Push-Ups for Power-Ups

## Premise

Since getting their powers, the Wellspring City gang have encountered a couple of pretty powerful and dangerous enemies. So they’ve decided to do some training and get stronger to better face those enemies in the future!

## Cast

* Zen (DM)
* Nikola N. Change (Authorticity)
* Brittney Megan Bronson (Tala)
* Kat Afka (Lordlyhour)
* Tailwind (Tallest)
* Shaun (Verl)
* Training Dummy (Magic)

## Plot Summary

Tailwind has set up a makeshift training grounds at the junkyard and invited the others to come and train their powers and try to get stronger. As Kat jokes about them just wanting an excuse for a training montage, Tailwind activates a mechanical pitching machine, which launches a ball at Kat. Kat easily dodges the ball, though he falls over trying to do a cool pose after. The machine then pitches a ball at Nikola, who transforms to their mutant form and dodges the ball. As they dodge, Nikola realizes the ball is harmless, but decides not to tell the others. The machine then pitches a ball at Tailwind, who also dodges. Shaun gets hit by a ball through the pitching machine, and then Brittney gets hit in the face and destroys the machine with Maximilian's Earthen Grasp.

Tailwind then directs the group to a Wipeout-style obstacle course they built over the river with Kat's help. No one wants to risk falling off the course over the large river, so Tailwind gets onto the course first to demonstrate its safety and gets knocked into the river. Brittney takes pictures of Tailwind in the river to laugh at later, and Kat attempts the course, also failing and falling into the water. Nikola attempts the course, actually succeeding and crossing the whole course before willingly jumping into the river to join their friends. Kat taunts Brittney to attempt the course or swim into the river after him, and Nikola tries to convince Brittney to attempt the course for bragging rights. Brittney agrees to try the course if Nikola casts a spell on Kat, so Nikola casts Tasha's Hideous Laughter on him. Brittney uses Silvery Barbs to force disadvantage on Kat's Wis save, though he makes it anyway, and get advantage for her attempt on the obstacle course. Tailwind takes out their phone to record Brittney's attempt at the obstacle course, and she threatens to destroy their phone. Brittney makes it across most of the course before falling, and Tailwind runs off with their phone to save their recording. Brittney tries the course again and makes it across the whole thing. Kat climbs out of the water to try the course again and also succeeds this time. Tailwind reattempts the course and falls off again.

After Tailwind suggests they try to dry off using an old jet engine, Brittney starts teaching them about proper hair/fur care and using her hairdryer to help dry them off. This goes on for a while before everyone is dried off and Tailwind leads everyone to the next activity, a training dummy. Nikola recognizes the hat the dummy is wearing as belonging to their Gran-Gran, and says it's cursed. Tailwind insists Shaun attack the dummy first, since he didn't do the obstacle course. Shaun's punch misses badly and he scrapes his hand on the dummy's branch arm instead of hitting it properly, and he knocks the hat to the ground. The dummy trembles and starts yelling, insulting Shaun for his weak punch. Brittney asks Tailwind why the dummy has started talking, but they aren't sure either.

The training dummy demands the rest of the group attack them, but everyone is pretty hesitant about hitting it now that it talks. Brittney uses Maximilian's Earthen Grasp to try to restrain the dummy, but the dummy makes the save. Nikola casts Mind Spike on the dummy, dealing 4 points of psychic damage, and the dummy insults the small amount of damage. Kat hits the dummy with a flaming arrow, and the dummy insults him for hitting them with only one arrow. Tailwind puts on a pair of robotic gauntlets, preparing for their next turn, and the dummy calls Tailwind weak. The dummy insults Kat's aim with his bow and arrow, dealing thunder damage, and Kat uses Absorb Elements to reduce the damage he takes. Shaun tries and fails to punch the dummy again.

