Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 11 Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 02:04:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE IV: Ups and Downs (2) On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 02:00:19 In Message # 00002538 In alt.callahans Post # 00000751 Morgan said: >On Tue, 23 Dec 1997 20:50:22 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002520 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000733 "P. Campbell" said: > >An arrow flies from the roof of a nearby building, catching Tezrantha >in the back. Those on the link can tell she's still alive, but her >control over the elemental is broken, and she's barely conscious. >Xzerrion dashes to her side, though he is able to do little more than >add his energies to hers. *Is there a healer anywhere?* he sends >desperately. > >M'Lausa flickers into invisibility and begins shifting positions, >looking for another target. Morgan looks over from where she's being an energy conduit for Roland. Before she can respond to the call, though.... >On Tue, 23 Dec 1997 21:45:01 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002521 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000734 fuzzy said: > >Fuzzy's HoverCyclone appears momentarily over Xzerrion's head, >"This is a Nano-Tech Smart First-Aid Kit, Put it next to the wound, >if she isn't dead before it gets to work, she will recover. > This time even the Hydra-Virus is covered." >He Drops a 1 Kilo package to Xzerrion. <*Thanks, Fuzzy,*> she sends, and returns to supporting her mate. Then, >On Wed, 24 Dec 1997 02:23:30 EST In Message # 00002524 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000737 Dane0R0A said: > >A beam of golden energy stabs down from the sky, bathing Tezrantha >and Xzerrion in healing energies. An instant later a giagantic figure >appears. The beam of energy emanating from one finger. Less than a >second later the wound is healed and both Tezrantha and Xzerrion feel >like they are bursting with energy (which they almost are. >explanation comming up). Morgan spares a thought to quip, <*With this crew, the more healers the better.*> Not needing the link to transmit telepathically, and used to multitasking by this point, Roland adds, *Thanks for the assist, stranger. Our condolences on the loss of your friend.* Though his mental 'voice' is even, those on the link can feel him tighten when he mentions it. >On Wed, 24 Dec 1997 18:47:40 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002534 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000747 "P. Campbell" said: > >M'Lausa is very careful not to move, staying covered beneath the >rubble. To anyone trying to use a life-sense, he appears dead. The rest of the bad guys gone, Morgan sends, <*Um, we've still got one enemy out there. The archer.*> She scans the area on all "channels" (life, magic, psi, spirit), and frowns. <*Xzerrion, I _think_ I'm picking up something over there,*> she waves in the general direction of M'Lausa's hiding place. <*All the fall-out around here makes it hard to tell.*> >On Thu, 25 Dec 97 01:29:58 -0800 In Message # 00002537 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000750 Roland X said: >Blaze adds after they leave. *Okay folx, once more into the breach. >IOW-AFTER THEM!* Morgan is, of course, instantly at his side, eyes glowing. <*Yeah, what he said.*> =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 05:18:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 03:57:17 PST In Message # 00002539 In alt.callahans Post # 00000752 Nemo said: In mail you write: > "Thank you!" One of Hydra's heads says, while six others orient on > the Jadis manifestation. Three of the heads fire beams of pure > energy at "Jadis", the other three do something which is visible > only to those that can see pure magical force. The air (since I > believe he is currently airborne or the air and the ground if he has > landed) around him (Jadis) takes on a pearly luster. Astronomers > (and anybody else who might have had close experience with the > corona of a star) would recognize it as the ionization effect of > multi-million degree temperatures (fortuneately confined to a sphere > that just contains his body) Nemo looks at the sphere for a moment. It seems to remind him of something. He turns to face Malificent. "So, you claim power over Darkness. And you think that because you can endure the light of the sun, and those other aspects of the Light that have been thrown against you, you are invincible?" "Let us see how you fare against the aspect of the Light that *creates* the very stuff Life is made of!" To those with the time and senses to notice, Nemo is creating a series of *small* gates, ones that use very little power. They are "paired" the exit of one is aimed at the entrance of the next, but there's a space between them. From the palm of Nemo's upraised hand there pours out a beam of intolerable brilliance, aimed directly at Malificent. The end point of the series of gates is a supernova. The beam makes the globe containing Jadis's manifestation look positively *cool*. (OOC: Nemo *does* have the beam aimed in a "safe" direction. That is, there's nothing important in the effect area *except* Malificent. And as you'll note, all the power *he* is using is that required to maintain the gates. You need several so as to "collimate" the beam so it won't spread much after exiting the last gate. And it's not merely *light* coming thru, it's every thing from microwaves up beyond gamma rays. And the *particle* radiation is coming thru as well. The neutrino flux along is high enough to vaporize solid matter! And the particles carry enough momentum to move a mountain. Since he's gating them, *he* doesn't have any recoil to worry about. The target isn't going to be that lucky.) Meanwhile, Nemo is trying to "hack" the Cylons. (OOC: ps. this gating trick is probably doable by lots of folks in the CAoL, if they'd only thought of it.) =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 06:48:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 08:09:35 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002540 In alt.callahans Post # 00000753 Driscoll said: > On Thu, 25 Dec 97 01:29:58 -0800 In Message # 00002537 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000750 Roland X said: > > Maleficent frowns. > The angelic form explodes. > Her raven-once again the size of a normal raven-caws, takes one > look at Isla, and darts with surprising speed to Maleficent's > shoulder. Isla's energies return to her and she formed them into a glowing force dome about her and the convusling Darath, Then kneel down and begins chanting softly in a sing-song tone of ancient Quarinian Elvish and proceeds to begin carving symbols into the pavement in front of where she knees. (OOC: If Malificent can sense it, she's performing a ritual of grounding magics. Basically it makes magic uers waste mana by having half the energy the use be stolen awaya dn dispursed into the earth, forcing them to use twice as much for their spells) > "Impressive force, children. But force is not enough to destroy > the Queen of Air and Darkness!" > Grimfire shakes her head woozily, turns, and gapes. Anyone with > magick senses can tell that Maleficent is positively _glowing_ with > immense faerie power. (OOC: The glow is, of course, figurative; she > is about as bright as the inside of a black hole.) Although she has > clearly taken a beating, she's still in the fight. Driss smiles at the black dragon and begins to skip on the air towards her. "You know if you're supposed to eb a queen you should have a proper crown and scepter!" As he reaches Malificent he proceeds to reach into his cloak and pull out a cardboard Burger King crown and plops it on her head. He then fishes around and frowns. "Hmmm no scepter but here have a Lolly." he thursts an all day sucker into her claw and backflips off through mid air. Stopping to smile broadly at her. "Oh by the way, can you say 'Distraction'? I knew you could." From off to her side Iron Man flies up and focusing his Unibeam on a full light spectrum laser with flash and addign his repulsors to the punch he fires with everything he's got hitting Malificent on the side of her head near the eye. #Uhh I think you put too much in that Justin. You made me put finite power supplies into this rememeber? and our gas tank just hit empty.# #Oh shi.... why didn't you tell me?# #I thought you were payign attention to your energy level it's right on the left side of the HUD!# #Uh oh# Iron Man's boot jets sputter then finally die and he goes crashing onto a rooftop and lies there immobile for a moment before slowly crawling towards a nearby air conditioning unit. Isla finishes her ritual and draws her force field back tight around herself. From the runes on the pavement glowign tendrils of energy snake towards Malificent and begin to wrap themselves around her. Isla looks around at what's been going on while she was busy with her ritual and sees Driss standing there in midair and gapes for a moment then changes ehr look to a glare and mutters, "When I knew Driscoll he was a grand fool. Now he appears to eb a fool with power but a fool none-the-less." Driss disappears adn reappears next to Isla, pulling her close and giving her a big kiss on the lips before she can resist. He releases her she she stumbles backwards a few steps sputtering and turning purple. "HOW DARE YOU YOU STUPID IDIOTIC....MAN!!! I SHOULD KILL YOU!!!!" =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 13:33:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 13:11:11 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002542 In alt.callahans Post # 00000755 Nemisis said: > On Thu, 25 Dec 97 01:29:58 -0800 In Message # 00002537 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000750 Roland X said: > > *Good work.* Blaze sounds impressed. *New target: TURN BALTAR > INTO A SCRAP PI-+cough+Keep him busy, would you?* \Loading Task, Bio-Technic conversion, Transform Balter/Lucifer to Computing Cyborg Balter, Required: Load The Three Laws. Secondary Task, Tracker Splits will convert Cylon Core programing to Obediance to Balter Dis-regarding The Imperious Leader. Estimated Time until Compleation: 5 Minutes.\ > Thorne, meanwhile, finally manages to turn his attention to the > reflection shield and disassemble it. "Accursed psion...Baltar. We > must fall back to the building. We can use the humans within to > force the mightier ones among them to restrain themselves." > "Agreed." > Maleficent, listening to this exchange, takes one last shot at > any who are still engaged with her, then vanishes. Only to find that there are no non-combatants left within at least a mile of here, Nemisis has been doing Damage Control, and started Transporting non-combatants when this new fight broke-out. \We really need to find a way to keep this sort of thing Out of Cities!\ =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 13:34:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 13:22:02 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002543 In alt.callahans Post # 00000756 fuzzy said: > On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 03:57:17 PST In Message # 00002539 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000752 Nemo said: > > From the palm of Nemo's upraised hand there pours out a beam of > intolerable brilliance, aimed directly at Malificent. The end point > of the series of gates is a supernova. The beam makes the globe > containing Jadis's manifestation look positively *cool*. From The Earth Elemental "Friend, That Manifestation of Fire, is more than I can safely touch. Should I wait for another opertunity, or Do you have another task for me?" From Fuzzy "If you would have a go at," Fuzzy points at Thorne " That Mage before you leave, I would be greatful." > (OOC: ps. this gating trick is probably doable by lots of folks in > the CAoL, if they'd only thought of it.) =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 19:03:41 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 20:22:31 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002544 In alt.callahans Post # 00000757 Driscoll said: > On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 13:11:11 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002542 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000755 Nemisis said: > > Only to find that there are no non-combatants left within at least a > mile of here, Nemisis has been doing Damage Control, and started > Transporting non-combatants when this new fight broke-out. > > \We really need to find a way to keep this sort of thing Out of > Cities!\ Driss looks over at Nemesis and winks. [Well why didn't you say so?] he lays his finger along side his nose and winks And everything changes... kinda. Streets are replaces with a red clay landscape overlooked by an emerald green sky. Buildings are replaced by giant cave filled buttes. Ontop of his building Iron Man looks at the air conditioning unit that just turned into a boulder and inside his helmet his jaw drops and his eyes grow wide. #Uh Oh. I can't plug myself into a _rock_! Jim! Are there any power sources I can reach to charge from?# #I don't know all the sensor systems are off-line due to lack fo power. I can create a charging system that will draw radiation out of the air around us to quick charge the suit if you want. Why you insisted on a power pack I don't know...# #No! The change to War Machine was bad enough to explain. They need to think I'm Iron Man. And that means I have to have his weaknesses with the strengths.# #I think you're going a bit overboard but o....k.... Solar collectors will keep basic life support on-line indefinitely but short of that...# #Wait! i have an idea. Produce these items in the storage compartments and let's hope someone starts pitching lightning again...# Chaos looks up at the blue sun in the sky and smiles. [How's that? It's not a city anymore! We're in the smae place but I moved us. Kind of. maybe. or all this is a trick of light. hehehehehehe] =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 22:29:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 22:26:35 In Message # 00002545 In alt.callahans Post # 00000758 Morgan said: >On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 20:22:31 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002544 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000757 Driscoll said: > >> On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 13:11:11 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002542 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000755 Nemisis said: >> >> Only to find that there are no non-combatants left within at least >> a mile of here, Nemisis has been doing Damage Control, and started >> Transporting non-combatants when this new fight broke-out. Their building is shielded from teleport (Maleficent) and temporal incursion (Thorne) to prevent being blindsided. The inhabitants of said building, however, were not in the line of fire during the firefight for the simple reason that no fighting was taking place in the building. (OOC: I meant anyone _shooting_ at her. Tormenting the innocent is a hobby of hers, but real threats take precedence.) >> \We really need to find a way to keep this sort of thing Out of >> Cities!