Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9 Chapter 7 Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 13:50:44 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011372 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011368 > >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011360 >> >> Roland scans the group. /"And it looks like we have a few _new_ >>friends."/ He smiles in a welcoming manner. /"Would you like to >>introduce yourselves? Also, I've gotten...er, less concerned about >>the exact parameters of my position of leadership, but I wouldn't >>mind a quick overview of folx' strengths and abilities."/ > > At the first break, Patrick looks up. "Patrick O'Shea, New Order Kai >Grand Defender. I was trained on the world of Magnamund in physical >and mental combat. I apologize for my initial poor showing; the world >I spent the last 20 years of my life on wasn't quite as...chaotic as >this one. Rob is busy with a set of microtools, bring his bracer back to working condition, when he pauses. [A Kai lord? I've only heard legends, but if he can do a third of what the legends say, we've got a better chance.] >"Specifically? I can attack and defend myself telepathically, as well >as sense danger and detect lingering psychic traces on objects. >Postcognition, I think it's called here. I picked up a little >battle-oriented magic as well, but it's fairly small, compared to >some of the magic I've seen here. Oh, I can also heal small wounds, >if needed." "Postcognition, or psychometry? From what I remember," Rob adds, "postcognition doesn't need a focus." He adjusts a power coil as he continues, "and as for your 'poor showing,' I wouldn't call it that. Against Darkseid, not losing a city is considered a minor victory." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:55:35 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00011375 In a message dated 10/18/2003 10:32:07 PM Pacific Standard Time, rolandx writes: >(OOC: Insert the intros of CAoL regulars here. Anyone who wishes to >"Busiek" in intros/explanations of old friends can do so here.) /"Hello."/ Says a figure that wasn't there a few minutes before. /"My name is Scott Osborne."/ Those who know Scott recognize him, but barely. His formerly black hair is now salt and pepperish; his eyes now have gold specks in them; his trenchcoat is gone, replaced by a loose fitting grey uniform with an insignia of a three spoked wheel. /"If you need anything, just ask; I can rig up a solution quickly; in fact, I have something I'd like to give you all before you head out."/ Thanks Scott "Entrances" Osborne ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Catching Virman On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 22:44:57 -0400 (EDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011376 >On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 22:22:59 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011337 > >>On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 00:21:56 -0400 (EDT) >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011335 >> >>"Pull up!" Karma shouted. >> >>"Believe me, I'm trying!" >> >>Finally, they caught a breeze and, skimming the water just inches >>below, glided along toward New York City, Moonstone's wings beating >>hard to keep them out of the harbor. > > /You're welcome,/ Morgan sends with a smile. /"Thank you!"/ both women sent gratefully through their connection to the rest of the psychic link. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 23:23:08 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011377 >On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 01:03:03 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011364 > > Rob steps to within his telepathy range, and "knocks" on Roland's >shields. *You've seen most of my new tricks, but this() is something >that I - um, it's a gift. One use, but I'm not sure what to use it >for. I was told that it's meant to keep Darkseid from winning, but >now that he's left, I don't know what to do with it.* /Darkseid's only withdrawn from the city. He's still got a large chunk of the northeast, sprawling out into the rust belt and most of the Virginias. However.../ The Eternal smiles to himself. /I think,/ he decides, /that your gift is going to come in very handy during round two./ ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 23:27:04 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011378 >On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 03:57:49 -0700 >Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00011367 > >>On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 22:22:24 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011360 > >Fuzzy, > Having managed to Hold Amazo, > In A Chromatic Sphere Like Construct of "Ruberized" Elemental > Forces, Amazo looks at the sphere. "Bah! You think this enough to hold the Lion of--" > Just long enough for A Halt to be Called... Amazo scowls, nodding in acquiescence to his "father." > "I Leave you with One Comment, > In The End Anti-Life Serves But One Master... > 'The Final Night' > Make of It What you May." Amazo gives Fuzzy a look of intense curiosity, as if trying to determine something. Then he flies off with the rest of Darkseid's army. >> As others start to turn, he waves them back. /"No, no, please, >>those of you who are chatting, keep going. I don't want to stand on >>ceremony or formality here."/ (OOC: CAoLers do as they wish; the >>others just smile indulgently and give him their attention.) The >>former Freelance Immortal sighs. > >/Next time you want to hand me Something Like That, > Try to give me a little more Warning Would You... ;)/ /Heh. Sorry about that, Fuzzy,/ Roland replies apologetically. /I was a bit rushed myself./ >"/I am Lord Fuzzy, > Friend Roland Over There, > Seems to Rate me Highly... > Uncomfortably Highly.../" Roland blushes(tm). >"#I am SkyLord a Scout of the TechnoVar Alliance, > My Team will answer to Their Elemental Affiliations, > However they can only Express themselves in CyberPsi or DataLink#" > >'#My Powers are those of The Spirit and The Edge, > The Others have powers Related to Their Elements, > When We Link Up our Total Amplitude, > As Well As Our Range of Effect Are Increased.#" "#Honored, and welcome.#" ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 23:30:44 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011379 >On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 10:15:14 -0700 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011368 > >At the first break, Patrick looks up. "Patrick O'Shea, New Order Kai >Grand Defender. I was trained on the world of Magnamund in physical >and mental combat. I apologize for my initial poor showing; the world >I spent the last 20 years of my life on wasn't quite as...chaotic as >this one. "'Poor showing?' Could have fooled me," Roland quips. >"Specifically? I can attack and defend myself telepathically, as well >as sense danger and detect lingering psychic traces on objects. >Postcognition, I think it's called here. I picked up a little >battle-oriented magic as well, but it's fairly small, compared to >some of the magic I've seen here. Oh, I can also heal small wounds, >if needed." "All useful stuff. We can't have too many healers, and for all that we've got beings like Nemo and the Starspawn on the team, a good fighter always seems to help. Thanks for coming, and welcome aboard." Roland smiles warmly, nodding a bow of sorts in respect and gratitude. "As you might imagine, this fight's a bit personal for me, and I appreciate all the help we can get." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Interludes Among Shadows I On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 23:40:38 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011380 >On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 10:31:07 -0700 >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00011369 > >>On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 01:41:08 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011366 >> >> "A most fascinating subject," Desaad says silkily. "We think they >>are brothers." (OOC: If the Nemos are identical, then Desaad and >>Granny theorize they are twins.) > >Let's go with twins. It's simpler. *nods* >> Steppenwolf's face turns deep red. "Spare me your cruel sport, >>Desaad," the warrior spits. "Have you learned anything from them?" >> "Nothing yet," Granny replies smoothly, "but their senses are so >>acute that our Memory Machines will certainly extract all they know >>soon." > > OOC: Heh. That's just what they _think_ is going on. I never said they were _right_... >And they get appropriate info in doses just large enough to match >what they think he is, and small enough to be effectively worthless. They seem to have assumed that the "captive" Nemos are powered roughly equivalent to the more human-level members of the CAoL, and serve therein in such a capacity. >Inwardly, he smiles. They are enjoying their work on him so much that >they are ignoring other captives. It'll be worth it just for that. Yep. They're fascinated by these two "special reactives," as Desaad classifies them. "They are quite...impressive, even for special reactives," Desaad dictates to the Omen split, who does not seem to be interfering with Nemo at this point. "The only being I have ever encountered in the same class is Justeen," (OOC: I swear, there is a New God character in canon with that name, and she has _some_ sort of relationship with Desaad, though obviously in a DC comic they didn't go into detail) "and even she did not provide such -- such --" "Satisfaction?" Omen asks. "Exactly!" Desaad replies. He continues to dictate... ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Power of the Darkseid (2 of 2) On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 00:16:30 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011381 >On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 12:53:50 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011370 > >>On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 13:22:10 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011356 >> >> Clearly relieved, Eric drops the thought, and most of his worry >>with it. "You are a very handy woman to have around," he comments >>with perfect deadpan delivery. > >"I'm sure the tunnel rats would express a quite different opinion, >given the horrid mess I made of that particular battle zone." Zia >disagrees with such solemnity it is -hilarious-. Eric laughs, then tries _not_ to laugh (it hurts), then realizes that it stops hurting quickly, and starts laughing at the total absurdity of the situation. It's a laugh that was a long time in coming. Soon, however, he composes himself. "Rats in this city express negative opinions about everything but free food. The primary difference from the politicians being that the politicians can be very positive about campaign contributions as well. If you're mystically sensitive, however, the rats tend to smell better." Then, >On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 13:29:10 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011371 > >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011361 >> >>>/Gee, a man hasn't said no to me so vehemently in a rather long >>>time./ Zia mocks Eric with a warmly friendly tone. >> >> /Have you tried committing suicide for one of them recently?