Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 67 Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:07:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: An ending and a beginning... On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:24:36 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005925 >On Sun, 20 Sep 1998 23:39:10 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005918 > >>On Sat, 19 Sep 1998 06:17:53 -0500 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005906 > > >>As a second blast from Jha'Dur heads for Mike, it bends in front of >>the Time Lady, heading back for Jha'Dur. "Fool me once, shame on >>you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Mike replied, landing a >>Kryptonian-level punch on Jha'Dur's nose. > > His fist crashes through Jha'Dur's faceplate, as well as her face. >But even as he pulls the fist back, both she and her armor are >regenerating, and by the time he can see around his fist to her head, >it has healed back almost completely, and the armor has begun >adapting. The blast does nothing at all to her or the armor, as it >reabsorbs the energy. Mike doesn't look at all surprised on either count. >>"What is it with you, anyway?" Mike asks, ducking a punch and having >>one of her own blocked. "Were you litterbox trained too early?" She >>blocks a fist and replies with an uppercut. "Never got the saucer of >>32% cream?" She takes a punch in the jaw and has a knee to the >>stomach blocked. "The Toms always prefered the Persians in high >>school?" Finally, the pair disengage and circle each other. "Smoked >>too much catnip in college?" > > "Your references to a feline species on Earth are useless on me, >though I understand them," Jha'Dur replies. "Your present form, >however, would seem to indicate that they are more appropriate to >yourself. Though I must avoid allowing the fact that your ancestors >were dirty craven scavengers to cause me to underestimate you," she >adds evenly. Mike grins at this. "I see. Yes, I am having no effect on you whatsoever." >>/Unless, we're the balance./ > > /Grife. THAT must be why he wanted us here-whether we joined or >fought, we'd serve its sprocking purpos-MIKE!/ Roland cries. > Deathwalker fires a burst of energy in all directions meant to >cause the forcefield to feedback directly into Mike, with a nasty >energy-spike virus thrown in for good measure. Mike sits down within her forcefield, smiling. The burst of power was absorbed by Jha'Dur's forcefield along with the virus. /I'm not hooked into that one. Just another test of her abilities./ >If the forcefield is still standing for even a fraction of a second >after that, quantum-field covered spikes fly out and tear through the >one containing her. Then she flies out and presses a section on her >right arm. Mike nods, watching the spikes shred the forcefield, causing it to collapse. > A...THING...that looks like the bastard child of a rancor and a >tarrasque charges at Mike. To be met by an R2D2-like hologram of Luke Skywalker, lightsaber extended. Puck appears, floating in midair a few yards over, behind, and above Mike, holding an old Atari game console joystick. "More fun than Pitfall," Puck says with a laugh as the lightsaber slashes a finger off Jha'Dur's creature. 'Luke' hops back a few feet in a jerky, crude animation fashion. Mike says, "To be honest, Jha'Dur, I have no real desire to fight you. We can go around and around for an eternity and still not get a winner. And while you could certainly recreate the Dilgar, they won't be able to rise to the same glory that you likely remember. Other races will ally against you and you will simply do what we are doing now, going around in circles. Give it some thought." =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:07:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: An ending and a beginning... On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:24:41 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005926 >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:12:29 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005921 > > "Dara of Chaos, you are a worthy ally of Darkseid, but Suli is >MINE. You will not interfere," the Demon Avenger intones. > "Oh, so?" Dara raises an eyebrow. "I think you're reaching abover >yourself, shadow-creature." > Darkseid's eyes burn with the Omega Effect, but he ignores Dara's >comment for the moment. "Suli. You did not answer me before. Why do >you flee Darkseid?" Mike looks over from within the forcefield. /I think that was adressed to you, Zia. Or should I say, Suli?/ =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:07:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:24:46 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005927 >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 14:17:16 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005924 > >>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:56:51 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005922 >> >> A mockery of a man, looking like a burn victim escaped from Hell, >>wearing dark gray armor with only the occasional skull-symbol for >>accent, and spikes of deepest black on each joint, is the source of >>the voice. He holds a spear that glows with power obvious even to an >>ordinary sentient; to the CAoL, its deadly radiance is obvious. >> Behind him is an army. Of Nephandi. Mike sighs from within the forcefield. >> "I owe you nothing, Destroyer," the Gaunt Man intones. "The >>Maelstrom Bridge can use your soul as easily as a stormer's." >> "Heh. The forces of Light will consider you the greater threat. >>Do as you will, 'Torg.' The Tower is MINE!" And the Nephandi burst >>forth with a howl torn from the Abyss itself... >> Roland, Morgan, Byron, and Shard (and our sib, if he wants to >>remember Atlantis-9) all say, at the same time, in the same tone: >> "oh bloody hell..." Mike nods. /Uh huh./ =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 14:37:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 4: A Prediction, and an Offer On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 17:17:08 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005928 Scott watches the battle from a short distance. As he sees the Z'On'Dar change his mind, and the resulting invasion, he mutters something. /Folx, I fear we have a problem. The tower will probibly result in a major distortion of reality in the immediate vicinity; in other words, The Big Cosmic Reset Switch. If any of you have anything you want to send along to your future selves, I know a place where they'll be protected from the Cosmic Reset. If my prediction does not happen, I will delete the messages./ <...Responces Here...> Scott seems to pause for a second, and then resumes observing the battle. Thanks Scott "Beyond The Vale" Osborne =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 15:37:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 18:32:24 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005929 >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:56:51 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005922 > >>On Sun, 20 Sep 1998 22:29:17 -0400 >>Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005914 >> >>>On Sun, 20 Sep 1998 06:43:27 >>>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005909 > Z'On'Dar begins to tap away on the controls, its fingers a blur as >the combined tech/psi/magick interface links with the Shadow. The >Tower glows with an eerie multicolored light. A shaft of power >flashes through the vane atop the Tower's gate, and the six globes >light up, illuminating the entities within. > The Gate opens. ^So that is how it is done.^ Jadis materializes a body close by Z'On'Dar. He offers no threat, just watches as he has been doing. > A mockery of a man, looking like a burn victim escaped from Hell, >wearing dark gray armor with only the occasional skull-symbol for >accent, and spikes of deepest black on each joint, is the source of >the voice. He holds a spear that glows with power obvious even to an >ordinary sentient; to the CAoL, its deadly radiance is obvious. > Behind him is an army. Of Nephandi. John has been doing nothing throughout the entire battle so far, except to destroy anything that dared attack him. He lifts his right arm to shoulder level. It is convulsing, and he stares at it hard. Finally the shakes slow and stop. He raises his totally blue eyes toward the Tower. > "I owe you nothing, Destroyer," the Gaunt Man intones. "The >Maelstrom Bridge can use your soul as easily as a stormer's." > "Heh. The forces of Light will consider you the greater threat. Do >as you will, 'Torg.' The Tower is MINE!" And the Nephandi burst forth >with a howl torn from the Abyss itself... > Roland, Morgan, Byron, and Shard (and our sib, if he wants to >remember Atlantis-9) all say, at the same time, in the same tone: > "oh bloody hell..." John walks over to the Tower, and speaks to Z'On'Dar. But the words that come out of his mouth are surprising, to say the least. "We require use of this device. You will stand aside." Any attempts to contact him mind to mind fail, miserably. As an afterthought he adds, "We will disable the part of the program that provides for Ascension. We require only the gate." His head twitches once, then is still. =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 18:08:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Dangers of Reentry On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 19:38:23 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005930 : On Sun, 20 Sep 1998 23:25:09 : Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005917 :>On Sat, 19 Sep 1998 02:49:12 -0400 :>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005904 :>> On Fri, 18 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said : : "That 'Spider' is the closest thing to a father I've ever had, : and as for what I want...YOU try being an inanimate object for ten : thousand years!" Shard barks. "Z'On'Dar says we'll be able to sense : anything-and I want to feel EVERYTHING. Besides, with the power : everyone will have, no one will ever suffer my fate again," he adds, : his voice softening. : : Morgan ponders this for a moment. Anyone paying attention will sense : a brief telepathic conversation between the Freelance Immortals, : Roland scowling as he continues his battle with Bester. Then Morgan : says Shard, in a voice not meant to carry beyond him, "I know : something Z'On'Dar can't offer you." : : Shard blinks, and there is a brief telepathic conversation, : heavily shielded, then another. "Deal?" : : "Deal," Morgan replies. [James, you've corrupted Morgan. You should be ashamed of yourself.] Zia quips. She doesn't have ANY idea what this Deal was, but she has some thoughts on what it might be. [You should know better. You'll be buying the beer; you're incorrect.] James laughs mentally, but chops off as Bester starts giving him real trouble. =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 18:08:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: An ending and a beginning... On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 19:46:57 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005931 :On Sun, 20 Sep 1998 23:39:10 :Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005918 :>On Sat, 19 Sep 1998 06:17:53 -0500 :>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005906 :> :>/Anyone else wondering how that backup amalgam is going to work? :>With just villians that is? Unless they've had a change of heart, :>there is no balance./ :>/Unless, we're the balance./ : : /Grife. THAT must be why he wanted us here-whether we joined or : fought, we'd serve its sprocking purpos-MIKE!