\ *Why do you think Thorne came _here?_ He loves using innocent bystanders as a way to lure out his enemies.* Blaze glares at the building, considering plans of attack. *I doubt Jadis and Maleficent are going to- > Driss looks over at Nemesis and winks. [Well why didn't you say so?] >he lays his finger along side his nose and winks And everything >changes... kinda. > Streets are replaces with a red clay landscape overlooked by an >emerald green sky. *Bloody sprocking-DRISCOLL! What the grife are you DOING?* > Buildings are replaced by giant cave filled buttes. Ontop of his >building Iron Man looks at the air conditioning unit that just turned >into a boulder and inside his helmet his jaw drops and his eyes grow >wide. > #Wait! i have an idea. Produce these items in the storage >compartments and let's hope someone starts pitching lightning >again...# Blaze looks over at Iron Man and wearily gestures at him. Electricity arcs over to the Emerald Avenger, recharging his power cells. *Sorry. Hadn't noticed your condition.* > Chaos looks up at the blue sun in the sky and smiles. [How's that? >It's not a city anymore! We're in the smae place but I moved us. Kind >of. maybe. or all this is a trick of light. hehehehehehe] Blaze sighs. *Anyone who can't fly- _are_ there any who can't fly among us at the moment?-stay with those who can and we'll give you a lift. With luck, we can make an effective entrance by using a fourth story window.* <*Honey, I think there's more of us can't fly than can,*> Morgan sends. *Don't worry, love, I have a plan.* Blaze regards the mostly clay building. *Ever heard of the Inchon maneuver?* Blaze smiles coldly. *We're going to cut Thorne off at the knees.* Meanwhile... "We're in trouble." "Shut up, dragon! I have things under control." Thorne pushes Grimfire aside and continues carving a non-Euclidian design on the clay floor that was once an office rug. Corporate drones are huddled together in a far corner, watching the ritual in terror. "She raises a valid point, mortal," Maleficent says calmly, studying the crystal sphere in her staff. "How do you propose to 'control' the situation?" Thorne frowns. "My master did not believe that the 'Nemo' being would take such a heavy hand in events, but gave me a method to counter it should the need arise. Given his success against Count Iblis and the presence of the new arrival, it is time to take drastic measures." Maleficent nods and taps her staff on the sigil. Thorne chants, "What seest thou else in the dark backward and abysm of Time? Tempus edax rerum!" (Time, the devourer of everything) A voice like the sound of granite scraping against slate responds. "Nothing remains after the Crawler in the Pit is set free. Who dares call Aadschlaggha?" "I am Thorne, once your servant, now your ally! Come, and be set free to wreak vengeance on those who abandoned you to slither in the coldness of the Void!" From the 'Book of Madness:' 'A gelatinous metallic-skinned amoeba which can extrude slug-like eyestalks, appendages and a hooded eyeless toad-face' -is the...THING...that oozes out of the sigil that Thorne drew. A being generated from the dregs of raw creation and neutron star forces, it flexes its hypergravity muscles for the first time in aeons. "We are agreed. I will wait until I have devoured all other things to consume you." Grimfire recoils. "You are MAD!" "Hardly. 'Only through Time Time is conquered.' Hold." Thorne gestures, and Grimfire is paralyzed from the neck down. Her human eyes widen, and she thrashes her head futilely. "What-why-" Thorne frowns, and Grimfire's voice grows silent. She strains silently, indignant, as he regards her. "Roland often becomes sloppy when a 'lady' is imperiled. Though you are no lady, he will not know that until it is too late." =========================== Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 23:33:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 22:49:32 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002546 In alt.callahans Post # 00000759 Nemisis said: > On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 20:22:31 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002544 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000757 Driscoll said: > Chaos looks up at the blue sun in the sky and smiles. [How's that? > It's not a city anymore! We're in the smae place but I moved us. > Kind of. maybe. or all this is a trick of light. hehehehehehe] Nemisis Promptly checks here Current Location Program, To Verify whether or not we have actually moved. She will report here findings to the group. =========================== Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 06:03:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Fri, 26 Dec 1997 07:21:47 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002548 In alt.callahans Post # 00000761 Driscoll said: > On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 22:49:32 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002546 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000759 Nemisis said: > > Nemisis Promptly checks here Current Location Program, > To Verify whether or not we have actually moved. > She will report here findings to the group. Dimentional coordinates are the same, but highly distorted, almost as if one were taking a reading from Inside an X-window and was picking up hte eminations for a thousand other dimentions at the same time. =========================== Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 18:33:47 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Fri, 26 Dec 1997 18:20:12 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002552 In alt.callahans Post # 00000765 Nemisis said: > On Fri, 26 Dec 1997 07:21:47 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002548 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000761 Driscoll said: > > Dimentional coordinates are the same, but highly distorted, almost > as if one were taking a reading from Inside an X-window and was > picking up hte eminations for a thousand other dimentions at the > same time. \It seems we are currently in an pocket dimension maintained in realtime by Driscoll or Chaos as the Case may be. Lord Fuzzy, under no circumstance should you attempt to re-Balance Driscoll while we are in here.\ =========================== Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 18:48:57 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:fast forward On Fri, 26 Dec 1997 21:32:56 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002553 In alt.callahans Post # 00000766 Shadow said: > On Sun, 21 Dec 1997 18:26:54 PST In Message # 00002506 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000719 Nemo said: > > he'll just move outside the effect area of the anti-psi spell. > Preferrably *towards* the Cylons/dragon/etc. And standing in midair > is *not* a problem. While he *can* fly, he usually tends to walk on > air Kitty Pride does.> Two points: He can drag Jadis with him and this is before the Cylons etc appear, I think. Right now he's standing on the street. =========================== Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 19:48:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight On Fri, 26 Dec 1997 22:39:10 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002555 In alt.callahans Post # 00000768 Shadow said: > On Mon, 22 Dec 97 23:18:23 -0800 In Message # 00002512 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000725 Roland X said: > > First, there was: >>On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 22:12:22 -0800 In Message # 00002483 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000696 Martin Gerster said: OOC: Well, I guess it all takes place simultaneously. On with the show. >>Reality ripples at street level and a figure steps forth. Views of >>him are all distorted greatly, but everyone who's heard it before >>can recognize Jadis's voice, "Wouldn't want you to forget about me, >>now would I?" With that sending he gestures twice, Setting one spell >>to break down any and all psionic powers in a limited area and the >>other to explode the ultra-dense white hot metal. > > *Why not?* Blaze replies, intensifying his halo in defense. His > powers clearly weaken, but are still extant. *Being forgotten is a > good way to keep breathing. Oh, and by the way, that's been tried. > My kind have been-* Jadis looks over at Blaze with mock incredulity, "Whatever makes you think that anything I do would be aimed at _you_? You really must do something about that ego." >>On Sun, 21 Dec 1997 23:55:35 -0600 In Message # 00002507 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000720 Michael Jon Knight said: > >>Arthur looks at Knytt, who is watching the standoff. Swinging >>"Excalibur", the broadsword which was a form of the original Gateway >>Katana Knytt used to wield, Arthur cuts a hole in the fabric of >>reality. >> >>"Merlin, I can not wait any longer. These odds grow steadily worse >>and I need you alive!" Grabbing Knytt by the collar, the young King >>nearly throws him through the gateway, Knytt finds himself falling >>backwards and landing on a riverbank. Arthur steps through and the >>portal closes. >> >>"Sorry, guys, you all would make excellent additions to the Round >>Table, but you don't go with us this time." The twins vanish, and >>the distortion collapses, clearing any residual non-Jadis traces of >>the activities within. To everyone but the CAoL and Jadis, it looks >>like the latter's handiwork, and Jadis can only tell it originated >>and terminated from the same point, not what happened within. A small smile is Jadis's only reaction. > Thorne snarls. "Maleficent, if you would?" > Maleficent shrugs, smiles at Roland, and points her staff > downward. "Charming lad. Reminds me of a young prince I once > knew...by the name of Philip." Her smile turns to a snarl. "This is > for six centuries of fire, psion." > Maleficent, who _is_ Jadis' equal (at least) adds her own power ^^^^^ (for now) > Meanwhile, Roland turns to Jadis, eyes burning. "Eat THIS!" He > points the Phoenix Rod at the cosmic Fallen Magus and pours all his > power into anti-magick. "You wanted to take on the Army of Light?! > We're ALL YOURS!" Between the Phoenix Claw's powers and the > technomagick of the staff, Blaze's EK powers begin to return, > crawling up the power beam, writhing towards Jadis. "How do you like > us NOW, you miserable PUKE? Still don't want us to FORGET you? Let's > see you forget THIS!" Blaze pops a psi-lance into Thorne, who reels > on the edge of consciousness. *^Morgan, NOW!^* "Ooooohhh, that hurt." > "Bad choice, Jadis, showing up alone. Even with all those major > 'tude villains making life miserable, you're each alone-and we're a > team." Blaze pours almost everything he has into the counterattack, > sparing just enough to maintain his defenses. "And every time one > of those villains falls, one of _us_ will be here to pound on _you._ > "Check." "My, my. I would almost think you didn't like me." Jadis's aura begins to flare, black as night, a thin shadow around his frame. (OOC: Remember that aura thing John did all the time when he really starts to use power?) Rolands counterattack slows, then stops. "And whoever said I was alone?" The black aura begins to gain a purple tinge, which lightens to blue. On the edge of everyone's awareness a scream, long and drawn out, can be heard. Slowly the power travels back toward Roland. "This _is_ entertaining. I had been wondering what you had been up to and, for some reason, there has been interference in my scryes. This is all most enlightening." OOC: I guess this would go to the hydra now... =========================== Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 20:04:16 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight On Fri, 26 Dec 1997 22:53:44 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002556 In alt.callahans Post # 00000769 Shadow said: > On Wed, 24 Dec 1997 05:37:23 EST In Message # 00002526 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000739 Dane0R0A said: > > "Thank you!" One of Hydra's heads says, while six others orient on > the Jadis manifestation. Three of the heads fire beams of pure > energy at "Jadis", the other three do something which is visible > only to those that can see pure magical force. The air (since I > believe he is currently airborne or the air and the ground if he has > landed) around him (Jadis) takes on a pearly luster. Astronomers > (and anybody else who might have had close experience with the > corona of a star) would recognize it as the ionization effect of > multi-million degree temperatures (fortuneately confined to a sphere > that just contains his body)(OOC: can Jadis' manifestation survive > that?). OOC: Yes. Jadis stands there, bathed in heat and power. He doesn't even appear to be mildly put out by this turn of events. In fact, the energies focused on Roland begin to increase, again. > Hydra resumes speaking, "I do not care HOW he happened to kill the > Discie, nor would The Stardragon. The Discies are not aggressive and > only enter battle to defend themselves or to protect others. The > Stardragon bred them to be gentle and kind. Killing one of them even > by accident is a crime that ANY Starspawn, even a member of the > Coalition of Light, would punish summarilly, for fear that The > Stardragon would hear of an un-punished murderer and commit the > punishment itself. But I sense that while this Jadis did not know it > would kill the Discie, he did intend harm. Deliberate harm has the > potential of killing. Therefore, while he did not mean to kill the > Discie, he did intend to commit an act to harm and as a consequence > of that caused the death of one of The Stardragon's children. He > dies!" Hydra will continue the assault on Jadis until the > manifestation is destroyed, or is withdrawn. > (OOC: Hydra's power would be of the same order of magnitude as > Galactus. Maybe 2-3 times greater, but still on the same order of > magnitude) Jadis quips, "How to make freinds and influence people. I do believe I'm going to have to ask for my money back." =========================== Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 20:04:34 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight & LAST DANCE On Fri, 26 Dec 1997 23:01:02 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002557 In alt.callahans Post # 00000770 Shadow said: > On Wed, 24 Dec 1997 23:30:41 -0800 In Message # 00002535 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000748 Martin Gerster said: > > Once again, Dhyrclhanc uses the C-Bands to "phase" out of local > Time-Space and returns to a point in the Holywood sky several feet > behind his previous spot. The claw/hand in which was previously > clenched his emerald psi-fire claymore now grasps the inverse grip > of a several meter-long, gattling-style ultra-tech, organic-looking, > ergonomic, cannon. > > "JADIS! YOU BASTARD GIT OF THE OBCENE UNION OF AN ABOLETH AND A > CATOBLEPTAS! GIVE ME BACK MY _RING_!!!" "Oh, _that's_ who you are. It came in quite handy, thanks, however I'm afraid I'll have to hold on to it a while longer." > Lances of spitting and crackling stellar energies pour out of the > business end of the weapon and impact the asphalt around Jadis' > feet. They pass through Jadis. And he smiles. =========================== Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 20:48:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Fri, 26 Dec 1997 22:12:09 -0600 In Message # 00002558 In alt.callahans Post # 00000771 TLO said: Morgan wrote: > *Don't worry, love, I have a plan.