/ >>Eric drawls in a more familiar tone. > >^No. Not recently.^ Zia retorts to Eric alone - too quietly. He knows >that he has, completely by accident, struck the petite Amberite a >sore blow in a tender place. With an effort, she _doesn't_ get >distracted, but only because they're both under mortal threat at the >moment. ^Ah. Oh. Gaia. Gomen nasai...^ Eric replies quietly...and privately. >> Eric smiles gently. Or at least as gently as he's able. /I am >>_not_ wearing a white dress. Or a bronze bikini. Brrr./ > >/Good. White is the color of death, to me, and I think you'd look >much better in Roman gladiator if you did bronze, actually./ Zia >returns, apparently with utter seriousness. Eric chuckles again. /A gladiator-in-distress. Different./ >> "I'm chivalrous, not sexist," he says without any rancor at all. >>(Good thing, too -- taking on a rancor would probably be tough right >>now. ) > >OOC: Peanuts with little light-sabers heading your way, Evil GM-san. OOC: Judge us by our size, do you? And well you do not. For the Force is our ally, and a powerful ally it is. Not to mention an effective guidance system. (Evil GM-san is suddenly pelted with many tiny Jedi shells that swerve to make his dodging efforts futile...) >>"Though my skin isn't nearly as attractive as yours, particularly at >>this moment. My _scars_ have scars right now." > >"Um. What scars, Eric?" Zia rolls her shoulders slightly - a nervous >gesture he's never noticed before. The Lady-Knight of Amber cocks her >head slightly. She sounds uncharacteristerically unsure as she adds. Eric sighs (not in any upset at her) and takes off his duster. (He's wearing a sleeveless charcoal-gray tee underneath. Oh, and several holsters filled with various weapons, though most of the arsenal is in the coat.) He holds his arms out, clearly intending to display his long legacy of pain. And blinks in astonishment to discover that it's no longer there. >"I didn't think you were proud of them, so I took care of them. After >all, too much scarring can impede motion. Unless you're one of those >who _like_ having them?" She says, worried that he may be offended. Eric pulls out his collar and looks down the front of his shirt. "Gaia's Kiss. I'll be..." he chuckles. "No. No, I'm quite happy to be rid of them. A scar can be a badge of honor, but for the most part they're damned inconvenient in my line of work. The only marks on my body I want are the tiger and dragon tattoos that you were gracious enough to leave. _Those_ I'm proud of." He takes a second look down the shirt. "The tiger's rising claw was even restored when the scar vanished. Amazing." > OOC: Have some peanuts, right back atcha... 88888888888888888888888888888888888 ...an Essential part of any Callahanian tale. >> Eric scowls. "Stupid me. One more point -- you have blanket >>permission to 'recharge' me, so long as it will not endanger your >>own reserves of energy." > >"Gad! You try to set that condition on me - while you're still at nil >from _helping_ me?! Sauce for the gander also cooks the goose, Eric." "During a fight," he amends (clearly intending the statement to be tacked on to the previous one, e.g. "so long as it will not endanger your own reserves of energy during a fight.") >> On the other hand, a non-hostile getting that level of request >>from Zia...well, it's like hitting a gnat with a tacnuke. >>"Well...I didn't give my word on the matter. Consider it dropped." > > >Zia laughs, with evident relief. > >"Thank you; I'll see if I can make up passing on the pleasure to you >in some other fashion that you can find as agreeable." She says with >real warmth that has melted many far colder hearts than Eric's own - >well, masculine ones at least. Eric *ahems* and tugs at his collar. Yep, gnat with a tacnuke... >"You're gonna get your eyebrows _stuck_ that way, you keep jacking it >higher - it'll mesh with your hairline." She teases him. Through sheer force of will, he makes his eyebrows climb down to a more standard level. "My family doesn't tend to receding hairlines," he says, deliberately "missing" the quip. >"I haven't tried to jumpstart someone's Essence before - shall we >find a place where you can employ Morgan's advice and teach me how?" >Ziactrice actually smiles, plainly looking forward both learning >something new to her (like any long-lifer) and spending some time >with him. Eric gestures for her to lead the way, uncertain of exactly where this is going but hardly resisting the notion. >"I don't plan to introduce myself, beyond as emergency evac >specialist for everyone at need of such. The more mysterious I remain >on this gig, the better." She says, with a odd, almost Roger-like, >fey grin. "The boy scout has a file on me, I'm sure," Eric replies. "And if he doesn't, he _should_ have one," he adds with a wicked grin. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Monkey wrenches and other useful tools On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 00:35:06 -0700 Reality Hacker AJ47 Said As CAoL Message # 00011382 >On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 20:02:54 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011331 > > And Reality Hacker AJ47 very quickly develops a problem with bugs >in his system. > #WARNING WARNING WARNING Pattern Spider infestation in subroutines >@&(%^!&^*#$@# > (OOC: Have fun. ;^) (OOC: Have you ever known me to do otherwise? ;^) "Dammit! Abort relevant subroutines, signal nine." #Pling. All active background processes killed. One background process available. Foreground efficiency reduced to 74 percent.# Avery leaned heavily against one of the whiteboards, watching Brimstone vent some plasma. "Well, at least that one seemed to work." He used the last background process to keep an eye on the screens, then sat down and tried to repair the damage to his systems. To no avail. #Ploop# went the background process, calling his attention to the screens as Darkseid's general retreat from New York was implemented. After a decently long pause to make sure it wasn't a trick, he opened a portal to the dome on Champions Island and stepped through it, hanging around in the back until the introductions came around to him. "Hi, I'm Avery, and this is my partner in crime, Mr. Book." Tapping a finger on top of the cranial implant, he projected a holographic image of his internal vision of its form: a black plate that gradually unfolded into an equally black bird. #Acquitted!# "Anyway, we certainly don't have anything on the schedule that *remotely* takes precedence over a cross-dimensional global invasion force, so... here we are." "Not much good with the whole fighting schtick, or with biology... but your typical inorganic spheres are another matter. We like messing around with those." Mr. Book projected a series of equations and graphics, color-coded according to the age-old Hermetic standard: purple for Correspondence, orange for Forces, and brown for Matter. The background process (blue for Mind) also appeared, still cranking through self-repair subroutines ('estimated completion in 14:28:57'). ================================= Subject: AAE 9: An Old Friend Returns On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 00:49:06 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011383 The Silver Phoenix (Sil to her friends) floats above New York, assessing the damage. Her shiny new synthezoid body, kindly designed for her by Doctor Henry Pym, had been a joy to her, but right now all she feels is frustration. [What a horrid mess,] she thinks in disgust. [I only do this 'superhero' thing part-time, and even I get sick of the villains quickly. I can't imagine how Roland does it. Which reminds me.] She had received the telepathic signal to gather at Champions Island, and Aurora and Hydra seem to have the literal "heavy lifting" well in hand. Besides, she wants to show off her new body, and it's been a while since she'd seen her favorite immortals. Soaring through the air thanks to her density powers and onboard propulsion system, Sil quickly reaches the island. "Sil?" Quantum asks in surprise, zooming up to meet the android-piloting spirit. "Is that you?" Sil pirouettes in the air. "It does bear a certain family resemblance, doesn't it? Yes, it's me, in the flesh -- or the Vibranium, that is." She gestures at the island below, quickly all business. "How's my cousin doing? Not building up too much angst, I hope." "He's a little busy for that, thank God," Quantum replies. "But...Darkseid did a number on him, Sil." Sil raises an eyebrow at this, then drops to the ground with astonishing speed. Quantum tries to say something, but it's too late by the time sound begins to form. She sighs and descends. "R--Defender!" Sil gasps at Defender's cracked armor and missing arm, throwing her arms around him. "-oof -- good to see you too, Sil. Nice suit." Defender smiles gently. "Don't you 'nice bod' _me,_" she replies, adding ^Roland X. Phoenix!^ in an almost stern-motherly tone in private. *Ohhhh, you're gonna get it now,* Morgan sends privately to both Roland and Sil with a mental smile. ^Sil, Morgan, that'll do,^ Roland replies mildly. ^That'll do? "That'll DO?!"^ Sil has a full head of steam and is in no mood to be mollified. "What did you _DO?_" "You should have seen him an hour ago," Solitaire quips darkly, telepathically adding an image of the brain-damaged, seriously battered Defender from earlier. "Oh, thank you," Defender sighs as Sil gasps. "Of _all_ the --" Sil begins, ready to go off at full steam again. ^Sil. ENOUGH,^ Roland sends firmly, albeit as gently as he can under the circumstances. Sil gapes. ^Thank you for coming, I truly appreciate your concern, but _now_is_not_the_time._ Please, Sil, sit down and try to relax.^ He caresses her cheek with his remaining hand, retracts the panel over his lower face, and kisses her on the forehead. "We'll talk when the briefing is done, I promise." Sil stares in astonishment, then smiles. She's worried, but almost bursting with pride. "You've grown up," she says softly. "You haven't lost that touch of the Pan, but...what you are now suits you." She kisses him back on the cheek. ^I'm proud of you.^ Roland blushes(tm) as she heads over to Morgan to give her an enormous hug (which is returned happily), then finds a seat next to Seeker. "Hey, handsome," she quips, winking with a faintly-glowing blue eye. "Have you tried getting out more often?" "Fate conspires against me, fickle beast that she is," Seeker replies lightly, winking back. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Power of the Darkseid (2 of 2) On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 04:16:50 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011384 >On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 00:16:30 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011381 > > Soon, however, he composes himself. "Rats in this city express >negative opinions about everything but free food. The primary >difference from the politicians being that the politicians can be >very positive about campaign contributions as well. If you're >mystically sensitive, however, the rats tend to smell better." "Ah." Ziactrice grins. "I thought tunnel rats was a special nickname for those utility workers who work far below the surface of New York's streets, actually. I haven't spent that much time in actual Earth shadows, though." >Then, >>On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 13:29:10 -0700 (PDT) >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011371 >> >>>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011361 >> >>^No. Not recently.