Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9: Finale Chapter 5 Subject: [CAoL Main] AAE 9: Beginning of the End, part I On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:36:56 -0700 Roland X Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12911 Morgan is having a bad day. For all that she had finally, after years of running duels, finished off Gaiasbane, that battle had cost her dearly. She was wounded, exhausted, and magically weakened. On any other day, that would have been the climactic battle. Today is not any other day. Though the swordsman Sheath and his squad of Viper hitmen are being dealt with by an old friend, Greywolf is still dodging Red Fury and the Legion of Doom's Cheetah. Morgan being Morgan, of course, she's managing to hold her own, but considering that Red Fury is a dark reflection of Roland with all his cunning, almost all his skill and even more power, holding her own is about all she can do for the moment. Roland could almost envy her. He is facing Morgan's own counterpart, Morgan *Bloodwolf* aka Solitaire-6, as well as the new High Lord of Tharkold, a somewhat more feminine Demon Prince than Thratchen by the name of Jezrael. It is vastly more powerful and vicious than Cheetah, and more even-keeled than its predecessor. Worse, both Obsidian-6, the Black Prince and would-be leader of the Champions of Evil, and Markoth, Defender's vile archenemy, circle the trio, looking for an opening. And in the distance is the Gaunt Man himself, smiling, watching, waiting. Meanwhile, Roland is still the leader of both the Champions and the CAoL, with the weight of countless innocents on his shoulders. Worst of all, in spite of the gigantic and monstrous battle raging all around them, everything hinges on a question of morality, a riddle that has taunted Roland Phoenix for years, the matter of what makes his counterpart tick, for Roland Dracul, unique in any reality, has the power to lock Phoenix's katanaspace. Defender can do (and has done) the same in kind, but Dracul does not have the one weapon that can destroy the Gaunt Man tucked away in *his* katanaspace. No, today is not any other day, not by a long shot. "I really don't want to kill you, handsome," Bloodwolf almost purrs, her double-ended blade spinning like a helicopter's, lashing out wherever she sees a weakness in the Phoenix Rod's defense. "Then don't," Roland replies, backpedaling as much as his position allows. "It's not that simple," Jezrael says, moving in behind a shield of demonic spirit force and techno-magical force. "Then again, I could care less." "You, techno-demon, don't want to do this. Trust me," Roland growls. Jezrael merely laughs with sadistic satisfaction. Meanwhile, Obsidian-6 circles, Markoth watches, and the Gaunt Man waits. Roland gives himself a moment to cast his mind out... >On Wed, 4 Oct 2006 18:38:42 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012852 > >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012848 >> >> Eric's smile shows fangs just before he becomes an untrackable >>blur. The Hunter with super-speed is a sight to behold, at least for >>those who can see him, and he shreds monsters by the dozens. Still >>tracking Zia with a touch of concern, his main focus remains on the >>battlefield. And somehow, he remains all but invisible except for >>the trail of shredded gospog he leaves behind. >> >>Rio's bullet ballet doesn't change in substance. Instead, by >>directing the Speed Formula into the ammunition, she makes each >>bullet move at relativistic speed, at least to a range that >>satisfies her (and prevents friendly fire). Even enemies near her >>targets are devastated by the space-rippling wake of her weapon >>fire. > > Rob smiles for a moment before using the enhanced speed on >himself. Most of it goes to moving faster, as he leaves a trail of >vanished weapons and fallen foes. But a fraction of it goes to >affecting his synaptic gaps and neural processes. > In short, he overclocks his brain. Using the skill he practiced >when he met Ya-ta-ree, he integrates all his senses into a mental >"command center," allowing him to watch everything. Magic, psionics, >ki, and a half-dozen other senses of trivial value, plus the normal >five senses. > Normally, he couldn't do this and keep fighting. With enhanced >speed, it's like walking and chewing gum. By the time his mental >clock hits 0:00.11 (subjectively, about six minutes from when he used >the card - objectively, eleven seconds) the Citadel of Cytorrak is >ringed with stolen grenades, blaster power packs rigged to overload, >and any other timed explosive Rob can get his hands on, and half of >the UNTIL troops in that area have had hastily-written notes warning >them away stuck on their gloves. > Roughly half a second after that, the grenades go off. The power >packs average about five seconds, plus or minus four seconds. Ming's >Metal Men, however, are tough opponents - their forces are decimated >in the original sense, losing roughly one tenth of their number. Ming looks distinctly nonplused. Rama-Tet, the Astrologer/Mathemagician who once served Pharaoh Mobius tries to sneak away before Ming can blame him...only to find himself facing the now-*heroic* Dr. Mobius. "Ah," Rama-Tet says desperately, "my Pharaoh, I can explain--" Mobius cuts him off with a electric arc from his ray-gun. Rama-Tet crumples. "I imagine you could, at that," Mobius muses, watching for a moment until he sees his former vizier breathe. Then he returns to the fray, allowing Flash Gordon's forces to charge at Ming's. "Not again, " Ming snarls as their battle, now far more even than Ming would have liked, is fully engaged. Even with his forces bolstered with Cylon reinforcements, they are seriously depleted by heroic interference -- a certain Mr. Nishikawa's in particular. >On Fri, 6 Oct 2006 09:58:27 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012854 > >>On Thu, 05 Oct 2006 00:10:00 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012853 >> >> Another bald foe literally emerges from the ground, as if an >>elevator had pushed him up through the dirt. He looks remarkably >>like the Baron Samedi from the movie "Live and Let Die." He grins, >>puts his index finger to his lips, and shushes both superspy and >>Unicorn. He is, presumably, ignored (there doesn't appear to be any >>magickal effect involved). > > Presuming usual actions on James' part is fraught with >disappoinment; the debonair Brit nods and replies politely, "Thank >you; it seemed a logical solution to the problem." James really >shouldn't attempt to sound modest; it doesn't really work for him. He >delicately extends a shined shoe and trousered leg and slides the >body off the wickedly sharp horn, and the Demon Unicorn rolls woozily >up somewhat, to lay on all four legs. His hand still coiled around >the lower head as if not sure if the creature is steady yet. James >rises to crouch near it, and nonchalantly brushes himself off, as if >on no more than a pleasant picnic in the park. 