* Blaze regards the mostly clay > building. > *Ever heard of the Inchon maneuver?* Blaze smiles coldly. *We're > going to cut Thorne off at the knees.* OOC: Scene from a bloody cold room somewhere deep in the heart of Texas... Mandy sat back, staring at the monitor in slight amazement. "What's up?" She didn't respond, and finally a dark shape crawled to its feet. "Hey, kid." "Don't call me kid." The response was nearly automatic by now, as Mandy glared at Raver. The demon simply laughed, and shot back, "Do you want me to call you human...or lunch meat?" "Human...makes you sound a little *too* much like a certain psychotic blue garg we both know and love. And the latter is a black insult to my race, I'll have you know, devil. Um, anyway. It looks like the CAoL's forgotten we're there." "No. I think maybe the server just hiccuped." "What d'you think we should do?" "Other than move to Aruba? Well, let's say we just showed up." "Eh. Didn't somebody say it was a pocket dimension?" "I am the Mighty Raver, and you are the one with the Plot Bat (tm). Even Chaos cannot stand up to us. Well, even if it tries, we can always point out our susceptibility to PMS at certain times." "PMS...? HA! I knew it! You're the one who's been getting into my 'fic collection!" "That is just a bit hard to miss, as it takes up several *meg* of space. And people call me obsessive." "I'll get you for that." Mandy pointed a finger at the demon warningly. "Uh, so, back to the story, guys." Cut to CAoL story... A slash in the air appeared, letting out a blast of superheated air that threatened to fry the CAoL, and a familiar silver-helmed head poked through. "Finally." Raver pushed the rest of their body through, letting the rift close up. "You people are *hard* to follow sometimes. I had to call in a favor to get here. What is the plan now?" =========================== Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 22:19:37 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE4: Letters From the Past On Sat, 27 Dec 1997 01:07:18 -0500 In Message # 00002559 In alt.callahans Post # 00000772 Knytt and Flarn said: A small scroll appears sticking out of Morgan's pocket. When it is read, an accompanying memory sequence plays as well. It begins with Knytt, scribing with a quill pen on parchment by the light of a small campfire in a dark countryside, then follows as the story unfolds, but always returning to the campfire: Dear Morgan, Noble Friends; I suppose there are many ways to tell this story. But, I think I will start from the beginning, it tends to be easiest. And perhaps it will help explain why I have done some of the things I have done. For what it is worth, the beginning of this story starts in the middle. When Arthur threw me through the gateway, I landed on a riverbank. It was a small stream, I am still unsure of the name. Standing over me, almost threateningly, Arthur demanded to know what witchery I had cast upon him. Pulling myself up with my pike, I shot back "What foolishness are you raving about?" "This sword, you devilspawn!" "What of it? What do you want to know that that sword hasn`t already told you?" I asked. "It says it will only leave me when I die." "Yes. When you die, the sword will seek a new owner." "This Excalibur, as you called it, knows my future? I will die?" Arthur asked, fear battling with rage in his eyes. "Well, duh! Of course you will. Everyone does! The sword knows you will die someday, but not when. It can not tell you of future events." I said. I took Arthur by the shoulders. "Listen, this sword is powerful. It can teach you many things about war. But, always remember, the only purpose of war is to protect. Not conquest, not power, not position, not lust. You must use it to protect only. To strike for any other reason will bring back violence on you threefold. And then, you -will- die-" "-Like my father..." "Yes! Like your father!" I said. I freely admit, I was grasping at straws. If Arthur used this sword for violence, allowed it to take reign over his mind, he would die, as many before him, a very violent death. I knew his future, dear Friends, knew it well, but I had to try. As it was, I failed. But that I had no hand in. I told Arthur to return to his court, that I had much to do here. In fact, I had felt a presence near. A very familiar one. "But," the young King protested. "Go!" I commanded, summoning every ounce of will I could muster. I am not the telepath I once was, but I can still do a little. He left, though likely not sure why. *About time you got rid of him. I felt your presence leave my mind earlier, where did you go?* /Pyewackett! What are you doing here? I thought you were at home./ *What are you raving about? You told me to wait in the brush and as soon as Arthur left, to come find you and answer all your questions, no matter how odd. Are you all right? You`ve been acting strange lately." Then it hit me, this was a younger Pyewackett. -Had- I been here before? I would soon learn that I had. And other things I liked even less... To Be Continued.... =========================== Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 22:49:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Fri, 26 Dec 97 22:44:21 -0800 In Message # 00002560 In alt.callahans Post # 00000773 Roland X said: >On Fri, 26 Dec 1997 22:12:09 -0600 In Message # 00002558 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000771 TLO said: > > "Human...makes you sound a little *too* much like a certain >psychotic blue garg we both know and love. (OOC: From the moment you mentioned Eyrie Tower, I _knew_ you have good taste. ) > A slash in the air appeared, letting out a blast of superheated >air that threatened to fry the CAoL, and a familiar silver-helmed >head poked through. "Finally." Raver pushed the rest of their body >through, letting the rift close up. "You people are *hard* to follow >sometimes. I had to call in a favor to get here. What is the plan >now?" (OOC: Or you could do that. ) *That...shouldn't have happened. This is bad. What the grife is Thorne _up_ to in there, anyway?* Blaze frowns up at the oddly warping building, its walls rippling as if in a breeze... =========================== Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 23:49:20 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Fri, 26 Dec 1997 23:46:52 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002562 In alt.callahans Post # 00000775 fuzzy said: -- forwarded message -- From: The Lone One Subject: Re: Aae:fast forward Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 22:10:39 -0600 Morgan wrote: > *Read you,* Roland replies with a long-suffering sigh. He > carefully puts Morgan back down. *Saddle up, people! Time to rock > and roll.* Raver mouthed something that, in all probability, was an infernal curse. "No rest for the wicked," she muttered before reappearing in their familiar silver armored form. >>Grep adds, /This may not take long.../ > > *Let's hope not,* Roland sends, and he and *If I were you, I would remember the rule about famous last words, human,* Raver sent back dryly. > Unfortunately, all this mental activity prevents his forcefields > from being optimized, and a blast scorches one arm. > "OW!" Roland turns the offending drone into a paperweight, then > backs away for a moment. At this moment, black fire incinerated an unlucky drone, and the blackened husk collapsed. Clawed feet crushed it further as Raver entered the field of combat. She grinned fiercely, sliding the visor of their helm down, and leaped at the nearest drone with a shriek. >>Seeming to form out of the ether, as if the air molecules just >>decided to arrange themselves in such a fashion, Knytt appeared. >>Tucking his dull grey metallic amulet into his cloak, he withdrew >>what looked like a small soup can with the label peeled off. With a >>hiss, the Minbari fighting pike extended. > > *Ooo! I want one of _those!_ You think the Rangers are > enlisting?* Roland sent with a mental smile. Raver glanced briefly in Knytt's direction over their shoulder as she used a drone arm as a club to beat the others into pulp. *Very nice. Still, it would be more satisfying if these damned machines actually bled.* With a snarl, she flipped it in her claw like a javelin, and impaled a drone's head with a well-placed throw. *Oil does not blood make, and I hunger for it!* -Raver, chill. You're about to berserk.- An inarticulate growl was the only reply Mandy got, and she sighed. -These machines aren't worth it. Save it for, uh, people who actually have fear glands.- A few moments passed as they fought. -To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as a fear gland. Nevertheless, you are right.- With a visible effort, Raver controlled herself. > Those with the ability to sense such things can tell that > something is _wrong_ with the belt. It's not exactly definable, or > truly quantifiable, but there's a...wrongness to it. > > <*Be careful, love,*> Morgan sends. > > *Always, m'eudail,* Roland replies with a quick mental 'kiss.' "Blaze," Raver sighed. "First us, then Roland, then Knytt, and now Roland again. What is it with the CAoL and identity crises?" -How should I know? You're the one who landed us in this mess.- The demon winced slightly at the reminder, and Mandy quickly added, -But that wasn't really your fault, per se. It's your nature, remember?- > *I know,* Roland replies, *but we need me at full power. I can > deal with it for now.* -And what if you don't?- Mandy's mental comment is very quiet, and Raver can only shrug in reply. * * for link chatter - - for Terrible Two talk. -- end of forwarded message -- =========================== Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 23:58:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight On Fri, 26 Dec 97 23:55:23 -0800 In Message # 00002563 In alt.callahans Post # 00000776 Roland X said: >On Fri, 26 Dec 1997 22:39:10 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002555 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000768 Shadow said: > >> On Mon, 22 Dec 97 23:18:23 -0800 In Message # 00002512 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000725 Roland X said: >> >> First, there was: >>>On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 22:12:22 -0800 In Message # 00002483 >>> In alt.callahans Post # 00000696 Martin Gerster said: > >> Meanwhile, Roland turns to Jadis, eyes burning. "Eat THIS!" He >> points the Phoenix Rod at the cosmic Fallen Magus and pours all his >> power into anti-magick. "You wanted to take on the Army of Light?! >> We're ALL YOURS!" Between the Phoenix Claw's powers and the >> technomagick of the staff, Blaze's EK powers begin to return, >> crawling up the power beam, writhing towards Jadis. "How do you >> like us NOW, you miserable PUKE? Still don't want us to FORGET you? >> Let's see you forget THIS!" Blaze pops a psi-lance into Thorne, who >> reels on the edge of consciousness. *^Morgan, NOW!^* > >"Ooooohhh, that hurt." *You're next, nass-for-brains,* Blaze growls. >"My, my. I would almost think you didn't like me." Jadis's aura >begins to flare, black as night, a thin shadow around his frame. >(OOC: Remember that aura thing John did all the time when he really >starts to use power?) Rolands counterattack slows, then stops. "And >whoever said I was alone?" The black aura begins to gain a purple >tinge, which lightens to blue. On the edge of everyone's awareness a >scream, long and drawn out, can be heard. Slowly the power travels >back toward Roland. "This _is_ entertaining. I had been wondering >what you had been up to and, for some reason, there has been >interference in my scryes. This is all most enlightening." *Oh Light.* *OH LIGHT! JOHN!* Blaze lives up to his name, glowing like a miniature sun. Blood pours out of his nose, energy explodes from the gashes taken fighting the robots, and his Halo becomes visible to the naked eye. It is a surprisingly beautiful thing, like a living rainbow that surrounds and binds him together (with apologies to George Lucas). *"YOU SQUIDGE! I'M GOING TO FRY YOU TO-"* <*Roland.*> Morgan's 'voice' is soft, but it cuts Blaze's tirade like a knife. <*Remember the lessons? 'Anger is a weapon only to one's opponent'? _Look_ at him - he's _feeding_ off our attacks. Don't give him any more ammo.*> Roland stops in mid-fury, the power slowly receding from his wounds. The flow of blood reduces to a trickle, and he shifts from attack to defense, concentrating on the forcefield that is the truest expression of his power. *He played me. Damn him, he played me like a lead guitar on solo.* Blaze's eyes narrow, and he regards their sole remaining enemy. His face is soaked with sweat from the strain of maintaining his psi powers in the dampening field. *And now we know why he doesn't want us using psi.* "Team! On my mark, hit him with everything!" Blaze begins to build up power. "One!" *Make it look good. I want this to look like we're going to drop the kitchen sink on him.* A flicker of thought passes between Morgan and Roland, and they reach into the the control cube John gave them (irony of ironies) and pull out two of their wedding gifts...the crystals Fuzzy gave them. "Two!" *Then everyone who controls energy, drain it _back_ from him, and all the mages, do your best to kill that antipsi field. Anyone who's left, improvise. Distract him. Throw cream pies at him. Anything...* "Three!" Blaze, assuming Jadis is drained badly enough that he can get a hook in, uses the power he gets to increase the strength of the forcefield. (Assuming everyone goes along...) *JOHN!!! CAN YOU HEAR US?!