Steele_Magnolia

(OOC: Hooray for the Tastee Diner! Dani lives. Your drinks will be frosty and the burgers the best in town, Ike is still working the grill.)

Alfred had been receptive to her idea of a unit medical clinic, a place for their wounded to recover under her care. While she was no doctor (her plans in that direction had been rudely interrupted by the events of the Atlantis expedition), Myriam was a registered nurse with paramedic training.

She'd given him a list, he was checking it twice. Some western thing....

And the kitchen was now hers.

Myriam smiled grimly as she attacked the dilapidated, dingy, and decrepit cooking and dining facility with elbow grease, bleachwater, and zeal. Only men would live like this.

Eerily, the smile she wore as she went to war with the tiled flooring armed only with a scrubbrush and armored only by rubber gloves was just short of fanatic.

Thanks for the endurance cost reduction. I was going to flush Stamina anyway due to "Enhancement Diversification". Not much point in blowing 3 powers to get the limited ability it now represents. (Much like I already flushed the jumping pool after the defense nerfs. Not much point blowing 3 powers on that anymore, either.)

City of Heroes? Try City of Defenders. They're the only ones whose primary ability isn't gutted by this.

- Tankers - the ability to use defense/damage resists to TANK. Also I5 and I4 nerfs. Ring any bells?

- Scrappers - the ability to use damage to SCRAP

- Blasters - the ability to use damage to BLAST

- And Controllers... I5 Again. 'Nuff said.

Then we have defenders, who are still viable, who actually got some special ability love (even if it is only useful in teams), and who seem to be the middle of the road class. And isn't that what we're now shooting for in PvP? Everyone to be middle of the road.

Ironically, A couple weeks ago I played in an all defender 5-member team. It was... eye opening how well that worked. Buffs, debuffs, blasts, heals, enough durability to actually actually melee.

City of Defenders. Where all things are equal.

Again, read my sig. And just give us the lists already. Your goals are laudable, the execution is wanting.

How many times do we start over? How much relearning our characters? How much freaking homework to just play the game?

My post count comes from RP writing. I rarely post on things like this. I don't think number haxxoring is fun at all. Doing research to play is no fun either, it's why I quit EQ.

Stop fretting so much about the PLers and 1337-gamers, there aren't as many of them as you think, they'll always outmaneuver you, and when they get bored they'll move on anyway.

We, the players, the RPers, the casual people with lives and jobs and such, the comic book fans, WE are your bread and butter. We're the ones who could still be here a year from now. If only you will stop punishing us to get them.

[ QUOTE ]
Mystic watched as everyone was seen to, and Sting was taken away. He settled next to Exodus, "we should get you squared away, dear. And before you ask, yes, it's always like this here. We're in a bit of a war zone, I'm afraid."

[/ QUOTE ]

That inspired a raised eyebrow and a flutter in her chest!

"Then it seems I have come to the right place." Myriam's voice was mild, though she was rather nervous. "I volunteered to come to Paragon City and asked only two things: That I work with you, and that I be put where there was true need."

She continued confiding in soft tones, "In Israel, the roster for the Star of David was full, all six slots were filled, with a reserve of several heroes all far more experienced and deserving than I. The government was more than willing to continue to train and accommodate Exodus," she took a breath, "But to what purpose when there is such need here?" Actually, once she'd regained enough sense of herself to again BE herself, at least not when Exodus, she'd felt like a freeloading leech.

Myriam's work ethic was ferocious.

After Alfred issued her the necessary equipment and codes for entrance to the Two-Six, as she was coming to know the rather forbidding building to be called, she accepted the quarters he offered with alacrity. He didn't even need to try to convince her, as a grad student her funds were... very limited... just as limited as they had been when she'd accepted the Atlantis voyage internship as the expedition medic. In fact, the modest payment for that was the last entry in her bank ledger, and the cost of the plane ticket (economy class) had taken a hefty chunk from what was left.