^ Zia retorts to Eric alone - too quietly. He >>knows that he has, completely by accident, struck the petite >>Amberite a sore blow in a tender place. With an effort, she >>_doesn't_ get distracted, but only because they're both under mortal >>threat at the moment. > > ^Ah. Oh. Gaia. Gomen nasai...^ Eric replies quietly...and >privately. ^Zenzen kamaimasen.^ Ziactrice thinks back with an ease that marks Nihongo as a language she is fluent enough to think in. (Translation: That doesn't matter; I don't mind; or you need not apologize for that nothing.) Japanese is an expressive language. ^It's all right, Eric; you just caught me by surprise. There was a reason I found the Place, but that was long enough ago it is... not as bad, these days.^ > Eric pulls out his collar and looks down the front of his shirt. >"Gaia's Kiss. I'll be..." he chuckles. "No. No, I'm quite happy to be >rid of them. A scar can be a badge of honor, but for the most part >they're damned inconvenient in my line of work. The only marks on my >body I want are the tiger and dragon tattoos that you were gracious >enough to leave. _Those_ I'm proud of." He takes a second look down >the shirt. "The tiger's rising claw was even restored when the scar >vanished. Amazing." "I'm glad you're not displeased. That's some excellent artistry there. I tried to copy it as well as I could." Ziactrice smiles shyly. >>"Gad! You try to set that condition on me - while you're still at >>nil from _helping_ me?! Sauce for the gander also cooks the goose, >>Eric." > > "During a fight," he amends (clearly intending the statement to be >tacked on to the previous one, e.g. "so long as it will not endanger >your own reserves of energy during a fight.") Zia just snorts as if to say 'yeah, right', but she doesn't demur with words. >> "You're gonna get your eyebrows _stuck_ that way, you keep jacking >>it higher - it'll mesh with your hairline." She teases him. > > Through sheer force of will, he makes his eyebrows climb down to a >more standard level. "My family doesn't tend to receding hairlines," >he says, deliberately "missing" the quip. "Really? You'll have to introduce me sometime. Your father - and mother - would be fascinating people to meet, I'm quite sure." Zia says - innocently. She can even pull it off almost straight-faced. >>"I haven't tried to jumpstart someone's Essence before - shall we >>find a place where you can employ Morgan's advice and teach me how?" >>Ziactrice actually smiles, plainly looking forward both learning >>something new to her (like any long-lifer) and spending some time >>with him. > > Eric gestures for her to lead the way, uncertain of exactly where >this is going but hardly resisting the notion. Zia strikes out at random, letting her natural abilities result in them winding up in whatever room of this place would be most conducive to ch'i meditation. >>"I don't plan to introduce myself, beyond as emergency evac >>specialist for everyone at need of such. The more mysterious I >>remain on this gig, the better." She says, with a odd, almost >>Roger-like, fey grin. > > "The boy scout has a file on me, I'm sure," Eric replies. "And if >he doesn't, he _should_ have one," he adds with a wicked grin. "Solitaire keeps the files; she is the brains of this outfit, after all." Ziactrice remarks. "Oh. I should have - ah, well, I'm sure whatever is left in them about me is already known to the invasion force. Darkseid may not have expected me, but he is no slouch at gathering information. Though I must be one of the harder ones to get good information about..." She smiles. She slides open the doorway, revealing a full-impact dojo room, of wood floor and bright lighting, with a window to a small courtyard garden view beyond, water feature bubbling. "Oh!" Zia is just as surprised as Eric to see this. "Beautiful. I sense Solitaire's hand at work, in that window-garden." She enters, closes the door behind Eric, and sits seiza as she regards the room - sits seiza IN that full plate. Obviously, it's far more flexible than normal metal could be. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 17:50:49 -0700 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011386 >On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 13:50:44 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011372 > > "Postcognition, or psychometry? From what I remember," Rob adds, >"postcognition doesn't need a focus." "More of the latter, I think. I can tell if an object may have unusual abilities, though I can only rarely divine exact functions. And I'm afraid my Spirit Walking ability still needs work." > He adjusts a power coil as he continues, "and as for your 'poor >showing,' I wouldn't call it that. Against Darkseid, not losing a >city is considered a minor victory." "Thank you. Hopefully, I can be of some help in the next round. Um, does anyone know what a Palanian is? The man in green and black over there," Patrick indicates the Green Lantern, "says I keep acting like one." OOC: Annnnd... >On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 23:30:44 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011379 > > "All useful stuff. We can't have too many healers, and for all >that we've got beings like Nemo and the Starspawn on the team, a good >fighter always seems to help. Thanks for coming, and welcome aboard." >Roland smiles warmly, nodding a bow of sorts in respect and >gratitude. "As you might imagine, this fight's a bit personal for me, >and I appreciate all the help we can get." "I shall do what I can. Should be like taking Nyxator's remains from Kaag." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 23:42:27 -0700 Crystal Jade Guess Said As CAoL Message # 00011387 >On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 13:50:44 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011372 > >>Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011368 >> >>At the first break, Patrick looks up. "Patrick O'Shea, New Order Kai >>Grand Defender. I was trained on the world of Magnamund in physical >>and mental combat. I apologize for my initial poor showing; the >>world I spent the last 20 years of my life on wasn't quite >>as...chaotic as this one. CJ steps forward. CJ Guess, at your service. I may not be a super hero, but I do know a trick or two, and with my Box and L.U.T.E. I may be of some small help. I'm best at throwing monkey wrenches in to the works of my opponent. Although I have to admit that things here are apparently a little . . . different. I mean, I have never had a displacement grenade cause anything to appear, let alonemint limeade. > Rob is busy with a set of microtools, bring his bracer back to >working condition, when he pauses. [A Kai lord? I've only heard >legends, but if he can do a third of what the legends say, we've got >a better chance.] By the way, sir. I would like to apologize for catching you in the fallout of the grenade. I trust you only ended up a little soggy, and not injured. > "Postcognition, or psychometry? From what I remember," Rob adds, >"postcognition doesn't need a focus." He adjusts a power coil as he >continues, "and as for your 'poor showing,' I wouldn't call it that. >Against Darkseid, not losing a city is considered a minor victory." Sounds like psychometry to me. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 10:52:49 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011388 >Crystal Jade Guess Said As CAoL Message # 00011387 > >"By the way, sir. I would like to apologize for catching you in the >fallout of the grenade. I trust you only ended up a little soggy, and >not injured." Rob smiles at CJ. "No harm done, no. Still, I'd suggest not using one of those around me; from what I remember, I think I may have had something to do with the limeade effect. Tasty stuff, by the way." The small pile of wet towels on the table make it clear that there was plenty to taste. "Oh, and my name is Rob. Mr. Nishikawa, if you're feeling formal." Turning to Orchid, the closest Champion, he asks, "By the way, there wouldn't happen to be a laundry room on here, as well as a shower, would there? If we have time, I'd rather not to go into a fight smelling of mint limeade." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book (Moonstone-Karma (Longish)) On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 14:11:07 -0400 (EDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011391 OOC: This is regarding (obviously) the following message: > On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 22:22:24 -0700 > Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011360 I've clipped the rest as this was getting cumbersome to try and insert within the original message. I apologize for the length, but there were a few powers and abilities that I just didn't know a term for so I could short-cut. And a couple more abilities I wanted to add to Karma's roster. And I hadn't described what Karma really looked like yet. Anyway, moving on to something you want to read. :D --------------------------------------------------- Virman takes off with the rest of the Apokolips crew, leaving Moonstone and Karma to make their way back to Champions Island. As they pass through the streets of the battle-torn Big Apple, Moonstone gestures into an alleyway and reverts to her human form. "C'mere, I just remembered something I wanted to show you." Karma follows, to discover the dragon woman digging around in her backpack. She holds up an object and Karma can't help but laugh. "You pulled us in here for a toy phaser?" Moonstone grinned, passing it to her. "Aim at that bag of garbage and fire." Karma did so, and a beam of energy shot out to punch a hole in the bag. "It's one of the old-style phasers, classic Trek, the Type Two hand phaser, but it's no toy, it actually works. Lemme show you..." They spent a few minutes going over the phaser; force settings, how to break it down to become a Type One, targetting and so on, taking a minute or two for target practice. "This is strangely familiar," Karma said, after Moonstone remarked on her quick study of the weapon. I think I used something like this fending off a boarding party raid, but it was much bulkier and didn't break apart like this one." "Well, maybe your past lives aren't limited to a single universe, I'm told time works faster in some universes, slower in others. One might be futuristic, the next paleolithic, both at the same time when you travel, you just sync up when you step from one to the other." "Where'd you learn that from?" Moonstone grinned, "A rather well-travelled black cat of my acquaintance." A noise drew their attention to a doorway next to them. "C'mon, man, no one's here, no power, no video cameras, we can make off like bandits!" "Just checkin' the street out, don't want nobody walkin' in on us." "Looters," Moonstone said with a scowl, "Gotta love the community spirit of the petty thief." Karma nodded, setting the phaser to 'stun' and slipping around to the front of the store quietly. Moonstone followed, also armed to 