* (OOC: That scream? It gave Roland a 'lock' onto John's mind. If Blaze can cut through the antipsi interference, he's going to try like hell to rescue John. One telepathic connection, one teleport, and John's back with the CAoL. I know it's not going to be that easy, but that _is_ the plan.) =========================== Date: Sat, 27 Dec 1997 04:03:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight On Sat, 27 Dec 1997 06:53:03 EST In Message # 00002565 In alt.callahans Post # 00000778 Dane0R0A said: In a message dated 97-12-26 23:05:18 EST, you write: << Shadow said: Jadis quips, "How to make freinds and influence people. I do believe I'm going to have to ask for my money back." >> Two of the three heads that Hydra was NOT using to attack Jadis swing around to orient on him. They act to generate spheres and hyper-spheres, in three and four space (resp.), of anti-magic around the same volume. The three that were heating up Jadis' surroundings, switch to pulling every erg of energy out of that same volume. The three that were magically containing the nuclear furnace switch to blasting Jadis' mind with telepathic bolts of cosmic strength. (OOC: can he survive absolute zero temps, with little or no magic, while defending against cosmicly powerful psionic attack?) As the renewed attack begins the ninth head says "Suck on this WORM." (OOC: for the record, Hydra has one personality that is in control of and aware of all his heads, and what they are doing, but each head is capable of acting independently of all the other heads (under the direction of the personality). Simply put Hydra can concentrate on 9 things at once (which is why he choses to manifest this particular "body").) =========================== Date: Sat, 27 Dec 1997 13:34:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight On Sat, 27 Dec 1997 13:15:22 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002569 In alt.callahans Post # 00000782 "P. Campbell" said: On Fri, 26 Dec 1997, Roland X wrote: > "Team! On my mark, hit him with everything!" Blaze begins to > build up power. "One!" Dantris's horn flickers, and becomes visible even to ordinary sight. Both positive and negative material energy swirl over its length. Xzerrion begins chanting in the ancient language of drow magic. Nobody recognizes just *what* he's doing, but it sounds impressive. He begins to radiate a bright red aura, which Jadis might recognize from uses of the sigil. Bolts of flame appear in Tezrantha's hands. > *Then everyone who controls energy, drain it _back_ from him, and > all the mages, do your best to kill that antipsi field. Anyone who's > left, improvise. Distract him. Throw cream pies at him. Anything...* A deep and oddly familiar sounding voice responds in Roland's mind. *Are you sure you're strong enough to handle this? You have a link, if you need one. Gwaeron holds an interest here.* The voice is recognized as coming from Dantris. > "Three!" Dantris lowers his horn and charges, taking care that CAoL members can still shoot around him. He strikes out, alternating between positive and negative energy too fast for Jadis to be sure just what is safe to absorb. Xzerrion takes Roland's suggestion of a destraction to heart. Jadis (and only Jadis) hears phenomally loud, atrociously out of tune, bagpipe music. Tezrantha glances at Xzerrion and rolls her eyes before causing the ground Jadis is standing on to start erupting small rocks, which are all hurled at slightly subsonic speeds. =========================== Date: Sat, 27 Dec 1997 13:34:22 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs (2) On Sat, 27 Dec 1997 13:20:34 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002570 In alt.callahans Post # 00000783 "P. Campbell" said: On Thu, 25 Dec 1997, Morgan wrote: > The rest of the bad guys gone, Morgan sends, <*Um, we've still got > one enemy out there. The archer.*> She scans the area on all > "channels" (life, magic, psi, spirit), and frowns. <*Xzerrion, I > _think_ I'm picking up something over there,*> she waves in the > general direction of M'Lausa's hiding place. <*All the fall-out > around here makes it hard to tell.*> Even as Morgan sends, M'Lausa goes blank to *all* senses. He shifts into noncorporeality (is that a word) and moves literally through the rubble, making some distance between himself and the last place he was seen, but not moving too far away from the group either. =========================== Date: Sat, 27 Dec 1997 18:22:22 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Sat, 27 Dec 1997 19:05:56 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002571 In alt.callahans Post # 00000784 Driscoll said: > On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 22:26:35 In Message # 00002545 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000758 Morgan said: > >>On Thu, 25 Dec 1997 20:22:31 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002544 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000757 Driscoll said: > Blaze looks over at Iron Man and wearily gestures at him. > Electricity arcs over to the Emerald Avenger, re- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^???? Someone must have been tired when he wrote this. hehehehehehe > charging his power cells. "Sorry. Hadn't noticed your condition." (OOC: I changed it to quotes since Iron Man isn't on the link.) Landing next to Roland, "Thanks. I was a bit lower on power than I thought. Not a problem in a city where I could jumpstart myself again but then the tables changed a bit. Anyone know where we _are_?" >> Chaos looks up at the blue sun in the sky and smiles. [How's that? >>It's not a city anymore! We're in the smae place but I moved us. >>Kind of. maybe. or all this is a trick of light. hehehehehehe] "OK, that really tells us a lot...." #Don't look at me to explain it. I can process a lot of information but multidimentional temporal Quantum mechanics is still beyond me.# #I've delt in it before, and I don't have any more idea then you do Jim.# > Blaze sighs. *Anyone who can't fly- _are_ there any who can't fly > among us at the moment?-stay with those who can and we'll give you a > lift. With luck, we can make an effective entrance by using a fourth > story window.* > > <*Honey, I think there's more of us can't fly than can,*> Morgan > sends. OOC: Fliers: Fuzzy, Chaos, Iron Man, Isla, Raver, Blaze, Morgan I think we could handle it easily enough. ;-) Heck Tezrantha and Xzerrion might know the magics to do so as well for all I know. > Meanwhile... > "We're in trouble." > "Shut up, dragon! I have things under control." Thorne pushes > Grimfire aside and continues carving a non-Euclidian design on the > clay floor that was once an office rug. Corporate drones are huddled > together in a far corner, watching the ritual in terror. > "She raises a valid point, mortal," Maleficent says calmly, > studying the crystal sphere in her staff. "How do you propose to > 'control' the situation?" > Thorne frowns. "My master did not believe that the 'Nemo' being > would take such a heavy hand in events, but gave me a method to > counter it should the need arise. Given his success against Count > Iblis and the presence of the new arrival, it is time to take > drastic measures." > Maleficent nods and taps her staff on the sigil. Thorne chants, > "What seest thou else in the dark backward and abysm of Time? Tempus > edax rerum!" (Time, the devourer of everything) > A voice like the sound of granite scraping against slate > responds. "Nothing remains after the Crawler in the Pit is set free. > Who dares call Aadschlaggha?" > "I am Thorne, once your servant, now your ally! Come, and be set > free to wreak vengeance on those who abandoned you to slither in the > coldness of the Void!" > From the 'Book of Madness:' > 'A gelatinous metallic-skinned amoeba which can extrude slug-like > eyestalks, appendages and a hooded eyeless toad-face' > -is the...THING...that oozes out of the sigil that Thorne drew. A > being generated from the dregs of raw creation and neutron star > forces, it flexes its hypergravity muscles for the first time in > aeons. "We are agreed. I will wait until I have devoured all other > things to consume you." > Grimfire recoils. "You are MAD!" > "Hardly. 'Only through Time Time is conquered.' Hold." Thorne > gestures, and Grimfire is paralyzed from the neck down. > Her human eyes widen, and she thrashes her head futilely. > "What-why-" > Thorne frowns, and Grimfire's voice grows silent. She strains > silently, indignant, as he regards her. "Roland often becomes sloppy > when a 'lady' is imperiled. Though you are no lady, he will not know > that until it is too late." An eight legged rat with a lizard's tail crawls out from a crack in the stone and perches himself on a rock. "Oh boy looks like we're gonna have some more fun. Can I help? can I? Can I? Can I? Oh by the way, let me introduce myself, I'm Chaos." =========================== Date: Sat, 27 Dec 1997 18:22:34 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight On Sat, 27 Dec 1997 19:11:05 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002572 In alt.callahans Post # 00000785 Driscoll said: > On Sat, 27 Dec 1997 13:15:22 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002569 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000782 "P. Campbell" said: > > Dantris lowers his horn and charges, taking care that CAoL members > can still shoot around him. He strikes out, alternating between > positive and negative energy too fast for Jadis to be sure just what > is safe to absorb. > > Xzerrion takes Roland's suggestion of a destraction to heart. Jadis > (and only Jadis) hears phenomally loud, atrociously out of tune, > bagpipe music. > > Tezrantha glances at Xzerrion and rolls her eyes before causing the > ground Jadis is standing on to start erupting small rocks, which are > all hurled at slightly subsonic speeds. Iron Man, Isla and Darath pick up on what's going on quickly. Isla conentrates drawing on her own power alone and fires arching beams of light from hands. Darath levels Soulstealer and fires pure black bolts of eldritch energy. Iron man shifts to War Machine again and launches a barrage of missiles, lasers and bullets. =========================== Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 04:19:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ups and Downs On Sun, 28 Dec 1997 01:16:06 PST In Message # 00002574 In alt.callahans Post # 00000787 Nemo said: In mail you write: >> Blaze sighs. *Anyone who can't fly- _are_ there any who can't >> fly among us at the moment?-stay with those who can and we'll give >> you a lift. With luck, we can make an effective entrance by using a >> fourth story window.* >> >> <*Honey, I think there's more of us can't fly than can,*> Morgan >> sends. > > OOC: Fliers: Fuzzy, Chaos, Iron Man, Isla, Raver, Blaze, Morgan I > think we could handle it easily enough. ;-) Heck Tezrantha and > Xzerrion might know the magics to do so as well for all I know. Nemo sends: \I can air-walk to the window or walk to the building and walk up the wall. Or if you want to announce our arrival, someone can just *throw* me throw the window... *hard*. :-)\ \Oh yes, if we need to leave in a hurry and I'm *not* engaged with someone at the time, just grab on. I can shift you back to me at the refuge.\ >> 'A gelatinous metallic-skinned amoeba which can extrude slug- >> like eyestalks, appendages and a hooded eyeless toad-face' >> -is the...THING...that oozes out of the sigil that Thorne drew. >> A being generated from the dregs of raw creation and neutron star >> forces, it flexes its hypergravity muscles for the first time in >> aeons. "We are agreed. I will wait until I have devoured all other >> things to consume you." "Somebody just used a *lot* of magic in there." =========================== Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 04:19:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight On Sun, 28 Dec 1997 01:29:00 PST In Message # 00002575 In alt.callahans Post # 00000788 Nemo said: In mail you write: > *Then everyone who controls energy, drain it _back_ from him, and > all the mages, do your best to kill that antipsi field. Anyone who's > left, improvise. Distract him. Throw cream pies at him. Anything...* > "Three!" Nemo aims his palm at Jadis as if he's going to use the supernova gate trick again. He's not. The gate is going somehere *very* strange. \Don't try to absorb any of *this*, friends. It'll eat you for lunch. And with luck, it'll do the same to him!\ What comes flowing out, almost reluctantly, as if it is being forced somehow, is a stream of uttermost BLACK. It's negative matter (not antimatter!). It's rather like a negasphere for those of you who've read the later Lensman books. Negative matter and normal matter *cancel*. There's no energy release, *nothing*. It has *negative* mass so to it a push is a pull (so if Jadis tries to push it away, he'll attract it). And it's also got a high *negative* temperature. So it it'd take a lot of energy to raise it to absolute zero. It should suck energy like nobody's business. :-) Sort of like hooking your air supply line to a big tank of vacuum. ps. Nemo is concentrating hard on this as he *doesn't* want the stuff getting lose if Jadis *can* counter it. pps. I think in the future I'll use *NEMO* for the entity that Nemo is a manifestation of. So *NEMO* is paying a bit of attention right now. Not a lot, just more than normal. =========================== Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 11:34:13 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight On Sun, 28 Dec 1997 11:23:20 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002578 In alt.callahans Post # 00000791 fuzzy said: > On Sat, 27 Dec 1997 19:11:05 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002572 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000785 Driscoll said: > >> On Sat, 27 Dec 1997 13:15:22 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002569 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000782 "P. Campbell" said: >> >> Dantris's horn flickers, and becomes visible even to ordinary >> sight. Both positive and negative material energy swirl over its >> length. Fuzzy Shifts the HoverCyclone To Armor Mode The Elemental Plasma Weapon he used on Quaren Starts to form on one arm. >> Xzerrion begins chanting in the ancient language of drow magic. >> Nobody recognizes just *what* he's doing, but it sounds impressive. >> He begins to radiate a bright red aura, which Jadis might recognize >> from uses of the sigil. >> >> > like he still has a lot more power than he really does. Does Jadis >> know the sigil is destroyed?> >> >> Bolts of flame appear in Tezrantha's hands. 