'Samedi' laughs soundlessly in what appears to be genuine amusement, then looks the Demon Unicorn over with what appears to be an expert eye. He nods to himself, then turns his attention to Luthor. >> Luthor frowns briefly, wondering if he has recruited a madman. >>[Where _is_ that over-muscled alien? Surely his pretense of 'honor' >>would require him to help his devoted disciple.] Cold eyes slide >>over to Defender, whom he observes with a moment of _very_ grudging >>respect. [Perhaps his true colors are finally showing. Ah well. To >>the matter at hand. I suppose this Bond character might give me a >>moment's challenge.] He attempts to teleport microscopic spheres >>into James and Zia the Unicorn alike. They are not immediately >>harmful, but flat filaments, like super-tough film, unwind from >>these spheres to jam the most stubborn motive systems, biological or >>otherwise. The 'Baron' laughs. > > Assuming that Luthor has highspeed record and playback, he'll be >later able to see James' eyebrow crook microscopically as he analyzes >the spheres on the instant of their appearance. Immediately, the >spheres from James re-teleport into the Cross pen shaft in James' >pocket, cryogenically freeze without somehow burning James through >his shirt, as both ends of the pen crimple shut and self-weld >together. The spheres from the Demon Unicorn vanishes even more >quickly, but their telemetry reports respond from the corpse. The >platnum and mercury enchanted chains James had created only mintues >before warp, shifting as radiacally as possible without disturbing >the glyphs of Titania's magic, as one end of what was formerly a cuff >widens, and slides over Luthor, shields, amor and all like a huge >balloon, then the hole shrinks to a needles-radius leaving Luthor >enclosed in a thin shell of magically-unbreakable metal, complete >with Titania's curse to desend if he actually does just pop the >balloon. Luthor blinks in surprise; even used to dealing with a super-fast foe, he's surprised (if only for an instant) by an "attack" from so ruthless an adversary that doesn't actually harm him. He analyzes it in moments, grimacing at the responses. He could just teleport out (well, it wouldn't "just" be teleporting out -- no doubt James took that into account as well -- but this _is_ Lex Luthor we're talking about here), but that would be an admission of defeat. [If I can use this magical material, somehow, then I would at last have a defense against sorcery.] The thought of that cow Zatanna gaping in horror as her 'spells' bounced off his armor... [First things first.] Lex turns his attention to actually repurposing the material. >Although James doesn't think the probability of Lex being rash enough >to set the boobytrap of that off on himself is very high at all, the >British spy is not fond of being bitten by his own gadgets. He sets a >time limit of one minute on the self-destruct just in case. Luthor is >smart enough to subvert it, better to destroy it once use is past. >All of this happened at far faster than eye-following speed, just >fast enough the platinum itself wouldn't melt from friction sliding >through the air, though there is a sharp crack of abused atmosphere >as it broke the sound barrier. "I hate magic," Luthor snarls. He sets his armor to teleport him out after all at the 59.5 second mark, and bends all his genius to undoing James' work. Nevertheless, magic is very much not his area of expertise -- after all, he's master of science Lex Luthor, not that madman Doctor Doom -- and half a second before the effect expires (harmlessly if I've read it right, but Lex isn't taking any chances), he vanishes from the sphere's insides. > Knowing that won't hold Lex Luthor - maybe not even the whole >minute - James doesn't slow down enough that anything less than >supernatural could interrupt. Unless Baron Samedi somehow prevents >his exit, James and the Demon Unicorn wink out. The two reappear >standing inside Rio and Sarah's killing ring, fortunately NOT in a >space Rio's bullets were occuping at that second. James throws >himself up to mount - though the truly discerning will note he >actually is floating just a centimeter or so off that >obsidian-knifescale hide, and then he smiles. Apparently, being a spy >and not a man of honor means retreating to a more defensible position >to continue trying to heal Zia is quite all right in James' >strategies. Although it is certain that Luthor will not appreciate >being, ah, hood-winked. Hopefully he'll take it out on his compatriot >the way Blofield was so marvelously inclined to do. Before coming >straight back with an even nastier approach, of course. James is >quite acquainted with egomaniacal geniuses bent on conquering all who >stand in their way, after all. > > "I suggest defensive positions. Luthor is going to be... >perturbed. I haven't quite gotten Zia back yet, but I think I can >keep it from getting worse if I stay close." Eric is somehow nearby at that moment, making sure his sister and a certain beloved Amberite are well. Rio is still doing the bullet witch thing skillfully, so he flashes her a quick, quiet grin, then turns his attention to James. "I've got a couple of things to take care of, but I'll be close if you need -- ah." In that moment, the Justice League arrives. Lex Luthor's attention is decidedly elsewhere. Eric smiles wryly and fades into a shadow, literally. He isn't about to insult James by telling him to take good care of Zia, even though he wants to out of sheer habit, but it's there in his eyes and his soul. The Gaunt Man, meanwhile, looks at 'Baron Samedi' with sudden suspicion. His suspicion is confirmed when the Baron grins, bows to him, and vanishes. "The real one," he mutters in annoyance. >On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 20:23:41 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012855 > > "I learned more than just the Psycho Chiller from the Lin Kuei. >They wouldn't let me go without learning this, even though I told >them I'd probably never use it." Rob pauses, an odd look coming over >his face. "Damn. If I ever see Frost again, I owe her ten bucks." >With that, he hauls upward, tearing Manwaring's head and spine away >from the rest of his body. > "Nishikawa wins. Fatality," he whispers. Then he tosses the head >aside, and starts walking towards the main fight. /Anybody need a >little help out there?