Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 70 Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 22:21:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deathwalkerstalker On Tue, 29 Sep 1998 21:47:32 -0700 (PDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006034 >On Mon, 28 Sep 1998 20:49:33 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006028 > > Much to Mike's surprise, this actually works. Jha'Dur and Nova >flicker slightly in mid-transit, but (s)he manages to drag them to >the Vorlon homeworld. > Which, while incredibly beautiful, is completely abandoned. [Damn,] Mike thinks, [Got my dates wrong.] > Jha'Dur begins to laugh as her interface-spikes fly out, >connecting with the incredible biotech around them. > "You _fool._ You FOOL! You bring the greatest bioengineer in >history to the greatest treasure trove of biotechnology in this >galaxy? Have you gone maaaaAAAAAHHHHH!" Jha'Dur screams in pain as >the Vorlon autodefenses begin to take effect. Mike backflips away from Jha'Dur, gaining some distance. > "*You are not welcome,*" the Vorlon defense AI intones >emotionlessly. "Exactly," Mike says with a smile. > "I don't CARE!" Jha'Dur's eyes squeeze tight in desperate >concentration as the world's 'antibodies' attack her mercilessly. >However, between her own enhanced genius, the Tower's energy, her >biosuit and the budding Power Cosmic within her, she holds her own. >"I will NOT be suborned by a...machine!" Jha'Dur begins to set her >defenses, digging in for a long battle. She opens her eyes... > (OOC: So, Mike, what does she see? She's all yours, big >gu-um, go get her, Mike. ) Just how much control do you want me to take here? In other words, do you have any more plans for Jha'Dur and Nova? If none, I'll return Nova to Galactus and make sure Jha'Dur meets the fate she was supposed to.> Mike grins, a mental tendril lashing out and striking a telepathic terminal. [Let's see, the command for teleporting people is...what was it?] *Gravox'Tishawsnick.* The AI announced "*Inter-intra-planetary teleportation blocks in place. Defense grids online.*" [Whoops.] *Gravox'Tashiwasnix.* "*Remote access to computer deactivated, all computer access must be done at the main tower. Weapons systems targetting three hostiles.*" [I -think- I will leave the computer -alone- now. Before I screw anything -else- up. At least we're on equal footing.] Mike dove and rolled for cover as plasma seared a path just behind her from a nearby turret. She looked up at the cityscape around her. With an almost organic look, the red-orange buildings seemed almost natural in the desert landscape. And in this case, deadly. [There's only one way off this planet,] Mike thought, [Find the main tower and deactivate the teleport blocks. Anti-aircraft guns put flight out of the question. And even with ground travel, it is going to be tough. Don't want to move too fast or liable to run into a forcefield. Not to mention there are traps here that can make you walk a lightyear for every inch you gain.] Mike looked up as a grey-green color crossed the sky, tinging everything a faint green. [And that just shut down the option of leaving orbit for a teleport.] She thought hard, ducking into a doorway as another burst of plasma flew just past her ear. Mike looked at Jha'Dur and Nova. [She's going to realize this soon, too.] Mike smiled, [This is going better than I had hoped.] =========================== Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 23:19:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE:Battle on Arcadia On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 01:30:29 EDT Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00006035 (OOC: OK, I gave up on the run around from the service company and went and bought a new 33.6 modem so I'm back) Driss and Roscoe rushed through the portal and had to take a double take as they arrived. Demons, elementals and Undead clashed with all manner of shifting creatures as the Guardians fought to push them back through the portal caves and out of Arcadia. Driss took aim with his laser adn cursed as nothing happened. /No reality warping stuff to let technology work properly here Driss./ /Yeh yeh I just forgot. I have more than enough magic stuff to make up for it./ sent Driss sticking a mental tongue out at Rosce as he stashed the blaster and drew out his rapier. *Is that YOU Roscoe? Where'd you find that freaky form?* sent Darragh, one of the Guardians. *Oops, forgot what form I had. Just came in from another battle.* sent back Roscoe, crushing the head of a nearby skeleton into powder with his claw before changing into a Basilisk and wandering the battlefield. *OK, who's who and what's going on?* *The wizard is some human named Gorry Breen. A Demonologist and Necromancer with some measure of Elementalism and a real big sadistic streak. He got in through a fairy ring and I don't really think I want to know how he got the knowledge of how to traverse the portal. Gordon fell with his first strike. We came immediately to Gordon's alert and the Wizard was already raising his armies.* *So that's who died. Not really the way I wanted to get this medallion but I knew it had to be what had happened when it appeared.* Sent Roscoe, remorse obvious in his mind. He hadn't really known Gordon that well and that seemed to make the guilt only build higher. Here he was, the leader of the clan and not even present when one of them died, and not able to recall the face of the dead when he tried. *So where's this Gorry?* *We don't know. Phadrig and Riona were attacking him telepathically hoping it could destroy the constructs but he managed to break off all contact with some spell and then he vanished and the attacks from the creatures redoubled their efforts.* Roscoe surveyed the scene around him, stoning several lesser demons before shedding the from for that of a Chimeara as an Earth Elemental tried to bash his head in. OK, I know what's going on, Roscoe thought to himself as he fought, but what am *I* going to do to stop it? TBC =========================== Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 23:19:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: The Bester of Both Worlds On Tue, 29 Sep 1998 23:08:16 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006036 .> >On Tue, 29 Sep 1998 22:37:18 -0400 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006033 > >:On Mon, 28 Sep 1998 20:30:07 >:Morgan and/or Roland Said >: Bester only considers for a single heartbeat more. >: *You may begin at your leisure, Miss Ziactrice.* > > *It's Mrs. Keenan, actually.* She thinks, carefully. *As for >jumping right in, I think I need a guarantee of your own >non-interference with MY mind in any way. Sorry, but the Psi Corps >has a history of ruthless advantage taking, and you are deeply >committed to that organization. And a damn good teep. Then, we each >need seconds. To make sure nothing bad happens to either of us. >You'll have to either cut that connection to that Tower, or find some >way to cut the draw off. I can't risk it being there while I redact. >It might react to my Symbology. Er, that would be a bad thing, >basically.* Zia picks up a deep sigh from Bester. *Madam, I am quite capable of using...shall we say, fine print. But only if I bother to include it. I am a man of my word, after all. 'I' will not interfere with the workings of your mind, insofar as this 'I' continues to function as a discreet self. As for seconds, you may choose whomever you please. Any number of my Corps agents can perform the function for my part.* Bester considers the second part briefly. *There is a slight problem with disconnecting from the Tower at this juncture...those with less benevolent intent would be able to draw more energy from the 'avatar' pool as a result. One moment, please...* Bester concentrates, and Zia can feel his connection to the Tower fade from the psychic plane. *I have-loaned-the link to a colleague in need.* > *All right. Let me see. I think she can transfer just on a touch.* >Zia holds out a hand... then looks a mite surprised as her body moves >into a full embrace and kisses Bester, not really of Zia's intending. Bester is actually startled. VERY startled. (Since Zia herself had no intention of doing this, Bester was caught flat-footed for once. 8^) >She relaxes, not struggling, however, as the woman-Pheonix within her >enjoys the kiss quite well. Zia, of course, feels both the kiss.. and >enjoyment of same herself. *I think -... whooo - I think she likes >you.* Zia says, in a not too successful attempt to cover her >surprise. Fire streams from her, enveloping Bester gently a moment, >almost like a carress, then vanishing deeper (assuming that the >Psicop doesn't resist). *I believe...the feeling is mutual,* Bester says, taking a deep breath. *However, I am quite spoken for.* Even as he says it, though, Zia can sense the wheels in Bester's mind turning... > "Good." Zia takes a few deep breaths, getting herself centered. >She makes sure that Starbuck and Bester's second know what signs to >monitor. Then she steps back in close to Bester, and carefully places >her fingers spread acrost very specific parts of his face. "Not a >full Mindmeld, because you'll have to be somewhat under in trance, >but these techniques help me focus." She explains absently. Gently, >she starts to ... freehand create sections of missing mind, is about >the only way to put it. Like some ancient sculptor, except she is >rebuilding what her mind's eye sees SHOULD be there, rather than >removing what isn't the art she is seeing. Bester acquieses as Zia begins...the injury-no. It's not an injury, exactly. It's more like...being in a halfway point. Bester, even in his present state, can't sense the part of himself that is 'elsewhere' because he doesn't have a concept for the 'elsewhere' that that part of his self has gone to. Even Zia barely has the ability to conceive of that connection...but that she can do it at all is a testament to her skills. Then something in Bester's mind _snaps_ into place-and out of it. And for a moment, there are _two_ Besters. The 'old' Bester, even more enraged than before, tries to attack Zia. The 'new' Bester, who is in fact the original, deflects the full barrage well before it can even threaten Zia and does...well... SOMETHING. Something rather odd. Something Zia is very familiar with... *My deepest thanks, Mrs. Keenan,* Alfred Bester replies. *I am feeling...quite myself, for the first time in ages.* (OOC: If someone asks what happened to Bester^2) *Oh, simply repaying a debt,* Alfred replies... Babylon Five. There's a 'thump' as a body falls to the deck outside C&C. Bester slowly rises, his head pounding and his Psi-Corps uniform tattered. [That was _far_ too close,] Bester thinks as he examines his surroundings. [Still, I thought that that...other thing would have fought against my departure with more vehemence. My telepathic abilities will return in very short or-] "Well well well, look what we have here," a very familiar voice says as the door to C&C opens. "It's almost enough to make me believe in God." "Mr. Garibaldi," Bester sighs, placing his hands behind his back. (And reassuring himself that his PPG was in fact still there.) "I really don't have time for this." "Make time," Garibaldi snarls, all pretense stripped away. "You're under arrest for-oh hell, for damn near everything." Michael pulls his PPG and aims at the center of Bester's forehead. Bester chuckles. "That was a foolish thing to do, Mr. Garibaldi. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to do this, especially since you're helpless against me, but Mr. Allen is probably finished cleaning up the Starros, and I _do_ have to be going." He pulls his PPG in a clean draw. Before the weapon is halfway to Garibaldi, however, Michael puts a clean hole through a very surprised Bester's 'third eye.' "Helpless, huh?" Garibaldi says coolly, a thin smile forming as Bester thumps against the far wall and begins to slide down it. "Yeah, well, you'd probably be right, if G'Kar and Lyta hadn't gone in and un-Asimoved your Asimov." He gives Bester the Prisoner salute. "Be seeing you." And Bester dies. Epsilon 3. *I imagine I'll be having a great deal less trouble with the people on Babylon Five now,* Alfred's active mental track notes. *So. What comes next?