New Gladiators #9: Enter the Dragon's Claw

[jkcarrier]

New Gladiators
Episode 9:
"Enter the Dragon's Claw"
Played on 11/5/2022
Inspired by:
"Honor: Enter the Dragon's Claw" (V&V module by Ken Cliffe)
"Search for the Sensei" (V&V module by Joseph W. Liotta)
"Great Bridge 2" (V&V Sourcebook by John P. Adams)

Roll Call:
Claw Master
The Dude (with Donny Kerabatsos)
Hulk
Sonic Boom
Walter Sobchak
Weather Wizard


After finishing up a mission downtown, the Gladiators noticed a stretch limousine passing by, and idly wondered who was inside. Seconds later, the limo's rear tires blew out, and the vehicle skidded to a halt. On cue, a group of black-clad ninjas emerged from a manhole and began to surround the limo, lead by a woman with butterfly wings.

Kurayami the Fey Assassin
[Armor (Gear), Flight (Wings), Siphon (Power Points), Special Weapon (Whip)]
Ninjas
[Heightened Agility, Heightened Defense, Poison/Venom (Darts), Special Weapon (Katana)]
[Loot Drop: Kurayami's Wings (Armor, Flight)]

The heroes made short work of the ambushers, and checked to make sure the passengers were unhurt. Inside the limousine were Japanese businessman Yasunari Yamashito, owner and CEO of Yamashito Electronics, and his daughter, Sin-Tang Yamashito. Yasunari spoke only limited English, but Sin-Tang was fluent, and thanked the team for their help. Surreptitiously, she also requested that the heroes meet her at a nearby café the following morning, emphasizing that her father mustn't know about it. Confused but intrigued, the Gladiators agreed.

At the café the next day, Sin-Tang informed the team that her father was in town to finalize the sale of Yamashito Electronics to their biggest rival, Vanguard Corporation. She believed that the ninjas were sent by someone who wanted to stop the sale from happening. It was possible that it was another rival company, since acquiring Yamashito would make Vanguard one of the largest players in the global technology market. Reluctantly, she also admitted that her brother John was also a possible culprit. He was the head of Yamashito's U.S. branch, and had always aspired to take over the company when their father retired. But Yasunari was unhappy with the way John had been running his part of the company, and suspected him of dealing with rogue nations and terror groups.

Regardless, it was clear that Yasunari needed special protection, and she asked the Gladiators to watch over him until the deal was completed tomorrow. The catch was that Yasunari was a very proud and stubborn man, and would never accept outside help, so the heroes would have to do so clandestinely. The team agreed.

The Yamashitos were staying in the VIP suite on the top floor of the Cincinnatian hotel. The Gladiators took up positions on the roof, watching all sides for possible attacks. Just after dusk, they spotted a group of assailants zip-lining into the VIP suite from the office building across the street: a group of Samurai warriors, led by two figures in more modern-looking armor.

Entrop the Master of Gravity
[Armor (Gear), Gravity Increase, Heightened Agility (Gear), Heightened Intelligence, Low Self-Control (Reluctant to fight women)]
HaRP the only surviving prototype of the Humanoid Robot Program
[Adaptation (Asphyxiation, Poison, Venom), Force Field, Heightened Strength, Sonic Blast]
Samurai with Dual Swords of Ice and Fire
[Armor (Gear), Devitalization Ray (Shuriken), Flame Blast (Katana), Heightened Expertise, Ice Blast (Wakizashi), Physical Ability (Ambidexterity)]
[Loot Drop: HaRP's Hands (Heightened Strength)]
These assailants were hardier than the previous ones, but the Gladiators were able to successfully subdue them. But now Yasunari was well aware of their presence, and proceeded to get into a heated argument with his daughter. After several minutes, she was able to calm him down, and he turned to the heroes with a bow. "I am...an old fool," he said in halting English. "You saved my life. Thank you." He arranged for the team to stay in the suite next door, and the rest of the night passed without incident.

The next day, the Gladiators rode with the Yamashitos to the Vanguard Corporation office in Fairfield. They were lead to the boardroom, where various executives and lawyers began the complicated process of merging the two companies.

Outside, there was a sudden commotion, as costumed attackers began trashing vehicles in the parking lot:
Komodo the Dragon-Man:
[Animal/Plant Powers (Armor, Natural Weaponry, Paralysis Poison, Imperceptive, Slow), Heightened Strength, Heightened Endurance, Invisibility (Chameleon)]
Raiden the Lord of Lightning
[Durability, Electrical Blast (with Sonic Blast Contact Attack), Flight]
Shogun the Master Swordsman
[Heightened Agility, Heightened Defense, Heightened Endurance, Heightened Strength, Special Weapon (Katana)]
Tsunami the Living Wave
[Adaptation (Drowning), Heightened Endurance, Shaping (Water), Stretching Abilities, Teleportation, Vulnerability (Heat, Light)]
[Loot Drop: Komodo's Hide (Invisibility), Raiden's Lightning Rod (Electrical Bolt with Sonic Blast Contact Attack)]
The invaders fought ferociously, but the Gladiators were able to put them down. Unfortunately, upon re-entering the Vanguard building, they realized that the whole thing had been a diversion: Another ninja squad had snuck into the offices, used knockout gas to take everyone out, and had slipped away with Yasunari as their prisoner. Sin-Tang had managed to grab the sleeve of one of the ninjas before she collapsed, tearing off a scrap of black cloth and a tiny microchip that had been snagged on the invader's clothing. At a glance, Sin-Tang recognized the chip as being one of Yamashito's products, and she reluctantly came to the conclusion that it was indeed John Yamashito behind the attacks.

The heroes made haste to the Yamashito Electronics office in Blue Ash. Waiting for them there was John Yamashito's last line of defense, the Masters of the Dragon's Claw Yakuza family that he had allied with to capture his father.

Dowager the Self-Replicating Warrior
[Duplication, Heightened Defense, Special Weapon (Staff, with Disintegration Ray Carrier Attack), Special Weapon (Sword, used by her duplicate), Special Requirement (Needs regular insulin shots)]
Ghenghis Chi the Brute with the Deadly Wardrobe
[Heightened Strength, Heightened Expertise, Paralysis Ray (Gas-spraying cufflinks), Size Change (Massive), Special Weapon (Razor-sharp Boomerang Hat)]
Maiden Japan the Mistress of Mental Forces
[Companion (Tiger), Force Field, Heightened Agility, Lightning Control (Staff), Telekinesis]
Rising Sun the Master Blaster
[Flight, Invulnerability, Power Blast, Absorption (Energy, linked to Invulnerability, adds to Power Blast)]
Shujin the Walking Tank
[Armor, Heightened Strength (Gear), Speed (Gear), Willpower, Special Weapon (Sword, with Chemical Blast Carrier Attack), Physical Disability (Cannot walk without his suit)]
Solaris the Living Sun
[Flame Aura, Flight, Gear Control, Gravity Well, Laser]
[Loot Drop: Maiden Japan's Tiger (Companion), Rising Sun's Glove (Power Blast), Shujin's Helmet (Willpower - Fortitude)]
The Gladiators were hard-pressed by this large and powerful assemblage, but in the end they were able to triumph.

In the aftermath, John Yamashito was taken off to jail and relieved of his duties as President of the U.S. branch of Yamashito Electronics. Vanguard cancelled the merger deal, and Yasunari decided to keep his company going, now with Sin-Tang as the new CEO.

[The characters received 3 Character Points, giving them each a total of 133]