/ > Behind him, Manwaring's corpse turns to dust. Morgan Greywolf vs. Roland Dracul. Cheetah darts in and out of Morgan's defenses, moving with a deadly serious will. She can do no more than harry the staggeringly powerful Highlander, but with Red Fury as a primary opponent, being harried by so expert a villain is a real danger indeed. Which is why the entire battle ripples slightly when Professor Zoom and Orchid-6 plow into the Legion of Doom charter member at several multiples of the speed of sound. Fury half-sighs, half-snarls as Blaze (aka Rachel Phoenix) and Orchid-9 high-five each other, then dart to opposite ends of the battle. Defender smiles in satisfaction (and more than a little pride). His smile vanishes when his daughter screams. Even powerful force fields and near-instant regeneration aren't enough to completely avoid the consequences of being knocked over at the speeds she's running, and when she comes to a halt, Kagato the Ruins Buster floats above her, emerald energy sword floating above his fist. "Ryoko seems to like you," he says idly. "no...you're dead..." Rachel gasps. "Not any more," Kagato laughs. */You wanted someplace to help?/* Roland sends to Rob, trying to keep his mental voice even. He psychically searches for Tenchi...and finds him with Ryoko and Ayeka, all three fighting a sort of anti-Tenchi and a small army of horrors under his command. [Oh, great...] That's when he screams. Roland falls to his knees, dark energies flickering with multi-colored light around their edges tearing through him. From behind the Champion, Markoth appears in the foul energies, which ripples with faerie magick. "You insist on weakness, and weakness you shall have." "...markoth..." "I can't kill you with these, oh no," Markoth sneers, waving Jezrael back. The Demon Prince retreats reluctantly, watching Defender with obvious caution. "Your friends in Arcadia saw to that. After a century or so, you'll wish they hadn't." "...you..." Roland gasps. Even Bloodwolf's smile is dead, and she glares at Markoth in disgust. "Vulnerable to glamour," Markoth laughs. "Only in specific ways, to specific frequencies, to be sure. Thematically appropriate. How like the fae. I haven't decided exactly what nightmare to plunge you into," he snarls, grabbing Roland's hair with sudden cruelty, "but I have several long since prepared, and any one of them will make...your...power...MINE!" "...fool..." Roland sighs. Markoth's outrage is towering for about a quarter of a second, coming to a sudden, gruesome halt as a blackened shaft of wood protrudes out of his chest. "If anything human can be called a monster," Eric says conversationally as Roland staggers back to his feet, "it would be you." The Ventrue Stake vanishes from Markoth's body, blood far too dark tricking far too slowly from the wound. The evil sorcerer falls, revealing Eric in a relaxed stance, the stake in one hand, Priscilla in the other. She sleeps soundly. Markoth dies, leaving the world no poorer for his passing. "Defender?" Eric asks. Roland merely nods. "Good." He gestures at the peacefully sleeping child. "If your teleportation powers are up to it..." "They are," Defender says, and Priscilla vanishes, reappearing in the arms of her until-that-moment terrified mother. Eric nods. "Thank you." He darts towards the deadly keep, once more vanishing among their foes. Roland turns shakily to face Morgan Bloodwolf. Jezrael and Obsidian-6 both smile in hungry anticipation... --- TBC (ASAP :-) Roland & Morgan It's about frackin' time! =========================== Subject: [CAoL Main] AAE9: Beginning of the End, part II On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:38:13 -0700 Roland X Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12912 >On Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:28:33 -0700 >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012856 > >>Roland X wrote As CAoL Message # 00012847 >> >> The glaive does damage Malfael, though it doesn't look it to >>observers -- every extremity lopped off, every slash ripped in the >>body, slithers back into place with a sickening, bubbling >>pseudo-fluidity. This costs Malfael energy, more than it should seem >>to, until it becomes apparent that the extremities are warping with >>each blow. They harden on a multidimensional level, the limbs >>growing blades, and ooze along the length of the glaive's shaft >>towards Hydra. >> That's when it gets _bad._ > >/*"Hydra, incomming."*/ Oracle warns. > >> Krona, the exiled Oan, appears behind Hydra, of a size with the >>combatants. He smiles viciously. "You know the Secret." He strikes, >>with the skill of an Oan and a power bloated from the energies of >>entire universes. "I was certain he lied, but he spoke true." He >>doesn't unleash all the might he's accumulated -- that would >>probably shatter Earth-9 and half its universe like an egg -- but >>what he does wield makes the entire battlefield, from the plains of >>Hy-Brasil to the star battle around Neptune, to ring like a bell on >>the psychic, magickal, and primal levels. He wields it like a >>scalpel, meaning to open Hydra like a high school biology project >>(albeit in several more dimensions than any high schooler can >>comprehend) and find whatever 'Secret' is within him. "I will enjoy >>extracting it from you." > >Hydra stagers from the impact of Krona's attack, opening himself up >to several of Malfael's attacks. It takes almost all his >concentration, control and skill to redirect the Oan's attack out of >the arena of conflict an into a waiting power. The Stardragon simply >'licks its lips' as the energy pours into it. This however opens >Hydra's defenses even further, and Malfael takes advantage of every >millisecond of distraction, ripping and tearing at Hydra's very >being. Hydra is able, just barely, recover. However it is clear he is >BADLY injured. > >> Roland's jaw tightens. /Hydra, you need backup?