/ Roland cries. Zia radiates intense dissatisfaction. Normally, no one else would have been able to detect it, but with the Pheonix Force lending weight and intensity to her emotions, the empathic talent she has has outstripped her normal shielding. She hasn't noticed it yet. [WASN'T that exactly what I said, that the Bug was going to use the CAoL as parts, James?] [Zia, maybe Michelle just didn't see exactly how the pieces fit before. I'm sure he... she believed you, you like each other. Can the hurt Cassandra act at least until we're out of the fire and various frying pans.] James blows her a kiss, that makes the emotions suddenly tumble from annoyance to ... romance, as Zia blushes and turns back to her little conversational group. Dara on one side, and Darkseid on the other... (she'd rather be fighting Bester...) Zia Crown Princess of Chaos And Catastrophe Central James the Unshakable well, except for beautiful woman-looking entities =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 18:08:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 20:04:21 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005932 :On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:56:51 :Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005922 : A mockery of a man, looking like a burn victim escaped from Hell, : wearing dark gray armor with only the occasional skull-symbol for : accent, and spikes of deepest black on each joint, is the source of : the voice. He holds a spear that glows with power obvious even to an : ordinary sentient; to the CAoL, its deadly radiance is obvious. : Behind him is an army. Of Nephandi. [I wonder who the clown with the low-budget costumer is?] Zia thinks idly. [If this is what Dara thought was the problem when the Bug STOPPED... can't fight a battle on two fronts - I'm no Benedict.] "All right, Dara. You obviously know quite a bit more about this situation than I do." That seemed to almost be physically painful on Zia's part. "How would you suggest using this Nullification for fullest possible benefit against the contending forces trying to usurp the Tower? And do you know a way to safely tear it apart or nuetralize the Tower in any way?" : "Heh. The forces of Light will consider you the greater threat. : Do as you will, 'Torg.' The Tower is MINE!" And the Nephandi burst : forth with a howl torn from the Abyss itself... : Roland, Morgan, Byron, and Shard (and our sib, if he wants to : remember Atlantis-9) all say, at the same time, in the same tone: : "oh bloody hell..." "Been there, done that, ain't doing it again." Zia says, still absently. Then she makes an actual effort for the first time, relaxing her control enough the Pheonix Force manifests in uniform color and flames around her. A solid Neon-like line appears, a segment about 12' long, like a very long staff. She hefts it once, then tosses it with a decent if not spectacular javelin-like throw into the midst of the oncomiing horde of baddies coming from the Bridge. There is a sound that is not a sound, a scream of torment that is actually a sweet pang of release, a cracking like the end of the ice after Ragnarok has rebegun the world myth of the Norse anew. And vivid blue lines arc and grow up around the Maelstrom Bridge like a climbing vine, with deadly fruit. Carefully held and wrapped (but not killed) Nephandi dot it like obscene berries on a bush, as the Pattern Segment unwinds and grows, trapping them in screaming bundles. They don't seem to take the touch of Purest Order Symbol energy too well. Quite quickly the Bridge is log-jammed with squirming lines in brightest blue, and cursing tormented Nephandi in a big worm-writhing like pile. The Maelstrom Bridge itself is not injured, but it will be useless until something can be done. "Hello, smelly and nasty. Beats me why the vultures haven't finished you already. Whew, at least most dead have the decency to rot peacefully." She toodle-waves at the bad guy she still doesn't know (Malice). "Did you have a wittle signalling problem? Traffic is such a pain, isn't it?" She gives him, and Dara, and Darkseid, a very strange grin. It seems half mischievious, and half black humor... or outright insanity glittering deep in her eyes. She seems to be suddenly having a WONDERFUL time, her smile growing. Or it might be who possessed her a moment ago... =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 18:38:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: An ending and a beginning... On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 20:15:55 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005933 : On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:12:29 : Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005921 : "Dara of Chaos, you are a worthy ally of Darkseid, but Suli is : MINE. You will not interfere," the Demon Avenger intones. One of Zia's eyebrows lifts slightly, and a muscle just under her jaw... moves the tiniest amount. Her eyes turn angry, but it's the slow grinding considering sort. Well-fanned on in effect by the underlying presence of the Pheonix Force - but Zia seems to have a phenomenal level of control of her emotions. Perhaps she benefits from thespian training and talent... or martial arts discipline? : "Oh, so?" Dara raises an eyebrow. "I think you're reaching abover : yourself, shadow-creature." : Darkseid's eyes burn with the Omega Effect, but he ignores Dara's : comment for the moment. "Suli. You did not answer me before. Why do : you flee Darkseid?" "First, Rockhead, I did answer you. I am not this Suli woman you're so hot about... seems to be a lot of that in your camp, Shard's doing it to Morgan as well. This Suli musta been some lady. Second, I don't belong to anyone. Not even my husbands can get away with that crap. Third..." Zia turns, having quite plugged (at least for some moments) the Maelstrom Bridge, and tangled up the Nephandi army single-handedly, "I don't make a habit of fleeing things, and I take offense that you by action and word name me one a liar, and two, a coward. That you do it thinking I am the woman you loved called Suli just makes it clear to me that such is impossible. I could never love anyone who failed so consistently to respect my honor AND my person." She finishes with a quite hard-driven tone, the Pheonix flames having risen in level and intensity as she spoke. But when she truly gets annoyed, there is a penetrant red gleam, and the Jewel in her eye shows it's presence, almost as if matching the Omega Effect for threat level. =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 18:38:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: An ending and a beginning... On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 20:23:19 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005934 : On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:24:41 -0500 : Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005926 :>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:12:29 :>Morgan and/or Roland Said :> Darkseid's eyes burn with the Omega Effect, but he ignores Dara's :>comment for the moment. "Suli. You did not answer me before. Why do :>you flee Darkseid?" : : Mike looks over from within the forcefield. /I think that was : adressed to you, Zia. Or should I say, Suli?/ Zia _growls_ at Mike over the link. Not seriously threatening Mike, just her anger is so hot that it is coloring everything she is doing. She is still linked in through Nemo's circuits, but the lag is noticeable only to machine grade minds. /I am fairly certain I am NOT this Suli person. Since I'm not human, not an individual, and not having met this particular loon case before. Besides, I'm _hardly_ the sort of woman to have left this string of hearts tied up. This Suli sounds like she could lord it over Helen of Troy.... Michelle. Think about it. That lets me out./ She finishes with a smirk, and a definite smugness at thinking of repeating James' change to his/her name. =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 21:19:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ragnarok and Roll On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 20:40:01 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005935 >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 11:12:16 EDT >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005923 > >>On Sun, 20 Sep 1998 23:51:48 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005919 >> "YOW! Now I know how a flea feels!" Shard yelps, landing on his >>feet, barely, a few inches off the ground. He looks down sheepishly >>and touches down. (OOC: I'm assuming that Driss also lands on his >>feet) Shard, noting his opponent's grace, salutes with a smile. >>"Shall we continue?" > > "But of course!" remarks Driss launching a quick strike at Shard's >toes. Shard Advances of Driss launching some attacks of his own that >Driss parries and Driss keeps giving up ground, right up Galactus's >other leg. Shard gives him a questioning look, then follows him up. > They face off on the kneecap for a short while, but neither seems to >be making any headway. "OK, Shard I have to give you credit. You >fight as well as a two legged three year old." Ducking under an >attempt at his head, Driss lashes out for Shard's knees. Shard leaps >over it easily but it gives Driss a chance to flip backwards further >up the leg. "Yeah? Well, you must have a real problem duelling three-year-olds, then," Shard chuckles as he advances again. > Driss broke into song as they fought up the leg. "It's the end of >the world, as we know it. It's the end of the world as we know it. >It's the end of the world as we know it. And I feel fine!" "I _hate_ those guys," Shard mutters, "REM is a sleep cycle, not a fraggin' band." > Shard doesn't verbally respond, but launches a new all out attack as >both combatant's wounds heal themselves up. The battle gets fierce >and furious as they back across Galactus's groin area. Shard goes for >an overhead chop at Driss, who backsteps from it, then parries the >blade a few inches from the ground. "I _REALLY_ wouldn't hit the >ground right here if I were either of us. And I am." Shard looks down. "-ulp-" He carefully steps _around_ the area, and the two continue, Galactus watching them rather more carefully this time... >> After a few minutes, Shard looks up and away, fighting >>defensively for a moment. Then he stops, takes a step back, and >>bows. >> "Looks like we'll have to finish this another time," Shard says, >>fading out quickly. > > Driss plops down on Galactus's kneecap. Looking way up at him he >qwips, "I just need a quick breather then I'll be off." > Then Driss gets up, sheathes his sword and puts on a bright yellow >glove. Going to their original fighting ground, Driss began pikcing >the holes off Galactus's leg and putting them back in their pouch >when they turn back into marbles. Galactus promptly shrinks to three meters tall. "That will be _quite_ sufficient." Then he looks up and vanishes, reappearing in space near the Crawler. A trio of slobbering werewolves, all of which look like they have mange and rabies, then charge Driss as they howl madly. =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 21:19:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 23:57:01 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005936 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005922 > "Heh. The forces of Light will consider you the greater threat. > Do as you will, 'Torg.' The Tower is MINE!" And the Nephandi burst > forth with a howl torn from the Abyss itself... > Roland, Morgan, Byron, and Shard (and our sib, if he wants to > remember Atlantis-9) all say, at the same time, in the same tone: > "oh bloody hell..." *Darkseid, Takishis, that is a full incarnation of the Great Adversary. If he takes the tower intact, or even repairable, he will leave nothing in any universe for you to conquer. Crawler if he gets that tower the only part of you he will leave intact is that part of you that can feel pain. He must be destroyed, as much as that is possible, NOW! Galactus, the greatest weapons of the Great Adversary act against the spirit as I did, against Starbreaker. You and I must be ready to ward against that kind a attack, in case the Great Adversary has given this incarnation that power.* Aurora sends. (OOC: please note that an incarnation (or in this case a full incarnation since he can't be killed, per Roland's statement to that effect), can be unaware that he is an incarnation, and doesn't have the full power of the Great Adversary. I wanted to make clear that I wasn't calling him the Great Adversary). /^Z'on'dar you have locked time to a constant rate. You must release it now, so those of us with time twisting abilities can use them against Malice.