* =========================== Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 23:43:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deathwalkerstalker On Tue, 29 Sep 1998 23:23:12 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006037 >On Tue, 29 Sep 1998 21:47:32 -0700 (PDT) >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006034 > >>On Mon, 28 Sep 1998 20:49:33 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006028 >> >> Much to Mike's surprise, this actually works. Jha'Dur and Nova >>flicker slightly in mid-transit, but (s)he manages to drag them to >>the Vorlon homeworld. >> Which, while incredibly beautiful, is completely abandoned. > >[Damn,] Mike thinks, [Got my dates wrong.] (OOC: We're into the equivalent of 5th Season, Mike. 8^) >> (OOC: So, Mike, what does she see? She's all yours, big >>gu-um, go get her, Mike. ) > > Just how much control do you want me to take >here? In other words, do you have any more plans for Jha'Dur and >Nova? If none, I'll return Nova to Galactus and make sure Jha'Dur >meets the fate she was supposed to.> (OOC: I said she's all yours, and I meant it. As for Nova, she's a little tied up at the moment, but I'm sure you can do something about that. ;^) > Mike grins, a mental tendril lashing out and striking a >telepathic terminal. [Let's see, the command for teleporting people >is...what was it?] *Gravox'Tishawsnick.* > The AI announced "*Inter-intra-planetary teleportation blocks in >place. Defense grids online.*" > [Whoops.] *Gravox'Tashiwasnix.* > "*Remote access to computer deactivated, all computer access >must be done at the main tower. Weapons systems targetting three >hostiles.*" > [I -think- I will leave the computer -alone- now. Before I screw >anything -else- up. At least we're on equal footing.] (OOC: ROFLMAO!!!!! I had to stop and walk away from the computer I was laughing so hard!) > Mike looked up as a grey-green color crossed the sky, tinging >everything a faint green. [And that just shut down the option of >leaving orbit for a teleport.] She thought hard, ducking into a >doorway as another burst of plasma flew just past her ear. Mike >looked at Jha'Dur and Nova. [She's going to realize this soon, too.] > Mike smiled, [This is going better than I had hoped.] Jha'Dur gazed at Mike with eyes filled with a hate even _he_ (um, she) has rarely seen in his/her travels. "You will pay for this, human." And her 'tendrils' work their way towards the tower (not to be confused with the Tower) to take manual control. Nova lies there helplessly, still wrapped in black tendrils. Fortunately, plasma bolts have as much effect against her as they would under other curcumstances-none whatsoever. The down side seems to be that the tendrils neutralizing her are similarly immune. "mmph!" she objects futilely. =========================== Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 04:22:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deathwalkerstalker On Tue, 29 Sep 1998 10:16:35 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00006038 > On Tue, 29 Sep 1998 06:59:37 -0700 (PDT) > Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006031 > >>On Tue, 29 Sep 1998 03:07:15 PST >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00006030 >> >>/Perhaps rather than killing them, you should be chopping them to >> pieces then *forcing* them to regenerate from the pieces? Get the >> pieces small enough, and they'll need all their power just to stay >> alive./ > > Mike sparred with a demon as she sent. /Great idea, was wondering if > there was some way to do just that. Care to try it while I take > Jha'Dur for a little ride?/ /Must I do *everything* myself?/ Nemo joked. A beam of eldritch energy shot out from the Velvet Glove and swept across the demons. The effect was reminiscent of a giant blender on puree. Every "cell" in the demonic bodies was seperated from every other, while remaining intact. And alive. The resultant greasy "mist" was taken in hand by a set of force beams that sprayed it over the planet at about one cell per square cm after mixing it well. And giving them a light coating of a plastic that will "protect" them from the environment, but require a fair amount of effort to break down. /It should take them a while to reassemble their forces./ PS. if any of the magic users can create a spell that'll cause the magic "energy" of the cells to be used for keeping them alive, that *would* be preferable to the tech healing beam. It'd even be a "good" act as it'd be preserving life. After all, the mage won't be responsible for what Nemo did to the "poor demons". Why yes, I *was* a "rules lawyer" when playing D&D... :-) =========================== Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 05:09:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Bladewar On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 07:38:48 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006039 >On Sun, 27 Sep 1998 11:20:43 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006012 > > Mournblade glares for a moment...then folds in on itself, >reappearing near Legion. > "The Crawler can deal with the others," it intones, raising its >hand-blade, "once _your_ interference is ended." Legion looks at Mournblade, and what is looking out from behind her eyes is not human in the least. Without breaking her casting, she rewrites reality, one of her neat little 'teleports'. The upper half of Mourblade teleporting to inside a star. The lower half teleporting to inside solid rock on the other side of the world. If nothing intervenes, that is. =========================== Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 11:11:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Draconic Rebellion (Long) On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 13:37:52 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006040 > On Tue, 29 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said >>Dhyrclhanc Said >>> Morgan and/or Roland Said >>>>Dhyrclhanc Said >>>>> Morgan and/or Roland Said >> >> Since when did Shard look human? I aways thought, maybe >>erroneously, that Shard looked like one of those Carnage/Venom-style >>spider-symbiotes. > > (OOC: Hey, he's human-shaped. To Takhisis, that's close enough. > Besides, he's a shapeshifter; if he wants to look like J. Edgar > Hoover, then J. Edgar Hoover will come and destroy us-*cough* > whoops, wrong movie. Also, since he's been making passes at > Solitare/Morgan, he's been getting slowly more human-looking.) "J. Edgar Hoover"? Where the heck did that straythought come from? >>"No lady is attacked in my presense so! Even if the 'lady' in >>question may not be properly refered to as a 'Lady'! My only regret >>is that my righting this injustice must be delayed as I deal harshly >>with your proxies, Tratoress! Doubly so, seeing that you compounded >>mutiny with rudeness by attacking her while we were still the middle >>of our conversation." > > "So says the adolescent who insults his Queen even as he defends > her," Malystryx notes with a growl. (Note: the three dragons > attacking, as well as the loyal blue who is leading the allied > dragons, are between 150 and 200 feet in length. Malystryx herself > is a whopping _400_ feet long!) *Actually, I am a hatchling.* sends Dhyrclhnac, painfully (for Malystryx) establishing a teep link between himself and the rebelious red dragon. *And, desipite my constantly, admittedly flipant attitude, I am defending my Goddess!* > Malystryx laughs at the Krull as it bounces off the crystal. > (Hey, it's holding a _goddess,_ who's connected to a cosmic power no > less.) She stops laughing when the crystal chips. One massive claw > rakes the air as a sound that tortures human ears echoes from her > tunnel-like throat. The Krull snaps back like a whipped dog, > returning to the Lensdragon. "Die, brat," she says, and fire that > would give Nova pause shoots at Dhyrclhanc. Clarification time, sib o' mine, both Novaand Dhyrclhanc have Class 1000 resistance to Fire and Flame-based attacks. Is Malystryx realy capable of generating Fire attacks of greater than Class 1000 intensity? While I'm on the subject, GM to Player, you've given me the sizes of these dragon's but how _old_ are they? Dhyclhanc would probably be able to judge age and aproximate power levels from size, however, *I* can't. >>By this time, the black has recevered from a very mild concussion >>and has also re-entered the fray. > > And falls again as the lightning-breath of the blue tears through > the convenient gap left in its armored scales. "I expect Kitiara to > be returned to me for this service, o Queen," the blue says. (After the mess with Malystryx's age and capabilities is cleared up) The draconic Lensman, momentarily stares open-mouthed at the actions of the blue. [Later] he thinks to himself and then launches three more teep edged attacks, one each against the White, Green and Blue. *I do not suppose you would have the decency to tell me what your names are? That way, once I have finished strewing your carcases and innards over this world's landscape, I will know what to put on your headstones!* A green flare of energy lights up the sky and when it clears, a 105 ft. tall, 155 ft long, Lensdragon stands on the horizon. =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 00:08:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Defenders On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 23:46:43 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006041 >On Mon, 28 Sep 1998 20:20:51 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006025 > > The 'black hole' that consists of what's left of the Crawler has a >gaping 'wound' taking up a quarter of its surface, 'bleeding' >superstrings and vast amounts of EM radiation-from radio waves to >cosmic rays-shining as brightly as the star. Two human figures shimmer into view. One is the charred figure of Malice, the other... ...Morden? The two seem to have been fighting rather fiercely recently, Morden's blood glowing brightly as it trickles from his wounds, while Malice has what appear to be small rips that look like black holes. Malice gapes at the Crawler while Morden smiles. "No. NO! This was _NOT_ part of my plan!" Malice roars, tossing Morden aside. "What did you expect?" Morden asks in his usual nonchalant tone. "You tried to out-think a Shadow, a master scientist of a race that measures its lifespans in billions of years. This battle is over. If you surrender, Z'On'Dar might choose to be merciful. Then again..." Morden shrugs. Malice glares at Morden. "The moment you used your...state...to be able to attack, you lost your absolute invulnerability. You also showed me something. And know this...I am not simply Malice, but also the Destroyer...and the Destroyer ALWAYS has wheels within wheels!" With that, Malice vanishes, reappearing on the Maelstrom Bridge. He vanishes under the torrent of horrors struggling their way across the Bridge for a brief moment, then there's an explosion that rocks the already-savaged thing, and Malice is gone once more. A moment later, the Ravagon leader appears by the Dara-construct's side, his claw plunging into her chest. "Hail Sallsboratza!" it cries, pulling the silver ball from her. The Dara-creature chuckles. "You'll thank me later." The living portion flows into Parok, and the silver ball melts into his hand. He screams. "no...no...Sallsboratza LIES! He is NOT the Sixth Irishantza!" He flies like a thing possessed toward the bridge, his eyes glowing. The glow infects every one of the winged creatures. "DEATH TO SALLSBORATZA! DEATH TO THE GAUNT IMPOSTOR!" they cry as one, vanishing up the dimensional bridge. >On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 07:38:48 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006039 > >Legion looks at Mournblade, and what is looking out from behind her >eyes is not human in the least. Without breaking her casting, she >rewrites reality, one of her neat little 'teleports'. > >The upper half of Mourblade teleporting to inside a star. > >The lower half teleporting to inside solid rock on the other side of >the world. > >If nothing intervenes, that is. Mournblade flickers for a moment, his own reality powers coming into play to protect him. (Apparently) Unable to prevent the teleport, he instead ensures that his body travels as a whole. To the star. And returns a barely discernable moment later, a fair distance from Legion. "Anomolous thing, did you think such tactics could _truly_ harm Mourn-" he begins, walking toward her. Then starts to melt as he walks. "Hmm," he says, annoyed, as his legs become liquid beneath him. "Unexpected development," the metallic pool comments dryly. >On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 13:37:52 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006040 > >> On Tue, 29 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said >> >> (OOC: Hey, he's human-shaped. To Takhisis, that's close enough. >> Besides, he's a shapeshifter; if he wants to look like J. Edgar >> Hoover, then J. Edgar Hoover will come and destroy us-*cough* >> whoops, wrong movie. Also, since he's been making passes >> at Solitare/Morgan, he's been getting slowly more human-looking.) > > "J. Edgar Hoover"? Where the heck did that straythought come >from? Ghostbusters. Gozer the Gozerian. "If we think of J. Edgar Hoover, J. Edgar Hoover will come and destroy us." -Dr. Peter Venkman >> "So says the adolescent who insults his Queen even as he defends >> her," Malystryx notes with a growl. (Note: the three dragons >> attacking, as well as the loyal blue who is leading the allied >> dragons, are between 150 and 200 feet in length. Malystryx herself >> is a whopping _400_ feet long!) > >*Actually, I am a hatchling.