/ > >/I would not say no to assistance, friend./ Hydra answers. Roland nods reluctantly, fighting off the worry. He'd hidden the memory, even from himself, until the right moment -- and it came then, now, when he needs it. This is his last hole card, his trump, but if *Krona* is on the battlefield, he has no choice. [When Morgan finds out I knew, she's going to kill me. If there's anything left of me to kill.] He grimaces. *"NOW."* Reality rings like a bell once more, but a cleansing reverberation, countering Krona's, and a male figure handsome and youthful, ancient and ageless, with platinum hair, long and flowing, eyes the most intense blue-green imaginable, and bronze-gold robes that rippled in airless space around a perfect tanned figure that should have belonged to a Greek god. He bears a bronze-gold spear with a glowing blue crystal set in the heart of its blade. "Enough," he says quietly, and his voice echoes across the world. "Eh?" Krona turns casually, relenting in his assault. "I am Atlan," the figure says, slowly growing from his normal (if tall) human size. "You have invaded the world I am sworn to protect, endangered those I love, harmed their friends. You will leave, or you will fall." Krona laughs. "Child, I was ancient when your world was a cooling orb of molten rock. What makes you think you can stand against me when this worthy Starspawn comes near to falling?" Atlan's eyes narrow. "You misunderstand. You seek the truth about universes, realities?" He is almost Krona's height, now, spear at the ready. "Then face me, and meet it." Krona laughs again and attacks. Atlan parries, and Krona's energies are dispersed throughout the universe entire, with a few small exceptions of energy spike. Krona's laughter ends. "What..." "Reality is _alive,_ Krona," Atlan explains coldly. Eternity, Kismet...do you not remember?:" "Of course..." Krona whispers. "I AM THIS REALITY," Atlan intones. The stelae shatter. Orrorsh's reality remains, such is the Gaunt Man's power, but possibilities rush in, Earth-9's hero-supporting reality reasserting itself. Atlan spares some attention to the innocent within the field, restoring their life energies even as the onrush of changing reality tries to take it. ^Beloved daughter,^ Atlan sends, ^I have failed you more times, in more ways, than I can account. Know only that I always meant to give you the only gift worth having...freedom. Let this be my last gift to you.^ He smiles. Krona bares his teeth. "You _are_ this...THEN YOU KNOW!" He lunges. Atlan accepts the blow. They both vanish, Krona's expression one of utter shock in the instant before he disappears. Morgan screams. */"FATHER!"/* Even Dracul isn't willing to press her in that moment. Stellara appears behind Malfael, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You should have remained as you were, Pitspawn," she says a moment before the very essence of Earth-9's magick tears into it. Something of Atlan's power seems to flow through her as well... >> *"A moment."* Neron's smile is cruel and calculating, yet >>surprisingly human -- and all the more disturbing for it. ^Exquisite >>Aurora. You would be a delightful addition to my collection, and >>combat is so...distasteful, wouldn't you agree? So I have an offer >>for you.^ Of course. Neron is always a big one for bargains. ^You, >>and your Light-aspected Starspawn, will swear, now and forever, to >>never interfere with and leave to me, the dimension your leader >>calls...Earth-6.^ His smile becomes cunning enough to conquer >>nations and sharp enough to shave the charge off an electron. ^What >>need have you of that universe, anyway? This is the one you fight >>for, and you can see what its Champions are like. A small price to >>have a chance, no matter how slight, against the Ebon Dragon, >>wouldn't you say?^ > >^You are correct, in saying I have no need of that universe. However >you could say the same about THIS universe. I have no need for it. I >and my people do not battle for control, or even need. We battle for >what is right. So my answer must be no. I in turn would offer YOU a >deal. Leave this arena of battle now, and you will not be pursued. In >short order The Stardragon will be entering this battle. The Gaunt >Man's forces cannot win against that. When the battle is done, those >who fought against us will be pursued and, in most cases, destroyed. >You can avoid that by leaving NOW.^ Aurora answers. "You have no idea what Heketon is, do you?" Neron asks with a shrug. "Still, you have a point." He grins with malevolence itself. "Why risk myself when I can let Ebon do the work?" He vanishes, but not before letting Ebon tap into his nigh-infinite power. Ebon laughs. "Always thinking, Fallen One..." The toxic green flames of Corruption and sable streamers of Oblivion weave together to reach for Aurora, becoming a combination of lash and net. ^You have fought with a skill and grace that would be legendary after any other battle,^ a voice like Atlan's whispers in between the motes of Creation around Aurora, ^but Ebon does not fight alone, and neither should you.^ Reality itself places its nature at her disposal. (OOC: "Finish him!" ;-) ^Beloved Solitaire. I will not say, 'do not grieve,' but know that there is more hope now than you can imagine. Believe in Roland. Believe in your friends. Believe in yourself...^ The message seems incongruous -- when has Morgan *not* believed, after all, she doesn't angst as Roland does -- but there is a reflective nature in the message that seems as much a hint as encouragement... Morgan Bloodwolf shakes her head in denial -- it's not _her_ Atlan, after all -- but something's echoing within her as well, and she's trying to fight it off. "I knew it," Roland says, but there's still an uncertainty in him. /I've figured out the rest, but the harem.../ "Soli-" he begins. In that moment, of course, Jezrael and Obsidian-6 lunge, both seeing their chance. "Oh frack," he snarls, barely holding them both off. ^Morgan, are you up to keeping Dracul busy?