'stun'. Seeing no one keeping watch, Karma slipped into the store, a Mom-and-Pop electronics shop, from the looks of it. The glass had been shattered by some stray explosion, and it had been a simple matter to reach in and unlock the door. The pair of women slipped inside easily for lack of a lookout, everyone was too interested in getting something of his own. Karma fired from cover, stunning one of the thieves, some sort of local gang, though she couldn't see anything that identified them as any of the ones she knew from her version of New York City. Moonstone picked off a couple, but by that time, the others were on to them. They scrambled for the back of the store and Karma, keeping low, ran up a side aisle after them as Moonstone mirrored her. Apparently, the thieves were getting organized themselves, and while one drew their fire, getting a double stun, another had slipped around behind them, striking Moonstone over the head roughly, though without the expertise to knock her unconscious. The knee to the groin was her answer to his attack, which did crumple him quite effectively. At a shout from Karma, Moonstone turned and stunned another one at point-blank range. Karma, however, had found three who thought themselves martial artists. Which, as far as she knew, they might have been. She again found herself getting that dream-like feeling of being someone else, a man again, being attacked by men in emperor yellow, who had him surrounded, apparently planning to arrest him. Karma moved as he had, fists flying with a speed she did not realize herself capable of. The three fell quickly, stunned, thankfully, their weapons in her hands. Moonstone blinked, "I guess those moves aren't just for Hong Kong action films." Karma blinked, herself again, though momentarily busy reviewing what she'd just 'remembered'. Then she looked down. She was standing, straddling two racks of audio-video connectors, a foot balanced on either -sign- describing what was in the racks below. "Uh," Karma stammered, "I'm not sure how to get down, gimme a hand?" Moonstone burst out laughing, and couldn't stop snickering until they'd gotten airborne again, having arranged for some convenient updrafts and such for the flight to Champions' Island. -------------------------------------------------- When the time came for introductions, Moonstone spoke first. "My apologies first, this isn't going to be a short intro. Well, I'm Moonstone," she said, the young woman the picture of albinism, barring her cobalt blue eyes, enhanced by simple white jeans, t-shirt, and jacket, starkly contrasted by the black backpack slung over a shoulder, "My big thing is I'm a white dragon. The color doesn't signify anything, by the way. I'm resistant to bullets and swords, though not impervious if someone's determined or has sufficient caliber. I breathe fire and fly, these aren't magical properties, so in worlds without magic, I still breathe fire and fly. As a dragon I'm fairly strong for my weight, but even among my home-reality's species, I'm considered frail and a runt. Figure I'm about the power of the T-rex in Jurassic Park, if it helps put me in perspective. And I see in the dark very well, including no-light conditions, and can discern the original location of sounds amidst echoes, comes from living in caves. "That said, I'm obviously now not standing here as a dragon. This human disguise is magic-based, and lets me pass as fully human. It also has all the abilities and frailties of being a human. I know martial arts, swordsmanship and a little about firearms, though I'm no expert. I also know how to use what some call the 'Classic Trek' hand phasers, communicators and tricorders. I've also managed to use the tricorder and a Faber device to create what amounts to a very primitive replicator. "Magically, other than the spells that I use to switch from human to dragon, I can do a bit of healing, and create 'bags of holding' or 'transdimensional pockets' depending on what term you prefer." "And I've got an Engineering degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. It's not the greatest that school has, for that I would have had to go to UN: Rolla, but it's not bad. Dunno if there'd be a need for that, but might be good to know." Karma gaped momentarily, then closed her mouth. She stood up, contrasting the dragon woman, having black hair cut chin-length compared to Moonstone's naturally long locks, though both lacked any curl in their hair. She wore a black leather jacket (which she'd slipped off and tossed over the back of her chair), black denim jeans and a navy blue t-shirt that said "Whiskey rocks. Order it." on the front and "No straws. No swizzles. No umbrellas." on the back. Two gold necklaces were around her neck, one displaying the human with hands up emblem of the secular humanists, the other a chalise with a fire in it, the symbol of the Universal Unitarians. Her skin was darkly european, which darkened a bit more as she blushed. "Uhm, well, I dunno if you'd call it a power or what, but I've been sorta getting these visions when I'd do certain things or hold certain objects, like I'd used them or something like them before. After that, I'd remember pretty much everything about how to use them. I'd picked up this sword at Moonstone's, had this flash of being a roman soldier, and nearly lopped her head off." Moonstone interjected, "Being an insane woman, I handed her a gun and she'd fieldstripped it and fixed it instantly." Karma nodded, taking her story back, "I apparently was someone on the front lines who used one and knew how to care for it. And just before we flew back to the island, I had this vision of being a martial artist on the run from imperial troops and stunned three looters before I knew what I'd done. And Moonstone was showing me how to use her phaser and I'd swear I used something like it on a space ship. "It's not like everything I touch does this, the only other times it happened was a dream after first seeing Moonstone as a dragon where I apparently got devoured by one, and when I saw that little boy, David, who I'm sure I knew as an adult, and someone else who looked a lot like him but was a very bad man. "So, I dunno if you'd call it a power, but I guess I've had a lot of memorable past lives or something, because that's all I can figure it is. And I seem to be drawn to places of power, like Stonehenge or Callahans, where you can move between worlds easiest. And I think, from what I remembered when I saw David, I can direct where I'm born next and what I'm supposed to do there when I die." Karma shrugged helplessly, "I'm also sorry this is so long and rambling, but I really don't know what I am or how I do what I do." OOC: And if you made it this far without skimming, scrolling or your eyes glazing over, you're a more patient reader than I am. Bravo and thank you, I do appreciate your effort. :D ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Monkey wrenches and other useful tools On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 20:30:08 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011392 >On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 00:35:06 -0700 >Reality Hacker AJ47 Said As CAoL Message # 00011382 > >#Ploop# went the background process, calling his attention to the >screens as Darkseid's general retreat from New York was implemented. >After a decently long pause to make sure it wasn't a trick, he opened >a portal to the dome on Champions Island and stepped through it, >hanging around in the back until the introductions came around to >him. > >"Hi, I'm Avery, and this is my partner in crime, Mr. Book." Defender smiles and nods a bow. > Tapping a finger on top of the cranial implant, he projected a >holographic image of his internal vision of its form: a black plate >that gradually unfolded into an equally black bird. #Acquitted!# Defender chuckles in gentle amusement at that. > "Anyway, we certainly don't have anything on the schedule that >*remotely* takes precedence over a cross-dimensional global invasion >force, so... here we are." > >"Not much good with the whole fighting schtick, or with biology... >but your typical inorganic spheres are another matter. We like >messing around with those." Mr. Book projected a series of equations >and graphics, color-coded according to the age-old Hermetic standard: >purple for Correspondence, orange for Forces, and brown for Matter. >The background process (blue for Mind) also appeared, still cranking >through self-repair subroutines ('estimated completion in 14:28:57'). "By the Source. Someone subtle," Defender says with a grin. "I'd ask you if you're with the right group, but we can _use_ someone like you. Pleased to meet you. And if you don't mind, I'm going to use that countdown of yours to mark when we go after Darkseid again, barring other problems of course," the Champions' leader amends in an effort to ward off Murphy. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 22:38:51 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011393 >On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 10:52:49 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011388 > >> Crystal Jade Guess Said As CAoL Message # 00011387 >> >>CJ steps forward. "CJ Guess, at your service. I may not be a super >>hero, but I do know a trick or two, and with my Box and L.U.T.E. I >>may be of some small help. I'm best at throwing monkey wrenches in >>to the works of my opponent. Although I have to admit that things >>here are apparently a little . . . different. I mean, I have never >>had a displacement grenade cause anything to appear, let alone mint >>limeade." Defender chuckles. "Welcome to Earth-9." More seriously, he adds, "We're glad to have you. Just a warning -- we're not a branch of the tooniverse, but our reality gets...elastic, sometimes. I think it's making up for lost time, personally." > Turning to Orchid, the closest Champion, he asks, "By the way, >there wouldn't happen to be a laundry room on here, as well as a >shower, would there? If we have time, I'd rather not to go into a >fight smelling of mint limeade." Orchid blinks, mildly surprised to find herself being addressed, then brightens. "Oh, yes. Yes, we have pretty much all the niceties you could want. This is our first interplanar war, but we've hosted some pretty big team-ups here. Here, I'll show you." ZOOM -- and she's off. Orchid zips back. "What's the -- oops," she finishes with a sheepish grin. "Follow me." Moving at a somewhat more sedate pace, she guides him (OOC: And anyone else who feels a need for the facilities) along. "We also have a bunch of serious stuff too, like the computer banks, a training room, an armory, medical facilities in Verbena and Etherite, and every kind of scanner you could ask for." The young sidhe smiles sweetly as she gestures to a door. The room behind it looks rather like a locker room, only cleaner -- washers and dryers, sinks, showers, lockers, etc. "If you need anything else, let me know. This is the 'folks' locker room, though when things get this crowded it becomes the guys' room. Solitaire, 'Q' and I keep another room, um, sweat-free. Or at least sweat-light." The fey speedster is very polite and friendly, but she only _just_ manages not to turn her commentary into one long run-on word (forget the sentences). 