200 Weapons Turrets 'Pop-up' from the surrounding terrain >> Xzerrion takes Roland's suggestion of a destraction to heart. Jadis >> (and only Jadis) hears phenomally loud, atrociously out of tune, >> bagpipe music. >> >> Tezrantha glances at Xzerrion and rolls her eyes before causing the >> ground Jadis is standing on to start erupting small rocks, which >> are all hurled at slightly subsonic speeds. The Turrets open up, The Holo Weapons Firing Holographic Distractions All of the others fire Energy Absorbtion Beams, No two absorbing the same type of energy > Iron Man, Isla and Darath pick up on what's going on quickly. Isla > conentrates drawing on her own power alone and fires arching beams > of light from hands. Darath levels Soulstealer and fires pure black > bolts of eldritch energy. Iron man shifts to War Machine again and > launches a barrage of missiles, lasers and bullets. Fuzzy Fires a Pair of Beams One is Composed of Dirac holes (These steal electrons, but are not anti-matter or Nega-Matter, Normaly only found as peculiar quantum wave states) The Other is a Simular Effect that acts on Anti-Protons (If you steal an Anti-Proton from a Neutron, It becomes too heavly and with a charge imbalance, And breaks apart....> =========================== Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 14:34:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAEIV: Jadis On Sun, 28 Dec 1997 17:04:57 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002583 In alt.callahans Post # 00000796 Shadow said: As everything hits Jadis his form is obscured from view. Once the 'dust' settles, everyone can see that he is no longer present. The reality distortion that accompanied his presence was abruptly cut off and all sense of his presence, and John's, is gone. Curled on the ground near the building is Rhiannon. She's holding her head between her hands and is curled into a fetal position, sobbing as she rocks back and forth. Most of what she's mumbling is unintelligible, but the words "Pain", "Make him stop", and "why won't he stop?" can be made out. =========================== Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 14:34:21 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Firefight On Sun, 28 Dec 1997 17:18:33 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002584 In alt.callahans Post # 00000797 Shadow said: > On Fri, 26 Dec 97 23:55:23 -0800 In Message # 00002563 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000776 Roland X said: > > "Team! On my mark, hit him with everything!" Blaze begins to > build up power. "One!" Jadis glances around him, sizing everyone up, "I do so thank you for the warning." > *Then everyone who controls energy, drain it _back_ from him, and > all the mages, do your best to kill that antipsi field. Anyone who's > left, improvise. Distract him. Throw cream pies at him. Anything...* > "Three!" Jadis's presence gets cut off. > Blaze, assuming Jadis is drained badly enough that he can get a > hook in, uses the power he gets to increase the strength of the > forcefield. OOC: If the following was the avowed purpose of this, everyone would have been much better not to attack as they did. He's not stupid enough to stand there and let everyone pound him into the cement. > *JOHN!!! CAN YOU HEAR US?!* > (OOC: That scream? It gave Roland a 'lock' onto John's mind. If > Blaze can cut through the antipsi interference, he's going to try > like hell to rescue John. One telepathic connection, one teleport, > and John's back with the CAoL. I know it's not going to be that > easy, but that _is_ the plan.) Roland follows the scream, which is telepathic for those not aware of John's current state, to.. Rhiannon. He touches her mind just as her connection to John fades, leaving only a shocked and hurting woman on his hands. =========================== Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 18:19:14 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAEIV: Jadis On Sun, 28 Dec 1997 19:08:21 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002586 In alt.callahans Post # 00000799 Driscoll said: > On Sun, 28 Dec 1997 17:04:57 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002583 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000796 Shadow said: > > As everything hits Jadis his form is obscured from view. Once the > 'dust' settles, everyone can see that he is no longer present. The > reality distortion that accompanied his presence was abruptly cut > off and all sense of his presence, and John's, is gone. Curled on > the ground near the building is Rhiannon. She's holding her head > between her hands and is curled into a fetal position, sobbing as > she rocks back and forth. Most of what she's mumbling is > unintelligible, but the words "Pain", "Make him stop", and "why > won't he stop?" can be made out. Isla moves quickly to Rhiannon's side and takes the girl in her arms. Isla's mental magics are not great, but she calls more on her faith than her mana this time. Calming herself and finding the right emotion, then metally willing it out, projecting it towards Rhiannon. Peace, Calm, Serenity. Trying to spark equal emotions within the young woman to stabilize her. =========================== Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 11:04:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAEIV: Jadis On Mon, 29 Dec 1997 10:58:41 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002587 In alt.callahans Post # 00000800 "P. Campbell" said: On Sun, 28 Dec 1997 gamer wrote: > Isla moves quickly to Rhiannon's side and takes the girl in her > arms. Isla's mental magics are not great, but she calls more on her > faith than her mana this time. Calming herself and finding the right > emotion, then metally willing it out, projecting it towards > Rhiannon. Peace, Calm, Serenity. Trying to spark equal emotions > within the young woman to stabilize her. Tezrantha adds her own energy to Isla's, reaching out towards the pain, channeling it into herself, and from there dissipating it carefully into the ground. Dantris moves to Rhiannon's other side, brushing her with the tip of his horn (which is no longer flickering nasty positive/negative energies, but is still visible). =========================== Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 19:49:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE: Out of Control(ler) On Tue, 30 Dec 1997 21:04:57 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002589 In alt.callahans Post # 00000802 Driscoll said: The Controller is busy at the controls of his sensors, fuming about how neatly Justin had pre-planned for the ionization wiht a differently circutted suit. Then the Army of light appears as planned, but before he could try any other tricks to make Justin show off his true nature, Thorne showed up, then Jadis to steal the show. And now the show had gone on the road. No matter how he adjusted the sensors, the cosmic displacement of the Army of Light could not be found anywhere, in any dimention. (OOC: Of course not, they're technically BETWEEN dimentions right now). His fuming is inturrupted by a call from one of the drones. Recieving the nano-second long download, he observes as the Ion turbolasers locked up the controls of a tramp freighter that had gotten too close to the asteroid, and the shuttles flying out to sieze the disabled craft. Drones and droids pour into the YT-1300 and the inhabitants come to their senses and quickly surrender. According to the drone they and their ship are on a return path to the asteroid for inspection. Orders are transmitted for the salvage crews as to which systems are to be disassembled and taken where based on the general scematic of hte ship, with custimizations to eb reported and taken on a case by case basis. The prisoners were a stange lot and he needed the distraction anyways so he left to the hanger area to inspect them personally. The drones already had them shackled and standing in a row as The Controller arrived. The short sullustan raised his head at The Controller's apporach. "Lord Vader? No, wait, same tailor but you're uglier, whichis sayign a helluvalot. Well I want you to let me, my ship and these guys go or I'll see to it that I shove one of these droids so far up yo..." With a mental command from The Controller, a drone proceeded to gag the squirming pilot. He had too much spirit for a slave or a servant. Buthe might be usedful for something later. best to lock him in the dungeons with the others. The old man likewise would be ill suited for slaving, but there was something about his demeanor, his confidence, his piercing glare. He would need to be locked up seperately. The young boy should be able to be broken quickly wiht a bit of torture. Already he stood there quaking liek a scared rabbit. It was the quartet of brown furred giants who struck the inspirational chord in his twisted mechanical mind though. Wookies. Well known for their ferocity and strength. Properly broken they could make powerful slaves. But why break that spirit when it could be mechanically controlled and re-directed? "Those four to the operating room. The boy to the theater, take the short one to the cells and the old man to the hole." "I can not allow that." The old man said softly. suddenly his bonds simply fell away, and a lightsaber lit up in his hands. Two quick cuts disabled the drones guarding him and they boy. They boy also pulled a lightsaber out of his clothes and the bright blue blade sprung to life. They faced The Controller, adn it was times liek this he wished he could still smile. "Your freind there confused me with Vader, but as you see, I have far more power." Suddenly the lighsabers flickered and the energy blades disappeard back into their hilts. The Controller raised his hands and two plasma bolts lanced out at the pair. And then they were gone. clarred clothing and melted lightsabers all that remained. The sullustan was strangely quiet and the wookies just looked at the scene as if in a daze. Obviously while the droids may have missed the lightsabers they did not forget to drug the wookies before taking them prisoner. The Controller performed his work liek an artist.Steel and flesh were his medium and each creation a masterpiece. Mechanical hands worked with a percision on natural appendage could ever have maanged, allowing a speed impossible to any flesh and blood cybernetics tech. Muscle augmentations, inplanted weapon systems, subdermal armor, heightened sesnors and of course the cereberal computer melded with teh wookie physique into a truely fearsome warrior. All that was left was their programming... Returning to his control room The Controller began to try to search out Dr. Thorne on his equipment when he rememebred that Thorne vanished with the Army of Light. Still there were other ways to get a message to him, and get a little revenge for Thorne's inturruption of his fun at the same time. Summoning a small floating messanger robot, he implanted the data and message for Thorne directing him on where to find the 5 gifts he had waiting for hte good Doctor. As well as an explination that it was time to move again to keep from being discovered and he would contact Thorne when he had more for him. A tiny X-window opens and then shuts again nearby Knightmare. Through it popped a small floating robot. it moved to a spot before the Shadow and floated there at face level. "Excuse me sir. I have a private message for Dr. Adrian Thorne from The Controller concerning their continued alliance. I have been unable to locate the Doctor. Would you please summon him for me." The Controller quickly shuttles off important equipment and slaves and such through X-windows to his new base. leavign behind only enough droids to maintain the base and care for the 4 cybernetic Wookies and the Cybernetic Rankor that awaited Dr. Throne's collection. =========================== Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 01:19:33 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE IV: Stranger Aeons On Wed, 31 Dec 97 01:12:53 -0800 In Message # 00002590 In alt.callahans Post # 00000803 Roland X said: OOC: Trying to wrap up subplots so that Gamer can get his stuff in before he has to go. Fasten your seat belts; it's going to be a bumpy ride! >On Sun, 28 Dec 1997 17:18:33 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002584 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000797 Shadow said: > >> On Fri, 26 Dec 97 23:55:23 -0800 In Message # 00002563 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000776 Roland X said: >> "Team! On my mark, hit him with everything!" Blaze begins to >> build up power. "One!" >Jadis's presence gets cut off. *Hmmph. I figured he'd underestimate our intelligence. Well, we got rid of him for now. Someone, try and trace that bastich.* Roland looks back up at the building. *Now, for nuisance number two.* >OOC: If the following was the avowed purpose of this, everyone would >have been much better not to attack as they did. He's not stupid >enough to stand there and let everyone pound him into the cement. (OOC: It looked like he was absorbing the energies of our attacks. I figured he'd look at us about to give him enough power to conquer a galaxy, and try to con us into blasting him with as much power as possible. Oh well.) Also, Gamer wrote: > A tiny X-window opens and then shuts again nearby Knightmare. >Through it popped a small floating robot. it moved to a spot before >the Shadow and floated there at face level. "Excuse me sir. I have a >private message for Dr. Adrian Thorne from The Controller concerning >their continued alliance. I have been unable to locate the Doctor. >Would you please summon him for me." KnightMare, who allowed the connection, merely nods. It then obscures that dimensional trail, to be certain that its energies is not traced. Then KnightMare turns to Sil and Zenn. *You two have served your purpose to me.