^ Greywolf sends back a nod, not even speaking mentally, as Dracul's own stunned realization wears off. Greywolf and Dracul battle without further banter, though Red Fury's sudden desperation seems to have nothing to do with fear of defeat. [Yep. Definitely on the right track.] With Solitaire-6 circling warily, he can at least focus on the two deadly warriors attacking him. Obsidian-6 is trying to drain his now overflowing powers, and Defender's incredible Gate Key control is all that's holding the energy vampire off. Jezrael is on an entirely different level, and ironically it's primarily Anathema's powers, granted to him thanks to Markoth's treachery, that are keeping Roland alive. */Backup would be nice,/* he sends. (OOC: Anyone who wants a high-level partner to play with can take on/out Jezrael; she/it is slightly less powerful than Thratchen, but more balanced mentally and more willing to bail on a fight it's not winning.) "And now," Obsidian-6, the Black Prince, says with a toothy, voracious smile, "I dine on you at last." "Dream on," Roland snarls, turning his full power on the evil Champions' 'brick.' Wave after wave wash off the monster as he slowly forces his way forward. "Besides, you don't think you'll get enough from me to usurp Fury, do you?" "Fury is soft," Obsidian-6 replies, taking another step forward. "Shut up," Dracul barks, his hearing mysteriously (*cough* Morgan's Life magic *cough*) enhanced just enough to catch the commentary. "Soft," Phoenix snorts dismissively. "Right." Solitaire-6 is now fully at the ready, but is hanging back, watching to see if Defender and the Black Prince might take each other out. "I mean, come _on,_ the man brags about his harem slaves." Obsidian-6 laughs derisively. "And well he might," the jet titan replies with a mocking sneer. "That he should find so many women--" "SHUT UP!" Dracul roars. [Damn whispering -- \Seeker!\] \Thought I took care of 'im, mate,\ Seeker-6 replies sheepishly. Meanwhile, Obsidian-6 ignores him. "--willing, indeed eager, to play captives for him..." Defender smiles, exhaling in phenomenal relief. "Thanks. That's exactly what I needed." /Morgan, incoming!/ he sends, then shoots the rock under Obsidian-6 into the air with fantastic power, throwing him right at Red Fury. Bloodwolf moves in where her teammate left the gap. "You forget his body count," she replies coolly. "I forget no such thing," Defender replies, his smile softening. "Every last 'victim' was a rival villain or criminal, far worse than any 'Champion of Evil.' Your Black Prince possibly excepted, that is, but enemies closer and all that." At Bloodwolf's astonishment, Phoenix steps back and relaxes slightly, holding monsters and villains at bay with his vast force fields. "You didn't think I would research you? _Me?_ There's posters of your Champions in half the teenagers' rooms in America. You bust up drug rings and form 'Champion-gangs,' the closest thing to real protection people can find in the West. You put captured heroes into absurd death traps they're almost guaranteed to escape." "Fury's a traditionalist," Solitaire-6 replies defensively. "Hey, I'm not inclined to complain," Defender says, "and that's my point. I was so afraid of what Dracul said about me. Instead, I should be honored. Everything Earth-6 put him through, and that's the worst he is?" Solitaire-6 bares her teeth at him. "If you're so sure of yourself, then come at me!" "Okay." Roland walks forward. With a cry of triumph, Solitaire-6 drives her blade into his abdomen. Though he brings up the Phoenix Rod, just to be sure, the blade never touches it...or the chakra that would paralyze him. Roland coughs. "You...you see?" He forces himself up the blade, mentally reaching for something he's sure is there, in Bloodwolf's mind. "You...you can't...you're not strong enough," Morgan Bloodwolf gasps. "Damn," Fury spits, throwing Obsidian-6 off of him and turning to charge at Defender. He tries to fly forward, only to find himself coming to a sudden halt when he discovers that Morgan's pinned him to the ground with Aramegil, by his cape. [NASS! I knew I should have made it auto-detaching!] He can, of course, detach it with a thought, and does so, lunging at the now unarmed Greywolf and easily pinning her to the ground. "GOT you!" "Aye, you've got me," Morgan replies evenly, looking him straight in the eyes. "Now what are you going to do with me?" While Dracul stares in shock at the 'helpless' Morgan Greywolf (yea, right ;-), Phoenix slides closer to Morgan Bloodwolf. She actually winces at the sight of his blood on her blade. "Strong enough?" He chuckles, a trickle of blood escaping his lips. "To save any Morgan, I'd go through far worse." He slides right next to Bloodwolf, wipes the blood from his chin, and kisses her gently. Bloodwolf suddenly feels Phoenix in her mind, proverbial teeth at her throat. She has a weakness, a psychic vulnerability, that only a Roland could know of, and even then only if his Morgan has the same...difficulty. And connection. ^You love,^ he sends to the bond that Dracul and Bloodwolf share. ^You've had to deny what you truly are, but it's past time to realize what you were always meant to be.^ And he lets go. Roland stands quietly for a moment, smiling at Bloodwolf, who could shift her blade a centimeter and end it then and there. Bloodwolf withdraws her blade in astonishment. "How did you know?" "You're Solitaire," Roland replies with relief. He clutches at the wound. "Ow." Solitaire-6 'tch'es and heals it. "Oh, thank you. Figures it'd be a faerie blade too. Ow. ow. ow." "Tch. Fool of a man, couldn't think of a better way to do that..." Bloodwolf fusses over him for a moment, pausing only to plant the back of the double-ended sword in a Wraith that tries to repay her 'treachery.' Dracul blinks helplessly at his 'captive.' "You...he...how?" "Fool of a man, indeed," Greywolf replies with a wry grin. "So, are you gonna keep me here all day?" Red Fury coughs and scrambles to his feet. Morgan rises with an easy grace, noting with mild amusement that a fool of a Cheetah had recovered enough to go for her sword...and get wrapped up in Fury's work (not to mention his cape). "\Champions,\" Fury sends, "\decision time. Me, or Obsidian?