Free lodgings, even in this neighborhood, were NOT going to be turned down.

For luggage she had the large steamer trunk: clothing, personal items, a few items for comfort of travel. Much of it left over from that fateful expedition, even the trunk. Myriam was accustomed to packing for travel and expediency, subsisting on meager accomodations... and doing it without a murmur of complaint.

She was Russian, after all.

Even hardworking Russian Jewish emigres suffered from jetlag, and a few hours later found her napping on the bed and linens graciously provided.

[ QUOTE ]
“Do you believe this @#$@#$?” Newton demanded of Mystic as he stormed into the boss’s office. “We end up looking like horse’s patooties again, and Crey smells like roses. I mean, do we look that dangerous to you? Nevermind, don’t answer that. ARRG!” The green-haired man stormed back out of the office, not even giving Mystic Inferno a chance to say anything.

[/ QUOTE ]

Myriam looked across to Alfred over the tea with startlement, laced with bemusement and a touch of confusion.

"Oh, my!"

She was grateful for the tea and the moments of peace to collect her thoughts. Exodus always left her unsettled, Paragon City was a very strange place, and giant bug men were a shock to the system even when friendly.

"So.... what has been happening with you, Professor?"

(OOC: Tag to Averick if he wants it, Exodus is parked for a little while until my computer access is more reliable. The resort computer issues grow thornier... I can't even GET to the Whitmoore thread now, the content blocker is classifying it as "adult"... but not the rest of the COH boards. KHAN!)

(OOC: Description of Myriam Tsirlin - 29 yrs, 5'7 125 lbs, dark brown, very curly long hair worn up in combs, brown eyes, lightly tanned skin, slim build, tasetful and conservative European styled clothing more suited to a woman a little older, somewhat reserved with a delicate air about her.)

[ QUOTE ]
Newton looked up stricken. “He what?” He climbed unsteadily to his feet and stumbled towards the fallen insectoid. “I just saw you heal Abrahms, and I even caught a dose of it. Can’t you heal him?”

[/ QUOTE ]

Myriam stood, "If you want him to live, call an ambulance. I have no control over what Exodus chooses to do or not do, and even if I did... Exodus's strength is not healing. It is killing, the righteous wrath of the Lord and the Jewish People."

"We're not Christians, don't make the mistake of thinking in New Testament Ways. We are the Old Book. The Old Ways. And we do not forgive."

(OOC: Tag. I'm on vacation, my ability to write is limited, and if you're familiar with Storm, the only heal is O2 boost. Tiny heal.)

The Lord's gift bestowed, Exodus looked to those who had received it... and found one still wanting.

With a nod of acknowledgement to the men's words, solid black luminescent eyes flared and subdued to brown, normally pupiled eyes.

Exodus had left the building.

Myriam Tsirlin took inthe scene, eyes falling to the fallen man. He wasn't the normal run-of-mill patient, but....

"I'm a paramedic." Her voice, very different from Exodus's, was confident of this medical crisis as she knelt and began checking his vital signs and injuries. Serious indeed, unknowable what lay below the surface and what idiosyncracies of treatment and response he would have.

"This... man needs a hospital. Summon an ambulance."

Virtue has the most RP, but most servers have *some*, it's a question of how frequent.

For your best odds, get on Virtue.

[ QUOTE ]
The scene on the street was one of total destruction. Rubble was strewn everywhere through across the charred, yet ice-covered area. Bodies of Skulls and Crey were scattered throughout the debris. And in the middle were the Hive Queen and Sting, both broken, bleeding, and still.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exodus nodded in approval, then stepped forward. The battle was over, now it was time to tend the wounded. Extending her arms, she brought a cool rush of air to the two men, eveloping and renewing them with the Breath of Life.

"Be healed.

[ QUOTE ]
he turns to Exodus. "Freeze her best you can."