^/ She continues. /*Dragon's Bane, if Crawler sides with Malice, implement plan "Alpha and Omega" against him*/ =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 22:39:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ragnarok and Roll On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 01:26:49 EDT Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005937 Eating warning, You have been warned. >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 20:40:01 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005935 > > Galactus promptly shrinks to three meters tall. "That will be >_quite_ sufficient." Then he looks up and vanishes, reappearing in >space near the Crawler. > A trio of slobbering werewolves, all of which look like they have >mange and rabies, then charge Driss as they howl madly. Driss freezes for a moment then drops down close to the ground. As the first werewolf reaches Driss, he pops up on his hands, thrusting a brutal kick into the werewolf's jaw, shattering it. Flipping to leap off the dazed Werewolf's head, he jumps over the second Werewolf and just past the claws of the third. As Driss tries to get furthur away the third pivots on him and goes for his head. Driss tosses the only weapon he has on hand, the bag of holes. The Werewolf falls to the ground, instantly dead with most of its head na chest missing in large gaping holes. Driss goes reaching for something in his cloak when the second one leaps at him. Driss has no choice but to roll over, pulling the cloak on top of himself. The Werewolf seems naturally confused as it lands on a pile of cloth. The creature claws at the cloak when suddenly from oen of its folds, five gold crossbow bolts shoot out, impacting deeply in the creature's chest. Driss pops out, discarding the rapid firing repeater crossbow with a wide smile on his face that quickly fades adn vanishes as the werewolf snarls and pulls out the bolts. "Oh damn, I always forget these other dimentions keep having the metals backwards!" Driss reaches for his sword, but the now-healed first werewolf latches itself onto his arm nearly ripping it from the socket. Driss screams in pain and aims one of his rings at the Werewolf. There's a brilliant burst of light and the werewolf lets go of his grip blinded, but the other one leaps at Driss, knocking him down to the ground. Driss wrestles with the beast as best he can one handed while his right arm heals itself. As he regains use of his arm, he reaches behind his neck and undoes one of his pendants. Whipping the chain around the werewolf's neck, Driss snakes his way onto the monster's back and begins strangling it with the silver chain, riding hte werewolf like a bucking bronco. The other werewolf's vision begins to clear and it braces itself to launch an attack at Driss when a giant scorpion semms to grow up behind the werewolf and lashes out with it's tail, paralyzing the werewolf. Roscoe reverts back to his familiar wolf form as Driss untangles his chair from the fur of the dead beast he's sitting on. "Thanks for the assist Roscoe, but when did you start being able to change into forms like that?" /Call it a birthright for right now, I got it when this medallion appeared. let's go see how we can help out the others right now./ Driss goes over to collect his cloak form the ground and reaches into it. Pulling out a shotgun, Driss whirls around and trains it on the already stirring werewolf. Pulling the trigger, the monster's head explodes and it falls to the ground. "I remebered to use silver this time instead of gold." =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 23:06:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 22:42:56 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005938 >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 14:17:16 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005924 > >>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:56:51 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005922 >> >> "Heh. The forces of Light will consider you the greater threat. >>Do as you will, 'Torg.' The Tower is MINE!" And the Nephandi burst >>forth with a howl torn from the Abyss itself... >> Roland, Morgan, Byron, and Shard (and our sib, if he wants to >>remember Atlantis-9) all say, at the same time, in the same tone: >> "oh bloody hell..." > >Legion reaches out a hand and a fighting staff appears in it. >"Z'On'Dar, I trust you will not object to my helping you in this >fight?" "Young one, any aid against such as those would be MOST welcome," Z'On'Dar replies. It's clear that most of the Shadow's thought tracks are concentrating on neutralizing the Tower. >Legion begins weaving her defensive spells about the tower even as >she grabs ahold of local reality and anchors herself tightly. She finds that the Tower has quite a few spells defending it, with enough overlap to enough different magick types that she can weave her own in with them. Also, local reality is surprisingly easy to 'grab,' as though it had 'handholds' of a sort built in. >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 18:32:24 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005929 > >>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:56:51 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005922 >> >> A mockery of a man, looking like a burn victim escaped from Hell, >>wearing dark gray armor with only the occasional skull-symbol for >>accent, and spikes of deepest black on each joint, is the source of >>the voice. He holds a spear that glows with power obvious even to an >>ordinary sentient; to the CAoL, its deadly radiance is obvious. >> Behind him is an army. Of Nephandi. > >John has been doing nothing throughout the entire battle so far, >except to destroy anything that dared attack him. He lifts his right >arm to shoulder level. It is convulsing, and he stares at it hard. >Finally the shakes slow and stop. He raises his totally blue eyes >toward the Tower. A small mound of demons, para- and otherwise, as well as a handful of immortals, is piled up around John. (OOC: Unless he's been vaporizing them, in which case there's a thin ring of ash around him.) >John walks over to the Tower, and speaks to Z'On'Dar. But the words >that come out of his mouth are surprising, to say the least. "We >require use of this device. You will stand aside." Any attempts to >contact him mind to mind fail, miserably. As an afterthought he adds, >"We will disable the part of the program that provides for Ascension. >We require only the gate." His head twitches once, then is still. Z'On'Dar turns its head, the rest of its body remaining still (except for its talons, which still tap at the controls in a blur) and its eyes black out for a moment, as if blinking. "Jadis, how great a fool do you take me for? You represent all that is flawed in my Great Work. *GALACTUS.*" The one-time Devourer of Worlds, who has reentered his shuttle-globe, stops his preparations for an assault on the Crawler of the Pit. Then a human-sized Galactus, who (while not making any overt displays of power) radiates vast ability well beyond what even _he_ had wielded in the recent past, regards 'John' evenly as he holds his ebon staff planted in the ground. "I believe, Zodaii, that you are not welcome here." >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 20:04:21 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005932 > >: On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:56:51 >: Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005922 >: >: A mockery of a man, looking like a burn victim escaped from >: Hell, wearing dark gray armor with only the occasional skull-symbol >: for accent, and spikes of deepest black on each joint, is the >: source of the voice. He holds a spear that glows with power obvious >: even to an ordinary sentient; to the CAoL, its deadly radiance is >: obvious. >: Behind him is an army. Of Nephandi. > >[I wonder who the clown with the low-budget costumer is?] Zia thinks >idly. [If this is what Dara thought was the problem when the Bug >STOPPED... can't fight a battle on two fronts - I'm no Benedict.] > >"All right, Dara. You obviously know quite a bit more about this >situation than I do." That seemed to almost be physically painful on >Zia's part. "How would you suggest using this Nullification for >fullest possible benefit against the contending forces trying to >usurp the Tower? And do you know a way to safely tear it apart or >nuetralize the Tower in any way?" "The Shadow-how appropriate a name-is already deactivating its own work. All you need do is delay the attackers until it is done." Dara smiles thinly. "The Nullifier should work well against any sort of sorcery, of which there is more than enough here for you to oppose. It will also provide you a small link to the energy I am given by the Tower." Dara pulls out a second sphere. "My work here is complete. However, I am still honor-bound to aid you." She grows a talon from one finger, and her blood flows a thick, deep brown, reaching out to the sphere with a life of its own. "Behold, niece, the smallest fraction of my new ability." The blood flows around the sphere, and in seconds a demon-form Dara is standing next to the human-form version. Dara cocks her head. "Hm. Her horns should be lighter. I will have to take more care next time." (OOC: Her voice is tinged with irony; in another, the words would be thick with it. The Dara facing you is almost an exact duplicate, not just in body but in power.) >"Been there, done that, ain't doing it again." Zia says, still >absently. Then she makes an actual effort for the first time, >relaxing her control enough the Pheonix Force manifests in uniform >color and flames around her. A solid Neon-like line appears, a >segment about 12' long, like a very long staff. She hefts it once, >then tosses it with a decent if not spectacular javelin-like throw >into the midst of the oncomiing horde of baddies coming from the >Bridge. And oncoming they are; shambling mounds of plantlife looking like undead Swamp-Things, howling werewolves that make the Fallen Garou seem gentle, some creatures cobbled together from a dozen predators each-all unique, pterodactyl-men with eyes glowing like dying coals, and vampyre generals that seem to be corruption incarnate... >There is a sound that is not a sound, a scream of torment that is >actually a sweet pang of release, a cracking like the end of the ice >after Ragnarok has rebegun the world myth of the Norse anew. And >vivid blue lines arc and grow up around the Maelstrom Bridge like a >climbing vine, with deadly fruit. Carefully held and wrapped (but not >killed) Nephandi dot it like obscene berries on a bush, as the >Pattern Segment unwinds and grows, trapping them in screaming >bundles. They don't seem to take the touch of Purest Order Symbol >energy too well. The vampyres burn the way normal vampires do under the sun, the shambling plant-things (that Zia learns are called Gospog) simply explode, and the Frankenstein's monstrosities start decaying. The werewolves just scream. The Ravagons, however-the nearly skeletal (but definitely alive) pterodactyl things-seem to be holding their own, if only barely. "For the Sixth Irishantza! For Sallsboratza!" they cry in their odd ululating voices, and fight fiercely, if with near-futility, against the power of Order. >Quite quickly the Bridge is log-jammed with squirming lines in >brightest blue, and cursing tormented Nephandi in a big worm-writhing >like pile. The Maelstrom Bridge itself is not injured, but it will be >useless until something can be done. "Hello, smelly and nasty. Beats >me why the vultures haven't finished you already. Whew, at least most >dead have the decency to rot peacefully." She toodle-waves at the bad >guy she still doesn't know (Malice). "Did you have a wittle >signalling problem? Traffic is such a pain, isn't it?" Malice bows. "How true. Thank you, my dear, for inconveniencing the Gaunt Fool. I only intend to rule Creation, unlike the Gaunt Man who would torture it to death with all the consideration of a child pulling the wings from a fly." The Gaunt Man's eyes narrow-his rictus-like face seems incapable of expression. "We shall see, fools." He/it vanishes, pulling at reality as he goes. (This is not a special attack; the Gaunt Man just likes weakening the fabric of creation whenever it can.) >She gives him, and Dara, and Darkseid, a very strange grin. It seems >half mischievious, and half black humor... or outright insanity >glittering deep in her eyes. She seems to be suddenly having a >WONDERFUL time, her smile growing. Or it might be who possessed her a >moment ago... "Clever." Malice notes with apparent unconcern the battle between Bester and Roland. Then he smiles. "How delicious-your only hope, so addled he is of no use to you. You, my dear, are a far greater threat than that wreck." He swirls his staff, and is gone-and Bester, apparently seeing something that isn't there, fires at Zia! *This really _is beginning to get on my nerves,* Bester sighs as he assaults Zia's mind at the same time. The pseudo-Dara smiles a terrible smile and launches herself at Bester's physical form... =========================== Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 23:11:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: An ending and a beginning... On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 23:07:22 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005939 >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:24:36 -0500 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005925 > >Mike says, "To be honest, Jha'Dur, I have no real desire to fight >you. We can go around and around for an eternity and still not get a >winner. And while you could certainly recreate the Dilgar, they won't >be able to rise to the same glory that you likely remember. Other >races will ally against you and you will simply do what we are doing >now, going around in circles. Give it some thought." Jha'Dur smiles coolly. "Against this?" She gestures to the tarrancor. "You are a being of power and purity. The denizens of this reality will fall easily, save for Bester's Psi-Corps, and he and I have an...arrangement. Even the so-called Justice Legion will prove no great difficulty-I have catalogued their histories and weaknesses. Only the speedster can give me much trouble, and I have a virus waiting for him. However." Jha'Dur smiles again, even more coldly than before. "You seem a reasonable sentient. My knowledge of reality-travel is as yet...limited. Find me a universe suitable for my people, one which we can take our fill of challenge and glory, and I may yet consider ending this battle." Mike/Michelle has the distinct impression of playing poker against someone with a few aces up her sleeve... >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 20:15:55 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005933 > >: On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:12:29 >: Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005921 >: >: Darkseid's eyes burn with the Omega Effect, but he ignores >: Dara's comment for the moment. "Suli. You did not answer me before. >: Why do you flee Darkseid?" > >"First, Rockhead, I did answer you. I am not this Suli woman you're >so hot about... seems to be a lot of that in your camp, Shard's doing >it to Morgan as well. This Suli musta been some lady. Second, I don't >belong to anyone. Not even my husbands can get away with that crap. >Third..." "But-" >Zia turns, having quite plugged (at least for some moments) the >Maelstrom Bridge, and tangled up the Nephandi army single-handedly, >"I don't make a habit of fleeing things, and I take offense that you >by action and word name me one a liar, and two, a coward. That you do >it thinking I am the woman you loved called Suli just makes it clear >to me that such is impossible. I could never love anyone who failed >so consistently to respect my honor AND my person." Darkseid's eyes glow with cold fire, his anger in check only by his concern that Zia might still be his mate... >She finishes with a quite hard-driven tone, the Pheonix flames having >risen in level and intensity as she spoke. But when she truly gets >annoyed, there is a penetrant red gleam, and the Jewel in her eye >shows it's presence, almost as if matching the Omega Effect for >threat level. Darkseid's eyes narrow at the sight of the Jewel of Judgement. Zia will probably feel herself being minutely scrutinized. "You mistake my intent, princess of two worlds," Darkseid intones, "but you _are_ correct about one thing...you are not Suli. The other woman is not she, either. However, you _have_ given me the means by which she can return to me, so I will not slay you for this affrontery. I leave you and the fool Bester to each other's ministrations." Darkseid vanishes in a loud booming cylinder, only to reappear half a mile away as Bester's blasts strike where Zia was when he fired. (Whether Zia is still there or not is another story. ;^) Darkseid raises his right arm, sigils of black-hole-level darkness inscribed upon it. "Behold-I command the Anti-Life Equation! I command Death itself! SULI RETURN TO ME!!!" A woman appears in a bolt of what for all the world looks like anti-lightning next to Darkseid. How ANYONE could have mistaken this woman for Zia is anyone's guess; though she is beautiful in a strange, savage way, she is a full foot taller, her skin and hair are a smooth, dark gray, and her eyes are a brilliant blood-red. Her magical power is self-evident to anyone capable of even slight magic sense. "Ah, my dark and terrible Lord!" She embraces the Demon Avenger with an emotion almost as savage as her aspect. "We are one once more!" Darkseid returns the embrace with what seems to be cool satisfaction...though anyone who sees his EYES in that terribly glorious moment know otherwise. "Yes, Suli. It is done. We are nearly finished here." Darkseid's eyes glow darkly as he regards the battle. "There is but one bit of unfinished business that remains in this endeavor." Darkseid's eyes and Suli's hands glow with vast, terrible power... =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 02:08:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: To sum up... On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 02:08:49 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005940 >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 23:07:22 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005939 > >>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:24:36 -0500 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005925 >> >>Mike says, "To be honest, Jha'Dur, I have no real desire to fight >>you. We can go around and around for an eternity and still not get a >>winner. And while you could certainly recreate the Dilgar, they >>won't be able to rise to the same glory that you likely remember. >>Other races will ally against you and you will simply do what we are >>doing now, going around in circles. Give it some thought." > > Jha'Dur smiles coolly. "Against this?" She gestures to the >tarrancor. "You are a being of power and purity. Mike: [I am?] >The denizens of this reality will fall easily, save for Bester's >Psi-Corps, and he and I have an...arrangement. Even the so-called >Justice Legion will prove no great difficulty-I have catalogued their >histories and weaknesses. Only the speedster can give me much >trouble, and I have a virus waiting for him. However." Jha'Dur smiles >again, even more coldly than before. "You seem a reasonable sentient. >My knowledge of reality-travel is as yet...limited. Find me a >universe suitable for my people, one which we can take our fill of >challenge and glory, and I may yet consider ending this battle." > Mike/Michelle has the distinct impression of playing poker against >someone with a few aces up her sleeve... "Oh, was that all you expected out of your deal? Naw, you're sitting pretty as it is. No reason to go elsewhere. You've got it all here. Well, unless that guy that just showed up with an army isn't on your side. Then you're in trouble. Sorry, with so many yahoos trying to get their hands on that Tower for so many different reasons, I really need a scorecard to keep up." >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 19:46:57 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005931 > >: On Sun, 20 Sep 1998 23:39:10 >: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005918 >:>On Sat, 19 Sep 1998 06:17:53 -0500 >:>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005906 >:> >:>/Unless, we're the balance./ >: >: /Grife. THAT must be why he wanted us here-whether we joined or >: fought, we'd serve its sprocking purpos-MIKE!/ Roland cries. > >Zia radiates intense dissatisfaction. Normally, no one else would >have been able to detect it, but with the Pheonix Force lending >weight and intensity to her emotions, the empathic talent she has has >outstripped her normal shielding. She hasn't noticed it yet. [WASN'T >that exactly what I said, that the Bug was going to use the CAoL as >parts, James?] /Well, that was Zia's presumption from quite a while back, Roland. But it just hit home for me how we were obviously drawn in here to be collected uninjured, so if something happened to the main focus, we would be the backup. What that means, now that your Gaunt Man and Captain Marvel are free, is we're the only focus for that thing./ >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 20:23:19 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005934 > >Zia _growls_ at Mike over the link. Not seriously threatening Mike, >just her anger is so hot that it is coloring everything she is doing. >She is still linked in through Nemo's circuits, but the lag is >noticeable only to machine grade minds. /I am fairly certain I am NOT >this Suli person. Since I'm not human, not an individual, and not >having met this particular loon case before. Besides, I'm _hardly_ >the sort of woman to have left this string of hearts tied up. This >Suli sounds like she could lord it over Helen of Troy.... Michelle. >Think about it. That lets me out./ She finishes with a smirk, and a >definite smugness at thinking of repeating James' change to his/her >name. Mike looks over. /I don't doubt that. Never did. -You- have -taste-. And even if, in some -fit- of -infinitely- bad judgement, you had, I should not blame you for running the -second- you recovered your good senses. However, James, you -did- ask for someone willing to chase you. Ever consider suggesting that Darkseid just wasn't -man- enough for your 'Suli'?/ Then Suli appears. /Never mind./ /Oh, and if you -insist- on shifting my name to the feminine, the name would be Michaela, which is the Irish/English form of Michael. Meaning, in some translations from the Hebrew, 'Who is like God?' An ironic name today./ Mike frowns slightly, /Let's see...what else needs doing?/ /Legion, if you would suggest Knightm- er, Z'On'Dar cut the power tap to anyone not involved in his defense of the Tower or vital for the shutdown, I would appreciate it./ /Rhia, (Hope you are still up there.) am I right in my guess that John has just been subsumed by his 'hitch-hiker'? And that he and Jadis want the Tower so they can collect their other selves and restart their little war in earnest?/ /Stranger. Mandy, Raver, there is some demon on the loose shouting for an 'Eternal Champion'. He might be headed your way as I haven't seen him down here. Also, if either of you wish a ride down, there are likely shuttles available, or faster transport should you desire an immediate evacuation here. Of course, being here, I would rather be back in Callahans, but then, there are very few who wouldn't./ /Scott, all things considered, wouldn't the possibility of some Cosmic Reset going off imply to you that we would be better served fighting to get this Tower shut down properly so it doesn't happen?/ /If I didn't mention you by name, if you see a problem, let me know, 'kay? I'm not ignoring you, just a touch busy at the moment./ =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 04:36:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ragnarok and Roll On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 19:06:06 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005941 > On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:00:14 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005920 > >>On Sat, 19 Sep 1998 21:04:11 PST >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005908 >> >>The Velvet Glove will create a spherical shell of negative energy >>surrounding the Crawler. It should take it a while to figure out how >>to penetrate the shell with *any* effect without seriously damaging >>itself. > > Not really. The Crawler is made of...well, it's not really made > of ANYTHING, it's sort of a thing of not-there-ness with some primal > reality giving it sentience of a sort. Tentacles slam into the > sphere and shatter it, 'taking' the pieces and thrusting them toward > Epsilon Three, the tentacles extending as they fly out. O-kay. Being energy rather than matter, it can't "shatter", nor would there be pieces. But it can be broken/twisted. Who're the best mages on our side, and which of them has the highest SANity rating? Nemo (on the Velvet Glove) will send them the contents of some "nasty" magical tomes (and actual copies of said tomes when necessary). As well as a number of Mnaran "star stones" and other objects with power against the Great Old Ones (the Crawler is a rather obvious avatar/cognate of Azathoth). >>And learns that pure "energy" is a *bad* choice for attacking an >>energy manipulator. Nemo reaches out and the "light Shard" is sucked >>into Nemo's hand. > > Um, no. Shard is ALSO an energy manipulator, backed up by all the > Tower's processing power. It's like trying to eat a raw porcupine. > Then the porcupine, realizing that it's having an effect, tries > to shove itself down your throat... Can't hurt any worse than many a thing Nemo has encountered in the past. :-) >>And *this* time, Nemo *will* sift thru all the memories available. >>And he'll grab onto the link to the Towre, and reach out thru it, >>doing his best to *keep* it from being broken. > > THAT part isn't a problem, at least, though Nemo can't yet > interfere with its operation-and probably doesn't want to, as he/it > realizes that there's a 98.793% chance that Z'On'Dar will be > convinced by the test (which WILL be beneficial to the universe in > question) to give up its mad scheme. > Then the attack stops as Shard stops fighting. > *Eh-sorry about that, big guy. No hard feelings, I hope,* Shard > sends. ^Not a problem.^ ^I need to trick Mournblade into getting in the Crawler's way if we can't stop it before it gets here. Are you game for that?^ =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 04:36:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: A Prediction, and an Offer On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 19:22:48 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005942 > On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 17:17:08 EDT > Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005928 > > Scott watches the battle from a short distance. As he sees the > Z'On'Dar change his mind, and the resulting invasion, he mutters > something. > > /Folx, I fear we have a problem. The tower will probibly result in a > major distortion of reality in the immediate vicinity; in other > words, The Big Cosmic Reset Switch. If any of you have anything you > want to send along to your future selves, I know a place where > they'll be protected from the Cosmic Reset. If my prediction does > not happen, I will delete the messages./ > > <...Responces Here...> ^I/We thank you for the offer. But I/we have _complete_ control of the universes our "self" resides in. I/We may lose a number of remotes, but they are easily replaced. Their memories reside in me/us.