\" Morgan takes the brief respite to paralyze Cheetah's nervous system with a flicker of magick. "Down, kitty," she says dismissively. Cheetah's magical powers make it more difficult that a normal Life effect, but with Dracul shielding for her instead of against her, she can afford to give the Legionnaire her undivided attention briefly. "No," the Gaunt Man breathes harshly. "Oh, yes," Phoenix replies, and an exquisite saber of crimson and azure marble appears in his hand. "The Possibility Saber. The Sword of Apeiros. It's here. You're done." "Hardly," the Gaunt Man snarls. The Champions-6 have still not replied to Dracul...and Obsidian-6 is striding toward Fury with a will. "You must yet reach me, and that will not happen." "Care t' bet on that, mate?" Seeker-6 laughs, leaping from Jaguar-9 to tear into Viper goons. Orchid-6, just having recovered, races to Orchid-9's side to protect her from the briefly-recovered Zoom and send him back into unconsciousness. Jaguar-6 joins Kalibak in fighting through Moblins toward Darkseid, who has finally fallen, after defeating half a dozen rival masterminds, to the dread Ganon (the ten foot tall magically nigh-omnipotent boar-man with demonic tusk-horns, not the seven foot tall nigh-omnipotent humanoid with red hair; c.f. Legend of Zelda ;-).Quantum-6 simply turns the flight suits of an entire squadron of Viper Air Cavalry into helium, making their screams as they plummet particularly absurd. "You gave every one of us a life when all we had was lives o' runnin' and fightin'. To be honest, I figured this'd happen sooner or later." "COWARDS!" Obsidian-6 roars hatefully. "ALL OF YOU!" His hands hammer into Fury's force field, draining at him with a might neither he nor Fury thought possible. "I WILL EAT YOUR HEART!" Dracul merely winces. "\Ironclad,\" he snarls. "Ironclad? What a pathetic last...word..." Obsidian-6's eyes widen in horror as he hears a familiar whistling sound. He tries to pull away, but Dracul's used the holes the Prince has pierced in his force field to pin him. That's when a huge man made of dark gray metal crashes into the former Champion of Evil. "Meet your replacement," Dracul exhales as Ironclad, apparently immune to Obsidian-6's vampirism, proceeds to finish pummelling him into the dirt. "I found him in the Malvan gladiator pits. He's tough, honorable to a fault, intensely loyal...and utterly immune to vampiric effects." Dracul turns to Greywolf as he mulches gospog by the thousand and Ironclad finishes Obsidian with a well-placed boot. "I intended to savor that, but somehow, it would feel...inappropriate, now. Suggestions, lady Greywolf?" Defender hammers a Cylon mecha aside with a thought and strides forward, eyes blazing and locked on the Gaunt Man. "What else?" Morgan gestures at the leader of both the CAoL and Champions. "Run interference for him." */That goes for everyone who's not busy with someone,/* she adds mentally to the rest of the CAoL and allied forces. "Right," Dracul nods. "\YOU HEARD THE LADY, CHAMPIONS -- we're blocking for the fullback, and there's no penalties for roughing!\" Both Jaguars roar, and thirteen Champions move to hold off villains. And villains there are aplenty, because while the Gaunt Man is clearly ready for Roland, he clearly doesn't want to face him. That's when a black stake emerges from _his_ back. The Gaunt Man stares in surprise at this new wound. Eric chuckles from behind him. "There's always more than one way to skin a bat," he quips. Unfortunately, it's Eric's turn to be shocked when the Gaunt Man reaches behind himself, grabs Eric, and throws him _past_ Defender. He lands hard, rolling to blunt the impact, but even with some help (including Rio slowing him down), the Hunter clearly felt that. "You stung me, you insect," the High Lord grunts, then pulls out the legendary stake and snaps it, with obvious effort, in his hands. "Clearly, you need swatting." "He _broke_ it?" Hunter says, not quite gaping. */"One on one,"/* Roland reminds his teammates. */"I have to face him alone."/* /Good try, though,/ he adds to Eric, commiserating. >> Azathoth is as far beyond Cthulhu as Cthulhu is beyond a Deep >>One. Only the Elder Sign seems to restrain it from obliterating the >>entire battlefield (could the Gaunt Man have predicted that? No, >>that's impossible), but its impossible nature is more than enough. >>At first, even to its foes, it seems to attack the four Starspawn >>while analyzing them. Then it becomes clear that the analysis was so >>invasive and unreal that it acted like an attack. Otherwise, >>Azathoth plays defense for the moment. >> No, wait, maybe it was _tasting_ them... > >One of the four Starspawn looks up momentarily to see what is >happening to Hydra. He then issues an order to the other 3. /*"Omega >1. NOW!"*/ In a single tik of time, the four take positions around >Azathoth. Then from their outstreached hands a web of energy takes >form. As the web solidifies, those who know what they are looking at >are aghast. They are seeing a multi dimensional Elder Sign, with >Azathoth's one true name woven into the form, completely encompasing >him. With their free hands three of them toss small objects into the >nexus points of the web. Upon impact the objects 'detonate'. The >infinite energies released with their detonation do NOT expand >outward, but instead, run through the 'web' turing tiny strands into >tremendous bars of pure energy. > >/""Dragon's Bane, NOW!"*/ The leader of the four commands, and from >space the Dragon's Bane II fires its main weapon, not into the web, >but into the Starspawn who had called for the strike. As the beam of >energy hits him, the other three Starspawn turn the web over to him. >The strike from the Dragon's Bane is routed through him, and into the >web. As his life is riven from him, to give life to the Elder sign, >he has just enough time for one last sigh /*"Good bye, Mother and >Father,. I love you."