Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9 Chapter 15 Subject: Re: AAE9: Mother Love On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 22:29:24 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011648 >On 4 Dec 2003 19:56:44 -0800, In alt.callahans >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011621 > >> On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 21:34:54 -0800 >> Roland X Said As CAoL Post # 00009255 >>>On Tue, 2 Dec 2003 20:20:04 -0800 (PST) >>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011613 >> ^Controlling Oblivion is a dangerous prospect,^ Mother Box >>agrees, ^and only slightly more plausible than imprisoning the >>Trickster archetype.^ > > ^@Not quite my concern, but what is a Trickster archetype?@^ ^Embodiments of the divine Fool, noble thief, the sacred aspect of chaos. Coyote, Anansi, and Bat-Mite are among its more benevolent incarnations.^ >>> @^Well. Not all the converses are true, so it might not actually >>>be a problem. I hope not. Slick trap, if so, though. Just what I'd >>>would have expected from Suli and Darkseid. @^ >> >> ^Let us hope, then, that this is actually some ploy in the true >>Suli's favor, then, and against the Anti-Life Entity. If we must >>defeat them all...^ Mother Box is far from hopeless, but she is >>definitely concerned. >> ^Then we will,^ Eric finishes grimly. > > ^@We'll find a way.@^ Zia agrees. There is nothing in her thought >or emotion to give her away, but Eric suddenly just _knows_ there is >something she is afraid of that she has seen, some possibility that >truly worries her. But she isn't mentioning it. ^Calculating,^ Mother Box finishes soothingly, basically returning to a semi-passive mode of sorting through possibilities. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Change in the Wind On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 23:05:18 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011649 >On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 09:02:32 -0800 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00011625 > >>On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 23:02:12 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011623 >> >> Artemis curses (not in any language Erin knows, but when paint on >>nearby buildings literally starts to blister, she gets the picture) >>and retreats. The next several arrows (from what she can spare off >>of defense) are a mix of plain arrows aimed at non-covered areas and >>entangling/resticting: glue bursts, bolas, etc. > > >Hmm...Necklace of Adaptation, check--no poison gas effects. Armor of >Fire Resistance, Greater (amongst other things) check--minimal damage >from explosives. Ring of Freedom of Movement, check--no entangling >effects. Man, this just isn't Artemis' day, is it? ;) > >Don't worry, Erin doesn't have contingencies for _everything_ active. >You just haven't found the holes yet. ;> > OOC: Heh. Obviously, Artemis isn't going to be affecting her. Wait until she gets to Middle-Earth. Then again, you folx are going to have much bigger problems than the Female Furies (!) soon... >Erindrea, for her part, avoids the arrows that are aimed at her face >and pretty much ignores the ones that aren't. One of the glue burst >arrows gets by Rob, and it splatters on her ballgown in a most >convincing fashion. Erin sighs and keeps shooting. "Do you have any >ahdea how long it's gonna take me to polish that?" Artemis chooses the better part of valor and goes into full defense/retreat mode, still firing arrows. >>>Harlock, who had been quietly scanning the battlefield, evidently >>>looking for something (or someone) in particular, jerks up his >>>head. Looking at the odds, he grimaces, then pulls a short metal >>>bar out of one of his pouches. With a word and a gesture, the CAoL >>>members in the Furious fray feel themselves speed up. A slightly >>>longer chant attempts to slow the Furies down. The Bard then goes >>>back to scanning the battlefield. >>> >>>OOC: Haste and Slow spells, respectively. >> >> OOC: Okay, we can do that. >> Speed Queen comes down to semi-tolerable speed. Bernadeth, >>Lashina, and Mary seem unaffected. The rest are slooow. >> For a few moments. >> "Oh, we're playing _that_ game, are we?" Bernadeth hisses under >>her breath. {Suli, I need backup. Serious magic,} she whispers into >>her collar. >> Suli does not respond. She is still in her bubble, watching the >>battle with a mostly placid expression, which contorts in suppressed >>rage every time Darkseid, Amazo, or Kalibak takes a serious hit. >>However, at Bernadeth's call, a ripple of Anti-Life emanates from >>the Source witch. >> The effect vanishes. Actually, the effect is brutally >>annihilated, in a manner that would make most spellcasters wince. > >OOC: So did she nail both spells, or just the slow? OOC: Just the slow spell. >> Symbols then begin to appear around the Furies. These symbols >>are...wrong, in an "essence of wrongness" way. They are difficult to >>observe. > >Harlock, having asked AJ to scan in his stead, studies the symbols >intently. They are warding spells, protecting the Furies from hostile magick. They just do so in a...messy...way. >> "AH!" Mary turns her blasters on the wolves, grabbing a manhole >>cover with her TK and using it to ride off behind cover as she does. >> Veren also no longer has to deal with a metallic wolfhound, as >>its natural target has appeared. This neutralizes both robot and >>wolf handily, though everyone's money is probably on the wolf. > >Veren considers the situation for a moment, then pulls a mace out of >his belt and tries to clobber the distracted robo-wolf. > >OOC: It's a Mace of Smiting, which does nasty things to constructs, >but only on a critical hit. GM's call whether he can get a clear shot >at smashing the thing's skull in the time he has. It's New God technology, making it pretty damn tough. It, however, joins the Furies on the defensive, eyes firing bolts of force as it guards Mary's retreat. >> Hey, at least Mary's probably reconsidering how badly she wants >>revenge on the guy... ;^) > >OOC: Lucky for _Mary_ that Veren's willing to accept an opponent's >retreat. He has just enough Deepwood Sniper to have an insane range >if he wanted to press the issue. Mary's range on TK is line of sight. It's probably occurring to folx that if the Furies _really_ wanted them dead, Gilotina could just start disintegrating people and Mary could just break necks at range... >> "Fine," Bernadeth shouts, "Lashina, the male archer, Speed Queen, >>the female! I want to be done with these beings before Orion defeats >>Kalibak!" > >Erin, upon hearing this, takes a brief pause between shots at Artemis >to chant something under her breath. She then launches an arrow that >misses Artemis by a good three inches. Which is fine by her, since it >was actually aimed at Speed Queen's feet. Artemis isn't the only one >with glue arrows. Speed Queen is fast. Really fast. Insanely fast. Subtle, however, she's not. For an expert archer, leading this target isn't particularly difficult. >> Lashina raises an eyebrow at Bernadeth's brazenness, but obeys, >>as does Speed Queen. She heads over to the other wolf, smiles, and >>does a lion-tamer bit with one whip. "So, my fine beast, where is >>your master?" > >Veren looks over at Lashina and reslings his mace. "You know," he >says conversationally, "that thing isn't all that bright. If you had >left her alone, she wouldn't have known to turn you into kibble." >With that, he starts shooting...Bernadeth? Lashina _laughs._ "I've seen more dangerous _pets,_ my boy." With that, she lays the wolf out with a single punch that knocks it a full block away, then leaps at Veren with expert speed and skill. Considering she could have taken the wolf's head off with a lash, she was holding back. Maybe she has a soft spot for canines... Meanwhile, Bernadeth (who has seen too many trick arrows fly around to get cute) dodges nimbly, trying to put Rob between her and Veren. >> As Bernadeth closes [with Rob], Stompa lands with an >>ear-splitting *CRACK* not far from Erindrea. "Does the pea-shooter >>want to play with Stompa?" she says thickly. > >"Not really," says Erin as she fires a Thundering arrow at Stompa. Stompa stares in shock at where the arrow lands, booming around her. Then Stompa LAUGHS. "HA! Stompa has heard louder bangs from boom tubes! Here, Stompa will show you how it's done!" With that, she SLAMS the ground with both feet, opening a huge, yawning crack that flashes out from her feet towards Erin, fiercely shaking the ground around her at the same time. Then she changes targets... Moving right along... >On Thu, 11 Dec 2003 10:53:16 -0800 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011636 > >>Erindrea grins tightly. "Don't tell me, tell her," she says, >>pointing with her chin at Artemis. > >Being somewhat literal-minded, Patrick is about to do just that, when >Stompa, deciding that, while none of the archers is a real threat, >locks eyes on the Kai and leaps at him, Heavy-Matter boots aimed at >his skull. OOC: Particularly since, if Erin is smart (which she is 8^), she won't be messing with someone who laughs when she gets shot with a magic arrow. >Instinctively, Patrick casts the bow aside and pulls out the >electro-sword out. Anticipating the impact, The blade is swung >forward, blade meeting the Heavy-Matter bootprint (Is that a Nike >logo?)- OOC: Man, _anyone_ can get a license with the right connections. ;^) >-And shorts out, collapsed completely by the crushing clodhoppers >(OOC: Hey, I'm new to alliteration, alright?). The next half-second >is spent trying to throw up a spell shield, before Patrick is sent >flying through the air through the Obligatory Storefront. (OOC: Which >is NOT in New York. Nope, nowhere near. I learned my lesson. No >Agamott-O's for me this morning..) "Hah! Funny heroes think they're so smart. Stompa will show you all!" (OOC: I accidentally typed "shoe" for "show" the first time I wrote this line. Is my Freudian slip showing? ;^) Bernadeth scowls. "Great, Stompa! Don't get cocky!" >So it was that, with some sense of satisfaction from the spirits >watching over the battleground, Patrick, Kai Grand Defender and >latest sufferer of kinetic displacement syndrome, skipped off the >roof of a Buick, crashed through a window storefront, and wound up >destroying the display at the newest branch of the Anderson's Martial >Arts Supply Store. Anderson's, 'cause they're The One. OOC: "Say goodbye, Mr. Anderson." Stompa, wanting to make sure the job is done, leaps after her unfortunate victim. >A minute later (and an excessive use of his Magnakai Curing >discipline), Patrick walks out, holding a bo-staff in one hand, >crackling with mystical energy. "Let's try that again, yes?" OOC: "My name...is _Neo._" Stompa laughs again. "Small, pointy sticks. Big, blunt sticks. You never learn. Stompa guesses she'll just have to stick it to _you_ instead." With that, she does her standard flying leap... And finally... >On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 07:37:07 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011637 > >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011623 > >(Shazam! Alakazam! Snippety-bobbity-boo!) > >>>On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 10:53:07 -0800 (PST) >>>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011596 >>> Kell, oddly, is having similar thoughts. Similar to Harriet's. >>>[I haven't had this much fun in years.] Dropping the attempt to >>>stun his foe, he starts using the point and edge again. Harriet is >>>a veteran of countless battles, but it's been a long time since >>>she's had somebody who could battle her toe-to-toe and match her >>>strike-for-strike. >> >> Harriet isn't holding back, but the smile on her face becomes >>more sane. (OOC: Maybe Kanto would have been better off with Kell. >> ;^) > > (OOC: What, you don't have enough mincemeat, y'gotta have Kanto >turn Kell into mincemeat?) *smiles innocently* >>"Well!" she cackles. "You aren't half bad, for a man. I may even >>kill you quickly when we're done." >> "Harriettt..." Bernadeth warns. >> "What?" Harriet asks, if not innocently, then at least sincerely. > > "Fine," Kell answers as his stroke misses, "but if you're >unconscious, I'm not waking you up to kill me." "Fair enough," Harriet laughs, serving up a volley of spikes with one hand while thrusting with the other. >>> To be fair, if they both hit, Kell would be worse off than the >>>Fury would, which probably explains why he's parrying more than he >>>attacks, and why she's forcing him back. >>> "So," Kell begins, remembering one -very- drunk customer, "do >>>you live around here often?" >>> In the background, a length of heavy cloth wraps