^ =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 05:36:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 08:12:53 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005943 >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 22:42:56 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005938 > >>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 14:17:16 -0400 >>Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005924 >> >>Legion reaches out a hand and a fighting staff appears in it. >>"Z'On'Dar, I trust you will not object to my helping you in this >>fight?" > > "Young one, any aid against such as those would be MOST welcome," >Z'On'Dar replies. It's clear that most of the Shadow's thought tracks >are concentrating on neutralizing the Tower. Legion actually smiles a little bit. Appearently being called young one doesn't bother her/them in the least. >>Legion begins weaving her defensive spells about the tower even as >>she grabs ahold of local reality and anchors herself tightly. > > She finds that the Tower has quite a few spells defending it, with >enough overlap to enough different magick types that she can weave >her own in with them. Also, local reality is surprisingly easy to >'grab,' as though it had 'handholds' of a sort built in. Legion braces herself, as they have the feeling this is going to be a bumpy ride... > The Gaunt Man's eyes narrow-his rictus-like face seems incapable >of expression. "We shall see, fools." He/it vanishes, pulling at >reality as he goes. (This is not a special attack; the Gaunt Man just >likes weakening the fabric of creation whenever it can.) Legion swallows, and strengthens reality in that area, teasing the distortions out of it gently. /Someday we need to figure out exactly what we are doing and how we are doing it.../ >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005939 > Darkseid returns the embrace with what seems to be cool >satisfaction...though anyone who sees his EYES in that terribly >glorious moment know otherwise. "Yes, Suli. It is done. We are nearly >finished here." Darkseid's eyes glow darkly as he regards the battle. >"There is but one bit of unfinished business that remains in this >endeavor." Legion murmurs, "Even the insane meglomanics have significant others." She gives a heavy sigh. >On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 02:08:49 -0500 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005940 >/Legion, if you would suggest Knightm- er, Z'On'Dar cut the power tap >to anyone not involved in his defense of the Tower or vital for the >shutdown, I would appreciate it./ Legion gestures sending a wave of something not seen/smelt/touched, but definately THERE out from her... whatever it was, any of the unholy creatures approaching her and the tower start burning like magnesium flares. "Z'On'Dar... How long before you can cut the power tap to your former allies?" Her eyes narrow at something, and she looks in the direction of the Crawler. "Please tell me you can cut the power tap to your former allies." =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 13:37:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: An ending and a beginning... On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:12:37 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005944 > On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 23:07:22 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005939 > >>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:24:36 -0500 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005925 >> >>Mike says, "To be honest, Jha'Dur, I have no real desire to fight >>you. We can go around and around for an eternity and still not get a >>winner. And while you could certainly recreate the Dilgar, they >>won't be able to rise to the same glory that you likely remember. >>Other races will ally against you and you will simply do what we are >>doing now, going around in circles. Give it some thought." > > Jha'Dur smiles coolly. "Against this?" She gestures to the > tarrancor. "You are a being of power and purity. The denizens of > this reality will fall easily, save for Bester's Psi-Corps, and he > and I have an...arrangement. Even the so-called Justice Legion will > prove no great difficulty-I have catalogued their histories and > weaknesses. Only the speedster can give me much trouble, and I have > a virus waiting for him. However." Jha'Dur smiles again, even more > coldly than before. "You seem a reasonable sentient. My knowledge of > reality-travel is as yet...limited. Find me a universe suitable for > my people, one which we can take our fill of challenge and glory, > and I may yet consider ending this battle." > Mike/Michelle has the distinct impression of playing poker > against someone with a few aces up her sleeve... Nemo sends to Mike: ^If you think it's safe, I'm sure that NEMO has many such realities on file. And some might just have features that'd slow down any double cross your 'friend' has planned.^ =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 13:37:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:25:33 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005945 > On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 08:12:53 -0400 > Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005943 > > Legion gestures sending a wave of something not seen/smelt/touched, > but definately THERE out from her... whatever it was, any of the > unholy creatures approaching her and the tower start burning like > magnesium flares. "Z'On'Dar... How long before you can cut the power > tap to your former allies?" Her eyes narrow at something, and she > looks in the direction of the Crawler. "Please tell me you can cut > the power tap to your former allies." Nemo breaks in: ^Here are some items that may assist against the Crawler. Be very careful with the tomes.^ With this a number of star shaped stones made from an odd greenish gray rock appear at Legions feet. A sort of podium/reading stand appears with several ancient and rather repulsive looking books upon it, all closed. One is labeled "Al Azif" in Arabic script. Another is made of thin metal plates. Anyone scanning the stones will not that they seem to be *older* than the universe. And that there's an odd sense of power about them. The books don't really scan of evil. More like vast power that doesn't even *connect* to any "human" standards. =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 14:07:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 16:43:38 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005946 On Mon, 21 Sep 1998, Morgan wrote: >>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 18:32:24 -0400 (EDT) >>Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005929 >> >>>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:56:51 >>>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005922 >>John has been doing nothing throughout the entire battle so far, >>except to destroy anything that dared attack him. He lifts his right >>arm to shoulder level. It is convulsing, and he stares at it hard. >>Finally the shakes slow and stop. He raises his totally blue eyes >>toward the Tower. > > A small mound of demons, para- and otherwise, as well as a handful >of immortals, is piled up around John. (OOC: Unless he's been >vaporizing them, in which case there's a thin ring of ash around >him.) OOC: Bodies, for the most part. Covered in ash. Killed in the quickest and easiest way possible. >>John walks over to the Tower, and speaks to Z'On'Dar. But the words >>that come out of his mouth are surprising, to say the least. "We >>require use of this device. You will stand aside." Any attempts to >>contact him mind to mind fail, miserably. As an afterthought he >>adds, "We will disable the part of the program that provides for >>Ascension. We require only the gate." His head twitches once, then >>is still. > > Z'On'Dar turns its head, the rest of its body remaining still >(except for its talons, which still tap at the controls in a blur) >and its eyes black out for a moment, as if blinking. "Jadis, how >great a fool do you take me for? You represent all that is flawed in >my Great Work. *GALACTUS.*" Jadis cocks an eyebrow, "Did I say a word? Nooooo. Yet I'm still treated like the bad guy. Well, I am the bad guy, but I hadn't gotten to that yet." > The one-time Devourer of Worlds, who has reentered his >shuttle-globe, stops his preparations for an assault on the Crawler >of the Pit. > Then a human-sized Galactus, who (while not making any overt >displays of power) radiates vast ability well beyond what even _he_ >had wielded in the recent past, regards 'John' evenly as he holds his >ebon staff planted in the ground. "I believe, Zodaii, that you are >not welcome here." John doesn't even blink, "Our welcome is of no consequence. An opportunity is at hand and we will not be denied. Move, or be moved." Jadis takes up a position on the far side of the Tower from John. Both are too close for comfort. =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 14:36:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: An ending and a beginning... On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 14:39:38 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005947 >On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:12:37 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005944 > >> On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 23:07:22 >> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005939 >> >> Jha'Dur smiles coolly. "Against this?" She gestures to the >> tarrancor. "You are a being of power and purity. The denizens of >> this reality will fall easily, save for Bester's Psi-Corps, and he >> and I have an...arrangement. Even the so-called Justice Legion will >> prove no great difficulty-I have catalogued their histories and >> weaknesses. Only the speedster can give me much trouble, and I have >> a virus waiting for him. However." Jha'Dur smiles again, even more >> coldly than before. "You seem a reasonable sentient. My knowledge >> of reality-travel is as yet...limited. Find me a universe suitable >> for my people, one which we can take our fill of challenge and >> glory, and I may yet consider ending this battle." >> Mike/Michelle has the distinct impression of playing poker >> against someone with a few aces up her sleeve... > >Nemo sends to Mike: > >^If you think it's safe, I'm sure that NEMO has many such realities > on file. And some might just have features that'd slow down any > double cross your 'friend' has planned.^ ^If Z'On'Dar can cut off her power, I will bear it in mind. In my reality, she took her Immortality serum and should likely have the Immortality of the average Shadow or Vorlon. Which doesn't mean she can't be killed, only that she will not age or die from natural causes. I was actually thinking prehistoric Dilgar. She can be with her people, and her tendency toward violence will fit right in. But at the moment, if I took her, she would likely figure out how I did it. ^I think Bester deserves a nice long vacation as well. Perhaps somewhere full of telepaths where he can't do any harm. ^On the other hand, I am sure the Justice Legion would like them. Jha'Dur has a great number of crimes to atone for. Maybe not Bester, though. Well, at least until now.^ =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 19:38:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ragnarok and Roll On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 19:17:10 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005948 >On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 19:06:06 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005941 > >> On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:00:14 >> Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005920 >> Not really. The Crawler is made of...well, it's not really made >> of ANYTHING, it's sort of a thing of not-there-ness with some >> primal reality giving it sentience of a sort. Tentacles slam into >> the sphere and shatter it, 'taking' the pieces and thrusting them >> toward Epsilon Three, the tentacles extending as they fly out. > >O-kay. Being energy rather than matter, it can't "shatter", nor would >there be pieces. But it can be broken/twisted. Well, then that's what happens, but let me put it this way. If the Crawler had _wanted_ the stuff to be matter, it would have been. Warping reality, causing it to snarl and twist, empowers it. It was locked away by incredibly powerful forces at the beginning of time in the multiversal 'cluster' which includes Earth-9. Releasing this...THING...rivals building the Tower in the first place, on the list of Z'On'Dar's mistakes. >Who're the best mages on our side, and which of them has the highest >SANity rating? Z'On'Dar isn't bothered (sanity-wise) by its presence, but it's REALLY busy right now. >Nemo (on the Velvet Glove) will send them the contents of some >"nasty" magical tomes (and actual copies of said tomes when >necessary). As well as a number of Mnaran "star stones" and other >objects with power against the Great Old Ones (the Crawler is a >rather obvious avatar/cognate of Azathoth). Z'On'Dar sighs. [Why didn't I think of that?] it thinks rather loudly. (OOC: The answer is: yep, the faerie-borne madness was that bad...) >^I need to trick Mournblade into getting in the Crawler's way if we > can't stop it before it gets here. Are you game for that?^ ^Hmm...