*/ With Azathoth encased and confined, the three >turn to aid Aurora. Those with the senses to perceive them see a >momentary look of sadness come across both Aurora and Hydra, and a >single tear trickles down the equine cheek of the winged unicorn. "No," Roland gasps with a pain his wounds couldn't touch. "Not again." "It won't be the last," the Gaunt Man laughs. "THE HELL!" Phoenix roars. At once, he is sheathed in raw power, the mountain shaking as he explodes with light and force. Every step that brings him closer to the High Lord shakes the entire battlefield. "That - was - your - final - VICTIM!" The Carredon, the Gaunt Man's draconic supreme enforcer, lands in front of James and Zia. The Gaunt Man laughs. "I think not. Choose, then, boy, your friends or -- by Oblivion," he breathes, exasperated. Actually _laughing,_ Eric has already landed on the Carredon's back, and the thing bucks and rages, launching itself into the air. "/So that was my mistake,/" he quips. "/I thought the Gaunt Man was the ultimate monster. He's just the ultimate _mastermind,_ which means he's all yours, boy scout. _This_ thing is what I'm here to deal with./" "YOU THINK YOU CAN DEFEAT ME?!" the Carredon screams, twisting, spinning and writhing in the sky. "I, WHO HAVE SLAIN ENTIRE ARMIES OF HEROES!? I, THE CARREDON!" "Believe it," is Eric's only reply. And the ground thunders again as Roland moves closer to his final confrontation... OOC: Everyone can finish off who you're doing if you like -- this is the It, the Big Finish, so let's go out with a BANG! The only target that needs to not be 'dead' before then is Heketon itself, for reasons that will be obvious after Roland's final duel. As for anyone else who's left, they're all yours. There's everything from mindless zombies/gospog for the 'mere mortals' to Primordial Outsider Things for the cosmics. -- (/) Roland Morgan /|\ Worlds saved, paradigms refined, villains undone. Send inquiries c/o Callahan's Place. CAoL site: http://silver-gateway.com/caol/index.shtml Earth 9: http://silver-gateway.com/rc/earth9/index.html =========================== Subject: [CAoL Main] Re: AAE9: Beginning of the End, part II On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:27:39 -0800 (PST) Peter Eng Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12913 >Roland X Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12911 > > Fury half-sighs, half-snarls as Blaze (aka Rachel Phoenix) and >Orchid-9 high-five each other, then dart to opposite ends of the >battle. Defender smiles in satisfaction (and more than a little >pride). > His smile vanishes when his daughter screams. Even powerful force >fields and near-instant regeneration aren't enough to completely >avoid the consequences of being knocked over at the speeds she's >running, and when she comes to a halt, Kagato the Ruins Buster floats >above her, emerald energy sword floating above his fist. "Ryoko seems >to like you," he says idly. > "no...you're dead..." Rachel gasps. > "Not any more," Kagato laughs. > */You wanted someplace to help?/* Roland sends to Rob, trying to >keep his mental voice even. Rob glances at Kagato, identifying his power level from habit. /Your confidence in my abilities is disturbing,/ he remarks, even as he goes to aid Rachel, jumping from one combatant's head to the next so quickly that by the time they notice the weight, he's already gone. In sheer power, Kagato would out-match a dozen of Rob, assuming the stelae weren't getting in the way. Fortunately, sheer power isn't the only measure of combat ability. [Come on, come on, I! need! that! spell!] Then Roland takes care of the problem. >Roland X Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12912 > > "I AM THIS REALITY," Atlan intones. > The stelae shatter. Seconds later, a red-haired girl with an odd hairstyle walks up to Kagato and tugs on his pants leg. "Kagato, what are you up to now? There's nothing scientific about a battlefield, and you know it. If you were testing a new weapon, I could see it of you, but attacking people for no other reason? It's beneath you." "WASHUU?!" Rob digs through his memory, hoping to keep Kagato distracted. Half the challenge is making the illusion believable, the other half is keeping his opponent from attacking him. [After all, if he attacks me with the force he'd need to inconvenience Washuu-chan, I won't last long enough to regret this stunt...] =========================== Subject: [CAoL Main] Re: AAE 9: Beginning of the End, part I On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 23:22:19 -0700 Richard Bagnall Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12914 >On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:36:56 -0700 >Roland X Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12911 > >> On Wed, 4 Oct 2006 18:38:42 -0700 (PDT) >> Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012852 >> >> Roughly half a second after that, the grenades go off. The power >>packs average about five seconds, plus or minus four seconds. Ming's >>Metal Men, however, are tough opponents - their forces are decimated >>in the original sense, losing roughly one tenth of their number. > > Ming looks distinctly nonplused. Rama-Tet, the >Astrologer/Mathemagician who once served Pharaoh Mobius tries to >sneak away before Ming can blame him...only to find himself facing >the now-*heroic* Dr. Mobius. "Ah," Rama-Tet says desperately, "my >Pharaoh, I can explain--" > Mobius cuts him off with a electric arc from his ray-gun. Rama-Tet >crumples. "I imagine you could, at that," Mobius muses, watching for >a moment until he sees his former vizier breathe. Then he returns to >the fray, allowing Flash Gordon's forces to charge at Ming's. > "Not again, " Ming snarls as their battle, now far more even than >Ming would have liked, is fully engaged. Even with his forces >bolstered with Cylon reinforcements, they are seriously depleted by >heroic interference -- a certain Mr. Nishikawa's in particular. Harlock glances over at the battle site. While the Metal Men and Cylons look to be losing, it also looks like it could take them a while. [Maybe...my future self said I will have going to create two avatars over the next hour or so. Perhaps a battle avatar?] At the thought, a figure in power armor appears close to Ming's forces. Which wouldn't be particularly remarkable under the circumstances, except for the fact that the figure is 20 feet tall. The Bard blink-blinks. ['Twould appear the tale will grown in the telling.] PFC Harlock, TMC, begins his part of the combat by launching a salvo of EMP grenades into the thick of the Cylons. He then limbers a triple-barreled weapon that would make a glitterboy turn green with envy and starts mowing down Metal Men by the dozen...with single shots. Within moments, Flash Gordon's forces are forming a wedge to drive straight at Ming. "G'wan," booms Harlock's