itself around a >>>hapless parademon. >> >> "No," Harriet quips back, ducking one dagger and taking a small >>cut to her off arm to parry another, "but I could get used to it." >>She ripostes (if such a savage strike could be called a riposte) >>with a roundhouse from a spike-covered fist. > > By now, the Female Fury has gotten used to the fact that blows >that -should- hit skid away. However, the fact that Kell has gotten >faster is bothering her a little; she can't block everything now, and >she slowly realizes that he's forcing her to give ground now. > [Spell, counterspell, dispell,] Kell thinks, [but at least they >missed one of Harlock's tricks.] Harriet really isn't having as much trouble as all that. Sure, she starts fighting more defensively -- for Harriet -- but even as she starts accumulating cuts, it occurs to Kell that it's going to take a _lot_ of these cuts to slow her down. Not only is she just insanely tough, she's just plain insane. The "pain" just seems to encourage her. >> Bernadeth leaps down and glares pretty darn close to Rob, >>Fahren-knife glinting even in the dim light. "Your powers are >>impressive, war-sorcerer, but not enough. Artemis, flank me and keep >>shooting at the woman." The leader of the Female Furies circles Rob, >>apparently trying to hide her inability to pinpoint his location (or >>is she trying to conceal that she _can_ see him outright?), but >>certainly aware of his general location. "I do not normally indulge >>in personal vendettas, boy. I cannot say, however," she adds, a >>thin, tight smile barely forming, "that I am entirely displeased in >>necessity causing us to battle thus." > > Rob's voice seems to come from everywhere and nowhere. "If it's >necessity, how can it be personal?" [And have you found me, or my >second layer of misdirection?] "How...linear, of you," Bernadeth replies, clearly unimpressed. >A simple dodge-and-deflect pattern keeps her unscathed. [Odd,] she >thinks, [why do those look familiar?] Her Fahren-knife slashes >through where her target should be, and catches on something, but >only barely. > "Not bad," Rob seems to whisper in her ear, "but can you do it >twice?" More of the triangular blades flash out. Bernadeth is halfway >into the defensive pattern when she recognizes the weapons. >[Arrowheads!] > Her conclusion comes barely in time, and the corollary is a little >late, as glue arrowheads and explosive arrowheads join the chaos. She >parries them all; in fact, she realizes, as she moves into her >counterstrike, none of them were anywhere -except- where her blade >was. The look on her face is _furious._ A devil, after all, cannot abide to be mocked... > Rob, on the other hand, is someplace where Bernadeth's blade isn't >- snapping into visibility long enough to deliver a flared backfist >to Artemis's head. > Artemis staggers, but shakes it off in time to see her attacker's >grin vanish. And then Bernadeth's blade is at his neck. "Too cocky, boy. Too arrogant. Too arrogant by half." She turns to call out the other combatants... ...when all hell breaks loose. ================================= Subject: AAE9: Other Mother Love On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 23:38:49 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011650 >On Tue, 9 Dec 2003 00:07:09 -0600 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011635 > >>Roland X writes As CAoL Message # 00011600 >> >> ^The Anti-Life Equation,^ she adds slowly, ^does also increase >>his range of ability further. Perhaps most disconcerting about the >>breadth of his options is that he has an increased variety of >>X-Element powers and devices -- all variations of drawing on the >>_Source_ as well as the Equation. Or 'transform,' as it has been >>perhaps more accurately described.^ > >/# So simply wearing him down no longer seems a viable option as far >as strategies go, yes?#/ ^So it would seem,^ Mother Box replies. >/#It would seem that if this were the Darksied cognate that I am >familiar with I would be able to wear him down to the point where >he'd need a recharge from the aforementioned Element-X. With the >current Darkseid iteration, this does not appear to be a valid >option.#/ ^While Darkseid is still infused with Element-X, in practical terms he cannot be depleted during combat, at least if the battle takes place within any plausible probability of events,^ Mother Box agrees. >/#Also, Mother, please repeat and restate that last paragraph. I do >not believe I understood your point about "drawing on" vs. >"transforms" re: The Source.#/ ^My apologies; "transform" refers to the Equation. My/our communications with one of your fellows have proved most revealing on a number of levels, and we have some theories regarding the nature of the Anti-Life Equation. They are not, however, germane to dealing with Darkseid himself at this time,^ Mother Box explains in a somewhat chagrined tone. >/# But, theoretically at least, we may be able to create a wedge, for >the lack of a better term, between this Darkseid and the Anti-Life >Entity he's using as his "Darkness Device" and possibly shatter >whatever alliance they've formed and, if you will excuse the >expression, "Poof" go all of his extra powers and abilities and the >use of all of his new New God Technology? On the surface of it, I >would have to say that this plan has too many "if"s in it for me to >be comfortable with it.#/ ^That depends on what you mean by "extra powers and abilities." Loss of control over the Anti-Life Entity will mean an end to his ability to overlay realities. However, much of his current strength comes from his technology and his nature. The primary advantage in dividing Darkseid from the Entity would come in gaining the Lord of Apokolips as an ally.^ ================================= Subject: AAE 9: Healings and Revelations On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 00:56:05 -0800 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00011651 Sil phased through a roof, scanning the battlefield like a diver bobbing to the surface for a stealthy look at the shore. Things, if anything, had gotten worse. Amazo was batting Defender around like a pinata. Steppenwolf was leading his forces rather than being engaged in personal combat. The cosmic powers battled to a standstill under the terrible shadow of the Anti-Life Entity. She couldn't even see Dhyrclhanc and Darkseid between the flashes of battle and the terrain. About the only things going their way were the battles with the Female Furies and the Elite, which were all going roughly the Callahanians' way. (There was a prison break going rather well to one side of the battle, but how they could use that remained to be seen.) Mercifully, Suli herself was not engaging in battle much. Perhaps her embarrassing defeat at Zia's and Defender's hands had motivated her to remain defensive. A direct assault against her by anything less than a Starspawn would have been insane. It was a good thing, then, that they weren't planning a direct assault. ^I've got the helmet,^ Sil sent quietly. ^Ready, Morgan?^ ^Ready,^ Morgan replied. Fortunately, she didn't have to be as careful with the secret identity, between being far from any media attention and that most of what she was about to do would be purely magickal. ^Good, that makes one of us,^ Sil quipped. With a wink, she raced forward. They struck in a single, swift, coordinated blow. First, the entire inside of Suli's shield flashed with a bright burst of light at once. While Suli was still recoiling from this flare, Morgan used her control over raw magical forces to weaken the field. Not enough to permit a physical assault to work well, but that wasn't what she was after. Suli, of course, was no fool. She knew of intangible foes, and had prepared for them. Phasing, however, is a tricky beast, and weakening one specific aspect of the defense wasn't particularly difficult (especially when combining Solitaire's own probability-altering with the already present reality twisting that was being done in the heroes' favor by various CAoLers). At the same time, Morgan put a minor effect to powerful use, drastically throwing off Suli's inner ear and thus her sense of balance and space. Sil slid cleanly through the force field, phasing the helmet onto her head and striking psychically at the same time. The helmet didn't quite work as advertised, given Suli's vast, raw power and her considerable will. Still, it gave Sil a respectable advantage as she slid into Suli San's mind. ^Ick. What a mess. Morgan? How's her Primal pattern?^ ^Not any better,^ Morgan replied. ^Of course. Okay, let's see what we've got to work with.^ Sil and Morgan linked more fully, allowing them to share knowledge and awareness across the mental/spiritual fields. It was, indeed, a mess. Symbols of the Anti-Life Equation had been carved along her psychic pattern as well as her very spirit. Nothing so rigid was ever meant to be imposed on a living, changing, growing thing in such a way. Worse, due to the nature of the Equation in question, it altered the very pathways of her mind, affecting her heart in a very literal way. Mercifully, the soul's core -- that which is even more eternal than a spirit-shell -- was intact. Sil's astral self stuck out her tongue in disgust. ^Yuck. Next time, he should say it with flowers. I think I can manage this end if you can handle yours, but I don't think I can salvage her mind if her spirit's a mess. Morgan?^ ^So we start with the spirit and work our way down,^ Morgan agreed. First, the Highlander used her Time sense to look back to when Suli was alive naturally, getting a feel for her spirit when in a healthy state while Sil kept the mad part of Suli occupied. Morgan though wryly that Thorne had been good for something _after_ all, given that she'd gotten all her knowledge of Time magick from his Quickening. Then she got down to business, using her experience with Life healing to remove the symbols and "regrow" Primal/spiritual energy around the wounds, one by one. It was much like removing leeches, Morgan mused, as she removed each symbol. It had to be done carefully, but with skill and patience, each element could be removed and the section healed without tearing away the "substance." The symbols, being composed of energy of sorts, merely dissipated once taken from their environment. Then Morgan kept Suli occupied with wards and disruption to her physical senses while Sil repaired the paths of her mind. Starting with the spirit had definitely been the best choice; the sane portion of her self was stronger, and her instincts were no longer as tainted. Sil worked as holistically as possible, using a combination of psychic jiujitsu on the madness and strengthening of the healthy pathways. Miraculously, it did not take too long for either effort. *By the Source!* Suli gasped mentally, curling up in pain. Only the physical symbols remained, but now they were utterly _wrong_ to the self that existed. *What have I _done?_ What _was_ I?* *Nothing that was your fault. You can't change what you did,* Sil replied. *Hold on.* Morgan, of course, turned her attention to the final element of the healing. With Suli cooperating instead of fighting, this last portion was almost easy. Still, the Anti-Life Equation was strongest on the physical level; while it was responsible for bringing the mind and spirit to this body, it had _created_ the body. Fortunately, this was Morgan's specialty. Each symbol was removed, with even greater skill than was done with the spiritual self (and Morgan is no slouch with spiritual magick). Suli's body slowly shrank, but she was much larger than she should have been anyway. Her hair slowly relaxed, flattening against her scalp. Her muscles became more fluid as the symbols stopped pressing unnatural power through them. The pain receded as her nervous system adjusted to true life, rather than the mockery that the Anti-Life Equation had afforded. She was healed. Slowly, Suli San breathed in, a shuddering, cleansing breath. "Well!" she said in a familiar tone. "That was...interesting. It appears that I am in your debt." Sil, relieved, removed the helmet, phasing it off. *She's okay, Morgan. And she's on our side.* "I should imagine so," Suli replied almost evenly. Switching to tight-band telepathy, she added, *We must act quickly, however. When the Anti-Life Entity realizes that it can no longer hold me over Darkseid's head, it's retribution will be swift and brutal.* Morgan transferred the information to Roland, who was panting in exhaustion. ^Well, at least it's good news/bad news, instead of just being more fun from Apokolips. Give me a minute, okay?^ Morgan could feel how spent he was. ^I need to jump start my Quickening, almost.