Sunday 4 September 2016

Lost Patrol Report: Batman & Cyborg Verses The Weeping Angels - Part Two

“The story so far… Poison Ivy has turned Robinson Park into a lethal jungle, packed full of carnivorous killer plants. Having successfully apprehended her, Batman must now recover the eco-terrorist’s plant toxins and allow the vegetation to return to normality. However, despite the help of Cyborg and the Gotham City Police Department, the Dark Knight has failed to discover the whereabouts of Isley’s vat of contaminants and, to make matters worse, has realised that the heroes are being stalked by the deadly Weeping Angels…”


ONE OF GOTHAM CITY'S FINEST DECIDES NOT TO RISK THE EMBRACE OF IVY'S TANGEWEED
With the sound of crashing foliage fast approaching them from the West, Cyborg discovered that the pathway he was following suddenly opened up to the North and Southeast. Fearing that the northern trail might double-back towards the central clearing and thus the Weeping Angels, two of the Gotham City Police officers bravely took the lead and went with the other route, whilst Victor Stone, Batman and the third lawman followed behind. Out of sight, two scary statues passed through the clearing and constructed an infestation point.

The Southeastern pathway the heroes were following snaked South, and offered the ‘explorers’ an opportunity to branch off to the East as well. Nervously the two leading policemen split up to look down each trail. Behind them Cyborg positioned himself to try and give them both some covering fire with his augmented weaponry. Batman meanwhile, along with one of Gotham Police Department’s finest, continued to slowly protect the main group’s rear. Although his crime-fighting instincts kept telling him that the jungle around him was somehow moving of its own accord and that their route back to their starting position may not any longer exist.
THE WEEPING ANGELS CREATE AN INFESTATION POINT
Momentarily distracted the Dark Knight looked up to see two Weeping Angels reaching out to him and his companion. The startled superhero managed to throw himself back from the unforgiving stone claws. But despite the buzz of Cyborg’s covering fire (+1 to dice roll) and the very presence of Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego (+1 to dice roll), the flat-foot beside Batman found himself… in another place, and another time. The scary statues had finally drawn ‘blood’.
BATMAN AND AN OFFICER FEND OFF THE SCARY STATUES WHILST CYBORG EXPLORES FURTHER
 To make matters worse both the remaining Law Enforcement officers discovered that their own paths were now somewhat blocked by Poison Ivy’s infamous Tangleweed; a vile form of vegetation which the heroes can only move through on the roll of a 4+. Not wishing to become trapped by the plant and easy prey for the Weeping Angels, the policeman following the easternmost trail quickly double-backed upon himself and joined Batman. Whilst the cop moving South dubiously entered the prickly pathway before him…

Sensing that they had their prey on the ropes, the two pursuing Weeping Angels once again reached out for the Dark Knight. But this time the Caped Crusader was ready for them and soon reduced one of the scary statues to rubble with a flurry of bat-a-rangs.
HAVING LOST ONE COP TO THE WEEPING ANGELS, BATMAN TEAMS-UP WITH ANOTHER
 The Gotham City Policeman currently ‘leading’ the heroes South, desperately struggled to pull himself free of the Tangleweed and momentarily found himself caught on the plant’s vicious thorns. With a ripping sound though, the lawman pulled free and watched as the significantly heavier Cyborg crashed into the Briar Patch. Behind them Batman and the other lawman slowly retreated away from the Weeping Angels, all the time trying desperately not to blink. Unbeknownst to the ‘dynamic duo’ however more of the scary statues were emerging from the jungle in pursuit. Although much to the extra-terrestrials’ consternation, they themselves were falling prey to the ever-evolving wildlife around them.
WITH TANGLEWEED BEHIND THEM AND SCARY STATUES IN FRONT, BATMAN SLOWLY RETREATS
Eager to keep up with the lone Lawman moving ever further South, Cyborg desperately thrashed against the Tangleweed that surrounded his formidable form. Surprisingly however, the plant resisted Victor’s super-strength and despite his best efforts the Justice Leaguer remained trapped. Behind him Batman decided to risk a quick hurl of a bat-a-rang at a nearby Weeping Angel, and gave a satisfied nod when his weapon cleaved the stone statue’s head clean off!! Having bought some time, he grabbed the Gotham City policeman beside him and leapt into the Tangleweed holding Cyborg fast. All three heroes were now waist deep in the ever-grasping vile vines…

Terrified and tired, the party’s only free-standing member looked as the trail he was following snaked East and with a cry of delight yelled for the others to join him. He had found Poison Ivy’s missing toxin vat!! Although between him and his prize was another bush of Tangleweed. Determined to join the excited Gotham City Police officer, an impatient Cyborg finally tore himself free of his vegetable bonds, and started to follow his colleague’s footsteps. Dosing himself with anti-Tangleweed Bat-repellant, the Dark Knight also clambered free. But as he turned to lend the group’s final member a helping hand he was horrified to find himself looking at a Weeping Angel. The lawman (-1 dice roll as on his own) had been ‘consumed’.
WITH VICTORY IN SIGHT A SECOND GOTHAM CITY COP FALLS VICTIM TO THE WEEPING ANGELS
Passing through the Tangleweed without effort, the sole surviving Gotham City police officer reached his poisonous prize, and activated the remote Bat-homing device the Caped Crusader had given each team member. Within seconds a roar overhead alerted the lawman to the presence of the Batwing, and by the time both Cyborg and Bruce Wayne’s alter ego had joined him, the flying vehicle had already automatically hoisted up the chemical vat into its hold, and was awaiting further instructions…

35 comments:

  1. As John Mills would say in Ice Cold in Alex "Worth waiting for." I love how you do your story/narrative games (I wish I had that program which allows you to interject those "POW!!" "ZAP!!" and "SNAP!!" emotes. They really bring the comic book feel to life. You do it so well. I would do some of that if I had the skill.