^ Shard thinks. Then he smiles. ^Y'know, I think I do...if it were me, the best way to get me to want someone dead is to tell me they wanted to turn me back into a blade. Mournblade is probably the only thing in local reality that might serve the Crawler as a weapon at all, since Stormbringer is busy being an ornament in Takhisis' lair.^ Then the Crawler thinks up a new plan. Its 'skin' cracks near the forehead, and the battlefield is exposed to its horrific 'true' visage of unreality... (OOC: I never liked sanity checks. ;^) =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 19:38:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To sum up... On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 19:15:38 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005949 >On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 02:08:49 -0500 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005940 > >>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 23:07:22 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005939 >> >> Jha'Dur smiles coolly. "Against this?" She gestures to the >>tarrancor. "You are a being of power and purity. > >Mike: [I am?] ^What,^ Sil comments with a laugh much like Tink's, ^you didn't know?^ >"Oh, was that all you expected out of your deal? Naw, you're sitting >pretty as it is. No reason to go elsewhere. You've got it all here. >Well, unless that guy that just showed up with an army isn't on your >side. Then you're in trouble. Sorry, with so many yahoos trying to >get their hands on that Tower for so many different reasons, I really >need a scorecard to keep up." Jha'Dur sighs. "Your attempts to shake my confidence are transparent and boring. I think you will be of no use to me." With that, Jha'Dur vanishes, reappearing next to the shaken Roland. "GRIFE!!!" He backpedals with impressive speed as Jha'Dur tosses a glowing sphere at him. She has already vanished by the time it's struck his forcefield, and become a creature that feeds on that particular form of energy. >/Well, that was Zia's presumption from quite a while back, Roland. >But it just hit home for me how we were obviously drawn in here to be >collected uninjured, so if something happened to the main focus, we >would be the backup. What that means, now that your Gaunt Man and >Captain Marvel are free, is we're the only focus for that thing./ Roland concentrates, and a psibolt fries the thing's rudimentary mind. /Ah, Mike, I doubt Z'On'Dar would have let Cap out if it couldn't shut the Tower down without him, I'm not sure that the Tower needs to be balanced to be used for unbalanced purposes, and he is by NO means _my_ Gaunt Man. Ick./ Jha'Dur reappears by Julian, but vanishes again as the Amberite's blade flies toward her almost before she appears. >/Stranger. Mandy, Raver, there is some demon on the loose shouting >for an 'Eternal Champion'. He might be headed your way as I haven't >seen him down here. Also, if either of you wish a ride down, there >are likely shuttles available, or faster transport should you desire >an immediate evacuation here. Of course, being here, I would rather >be back in Callahans, but then, there are very few who wouldn't./ They probably respond that they're quite busy, as Mournblade appears, looks at Stranger, smiles at him with a sickening grin, and says, "Hello, Elric." =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 19:45:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 19:37:13 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005950 >On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 08:12:53 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005943 > >Legion gestures sending a wave of something not seen/smelt/touched, >but definately THERE out from her... whatever it was, any of the >unholy creatures approaching her and the tower start burning like >magnesium flares. "Z'On'Dar... How long before you can cut the power >tap to your former allies?" Her eyes narrow at something, and she >looks in the direction of the Crawler. "Please tell me you can cut >the power tap to your former allies." "I can," Z'On'Dar says slowly, "but to do so before deactivating the Ascension program would prove to be...greatly inconvenient." Legion (not to mention anyone else listening) has the distinct feeling that Z'On'Dar has made one of the all-time great understatements... >On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:25:33 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005945 > >With this a number of star shaped stones made from an odd greenish >gray rock appear at Legions feet. A sort of podium/reading stand >appears with several ancient and rather repulsive looking books upon >it, all closed. One is labeled "Al Azif" in Arabic script. Another is >made of thin metal plates. > >Anyone scanning the stones will not that they seem to be *older* than >the universe. And that there's an odd sense of power about them. Z'On'Dar gestures at the stones. "Quickly, Legion, place one against the Tower. Use the others as you require, but I suggest maintaining possession of at least one, especially if you intend to use...THOSE." >The books don't really scan of evil. More like vast power that >doesn't even *connect* to any "human" standards. BTW, these ^^^ are 'those.' >On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 16:43:38 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005946 > >> Z'On'Dar turns its head, the rest of its body remaining still >>(except for its talons, which still tap at the controls in a blur) >>and its eyes black out for a moment, as if blinking. "Jadis, how >>great a fool do you take me for? You represent all that is flawed in >>my Great Work. *GALACTUS.*" > >Jadis cocks an eyebrow, "Did I say a word? Nooooo. Yet I'm still >treated like the bad guy. Well, I am the bad guy, but I hadn't gotten >to that yet." "Haven't you worked with such vigor to earn your reputation as a monster without redeeming value?" Z'On'Dar replies, its voice thick with irony. >> Then a human-sized Galactus, who (while not making any overt >>displays of power) radiates vast ability well beyond what even _he_ >>had wielded in the recent past, regards 'John' evenly as he holds >>his ebon staff planted in the ground. "I believe, Zodaii, that you >>are not welcome here." > >John doesn't even blink, "Our welcome is of no consequence. An >opportunity is at hand and we will not be denied. Move, or be moved." >Jadis takes up a position on the far side of the Tower from John. >Both are too close for comfort. Shard looks out at the developing situation. "Oboy." *Hey, HERO! You got any bright ideas?* he sends to Roland. Roland staggers to his feet. *No, not really...* then he sees Darkseid and Suli rejoin the Demon Avenger's forces and prepare to leave. *...then again, maybe...give me all the information you have on-* "DARKSEID!" Darkseid turns, unconcerned. "Blaze. You are a fool, but you are a courageous fool. What do you desire?" "Peace on earth, goodwill toward sentience, but right now I'll settle for the continued existence of all creation," he replies as glibly as his violated form will allow. "May I remind you of: 1) the Anti-Life Equation is self-aware, 2) your control of it is bound up in your agreement with Z'On'Dar, and therefore vulnerable to whoever takes the Tower, and 3) you've already gotten a taste of the Source, so why the nass are you fighting _us?_" "I have no interest in opposing you any longer," Darkseid intones. "I have all that I require." /Well, it's a start./ "Yeah, and how long will you keep it if one of _them_ takes the Tower?" Roland gestures behind him at the escalating battle. Darkseid frowns. "One moment, my mate," he says to Suli, who weaves protective enchantments around the Demon Avenger even as he teleports. "You who are known as Jadis," he intones, as he appears between the Zodaii and the Tower. "Do you give your word that you will not threated Apokolips?" /Hmmph. So much for plan 'A,'/ Roland thinks... (OOC: Unless Jadis responds in other than the affirmative, Darkseid vanishes a moment later to deal with another attacker.) =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 20:38:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Ragnarok and Roll On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 23:34:50 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005951 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005948 > >>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 19:06:06 PST >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005941 >> >>^I need to trick Mournblade into getting in the Crawler's way if we >> can't stop it before it gets here. Are you game for that?^ > > ^Hmm...^ Shard thinks. Then he smiles. ^Y'know, I think I do...if > it were me, the best way to get me to want someone dead is to tell > me they wanted to turn me back into a blade. Mournblade is probably > the only thing in local reality that might serve the Crawler as a > weapon at all, since Stormbringer is busy being an ornament in > Takhisis' lair.^ > Then the Crawler thinks up a new plan. > Its 'skin' cracks near the forehead, and the battlefield is > exposed to its horrific 'true' visage of unreality... Again Aurora's laughter rings out. Steadying and strengthening those who might be adversely affected by the sight of the Crawler's true visage. *Crawler, you little fool, take up your blade* She sends as she gestures with her horn towards Mournblade. *Let us see if you are as good at battle as you are at being a jester.* (OOC: she isn't reading minds, taking Mournblade out and keeping the Crawler occupied are both good things right now) =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 21:43:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: An ending and a beginning... On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 18:39:31 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005952 > On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 14:39:38 -0500 > Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005947 > >>On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:12:37 PST >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005944 >> >>Nemo sends to Mike: >> >>^If you think it's safe, I'm sure that NEMO has many such realities >> on file. And some might just have features that'd slow down any >> double cross your 'friend' has planned.^ > > ^If Z'On'Dar can cut off her power, I will bear it in mind. In my > reality, she took her Immortality serum and should likely have the > Immortality of the average Shadow or Vorlon. Which doesn't mean she > can't be killed, only that she will not age or die from natural > causes. I was actually thinking prehistoric Dilgar. She can be with > her people, and her tendency toward violence will fit right in. But > at the moment, if I took her, she would likely figure out how I did > it. ^But if she is immortal, she'd eventually be back in a "present".^ > ^I think Bester deserves a nice long vacation as well. Perhaps > somewhere full of telepaths where he can't do any harm. > > ^On the other hand, I am sure the Justice Legion would like them. > Jha'Dur has a great number of crimes to atone for. Maybe not Bester, > though. Well, at least until now.^ ^I have just the place for Bester. An Earth where a plague wiped out all primates in the late 20th century, and there aren't any other intelligent species within a few thousand parsecs of the planet.^ ^It's actually a fairly nice place, things fell apart too fast for there to be much damage. At the point I'd insert him, the bodies are gone (and the plague with them), but crops are still growing, wild. And there is all the equipment and non-perishable supplies that one could wish.^ ^Or I could see what the Eleni and the Horseclans would make of him.