8^) ================================= Subject: AAE 9: The Essence of Eric (was Power of the Darkseid) On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 17:24:43 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011394 >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011384 Ziactrice looks to the other side of her mental view, finding a large dial to the lower right, labeled Soft and then Hard on each side. It is currently resting at about 7/10's of the turn toward the Hard position. With a grin, she turns it down to 3 out of 10 of the marks. The black and silver armor flickers out, replaced by her ceramic black chain mail, then by a skirted suit, then by a long dress, and then a silk kimono in blue and dark purple and black embroidery, and finally, a light sundress, without sleeves, in a light blue that matches her eyes with utter precision. Her swords find someplace else to be during this flickering fashion show. "Now _that_ is a full service wardrobe. He wins that bet. As usual." The petite Amberite murmurs. Then she meets Eric's eyes most directly. "I know of only two ways to recharge ch'i when the recipient is nearly at nil. Do you prefer the mystical, or, ah, the physical - well. Given your sister, and your own mastery, you are not unversed in such arts - there is a method sexual in action." (OOC: This may be taken to the Risque Room, or suitably black-faded, or done by mystical means should Eric prefer. Just doing my bit to try and entertain Evil GM-san before he mops the floor with us all again. :) (thus entertaining US of course; we like that) ) ================================= Subject: AAE 9: Mojo Dojo On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 19:46:24 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011395 Note: This takes place before "The Essence of Eric." >On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 04:16:50 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011384 > >>On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 00:16:30 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011381 >> >>"Rats in this city express negative opinions about everything but >>free food. The primary difference from the politicians being that >>the politicians can be very positive about campaign contributions as >>well. If you're mystically sensitive, however, the rats tend to >>smell better." > >"Ah." Ziactrice grins. "I thought tunnel rats was a special nickname >for those utility workers who work far below the surface of New >York's streets, actually. I haven't spent that much time in actual >Earth shadows, though." Eric shrugs with a smile. "Sorry. Most of what I know about New York sewer workers comes from Ed Norton. Rio and I may be Navy brats, but for the most part I'm from the Left Coast. OTOH, if you want to know where the Nephandi used to hang out, I'm your guy." >^Zenzen kamaimasen.^ Ziactrice thinks back with an ease that marks >Nihongo as a language she is fluent enough to think in. (Translation: >That doesn't matter; I don't mind; or you need not apologize for that >nothing.) Japanese is an expressive language. Eric has to concentrate for a moment to translate. ^Ah,^ he replies in relief. ^My Japanese -- Nihongo -- is very rusty. It's great for certain phrases, I've found, but it's been a while.^ >^It's all right, Eric; you just caught me by surprise. There was a >reason I found the Place, but that was long enough ago it is... not >as bad, these days.^ Eric nods. ^Glad to hear it, and as you might imagine, I understand.^ >> Eric pulls out his collar and looks down the front of his shirt. >>"Gaia's Kiss. I'll be..." he chuckles. "No. No, I'm quite happy to >>be rid of them. A scar can be a badge of honor, but for the most >>part they're damned inconvenient in my line of work. The only marks >>on my body I want are the tiger and dragon tattoos that you were >>gracious enough to leave. _Those_ I'm proud of." He takes a second >>look down the shirt. "The tiger's rising claw was even restored when >>the scar vanished. Amazing." > >"I'm glad you're not displeased. That's some excellent artistry >there. I tried to copy it as well as I could." Ziactrice smiles >shyly. Eric boggles at the sight of Zia acting in any way shy, though he clamps down quickly. No need to make her any more uncomfortable. >> Through sheer force of will, he makes his eyebrows climb down to >>a more standard level. "My family doesn't tend to receding >>hairlines," he says, deliberately "missing" the quip. > >"Really? You'll have to introduce me sometime. Your father - and >mother - would be fascinating people to meet, I'm quite sure." Zia >says - innocently. She can even pull it off almost straight-faced. Eric forces his eyes not to bulge. In his current state, it's an effort. "Ah." He swallows quietly. "My parents...aren't privy to any more of my world's strangeness than has been made public." He looks west, though the clouds are obscured by the island's many structures. "Though that's quite a bit of strangeness now..." >> "The boy scout has a file on me, I'm sure," Eric replies. "And if >>he doesn't, he _should_ have one," he adds with a wicked grin. > >"Solitaire keeps the files; she is the brains of this outfit, after >all." Ziactrice remarks. "Doesn't surprise me," Eric quips. >"Oh. I should have - ah, well, I'm sure whatever is left in them >about me is already known to the invasion force. Darkseid may not >have expected me, but he is no slouch at gathering information. >Though I must be one of the harder ones to get good information >about..." She smiles. "I imagine," The Hunter comments, all business for a moment, "that the encryption on this island would be impressive by any world's standards. What secrets they might have on you are almost certainly safe." He paused. /Defender, Solitaire, just how extensive _are_ your files on the CAoL?/ /Hardware or wetware?/ Solitaire replies. Eric sends a chuckle. /Hardware. There's only so much you can do about the data in the gray stuff./ /Minimal,/ Solitaire sends. /There's really no need to keep information on the CAoL in the Champions files./ /Now if you want information on the Army's _foes,_ we've got in-depth analyses of pretty much all of them,/ Defender adds. /Just wanted to be sure that the information is secure,/ Eric explains. /As secure as we know how to make it,/ Solitaire finishes matter-of-factly, though context (and her mental smile) makes it clear that that's pretty secure. >She slides open the doorway, revealing a full-impact dojo room, of >wood floor and bright lighting, with a window to a small courtyard >garden view beyond, water feature bubbling. "Oh!" Zia is just as >surprised as Eric to see this. Eric just relaxes (_really_ relaxes, probably the first time Zia's seen him do that -- probably the first time any CAoLer outside _Rio_ has seen him do that). He breathes in and out slowly, in a cleansing effort. >"Beautiful. I sense Solitaire's hand at work, in that window-garden." >She enters, closes the door behind Eric, and sits seiza as she >regards the room - sits seiza IN that full plate. Obviously, it's far >more flexible than normal metal could be. "Huh," Eric comments, trying to figure out whether that's Zia being stoic or the plate being unusual (or a combination of the two) for a moment, then slides into a disciplined half-lotus. "Seeker's the A-K -- Akashic Brother -- so the dojo's probably his. That garden does have the resident sorceress' name on it, though, doesn't it?" After that, he goes quiet, his body gently coming into tune with the life-energy of creation. At this rate, he will need hours to fully recover. Of course, Zia doesn't need nearly that long to figure out Essence. In many Shadows -- not all, certainly, but a great many -- life force flows naturally through the reality as well as its inhabitants. This is very much true on Earth-9. The difference with what Eric calls "Essence" (though E-9 is hardly unique in this matter) is that it develops attunements, aspects, predilections of a sort. Fortunately, when these Exalted absorb Essence, it changes attunement to become of their type. They naturally cause Essence to become predisposed to do as they wish, sometimes allowing them to react before they should be able to (much like the Force). While they have limits on how much Essence they can store at once, and can only absorb it naturally at a given pace, they have numerous techniques for increasing the rate of recovery. There also doesn't seem to be any particular limit on how quickly an _external_ force can resupply an Exalt -- at least, if they're all like Eric or Jaguar -- with power. So all Zia needs is a pool of ch'i to draw on. 8^) Between the Essence flows that Solitaire and Jaguar have already set up on the island (Solitaire's power deriving from such energy flows, and Jaguar being another type of Exalted), the invocation of the god that Exalted Eric, and Zia's many talents, I'm sure she can come up with something... ;^) (Response to Essence of Eric later) ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 10:37:49 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011396 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011393 > >>On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 10:52:49 -0700 (PDT) >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011388 >> >> Turning to Orchid, the closest Champion, he asks, "By the way, >>there wouldn't happen to be a laundry room on here, as well as a >>shower, would there? If we have time, I'd rather not to go into a >>fight smelling of mint limeade." > > Orchid blinks, mildly surprised to find herself being addressed, >then brightens. "Oh, yes. Yes, we have pretty much all the niceties >you could want. This is our first interplanar war, but we've hosted >some pretty big team-ups here. Here, I'll show you." ZOOM -- and >she's off. > Orchid zips back. "What's the -- oops," she finishes with a >sheepish grin. "Follow me." Moving at a somewhat more sedate pace, >she guides him (OOC: And anyone else who feels a need for the >facilities) along. "We also have a bunch of serious stuff too, like >the computer banks, a training room, an armory, medical facilities in >Verbena and Etherite, and every kind of scanner you could ask for." >The young sidhe smiles sweetly as she gestures to a door. The room >behind it looks rather like a locker room, only cleaner -- washers >and dryers, sinks, showers, lockers, etc. "If you need anything else, >let me know. This is the 'folks' locker room, though when things get >this crowded it becomes the guys' room. Solitaire, 'Q' and I keep >another room, um, sweat-free. Or at least sweat-light." The fey >speedster is very polite and friendly, but she only _just_ manages >not to turn her commentary into one long run-on word (forget the >sentences). 8^) [Now I understand what Mitch meant when he said, "The Flash: Great hero, terrible tour guide."] "I could use a bathrobe," Rob says. "I left all my spare clothing in Boston, and this isn't the time to go pick it up. And somehow, I don't feel like fine-tuning my gear in the buff." [Ph34r my l33t nekid skillz...yeah, right.] After Orchid leaves, Rob empties out his pockets, throws everything in the wash, and takes a shower. [Ick. Mint limeade dries into a sticky mess.] ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Mojo Dojo On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 20:12:18 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011397 >On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 19:46:24 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011395 > >>"Really? You'll have to introduce me sometime. Your father - and >>mother - would be fascinating people to meet, I'm quite sure." Zia >>says - innocently. She can even pull it off almost straight-faced. > > Eric forces his eyes not to bulge. In his current state, it's an >effort. "Ah." He swallows quietly. "My parents...aren't privy to any >more of my world's strangeness than has been made public." He looks >west, though the clouds are obscured by the island's many structures. >"Though that's quite a bit of strangeness now..." "And that effects introducing me how, exactly? I'm quite out of this world for strangeness." Zia stops. "That didn't quite come out right." > Between the Essence flows that Solitaire and Jaguar have already >set up on the island (Solitaire's power deriving from such energy >flows, and Jaguar being another type of Exalted), the invocation of >the god that Exalted Eric, and Zia's many talents, I'm sure she can >come up with something... ;^) > (Response to Essence of Eric later) ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book (Moonstone-Karma On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 22:55:50 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011398 >On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 14:11:07 -0400 (EDT) >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011391 > When the time came for introductions, Moonstone spoke first. > "My apologies first, this isn't going to be a short intro. Well, >I'm Moonstone," she said, the young woman the picture of albinism, >barring her cobalt blue eyes, enhanced by simple white jeans, >t-shirt, and jacket, starkly contrasted by the black backpack slung >over a shoulder, "My big thing is I'm a white dragon. The color >doesn't signify anything, by the way. I'm resistant to bullets and >swords, though not impervious if someone's determined or has >sufficient caliber. Roland frowns slightly to himself. [Oops. I've got to stop using Dhyrclhanc as my draconic measuring stick...) >I breathe fire and fly, these aren't magical properties, so in worlds >without magic, I still breathe fire and fly. As a dragon I'm fairly >strong for my weight, but even among my home-reality's species, I'm >considered frail and a runt. Roland's frown deepens a touch. [You'd think humans would provide enough of a bad example for _every_ sane species in the multiverse, but _no._ Picking on the little guy seems universal, alas.] > "And I've got an Engineering degree from the University of >Missouri, Kansas City. It's not the greatest that school has, for >that I would have had to go to UN: Rolla, but it's not bad. Dunno if >there'd be a need for that, but might be good to know." Defender nods. "Thanks, Moonstone, and welcome aboard." He smiles and gestures at the flying island around them. "That engineering degree might come in handy, by the way." > "So, I dunno if you'd call it a power, but I guess I've had a >lot of memorable past lives or something, because that's all I can >figure it is. And I seem to be drawn to places of power, like >Stonehenge or Callahans, where you can move between worlds easiest. >And I think, from what I remembered when I saw David, I can direct >where I'm born next and what I'm supposed to do there when I die." > Karma shrugged helplessly, "I'm also sorry this is so long and >rambling, but I really don't know what I am or how I do what I do." Roland nods again, this time intending to look both sympathetic and reassuring. "Don't sweat it. You'll understand more as time goes on. And being able to come up with the knowledge you need more or less when you need it is a very useful ability." He briefly glances over at his lady wife, smiling fondly. "It's a funny thing. When you don't know what you can do until you try, it's amazing how much you find you really _can_ do." >OOC: And if you made it this far without skimming, scrolling or your >eyes glazing over, you're a more patient reader than I am. Bravo and >thank you, I do appreciate your effort. :D OOC: Hmph. You're even harder on yourself than _I_ am (on _my_self, that is 8^). ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 23:02:54 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011399 >On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:55:35 EDT >Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00011375 > >/"If you need anything, just ask; I can rig up a solution quickly; in >fact, I have something I'd like to give you all before you head >out."/ Rob says nothing. After what happened in the Fuzzy Quest, he doesn't know who he's talking to when it comes to Scott. ================================= Subject: AAE 9: Recruiting & Equipment On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 00:24:50 -0700 Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00011400 "* Defender, A I Understand it You are 'In Charge' Around Here...*" "*I have a Few Ideas... If you Expect Me to Deal with Amazo, I will have to have some Equipment Shipped in..., If Anyone has any Requests Please Let me Know... I managed to arrainge a Trade of some D-Shift Tech, For a Limited Manufacturing License, With A Gentleman Named Robert Hedron, I can Provide this world Armed forces with, Fine Energy Weapons, That Include an Effective Force Field Generator... However they would have a few Quircks, 1 They Can Only be Fired By the Person to Whom They Are Issued 2 They will only Fire at Sentients, IF The Target does Not Originate In This Universe, 3 They Will Only Work In This Universe, 4 They will Expire in One Local Year. I have also Encountered an Entity, Who could help the 'Captive' Sentients, Summoning him has a Cost I would Regret, However Maybe Harlock could do it, Without the LifeRite Sacrifice... He goes by the Name of Baron Munchausen, We would then have to, See that he gets a Good Venue and Audience... A Large Stadium full of Normals, Would give him A Fair Amount of Energy to Use..., But at least a Small Theater full, And TV Coverage...*" ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Recruiting & Equipment On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:11:26 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011401 >On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 00:24:50 -0700 >Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00011400 > >I have also Encountered an Entity, > Who could help the 'Captive' Sentients, > Summoning him has a Cost I would Regret, > However Maybe Harlock could do it, > Without the LifeRite Sacrifice... > He goes by the Name of Baron Munchausen, > We would then have to, > See that he gets a Good Venue and Audience... > A Large Stadium full of Normals, > Would give him A Fair Amount of Energy to Use..., > But at least a Small Theater full, And TV Coverage...*" The Bard looks up from his fingering exercises. "Baron Munchausen? Perhaps I am overly dense, Milord, but who would he be helping and how? You'll forgive me if I note that his most notable talents seem to be for helping _himself._ Well, that and bragging." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book (Moonstone-Karma On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 04:19:53 -0400 (EDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011402 >On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 22:55:50 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011398 > >>On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 14:11:07 -0400 (EDT) >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011391 >> >> "My apologies first, this isn't going to be a short intro. >>Well, I'm Moonstone," she said, the young woman the picture of >>albinism, barring her cobalt blue eyes, enhanced by simple white >>jeans, t-shirt, and jacket, starkly contrasted by the black backpack >>slung over a shoulder, "My big thing is I'm a white dragon. The >>color doesn't signify anything, by the way. I'm resistant to bullets >>and swords, though not impervious if someone's determined or has >>sufficient caliber. > > Roland frowns slightly to himself. [Oops. I've got to stop using >Dhyrclhanc as my draconic measuring stick...) OOC: *snicker* > Roland's frown deepens a touch. [You'd think humans would provide >enough of a bad example for _every_ sane species in the multiverse, >but _no._ Picking on the little guy seems universal, alas.] OOC: Heh, well, she wasn't picked on, more like (over-)protected growing up. Not that Roland'd know that. ;) Born too early, she was the "little miracle". And there weren't other dragons around to truly compare to, except by her parents' memories of what was normal for their kind. (The rest left their world about 1500AD, leaving her parents who had newly laid eggs to tend to. 1980 was when Moonstone hatched, her siblings hatched in 2000, when she was 'scheduled' to hatch as well. They suspect she was trying to get out of her shell because she couldn't believe Reagan got elected and had to see for herself. ;) (j/k)) > OOC: Hmph. You're even harder on yourself than _I_ am (on >_my_self, that is 8^). OOC: Heh, I do sometimes wonder if I put in too much info. Kinda like last night's Mage game, a fellow player talked pretty much non-stop for about 20 minutes, speech-making, basically. I was torn between thinking "Wow, that's really good," and "Will you shut up so the rest of us can play?" :D ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Recruiting & Equipment On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:54:00 -0700 Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00011403 >On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:11:26 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011401 > >The Bard looks up from his fingering exercises. "Baron Munchausen? >Perhaps I am overly dense, Milord, but who would he be helping and >how? > You'll forgive me if I note that his most notable talents seem to >be for helping _himself._ Well, that and bragging." "In some worlds that is Undoubtedly True, However Somewhere in the Multiverse, Generations of Children being told Stories of Him, Created from their Belief, A Being that Is a Master Stoyteller, Harvesting Power from the Willing Suspension of DisBelief, In the Minds of His Audience, With which to Make His Tales True..." "And since Happy Endings get more Repeate Proformances, The Tale being told again and again to the Children, Each of which gives him a bit more Power and Reality, In the Universe in Question... He Tends to arrive in the Nick of Time, To Rescue Communities... Usually Empowered by The Last Wish of a True Hero, That His Home Survive..., Against all Odds." "On the other hand Even That does not Assure that He Will Arrive, Just that he Can..." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Cosmic Storm Rising On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 12:59:42 -0700 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00011404 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011246 > >>On Wed, 08 Oct 2003 22:57:14 -0700 >>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00011229 >> >>The sky curdles slightly as the enormous favored form of Hydra >>appears. He doesn't look happy. Eight hundred feet tall, from the >>heel of his armored boots to the top of his helmeted heads, and in >>hand his weapon of choice, a glaive fully as tall as he is. He >>quickly (even for a Starspawn) scans the battle field, and chooses >>his target. The glaive whips around, and points at the Tyrant Sun. >>From the point of the weapon lances out a blast of power that could, >>and on more than one occasion HAD, blown a large star into a cosmic >>cloud of atoms. At the same time he wraps the area around the Tyrant >>Sun in a field of force to contain and redirect the/any resulting >>explosion into a "safe" area. > > An ordinary star would have been obliterated. Solaris, of course, >is no ordinary star. This, however, was not the plan. > Maggedon is not alive. It is a machine. > The Ultimate Weapon of the Old Gods may be a hideously complex >machine, with vast responsive capabilities and powers to rival >Hydra's. It is not, however, sentient (as Solaris is). It was >designed this way so that it would not turn on its masters. > The irony, of course, is beyond reckoning. Once activated, it >turned the Old Gods on one another, destroying them all except those >who became one with the Source (and formed the Great Wall that those >who would join it must pass). > Curiously, the mental attack does seem to disrupt it. Maggedon, >however, does not know pain or fear. It simply...reacts. > Maggedon immediately EATS the various effects that Solaris had >been contending with. Curiously, this does not seem to make a >statistically significant difference in Maggedon's power level. /*"So be it. Aurora, you kill the Tyrant vermin, I'll melt the scrap heap."*/ Hydra suggests. With that, he renews the dual assault that Aurora had started. Maggedon quickly discerns that while the psionic assault is slightly lower than that coming from Aurora, the EMP attack is MUCH stronger. Initiating its own mental attack Maggedon discovers that it IS in trouble. An attack form which took down the Old Gods is stopped, mere inches, in front of Hydra's titanic form. With each impact of mental force, it builds up a working hypothesis. Hydra is using his mental SHIELDS to attack Maggedon. Thus there are NEVER any openings in them to slip an attack through. Moreover, it is only just barely able to detect those "shields" at all. If its capabilities were only just a little less advanced, it would not be able to detect them at all. Mental attacks being nearly useless, it resorts to physical attacks, flailing at Hydra with its huge tentacles. This is somewhat more successful, tearing small holes in Hydra's being. However this form of combat has its own dissadvantages. To attack in such a way must of neccessity bring those tentacles within reach of Hydra's Glaive. Block and slash, weave and bob, Hydra and Maggedon begin a dance of death above the city. Those citizens and heros that happen to look up, see a battle that reminds them somewhat of that between Yoda and Dookoo in the movie Star Wars III, but on further thought they universally decide that Yoda was somewhat more sedate in his activities. Bob and weave, block and slash, the two titanic adversaries seemingly fill the sky. A rip is torn in Hydra's armor here, a tentacle is lopped off there. Neither of the giants seems able to do serious damage to the other. Through out all this, Hydra keeps the EMP attack going, varying the intensity, seemingly at random. Suddenly the mighty war machine's master program discerns it is no longer alone in its master computer. There is a NEW program running. A program that is doing no damage, but which is exploring every system and component. Where did this new program come from? Quickly scanning its systems the great computer realizes that the EMP Pulse is NOT being varied at random. It is being varied in a VERY complex pattern. A pattern that matches Maggedon's own machine language. Hydra has been using the EMP attack not to DESTROY the war machine, but has been entering a new PROGRAM using the computer's own circuitry as an I/O port. And the new program is now seeking out strengths, and vulnerabilities. Which the program must be reporting to Maggedon's enemy. The master program determines that if it can't stop this interloping program that Hydra will be victorious. The war machine tries to purge the new program, but as fast as it purges, Hydra re-enters the machine code. More and more of the machine's processing power is devoted to clearing this new threat. It finally realizes that if something doesn't stop this process, it will be destroyed. As it prepares for its "final option" Darkseid orders a withdrawl from the city. As it retreats, the EMP attack lessens and then stops, giving the computer the ability to FINALLY dispose of the interloping program. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 21:11:06 -0500 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011405 >On Fri, Oct 24th, 2K3, >"Rob Nishakawa" (aka Peter Eng) write... > >>"Scott Osborne" (aka Luc French) wrote... >> >>Those who know Scott recognize him, but barely. His formerly black >>hair is now salt and pepperish; his eyes now have gold specks in >>them; his trenchcoat is gone, replaced by a loose fitting grey >>uniform with an insignia of a three spoked wheel. >> >>/"If you need anything, just ask; I can rig up a solution quickly; >>in fact, I have something I'd like to give you all before you head >>out."/ > > Rob says nothing. After what happened in the Fuzzy Quest, he >doesn't know who he's talking to when it comes to Scott. #*Planning on joining the Quartermaster {Corps/Club} with Fuzzy and I, Mr. Osborne?*# sends Dhyrclhanc, with a smile in his mental voice, from some currently undisclosed location. #*By the way, what's the wheel for, if you don't mind my asking, that is.*# ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 21:33:07 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011406 >On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 10:37:49 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011396 > >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011393 > [Now I understand what Mitch meant when he said, "The Flash: Great >hero, terrible tour guide."] "I could use a bathrobe," Rob says. "I >left all my spare clothing in Boston, and this isn't the time to go >pick it up. And somehow, I don't feel like fine-tuning my gear in the >buff." [Ph34r my l33t nekid skillz...yeah, right.] Orchid blinks. Well, actually, her eyes don't blink. She sort of...flickers, like a piece of film that went too fast, or maybe too slow. When the flicker ends, she has a bathrobe for Rob. The cut is, of course, perfect. "You know, I am the fastest girl alive," she says, a twinkle in her eyes. "I could go get your stuff and be back before you've finished your shower." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Recruiting & Equipment On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 11:39:51 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011407 >On Sat, Oct 25th, 2K3, "Fuzzy and/or Nemisis" writes... > >I managed to arrainge a Trade of some D-Shift Tech, > For a Limited Manufacturing License, > With A Gentleman Named Robert Hedron, ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Source, please Fuzzy? I Feel like I should Recognize this name. > I can Provide this world Armed forces with, > Fine Energy Weapons, > That Include an Effective Force Field Generator... > However they would have a few Quircks, > 1 They Can Only be Fired By the Person to Whom They Are Issued > 2 They will only Fire at Sentients, > IF The Target does Not Originate In This Universe, > 3 They Will Only Work In This Universe, > 4 They will Expire in One Local Year. Somewhere in the makeshift auditorium and/or meeting hall on Champions' Island, Dhyrclhanc's featureless glacier blue-white silently eyes go wide. [What have you been up to since last we met, Lord Fuzzy?] he thought to himself. Perhaps it was that even the reasonably brief time he had spent in the Universe of the Lens, exposed to their technology, albeit that it was"Retro-tech" "Buck Rogers/Captain Proton- style" technology, that made Dhyrclhanc, even despite his own prodigious sorcerous skills, think of the Nano-techno-magic that Fuzzy and he shared still strickly as "technology". Event though, the qualities that Fuzzy had described above were capable of being created through purely technological means. Then perhaps it was the nonchalance with which Fuzzy had described them, and Dhyrclhanc had never heard his mentor speak with such stark candor in his voice before. Either way, Dhyrclhanc was both impressed and taken aback, two things which happened rarely, and rarely enough together to make the synchronicity, for lack of a better term, doubly uncommon. >I have also Encountered an Entity, > Who could help the 'Captive' Sentients, > Summoning him has a Cost I would Regret, > However Maybe Harlock could do it, > Without the LifeRite Sacrifice... > He goes by the Name of Baron Munchausen, > We would then have to, > See that he gets a Good Venue and Audience... > A Large Stadium full of Normals, > Would give him A Fair Amount of Energy to Use..., > But at least a Small Theater full, And TV Coverage...*" [Fuzzy calling on the potential powers inherent of a Storyteller of _That_ Magnitude?] Dhyrclhanc's mind was capable of supremely efficient processing of information, and even computer-like multi-tasking, but even he was having trouble processing this information. TBC... ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Recruiting & Equipment On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 22:23:37 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011408 >On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:54:00 -0700 >Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00011403 > >>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:11:26 -0700 >>Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00011401 >> >>The Bard looks up from his fingering exercises. "Baron Munchausen? >>Perhaps I am overly dense, Milord, but who would he be helping and >>how? >> You'll forgive me if I note that his most notable talents seem to >>be for helping _himself._ Well, that and bragging." /Sorry, folx, all I know from the Baron is the Terry Gilliam version. Ouch,/ Roland sends. >"In some worlds that is Undoubtedly True, > However Somewhere in the Multiverse, > Generations of Children being told Stories of Him, > Created from their Belief, > A Being that Is a Master Stoyteller, > Harvesting Power from the Willing Suspension of DisBelief, > In the Minds of His Audience, > With which to Make His Tales True..." Roland whistles, impressed. >"And since Happy Endings get more Repeate Proformances, > The Tale being told again and again to the Children, > Each of which gives him a bit more Power and Reality, > In the Universe in Question... > He Tends to arrive in the Nick of Time, > To Rescue Communities... > Usually Empowered by The Last Wish of a True Hero, > That His Home Survive..., > Against all Odds." /"Er,"/ Defender blurts. >"On the other hand Even That does not Assure that He Will Arrive, > Just that he Can..." /"Let's save that as an absolute last resort, shall we?"/ the CAoL coordinator replies, trying not to look shaken (though in his current condition, he's only partly successful). /"We've lost enough members for one eon. Unless circumstances change, it appears that you're probably the best suited among us to dealing with the upgraded Dr. Bedlam."