* sends Dhyrclhnac, painfully (for >Malystryx) establishing a teep link between himself and the rebelious >red dragon. *And, desipite my constantly, admittedly flipant >attitude, I am defending my Goddess!* Malystryx winces, her magics unused to this sort of assault. But her strength of will is incredible. > Clarification time, sib o' mine, both Novaand Dhyrclhanc have >Class 1000 resistance to Fire and Flame-based attacks. Is Malystryx >realy capable of generating Fire attacks of greater than Class 1000 >intensity? While I'm on the subject, GM to Player, you've given me >the sizes of these dragon's but how _old_ are they? Dhyclhanc would >probably be able to judge age and aproximate power levels from size, >however, *I* can't. (OOC: It wouldn't _hurt_ Nova, but it would surprise her rather badly. Malystryx is listed in the Dragonlance Fifth Age book as a 'Legendary Wyrm,' which is as high as the age rankings go. The three who went after Dhyclhanc are listed as 'Ancient,' as is Skie. This is one rank below Malystryx.) >> And falls again as the lightning-breath of the blue tears >> through the convenient gap left in its armored scales. "I expect >> Kitiara to be returned to me for this service, o Queen," the blue >> says. > >The draconic Lensman, momentarily stares open-mouthed at the actions >of the blue. [Later] he thinks to himself and then launches three >more teep edged attacks, one each against the White, Green and Blue. (OOC: I trust that the attack on the Blue is a type, since he remains loyal to Takhisis?) >*I do not suppose you would have the decency to tell me what your >names are? That way, once I have finished strewing your carcases and >innards over this world's landscape, I will know what to put on your >headstones!* > >A green flare of energy lights up the sky and when it clears, a 105 >ft. tall, 155 ft long, Lensdragon stands on the horizon. The White falls back, clutching its head, but the Green manages to keep her head (so to speak). "I am Beryllinthranor," she snarls, "and you are a corpse!" She breathes the infamous noxious gas at Dhyclhanc...and misses. *We might wish to parley,* Beryl whispers mentally. *I have no desire to anger Takhisis-even Malystryx can't be mad enough to mean to kill her-but so long as those two idiots Gellidus (the white) and Onysablet (the black) think that remaining with her is to their advantage I cannot oppose her openly.* ...thusly, things seem to be going well for the forces of Light. Until Malice appears by the Tower. "And now, a word from our sponsor," he cackles, and a shaft of darkness flies down from the bleeding Crawler. "NO-" Roland begins, his Ring reappearing on his finger and using both teleportation and super-speed to slam into Malice. And a field of dark force cuts them, and most of the Tower, from the CAoL. /*"ROLAND!"*/ Morgan shouts, attempting to 'port past the shield to her beloved's aid. And fails, as the field proves to be very similar to the one Z'On'Dar used. "Uh, hey Spider, would you mind doing something about that?" Roland asks dubiously, his Phoenix Rod extending in his hands. "Working," it replies. "Great, Roland mutters as Malice laughs. *Oh, the others will no doubt find a way through in short order. Sadly, they will be too late.* Malice points his spear at Roland. *And _you_ are no match for me in your state. If you are smart, you'll move aside...but quite frankly, I hope you don't. I am _so_ looking forward to hearing your cry of despair as you realize your failure.* *I'd hate to disappoint you,* Roland snarls, *and STAY OUT OF MY HEAD!* Staff and spear crash together briefly, and Roland is thrown back hard. *Now if you'll excuse me,* Malice sends with a laugh. *I have a date with a Spider...* /Everyone, Roland's in over his head. I need the cavalry here _now._/ Morgan sends to her comrads. *I don't _think_ so,* Roland snarls, and fires a bolt of power at Malice. Malice actually staggers slightly. *A-mazing. You never give up, do you?* Malice turns, and fires a telepathic blast of vast power at Roland. The Freelance Immortal screams and falls back, his mind falling into chaos, nearly coming apart. Then he REMEMBERS. {Atlantis Champions Solitare Destroyer-) {-DEFENDER-} Roland's armor shifts and changes around his body. Malice stops, a premonition of doom coming over him, and he turns. "No. NOOO!!!" "Yes," Roland, wearing a new suit of armor, says as the Phoenix Rod returns to his hand. (OOC: Picture forthcoming. For those who own a copy of Champions, 4th Ed., it's the classic Defender armor with a few minor alterations, and a phoenix on the chest.) "You pushed a little too hard, Malice. I'm here to push back." "DAMN you! Die!" Malice says, near incoherence, and the battle begins anew. Though Roland's new armor protects him well, and he fights valiantly, it's only a matter of time before he falls. But all he has to do is last for long enough. And he does. "NO! NOT AGAAAAAIN!" Malice screams as the forcefield shatters. (OOC: I'm assuming the CAoL takes care of this...) "I'll have your HEAD for-" Malice stops, his eyes wide, as Roland points a Phoenix Rod tipped with the full Claw at him. "Shut up." And Roland plunges it through Malice's black heart, and space/time screams as the spirit's link to the Adversary draws the Great Adversary out of the Crawler, through the Destroyer, and... *FREEEEE!* It exults. *FREE at LAST! Now, you fools will face the-WAIT!* The Adversary 'looks' around. *Where is my HOST BODY?! What-* It stops in shock as it realizes the trap it has fallen into... (OOC: Fuzzy, Dane, take it away! ) The body of the Malice/Destroyer collapses into an organic soup, separating into two bodies of...something. Roland falls over, his psychic channels burned almost beyond recognition, his body exhausted beyond even movement. [Did...the job,] he thinks in spent relief. Then Malice, wearing Roland's form, rises from one of the amorphous masses, forms claws, screams, and attacks the armored form. Futilely. (OOC: If anyone will feel better, waiting for the rest of this to take place can be justified by someone throwing extra defense over Roland so that Malice isn't a threat to him.) "NO! NO! Not again! I won't accept this again! Oa, Arcadia, and now here! This is the LAST time, you hear me?! The-" Malice stops, gathering his breath...and sees the impossibly ruined Phoenix Rod, its tip blown off from within, and the broken top of the Claw. And he giggles insanely. "Hee...hee...oh, your own blade, how delicious. How perfect..." he laughs, tears streaming down his face in hysteria. [Oh yeah, he's gone,] Roland thinks, rather unbalanced himself, his thoughts easy to 'hear' on the lenslink. [It doesn't matter, really. I got the job done.] Malice reaches his hand out, his psychokinesis grasping for the Claw. [But just once, I wish it didn't hurt so much.] The fiend tries to pull the Claw toward him, but it doesn't seem to want to move. [And this time, it really cost me. My powers. My body. Being just human...I don't know if I can handle-] Then, as a grief-striken Sil 'ports to his side, tears streaming down her face, his final thought before sliding into merciful unconsciousness takes the pain away. [A hero. At long last...a hero...*] And Malice looks up from the Claw in fury and frustration... ...and his eyes widen with terror, as he sees Morgan, her eyes glowing with vast power, keeping the Claw from him, a large contingent of CAoLers behind her... "Ac." Morgan's fury is so deep she lapses into Gaelic(*). Her voice is calm - the kind of calm that comes before a storm, and a tartan sash materializes over her costume. "An-smaoin mi." She reaches out her hand, and the Claw flies to her. The nanite sword flows up her arm, down the other, and wraps itself around Aramegil's blade. /I get the final blow,/ she sends quietly over the link. "Nuh-no-" Malice looks up at his 'god,' the Great Adversary, the force that spawned his spirit form, being ravaged...and back at Morgan, whom he'd thought to be no threat...and the power behind her eyes... "Yuh-YOU! SOLITARE!" The Highlander holds her claidheamhor high, the nanite-covered blade gleaming, and gestures toward the spirit of corruption. "Cuathain sinn troid, sinn _buachan_!" she shouts, charging into battle. (*) "Ac" = "No"; "An-smaoin mi." = "I think not." (if my grammar is correct, which I kinda doubt ); and "Cuathain sinn troid, sinn buachan." is Clann Fhaoilcheire's battle cry, "When we fight, we win!" =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 19:13:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Defenders Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00006042 > On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 23:46:43 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006041 > > /Everyone, Roland's in over his head. I need the cavalry here > _now._/ Morgan sends to her comrads. > > /On my way, I think the Cusp of my task is approaching./ @Z'On'Dar, If you can deactivate the Defenses, which have kept the Structure of The Tower intact, My allies of The Elemental Courts, Will take it from there.@ Nemisis Speaks: /=My Splits and I will deal with any leftovers, Among the lesser forces of our opponents, I have use for the Re-Made Energies=/ > "DAMN you! Die!" Malice says, near incoherence, and the battle > begins anew. Though Roland's new armor protects him well, and he > fights valiantly, it's only a matter of time before he falls. > But all he has to do is last for long enough. > And he does. > "NO! NOT AGAAAAAIN!" Malice screams as the forcefield shatters. > (OOC: I'm assuming the CAoL takes care of this...) (OOC: And I will assume that Z'On'Dar, will deactivate the Defenses mentioned above, Now, If he Can...?) Ignore this is Z'On'Dar can-not or Will-not... As the Tower's Inner-most Defences go down, The Tower De-Rez's, (Yes, like Tron) As the Elemental Courts Compleate their Dance, Retrieving the Gifts, of Mass, Energy, Movement, Change, Space/Time... Which Were It's Structure. > Malice stops, his eyes wide, as Roland points a Phoenix Rod > tipped with the full Claw at him. > "Shut up." > And Roland plunges it through Malice's black heart, and > space/time screams as the spirit's link to the Adversary draws the > Great Adversary out of the Crawler, through the Destroyer, and... > *FREEEEE!* It exults. *FREE at LAST! Now, you fools will face > the-WAIT!* The Adversary 'looks' around. *Where is my HOST BODY?! > What-* It stops in shock as it realizes the trap it has fallen > into... (OOC: Fuzzy, Dane, take it away! ) Any Avatars of The Adversary still in the local area find their Link to 'It' severed as Fuzzy Fills their Void Channels with Newly Created Fabric... > "Nuh-no-" Malice looks up at his 'god,' the Great Adversary, the > force that spawned his spirit form, being ravaged...and back at > Morgan, whom he'd thought to be no threat...and the power behind her > eyes... "Yuh-YOU! SOLITARE!" > > The Highlander holds her claidheamhor high, the nanite-covered blade > gleaming, and gestures toward the spirit of corruption. "Cuathain > sinn troid, sinn _buachan_!" she shouts, charging into battle. > > behind ;-).