^ =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 21:43:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: To Best Bester On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 00:25:57 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005953 Ziactrice does a quick once over all around the fight. /Okay, Mike it is, Knytt. Er, Mike. Right. Too many Shadows... / [In more ways than one.] James quips, as he frowns noting just how badly damaged Roland is. Far more than even James himself who has taken quite a beating. Sil however, is and has prevented or repaired most of the finer damage to his mind that he could not do with shapeshifting. /Let's divvy some of them up, eh old man? Er. Woman. Comrade./ She struggles for a nueter general noun. And ignores James' jokes, just reviewing the damage on Roland. Zia runs through opponents, turning her tactical mind back to the conflict, er, King-of-the-Mountain stuggle, for the Tower. /Well, the Old Ones are a traditional enemy of the House, but I never was much for tradition. And with Nemo's aid, Legion and Aurora can take care of the Shadow of even such as that. Darkseid is not much problem now, Dara has better things to do. Jadis knows my tricks too well already... (slight pause, embarrassment laced with _great_ distaste) Malice smells _bad_. Driss has his dancing partner picking him up, and smootly too, I might say. May I please have Bester, instead? I think I can handle keeping the offensive slow spells down for you, in addition, Mike, for a while. If Bester really gets annoying I just MIGHT take him to visit Vulcan. They'd just find him... fascinating./ She winces slightly as James chuckles over the linkages. /Meanwhile, I believe James could use some help with Roland - he needs serious TLC. He really should retire from the conflict, but even _I_ know that is highly unlikely. Starbuck, stay with me, if you will. Bester has too much help for me to try this alone./ The brunette disappears from her position, reappearing smack dab in front of Bester. Starbuck is with her, although he felt no movement at all. She looks Bester up and down. "Just what are you attempting to prove, sir? If you leave now without further hostility, I shall not attack. If not, I would ask if you've ever read a very early SF novel dealing with telepathy... it was called The Demolished Man." The green-skinned woman is very odd. Not just for the green skin and Pheonix uniform and blazing aura, but the glaring red gem in place of one eye, and the two silver spheres in one hand. Add to that the fact she wears a completely black uniform with a large star... which looks more than a bit like a Psi Corps Black Squadron outfit... except for the slit skirt part. And the very deadly set of swords, which she wears in the completely correct ancient Japanese samurai's fashion. "I am a Taoist, and not given to killing. But a death of personality is not a death of life. You may have one chance to retain your Self. Choose wisely; I am given to mercy but not unto the point of foolishness. You have not chosen to be a telepath, but you have chosen to be more monster than human. And been proud of yourself in that error. Time for a new path, or an ending." Zia looks like an Organian on fire, walks like a courtesean, speaks like royalty, and has already just happened to talk to two of the most powerful before they decided to cease and desist. Of course, she kind of bought one of them off, and the other took care of his own desires. Then stopped the army of nasty looking folks on their Bridge... well, delayed and annoyed them, at the very least blunted their entire charge. =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 22:39:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Seems Like (very) Old Times On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 22:14:08 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005954 Malice points his spear at Roland. "Well? You've wanted to battle me face to face, did you not? Or," he adds with a rictus grin, "is there a _problem_ with my face?" Roland doesn't dignify Malice with an answer. (Okay, so he was caught without a glib quip. ;^) He looks at Shard. "Truce?" Shard smiles grimly, recreating his sword of Quintessence. "Truce." Both crouch, ready to leap forward... "Gentlemen." Both immortals stop and turn at the soft brogue behind them. Morgan stands, Aramegil in hand, smiling winningly. "Are ye no' forgettin' someone?" Roland returns the smile shakily. "Wouldn't dream of it," he chuckles. "Shall we?" A moment later... "KIAI!" Three immortals fly at Malice, Shard going high, Roland aiming for the heart, and Morgan going low. A wave of power throws them all back. "Fools. I am Malice, the Destroyer, the Lord of Nightmares and Adversary of Light! NONE of you can stand against me!" "*_That_ went well,*" Morgan quips, shaking her head to clear it. "*Shall we charge him head-on again, Captain?*" Her voice is gently teasing behind the serious query. "*Well, _you_ didn't say anything _before_ he blasted us,*" Roland replies dryly. Morgan simply shrugs. "*My head still feels like the Samurai Chef made ground beef out of my brain. Hard to think...but I still have a few neurons to rub together,*" he grins as an idea forms. *Shard,* he begins as Morgan performs as much healing as she can in the short time she has, *you hit him with your Quickening blades, my love, you mess him up with your Life magick, and I'll fire an EM scrambler special. Ready?* *You gotta ask?* Shard chuckles mentally. *On three?* Morgan says, smiling wickedly. *Okay...* Roland and Shard both smile back as Byron glides in behind them all and Malice casually impales a dragon that Takhisis sent at him. *...THREE!* Byron, who managed to conceal himself from Malice, fires a psibolt that 'rings' his psi-shields. As Malice turns, Shard and Roland fire their respective energies, a bolt of Quickening-lightning and a shot of the real thing sending his body into overload as the psibolt hits home. Morgan, meanwhile, heightens the efficiency of his neurotransmitters far beyond what even Roland's body (for that was what Malice was using, whatever its appearance) was normally capable of. The result is...electrifying. As soon as the blasts strike home, Morgan sends the nervous system the _other_ way-not that it needs much help by then. Malice falls to one knee. "*YES! GOT him!*" Roland exults for a moment. Then Malice looks up, his eyes glowing so brightly his face cannot be seen. "AWAY!" Another wave pushes them back, even despite them being ready for it. "You _hurt_ me. You pitiful insects actually managed to HURT me!" "*I think he's pissed,*" Morgan says quietly. "*What was your first clue?*" Roland asks. Then he raises his staff, and soon they're too busy to make clever comments as Nephandi appear all around them. =========================== Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 23:10:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To sum up... On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 23:06:08 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005955 >On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 19:15:38 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005949 > >>On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 02:08:49 -0500 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005940 >> >>>On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 23:07:22 >>>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005939 >>> >>> Jha'Dur smiles coolly. "Against this?" She gestures to the >>>tarrancor. "You are a being of power and purity. >> >>Mike: [I am?] > > ^What,^ Sil comments with a laugh much like Tink's, ^you didn't >know?^ ^Hey, ya snoop!^ Mike sends scoldingly, but with a mental grin. ^Power maybe, but purity?^ > Jha'Dur sighs. "Your attempts to shake my confidence are >transparent and boring. I think you will be of no use to me." With >that, Jha'Dur vanishes, reappearing next to the shaken Roland. [Good,] Mike thinks, [I don't dance with devils. Not to mention, now you aren't watching me.] > Roland concentrates, and a psibolt fries the thing's rudimentary >mind. /Ah, Mike, I doubt Z'On'Dar would have let Cap out if it >couldn't shut the Tower down without him, I'm not sure that the Tower >needs to be balanced to be used for unbalanced purposes, and he is by >NO means _my_ Gaunt Man. Ick./ /Heh, just a thought./ =========================== Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 00:18:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To sum up... On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 00:02:09 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005956 On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 17:17:08 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005928 > /Folx, I fear we have a problem. The tower will probibly result in a > major distortion of reality in the immediate vicinity; in other > words, The Big Cosmic Reset Switch. If any of you have anything you > want to send along to your future selves, I know a place where > they'll be protected from the Cosmic Reset. If my prediction does > not happen, I will delete the messages./ Already rattled by Puck's cameo, Mandy was staring at the hole in the air where he'd disappeared when Scott's message came through. [Hell's own bells.] Raver's reply was a pithy comment in a language Mandy knew couldn't possibly have been human. The young woman could feel Raver's teeth clenching in an unusual display of angry desperation. [To die for all time... what future selves? There was, is, and shall be, only one Raver.] Fueled by Mandy's panic and Raver's convulsive desperation, they lunged out from behind the crates, instinctively aiming and firing with inhuman accuracy. Neither of them was certain any longer who was truly in control at that moment -- only of the fact that, sickeningly, they were trapped and the only thing to do was to turn and fight. The remaining thugs picked themselves up, and fled through an X-window that had convienently opened. The Two caught a whiff of Bushmill's, a burst of laughter, and the warm sensation uniquely Callahan's. They blinked just before they dove through the X-Window, and it closed with a rush of air. Raver's inhuman discipline reasserted itself, slamming the gates shut on the morass of emotion. Shaking slightly, they gulped in deep breaths, clutching their midsection protectively. Closing their eyes, Mandy entered the familiar darkness-shrouded mindscape, throwing themselves into Raver's arms. "I am *not* a happy camper..." Her voice rose to become a falsetto whine that cracked on the last word. "Quiet." Though the word was harsh, a thread of concern betrayed itself. Raver let the human hug her a moment longer before peeling her off. She sighed, and cocked her head at Mandy. "Neither am I. But you are human, so you may have a future self to pass a message on to." There was a pause before Mandy responded. "What about you?" "There is only Raver." The demon slid her hands into her pockets in a singularly human gesture, an ironic smile curving one corner of her mouth. "I am, in and of myself, a completely unique being. May I remind you that if there had been more like me, the balance of power would be rather different." Raver sighed again. "I had expected true oblivion eventually, but I had also expected that by that time, I would be very tired. And I am still far from prepared to rest among the stars." >>On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 19:15:38 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005949 >> >> /Stranger. Mandy, Raver, there is some demon on the loose shouting >> for an 'Eternal Champion'. He might be headed your way as I haven't >> seen him down here. Also, if either of you wish a ride down, there >> are likely shuttles available, or faster transport should you >> desire an immediate evacuation here. Of course, being here, I would >> rather be back in Callahans, but then, there are very few who >> wouldn't./ Mike's heads-up jolted the Two back to the outside world, cutting off Mandy's question before it was even born. She choked off a curse, but whether it was from the loss of a rare opportunity to question Raver about her past or from his news, she couldn't have said. Then the full impact hit. /Eternal Champion...? Oh./ The unguarded thought went out on the Link, followed by a scorching epithet more appropriate to Raver than to Mandy. [Eternal Champion?] Raver echoed the question. > They probably respond that they're quite busy, as Mournblade > appears, looks at Stranger, smiles at him with a sickening grin, and > says, "Hello, Elric." [*That* Eternal Champion,] Mandy commented, prudently edging toward the door under cover of more of the ubiquitous crates. [Very high mortality rate in the people exposed to him, for good or bad. Trust me. If I'd known he was Elric, I would've smiled politely and hauled ass outta here, I don't care *what*, I'm *gone*. Melniboneans coulda been your baby cousins somewhere along the line...probably were, to tell the truth.] [Oh.] There was silence as Raver picked through the relevant memories of the books. [Stranger is not an albino.] [*Reincarnation*,] Mandy shot back, the unspoken 'you coconut' clear in her tone. [Hey! Wh--] [Quiet,] Raver echoed her earlier admonition as she took over, triggering the familiar metamorphosis. /Roland -- our thanks for the suit, but you do not need another distraction. I have enough protection for us now./ [This Mournblade is a demon.] With that, armor writhed into place and the huge sword appeared in their gauntleted fist. They slid back to a better vantage point, silently caping their wings. =========================== Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 01:38:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: An ending and a beginning... On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 01:21:13 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005957 >On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 18:39:31 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005952 > >> On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 14:39:38 -0500 >> Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005947 >> >> ^If Z'On'Dar can cut off her power, I will bear it in mind. In my >> reality, she took her Immortality serum and should likely have the >> Immortality of the average Shadow or Vorlon. Which doesn't mean she >> can't be killed, only that she will not age or die from natural >> causes. I was actually thinking prehistoric Dilgar. She can be with >> her people, and her tendency toward violence will fit right in. But >> at the moment, if I took her, she would likely figure out how I did >> it. > >^But if she is immortal, she'd eventually be back in a "present".