/ When someone asks what he plans to do about Amazo if he's taking someone off Amazo duty, he replies (slightly) testily, "A plan is still being formulated." -- (/) Roland Morpheus: And does the Commander have a plan for stopping 250,000 sentinels? Niobe: A strategy is still being formulated. Morpheus: I'm sure it is. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Recruiting & Equipment On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 22:36:23 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011409 >On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:54:00 -0700 >Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00011403 > >>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:11:26 -0700 >>Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011401 >> >>The Bard looks up from his fingering exercises. "Baron Munchausen? >>Perhaps I am overly dense, Milord, but who would he be helping and >>how? >> You'll forgive me if I note that his most notable talents seem to >>be for helping _himself._ Well, that and bragging." > >"In some worlds that is Undoubtedly True, > However Somewhere in the Multiverse, > Generations of Children being told Stories of Him, > Created from their Belief, > A Being that Is a Master Stoyteller, > Harvesting Power from the Willing Suspension of DisBelief, > In the Minds of His Audience, > With which to Make His Tales True..." > >"And since Happy Endings get more Repeate Proformances, > The Tale being told again and again to the Children, > Each of which gives him a bit more Power and Reality, > In the Universe in Question... > He Tends to arrive in the Nick of Time, > To Rescue Communities... > Usually Empowered by The Last Wish of a True Hero, > That His Home Survive..., > Against all Odds." > >"On the other hand Even That does not Assure that He Will Arrive, > Just that he Can..." Harlock shrugs. "Well, an ye think he can truly be of use..." The Bard starts muttering under his breath, then pulls a bootstrap out of thin air. "He'll be along when he feels like it. All he need do is pull, after all..." OOC: Somebody _else_ can write the good Baron, should he decide to show up. I've pretty much exhausted the little I know at this point. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Cosmic Storm Rising On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 22:50:07 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011410 >On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 12:59:42 -0700 >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00011404 > >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011246 >> >> An ordinary star would have been obliterated. Solaris, of course, >>is no ordinary star. This, however, was not the plan. > >> Curiously, the mental attack does seem to disrupt it. Maggedon, >>however, does not know pain or fear. It simply...reacts. > >it MUST have at least SOME machinery which performs that function. At >the very least the psionic machinery would be sensitive to such.> OOC: Well, the mental attack could simply affect the psychic weapon and no other systems. However, I'm figuring that Maggedon's pathways are as close to sentience as an AI can be without _quite_ being self-aware, and that the many systems within it are interconnected. This means the Ultimate Weapon has a relatively minor weakness in exchange for depth of resilience. >> Maggedon immediately EATS the various effects that Solaris had >>been contending with. Curiously, this does not seem to make a >>statistically significant difference in Maggedon's power level. > >/*"So be it. Aurora, you kill the Tyrant vermin, I'll melt the scrap >heap."*/ Hydra suggests. With that, he renews the dual assault that >Aurora had started. Maggedon quickly discerns that while the psionic >assault is slightly lower than that coming from Aurora, the EMP >attack is MUCH stronger. This form of attack, as previously noted, has been used on Maggedon cognates before. Darkseid, of course, learned of this. While he did not want Maggedon being able to resist such an assault too quickly, unless such an attack was followed up by a power roughly equal to the Anti-Life Equation it would eventually be countered. >Through out all this, Hydra keeps the EMP attack going, varying the >intensity, seemingly at random. Suddenly the mighty war machine's >master program discerns it is no longer alone in its master computer. >There is a NEW program running. A program that is doing no damage, >but which is exploring every system and component. Where did this new >program come from? Quickly scanning its systems the great computer >realizes that the EMP Pulse is NOT being varied at random. It is >being varied in a VERY complex pattern. A pattern that matches >Maggedon's own machine language. Hydra has been using the EMP attack >not to DESTROY the war machine, but has been entering a new PROGRAM >using the computer's own circuitry as an I/O port. And the new >program is now seeking out strengths, and vulnerabilities. Which the >program must be reporting to Maggedon's enemy. The master program >determines that if it can't stop this interloping program that Hydra >will be victorious. The war machine tries to purge the new program, >but as fast as it purges, Hydra re-enters the machine code. More and >more of the machine's processing power is devoted to clearing this >new threat. It finally realizes that if something doesn't stop this >process, it will be destroyed. As it prepares for its "final option" >Darkseid orders a withdrawl from the city. As it retreats, the EMP >attack lessens and then stops, giving the computer the ability to >FINALLY dispose of the interloping program. Hydra notices something as the withdrawal takes place. There was a failsafe within Maggedon. It is powered by an anti-sun...a star of void rather than light. Not even a black hole...it could be best described as burning with "coldness" rather than heat. A sort of anti-plasma, though _not_ in the sense of antimatter, as an antimatter sun would still be "hot." And it was set to self-destruct. Even Hydra would have been seriously injured by an attack. And it would have been blood in the water for the Entity within the Anti-Life Equation. This, of course, will have to be dealt with... ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 23:04:31 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011411 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011406 > > Orchid blinks. Well, actually, her eyes don't blink. She sort >of...flickers, like a piece of film that went too fast, or maybe too >slow. When the flicker ends, she has a bathrobe for Rob. The cut is, >of course, perfect. "You know, I am the fastest girl alive," she >says, a twinkle in her eyes. "I could go get your stuff and be back >before you've finished your shower." "It's no problem, really," Rob says, rubbing the back of his head with his palm. "It's just clothes, nowhere near as valuable as making sure that you're still the fastest girl -alive- when Defender yells 'go.' And I'm pretty sure that Darkseid has every bit of real estate from here to Boston." As he heads for the showers, he adds, "But thanks for the offer. If - no, when - when Darkseid's flying somewhere over Thursday, I'll take you up on that offer to go after my pack." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 01:03:14 EST Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00011412 >In a message dated 10/25/2003 9:44:29 PM Pacific Standard Time, >mgerster writes: > >#*Planning on joining the Quartermaster {Corps/Club} with Fuzzy and >I, Mr. Osborne?*# sends Dhyrclhanc, with a smile in his mental voice, >from some currently undisclosed location. /Quite possibly, Sir Dhyrclhanc./ Scott responds. >#*By the way, what's the wheel for, if you don't mind my asking, that >is.*# /The wheel ... is a personal emblem. The reason I'm wearing it is much the same as the reason a knight needs to have heraldry on his shield./ ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Recruiting & Equipment On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 23:59:09 -0700 Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00011413 >On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 22:23:37 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011408 > >>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:54:00 -0700 >>Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00011403 >> >>>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:11:26 -0700 >>>Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00011401 >>> >>>The Bard looks up from his fingering exercises. "Baron Munchausen? >>>Perhaps I am overly dense, Milord, but who would he be helping and >>>how? >>> You'll forgive me if I note that his most notable talents seem to >>>be for helping _himself._ Well, that and bragging." > > /Sorry, folx, all I know from the Baron is the Terry Gilliam >version. Ouch,/ Roland sends. >>"On the other hand Even That does not Assure that He Will Arrive, >> Just that he Can..." > > /"Let's save that as an absolute last resort, shall we?"/ the CAoL >coordinator replies, trying not to look shaken (though in his current >condition, he's only partly successful). /"We've lost enough members >for one eon. Unless circumstances change, it appears that you're >probably the best suited among us to dealing with the upgraded Dr. >Bedlam."/ Fuzzy looks around for a moment, /"I doubt a Suitable Volunteer could be found here anyway, These Heros, Supers, Immortals, and Entities, Have Too much Control of their Energies, A Normal Street Cop, Fireman, or Soldier... But as I said Perhaps Harlock in his Role as a God, Can do it without that Price...*/ > When someone asks what he plans to do about Amazo if he's taking >someone off Amazo duty, he replies (slightly) testily, "A plan is >still being formulated." *Ok, For Your Planning Information, I have Quantum Scramblers, (To Prevent Ability copying) And a Old Doomsday Weapon, From a War between Sentient Machines, That should Cause Amazo Major Trouble, That I had planned to have shipped in...* ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Recruiting & Equipment On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 00:03:14 -0700 Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00011414 >On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 22:36:23 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011409 > >>On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 01:54:00 -0700 >>Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00011403 >> >>"On the other hand Even That does not Assure that He Will Arrive, >> Just that he Can..." > >Harlock shrugs. "Well, an ye think he can truly be of use..." The >Bard starts muttering under his breath, then pulls a bootstrap out of >thin air. "He'll be along when he feels like it. All he need do is >pull, after all..." "Thank You, Whether He shows or Not." >OOC: Somebody _else_ can write the good Baron, should he decide to >show up. I've pretty much exhausted the little I know at this point. OOC: I don't want to either, But he fit the thought of How, To allow the Captive Population, To Survive Destruction of the Stelae... Well now he is available to the GM If needed. =================================