[/ QUOTE ]

Exodus nodded, and cast her arms to the sky for hail.... great, pounding waves of it.

Ice and Pain.

I third the Professor's comments, and add that with writing you have a lot more control. With in-game RP, you have no control over the other players... and who knows what kind of liberties, strange bents, or weird notions they'll inject into your SL.

Hence... For writing I keep it PG-13. For RP, I set the bar even lower.

[ QUOTE ]
“Might want to send that one directly to the hospital.” He coughed a little more – that effort had cost him. “We likely have incoming – some nasty bug lady that wants me dead now. Tough as nails so we might want to clean up this mess and get ready!” He added a quick swipe at a Crisis unit that was turning to run but it had little effect. Sting was clearly in bad shape, but not willing to give up the fight yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exodus's smile was vorpal in contrast with her conservative makeup. She had but one word, spoken in a deep-throated bemused tone while reaching out with another reviving updraft of bubbling moist air towards Sting.

"Locust....?

With a slow nod, she looked to the sky for the war and called upon the black flames of Death.

It had worked upon the Firstborne of Egypt and changed Pharoah's mind; surely it would be enough for a Queen.

[ QUOTE ]
"Myriam, my dear, what an absolute pleasure to hear your voice-"

[/ QUOTE ]

The threat over, the prone and bruised bodies of the thugs squirming and moaning helplessly at its feat, Exodus subsided and gave way to its host.

Myriam Tsirlin, still clutching the pull handle of the old trunk in one hand, now clutched the other to the wool lapel of her coat, and trembled. "Is that you, Alfred?" Her Russian accented voice only slightly trembled. A distinct improvement since the fateful day she'd become Exodus... and ceased to be Myriam until only recently. It was only with assistance and time that she'd remembered who she was.

And then Mystic was gone, in a flash of blue cape and red symbols, in pursuit of the cracking sound of a gunshot.

[ QUOTE ]
Five charred bodies hit the street, and five Crey rifles clattered to the asphalt. The Crisis units were on fire and heavily damaged. The tanks faired better, but had still taken over half of what they’re capable of standing up to in a single strike. Mystic was, unfortunately, entirely drained. He used his amulet to regain enough strength to activate another spell, burning the tank and the crisis units even more to draw strength for the next onslaught. Needless to say he was now a huge target, and the clock was counting down on the eye of the magus. Soon he’d be vulnerable.

[/ QUOTE ]

Myriam had pursued him on foot, arriving at the tail end of the blast. The wave of heated air and sparks blew her snarled curls from her face, giving a very clear view of the black light that returned to her eyes. The trunk this time fell with a solid thunking noise to the ground, and Exodus joined Mystic in the circle of char and flame to stand beside him and lend its own particular brand of strength, with a rush of damp air like an urgent whisper.

Exodus's hands sprung forth black wreaths of vapour, a touch of death, ready for any that moved against the mage.

[ QUOTE ]
“You gonna break up our party, cape?” One of the skulls stepped forward with a .357 magnum.
.
“Oh, my goodness no. I really just came to watch.” Mystic allowed the power that he’d delved so deeply into to, to extend to the woman, who was capable of using it to be nearly as powerful as Mystic himself. It was this kind of bond that the tome’s magic imbued one with. He’d tried it with other heroes, but none took such full advantage as those who derived their powers from the same source. Mystic pointed to the woman, “good luck, lad.”

[/ QUOTE ]

Six thousand years of righteous vengeance, of pent up oppression, of wandering aimless in the desert, of enslavement in the land of Egypt, of Holocaust opened its eyes, and through its vessel, flung its hands to the sky to call down....

The Seventh Plague of Egypt.

A hailstorm that battered them to the ground, slicking the cracked concrete and asphalt, and punishing them.

Brown eyes and pupils flared to black luminescence and power. Myriam Tsirlin was no longer at home. In her stead and bearing her body was Exodus Reborn, the embodied history and will of the Jewish People. And it was not pleased.

