sentry, Grail, and Nano are unconscious but appear unharmed.
Oracle Question: Is Cortex still within the Academy. Odds: 50/50. Answer: [Ask the Oracle: Yes]
Sentry is the first to wake up, and his systems are coming back online. He lets Kismet know that before he went offline, he saw Cortex merging with the Academy’s computer systems through a hub Bell kept in the workshop. She’s probably listening in on them right now or something worse. Sentry mentions in passing that he’s surprised Kismet came back for him. It means a lot.
Make a Connection w/Silver Sentry – [Weak Hit: 6 + 3 + 0 = 9 vs 10 | 4] – Role: Sage Advice from a Veteran +1
It’s weird, but Kismet feels a bond with Sentry that he didn’t expect. Nano and Grail are revived, and now it’s time to hunt down and stop Cortex.
[Mark Progress: The Machine Collective :4 boxes]
Kismet explains his plan to the heroes gathered with him – Silver Sentry, Grail, Nano, Paragon, and Mothgirl. He wants to use the fact that Cortex is inside the Academy’s security system to their advantage. They can create a mock energy signature that would entice her to investigate. Sentry says, “chrono-particles,” the energy of time that destroyed her back during the incursion. He points out that Kismet is practically brimming with it. Nano helps create a fake energy signature that takes Kismet’s power and amplifies it. The system will point towards the hangar, hoping they can get Cortex out in the open and possibly recruit more help to deal with her. +1 from Sentry for his sage advice.
Compel w/Iron – [Strong Hit: 4 + 2 + 1 = 7 vs 5 | 3]
Sure enough, Cortex emerges, creating a body from the component within the Academy’s high-tech sub-basement. As soon as she’s visible, Kismet leads his group to strike.
Strike w/Iron – [Weak Hit: 6 + 2 + 0 = 8 vs 2 | 8] – In a Bad Spot
[Mark Progress: Battle with Cortex :3 boxes]
[Mark Progress: Battle with Cortex: 6 boxes]
Cortex’s left side is obliterated when Paragon tosses an entire workshop table through her. Grail’s javelin impales the villain, and Nano and Sentry overclock her sensory systems. A pile of electronics and metal lies on the ground. But within a moment, it merges into an even more horrific and twisted-looking version of Cortex.
Clash w/Iron – [Weak Hit: 4 + 2 + 0 = 6 vs 7 | 2]
[Mark Progress: Battle with Cortex :9 boxes]
[Pay the Price: An individual or community you care about is exposed to danger]
Kismet avoids another poisoned tendril, which slams through the reinforced flooring. Cortex’s distorted electronic voice spouts, “You’ll be perfect to mold and shape to my whims.” She grabs at Nano with a grotesque cyberclaw. Her fingertips sink into the plasteel skin of the young robot, beginning to assimilate and break down her structure. Kismet attempts to get Cortex’s attention off of Nano and onto him, grabbing some of the mechanic’s tools and chucking that at his foe.
React Under Fire w/Iron – [Weak Hit: 6 + 2 + 0 = 8 vs 6 | 10]
He gets Cortex’s attention, not noticing the tentacle she’s had snake around behind the hero. It plunges into his back from behind. Kismet lets out a cry of intense pain. (-2 Health, now at 0)
Endure Harm w/Iron – [Miss: 4 + 2 + 0 = 6 vs 6 | 8]
Try as he might, Kismet’s will cannot fight back as Cortex’s poison swarms through his bloodstream. The world is dimming. (Impact – Misfortune – Wounded).
Kismet can hear his allies’ voices call out but fades into the void, unsure if he’ll ever re-emerge.
PopCult Reviews 
One thought on “Solo Tabletop RPG Actual Play – Supersworn: The Victory Academy Part Five”