^ ^Assuming no one kills her first. Like I say, she will not age or die from natural causes. She was destroyed by a Vorlon ship originally, an unnatural death.^ >^I have just the place for Bester. An Earth where a plague wiped out > all primates in the late 20th century, and there aren't any other > intelligent species within a few thousand parsecs of the planet.^ > >^It's actually a fairly nice place, things fell apart too fast for > there to be much damage. At the point I'd insert him, the bodies are > gone (and the plague with them), but crops are still growing, wild. > And there is all the equipment and non-perishable supplies that one > could wish.^ > >^Or I could see what the Eleni and the Horseclans would make of him.^ ^Not familiar with them. But both sound like possibilities.^ =========================== Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 01:39:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: To Best Bester On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 01:21:18 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005958 >On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 00:25:57 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005953 > >Ziactrice does a quick once over all around the fight. /Okay, Mike it >is, Knytt. Er, Mike. Right. Too many Shadows... / /Right./ >[In more ways than one.] James quips, as he frowns noting just how >badly damaged Roland is. Far more than even James himself who has >taken quite a beating. Sil however, is and has prevented or repaired >most of the finer damage to his mind that he could not do with >shapeshifting. > >/Let's divvy some of them up, eh old man? Er. Woman. Comrade./ She >struggles for a nueter general noun. And ignores James' jokes, just >reviewing the damage on Roland. Zia runs through opponents, turning >her tactical mind back to the conflict, er, King-of-the-Mountain >stuggle, for the Tower. Mike smirks, /Comrade, friend, cousin, or whatever works at the time. I'll know who you mean at any rate./ >/Well, the Old Ones are a traditional enemy of the House, but I never >was much for tradition. And with Nemo's aid, Legion and Aurora can >take care of the Shadow of even such as that. Darkseid is not much >problem now, Dara has better things to do. Jadis knows my tricks too >well already... (slight pause, embarrassment laced with _great_ >distaste) Malice smells _bad_. Driss has his dancing partner picking >him up, and smootly too, I might say. May I please have Bester, >instead? I think I can handle keeping the offensive slow spells down >for you, in addition, Mike, for a while. If Bester really gets >annoying I just MIGHT take him to visit Vulcan. They'd just find >him... fascinating./ She winces slightly as James chuckles over the >linkages. /Was just contemplating Bester and Jha'Dur's future. If you want Bester, by all means, have him./ Mike sends, then sending a couple good sized lightning bolts at Jha'Dur, followed by a few shots at the Nephandi, unusual energy beams that look like glittering sunlight, cover their puncture woulds with silver, leave steam burns, and smell like garlic. /A little sunlight beam, with holy water, silver and garlic molecules suspended within. Should handle just about anything that doesn't require a beheading./ >/Meanwhile, I believe James could use some help with Roland - he >needs serious TLC. He really should retire from the conflict, but >even _I_ know that is highly unlikely. Starbuck, stay with me, if you >will. Bester has too much help for me to try this alone./ /Right. Roland, how can we help?/ =========================== Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 05:09:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 08:00:29 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005959 >On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 19:37:13 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005950 > >>On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 08:12:53 -0400 >>Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005943 >> >>Legion gestures sending a wave of something not seen/smelt/touched, >>but definately THERE out from her... whatever it was, any of the >>unholy creatures approaching her and the tower start burning like >>magnesium flares. "Z'On'Dar... How long before you can cut the power >>tap to your former allies?" Her eyes narrow at something, and she >>looks in the direction of the Crawler. "Please tell me you can cut >>the power tap to your former allies." > > "I can," Z'On'Dar says slowly, "but to do so before deactivating >the Ascension program would prove to be...greatly inconvenient." > Legion (not to mention anyone else listening) has the distinct >feeling that Z'On'Dar has made one of the all-time great >understatements... Legion nods, "Very well then." >>On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:25:33 PST >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005945 >> >>With this a number of star shaped stones made from an odd greenish >>gray rock appear at Legions feet. A sort of podium/reading stand >>appears with several ancient and rather repulsive looking books upon >>it, all closed. One is labeled "Al Azif" in Arabic script. Another >>is made of thin metal plates. >> >>Anyone scanning the stones will not that they seem to be *older* >>than the universe. And that there's an odd sense of power about >>them. Legion seems to... change. Her physical appearances is the same, but her body language has definately shifted. > Z'On'Dar gestures at the stones. "Quickly, Legion, place one >against the Tower. Use the others as you require, but I suggest >maintaining possession of at least one, especially if you intend to >use...THOSE." Legion nods, "Agreed." One stone vanishes, appearing against the tower. The others arrange themselves about her as Legion 'holds' onto them on levels deeper than meerly physical. >>The books don't really scan of evil. More like vast power that >>doesn't even *connect* to any "human" standards. Legion stands before the book of metal plates, and the pages begin to turn themselves, her eyes running over them. Soon she looks towards the Crawler. She shows no response to his true appearance, and begins to chant. The words she intones were not meant for a human throat, yet she has no difficulty. Indeed, it is any normal humans trying listen that have a problem, as for the most part their minds simply refuse to hear or process the sounds. [OOC: Legion has allowed one of her non-human persona's to take front. Said entity is a power mage and very stable. She is begining a spell to banish Crawler and seal this dimension off from him. Lets see if she's allowed to finish.] =========================== Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 05:09:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To cheer up... On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 08:01:57 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005960 Mandy/Raver wrote: > "Quiet." Though the word was harsh, a thread of concern betrayed > itself. Raver let the human hug her a moment longer before peeling > her off. She sighed, and cocked her head at Mandy. "Neither am I. > But you are human, so you may have a future self to pass a message > on to." > There was a pause before Mandy responded. "What about you?" > "There is only Raver." The demon slid her hands into her pockets > in a singularly human gesture, an ironic smile curving one corner of > her mouth. "I am, in and of myself, a completely unique being. May I > remind you that if there had been more like me, the balance of power > would be rather different." > Raver sighed again. "I had expected true oblivion eventually, but > I had also expected that by that time, I would be very tired. And I > am still far from prepared to rest among the stars." /Don't worry/ Scott sends to Raver and Mandy. /Big Comsic Reset Switches, to my knowledge, have never killed anybody [OOC: save for those who were causing unsual local plot distortions (usually villians) ]. Merely reset them to an earlier point; in this case, I'd assume that you'd be reset (or rewinded, if you prefer) to just before you signed onto the CAoL. Your backstory would be cleaned up somewhat (if you needed it), and that'd be it. Raver might not live (although the chance of that is pretty slim), but somebody almost identicle to Raver would be linked to somebody almost exactly like Mandy./ Thanks Scott "Cheerup" Osborne =========================== Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 08:39:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: To Best Bester On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 08:08:40 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005961 >On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 01:21:18 -0500 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005958 > >>On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 00:25:57 -0500 >>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005953 >> >>Ziactrice does a quick once over all around the fight. /Okay, Mike >>it is, Knytt. Er, Mike. Right. Too many Shadows... / > >/Right./ /Actually,/ Morgan decides to spare some thought from the fighting to add her $.02 worth, /"Mike" is a prefectly valid nickname for "Michaela." At least it was on that show with the lady doctor./ >/Was just contemplating Bester and Jha'Dur's future. If you want >Bester, by all means, have him./ Mike sends, then sending a couple >good sized lightning bolts at Jha'Dur, followed by a few shots at the >Nephandi, unusual energy beams that look like glittering sunlight, >cover their puncture woulds with silver, leave steam burns, and smell >like garlic. /A little sunlight beam, with holy water, silver and >garlic molecules suspended within. Should handle just about anything >that doesn't require a beheading./ Morgan watches this attack with interest. /Hey, my magicks out to be able to do something pretty close to that! Especially if I add using my Power Ring. Thanks for the idea, Mike. / >>/Meanwhile, I believe James could use some help with Roland - he >>needs serious TLC. He really should retire from the conflict, but >>even _I_ know that is highly unlikely. Starbuck, stay with me, if >>you will. Bester has too much help for me to try this alone./ > >/Right. Roland, how can we help?/ =========================== Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 17:39:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 20:25:18 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005962 >On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 19:37:13 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005950 > >>On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 16:43:38 -0400 (EDT) >>Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005946 >> >>Jadis cocks an eyebrow, "Did I say a word? Nooooo. Yet I'm still >>treated like the bad guy. Well, I am the bad guy, but I hadn't >>gotten to that yet." > > "Haven't you worked with such vigor to earn your reputation as a >monster without redeeming value?" Z'On'Dar replies, its voice thick >with irony. "Hey, you ask any of my large number of worshipers and they'll tell you what a great guy I am. That reminds me, I gotta thank, oh who was it, Roland? for that jolt of preservation power." > Darkseid frowns. "One moment, my mate," he says to Suli, who >weaves protective enchantments around the Demon Avenger even as he >teleports. > "You who are known as Jadis," he intones, as he appears between >the Zodaii and the Tower. "Do you give your word that you will not >threated Apokolips?" "My word I do give. I will offer no threat to Apokolips." Jadis solemnly swears. > /Hmmph. So much for plan 'A,'/ Roland thinks... John stares at Galactus, who doesn't seem to be in a hurry to get out of the way. A shade of purple almost black covers his body, and he walks forward, sending a message to Jadis, ^She'at'ne, Summon forth your allies to deal with any of the lower threats.^ OOC: It's a matter/energy intake field, extremely strong. Jadis almost smiles, "What, You don't want to have your vassals see you thus? Or perhaps they would be more likely to attack you instead of your enemies." Jadis works his will on reality, finding some resistance, but he does manage to open a gateway to the infernal regions. A dark host comes forth, only the lower demons, none of the true Powers. =========================== Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 17:40:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: To sum up... On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 20:33:09 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005963 >On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 19:15:38 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005949 > > Jha'Dur reappears by Julian, but vanishes again as the Amberite's >blade flies toward her almost before she appears. John/Jadis jointly send, ^Jha'Dur. We can teach you what you might wish to know about reality and the travel thereof. We only ask that you continue to keep these fools from us.^ ===========================