> Nemisis Speaks: /=My split will directly assist, I will be assuring that no further Breaches are made, In the fabric of Existence=/ [1] The Unspoken Sphere on the Tree of Life, The Abyss... A Usable handle... ;) =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 19:14:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Defenders On Thu, 01 Oct 1998 08:01:49 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006043 >On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 23:46:43 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006041 > >>On Mon, 28 Sep 1998 20:20:51 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006025 *snip* >> The 'black hole' that consists of what's left of the Crawler has >>a gaping 'wound' taking up a quarter of its surface, 'bleeding' >>superstrings and vast amounts of EM radiation-from radio waves to >>cosmic rays-shining as brightly as the star. Legion does what she can to prevent The Crawler's 'bleeding' from hurting local reality even more, but she is stretched pretty thin. *Drats, Snipped again* > Mournblade flickers for a moment, his own reality powers coming >into play to protect him. (Apparently) Unable to prevent the >teleport, he instead ensures that his body travels as a whole. > To the star. > And returns a barely discernable moment later, a fair distance >from Legion. > "Anomolous thing, did you think such tactics could _truly_ harm >Mourn-" he begins, walking toward her. > Then starts to melt as he walks. > "Hmm," he says, annoyed, as his legs become liquid beneath him. >"Unexpected development," the metallic pool comments dryly. Legion comments dryly, "We thought it was worth a try." *Son of a son of a snip* > *I'd hate to disappoint you,* Roland snarls, *and STAY OUT OF MY >HEAD!* Staff and spear crash together briefly, and Roland is thrown >back hard. > *Now if you'll excuse me,* Malice sends with a laugh. *I have a >date with a Spider...* > >/Everyone, Roland's in over his head. I need the cavalry here _now._/ >Morgan sends to her comrads. Legion is already at the base of the tower, fighting at the Spider's side. She joins the shadow in its attempts to bring down the forceshield. > The body of the Malice/Destroyer collapses into an organic soup, >separating into two bodies of...something. > Roland falls over, his psychic channels burned almost beyond >recognition, his body exhausted beyond even movement. [Did...the >job,] he thinks in spent relief. Out of nowhere a small grey kitten appears, sitting on Roland's chest. To Roland, the kitten weighs nothing at all. And there is something very soothing about the purr coming from her. > Then Malice, wearing Roland's form, rises from one of the >amorphous masses, forms claws, screams, and attacks the armored form. Legion sees the attack comming and throws up another layer of defense around Roland. (I know she won't be the only one) The kitten looks at Malice like something she might bury in the dirt out back. (Doesn't even want it NEAR her litterbox) > And Malice looks up from the Claw in fury and frustration... > ...and his eyes widen with terror, as he sees Morgan, her eyes >glowing with vast power, keeping the Claw from him, a large >contingent of CAoLers behind her... > >"Ac." Morgan's fury is so deep she lapses into Gaelic(*). Her voice >is calm - the kind of calm that comes before a storm, and a tartan >sash materializes over her costume. "An-smaoin mi." She reaches out >her hand, and the Claw flies to her. The nanite sword flows up her >arm, down the other, and wraps itself around Aramegil's blade. /I get >the final blow,/ she sends quietly over the link. Legion's voices echo back /Certainly... just leave us a few first.../ =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 19:14:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deathwalkerstalker On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 08:33:21 -0700 (PDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006044 >On Tue, 29 Sep 1998 23:23:12 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006037 > > Jha'Dur gazed at Mike with eyes filled with a hate even _he_ (um, >she) has rarely seen in his/her travels. "You will pay for this, >human." And her 'tendrils' work their way towards the tower (not to >be confused with the Tower) to take manual control. > Nova lies there helplessly, still wrapped in black tendrils. >Fortunately, plasma bolts have as much effect against her as they >would under other curcumstances-none whatsoever. The down side seems >to be that the tendrils neutralizing her are similarly immune. > "mmph!" she objects futilely. Mike smiled and ran for the computer's tower. Turrets swiveled and fired, the plasma blasting at her heels. Diving behind a low wall, she caught her breath and looked at Jha'Dur's tentacle's progress. [This girl has got to be a fan of those tentacle anime demons.] Mike continued to run down the street, still chased by plasma fire. A deep hole opened under her feet and she fell in. [Crap,] Mike thought as she fell, [Wish I were on the friendly list...] Mike looked down and realized she had better move fast. The floor of the pit was covered with spikes. [Uh oh...] Mike fell on the spikes, or at least her current body did. The synthetic shell still looked gruesome, but that was quickly taken care of. A small explosive took care of the body. Mike's 'spirit' flew out of the pit under cover of a thick plume of smoke, taking on the form of a Vorlon, a winged tentacled energy form that was white and wispy like a ghost, but in no way human. More like a winged chinese dragon crossed with a squid. "*Third hostile eliminated.*" [Perfect. Vorlons -are- on the friendly list.] Mike thought, the 'Vorlon' making a bee-line for the tower. Mike flew through the wall, entering a massive room. The wispy, vaguely dragon-like head whipped around, spotting several things of interest. Energy tentacles lashed out for several controls. Mike paused momentarily. Images flashed through her mind, but they felt unreal somehow, disjointed...Some of the CAoL trapped in the Tower on Epsilon 3...Morgan's call for help...Roland falling to Malice. They didn't come over the link, had these things happened yet? A quick glance through the link showed the CAoL were still fighting, Roland included. [No more time to play. Better finish this up and get back. First, free Nova.] A few of Mike's tendrils tapped on a freestanding keypad in front of a raised grid. A computer display read 'Emergency Override Teleporter' A small crystal glowed and just over it, a green wireframe of Nova appeared minus the tentacles wrapped around her. Another pair of tentacles increased the energy attacks on Jha'Dur, adding several energy draining attacks as well. Several battalions of encounter suits converged on Jha'Dur's location, adding their own mobile firepower. [Now, while she is busy...] Mike activated the teleporter, transporting Nova inside the tower, leaving Jha'Dur with empty tentacles. Mike 'grinned' at Nova as best she could in this form. "And now to see that Deathwalker doesn't try her megalomaniacal stunts again." Mike turned up the heat on the attack. "If this doesn't get her, I have one last idea that might work, at least before I exercise the Final Option," somehow managing to convey the capitalization. [Let's hope I don't have to. Some of these Babylon 5 timelines need the Vorlon Homeworld in the future. Not to mention I don't want to start being known as 'Mike, Destroyer of Worlds'.] =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 19:14:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE:Battle in Arcadia pt 2 On Thu, 01 Oct 1998 12:22:05 EDT Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00006045 Driss wades through the battlefield, quickly losing sight of Roscoe but able to keep a mental 'eye' on him anyways. The rapier slices easily through an earth elemental. A ring absorbs an entire fire elemental and fires it forth at a quickly closing water elemental. A blast of light blinds a converging demon long enough for Driss to behead it. All the time though, Driss ponders who could be unleashing all these creatures in Arcadia. Something wasn't right about this. Another Earth elemental falls before Driss puts his finger on it. The Elementals. Oberon _is_ Arcadia. His power extends into every grain of sand and every drop of water. _NO_ wizard should be able to master Elementals here. Unless they were impossibly powerful, adn then why bother with these legions? Unless the wizard wasn't the powerful one, but had an ally who was. Roscoe was in the fighting up to his neck. The form of a Lanish seemed to be working well to thin out the enemy right now, but the sheer numbers were becoming overwhelming. Then Driss's thoughts hit him. /Driss, check and see if anyone else we know is playing around in here./ /I gotcha. My thoughts were turning to that as well./ /I know they were, I'm proccessing your memory for you right now, remember?/ /No, you forgot to process that memory./ sends Driss with a mental wink. Driss took a large sidestep with the 7-league boots and moved out of hte midst of the battle to get some breathing room. Clearing his mind he began to look at the battle with a new vision. Magic swirled about everything and seemed to ooze from every tree and rock so Driss stripped that veil away, looking for the more basic patterns. everything showed its particular dance of Chaotic and Ordered energies that made up their personal balance. The Elementals seems to be quite heavy on the Chaotic side, but there was one obvious concentration of Chaotic energy. Chaos was indeed here. /I found ugly./ Roscoe was knee deep in zombie parts, shredding them with his claws in the form of a velociraptor. /I see him. I think I can triangulate from your point fo view and close in on him./ Then, switching to a wideband broadcast to his clan, *Disengadge your opponents and form up on me. It's time we got tactical.* There's a few stray questioning thoughts, but everyone does as they are ordered and soon Roscoe is surrounded by Guardians and begins mentally sending the battle plan to them. Guardians shift to forms he designates and move into possition. Dragons circling overhead cutting into the enemy hordes with thier breath weapons, While on the ground, a group of Lanishes drain the magic from elementals, undead adn demons alike and three Jabberwocks physically tear their way through the enemies. Roscoe morphed into the form of a demon and began slipping through the ranks of enemies unnoticed. TBC =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 19:14:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Defenders (Long) On Thu, 01 Oct 1998 12:59:09 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006046 > On Wed, 30 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said >>Morgan and/or Roland Said >>>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00006017 >>> >>>*I told you he'd be mad,* Dragon's Bane gets out before the ship >>>commits to its final act. That said it wraps its power source with >> >> /What?/ Roland blurts. >> >>>seed energy, and detonates its power core. Blasting outward into, >>>then along the tentacles is literally infinite, pure, order, life >>>energy, the ultimate Pattern. The energy flows up the tentacles >>>slamming into Crawlers main body, savaging it dreadfully, before >>>ebbing. When the Cosmic fire ends, there remains Crawler (badly >>>injured), but no trace of Dragon's Bane. >> >> /NO!!!