^ (OOC: See the coming Against Amazo II post for details on his plight.) ^/Retribution?/^ Sil asked, bringing the CAoL into Suli's secure-channel exposition, and definitely concerned. *Darkseid had intended to ask your help in healing me. He imagined that advance warning of the invasion, and assistance in repelling it, would have been sufficient repayment,* Suli explained. ^/We don't need "repayment," but that sounds about right,/^ Morgan replied. ^/I take it that it didn't work out that way,/^ she added dryly. *He couldn't, not without costing me my life and endangering our entire universe. The Anti-Life Entity was smart enough to negotiate rather than dictate, but held my existence and its power to devastate the reality of the New Gods against him to prevent him from interfering in the invasion.* Suli smiled. *So instead, Darkseid tricked the Entity. He seemed to go along, salvaging an opportunity for power from the apparent mess. Instead,* she explained, *it was a trap for the Entity...* ^/...because the only powers he knew of that could take it on were here anyway?/^ Sil finished. *Exactly,* Suli replied. *The part of me that knew, as you have discovered, was buried deeply, to avoid detection, but to allow you to know when the time came. We must coordinate quickly, however. I recommend that we allow the combat to continue until we are ready to strike, because when the Entity realizes what we've done...* Morgan frowned. ^/That retribution you mentioned?/^ *Just so. The Entity will unleash anti-life hunter-killers, made of, for lack of a better term, death itself.* Suli sighed. Sil's eyes widened. ^/Wait a minute. Your people have been holding _back._ The unusually light casualties. The way the Elite and Special Powers teams have been fighting.../^ *Not just to avoid antagonizing you,* Suli admitted, *but because both sides must to be as strong as possible to oppose the Entity and its symbol-army.* ^/I take it,/^ Sil whispered, ^/that you have a plan./^ *We must inform Darkseid that you have succeeded. A quick telepathic update from there will end actual hostilities, and then we have to coordinate our attack on the Entity while maintaining the illusion of battle. Fortunately, combat has gone roughly as we hoped.* She reached out mentally for the High Lord. She winced. *Apparently, while my husband is fighting well, your draconic friend is avenging his previous loss rather handily.* %Sib, can you back off a bit? Your punching bag's wife needs to talk to him,% Morgan sent brightly. ================================= Subject: AAE 9: Against Amazo II On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 12:32:11 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011652 When last we left Our Hero... >On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 20:28:25 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011588 > > As badly as the android is battered and weakened, however, a great >many options remain open to it. Combining the Batman's cunning and >the Flash's speed to go through plans at hyperspeed, he shrinks down >again, using the Flash's vibrational powers to pass _into_ the ground >and Firestorm's power to fly through it. He emerges near Kalibak and >Orion, who are viciously engaged with one another. Amazo grows a >vestigial mane as with Kalibak's and manifests Orion's (Mother Box >armed) Astro-Glider! Growing to full size once again, he laughs, >_ignoring_ Orion, and races back to deal with Defender. > "By the Source!" Orion breathes, barely parrying Kalibak's beta >club. > "How _now,_ hero? What weakness do I have left to exploit!? >A-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!" Amazo laughs villainously as he heads back for >Defender. > "oboy..." The battle had become very one-sided. The Astro-Force is difficult to use offensively against the master of energy, but as a defensive tool it's ideal in screening out most of Roland's attacks. Brute force is almost the only way Defender could penetrate Orion's power...and brute force is something that Amazo has in abundance. A coursing, hyperfast blow combining Flash, Elongated Man and Kalibak (complete with Beta Club) sends Defender flying through a wall. Again the lasso flies out; again Roland barely fends it off with TK. He doesn't even bother to try and turn it against Amazo as he falls back. "You have fought well, human," Amazo intones with finality as he stalks the Champion through the rubble and into a deserted building. "Even you must admit that you can no longer win." "I _must_ admit," Defender replies, the voice echoing around Amazo as the building quakes, "no such thing." Naturally, the entire structure slams down on Amazo's body. Defender takes the all-too-brief respite to catch his 'breath,' flowing Gate Key energy through his body as quickly as he can. Meanwhile, he presses the weight of the tower down on Amazo. [Source. That's going to be one ugly bill--] It might as well be tissue paper for one who can shatter moons with his fists. Amazo bursts free, his body stretching to two stories tall as he roars. "HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! You give great _sport,_ little man!" "Shut up," Roland spits, a massive weapon forming on his shoulder. Easily as long as he is tall, he kneels, holding the weapon like a bazooka. Along the side are written the words "Great Unmaker." The CAoL may have seen him use this weapon all of once, as it is his court of last resort and far too powerful to use against anything less than spaceships-of-the-line, uninhabited planetoids... ...and gods. The beam fires, its burst as thick as a man's torso, the light from the beam briefly filling the battlefield and driving away the darkness of the clouds above. The distracted Amazo takes the blast full on the chest, and stretched as he is he flies everywhere like taffy in a hurricane. The Great Unmaker vanishes. Defender slowly stands, then floats into the air to look Amazo over. His stretched-out body covers at least three city blocks. More to the point, he isn't moving. [And _that,_] Roland thinks in relief, [is the difference between god-like toughness and being truly invulnerable.] He pats the Gold Kryptonite-powered medallion with gratitude. [Thanks, Fu--] Amazo explodes from the ground like a vengeful volcano, spinning himself around to strike several dozen parademons and Dog Soldiers, defending units, and Defender with tremendous force. Fortunately, he's still pliable, preventing any fatalities, but even so, the Eternal goes flying. "AHRRR!" Amazo roars as he pulls himself together. Without another word, he slams into Defender in a flying tackle and throws them both into the ground, leaving a crater ten times their size where they land. Amazo rises. Defender does not. "You...annoying...little...man," Amazo hisses, staggering back as he shakes himself clear. Then he chuckles. "The muses shall truly sing of this battle. But victory...at last..." Amazo stretches down into the crater, grabs Defender by the cape collar, and hauls him out to hold his limp body up triumphantly. "...is mine." With that, he yanks the medallion off and uses his last open slot to copy Roland's powers. And Defender smiles as his eyes snap open. The medallion flies back to his neck. "do you know what my weakness is?" he whispers, his voice weak but steady. Amazo's eyes go wide as his Batman-level mind goes into high gear. [He has a WEAKNESS!] he thinks with sudden desperation. The medallion would otherwise be of no use to him -- it only has three devices in it, two shielding functions and the Gold Kryptonite--! Too late, his Suli-copied senses pick up the magical energy in the three empty slots as they lash out to strike his very essence, bypassing his psychic and primal defenses as if they weren't there. "Entropic magick cuts through my magical shields like a hot knife through soft butter, Amazo," Roland grinds out, as the magical link created between them allows him to engage the android in a contest not of body or mind, but of soul. "You can copy strength, power, skill, talent -- even willpower," he adds as he presses the assault on the suddenly defensive, overwhelmed Amazo. "But can you duplicate a man's fighting spirit?" Thrust. "His heart?" Lunge. "His SOUL?!" Amazo puts up an impressive fight, all the same. Still, in seconds, he keels over, unconscious. Defender falls to his knees. "Yeah," he gasps with exhausted satisfaction. "That's what I thought." Literally three seconds later... >On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 00:56:05 -0800 >Morgan and Sil Said As CAoL Message # 00011651 > > "I should imagine so," Suli replied almost evenly. Switching to >tight-band telepathy, she added, *We must act quickly, however. When >the Anti-Life Entity realizes that it can no longer hold me over >Darkseid's head, it's retribution will be swift and brutal.* > >Morgan transferred the information to Roland, who was panting in >exhaustion. > > ^Well, at least it's good news/bad news, instead of just being >more fun from Apokolips. Give me a minute, okay?^ Morgan could feel >how spent he was. ^I need to jump start my Quickening, almost.^ ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Swords and Cards On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 14:29:01 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011654 >On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 08:16:38 -0800 (PST) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011647 > >>On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 23:33:42 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011644 >>>On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 16:31:44 -0800 (PST) >>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011620 > > OOC: *bows* Thank you, thank you. I'm here 'til Thursday. Gotta wonder why, though... ;^) >>> "When did you realize?" She asks the black-clad man in >>>sunglasses, with real curiosity. >> >> "Depends on what you mean. I think I started to figure it out >>when I got my soul back, but it didn't really hit me until you came >>back," the Hunter replies. "Everything's been gradual with me since >>I met this lot." > >"Got your - gads." Zia blinks at Eric. "Brief me the other way, >later." ^I was speaking metaphorically.^ Brief flash of his battle with the Gospog in AAE 6. >>> "The lady is of the sea, and yes, quite the swordswoman. She >>>will be _quite_ a match for you in both shallow depths and deeper >>>currents." Ziactrice states with that smug certainty that is so >>>characteristically her own. >> >> OOC-M: Morgan's writer becomes briefly concerned. :-) ;-) :-) "Hey, >>I'm already taken." > >OOC: OOps. Well, I can fix it. Either Evil GM-San can have an >appropriate NPC, or I can bring in Sarah, Zia's soul-twin. She can >sail and use a sword. :) OOC-M: I was kidding -- I didn't actually think Zia meant Morgan was the woman in Kanto's future ;-). OOC: As for Sarah, it's up to you. Believe me, I'm sympathetic about having to juggle several characters at once, and in a pinch I've got another character in mind... >>"Let us continue," he says flatly, all flourish gone from his style >>(perhaps the one faint weakness it displayed before) as he feints >>then thrusts, trying to open a long, ugly gash in Zia's sword arm... > > Zia hisses, as her attempt to twist his blade out of line doesn't >quite work completely. The petite Amberite has strength and some >skill with a blade, but she knew she wasn't quite in his class when >she offered the duel. She winds up with a long, shallow gash, that >quickly turns the cloth of her shirt from blue to purple as it >bleeds. That blade is very sharp. Eric hisses almost in time with Zia. His own honor, and his respect for Zia's, are the only things keeping him from entering the field. [Merciful Gaia. I've _never_ seen...] > "Your insult my honor. Wrongly." She retreats with all her speed; >her eyes flick upwards. Kanto raises an eyebrow. "Indeed?" > A larger chunk of masonry about the size of a Buick is slammed by >wind above. It falls mere inches from both of the sword-wielders, >then it bounces and shatters into fragments. All of which somehow do >not strike any person standing almost directly under the point of >impact. He retreats briefly, ready to leap aside, then prepares to parry the shrapnel -- but, of course, does not need to do either. > "A spell to allow me to preserve us both - from forewarned >external interferences." Her blue eyes rise from the huge divot in >the grass to meet Kanto's. > "The ploy as you imagined is less dishonor than cakewalking. >That's the worst insult a duelist can offer. Your victory is not yet >to be counted, sir." "And you chose to 'preserve' us from _forewarned_ interferences in the middle of a duel rather than prior to it, and give up a blade in the