* The weary pair straighten, their spirit forms ragged and pale, and stare at KnightMare. *I don't think so,* Sil responds simply. KnightMare gestures, and two new cylinders rise beside the astral construct and the spirit of the Dreaming. Inside them sleep two forms; one is all but identical to the woman-in-ice that Captain Sheridan encountered during 'Into the Fire,' while the other casing holds an ever-shifting fractal image. *Our business is concluded,* KnightMare says simply, and sends message, astral phoenix, and dragon-spirit to Thorne. Thorne blinks in surprise. Maleficent merely smiles. "Release the dragon-woman." "WHAT?" Thorne blurts. "She'll-" "Do nothing," Maleficent replies calmly. Grimfire fumed, but her blush proves Maleficent's words true. "Use an innocent hostage." The queen of the Unseelie summons a Balrog, enchants it with a spirit of Mayhem, and fades into a pair of eyes watching alone. Thorne suddenly leers at Sil, whose eyes flicker in fear. She is encased in a crystal meant to give an impression of a human body wound around itself like a pastry. Zenn was able only to rage silently from behind his own glass cage. A simple gesture, and Grimfire gasps and stumbles forward. "Yes..." Thorne smiles as ideas form in his mind. "...I think that this will prove useful... Chaos. I have a-a game for you. Why don't you play with those interdimensional gates? I bet that that would be _lots_ of fun..." Outside. Music begins to play, and the CAoL learn that, whatever Thorne's sins, he has an impressive voice. "Not dead which eternal lie Stranger eons Death may die! Drain you of your sanity, Face the Thing that should not be!" Roland gapes. "Perverting Metallica...the man is shameless..." <*Philistine,*> Morgan adds dryly. The Crawler appears on the outside of the building, draped over the top three floors (it's grown), as has a Balrog with eight arms, and the rest of the collected villainy, minus Maleficent. "Roland, dear boy! I believe I have something of yours!" Thorne laughs, and holds up the crystal Sil. Roland turns dead white. "Simple suggestion, really! A duel, just us!" ^Like hell,^ Morgan sends coldly. "You win, you save your friend and her companion! You lose, and she's mine!" Thorne adds. "And if I refuse?" Roland replies hoarsely. "I imagine she'll make the most fascinating sound when her prison breaks." Roland frowns angrily. "I trust you about as far as I can throw slug-boy. I want seconds." "Done," Thorne says, waving magnanimously. "But not one of those cosmic beings. I'd rather maintain my elemental structure, thank you." <*Anyone who wants that spot had bloody well better get in line,*> Morgan sends with finality. "Morgan," Roland says simply. "Done!" Thorne replies with a laugh. The two vanish. They reappear inside a cleared-out office, the cubicle walls scattered haphazardly. Grimfire is crouched on one end of the room, eyes narrow. Morgan is at the other, calm but prepared. In the center, Thorne and Roland are on either side of the crystal Sil, who is suspended from the ceiling. "Begin!" Thorne says, and is already on Roland as he says it. Roland curses profusely as he dodges, his speed just matching Thorne's Time magicks. The Phoenix Rod comes to life and Roland's counterattack is devastating. Even in his exhaustion, the psion's rage and fear for his friend propelling him like an engine. That saves Sil's life. Thorne slashes at her, and Roland parries desperately with the Rod. "You gutless-" Roland is cut off by the Brand scraping along his side. He grunts and steps back. "Who's gutless?" Thorne laughs. "Nasty cut." Roland touches the slash gingerly. "Poison. You don't really think that I'll let this-" The Cylon appears from beneath a pile of cubicle walls, points its wand at Roland, and 'heals' him. The lightning pours straight into the robot. "Roland!" Morgan charges towards the duellists. Grimfire, taking her cue, surges forward, changing shape as she begins going to her draconic form. Morgan begins gesturing. "O-o-oh no you _don't_!" she says, and Grimfire stops shifting with only her scales and claws manifested. Grimfire frowns and flaps harder. <*Why are you serving this foul creature?*> Morgan asks as she changes vectors to deal with the dragon. *I have no choice,* Grimfire responds with a sigh. <*Yes you do,*> Morgan says, and chants a short prayer. Grimfire's eyes go wide as she begins to fade out... then smiles just before vanishing altogether. "My debt is paid, foul one," she hisses as she disappears. Meanwhile... "Damn you!" Roland says, finally cursing in English, and the Cylon explodes. The crystal prison melts, as does Zenn's cylinder. "Oh, well done," Thorne laughed as Roland collapsed to the ground. He gasped, tried to rise, and fell again. "Your ethereal friends are saved. Bravo." Thorne pulls Roland up by the neck with the hook of the Shadow Brand. "You, however..." Thorne's eyes darken with pure hate. "You are MINE!" He yanks the sword from below Roland's chin and raises the scimitar high. The sword's descent is stopped in mid-stroke with a resounding 'clang.' Thorne looks up the offending parry, following a long blade all the way up to its wielder... ...a very unhappy Highlander. "_I_ _think_ _not,_" Morgan says softly. "Ooo, you're in trouble..." Roland says with a laugh that changes to a pained cough. Thorne backs away. "Fool! I wield the Shadow Brand, a shard of the Adversary itself!" The Shadow Brand butchers light around it...an effect that stops the moment it meets Aramegil. Thorne's jaw drops. "We've met." Unimpressed, Morgan advances on the Nephandus. He blinks at Aramegil. "But-but that's-" Thorne moves to attack...and is forced to parry just to keep his head on his shoulders. "Time is-Bring me-" Thorne pants, trying to begin to focus his powers, but Morgan's attacks prevent him from stringing together anything useful. "My magicks are the equal to yours, woman!" he says desperately, his preset magick defenses springing to life with a thought. "Maybe, but I was earnin' a livin' with a sword _long_ before I learned the greater magics." Morgan presses her advantage while responding. Thorne screams in frustration, and nearly loses his head for it. Instead, he 'merely' has a cheek sliced open. "This day I breathed first; Time is come 'round!" Thorne vanishes just as Aramegil passes through the space where his neck had been. With a sound like a bell shattering, the other villains vanish as well. (OOC: Chalk it up to all the space-warping that Chaos did; I know Nemo set up an anti-escape clause, but I'm trying to clear the field for Gamer here.) Morgan screams in frustration and turns a cubicle wall to splinters with one swing. Roland looks at Morgan with a tired, feeble smile. "My hero," he croaks. Morgan's rant at her elusive opponent ends abruptly at the sound of her beloved's voice. In a heartbeat she's at his side, gently hugging him while she assesses the damage. The two spirits burst in, apparently having found bodies; Zenn is wearing a beautiful chinese paper dragon, and Sil has somehow retrieved her HIT Mark. The Phoenix construct throws her restored arms around Roland and Morgan, cradling the psion gently. "You stupid-stubborn-oh, thank the Light you're alive!" Roland can only moan. *I,* he begins, and even his thoughts are hoarse, *have had a _very_ long day.* "Three, actually," Zenn adds, noting the readout on a monitor dangling from its power cord. "Nice wiring. I think the Fallen One did something to the local Time field." (OOC: That affected the entire pocket reality; no harmful effects on the characters, just giving KnightMare some 'time.') *One more thing to worry about...when I wake up. 'Scuse me.* And with that, Roland collapses into a deep, (IMHO) well-deserved state of unconsciousness. Zenn whirls around the ladies and their battered cargo three times, and they reappear with the rest of the CAoL, Roland cradled in Sil's tireless cybernetic arms. Morgan brushes Roland's hair with one hand. <*Well, folx...*> and Sil chimes in in unison with her, <*now what?*> Morgan looks at Sil in mild surprise, then laughs. "He blushes, I say 'now what'? Everyone's got to have a trademark." :-) =========================== Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 11:34:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Stranger Aeons On Wed, 31 Dec 1997 11:21:31 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002591 In alt.callahans Post # 00000804 "P. Campbell" said: On Wed, 31 Dec 1997, Roland X wrote: > Outside. > Music begins to play, and the CAoL learn that, whatever Thorne's > sins, he has an impressive voice. > "Not dead which eternal lie > Stranger eons Death may die! > > Drain you of your sanity, > Face the Thing that should not be!" > Roland gapes. "Perverting Metallica...the man is shameless..." Xzerrion grimaces. "Somebody shut that bastard up. He might have a voice, but I can write better lyrics half drunk on feywine." "Oh?" Tezrantha asks, raising an eyebrow. "You never sang for me before, I'm crushed." "Later, dear. I think we have other things to worry about." "Awwwww ...." > The Crawler appears on the outside of the building, draped over > the top three floors (it's grown), as has a Balrog with eight arms, > and the rest of the collected villainy, minus Maleficent. "Damn. I guess you're right, Xzerrion, we do have other things to worry about." Tezrantha swings onto Dantris's back and conjures a sword of pure flame from midair. > "Roland, dear boy! I believe I have something of yours!" Thorne > laughs, and holds up the crystal Sil. > Roland turns dead white. > "Simple suggestion, really! A duel, just us!" Xzerrion nocks a poisoned arrow, and brings it to full draw, then freezes on seeing what Thorne is holding. *If I shoot, can somebody catch her?* he sends. > "You win, you save your friend and her companion! You lose, and > she's mine!" Thorne adds. > "And if I refuse?" Roland replies hoarsely. > "I imagine she'll make the most fascinating sound when her prison > breaks." Tezrantha fixes her gaze on the prison, and begins muttering quietly under her breath. She and Dantris beging to glow their characteristic blue-green. > Roland frowns angrily. "I trust you about as far as I can throw > slug-boy. I want seconds." > "Done," Thorne says, waving magnanimously. "But not one of those > cosmic beings. I'd rather maintain my elemental structure, thank > you." > > <*Anyone who wants that spot had bloody well better get in line,*> > Morgan sends with finality. * Your place, Lady Morgan. If he violates the terms of the duel, you have a backup team waiting.* Xzerrion keeps his arrow trained on the collection of villainy. > "Begin!" Thorne says, and is already on Roland as he says it. > Roland curses profusely as he dodges, his speed just matching > Thorne's Time magicks. The Phoenix Rod comes to life and Roland's > counterattack is devastating. Even in his exhaustion, the psion's > rage and fear for his friend propelling him like an engine. > That saves Sil's life. > Thorne slashes at her, and Roland parries desperately with the > Rod. "You gutless-" Reading through the link, Tezrantha sends a sudden burst of energy to shield Sil. > The Cylon appears from beneath a pile of cubicle walls, points > its wand at Roland, and 'heals' him. The lightning pours straight > into the robot. > > "Roland!" Morgan charges towards the duellists. *Okay, that's it. This was supposed to be one on one. We're coming in.* Xzerrion's form alters to a slightly more demonic visage. He mostly still looks like a drow, but he now has large bat wings, three inch fangs, and claws. Suiting this new form, he drops the bow, and draws both Frostbite and Cobra. As Tezrantha and Dantris charge, he swoops in from above. The impact as Dantris's horn shatters the wall on the way in is truly spectacular. > "_I_ _think_ _not,_" Morgan says softly. > > "Ooo, you're in trouble..." Roland says with a laugh that changes > to a pained cough. > Thorne backs away. "Fool! I wield the Shadow Brand, a shard of > the Adversary itself!" The Shadow Brand butchers light around it... > an effect that stops the moment it meets Aramegil. Thorne's jaw > drops. *Nice blade. Do we have any pikes to mount Thorne's head on once you're done with him?* Xzerrion sends. *We can make one.* responds Tezrantha. > Roland looks at Morgan with a tired, feeble smile. "My hero," he > croaks. > > Morgan's rant at her elusive opponent ends abruptly at the sound of > her beloved's voice. In a heartbeat she's at his side, gently > hugging him while she assesses the damage. Tezrantha leaps off Dantris in mid-gallop, rolls to break her momentum, and comes up ant Morgan's side, ready to add any energy needed. "How bad is it?" She asks. > Morgan brushes Roland's hair with one hand. <*Well, folx...*> and > Sil chimes in in unison with her, <*now what?*> > > Morgan looks at Sil in mild surprise, then laughs. "He blushes, I > say 'now what'? Everyone's got to have a trademark." :-) "Good question. Getting some rest sounds like a good idea. So does clearing out before our local authorities try to `help' again. Xzerrion digs out a pouch of gold. "I'll leave this and a note to deal with any expenses for damaging property." =========================== Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 12:34:33 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Stranger Aeons On Wed, 31 Dec 1997 12:13:43 In Message # 00002592 In alt.callahans Post # 00000805 Morgan said: >On Wed, 31 Dec 1997 11:21:31 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002591 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000804 "P. Campbell" said: > >On Wed, 31 Dec 1997, Roland X wrote: >> Morgan's rant at her elusive opponent ends abruptly at the sound of >> her beloved's voice. In a heartbeat she's at his side, gently >> hugging him while she assesses the damage. > >Tezrantha leaps off Dantris in mid-gallop, rolls to break her >momentum, and comes up ant Morgan's side, ready to add any energy >needed. "How bad is it?" She asks. "The healing rod that machine was wielding did it's job. The poison's been mostly neutralized, and his own healing will take care of the rest. All he needs is some down time." The druidess smiles. "Back-up energy is always appreciated, though." >"Good question. Getting some rest sounds like a good idea. So does >clearing out before our local authorities try to `help' again. >Xzerrion digs out a pouch of gold. "I'll leave this and a note to >deal with any expenses for damaging property." "Which 'local'? We need to get out of this pocket whatever before we can do much of anything else." She looks around. "Where _is_ the Lord of Misrule, anyway?" =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 10:34:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Stranger Aeons On Thu, 1 Jan 1998 11:50:56 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002593 In alt.callahans Post # 00000806 Driscoll said: > On Wed, 31 Dec 97 01:12:53 -0800 In Message # 00002590 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000803 Roland X said: > > "Yes..." Thorne smiles as ideas form in his mind. "...I think > that this will prove useful... Chaos. I have a-a game for you. Why > don't you play with those interdimensional gates? I bet that that > would be _lots_ of fun..." "For someone of MY abilties, child's play. Pick a gate. any gate. doesn't really matter it's the wrong one anyways." Chaos smirks as the gateway energies twist and contort unpredicatbly, even to Chaos himself. But soon he grows tired fo watching them shift and change and leaves them to their contortions while he looks for new games. Outside, he watches the battles and realizes that while he has watched billions of wars, he has never played war himself. New experiences are rare to Chaos so he can't resist its lure. Off to the right of Thorne's legion, a single for appears, dressed in oriental robes and carrying a naginata. As he speaks the words don't seem to match up to the mouth movements. "So, you think your mock kung fu is better than my mock kung fu. Come face me and I will send you to see your ancestors or at least your aunt Ethel in New Jersy. You never call, you never write, when was the last time you sent her a picture o you or your childern? Have you been eating alright? You look thin. You were always a sickly child you know, such a precious little child. You were SOooo cute! What happened?" Chaos sees himself standing there and realizes what he has planned and decides to oblige himself. Driss's clothes shift into a duster with a pair of six shooters on his hips, cowboy boots, and a white ten gallon