/ >> The entire battle stops for a moment, with even mighty Galactus >>and heartless Mournblade look up and stare for a moment. >> "merciful light..." is all Roland can say. Dhyrclhanc looks up into the sky from his combat. "Bahamut and Tiamat." >>Dhyrclhanc Said > (OOC: It wouldn't _hurt_ Nova, but it would surprise her rather > badly. Malystryx is listed in the Dragonlance Fifth Age book as a > 'Legendary Wyrm,' which is as high as the age rankings go. The three > who went after Dhyclhanc are listed as 'Ancient,' as is Skie. This > is one rank below Malystryx.) Dhyrclhanc lands in a crouched position, catches Krull, generates a Force Field from the First-Ring, at which point Malystryx's Flame Breath hits. Once the "firestorm" passes, the force field will be still standing. Then the draconic Lensman will bring it down so that he can make his psychic attacks on the white and the green dragons. >>The draconic Lensman, momentarily stares open-mouthed at the actions >>of the blue. [Later] he thinks to himself and then launches three >>more teep edged attacks, one each against the White, Green and Blue. > > (OOC: I trust that the attack on the Blue is a typo, since he >remains loyal to Takhisis?) I thought the blue was protecting Malystryx. But, for now, we can leave it that the Big Guy(tm) only mentaly attacked the White and the Green. Also, WHY did the black get felled by the blue? My interpretation is that Malystryx commanded the Blue to kill the Black because of its failure to kill DC. >>A green flare of energy lights up the sky and when it clears, a 105 >>ft. tall, 155 ft long, Lensdragon stands on the horizon. > > The White falls back, clutching its head, but the Green manages > to keep her head (so to speak). > "I am Beryllinthranor," she snarls, "and you are a corpse!" She > breathes the infamous noxious gas at Dhyclhanc...and misses. Dhyrclhanc smiles broadly, having dodged Beryllinthranor's chlorine cloud *It is pointless to use a poison attack against one who is immune to poisons.* > ...thusly, things seem to be going well for the forces of Light. > Until Malice appears by the Tower. > "And now, a word from our sponsor," he cackles, and a shaft of > darkness flies down from the bleeding Crawler. > "NO-" Roland begins, his Ring reappearing on his finger and using > both teleportation and super-speed to slam into Malice. > And a field of dark force cuts them, and most of the Tower, from > the CAoL. > > /*"ROLAND!"*/ Morgan shouts, attempting to 'port past the shield to > her beloved's aid. */ROLAND!!!/* Sends the immortal hatchling Ruby Fire Dragon, wincing. "Nobody go anywhere!" he says to his draconic opponents, enveloping Beryllinthranor (the Green), and Gellidus (the White) in one, huge, hollow, emerald-green, gem-like force construct, Onysablet (the Black) in a second, and Skie (The Blue), and Malystryx (the Red) in a third. Then he immediatly uses the C-bands to 'port just outside the new force shield surrounding the Tower. Then he manifests a huge jackhammer and begins trying to pierce the force dome. > /Everyone, Roland's in over his head. I need the cavalry here > _now._/ Morgan sends to her comrads. *Working on it 'sis.* sends the Lensdragon, as small cracks begin to formin the sheild under his Power Ring's barrage. > Then Malice, wearing Roland's form, rises from one of the > amorphous masses, forms claws, screams, and attacks the armored > form. Futilely. (OOC: If anyone will feel better, waiting for > the rest of this to take place can be justified by someone throwing > extra defense over Roland so that Malice isn't a threat to him.) Aha! That's my cue! Dhyrclhanc bursts into the dome, having broken through a small potion of the shield, and tosses the Krull at Malice. "Krull -- Hunt and Dissarm." Flying from the still 105 ft tall dragon's hand, the Krull shrinks to its normal, frisbee-size, takes a good-sized chunk out of the reserected Malice's arm and then pulls his spear from his grasp, before returning to Dhyrclhanc's hand. > And Malice looks up from the Claw in fury and frustration... > ...and his eyes widen with terror, as he sees Morgan, her eyes > glowing with vast power, keeping the Claw from him, a large > contingent of CAoLers behind her... Dhyrclhanc chuckles, /[Fellow, are you in trouble!]/ > The Highlander holds her claidheamhor high, the nanite-covered blade > gleaming, and gestures toward the spirit of corruption. "Cuathain > sinn troid, sinn _buachan_!" she shouts, charging into battle. > > behind ;-).> Dhyrclhanc draws Redemption out of its sheath on his back, and joins the fray. =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 19:14:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Defenders On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 06:48:23 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00006047 > On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 23:46:43 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006041 > > *Now if you'll excuse me,* Malice sends with a laugh. *I have a > date with a Spider...* > > /Everyone, Roland's in over his head. I need the cavalry here > _now._/ Morgan sends to her comrads. > > Luckily, the Nemos have (mostly) been keeping themselves in reserve. > Then Malice, wearing Roland's form, rises from one of the amorphous > masses, forms claws, screams, and attacks the armored form. > Futilely. (OOC: If anyone will feel better, waiting for the rest > of this to take place can be justified by someone throwing extra > defense over Roland so that Malice isn't a threat to him.) Always willing to aid a friend. :-) > [A hero. At long last...a hero...*] > And Malice looks up from the Claw in fury and frustration... > ...and his eyes widen with terror, as he sees Morgan, her eyes > glowing with vast power, keeping the Claw from him, a large > contingent of CAoLers behind her... Nemo's "comments" are quite brief. In a tone as if he was discussing completely trivial, he says/sends: "/Prepare to die./" =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 19:14:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Alpha and Omega On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 19:57:01 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006049 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006025 >>On Mon, 28 Sep 1998 02:05:55 PST >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00006020 >> >>And he proceeds to invoke many deities (mostly female), such as the >>Goddess from Diane Duane's "Doorway" books, and many others. The >>main thread is invoking all those who are not only aspects of the >>Creator, but who have an especial antipathy for "unmaking" and those >>who would attempt it. > > The goddesses don't manifest physically; there really isn't much > left for them to do. The Crawler twists in its agony, the horrific > wound nearly mortal even to the anti-Primal, and the power of the > summoning keeping it busy. The Crawlerlings attacking the > Tower-sigil vanish, victims of their progenitor's weakness. *Fair you well, old friend,* Aurora sends. Everybody in the system can sense the grief she feels. *You did well. The Crawler is all but out of this fight. You will be sorely missed.* To the surprise of all, they hear an answer in their very spirits, *Thank you. I go now to prepare your place for the day when your time comes, oh Queen of the Night Sky. Fair you well* (OOC: I'm sure hard on my characters aren't I) =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 19:15:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 20:08:10 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006050 Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00006026 > *What would you have me swe.. wait, how about this. I will swear to > return here and help as soon as possible, putting off my battle with > my counterpart until such time as this threat here has been > defeated. And also that we won't use inherently destructive methods > in the process of battling this threat. We will both swear this. How > is that?* *That will be satisfactory.* Aurora says. An instant later, a spark appears on the tip of her horn. It vanishes a millisecond later. *I have sent the constructor to {insert macro universal coordinates here}. When you have each and both sworn to that, it will begin. By our local time here, it will be finished in one second. If you need transportation to that spot, I can provide you with it.* =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 19:15:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Defenders On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 20:41:13 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006051 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006041 > *Now if you'll excuse me,* Malice sends with a laugh. *I have a > date with a Spider...* > > /Everyone, Roland's in over his head. I need the cavalry here > _now._/ Morgan sends to her comrads. Scanning the situation, Aurora decides that the force field must be stopped at its source. Suiting action to thought, she begins blasting the Crawler's injured form with Spirit blasts, much like she did with Starbreaker (though not without interuptions this time). Blast after blast, and with each blast, the Crawler's body can be seen to writhe just a little more. =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 20:47:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Day of the Destroyer On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 22:25:49 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00006052 >On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 20:08:10 EDT >Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006050 > >*That will be satisfactory.* Aurora says. An instant later, a spark >appears on the tip of her horn. It vanishes a millisecond later. *I >have sent the constructor to {insert macro universal coordinates >here}. When you have each and both sworn to that, it will begin. By >our local time here, it will be finished in one second. If you need >transportation to that spot, I can provide you with it.* John and Jadis both so swear, to the hearing of all. Then they both disappear. =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 20:48:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Defenders On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 22:45:20 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00006053 >On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 23:46:43 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006041 > >>On Mon, 28 Sep 1998 20:20:51 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006025 Sir, we have Snips fore and aft, it doesn't look good. Hard a port swabbie, and give'em both cannon. > *Now if you'll excuse me,* Malice sends with a laugh. *I have a >date with a Spider...* > >/Everyone, Roland's in over his head. I need the cavalry here _now._/ >Morgan sends to her comrads. Both Jadis and John reappear. They seem more substantial than before. They look at each other and smile the smile of a predator closing in on the kill. "We honor our word." > "DAMN you! Die!" Malice says, near incoherence, and the battle >begins anew. Though Roland's new armor protects him well, and he >fights valiantly, it's only a matter of time before he falls. > But all he has to do is last for long enough. > And he does. J&J step up to the forcefield, one on each side. They seem to take a good grip on it, then crack it like an egg. =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 20:48:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: On the Station On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 23:04:03 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00006054 {A few moments before the current hubbub} Rhia is staring out the window of B5, down onto the planet Epsilon. She is worried and more than a little scared. A voice speaks out behind her, and she jumps. "It's almost time. Are you ready?" The speaker is a young man, who seems to exude likableness. Not charm, just a feeling of likeableness. "Wha..? Who are you? Ready for what?" Rhia is flustered. "I am a friend of your.. Uncle's. He approached me with a little problem he was having and together we devised a solution. _You_ are instrumental to his surviving that solution. Though I rather think you will need help." "What is this plan? Just who are you?" Rhia demands. "I can't tell you the plan yet, that would tip off certain interested parties. As for who I am, well, some people would call me the Antichrist, but my friends call me Adam." "The" Rhia begins, but Adam cuts her off, "Please, I would hope that you would call me Adam. I wasn't _quite_ what my Father expected, but who can know the ineffable plan, really." "The..What.." Rhia is once again flustered. "What sort of help do I need? Can you tell me that much at least?" "Of course. There are a good number of telepaths on this station, you'll need their power to bolster your own formidable abilities." *G'kar,* Rhia sends, *I think I may need some help. Can I impose upon you for a bit* She relays what little she knows about this task. =========================== Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 23:11:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Defenders On Thu, 01 Oct 1998 22:48:15 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006055 >Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00006042 > >> On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 23:46:43 >> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006041 >> >> /Everyone, Roland's in over his head. I need the cavalry here >> _now._/ Morgan sends to her comrads. >> >> > >/On my way, > I think the Cusp of my task is approaching./ > >@Z'On'Dar, > If you can deactivate the Defenses, > which have kept the Structure of The Tower intact, > My allies of The Elemental Courts, > Will take it from there.