"Whatcha got in the trunk, Lady?"

"Hey, a tourist!"

"Wanna party?"

"Like she gets a choice!"

For the moment, the four gangmembers saw only a helpess mark that had wandered into their territory due to who knew what suicidal lemming-like urging. The reason didn't matter nearly as much as the potentially fencable loot in the trunk, the money in her purse, and the body in the off-season Oscar De La Renta dress and Fergamo pumps.

"Take your hands from me!" The woman's voice rose in panic as she tried to evade grasping hands and ill intentions.

"Ooh, lookeee that!" The hat with its silk band hit the debris strewn street, spilling a riot of dark, chocolate-hued curly hair as sounds of conflict echoed from nearby. Three of the thugs looked to the distance and the 'party' they were missing, then back to the one they had lucked on instead. The fourth never took his eyes or hands from her.

"Let... her... go."The stumbling voice issued with powerful resonance from the woman's body, but was far from female or human in nature. Her struggles subsided and she stilled in the fourth thug's grip. It should have been ominous to the quartet, if only they hadn't squandered far too many brain cells on recreational pharmaceuticals to recognize their own doom in the making.

(OOC: Edited for more clarity)

"Lady, you are outta you'ze mind to wanna ride to that address! No way!" The cabbie shook his head emphatically, "I can get you near there, but I ain't going there. You gonnna have ta walk the rest!"

Money wouldn't change his mind, nor did she have other options. This was the address she had been given. She had no other method of transport or destination. She knew no other in town.

And she refused to return a failure already.

That was how she ended up walking the last eight city blocks, slender and demure in ankle-length dove grey cashmere dress, white woolen overcoat , silk-banded box hat, and heels while pulling an antique steamer trunk.

The only thing missing were the local charitable society.

Oh wait, there they were.....

Apartment: None, currently residing in the sewers of Paragon City
Current Location: The aforementioned sewers
Storyteller: Steele Magnolia
Description: 5'0" 95 lbs red hair, green eyes, 14 years old, cybernetic eye (if you look closely enough).

Background: Maggie Riley AKA Artemis 2020 (Archery/Devices Blaster) is named for the year she comes from, born in 2006 to MSSgt Gevin Riley and Helen Markov following devastation wrought by a Council supervirus, and raised in a world rocked by war and anarchy.

In a world of every man, woman, and child for him or herself, she had her Dad. Now she doesn't.

And the Circle is going to pay for that, if it takes the rest of her life to kill them all.

But...but... The End? *whimpers*

Seriously, cheers to you Wolffe, and I can't wait until your next project. I'll write with you anytime!

My little Michael grew up.

New character:

Artemis 2020: Revenge is not enough!

((But she's still trying))

A few newer ones:

Simon-Says: "I'm Snow White! Tee hee!"
(Doesn't everyone live the poweful young mind controller who loves Disney movies and dressing as the ultimate Disney Princess?)

Sgt Pandora: "I'm just drawn that way!"

Artemis 2020: "Revenge is never enough."

*cheers*

I love the use of superspeeders to plant traps and bombs - nice tactics!

And boo Helsinger! Smash! Crash! Not this time! Tick showed you!

/emote scampers away again, to lurk in the shadows until the next chapter

I'm on Liberty (with that funny guy American Valor), Virtue (with oodles of RPers), and Pinnacle (with my Whitmoore RP friends).

RP seems to be hit and miss, but I guarantee... those three servers have it if you're looking for it.

Hugs!

/emote cheers!

Hey, I quit smoking. Day 18, no cigarettes! Gimme a New Empire fix! Fast!!!!

**cheers**

YAY! Tech gets some face time and glory! Way to go, oh white-haired one!

When I ordered, all I knew was "exclusive item", didn't know there were four separate ones!

/emote wails and bashes head against a wall.

Will there be a way to get all four helmets as options at some date?