process? Forgive me if I am dubious," Kanto replies, somewhere between wary, annoyed, and faintly amused. > Ziactrice stops talking, as she slide-steps back into close range. >This time, she carries the attack to him. She does not hurry, but she >uses all her speed. She does not press herself, but she uses all her >strength. Kanto counters, impressed with her strength, speed, and skill in spite of himself. He fights defensively, but not because he fears her attack. Kanto is waiting, gauging, observing. > The sound of swords blurs, becoming one rolling sound of >metal-on-metal, most of the attacks and counters happening too >quickly for mortal eyes to follow. Even if she cannot win by >endurance or skill, she will not allow him to slowly cut her down >with many light cuts and mockeries. > The fight becomes a dance of deadly intent. It is clear that Kanto >was holding back, before. That depends on one's definition of 'holding back.' He was using all of his skill, but was deliberately not attempting for a quick, early win because a) he did not want to cause her real, lasting harm and b) he wanted to enjoy the duel, savoring it like wine. The journey was more important than the destination, and even if he lost it would have been worth the fight. By that definition (not trying to kill one's opponent), they were both holding back. He also recognizes what she's doing, and accepts the reason for it. But he would know if the probability field were working in her favor. And clearly, it is not. Which does not explain why (and when) she did what she did. To him, her explanation is absurd on its face. And yet...and yet...what other explanation is there? She has not yet gained a dueling advantage from her trick, that much he could tell. > It is also clear that Zia is holding her own for now, but she might >be in trouble once he has more familiarity with how she fights. > Occasional bricks fall, somehow always missing the two combatants >and their Seconds. After the first few bricks, Eric is no longer watching them deliberately, trusting to Zia's effect and his instincts. Vundabar is far less trusting, but scanning the sky with a frown. At first. He begins to smile after a time, and it's uglier than his frown. "Well, Kanto, what say you of honor now?" "Who's side are you on?" Eric asks professionally. "Mine own," Vundabar replies stiffly, in a thick stereotype of a German accent, "and Darkseid's." > Some flicker of motion is slightly off on his riposte. She >counters, but he ducks. Her attempt at his shoulder goes higher than >she tried to place it. Some of his hair flies, and he receives a >long, shallow graze to the temple and his forehead. Scalp cuts do >bleed profusely. She relents a step back, though she still holds her >guard alertly. > "Bind it." Zia's voice, for the first time that Eric recalls, >holds no inflection of emotion whatsoever, despite the full smile on >her face. Kanto watches her warily, confused. He considers. "Assuming you," he replies slowly, "bind that." He gestures at her wounded arm with his blade. (OOC: If she does:) He presses the flat of the blade to his forehead as she bandages her arm. He presses another section of the hilt, and the sword glows red-hot. Kanto does not flinch as the wound is cauterized. (OOC: If she does not:) "Then let us continue." Kanto begins to whirl more, keeping the blood out of his face, and tightens the muscles in his head with a slight conscious effort. The result doesn't seem to slow him down much. > OOC: Depends on if you like having someone who is supposedly an >honorable opponent not fighting to the best of their ability or not. >I don't think Zia enjoys being treated as so much less than a serious >opponent, even if she is of lesser skill. OOC: As mentioned, Kanto was fighting to the best of his ability -- just with the rules of engagement (and his own enjoyment) in consideration. He wouldn't have insulted Zia in that way. Then he misconstrued her Pattern effect, and now...well, the poor boy doesn't know _what_ to think. ;^) ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Swords and Cards On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 15:42:50 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011655 >On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 14:29:01 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011654 >>On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 08:16:38 -0800 (PST) >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011647 >> >> > > OOC: *bows* Thank you, thank you. I'm here 'til Thursday. Gotta >wonder why, though... ;^) OOC: Because you just flew in, and boy! is your cape tired? 8^) >OOC-M: I was kidding -- I didn't actually think Zia meant Morgan was >the woman in Kanto's future ;-). > > OOC: As for Sarah, it's up to you. Believe me, I'm sympathetic >about having to juggle several characters at once, and in a pinch >I've got another character in mind... OOC: Oh, I'll bring in Sarah. Kanto deserves it. > > He retreats briefly, ready to leap aside, then prepares to parry >the shrapnel -- but, of course, does not need to do either. Ziactrice doesn't so much as _flinch_. The petite Amberite also does not try to take advantage of his reaction. >> "A spell to allow me to preserve us both - from forewarned >>external interferences." Her blue eyes rise from the huge divot in >>the grass to meet Kanto's. >> "The ploy as you imagined is less dishonor than cakewalking. >>That's the worst insult a duelist can offer. Your victory is not yet >>to be counted, sir." > > "And you chose to 'preserve' us from _forewarned_ interferences in >the middle of a duel rather than prior to it, and give up a blade in >the process? Forgive me if I am dubious," Kanto replies, somewhere >between wary, annoyed, and faintly amused. "For someone who can put on the flamboyant, he sure can't take it, can he? Natural ham." Zia quips to Eric. She would give Kanto a smug smile, but his cut to her arm is past stinging into ache by now. The tone of voice alone will have to do. >> Some flicker of motion is slightly off on Kanto's riposte. She >>counters, but he ducks. Her attempt at his shoulder goes higher than >>she tried to place it. A few strands of his hair fall, cut, and he >>receives a long, shallow graze to the temple and his forehead. Scalp >>cuts do bleed profusely. She relents a step back, though she still >>holds her guard alertly. >> "Bind it." Zia's voice, for the first time that Eric recalls, >>holds no inflection of emotion whatsoever, despite the full smile on >>her face. > > Kanto watches her warily, confused. He considers. > "Assuming you," he replies slowly, "bind that." He gestures at her >wounded arm with his blade. "Ladies first, eh?" Ziactrice switches hands, rolling up her sleeve. Her eyes trace the wound, as a small wrinkle between her brows gives away the concentration. The cut ... heals, slow enough to watch, but fast enough the flesh seems almost to melt and flow back together. > He presses the flat of the blade to his forehead as she tends her >arm. He presses another section of the hilt, and the sword glows >red-hot. Kanto does not flinch as the wound is cauterized. "Very well. You want entertainment, instead of a duel. You should have told me; I'm better at the former." She switches hands again, still smiling most oddly for someone who has to know how truly unlikely her victory is. > OOC: As mentioned, Kanto was fighting to the best of his ability >-- just with the rules of engagement (and his own enjoyment) in >consideration. He wouldn't have insulted Zia in that way. Then he >misconstrued her Pattern effect, and now...well, the poor boy doesn't >know _what_ to think. ;^) OOC: His own enjoyment meant he wasn't taking opportunities to end the duel. Zia thinks that a fight is a fight, and toying with an opponent is not ... honorable. As for that "poor boy" - you mean the New God, Darkseid's assassin, and one of the best swordsmen around with the sword that does all those tricks? That's it. Just for that I _am_ siccing Sarah on him. :) ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Change in the Wind On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 16:04:41 -0800 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011656 >On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 23:05:18 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011649 > >>A minute later (and an excessive use of his Magnakai Curing >>discipline), Patrick walks out, holding a bo-staff in one hand, >>crackling with mystical energy. "Let's try that again, yes?" > > OOC: "My name...is _Neo._" > Stompa laughs again. "Small, pointy sticks. Big, blunt sticks. You >never learn. Stompa guesses she'll just have to stick it to _you_ >instead." With that, she does her standard flying leap... There's a quick grimace from the Kai; Stompa's psychic defenses, built more from sheer stubbornness and willpower than actual psychic training, can resist his Mindforce's strongest attacks. No one of his abilites is strong enough to affect this opponent. "True mastery," Lone Wolf had said to him once, "comes from combining the Disciplines you learn here." Nodding, Patrick forms a plan. The first stomp is dodged, but as Stompa gets ready to leap at the Kai again, a dense fog rolls in around her. "Tricky mists will not hide you!" the Fury shouts, searching for Patrick. "Tell me...is that suit insulated? LIGHTNING HAND!" Stompa finds herself inside an electrical field, the water vapour conducting the electricity from the spell right onto Stompa's skin (OOC: I believe her face is still exposed, yes? It's nowhere near lethal, but it should raise her hair a touch.) "Not FUNNY!" Stompa roars, barreling out of the fog with one leap, and aiming at the source of the voice. This time, Patrick is ready, again drawing on his Elementalism to increase the power of his Invisible Fist spell. The throat-tearing rune that Patrick shouts would defeat most humanoid larynxes, but the effect is obvious; Stompa is hit by, in effect, a miniature tornado, and, with no ground to brace on, is sent flying upwards. OOC: Where she lands is, as always, up to Evil GM-san, and his number one son, villainous plot twist. ================================= Subject: AAE 9: The Turning of the Tide On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 17:11:25 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011657 OOC: I'm assuming a certain amount of wrap-up, both in the sense of assuming people are going to wrap up fights soon and in assuming some of the actual job of wrapping things up. None of this should be construed as "overwriting" folx' own combat; feel free to work the finishes in your own way. Though taking opponents out completely may not be the best strategic choice. ;^) Darkseid unburied himself from a pile of rubble, furious. More at himself than at his opponent, but enraged all the same. [I will _not_ allow this...lizard to best me!] he thought with fiery determination. Which was suddenly quenched. ^Uxas. My love. Now is _not_ the time,^ he received privately. The quality of the voice, more than the voice itself, brought an exultation in him unlike any he'd known in millennia. ^Suli?!^ ^Isn't this what you had in mind, o Demon Avenger?^ she sent in a mildly teasing tone. Very quickly, however, she was serious again. ^We must coordinate quickly. The Anti-Life Entity is still quiescent, but I doubt that will last long. My calculations are not pleasant.^ ^Will can overcome any odds,^ Darkseid sent back with a determination that had conquered space, time, and death itself in the past. ^Yet I agree. Link me with their leaders, please.^ ^Done.^ Suli reached out to Morgan and Roland. /Attention all heroes,/ Morgan sent on the link while Suli updated the Lord of Apokolips. /Rio, patch me through to anyone without a lens./ When Rio had rerouted Solitaire's broadcast through the appropriate channels, Morgan continued. /Your opponents are about to back off. (Or at least they should.) Keep up the _appearance_ of conflict until instructed otherwise. Continue to _defend_ as necessary./ *Defender,* Darkseid sent as their ladies finished their briefings. *Here.* *I have just instructed my forces to hold back further.* At Roland's wordless query, the High Lord explained. *It was my hope that we would come to this point, and have had my forces refrain from killing force, knowing your distaste for casualties.* *No kidding.* Darkseid continued abruptly. *Regardless. We must coordinate a combined assault against the Anti-Life Entity if we are to free your world from its power, and protect it from its wrath.* *I'm listening.* *The Entity is observing the cosmic forces in battle even now.