@ *That would be...unwise,* Z'On'Dar states evenly. *Such an event would cause a collapse in the local multiverse. While such would not be a disaster on the level of _activating_ the Tower, dozens of realities would be destroyed...including, in all likelihood, each of yours.* (OOC: I kind of need the Tower in place for the rest of the plot to happen. If Fuzzy needs the Tower for energy, Galactus, Shard, and/or Morden could channel their connection to him. If there's some other reason Fuzzy needs the Tower dismantled, let me know and we'll work something out.) >> "NO! NOT AGAAAAAIN!" Malice screams as the forcefield shatters. >> (OOC: I'm assuming the CAoL takes care of this...) > >(OOC: And I will assume that Z'On'Dar, > will deactivate the Defenses mentioned above, > Now, > If he Can...?) (OOC: See above, but the Elemental Lords can get these powers if it's necessary to your part of the plot.) >> *FREEEEE!* It exults. *FREE at LAST! Now, you fools will face >> the-WAIT!* The Adversary 'looks' around. *Where is my HOST BODY?! >> What-* It stops in shock as it realizes the trap it has fallen >> into... (OOC: Fuzzy, Dane, take it away! ) > > It will be sent on a time out Immediately > >Fuzzy Emerges from his hiding place, > Somewhere between Hyperspace and the Elemental Plains > To Confront The AntiThesis of Creation... > His power already in the mid-cosmic range, > And rising at a rapidly increasing rate, > As he makes a futile attempt to Balance, > The Great Adversary Itself... (OOC: I'll let Dane handle this, but I have to say that's _brilliant._ It's also one of the ways to give the Crawler a hard time. Speaking of which...) >Any Avatars of The Adversary still in the local area find their Link >to 'It' severed as Fuzzy Fills their Void Channels with Newly Created >Fabric... The Crawler's very _essence_ writhes in fury, as its emptiness is assaulted by its antithesis... >On Thu, 01 Oct 1998 12:59:09 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006046 > > I thought the blue was protecting Malystryx. But, for now, we >can leave it that the Big Guy(tm) only mentaly attacked the White and >the Green. > >Also, WHY did the black get felled by the blue? My interpretation is >that Malystryx commanded the Blue to kill the Black because of its >failure to kill DC. (OOC: He is leading the forces loyal to Takhisis. He nailed Onysablet because she was vulnerable, and thus an easily-neutralized threat. Clarification: Krynn is the world; Ansalon is the continent.) >*/ROLAND!!!/* Sends the immortal hatchling Ruby Fire Dragon, wincing. > >"Nobody go anywhere!" he says to his draconic opponents, enveloping >Beryllinthranor (the Green), and Gellidus (the White) in one, huge, >hollow, emerald-green, gem-like force construct, Onysablet (the >Black) in a second, and Skie (The Blue), and Malystryx (the Red) in a >third. (OOC: Ignore the below if Dhyrclhanc was still operating under the assumption that Skie and Malystryx are allies when he did this.) Skie and Malystryx immediately engage, though Malys should have the clear advantage due to her size and strength, and the lack of maneuvering room. Oddly, Skie seems to be holding his own, empowered by a force from...beyond. >Dhyrclhanc bursts into the dome, having broken through a small potion >of the shield, and tosses the Krull at Malice. "Krull -- Hunt and >Dissarm." > >Flying from the still 105 ft tall dragon's hand, the Krull shrinks to >its normal, frisbee-size, takes a good-sized chunk out of the >reserected Malice's arm and then pulls his spear from his grasp, >before returning to Dhyrclhanc's hand. "Akk-" Malice gurgles, staring stupidly at his missing arm. The spear (which Dhyrclhanc recognizes as the Spear of Wotan) vanished halfway to the Lensdragon, however... ...reappearing in the hands of a man who looks VERY much like what Malice looked like before Roland blew him all to heck. "My thanks," Dr. Destroyer intones, a creepy smile on his face, "for disarming that insipid fool." He bows to Dhyrclhanc and vanishes. >> ...and his eyes widen with terror, as he sees Morgan, her eyes >> glowing with vast power, keeping the Claw from him, a large >> contingent of CAoLers behind her... > >Dhyrclhanc chuckles, /[Fellow, are you in trouble!]/ (OOC: ROFL! YES, he is! ;^) >> The Highlander holds her claidheamhor high, the nanite-covered >> blade gleaming, and gestures toward the spirit of corruption. >> "Cuathain sinn troid, sinn _buachan_!" she shouts, charging into >> battle. >> >> > behind ;-).> > >Dhyrclhanc draws Redemption out of its sheath on his back, and joins >the fray. >On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 06:48:23 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00006047 >Nemo's "comments" are quite brief. In a tone as if he was discussing >completely trivial, he says/sends: > >"/Prepare to die./" And a large portion of the CAoL turns Malice into a widely-spread layer of organic particles in short order, Morgan's blade (as requested, unless someone states otherwise) slicing at a diagonal through his chest, from left shoulder to right hip. The sad remains fall to the ground, quite lifeless. Morgan looks on the grue silently, with grim satisfaction, then turns her back on it and goes to Roland. Then the remains vanish. The dying Crawler explodes with new 'life,' its badly ravaged body slowly taking on a new shape. A humanoid one... *You accursed children of Light,* Malice snarls from the body/mind of the Crawler. *You have frustrated my every effort, blocked my every advance, destroyed plans centuries in the making. CENTURIES!* Several realities shudder at the wrath of the combined Malice/Crawler. *I no longer care for power. My survival is unlikely. But before I perish, I WILL see all of YOU-and _ALL_ that you hold dear-DESTROYED FOREVER!* Morgan looks over her shoulder, her weary eyes unmoved. She just shakes her head at his outburst, disgusted, then continues to Roland's side, examining him through her Lifesight. Roland's body is badly brutalized, but nothing Morgan's magicks couldn't handle-bruises, internal bleeding, a handful of broken bones, and three gashes where the explosion of the Rod dented the armor. (The armor itself is apparently undamaged.) As mentioned before, it's his psychic 'self' that's been ravaged. Sil is already hard at work, but while she has the skill, she lacks the power. The two women look at each other, conferring silently. Morgan grasps her sigil, drawing deeply from those Callahanians with power to spare. Sil places 'her' hand on it as well, and the two begin work. Meanwhile... The remains of the dead horrors vanish, adding to the creature's bulk and humanoid shape, though very little power. Until the Maelstrom Bridge is co-opted in its entirety to become one of the Malice/Crawler (call it the 'Mauler') thing's 'legs.' The power of the Gaunt Man's reality flows through it. Then commands flow from somewhere to Jha'Dur's biotech creations, which form the other leg. A brief burst of telepathy later, Mournblade's melted form vanishes, and a half-ebon, half-silver arm flows out of its left 'shoulder.' The Mauler and Malys chant briefly, and Skie claws at empty air. Malystryx herself isn't 'really' a part of the creature before the CAoL, but a giant red taloned arm protrudes from its right shoulder, and a wing flows from the left side of its back. The Crawler's wound flares out from where the right wing would be, and its tentacles hold the monstrosity together as a deformed but recognizable face forms. Malice. *"I WILL SEE YOU ALL DEAD,"* it roars, *"THOUGH IT COST ME MY LIFE, MY MIND, MY VERY SOUUUUUL!"* "Enough," Galactus mutters, incinerating the Crawlerlings and growing to his full height. "You must be contained, and I-" A shaft of pummelling, mindbending unexistence lances out and throws Galactus into orbit. "-kkk-*" Galactus enters geosynchronous orbit over the battlefield, barely conscious. His ebon staff vanishes. *"NOW FOR YOU,"* it screams, its arms raised to summon a ball of unmaking... =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 00:10:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Defenders On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 02:36:44 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00006056 > *"NOW FOR YOU,"* [the Mauler] screams, its arms raised to summon a >ball of unmaking... Scott mutters something, and shakes his head. He gestures, and a thousand "dead" realities pour into where the sphere of unmaking is going to appear. (The realities are small universes, either long dead or never powerful enough to host life. They shouldn't compete with the local ficton, but they should nicely react with that ball of unmaking.) Thanks Scott "Fill'er up" Osborne =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 04:37:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: The Bester of Both Worlds On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 07:05:08 -0400 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006057 :On Tue, 29 Sep 1998 23:08:16 :Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006036 :>On Tue, 29 Sep 1998 22:37:18 -0400 :>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006033 :>:On Mon, 28 Sep 1998 20:30:07 :>:Morgan and/or Roland Said : Then something in Bester's mind _snaps_ into place-and out of it. : And for a moment, there are _two_ Besters. : The 'old' Bester, even more enraged than before, tries to attack :Zia. The 'new' Bester, who is in fact the original, deflects the full :barrage well before it can even threaten Zia and does...well... :SOMETHING. Something rather odd. : Something Zia is very familiar with... : *My deepest thanks, Mrs. Keenan,* Alfred Bester replies. *I am :feeling...quite myself, for the first time in ages.* : (OOC: If someone asks what happened to Bester^2) : *Oh, simply repaying a debt,* Alfred replies... Zia protests, *He had MY safe-conduct, you - ! Why did you just waste him like that?!* She is very upset; keeping her word is a deep principle to her. Even though the 'old' Bester had attacked her and thus broken the agreement, she regrets any killing. : "Helpless, huh?" Garibaldi says coolly, a thin smile forming as :Bester thumps against the far wall and begins to slide down it. :"Yeah, well, you'd probably be right, if G'Kar and Lyta hadn't gone :in and un-Asimoved your Asimov." He gives Bester the Prisoner salute. :"Be seeing you." : And Bester dies. "I hope you didn't need that part of yourself, Alfred. Because I cannot replace that." Zia says, slowly. She sounds a bit ragged. : Epsilon 3. : *I imagine I'll be having a great deal less trouble with the people :on Babylon Five now,* Alfred's active mental track notes. *So. What :comes next?* "Except for them thinking you dead, not much." Zia says. *Next, Roland gets in deep with Malice, manages to hold his own at the cost of his sword and mind a bit, and Malice becomes extremely stupid.* She blinks at herself, and what she said. Very quietly, as she is disconnecting from Alfred's mind, *I _do_ hope they bring time back into operation soon.