    Love the story line, and the story telling. Very enjoyable indeed.

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    1. What a great film "Ice Cold in Alex" was too, T, or were you referring to that beverage advertisement from a few years ago? I use an old copy (it was brand new when bought though) called "Paint Shop Pro 8" for all my photos, piccies etc. Glad you enjoyed it. "Lost Patrol" will be taking a little rest now though as I look to some "Star Trek: Attack Wing" over the next few weeks...

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  2. Outstanding. Very enjoyable to read, and the photos, as she says, are incredibly cool. I read this as I sat with my mug of tea and smiled happily all the way through to the end. More please.

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    1. "I sat with my mug of tea and smiled happily all the way through to the end." - That's precisely why I post them Steve. Many thanks indeed :-)

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  3. Another thrilling instalment, I'll be sure and tune in again next week!

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Oh Please do Roger, it'll be Jean Luc Picard battling Klingons!!! Thanks :-)

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  4. Good batrep, Simon, apart from the ending. I'm sorry but I was rooting for Poison Ivy throughout, even though she wasn't present. I have grown very fond of Ivy and Harley Quinn recently. Now there's a team-up I hope you do sometime in the future.

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    1. "Rooting for Poison Ivy throughout"!?! Boo!!! Hiss!!! ;-)

      To be fair though Bryan, I don't think its too common a feature for the heroes to win through my games, and I still remember the Dark Knight leaving Daredevil to his fate during a BatRep of "ZombieTV"!! I don't currently own re-painted versions of either Harley or Ivy, but I have bought a number of "Heroclix" minis to use as Poison's henchmen and plants - that sounds like a project to me!!

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  5. did you know, the makers of the comics have only recently finally announced that Harley and Ivy have a `thing` going on with one another. Fair beans is all I can say, yeeeey!

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    1. Well it's about time they admitted what many fans (myself included) have suspected for a long time. Good for them! They make a fine couple.

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    2. "Harley & Ivy" is one of my all-time fave episodes of "Batman - The Animated Series". Great story and I was certainly sad that it didn't continue for longer.

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    3. Is that the one called "Girls day out", I have the biscuit barrel based on that, Harley and Ivy on a motorcycle. Now that would be a DC movie worth seeing! Miss Robbie as Harley but who would be Ivy???

      Cheers Roger.

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    4. Hi Roger, no the Batman animated episode is called "Harley & Ivy". "Girls Day Out" was part of the second season of "The New Batman Adventures" which followed Animated and was set a couple of years later. I've always liked Uma Thurman as Ivy, so a new version which take me some getting used to. But there agin you say Batman to me and I immediately think Adam West and then Michael Keaton.

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  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj1n1wIH0Pw

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    1. Thanks Steve. I hadn't seen that one before.

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  7. awww, how perfect is that. So cool.

    Which reminds me, the Batman animated series are going straight to the top of my DVD wish list. Its about time I owned these. Christmas hints will go out to all the lads at the club (made easy by the fact the club is held at a store which has a lot of this stuff in stock.. I`m not stupid`o hehe.

    Meanwhile, for anyone else wanting to pick off some of these, here`s a cool link. WOW the complete set looks hot, but wow look at the price, no wayyyy.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=batman+animated+series+complete

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    1. The problem is T that only Season 1 & 2 are avaliable in the UK. I've had to import the others from across the Pond, or, travelled over to the US and picked them up. Obviously though you need a multi-region DVD player to watch them too!!

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    2. oh nooo, really :(

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    3. 'Fraid so. A R2 version does come up from time to time but they're usually three digit sums as you've seen. Plus Season 3 is actually a mix of Animated Series and the New Adventures (whihc were made differently a few years later). Personally I found they jar quite badly with the original animated stories but then I'm old-fashioned.

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  8. And the heroes got away! Yay! Nice finish, Simon. And Star Trek next time? Yay! Life is good...

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    1. Only just Jez, only just. I've at least three "Star Trek: Attack Wing" BatReps coming as I explore the starter rules and perhaps throw in a potential assimulation towards the end. Resistance is futile ;-)

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  9. Nice conclusion to the report Simon, look forward to some Star Trek action next!

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    1. Cheers Andy. Hopefully I can post up a BatRep a week for the next month or so, as I've really 'fallen for' "Star Trek: Attack Wing" in a big way, and am having a lot of fun with its mechanics and pre-painted models.

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  10. Well, the heroic side might have won, but who'd be a plain, grunt Gotham City cop? They don't seem to have a high life expectancy...

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    1. Very true Hugh. Although one of the Gotham City's "red shirts" did make it out alive :-)

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  11. Some classic storytelling very much enjoyed. Poor Gotham's finest.... May they enjoy whichever time slot the angels felt was appropriate for them to live the remainder of their lives out in. :)

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    1. Thanks Dai. Glad you enjoyed it. like you my fingers are crossed for the two GCPD officers now living in the past... Sounds like an idea for a follow-up to me :-)

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