Brittney targets the dummy with Maximilian's Earthen Grasp again, restraining the dummy as well as dealing bludgeoning damage. Nikola tries another magic attack on the dummy, and Brittney imposes disadvantage on the dummy with Silvery Barbs, but the dummy makes the save and the attack fails. Nikola wonders if the training dummy is possessed by the spirit of their grandpa Mabel, but the dummy does not seem to recognize that name. Kat approaches the dummy to attack with his katana and hits, returning some of the thunder damage that he captured with Absorb Elements, and the dummy begrudgingly acknowledges it as a good hit. Tailwind punches the dummy with their gauntlets, dealing additional thunder damage, but the dummy still insults them. Tailwind threatens to take the dummy apart, but the dummy isn't impressed. The dummy insults Kat again, saying he should spend more time fighting and less making his mask, but Kat saves, then uses Absorb Elements again, taking only a quarter of the damage. Kat insults the dummy's low damage output, which the dummy blames on being made of straw, and Nikola says it's making a strawman argument, earning Inspiration. Shaun successfully hits the dummy with a handaxe, and the dummy sarcastically congratulates him. Shaun goes into a rage.

Brittney tightens the tentacle's hold on the dummy. Nikola approaches the dummy, getting in range to cast Color Spray, but the dummy has too many hit points to be affected, though it is covered in green ink. Kat hits the dummy with his katana again, dealing a good chunk of damage. Tailwind casts Shocking Grasp on the dummy with their gauntlets. The dummy insults Tailwind's intelligence, dealing the minimum possible Thunder damage. Shaun tries to punch the dummy, but misses again. The dummy seems tired of Shaun continually punching and missing, and insults the lack of variety in his attacks.

The dummy fails another strength save, and Brittney's tentacle tightens around it, dealing a mere 2 points of damage. Nikola asks the dummy if it has self-esteem issues, then casts Toll the Dead, drowning out the dummy's response. Kat hits the dummy with his swords again, and the dummy starts looking pretty beat-up. Tailwind casts Grease on the dummy, intending to spread the effects of the flaming arrow and causing everyone in melee range of the dummy to roll a Dex save. Tailwind, Shaun, and the dummy all slip and fall on the grease. The dummy insults Nikola's damage output, but Nikola makes the save and isn't too hurt by it. Shaun stands up and swipes at the dummy, dealing max damage. The dummy's head spins, and no longer has the angry eyebrows. In a much calmer voice, the dummy praises Shaun's attack.

Everyone is a little unnerved by the newly calm dummy. Nikola asks if the dummy came from a convenience store (the 8-12), but the dummy doesn't understand what a convenience store is. Tailwind tries to find the angry eyebrows, which aren't on the ground, and Kat tries to draw on new eyebrows with the remnants of the grease and green ink, but the dummy remains in their calm persona. Nikola asks if the dummy has a name, and when they say no, Nikola dubs them Shit/Head. Kat, Nikola, and Brittney walk away to get some lemonade. Tailwind takes a few times to stand up out of the grease, and Shaun pushes them back into the grease when they do. Nikola protests Shaun being mean to Tailwind, and gives him some lemonade. Tailwind takes off their gauntlets and retrieves a Catalyst power cell from them, then relocates the dummy to the window by the stickbug. Nikola grabs Tailwind by the scruff and hauls them away to wash them off with the hose, which Brittney initially protests, insisting on washing Tailwind off properly inside, but concedes to Nikola hosing them off first.

## Notes

Magic and Author were in the same room while recording this game.

Tailwind does not use real baseballs for the dodging exercise, because they don't want to seriously injure anyone.

Nikola does not know what Einquell Ninja Warrior is.

Shaun refuses to try the obstacle course because he's not sure if his slime will dissolve in water.

Nikola was put into curse-breaking assemblies in school. Kat says he was also taught how to break curses growing up.

The training dummy was designed by Magic and drawn by kt.

Magic tracked damage to the dummy with colored pencils to keep track of how much damage each character did.

Lordly posits that Shaggy is the primary damage-dealer of the Scooby Doo gang and sends the gif of "Shaggy eviscerating an ape" to prove it.

## Art Gallery

The title card, drawn by ktThe training dummy, designed by Magic and drawn by ktThe dummy with angry eyebrows