* James and Starbuck close in on Zia's position. "Best- er, Alfred. You'll likely want to get your Tower connection back... or find out how closely you can work with the Pheonix Force. Just control your emotions." Zia says, her voice still eerily controlled and trance-like from her efforts to STAY calm when she was possessed of it. Zia and James watch the CAoL swamp in after Roland, the shield breaking and Malice being pummeled. Rather than totally leaving the Tower and J'On'Dar exposed, the two Amberites share a glance. James says, "I think they can manage -" "And I don't want anyone _using_ that Tower." Zia agrees. "Hiya, Starbuck, how's tricks?" She smiles, a bit wanly. Then Morgan and Sil are trying to heal Roland's mind. James and Zia monitor, to see if any of the injury falls into the narrow categories of types of hurt they're good at healing mentally. But they face off with the unmaking force Malice/Crawling has created, watching Scott throw many small reallities to the voracious nothingness. =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 04:37:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Defenders On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 04:11:26 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00006058 > On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 23:46:43 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006041 > > /Everyone, Roland's in over his head. I need the cavalry here > _now._/ Morgan sends to her comrads. Raver looked up from where they were mopping up the last of the demons on the planet's surface. /Gods below,/ they swore. [When Morgan calls for help, she sure ain't cryin' wolf...] [Mandy.] The rebuke was sharp as Raver took off in a rush of leathery wings. They landed just outside the force field, next to Morgan. Seeing that there was nothing they could do but wait, they slung the flat of their blade onto one shoulder and seemed to relax. Raver's eyes, however, belied that assessment -- if he could have, Malice would have frozen instantly, shattering into icy shards with the merest breeze. > "NO! NOT AGAAAAAIN!" Malice screams as the forcefield shatters. > (OOC: I'm assuming the CAoL takes care of this...) "I'll have your > HEAD for-" Raver was already in motion as the forcefield broke, but they screeched to a halt as Roland grated, > doesn't seem to want to move. [And this time, it really cost me. My > powers. My body. Being just human...I don't know if I can handle-] /Just human.../ Mandy echoed Roland's words in a nearly-silent whisper that bled an ancient sorrow. Fresh blades tangled her words into near-inarticulateness. > [A hero. At long last...a hero...*] /No./ This time it was Raver who whispered denial as Roland slid away. > And Malice looks up from the Claw in fury and frustration... > ...and his eyes widen with terror, as he sees Morgan, her eyes > glowing with vast power, keeping the Claw from him, a large > contingent of CAoLers behind her... Raver exhaled slowly, raising their head in a motion that threw their cheekbones into taut relief under the shadow of their helm. Darkness seemed to gather about their talons, punctuated by deliberate creaks as they shook their wings out one by one, bulking larger with the motion. The blade descended in an oddly precise arc from their shoulder to come to rest in one gauntlet with a clink. > "Ac." Morgan's fury is so deep she lapses into Gaelic(*). Her voice > is calm - the kind of calm that comes before a storm, and a tartan > sash materializes over her costume. "An-smaoin mi." She reaches out > her hand, and the Claw flies to her. The nanite sword flows up her > arm, down the other, and wraps itself around Aramegil's blade. /I > get the final blow,/ she sends quietly over the link. A slow devil grin grew. /You have spoken./ Raver's voice invoked the shadow of Kali as Destroyer, feral pleasure coating the words. > The Highlander holds her claidheamhor high, the nanite-covered blade > gleaming, and gestures toward the spirit of corruption. "Cuathain > sinn troid, sinn _buachan_!" she shouts, charging into battle. Raver simply lunged, sword at heart-height. =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 04:37:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Defenders On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 07:17:52 -0400 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006059 : The dying Crawler explodes with new 'life,' its badly ravaged body :slowly taking on a new shape. : A humanoid one... : *You accursed children of Light,* Malice snarls from the body/mind :of the Crawler. *You have frustrated my every effort, blocked my :every advance, destroyed plans centuries in the making. CENTURIES!* :Several realities shudder at the wrath of the combined :Malice/Crawler. *I no longer care for power. My survival is unlikely. :But before I perish, I WILL see all of YOU-and _ALL_ that you hold :dear-DESTROYED FOREVER!* Zia sighs, /Why don't the bad guys EVER have good dialogue, James? Well. Except _yours_./ James smirks, /Oh, don't call them _mine_, please. As the Malice/Crawler's power grows, and begins to effect a larger scale area, the two seem to be fading in and out with another appearance, like some threadbare illusion. James seems to almost change into a tall man in a Roman robe, and Zia seems to be overlaid with the transparent image of a bright blue half-cat (head) and horse (feet). : Meanwhile... : The remains of the dead horrors vanish, adding to the creature's :bulk and humanoid shape, though very little power. : Until the Maelstrom Bridge is co-opted in its entirety to become :one of the Malice/Crawler (call it the 'Mauler') thing's 'legs.' The :power of the Gaunt Man's reality flows through it. Then commands flow :from somewhere to Jha'Dur's biotech creations, which form the other :leg. A brief burst of telepathy later, Mournblade's melted form :vanishes, and a half-ebon, half-silver arm flows out of its left :'shoulder.' The Mauler and Malys chant briefly, and Skie claws at :empty air. Zia frowns. "Boy, Frankenstein had NOTHING on this scavenger." The blue image of another appearance under her own waxes VERY strong as the Pattern Arc she'd used to almost destroy the Maelstrom Bridge earlier suddenly returns to her... not unlike a lightning bolt strike. She wobbles under the 'force' of the blow, James helping steady her for a moment. : *"I WILL SEE YOU ALL DEAD,"* it roars, *"THOUGH IT COST ME MY LIFE, :MY MIND, MY VERY SOUUUUUL!"* : "Enough," Galactus mutters, incinerating the Crawlerlings and :growing to his full height. "You must be contained, and I-" : A shaft of pummelling, mindbending unexistence lances out and :throws Galactus into orbit. : "-kkk-*" Galactus enters geosynchronous orbit over the battlefield, :barely conscious. His ebon staff vanishes. : *"NOW FOR YOU,"* it screams, its arms raised to summon a ball of :unmaking... James and Zia look at each other, still tiny comparitively. As Scott's attack on the unmaking ball goes off, James steps a bit away from Zia and summons the Sign of the Logrus before himself. It writhes, the ultimate ever-changing force of ultimate creation. Zia summons her Pattern sign nearby, preparing to aid his effort. With a grunt of effort, the dapper assasin fades completely into the Roman man with a blinding gold aura as he HURLS a bolt of pure creative force into the ball of making. Zia blinks as he changes appearance, as if she couldn't see it in the 'halfway' state earlier, but keeps her Arc ready to defend them both at need. "I guess my guess about the Great Ones was right." She mutters to Starbuck. "Kind of hard to believe what the Blood means sometimes." =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 10:41:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Defenders On Fri, 02 Oct 1998 09:10:51 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006060 >On Thu, 01 Oct 1998 08:01:49 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006043 > >>On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 23:46:43 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006041 >> >> Roland falls over, his psychic channels burned almost beyond >>recognition, his body exhausted beyond even movement. [Did...the >>job,] he thinks in spent relief. > >Out of nowhere a small grey kitten appears, sitting on Roland's >chest. To Roland, the kitten weighs nothing at all. And there is >something very soothing about the purr coming from her. Morgan looks up, and even in the face of the surrounding death and distruction she can't help but smile. /Hello, Mischief. I hope you told Leetah you were leaving... I'd hate to get home to find she'd torn up the house looking for you./ This is said in an obviously playful tone, as Morgan also teeps back to Earth-9 to let the lupine babysitters know where their charge is. Meanwhile, the purring kitten is soothing Morgan's frayed nerves, in addition to the stabilizing she's providing for Roland.... =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 11:41:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: The Bester of Both Worlds On Fri, 02 Oct 1998 10:55:59 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006061 >On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 07:05:08 -0400 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006057 > >Then Morgan and Sil are trying to heal Roland's mind. James and Zia >monitor, to see if any of the injury falls into the narrow categories >of types of hurt they're good at healing mentally. But they face off >with the unmaking force Malice/Crawling has created, watching Scott >throw many small reallities to the voracious nothingness. Morgan picks up on the Amberites monitoring . *I've got a handle on the physical healing. Sil can do the intricate psionic stuff but she can't draw as much power through the sigil as I can, so without help it would be slow going. Overextending like he did was like cauterizing a wound - it stabilized him to fight, but now his halo won't heal on it's own. Metaphorically speaking, he's got third degree burns over 90% of his psyche. So, any help you could give would _really_ be appreciated." =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 11:41:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deathwalkerstalker On Fri, 02 Oct 1998 11:10:11 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006062 >On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 08:33:21 -0700 (PDT) >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006044 > > Mike 'grinned' at Nova as best she could in this form. "And now to >see that Deathwalker doesn't try her megalomaniacal stunts again." >Mike turned up the heat on the attack. "If this doesn't get her, I >have one last idea that might work, at least before I exercise the >Final Option," somehow managing to convey the capitalization. > [Let's hope I don't have to. Some of these Babylon 5 timelines >need the Vorlon Homeworld in the future. Not to mention I don't want >to start being known as 'Mike, Destroyer of Worlds'.] Science Theater 3000 joke.> Jha'Dur's armor begins to buckle under the assault, the Vorlon biotech beginning to infiltrate her systems in turn. After a failed attempt to teleport, she transmits three short bursts of code. Then she smiles, looks at the tower, and says, "Another time, servant of Vorlon," and attempts another transmission. She fails. Her eyes widen, and she curses fluently in the Dilgar tongue. Most of her left side shatters under the intensified attack. What's left of her looks up, eyes narrowed, and says, "We are not done, Time Witch." Then her body explodes. Most of her is incinerated totally, the few remaining pieces of biotech, scattered actross the city, are inert. Nova breaths a sigh of relief. "Well! That takes care of _her_. So," she adds, turning to Mike, "Shall we go back and find out what my boss did to wrap things up?" =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 11:41:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: At Roland's Bedside (was Re: AAE IV: Defenders) On Fri, 02 Oct 1998 14:21:53 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006063 > On Fri, 02 Oct '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said >>Caprice Said >>>Morgan and/or Roland Said >>> >>> Roland falls over, his psychic channels burned almost beyond >>>recognition, his body exhausted beyond even movement. [Did...the >>>job,] he thinks in spent relief. > > Meanwhile, the purring kitten is soothing Morgan's frayed nerves, in > addition to the stabilizing she's providing for Roland.... The still 105 ft. tall Dhyrclhanc flickers and another Dhyrclhnac, in his 7 ft. wingless, "Lens-T'Skrang" form appears next to Morgan and Sil at Roland's side, "Hi 'sis, I figured that my help would be be appriciated. How is he? I hesitate to ask." This Dhyrclhnac has one of his notebook computer-sized, nanotech mini- micromed units with him. This he carefully places underneath Roland's head. Whereupon it unfolds itself into a minature, bed-sized, OR. The T'Skrang Dhyrclhanc then begins interpreting the multiple readouts and doing what he can to stabilize and improve his adopted sib's condition. In the old MSH terms, Dhyrclhanc's psychic ability to heal physical injuries and ailments is Incredible. Using the nanotech mini-micromed unit his more mundane Physician skills are Unearthly. =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 12:39:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Defenders On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 11:17:30 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00006064 > On Thu, 01 Oct 1998 22:48:15 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006055 > > The dying Crawler explodes with new 'life,' its badly ravaged body > slowly taking on a new shape. > A humanoid one... > *You accursed children of Light,* Malice snarls from the body/mind > of the Crawler. *You have frustrated my every effort, blocked my > every advance, destroyed plans centuries in the making. CENTURIES!