* Darkseid mentally 'gestured' toward the sky, where the shadow-like figure watched over the cosmics' battle. *As Aurora is now learning, Solaris was holding back in their first encounter. However, neither it nor Maggedon was meant to do more than keep your Starspawn occupied. Maggedon itself is our primary weapon against the Entity,* Darkseid explained. *Of course...* Defender replied, realization dawning on him. *What do you need from me?* *Naturally, the primary assault on the Entity will be the Starspawn and the Annihilator.* Again, Roland sent a question mark. *Solaris is, of course, a Starspawn itself, of sorts.* *Ah.* Roland considered this. *Can they take it?* *Possibly. However, 'possibly' is insufficient certainty for Darkseid, as I suspect it is for you.* At Defender's mental nod, Darkseid continued. *You and Amazo will bolster Solaris and Aurora, respectively.* *Ah, I think you have that backwards,* Defender commented. *{}* Darkseid explained. (OOC: If anyone wants the technobabble [cosmobabble? ], I'll post it to the Tech Room.) *Those remaining of us who possess the power to oppose the Entity directly will do so on the periphery, while the rest of our forces combat the Entity's spawn.* An image of a humanoid figure made entirely of darkness flashed through the combined link. *Oh, wonderful,* Defender sighed. *Another Anti-Monitor wannabe.* *Do not take the Entity lightly,* Darkseid warned. *I don't think I _could,_* Roland quipped back, not entirely joking. *Simple, direct, to the point -- sounds about as good a plan as we're going to have on short notice.* *Exactly why it was planned that way,* Darkseid agreed, a grim smile echoing through the link. *On my mark.* Defender 'nodded' mentally. *...GO!* *** Solaris had been smug for a few long, merciful microseconds. Surprising Aurora with its true capacity had been a genuine pleasure. (OOC: Remember Neo's playground fight with Agent Smith in the _second_ movie? 8^) However, it learned to its chagrin that Aurora hadn't reached _her_ full capacity in their battle. It was going to be a long, tough battle, and the star-computer calculated that it was unlikely for a victor to emerge before -- *GO!* The star vented plasma gently, in its version of a sigh. #1101001 A pity. I was 1001 curious. Defender.# Defender raced into the heart of the machine, dimension-shifting in his current mimicking of teleportation. His cyberkinesis and raw power flowed into the Tyrant Sun, increasing its efficiency on a number of levels. The terrible, burning eye at its heart lanced out at the Anti-Life Entity, combining both their vast skills. Solaris' devastating logic and Defender's ingenuity, in particular, combined to make a potent assault. Amazo, meanwhile, transformed itself into a giant, super-Mother Box, appearing by Aurora's side. It offered her the processing power of the machine enhanced manyfold by the Flash's speed and the object's access to the Source. Maggedon simply turned its attack from Hydra to the Entity, closing with the being in what would have been reckless abandon for a sentient being. The Entity roared soundlessly in pain and fury, its psychic burst of rage echoing across the telepathic bands. In the span of a second, it had countered all of the attacks, was pressing attacks of its own, and had spit out literally millions of tiny (by the cosmics' standards) shadow-things towards the Earth. *** The Furies' battle. Bernadeth (if she's still holding the knife to Rob's throat, rather than lying on her back from a flip) had been making a long, drawn out threat to the CAoLers about how they had better lay down their arms, or they would be one hero shorter (by one shorter hero 8^). This had the excellent side effect of creating a plausible pause in the action until the order came through -- -- and with the attacks on the Anti-Life Entity, they could all turn, as one, to face the incoming stream of death-shadow beasts, and open up with all their combined power. *** Darkseid. He had continued his battle with Dhyrclhanc, carefully mixing brief, apparently furious exchanges with long, circling pauses. Once the opportunity arose, however, he purged himself of his various Anti-Life energies with a thought and unleashed the full might of his Omega Effect directly upward. It burned through hundreds of death-shadows like snowflakes as it wound towards the Entity. The moment it struck, Darkseid moved and fired again... *** The duel. Kanto circled around Zia, now entirely unsure what to make of her. (OOC: I'll get to details in the response to the latest S & C. 8^) Unfortunately, time is now of the essence. So he does what comes naturally. He lunges. Once again, however, he is using care not to harm her, and the duel ends with Kanto's blade stopping with precision a machine would appreciate, less than a millimeter away from her abdomen. The edge of Zia's blade was just marginally in his own. The trickle of blood was very slight. Nevertheless, it was there. Eric practically gasped in relief. Vundabar shook his head. Victory was hers. Kanto smiled again, a strangely haunted smile, as he saluted her with his blade. "The field is yours." He glanced back at the blade, then at her. "Literally, it would seem." The Hunter coughed. "You ever heard of a place called Callahan's, bub?" "We have done extensive research on you people," Kanto replied, mildly insulted. "Not what I meant." Eric chuckled and shook his head, unslinging his machine pistols almost casually. "Never mind. Not much point anyway." Then the "GO" call came. Kanto drew his blaster and began firing into the sky with lethal precision, again saluting Zia. "It appears that we must discuss my honor-debt to you another time," he finished. (OOC: Zia can tell he means the insult regarding the spell.) With that, he pressed one final stud on his hilt. The jetpack literally flew back on to his back, and he took to the air, slicing death-shadows with lightning-blade and obliterating them with blaster. Vundabar followed in his mech, unleashing a dozen weapons but only barely keeping up with Kanto's tally. Eric unloaded with both pistols, golden ammunition flying from both with prodigious speed. "You and men," he chuckled wryly as the Essence bullets tore death-shadows apart wholesale. In seconds, he was grim again. /"They go down easy, but they're practically endless!"/ Above, the various armies of the CAoL fought alongside Steppenwolf's legions. While they seemed to be able to physically strike the death-shadows with minimal backlash, the true threat soon became apparent. When a parademon was enveloped by one of the death-shadows, both were instantly obliterated. "Oh, and _that_ can't be a good sign," the Hunter muttered, still tearing death-shadows apart by the dozen. *** The prison camp. "Give 'em weapons!" the base commander roared. "Everyone who can hold a gun! I don't care if he was killin' Dog Soldiers yesterday, if it can point and shoot, I want it armed FIVE MINUTES AGO!!!" It was like the dock scene in Matrix Revolutions. Mercifully, most of the death-shadows were targeting its main opponents, but it had plenty to spare for the various grunt forces strewn around the countryside. Tremendous streams of fire poured out from the camp at beings that could not shoot back, but each target was a smart missile in itself. People were going to start dying very soon. *** Champions Island. "Full auto-fire in the lower-east quadrant!" ZIP "SHIELDS! I need shields at maximum directly above!" ZIP "Maintain covering fire to the north!" Orchid raced from console to console, ordering the island's automated systems with skill and alacrity. Having made sure that everyone has gotten the word that the invaders and defenders are now working together (via loudspeaker if necessary), Rio was helping Orchid multitask and defend the island, focusing on protecting the injured and rescued civilians who had been evac'ed to it. She used her Time magick primarily to keep up with Orchid, though the death-shadows were as susceptible to being slowed as anything else. *** Suli, Sil, and Soli (now you know why she's going by Morgan currently 8^). The sorceresses supreme and their silvery psychic back-up were just at the cusp of power levels between fighting death-shadows and distracting the Entity. So, working as one, they split the difference, using their combined powers on large numbers of the deadly drones for the most part, then occasionally firing a mixed, magickal spike of multiple effects at the Entity. -- Evil GM-San And away we go! When we say "crunch all you want," We Mean It! Oh, and just because extras get obliterated when a death-shadow eats them doesn't mean a hero can't survive a hit. Enjoy. 8^) ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Turning of the Tide On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 18:23:07 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011658 >On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 17:11:25 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011657 > > [...]the duel ends with Kanto's blade stopping with precision a >machine would appreciate, less than a millimeter away from her >abdomen. > The edge of Zia's blade was just marginally in his own. The >trickle of blood was very slight. Nevertheless, it was there. > Eric practically gasped in relief. Vundabar shook his head. > Victory was hers. Ziactrice stood frozen in tableau, just as motionless as her opponent. Only Kanto's viewpoint afforded a view of the shocked surprise in her eyes. > Kanto smiled again, a strangely haunted smile, as he saluted her >with his blade. "The field is yours." He glanced back at the blade, >then at her. "Literally, it would seem." > The Hunter coughed. "You ever heard of a place called Callahan's, >bub?" > "We have done extensive research on you people," Kanto replied, >mildly insulted. > "Not what I meant." Eric chuckled and shook his head, unslinging >his machine pistols almost casually. "Never mind. Not much point >anyway." Zia absently cleans her blade and resheathes it, wondering what Eric meant herself. > Then the "GO" call came. > Kanto drew his blaster and began firing into the sky with lethal >precision, again saluting Zia. "It appears that we must discuss my >honor-debt to you another time," he finished. (OOC: Zia can tell he >means the insult regarding the spell.) With that, he pressed one >final stud on his hilt. The jetpack literally flew back on to his >back, and he took to the air, slicing death-shadows with >lightning-blade and obliterating them with blaster. Vundabar followed >in his mech, unleashing a dozen weapons but only barely keeping up >with Kanto's tally. "Y'know," Zia says, oddly conversational, "I might've been wrong." > Eric unloaded with both pistols, golden ammunition flying from >both with prodigious speed. "You and men," he chuckled wryly as the >Essence bullets tore death-shadows apart wholesale. "It's a gift." Zia quips, but the admission is wry. She spins her armor back on, then past armor to the mechanoid fighting robot. She rises from the ground easily on its drive systems. ^Eric. Show me what gear will serve you best. I can whip up pretty much anything - before we leave this symbol.^ > In seconds, he was grim again. /"They go down easy, but they're >practically endless!"/ Above, the various armies of the CAoL fought >alongside Steppenwolf's legions. While they seemed to be able to >physically strike the death-shadows with minimal backlash, the true >threat soon became apparent. When a parademon was enveloped by one of >the death-shadows, both were instantly obliterated. "Oh, and _that_ >can't be a good sign," the Hunter muttered, still tearing >death-shadows apart by the dozen. "There are too many to fight effectively this way." Zia says, even as the guns of her mecha begin to rotate, Gatling style, her aim carefully backing up the two just-enemies who flew into combat ahead. "NO!" The petite Amberite suddenly yells, seeing a press of the death-shadows finally get through Kanto's guard by sheer weight of numbers. Several shadows actively engulfing the swordsman suddenly peel like aluminum foil, shredded by some unseen force. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Turning of the Tide On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 20:55:14 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011659 >On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 17:11:25 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011657 > > OOC: I'm assuming a certain amount of wrap-up, both in the sense >of assuming people are going to wrap up fights soon and in assuming >some of the actual job of wrapping things up. None of this should be >construed as "overwriting" folx' own combat; feel free to work the >finishes in your own way. Though taking opponents out completely may >not be the best strategic choice. ;^) OOC: Fine by me. I was at a gaming convention this weekend, which is why I've been a little slow to respond, BTW... Although it's probably just as well Harlock _didn't_ get to try a little stunt that I recently remembered he could pull. Maybe I'll get a chance to play that card in the Star Wars segment. > The Furies' battle. > Bernadeth (if she's still holding the knife to Rob's throat, >rather than lying on her back from a flip) had been making a long, >drawn out threat to the CAoLers about how they had better lay down >their arms, or they would be one hero shorter (by one shorter hero >8^). This had the excellent side effect of creating a plausible pause >in the action until the order came through -- > -- and with the attacks on the Anti-Life Entity, they could all >turn, as one, to face the incoming stream of death-shadow beasts, and >open up with all their combined power. Erin looks startled at the change in events, but quickly fires a solvent arrow at Speed Queen, freeing her for combat. Harlock smiles wryly. [The enemy of my enemy, eh? Well, an they wish my help, my help they shall have.] Moments later, the Furies receive the same speed boost that their erstwhile opponents were already experiencing. Veren's face, in stark contrast, has lit up with an unholy glee. He starts firing arrows as rapidly as Erin was earlier. As thick and fast as the shadows are descending, he doesn't even bother aiming, but roughly once every six seconds, he launches an arrow that annihilates not one, but several of the beasts. OOC: A little too cinematic for D&D, perhaps, but when you're doing 1d8 +7d6 +31 to crunchies, your arrows oughta leave exit wounds, neh? (The sword only does +21 because it doesn't have the "hunting" enchantment) ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: The Turning of the Tide On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 21:12:49 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011660 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011649 > >>On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 07:37:07 -0800 (PST) >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011637 >> >> By now, the Female Fury has gotten used to the fact that blows >>that -should- hit skid away. However, the fact that Kell has gotten >>faster is bothering her a little; she can't block everything now, >>and she slowly realizes that he's forcing her to give ground now. >> [Spell, counterspell, dispell,] Kell thinks, [but at least they >>missed one of Harlock's tricks.] > > Harriet really isn't having as much trouble as all that. Sure, she >starts fighting more defensively -- for Harriet -- but even as she >starts accumulating cuts, it occurs to Kell that it's going to take a >_lot_ of these cuts to slow her down. Not only is she just insanely >tough, she's just plain insane. The "pain" just seems to encourage >her. More than that, he's aware that he can't keep this up forever. Harlock's spell will wear out, he'll get tired, and any of a dozen other things. [I'd rather be at Zagyg's nonstop party, even with the whole "choose your own floor" routine.] >> "Not bad," Rob seems to whisper in her ear, "but can you do it >>twice?" More of the triangular blades flash out. Bernadeth is >>halfway into the defensive pattern when she recognizes the weapons. >>[Arrowheads!] >> Her conclusion comes barely in time, and the corollary is a >>little late, as glue arrowheads and explosive arrowheads join the >>chaos. She parries them all; in fact, she realizes, as she moves >>into her counterstrike, none of them were anywhere -except- where >>her blade was. > > The look on her face is _furious._ A devil, after all, cannot >abide to be mocked... ...then she realizes something. -If- he was throwing at the fastest rate he could both times, there would have been no way for him to beat her defense. [He's telling me that he knew it wouldn't work...] >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011649 > > And then Bernadeth's blade is at Rob's neck. > "Too cocky, boy. Too arrogant. Too arrogant by half." She turns to >call out the other combatants... > ...when all hell breaks loose. Rob drops back into view, preparing for another counter, when something makes him wait. [The timing's wrong, somehow...] >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011657 > > /Attention all heroes,/ Morgan sent on the link while Suli updated >the Lord of Apokolips. /Rio, patch me through to anyone without a >lens./ When Rio had rerouted Solitaire's broadcast through the >appropriate channels, Morgan continued. /Your opponents are about to >back off. (Or at least they should.) Keep up the _appearance_ of >conflict until instructed otherwise. Continue to _defend_ as >necessary./ Something -clicks- into place, like the next-to-last piece of a jigsaw puzzle. [I should do something else, but not yet,] Rob thinks, puzzling over this while the Fahren-knife begins to dimple his throat. > Bernadeth (if she's still holding the knife to Rob's throat, >rather than lying on her back from a flip) had been making a long, >drawn out threat to the CAoLers about how they had better lay down >their arms, or they would be one hero shorter (by one shorter hero >8^). This had the excellent side effect of creating a plausible pause >in the action until the order came through -- > -- and with the attacks on the Anti-Life Entity, they could all >turn, as one, to face the incoming stream of death-shadow beasts, and >open up with all their combined power. Except for Rob, who stands still, chasing an awareness of the tactical situation. The lens link allows him to follow Roland's mergence with Solaris, Dhyrclhanc's response to the shift in the combat, the work of Solitaire, Morgan, and Suli, and everything else. A death shadow, sensing weakness, arrows in on him, only to be obliterated by a burning punch. The street fighter barely even blinks. [There's something about the moment that isn't here yet. Something...] Somehow, he knows thst this is important, and that an army of animated annihilation is relatively trivial. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Swords and Cards On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 21:23:37 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011661 >On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 15:42:50 -0800 (PST) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011655 > >>On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 14:29:01 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011654 >>>On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 08:16:38 -0800 (PST) >>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011647 >>> >>> >> >> OOC: *bows* Thank you, thank you. I'm here 'til Thursday. Gotta >>wonder why, though... ;^) > >OOC: Because you just flew in, and boy! is your cape tired? 8^) OOC: Ouch. I earned that. Though, and this is my fault for mangling that sentence so badly, I was wondering why anyone would be glad I'm back. Well, except Morgan. 8^) >> He retreats briefly, ready to leap aside, then prepares to parry >>the shrapnel -- but, of course, does not need to do either. > >Ziactrice doesn't so much as _flinch_. The petite Amberite also does >not try to take advantage of his reaction. Kanto was prepared, of course, for just such an attempt to take advantage. And is mildly surprised that it wasn't taken. > "For someone who can put on the flamboyant, he sure can't take it, >can he? Natural ham." Zia quips to Eric. She would give Kanto a smug >smile, but his cut to her arm is past stinging into ache by now. The >tone of voice alone will have to do. ^If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were playing him,^ Eric retorts privately, though with a mental smile. >>> "Bind it." Zia's voice, for the first time that Eric recalls, >>>holds no inflection of emotion whatsoever, despite the full smile >>>on her face. >> >> Kanto watches her warily, confused. He considers. >> "Assuming you," he replies slowly, "bind that." He gestures at >>her wounded arm with his blade. > > "Ladies first, eh?" Ziactrice switches hands, rolling up her >sleeve. "I will not be shown up in such matters," he replies, trying to keep his voice light but still definitely confused. > "Very well. You want entertainment, instead of a duel. You should >have told me; I'm better at the former." She switches hands again, >still smiling most oddly for someone who has to know how truly >unlikely her victory is. "That," Kanto quips, starting to regain something of his former good humor, "would be a sight to behold." (OOC: Concluded in A Turning of the Tide) >> OOC: As mentioned, Kanto was fighting to the best of his ability >>-- just with the rules of engagement (and his own enjoyment) in >>consideration. He wouldn't have insulted Zia in that way. Then he >>misconstrued her Pattern effect, and now...well, the poor boy >>doesn't know _what_ to think. ;^) > > OOC: His own enjoyment meant he wasn't taking opportunities to end >the duel. Zia thinks that a fight is a fight, and toying with an >opponent is not ... honorable. OOC: Kanto wasn't toying with her. He wouldn't have been interested in a duel in the first place if he didn't think she was up to being a challenging foe. It instead dictated the choice of tactics -- fight defensively, at first, to gauge his opponent, test her styles and skill, then slowly advance. Of course, things didn't work out that way... >As for that "poor boy" - you mean the New God, Darkseid's assassin, >and one of the best swordsmen around with the sword that does all >those tricks? That's it. Just for that I _am_ siccing Sarah on him. > :) Sure, he's all those things, but he's still a man -- up against Zia. Sarah'll probably be a vacation by comparison, and by that I mean no disrespect to her at all. 8^) -- Evil GM-San Evil, not _stupid_ ================================= Subject: AAE 9: Turning of the Tide/Zia On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 21:33:56 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011662 >On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 18:23:07 -0800 (PST) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011658 > >>On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 17:11:25 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011657 >> >> [...]the duel ends with Kanto's blade stopping with precision a >>machine would appreciate, less than a millimeter away from her >>abdomen. >> The edge of Zia's blade was just marginally in his own. The >>trickle of blood was very slight. Nevertheless, it was there. >> Eric practically gasped in relief. Vundabar shook his head. >> Victory was hers. > > Ziactrice stood frozen in tableau, just as motionless as her >opponent. Only Kanto's viewpoint afforded a view of the shocked >surprise in her eyes. "So surprised?" Kanto whispered softly. Then... >> Then the "GO" call came. >> Kanto drew his blaster and began firing into the sky with lethal >>precision, again saluting Zia. "It appears that we must discuss my >>honor-debt to you another time," he finished. (OOC: Zia can tell he >>means the insult regarding the spell.) With that, he pressed one >>final stud on his hilt. The jetpack literally flew back on to his >>back, and he took to the air, slicing death-shadows with >>lightning-blade and obliterating them with blaster. Vundabar >>followed in his mech, unleashing a dozen weapons but only barely >>keeping up with Kanto's tally. > > "Y'know," Zia says, oddly conversational, "I might've been wrong." Eric raised an eyebrow, curious as a cat, but he's too busy with other things to worry about what at the moment. Besides, whatever it was, she was probably right. ;^) >> Eric unloaded with both pistols, golden ammunition flying from >>both with prodigious speed. "You and men," he chuckled wryly as the >>Essence bullets tore death-shadows apart wholesale. > > "It's a gift." Zia quips, but the admission is wry. She spins her >armor back on, then past armor to the mechanoid fighting robot. She >rises from the ground easily on its drive systems. > ^Eric. Show me what gear will serve you best. I can whip up pretty >much anything - before we leave this symbol.^ ^Only if you can give me full-coverage armor I can ignore. With this font of Essence you've turned me into, the Ugly-Life Entity will run out of demons before I run out of 'bullets,'^ Eric quipped, his stream of destruction never thinning. >> In seconds, he was grim again. /"They go down easy, but they're >>practically endless!"