hat. "Well howdy pardner. Looks like we done reached the time of the final roundup I recken. The doggies are all wiht the kitties in the hoosgow for aimin' to rustle the chuckwagon, and the injuns are on the warpath. Best to circle up the '49ers and go for a touchdown." "So be it young locust. I kickie you buttie. WAAAAAHHHHOooooooOOOOOOEEeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHHWOOOOOOO..." Chaos begins twirling naginata aroudn his body while making a series fo unnatural sounds. Then leaping into the air a mile and a half he points the naginata at Driss and a beam of light burst forth from it. Driss ducks and tumbles to his left coming up in a crouch behind a barrel that appeared otu of nowhere, guns in hand. Isla, Darath and Iron Man weren't as lucky. The light engulfs them and becomes more nad more blinding, and when it clears, they are gone wihtout a trace. There isn't even any scortch marks or anything on the ground to denote that anything had happened there. "Oops, I missed you that time but now you will not be so lucky!" Chaos comes diving at Driss, blade first planning to impale Driss on the naginata. Driss fires off 34 shots in rapid succession then jumps away just as Chaos lands, impaling his weapon into the ground with enough force to cause a minor earthquake tremmor. When he stands up only about 6" of the shaft of the pole arm is still visible stuck in the ground. Chaos looks at it puzzled for a moments but then Driss lays into him with a haymaker that send Chaos flying a half mile or so away into the side of a building. Then he jumps onto a horse that appears from nowhere and chases after Chaos cracking a whip. Chaos meanwhile has shed his robes and now stands bare chested with a pair of bandoliers corssed voer his oiled chest, and a bandana tied around his head. Leveling a rocket launcher at the apporaching Driss, the rocket shoots out and Driss disappears inside a fireball. "Yo! Adrian! I coulda ben a Contender!" yells Chaos at the sight. Out of the setlling dusts steps Driss, now swelled up the 4 times his normal size with muscles, also bare chested, his blonde hair cut into a crew cut. Rushing Chaos with a rope, he manages to tie Chaos down to a chair, then prduces a movie screen adn projector. Turning on the Projector, Kindergarten Cop appears on the screen. "No No Anything but that!!!" Wails Chaos. Driss grins, "Der is more where dat came from. I have a complete collections of action stars trying to do comedy. After dis is Stop or My Mom Will Shoot, den Twins, den..." "No No! No More I can't take it! I'm melting melting! melti..." And Chaos disolves into mist. A referee appears standing next to Driss, raises their hands and yells into a microphone hanign in mid-air, "The Winnnnnnar and New.... Multiverse.....CHAM...pion!" Then Driss vanishes to appear nex tto Morgan. (See next post) =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 11:04:24 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Stranger Aeons On Thu, 1 Jan 1998 12:20:50 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002594 In alt.callahans Post # 00000807 Driscoll said: > On Wed, 31 Dec 1997 12:13:43 In Message # 00002592 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000805 Morgan said: > > "Which 'local'? We need to get out of this pocket whatever before we > can do much of anything else." She looks around. "Where _is_ the > Lord of Misrule, anyway?" Driss appears next to Morgan, sweeps her up in his arms and dips her, "I knew you would come back to me mon'Cheri. Come let us off to the Casbar wherever that is. But first let me slip into something a bit more comfortable." He brings her back up, and spins her away where she plops down next to Roland. "My Work here is done, I go now where there are people oppressed and young hearts cry out for freedom. I go... I go to where there are $1.49 shrimp cocktails and scantily clad whomen who sleep with you for money." Driss stands there posed with hands on his hips, chin up looking off into the distance, and Chaos floats out of him slowly until a 4 armed monkey with a lobster tail and Don King's had stands next to a restored Driss, His clothing back to normal and his cat tail vanished. Unfortunately the bullet holes caused by Lunitic re-appear as Driss slumps to the floor. "Tch Tch Tch that certainly won't do. Always leave a place better than you foudn it I always say. now let's see... Oh I know what to do!" Chaos rips Driss's clothing exposing his chest, then reaches into midair, his hand disappearing. When he pulls it out he has one end of a set of jumper cables in hand, the other end disappearing somewhere in the air. "The Cosmic Jumpercables!! Muahahahahahahahaha" The light grows dim and a lab coat appears on Chaos. "Now I will bring him back... to....LIFE!!" Pulling a large switch on the wall energy courses down teh cables and into Driss's now convulsing body. Driss then starts coughing and the wounds disappear as do the cables. Slowly getting to his feet he starts stumbling towards Chaos, who stands there grinning. "Wasn't that fun? Cant' you now see how GREAT it is to be Chaos? You and I make a great team Driss. I'm offering you a possition as a part of me. Now that you've seen firsthand what it's like to be me how can you resist?" Chaos's confident smirk begins to fade as he sees the raw hate in Driss's eyes adn the mouth moving trying to make words. The sounds coming out at first are completely unintelligable but soon begin taking form. "Raag Huk My Body. Jes Dev Bastard!!! Kleg could you really believe nam that would convince me? Haven't you tortured me enough yet? Why can't you just LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!!!!!!!!" Now it is Driss's turn for fear to begin crossing his face as Chaos begins to grow, turnign pitch black int eh dim light. Suddenly a circle of Flame erupts aroudn Driss illuminating the room again. Chaos is completely unrecognisable as anything from any world seeming part solid, part liquid, part shadow, part light. "You DARE throw my offer back in my face AGAIN? You DARE TO SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY??? I CREATED YOU!!! I CREATED THE MULTIVERSE!!!! AND I CAN DESTROY BOTH JUST AS EASILY!! But that woudl be too quick. You would never learn. therefore I shall send you to a place where time and space dont' exist, to let you think over your descision some more. But don't worry. you won't be alone there. Roscoe shared your crime, and so he shall share all your punishments. He adn his little rat too!" Chaos gestures, and Driss is gone. Changing back to hsi previous form, Chaos now wears a brightly colored jacket and waves about a reed cane. "You wanted out? Come one, Come all, the great Egress! Pick a door, any door! And I promise you, it won't be a bore." Chaos vanishes and three large iron and wood doors stand there in the middle of the room. I II and III carved into them. (OOC: This takes care fo my characters since there's really no reaosn to route people back to Los Angeles as everyone now knows it's Jadis they need to find and not hte Cotnroller, so whatever door is picked, the other two will isntantly vanish, and it will lead to the next sotryline setting.) > Neither of us will be at the keyboard after about 4-ish Pacific time > - I'm picking Roland up after work and we're driving into LA to see > "Phantom of the Opera" - 2nd time for me, first for Roland. So, > we'll see y'all next year ;-). The happiest of New Years to you > all!!!> OOC: Happy new Years to you too, as You can see I wasn't around yesterday anyways. hehehe =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 15:05:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Stranger Aeons On Thu, 01 Jan 1998 14:35:34 In Message # 00002596 In alt.callahans Post # 00000809 Morgan said: >On Thu, 1 Jan 1998 12:20:50 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002594 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000807 Driscoll said: > > Driss appears next to Morgan, sweeps her up in his arms and dips >her, "I knew you would come back to me mon'Cheri. Come let us off to >the Casbar wherever that is. But first let me slip into something a >bit more comfortable." He brings her back up, and spins her away >where she plops down next to Roland. > "My Work here is done, I go now where there are people oppressed and >young hearts cry out for freedom. I go... I go to where there are >$1.49 shrimp cocktails and scantily clad whomen who sleep with you >for money." <*Vegas?*> > Changing back to hsi previous form, Chaos now wears a brightly >colored jacket and waves about a reed cane. "You wanted out? Come >one, Come all, the great Egress! Pick a door, any door! And I promise >you, it won't be a bore." > Chaos vanishes and three large iron and wood doors stand there in >the middle of the room. I II and III carved into them. >(OOC: This takes care fo my characters since there's really no reaosn >to route people back to Los Angeles as everyone now knows it's Jadis >they need to find and not hte Cotnroller, so whatever door is picked, >the other two will isntantly vanish, and it will lead to the next >sotryline setting.) Sil hefts Roland, settling him into a more comfortable position. "Great, one of Chaos' more insufferable incarnations. Zenn?" "Don't look at me," the paper dragon replies. "No one can bind the Trickster." <*Eenie meenie,*> Morgan comments, looking at the doors. Sil sighs and nods. "Well, this cyborg remembers more of what happened to me than I do, so I would imagine that your friend comes first. Wherever we end up, it's not like we can't go anywhere we want from there." In a softer voice, she adds, "Assuming Chaos doesn't think it would be hilarious to drop us into a supernova or a Barney episode or somethiing." Morgan winces at the thought. <*True, but I don't think he's going to do anything to wipe us out, if only because he seems to have so much fun torturing us. I think we'll be _reasonably_ safe, whichever door we pick. If no one objects, I'll say take the middle ground. Door number two.*> Sil shrugs. "I doubt it will make any difference, but with Chaos you can never tell." "Yea," Roland croaks, "but he's fun at parties." "Go back to sleep, dear," Morgan says. Sil, OTOH, throws her arms around the recovering immortal, then gently puts him back on the ground. *Roland, do you practice scaring the life out of me, or does it just come naturally?* *Just lucky, I guess,* he replies, wobbling on unstable legs. He places an arm on the HIT Mark to steady himself, then stand more or less upright. *Poison is _not_ fun. Okay, folx, let's go to the rescue.* =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 04:19:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Stranger Aeons On Thu, 1 Jan 1998 23:41:45 PST In Message # 00002599 In alt.callahans Post # 00000812 Nemo said: In mail you write: > Sil hefts Roland, settling him into a more comfortable position. > "Great, one of Chaos' more insufferable incarnations. Zenn?" > "Don't look at me," the paper dragon replies. "No one can bind > the Trickster." "It's been done, but usually at *far* too high a cost. Loki, Coyote, Raven, they all tend to be more trouble 'controlled' than when they are left alone." > Morgan winces at the thought. <*True, but I don't think he's going > to do anything to wipe us out, if only because he seems to have so > much fun torturing us. I think we'll be _reasonably_ safe, whichever > door we pick. If no one objects, I'll say take the middle ground. > Door number two.*> "I can handle a supernova. Barney is another matter." =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 15:04:41 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE4: Letters From the Past, Part Deux On Fri, 2 Jan 1998 17:44:57 -0500 In Message # 00002600 In alt.callahans Post # 00000813 Knytt and Flarn said: A page ran into the throne room, breathless and haggard. The boy approached the throne with some trepidation, but managed to conceal it enough by straightening his tunic and hair. The king stared at the page with no small amount of annoyance. He was just leaving for his bedchambers. His queen was about to give birth, he had just been informed, and nothing short of Merlin himself would delay his appearance there. He wanted to see his heir as soon as possible. "Your majesty, a man is at the gate who wishes to speak with you. He-" "Is already here." The king turned toward the voice, coming from a dark corner of the throne room. "Merlin," he breathed. The hooded figure in the black cloak approached from the shadowy haven. "Uther Pendragon. I have come for the child. Igraine is in labor. And as we agreed, the fruit of your illicit union shall be mine for the taking." "Never! Did you really think I would agree to such a thing? I simply said that to get you to use your magic so I could slip past the palace guards to Igraine's bedchamber." "You did agree and you have already upheld your end of the bargain. Igraine had twins,but did not survive. Thanks to your imprisonment. They are in my care now." "You are lying, wizard." Another page burst into the throne room. "Your majesty! The queen is dead and the infants are gone! The guards were attacked by a demon and..." The page stopped dead in his tracks. "He's the man! He stole your son and daughter away! He probably killed the Queen, too." The king leapt out of the throne, sword at the ready, his anger propelling him at the dark wizard. He raised his sword, thrusting it through the wizard only to discover the figure was no more corporeal than air. "You have abused your Queen, trapped her in that tower as your prisoner. Her poor health and the strains of childbirth killed her. Her death is your own doing. You are not fit to rule. Your son will be. But you will not live to see it." A wand appeared in the wizard`s gloved hand and a blast of fire set Uther aflame. The wizard turned to the two pages. "Let it be known that Uther Pendragon is dead. Until the one True King, the weilder of a sword of immense power, claims the throne, this will be a dark time for England. Go, and remember the words of Merlin. Those who abuse their power will have their misdeeds returned to them threefold." The cloaked figure disappeared in a burst of flame. The pages ran from the throne room, carrying the words of Merlin across the land. ---------------------------------------- Knytt, clutching two infants, hurried through the forest to a small cottage. A short, stocky man met them at the door. "Here is the boy. Care for him as if he were your own son. These will be troubled times for the country, but see that he learns honor." Taking the newborn boy, he said, "Of course, Merlin. But what of the other child? And what of their mother?" "She did not survive their birth. The daughter will be cared for. She was the second born and will require attentions that you simply can not provide." The wizard pulled back the blanket the girl was wrapped in. A withered forearm was visible. "I must go. Raise the child well. His name is Arthur." Knytt vanished in a bright light, cradling the newborn girl. ------------------------------------------ As the screen showed a closeup with the title "Czar Raspinov of New Ukraine", the Czar smiled with pride. "Incredibly, the child was left on our doorstep. Well, the palace doorstep. Her arm was severely damaged, but her prostetic arm is working fine," the Czar of New Ukraine said as the camera cut to a little girl in parka throwing snowballs, with her mother's assistance, at one of the palace guards who smiled warmly as the little girl laughed gleefully. "Anna is a lovely daughter. We adopted her and intend for her to succeed us. She is the greatest gift we could have ever received. We have great hopes for her future." =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 18:34:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAEIV: Jadis On Fri, 2 Jan 1998 21:26:48 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002601 In alt.callahans Post # 00000814 Shadow said: > On Mon, 29 Dec 1997 10:58:41 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002587 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000800 "P. Campbell" said: > > Tezrantha adds her own energy to Isla's, reaching out towards the > pain, channeling it into herself, and from there dissipating it > carefully into the ground. Dantris moves to Rhiannon's other side, > brushing her with the tip of his horn (which is no longer flickering > nasty positive/negative energies, but is still visible). > > Spells in progress can often be traced to their creator.