* > Several realities shudder at the wrath of the combined > Malice/Crawler. *I no longer care for power. My survival is > unlikely. But before I perish, I WILL see all of YOU-and _ALL_ that > you hold dear-DESTROYED FOREVER!* "You are worried about mere centuries? You are more shortsighted than I thought." > "Enough," Galactus mutters, incinerating the Crawlerlings and > growing to his full height. "You must be contained, and I-" > A shaft of pummelling, mindbending unexistence lances out and > throws Galactus into orbit. > "-kkk-*" Galactus enters geosynchronous orbit over the battlefield, > barely conscious. His ebon staff vanishes. > *"NOW FOR YOU,"* it screams, its arms raised to summon a ball of > unmaking... If he can, Nemo will port Malice to the center of a quasar. If he can't, he'll erect a spherical shield around him (to protect *us*) and warp space so that the center of the quasar is inside the shield, but still connected to the rest of it. If that doesn't slow him down, Nemo will start throwing *real* power at him. :-) =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 12:39:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Defenders (Long!) On Fri, 02 Oct 1998 15:27:03 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006065 > On Thu, 01 Oct '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said >>Dhyrclhanc Said >> I thought the blue was protecting Malystryx. But, for now, >> we can leave it that the Big Guy(tm) only mentaly attacked the >> White and the Green. >> >> Also, WHY did the black get felled by the blue? My interpretation >> is that Malystryx commanded the Blue to kill the Black because of >> its failure to kill DC. > > (OOC: He is leading the forces loyal to Takhisis. He nailed > Onysablet because she was vulnerable, and thus an easily-neutralized > threat. Clarification: Krynn is the world; Ansalon is the > continent.) Request for More Clarifcation: O.K. Then who'son Dhyrclhnac/Tahkisis' side and who's aligned with the upstart red, Malystryx? And was there a way that Dhyrclhanc would've been able to tell this durring combat? As far as I could tell he was just attacked en-masse by Large Ancient AD&D-type dragon Consort/Champions. All of them seemed to be servants Malystryx. > (OOC: Ignore the below if Dhyrclhanc was still operating under the > assumption that Skie and Malystryx are allies when he did this.) > Skie and Malystryx immediately engage, though Malys should have the > clear advantage due to her size and strength, and the lack of > maneuvering room. Oddly, Skie seems to be holding his own, empowered > by a force from...beyond. Ignored. >>Dhyrclhanc bursts into the dome, having broken through a small >>potion of the shield, and tosses the Krull at Malice. "Krull -- Hunt >>and Dissarm." >> >>Flying from the still 105 ft tall dragon's hand, the Krull shrinks >>to its normal, frisbee-size, takes a good-sized chunk out of the >>reserected Malice's arm and then pulls his spear from his grasp, >>before returning to Dhyrclhanc's hand. > > "Akk-" Malice gurgles, staring stupidly at his missing arm. The > spear (which Dhyrclhanc recognizes as the Spear of Wotan) vanished > halfway to the Lensdragon, however... > ...reappearing in the hands of a man who looks VERY much like what > Malice looked like before Roland blew him all to heck. > "My thanks," Dr. Destroyer intones, a creepy smile on his face, > "for disarming that insipid fool." He bows to Dhyrclhanc and > vanishes. /[Him, I will deal with later]/ Thinks/sends the Lensdragon. For the record, Dhyrclhnac didn't want the spear, he just wanted to get it out of Malace's hands. At least it wasn't the Spear of Marcus Longinus! > *You accursed children of Light,* Malice snarls from the body/mind > of the Crawler. *You have frustrated my every effort, blocked my > every advance, destroyed plans centuries in the making. CENTURIES!* > Several realities shudder at the wrath of the combined > Malice/Crawler. *I no longer care for power. My survival is > unlikely. But before I perish, I WILL see all of YOU-and _ALL_ that > you hold dear-DESTROYED FOREVER!* The 105 ft. tall Dhyrclhanc, still weilding Redemption, muttersto himself, "Where have I heard *that* one before?" > As mentioned before, it's his psychic 'self' that's been ravaged. > Sil is already hard at work, but while she has the skill, she lacks > the power. The two women look at each other, conferring silently. > > Morgan grasps her sigil, drawing deeply from those Callahanians with > power to spare. Sil places 'her' hand on it as well, and the two > begin work. See my other post. > *"I WILL SEE YOU ALL DEAD,"* it roars, *"THOUGH IT COST ME MY LIFE, > MY MIND, MY VERY SOUUUUUL!"* "By all the Damned Gods Below." oathes the Lensdragon. > "Enough," Galactus mutters, incinerating the Crawlerlings and > growing to his full height. "You must be contained, and I-" > A shaft of pummelling, mindbending unexistence lances out and > throws Galactus into orbit. > "-kkk-*" Galactus enters geosynchronous orbit over the battlefield, > barely conscious. His ebon staff vanishes. > *"NOW FOR YOU,"* it screams, its arms raised to summon a ball of > unmaking... The 105 ft. tall Dhyrclhnac shimmers again and *another* 105 ft. tall Dhyrclhanc appears, loosely speaking in front of the hybred Malace/Crawler from Below creature. Raising his arms to the sky, the third Immortal hatchling Ruby Fire Dragon yells, at the top of his lungs, "I ENVOKE THE POWER OF AGAMOTTO AND THE THREE WHO ARE ONE, THE VISHANTI. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BANISH YOU, BEAST BUT I DO BID YOU PAIN!" The the golden amulet at Dhyrclhanc's throat, the Eye of Power of Agamotto, clamshells open and the "Mauler" is bathed in a cone of blindingly illumniating cone of briliant magickal light. In addition to being in inscrutable pain, all of the "Mauler's" powers and attributes are now two major degrees of measurement weaker than they were before =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 16:39:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deathwalkerstalker On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 16:24:16 -0700 (PDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006069 >On Fri, 02 Oct 1998 11:10:11 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006062 > > > > Jha'Dur's armor begins to buckle under the assault, the Vorlon >biotech beginning to infiltrate her systems in turn. After a failed >attempt to teleport, she transmits three short bursts of code. Then >she smiles, looks at the tower, and says, "Another time, servant of >Vorlon," and attempts another transmission. > She fails. > Her eyes widen, and she curses fluently in the Dilgar tongue. Most >of her left side shatters under the intensified attack. What's left >of her looks up, eyes narrowed, and says, "We are not done, Time >Witch." Then her body explodes. Most of her is incinerated totally, >the few remaining pieces of biotech, scattered actross the city, are >inert. > Nova breaths a sigh of relief. "Well! That takes care of _her_. >So," she adds, turning to Mike, "Shall we go back and find out what >my boss did to wrap things up?" > Mike 'smiles'. "Yes." Mike presses a few buttons on the keypad and a few more controls elsewhere. She and Nova teleport to a point near Zia and James. After they have left, the control room's internal turrets do a good job of destroying the emergency teleporter. Mike's last thought before teleporting out is [Just in case she isn't -all- dead.] Mike and Nova appear next to Zia and James, who are likely awaiting their arrival. The 'Vorlon' looks around. "Oy." =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 18:39:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Deathwalkerstalker On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 21:11:23 -0400 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006070 :From: Michael Knight :Sent: Friday, October 02, 1998 7:40 PM ::Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deathwalkerstalker : Mike and Nova appear next to Zia and James, who are likely :awaiting their arrival. The 'Vorlon' looks around. : "Oy." Zia is barely visible as 'herself' still, as the strange blue cat faced shape begins to show through more strongly. Especially so under the reflect light of the Pattern Section she is holding like some neon shepherd's crook. Bester is still nearby, although he seems to be aiding rather than fighting as Zia, and a man who certainly no longer looks like James square off against the Crawler/Malice combination. Of course, the fact that the form with the shining gold face and white Roman toga is using the Sign of the Logrus should give a big clue that it's James still. Starbuck guards their backs, occasionally blasting a stray leftover bad guy (read, crunchie!) with first, his blaster. Then, if that doesn't work (say, on a demon) he blasts it with a pure white psi-bolt from his Lens. When Mike appears, he looks a bit surprised, then his lips move as if speaking to someone, as the Len's surface flutters with lights. (It's Adama and Apollo getting updated on the continuing battle to relay to the rest of the Alliance forces.) Zia is currently "at bat" against the baddy. /Mike. Can we stomp this thing? James is needed to help Roland, but we're the best opposition to something this deeply Old One. Any ideas?/ She includes a briefing of happenings since Mike vanished, including Bester's turning, and Galactus kicked up into orbit, etc., that Mike can open and replay at whatever speed he wants. Zia "I'm astounded by the number of people who want to "know" the universe when it's hard enough just to find your way around Chinatown." Woody Allen =========================== Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 22:38:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Deathwalkerstalker On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 22:33:24 -0700 (PDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006076 >On Fri, 2 Oct 1998 21:11:23 -0400 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006070 > >:From: Michael Knight >:Sent: Friday, October 02, 1998 7:40 PM >:>:Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deathwalkerstalker >: Mike and Nova appear next to Zia and James, who are likely >:awaiting their arrival. The 'Vorlon' looks around. >: "Oy." =========================== Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 18:05:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: Endings... On Sat, 3 Oct 1998 20:53:07 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00006083 John and Jadis watch the big Malice in the sky, discussing recent events. Their voices can be heard but the mouths do not move. "I did not think that matters would come to this pass." "I did." "Really?" "Yes. You probably failed to figure in the fourth factum from the third substratum." "That? That was negligent. It would have taken centuries to evolve to the point where it even needed to be considered." "It did." "Oh. One of those." A moment's silence.. "You could just give up now." "Why? I'm going to win." "So we both believe." Another pause.. "It's beginning. Let us see how the players react." Space begins to bend slightly around the two Zodaii. The effect increases quickly. [Assuming someone actually asks them what they're doing] "An unfortunate side-effect of our completion, which we kindly delayed over the course of our travel back to this place. As the rest of us arrives, it will approach the effect of a black hole in the nature of Reality." [Replies and TBC] ===========================