/ Above, the various armies of the CAoL fought >>alongside Steppenwolf's legions. While they seemed to be able to >>physically strike the death-shadows with minimal backlash, the true >>threat soon became apparent. When a parademon was enveloped by one >>of the death-shadows, both were instantly obliterated. "Oh, and >>_that_ can't be a good sign," the Hunter muttered, still tearing >>death-shadows apart by the dozen. > > "There are too many to fight effectively this way." Zia says, even >as the guns of her mecha begin to rotate, Gatling style, her aim >carefully backing up the two just-enemies who flew into combat ahead. "Then we need to change tactics," Eric replied simply. The way he whirled and danced, he was in no immediate danger of allowing a death-shadow to come too close, but he could not provide much cover at the same time. > "NO!" The petite Amberite suddenly yells, seeing a press of the >death-shadows finally get through Kanto's guard by sheer weight of >numbers. Several shadows actively engulfing the swordsman suddenly >peel like aluminum foil, shredded by some unseen force. Eric nodded a salute while he continued his violent ballet. ^Now _that_ is a useful trick. Any chance you can expand on it?^ ================================= Subject: AAE 9: Turning of the Tide/Furies On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 21:46:21 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011663 >On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 20:55:14 -0800 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00011659 > >>On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 17:11:25 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011657 >> >> -- and with the attacks on the Anti-Life Entity, they could all >>turn, as one, to face the incoming stream of death-shadow beasts, >>and open up with all their combined power. > >Erin looks startled at the change in events, but quickly fires a >solvent arrow at Speed Queen, freeing her for combat. Harlock smiles >wryly. [The enemy of my enemy, eh? Well, an they wish my help, my >help they shall have.] Moments later, the Furies receive the same >speed boost that their erstwhile opponents were already experiencing. Speed Queen gets up, dazed from her rather violent facefault, but pleasantly surprised to find herself faster than ever. (Mercifully, she doesn't have broken ankles either. Even the "weakest" Fury is far tougher than any human.) She starts to race around, flinging rocks at the sky. Which is a lot more effective than it sounds when you can throw rocks with the fire rate and force of a Gatling gun. >Veren's face, in stark contrast, has lit up with an unholy glee. He >starts firing arrows as rapidly as Erin was earlier. As thick and >fast as the shadows are descending, he doesn't even bother aiming, >but roughly once every six seconds, he launches an arrow that >annihilates not one, but several of the beasts. Artemis and Lashina are not nearly as pleased by the sudden barrage of incoming fire, but are both professional enough to stick to the job. The New God archer chooses her arrows with care, even at the speed she releases them with, using explosives against close bunches and more straight-forward arrows against isolated death-shadows. Lashina, for her part, was not idle. Like all of Apokolips' close-combat specialists, she was concentrating on protecting the archers and blasters from the few death-shadows that penetrated the tremendous volume of withering fire. First one, then two, then three of the things fall to her lashes, each moving with fluid grace from one position to the next. Her weapons did not suffer any noticeable degradation, given their New God construction. Ultimately, however, this was only a holding action. [Mighty Darkseid, deliver us,] Lashina prayed. To her god. -- Evil GM-San When the Furies are praying, it's time to worry. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Turning of the Tide/Zia On Mon, 5 Jan 2004 04:13:49 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011664 >On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 21:33:56 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011662 >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011658 > ^Only if you can give me full-coverage armor I can ignore. With >this font of Essence you've turned me into, the Ugly-Life Entity will >run out of demons before I run out of 'bullets,'^ Eric quipped, his >stream of destruction never thinning. ^I didn't do anything much, just unclogged the flow, I think.^ Her mind already working the shadowshift. She knows exactly how to do armor like that, having seen Defender's own many times. Eric's skin takes on a gold color instead of Roland's blue, with black accents instead of yellow ones. She makes sure to duplicate Nemo's drive in it for motive ability; Eric doesn't have Roland's psychkinetic powers. ^It has powers like (), as close to Roland's armor as I can manage, though I'm not trying the Halo. That would be changing _you_, and I'm not sure I could undo it.^ >> "NO!" The petite Amberite suddenly yells, seeing a press of the >>death-shadows finally get through Kanto's guard by sheer weight of >>numbers. Several shadows actively engulfing the swordsman suddenly >>peel like aluminum foil, shredded by some unseen force. > > Eric nodded a salute while he continued his violent ballet. ^Now >_that_ is a useful trick. Any chance you can expand on it?^ There is the slightest pause, only noticeable because it is so uncharacteristic for the petite Amberite. She continues to fire without a pause. ^Possibly. Except I have no idea what happened.^ Zia replies, bewildered. Her eyes narrow, then her guns pause. Concentrating, she spins slowly in place, careful not to drift out of the symbol's boundaries. Every death-shadow in clear sight range of the petite Amberite is slowly shredded as her line-of-sight crosses it. ^Eric, what did _you_ turn me into?!?^ She makes sure Eric is flying to keep up, then she leads the way to link up with Kanto and Vundabar. The four of them immediately head for the next concentration of death-shadows. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Turning of the Tide/Furies On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 11:36:18 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011665 >On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 21:46:21 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011663 > >>Veren's face, in stark contrast, has lit up with an unholy glee. He >>starts firing arrows as rapidly as Erin was earlier. As thick and >>fast as the shadows are descending, he doesn't even bother aiming, >>but roughly once every six seconds, he launches an arrow that >>annihilates not one, but several of the beasts. > > Artemis and Lashina are not nearly as pleased by the sudden >barrage of incoming fire, but are both professional enough to stick >to the job. The New God archer chooses her arrows with care, even at >the speed she releases them with, using explosives against close >bunches and more straight-forward arrows against isolated >death-shadows. > Lashina, for her part, was not idle. Like all of Apokolips' >close-combat specialists, she was concentrating on protecting the >archers and blasters from the few death-shadows that penetrated the >tremendous volume of withering fire. First one, then two, then three >of the things fall to her lashes, each moving with fluid grace from >one position to the next. Her weapons did not suffer any noticeable >degradation, given their New God construction. Veren snarls at Lashina. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Keep those damned things off of Erin!" As if to prove his point, a death-shadow somehow slips through everyone's guard and latches onto him. Or tries to, anyway. Something about his very essence resists being damaged by un-life. Veren snarls again, drops his bow and yanks his sword out, cleaving through the creature in the process. He then pulls a potion off of his belt and drinks it, rising into the sky to confront the shadows more directly. > Ultimately, however, this was only a holding action. > [Mighty Darkseid, deliver us,] Lashina prayed. To her god. Harlock frowns at the expression on Lashina's face. *Roland? Are you a man of faith?* ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Turning of the Tide/Doc Energy On Mon, 5 Jan 2004 21:04:01 -0500 Saint Dharma / Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00011666 >On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 17:11:25 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011657 > > The prison camp. > "Give 'em weapons!" the base commander roared. "Everyone who can >hold a gun! I don't care if he was killin' Dog Soldiers yesterday, if >it can point and shoot, I want it armed FIVE MINUTES AGO!!!" > It was like the dock scene in Matrix Revolutions. Mercifully, most >of the death-shadows were targeting its main opponents, but it had >plenty to spare for the various grunt forces strewn around the >countryside. Tremendous streams of fire poured out from the camp at >beings that could not shoot back, but each target was a smart missile >in itself. People were going to start dying very soon. After noting that there were only 14 bodies, The Good Doctor flew back to the camp for cleanup in case help was needed. Suddenly his comm system picks up the GO signal. He watched with a mixture of horror and fascination as the death-shadows made their way to the camp. The withering fire that they were getting was doing damage.....but it wasn't enough. [Hmmm.. Time to even the odds, I think] He gives a mental command to the armor {} (OOC: If you want the technobabble, I can also put in the Tech Room if you request it.) and suddenly the armor grows to 15 feet high. At the same time, St. Elmo's Fire bathes the armor in a blue/white glow. Doc Energy shudders as the quantum courses through his body, fueling the suit and boosting it's output. [If they want a target, I will give them a Target.] Suddenly he leaps into the air, taking flight like a blue bolt of man-shaped lightning. As he flies towards the mass of death-shadows, his form shifts to a blazing ball of energy. He reaches the mass of death-shadows, and suddenly explodes in a massive burst of energy. The quantum-fueled energy wave expands in a 90 degree arc, obliterating the 1st and 2nd wave of death-shadows decending dangerously downward. Suddenly as it began, the energy wave collapses inward, then reforms into a spherical shape. The shape then flows and becomes Doc Energy, although the armor is still powered up. Suddenly the 3rd wave emerges from the smoke, and completely surrounds and envelops The Good Doctor. A dark sphere hovers in the sky, as the shadows glom onto one another to get the precious life from this extraordinary being. Suddenly there is a blinding flash of light, as the shadows that had glommed onto Doc Energy were dissolved into nothingness. What remains is the Good Doctor, but under some kind of shield. [It was a good thing I had this energy-absorption shield perfected before I came] thinks Doc Energy, [otherwise I shudder to think what would have happened.] He switches his comm system to broadcast on all non-Lens frequencies. "Attention all friendly combatants. My name is Doc Energy, and I willing to help." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Turning of the Tide/Zia On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 20:58:24 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011668 >On Mon, 5 Jan 2004 04:13:49 -0800 (PST) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011664 > >>On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 21:33:56 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011662 >>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011658 > > > >> ^Only if you can give me full-coverage armor I can ignore. With >>this font of Essence you've turned me into, the Ugly-Life Entity >>will run out of demons before I run out of 'bullets,'^ Eric quipped, >>his stream of destruction never thinning. > > ^I didn't do anything much, just unclogged the flow, I think.^ There's a pause. Eric would clearly boggle if he had the time. ^Well. I'm...impressed,^ he replies, indulging in his once-typical penchant for understatement. > ^It has powers like (), as close to Roland's armor as I can >manage, though I'm not trying the Halo. That would be changing _you_, >and I'm not sure I could undo it.^ Another pause. Golden Essence bullets fill the air. ^Thank you.^ The response's 'feel' includes thanks both for the armor and for _not_ making him immortal. He tries not to think about his Exalted lifespan... >>> "NO!" The petite Amberite suddenly yells, seeing a press of >>>the death-shadows finally get through Kanto's guard by sheer weight >>>of numbers. Several shadows actively engulfing the swordsman >>>suddenly peel like aluminum foil, shredded by some unseen force. OOC note: Kanto would acknowledge the rescue, if he knew where it came from and/or had the time. However, he lacks both... >> Eric nodded a salute while he continued his violent ballet. ^Now >>_that_ is a useful trick. Any chance you can expand on it?