> OOC: There is no attack on her to find. It's not an attack. What happened was the strong link betwwen Rhiannon and John sort of snapped into place, and she wasn't ready for that. Rhiannon sobs into Isla's shoulder, "He was in such pain. All of a sudden he was just there, sreaming and screaming and he didn't even hear me. I tried to help him but it was _too much._ He didn't even know I was there." She begins to calm, a little, owing more to Isla's shoulder than Tezrantha's help. =========================== Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 09:35:53 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE: Message to Thorne On Sun, 4 Jan 1998 11:06:30 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002606 In alt.callahans Post # 00000819 Driscoll said: When the little robot reaches Thorne it will idenify him by vocal print and appearance and have a message on its screen instructing him to press a certain button for his letter. Pressing the button there is a sharp prick and the final lock (DNA check and if you don't think The Controller has Throne's DNA on file now you REALLY should go see Gattica. Or go see it anyways, I thought it was a great movie) is opened. The Controller's image appears on the screen and a printout slowly begins scrolling out of the robot. "Greetings my dear Dr. Adrian Thorne. Circumstances and security matters dictate that it is time that I once again relocate my base of operations. But I have not forgotten our agreement. Therefore I have left a few things at my Asteroid base that will do to fufil your end of our agreement. Five fearsome cyborgs I wish you to take into battle against the Army of Light. If you manage to beat them, then there is nothing more to be said of course, but if the tide is turning against you, abandon these constructs and your services are rendered in full and I will offer my own resources to the destruction of your mortal enemy Roland. I have programmed into each of these Cyborgs a "memory" that will be replayed by one of them upon destruction. In it, you and I are seen dealing with each other, then I turn into Iron Man and fly off. Don't bother asking how I did this, consider it a Technilogical illusion but it is very real to the cyborg and will be undetectable as false to any of the Army of Light. Printing out now is a map of the complex showing where htey are housed, their capablities and the coordantes to my base to make sure you can make it there on your own without having to be lead by Knightmare or myself." The image disappears, and the robot short circuts and self destructs, crashing to teh ground as hte printout flutters down seperately. =========================== Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 16:04:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: Aae: Nowhere and beyond. (Long) On Sun, 4 Jan 1998 17:24:04 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002608 In alt.callahans Post # 00000821 Driscoll said: When the battle broke out again Isla, Iron Man had been watching out for the emotionally scarred Rhiannon, and so never really saw what happened to them. One moment they were on the battlescape Chaos had created, the next... Iron Man fell heavily into the white powdery ground, suit completely devoid of power. Even his link with Jim seemed to be gone. But it was escape from the metal shell and not the fate of his nano-culture that worried Justin at the moment. While it was technically possible to get out of it wihtout Jim's aid, he had never really tested the proceedure. The helmet came off easily, showing him he wasn't alone. The beatifuly curved calf in front of his face led up to the rest of Isla, as she was shakign the young girl by the shoulders and talkign to her in a strange tounge in a panic. Justin got back to his own troubles and managed to undo the magneticly sealed locks that held the torso armor connected to the waist. Then, ever so slowly he wriggled his way out of the armor, he's dead systems no longer could micronize and delflate the armor into its normal portablity. Once the torso was shed, the legs and waist were quickly followed and Justin could turn his attention to the girls. The apprentice had plopper herself on the white (sand?) and was sobbing softly while isla muttered to herself again int eh strange language. Only then did Justin realize what language it was. Quarenian, from the Kingdom of Dor-Wil. He had learned it among other local languaged when he was there as The Controller. She didn't seem to be paying any attention to him so he could take his time trying to remember the strange tounge and decifer it. It was sounding like a prayer for guidance and frustration mostly. uninteresting stuff. Turning away from her Justin went to begin inspecting his shed armor to figure out what happened to it. Nothing seemed to be damaged on teh suit, but none of the systems would work. Even the sesnors that detect teh charge left int eh power pack seemed to be off-line. Curious if the powerpack could be that drained, Justin fished around in a compartment until he came out with a small length of wire and a light bulb. Rigging the bulb to the power pack it flared to life then exploded. obviously the pack was charged. "You men and your toys. Why not do something _useful_ like finding out where we are?" cplained Isla in her native tounge from behind him. Justin was about to reply when he bit his tongue. No Then he would have to answer about how he came to learn the languages of Quaren. best to feign misunderstanding. "Your equine face gives off noises like the flatulance of a thousand cows oh old crone." he responded in Russian with a good natured tone as he rose and turned to face her. Confusion covered her face, "What did you say? Why are you talking strangely all of a sudden?" Uncertain of what else to reply or the fact that it makes any difference, Justin responds quickly with, "Three french hen, two turtledoves, and a partridge in a pear tree." Switching slightly to a Ukrainian dialect. Isla quickly realizes that whatever magic that let everyone understand each other is gone now, just like her own magic and the magic of SoulStealer. She tries drawing in the white powder, but despite there being no breeze, the marks she make seem to vanish again seconds after he fingers move from the spot. For that matter there are no foot prints or any other signs of distrubance on the ground in teh immediate area, despite the fact that everyon'es feet were three inches down in this sandy stuff. Looking off to teh horizons, there was nothing but a perfetly flat plain of white as far as the eye could see. there didn't even appear to be a dicernable sun in the sky, only a light from an indistinct source. With much signing and singalling, they agree to move in a random direction, hoping to find _something_ out there. Justin picks up SoulStealer just barely being able to wield the massive iron blade now that it's magical lightness was gone. He stuck a small box containing much of Jim's nanites into his pocket, but decided to abandon the armor, and with teh two girls in tow, they began their trek across the endless white. =========================== Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 22:35:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE4: Letters From the Past, In Closing... On Wed, 7 Jan 1998 00:31:37 -0600 In Message # 00002619 In alt.callahans Post # 00000832 Michael Jon Knight said: Arthur's course had been set, now I simply had to bring his ship into it's home port. For that I would need some help...and it appears to have just sailed in... "Father!" the twins shouted in glee as they appeared in the center of my campfire. Pyewackett looked up, blinked twice, then looked at me. *Am I seeing what I think I am seeing?* "You are indeed, old friend." *Your magic is indeed marvelous, to summon spirits from the flame.* I chuckled, "You will understand in a few thousand years that it is not magic, but for the here and now, the name magic will suffice." *I will live that long?* "Indeed. Children, step out of the fire, we need to discuss tomorrow's plans..." ---------------------------------------------------- Arthur rushed into his family's tent, franticly searching for a sword. He knew his brother could not enter the tournament without one. "I -must- find a sword! Or I shall never become more than a squire! Bad enough I overslept after that strange dream. If I can't find that sword, it will be the priesthood for certain, if I am -that- lucky." "I can help you, lad." Arthur turned to see an old man in tattered rags, motioning for him to follow. "This way, there was a sword left by the riverbank, perhaps by someone watering his horses." "I watered the horses there. Maybe I dropped it!" The old man led Arthur to the riverbank. "Here is where I saw it. Where could it have been?" The old man searched the bank, poking here and there in the reeds. Arthur sighed, looking exasperated. "Normally, sir, I would be happy to assist, but my brother is in desperate need of a sword and..." Arthur trailed off as the old man pointed behind him, saying "Ah, there is the sword I saw!" Arthur turned and gaped. A sword rose out of the water and into the air, pulling a woman in a flowing silver gown of translucent fabric up with it. A stunning blonde, she looked heavenward, no, towards the sword. She shone with a golden light of her own, but was vastly outshone by the sword, which seemed as bright as the sun. ----------------------------------------------------- In the center of the tournament, a brilliant flame appeared. The two jousters' horses reared and halted as the flame formed into the shape of a black-cloaked figure standing in the center of the field. His voice boomed as he spoke. "THE ONE TRUE KING FORTOLD AT THE DEATH OF THE LAST PENDRAGON HAS COME TO THIS PLACE. THE SWORD OF POWER WILL BE REVEALED AND THE ONE WHO PASSES ITS TEST WILL RULE OVER THE WHOLE OF BRITAIN." Above the figure appeared the lady at the river, swordless, hovering in midair, brilliant as the sun. Slowly her arm raised, and she pointed towards the river. "THE LADY OF THE LAKE BECKONS US TO THE RIVER. COME QUICKLY. THE TIME OF THE TESTING IS AT HAND!" The cloaked figure vanished in a flame and the Lady faded away, still pointing to the river. The assemblage nearly ran to the riverbank where Arthur was standing. The Lady of the Lake released her sword, sinking slowly back beneath the water. The sword spun in midair, tilted toward a boulder in the river, and drove itself deeply into the rockface, nearly halfway to the hilt. The flame and the cloaked figure appeared just behind the sword jutting from the stone. "THE TEST IS AT HAND. WITHDRAW THE SWORD 'EXCALIBUR' FROM THE STONE AND THE NEW KING WILL BE REVEALED." The figure vanished again. No one moved for a long time. Then the old man who led Arthur to the river spoke: "Well? Isn't any one of you going to try?" At the answering silence, the old man scrambled forward toward the stone and sword."Well, I been poor all my life, I wouldn't mind a palace with food brought to me by pretty serving girls, having people bow to me and call me Your Majesty. Yes, going to be really good to have all that tax money and women fawning over me. Just pull that sword out and I'm King of all EnglAAAAAAA-!" The old man fell in the river as several of the knights clambered up the rock. Apparently, several had been shaken out of their fear by greed. At worst, they would fail. At best, they got a strong sword, and just perhaps, all of England. The first knight to reach for the sword was knocked backwards into the river by a bolt of lightning, emitted from the crystal pommel of the sword. Several others tried, only to find themselves in the water as well. The old man, having gotten soaked, wandered up behind Arthur, whispering, "Try it, boy. The sword appeared to you first, after all." Arthur didn`t look so sure, but a swift kick in the backside from the old man propelled him to the rock. A large knight was barring his path. "Where do you think you are going?" "I want to try," Arthur said nervously. "No." The old man shouted, "Let the lad try!" Several of the crowd picked up the chant. Finally the burly knight agreed. Arthur stepped up onto the rock and took a wide stance. Reaching for the sword, he took a firm two-handed grip on it and tugged. The sword slid free so easily that Arthur nearly stumbled back into the river. "THE BOY HAS DRAWN THE SWORD. THE TRUE KING HAS BEEN CHOSEN. AS PREDICTED BY MERLIN SEVENTEEN YEARS BEFORE, THE TRUE KING HAS COME!" The black figure threw back the cloak's hood to show the face of Knytt. "BOW TO YOUR NEW KING! SO MERLIN HAS SAID, SO IT IS DONE." Knytt vanished from the center of the crowd in a burst of flame, to reappear on a boulder several dozen meters downstream. "I, MERLIN, HAVE SPOKEN," Knytt diapppeared for the final time. ------------------------------------------------- I know, very melodramatic, but they wouldn't just fall for any old kid with an overgrown letter-opener. When I left, Pyewackett was waiting for my "return". Funny, I would have never pictured myself the wizardly type. But, I was committed to follow my "past" actions. It's been a strange trip. I will return soon. If you haven't already, go on without me. "Laz & Lor" are getting rather good at tracking AWOL CAoLers, or so they tell me. ===========================