^ > > There is the slightest pause, only noticeable because it is so >uncharacteristic for the petite Amberite. She continues to fire >without a pause. > ^Possibly. Except I have no idea what happened.^ Zia replies, >bewildered. Her eyes narrow, then her guns pause. Concentrating, she >spins slowly in place, careful not to drift out of the symbol's >boundaries. Every death-shadow in clear sight range of the petite >Amberite is slowly shredded as her line-of-sight crosses it. As Eric runs low on targets, he turns instead to watch Zia's Anti-Death Equation take effect. The Hunter isn't just watching, however. He is observing. Closely. Something he learned to do well, long ago. > ^Eric, what did _you_ turn me into?!?^ She makes sure Eric is >flying to keep up, then she leads the way to link up with Kanto and >Vundabar. The four of them immediately head for the next >concentration of death-shadows. OOC: Thanks for the opening. 8^) Uncharacteristically (now), Eric takes the question literally. He lets Zia do the piloting, as flight is a new ability for him. ^I don't think I turned you into anything. I think you're just realizing what your abilities make you capable of.^ And Eric ponders this some more. [So, "Hunter," what does that say about you?] He goes over, in his mind, what Zia did. He thinks about the many uses he can put Essence to. He examines the newfound flow of power coursing through him. [I think,] he realizes with a sudden jolt, [I can do what she did.] To Eric's mind and ch'i-senses, everything consists of Essence flows in some way or another. He has to dim his awareness of such things around beings like Zia, Defender, Dhyrclhanc, and (gods forbid) the Starspawn, among others, but even around them, he can feel the flowing pulse behind the patterns of life and physicality. He knows that he can tap into that pulse. On some level, he's always known. Something has been holding him back, however. Even as much as he's been able to accept his loss, even knowing what Sifu told him, there's something he hasn't been able to handle. Even the Hunter, he realizes, has his weakness. The Lens throbs in his longcoat. [Of course.] Eric has been almost afraid of what the True Lens represents. He's been afraid of it ever since that one time he put it on. Facing his weakness...and what it will mean to be without it. [What an odd thing to be afraid of,] he decides. Now that he can holster one pistol, he does so, using the free hand to draw out the Lens. After only a moment's hesitation, he slaps it on his wrist, where it comes to multicolored life and sinks into his golden armor. [I AM NOT A SPIRITUAL CRIPPLE,] roars through his mind. It is time. Eric Awakens. Every Mage within a several mile radius is suddenly aware of the presence of a Master of Prime, as if he literally appeared out of nowhere. Even as Eric boggles at the revelation of reality's fluidity, he does a kata, throwing a palm out in the opposite direction from Zia's death-shadow annihilating gaze. Where his palm "strikes," death-shadows simply cease to be. Then again, they were rather like animate absences of existence, so perhaps it would be more appropriate to say he fills the holes in reality where they pass. "Huh," he quips, even as he gasps at the sheer _wonder_ of what he has become. "All the enlightenment of the universe, so I can perform a glorified spackle job." Somewhere else, Rio laughs. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Turning of the Tide/Furies On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 21:05:02 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011669 >On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 11:36:18 -0800 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00011665 > >>On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 21:46:21 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011663 >> >> Lashina, for her part, was not idle. Like all of Apokolips' >>close-combat specialists, she was concentrating on protecting the >>archers and blasters from the few death-shadows that penetrated the >>tremendous volume of withering fire. First one, then two, then three >>of the things fall to her lashes, each moving with fluid grace from >>one position to the next. Her weapons did not suffer any noticeable >>degradation, given their New God construction. > >Veren snarls at Lashina. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Keep >those damned things off of Erin!" Lashina snorts, annoyed at his tone, but doesn't allow her annoyance to cause even the slightest hesitation. She leaps over toward Erindrea, where she continues to put her incredible weapon skill to good use. > As if to prove his point, a death-shadow somehow slips through >everyone's guard and latches onto him. Or tries to, anyway. Something >about his very essence resists being damaged by un-life. Veren snarls >again, drops his bow and yanks his sword out, cleaving through the >creature in the process. He then pulls a potion off of his belt and >drinks it, rising into the sky to confront the shadows more directly. The death-shadows swarm him. At first, those that strike him slide off his defense, becoming easy prey for his blade. However, they are more (or perhaps less) than mere un-life; they are tiny shards of Oblivion incarnate. If too many of them run afoul of his mystical protection, they will literally wear it away, like the surf pounding against the shore... >> Ultimately, however, this was only a holding action. >> [Mighty Darkseid, deliver us,] Lashina prayed. To her god. > >Harlock frowns at the expression on Lashina's face. *Roland? Are you >a man of faith?* *Callahan's is my religion,* he quips back. *My faith is in my friends. My family. You see that massive army raining down on us? That's _desperation_ you're looking at. *We're winning.* He projects a confident smile through the link. *Hang on. The cavalry's coming.* ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Turning of the Tide/Doc Energy On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 21:14:41 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011670 >On Mon, 5 Jan 2004 21:04:01 -0500 >Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00011666 > >>On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 17:11:25 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011657 >> >> The prison camp. >> "Give 'em weapons!" the base commander roared. "Everyone who can >>hold a gun! I don't care if he was killin' Dog Soldiers yesterday, >>if it can point and shoot, I want it armed FIVE MINUTES AGO!!!" >>Tremendous streams of fire poured out from the camp at beings that >>could not shoot back, but each target was a smart missile in itself. >>People were going to start dying very soon. >He reaches the mass of death-shadows, and suddenly explodes in a >massive burst of energy. The quantum-fueled energy wave expands in a >90 degree arc, obliterating the 1st and 2nd wave of death-shadows >decending dangerously downward. #/Cavalry, part one,/# Roland comments calmly. #/Excellent timing, sir./# >[It was a good thing I had this energy-absorption shield perfected >before I came] thinks Doc Energy, [otherwise I shudder to think what >would have happened.] He switches his comm system to broadcast on all >non-Lens frequencies. "Attention all friendly combatants. My name is >Doc Energy, and I willing to help." #/I've heard of you,/# Defender comments dryly. #/Thanks for the assist. I think, if Solaris' sensors are accurate --/# there's a brief pause (no doubt Solaris taking umbrage at the comment) #/-- that the prison you're over is to the southeast of us, making their northwest quadrant the hardest hit. Good hunting, and welcome to the party./# ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Turning of the Tide/Furies On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 00:22:07 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011671 >On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 21:05:02 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011669 > >>On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 11:36:18 -0800 >>Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00011665 >> >>Veren snarls at Lashina. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Keep >>those damned things off of Erin!" > > Lashina snorts, annoyed at his tone, but doesn't allow her >annoyance to cause even the slightest hesitation. She leaps over >toward Erindrea, where she continues to put her incredible weapon >skill to good use. OOC: Yep, Veren's 6 Charisma strikes again... ;P >> As if to prove his point, a death-shadow somehow slips through >>everyone's guard and latches onto him. Or tries to, anyway. >>Something about his very essence resists being damaged by un-life. >>Veren snarls again, drops his bow and yanks his sword out, cleaving >>through the creature in the process. He then pulls a potion off of >>his belt and drinks it, rising into the sky to confront the shadows >>more directly. > > The death-shadows swarm him. > At first, those that strike him slide off his defense, becoming >easy prey for his blade. However, they are more (or perhaps less) >than mere un-life; they are tiny shards of Oblivion incarnate. If too >many of them run afoul of his mystical protection, they will >literally wear it away, like the surf pounding against the shore... The gods look after fools and madmen, or so they say. And indeed, Veren seems to be a) not entirely sane, charging into the fray with an unholy gleam in his eye and b) leading a charmed life in the process. Shadow after shadow rains down upon him while he lays about with abandon. Those that try to attack his rear almost invariably get picked off by arrows. Those that come at him directly almost never get close enough to strike. And yet... [I don't know how much more of this I can take. Every one I cut down gets replaced by two more. Is this to be my fate, blessed Ehlonna? Cut down by an endless horde of undead on a foreign plane?] >>Harlock frowns at the expression on Lashina's face. *Roland? Are you >>a man of faith?* > > *Callahan's is my religion,* he quips back. *My faith is in my >friends. My family. You see that massive army raining down on us? >That's _desperation_ you're looking at. > *We're winning.* He projects a confident smile through the link. >*Hang on. The cavalry's coming.* *Actually,* the Bard projects in a dust-dry tone, *I might have a way to speed things up, but 'twould require your faith to implement it. Your faith in something beyond that which you can see, that is.* ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Turning of the Tide/Zia On Tue, 6 Jan 2004 18:15:30 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011672 >On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 20:58:24 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011668 > There's a pause. Eric would clearly boggle if he had the time. >^Well. I'm...impressed,^ he replies, indulging in his once-typical >penchant for understatement. He receives only the smug feeling of a performer who enjoys stunning an audience. > "Huh," he quips, even as he gasps at the sheer _wonder_ of what he >has become. "All the enlightenment of the universe, so I can perform >a glorified spackle job." > >Somewhere else, Rio laughs. @"Good timing,"@ Zia says/sends. Oddly, she is shifting her armor back to mecha-shape, and unlimbering her guns. Outside of Kanto's symbol she empowered, her ability to shadowshift is lessened. She can no longer simply apply an Limited Solution to the Expanded Series of the Transform that he had observed before. It probably won't take Eric long to realize that Ziactrice isn't Awakened, despite her mastery of ch'i. Of course, how would Ziactrice Awaken? To her, _all_ shadow worlds are neither absolutely real nor as completely fluid as he sees his - but some shade between. She cannot resculpt this shadow, only shadowshift the brightness and contrast around the corners. As she said earlier, she can affect Chance, but not offer Certainty. @"Steppenwolf,"@ the petite Amberite's voice emerges from the ether near the commander, @"we've got a big gun for these little nasties. Will you please coordinate a Head 'Em Up movement? I think we three can keep him from being overcome, even against these odds."@ "I hope that thing can die." Ziactrice frowns at the Anti-Life Entity, now under massed attack by all the Heavy Hitters. "I haven't a clear enough idea of the Transform, yet. The bits and pieces I've seen are too mangled. I can only see part of one expansion set of one equation..." =================================