voice from the loudspeakers, "I gotcher flanks!" Meanwhile, Marivale is dancing through the battle, slicing up creepies, crawlies, and things that go "bump" in the night, when a metallic whip slashes dangerously close to his ankle. Marivale glances over his shoulder at Arturo and shakes his head in exasperation. "And what, might I ask, are you doing here?" "The Gaunt Man brought me here to kill you, swordsman." Marivale brings his off hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Well, I thought a fall of that magnitude would shake something loose. Pity it was your brain, rather than something vital." He then yanks a parrying dagger off of his belt and makes a rolling "come on" gesture with it. =========================== Subject: [CAoL Main] Re: AAE9: Beginning of the End, part II On Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:53:52 -0700 Patrick O'Shea Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12915 On one corner of the battlefield, a gateway shimmers for a second, revealing a single figure, tattered green cape obscuring one arm, other arm clenched on the oddly-shaped hilt of a sword. Quiet Moon blinked for a second, realizing that, whereas he had been gone for months, only a fraction of that time, from what he could perceive, had passed. He pushed the observation aside. It could be dealt with it later, if he survived. *Are you alright in there?* *Yes, for the fiftieth time,* the young padawan's 'voice', once attached to a lightsaber, replied. *This is much better than just being a spirit. I can touch things again!* Sighing, the Kai looked over the battlefield. *You may wish to revise that sentiment. Let's go.* The two, Kai and living weapon, move towards the battle, quickly surrounded by the swarming masses of nonliving. *Now?* *Later. Dividing our strength now would work against us. Besides...* With a grunt, he swings the sword in a wide arc, driving back a handful of gospog, cleaving a number of zombies. Two more swings clear a circular area around him; Quiet Moon slams the sword point first into the tainted ground, shouting a single, arcane syllable, pouring what power he can through the blade. Seconds later, the evil dead are reduced to nonthreatening dust. He makes no attempt to mask the source of the power, a clear challenge to the remaining overlords. Undaunted, more swarms advance, though these come a bit more slowly, even their blasted minds somewhat cowed. He arched an eyebrow as, out of the shattered pieces of reality, a nebulous form approached OOC: Best I can manage, hopefully a bit better than my prior attempt. =========================== Subject: [CAoL Main] Re: AAE9: Beginning of the End, part II On Sat, 17 Mar 2007 13:08:19 -0700 Dane Anderson Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12918 >Roland X wrote Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12912 >>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012856 >> >>/""Dragon's Bane, NOW!"*/ The leader of the four commands, and from >>space the Dragon's Bane II fires its main weapon, not into the web, >>but into the Starspawn who had called for the strike. As the beam of >>energy hits him, the other three Starspawn turn the web over to him. >>The strike from the Dragon's Bane is routed through him, and into >>the web. As his life is riven from him, to give life to the Elder >>sign, he has just enough time for one last sigh /*"Good bye, Mother >>and Father,. I love you."*/ With Azathoth encased and confined, the >>three turn to aid Aurora. Those with the senses to perceive them see >>a momentary look of sadness come across both Aurora and Hydra, and a >>single tear trickles down the equine cheek of the winged unicorn. > > "No," Roland gasps with a pain his wounds couldn't touch. "Not >again." > "It won't be the last," the Gaunt Man laughs. > "THE HELL!" Phoenix roars. At once, he is sheathed in raw power, >the mountain shaking as he explodes with light and force. Every step >that brings him closer to the High Lord shakes the entire >battlefield. "That - was - your - final - VICTIM!" Hydra, badly injured but still very much in the fight, reaches out, WAY out, to The Stardragon. The Stardragon in turn 'gives back' the energies that Krona had used against Hydra. Energies that have been modified and magnified. The incomming energies heal Hydra's wounds in a single tic of the cosmic clock. Hydra then turns his attention back to Malfael. Pausing only a moment to analyze the magical energies that Stellara is employing against Malfael. He adds HIS power to hers, while reaching out to drain the energy from quasar after quasar in alternate realities, to feed the assault against their monstrous foe. Under that dual assault Malfael goes down. Kicking and screaming as it were, but the monster DOES go down and goes down quickly. Ebon suddenly find himself fighting four beings of TREMENDOUS power, and what's worse they ALL are weaving his one true name into the forces they're using to attack him, and that witch Aurora is hitting him with ten times the force she was BEFORE he called Neron in. Even with the added energies that Neron provided him, he cannot last long against them. Looking about in desperation, he sees that the most poweful of these cursed Starspawn has somehow finished MALFAEL off, and is turning to join the other four against him. Glancing the Gaunt Man's way he realizes aid from HIM won't be comming any time soon. His only hope, is to escape. Suiting thought to action, he gates out. /*"Persue him."*/ Hydra tells the three remaining guardians /*"When you catch up to him, notify me, but do NOT attack. We will provide new Guardians for this world in your absence. Go."*/ The three Guardians vanish from the field, as Hydra and Aurora turn to survey the battle. =========================== Subject: [CAoL Main] Re: AAE9: Beginning of the End, part II On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 19:43:18 -0700 "L.J. Wolfe" Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12919 >On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:38:13 -0700 >Roland X Sent CAoL Post # 12912 > >[Obsidian's] hands hammer into Fury's force field, draining at him >with a might neither he nor Fury thought possible. "I WILL EAT YOUR >HEART!" > Dracul merely winces. "\Ironclad,\" he snarls. > "Ironclad? What a pathetic last...word..." Obsidian-6's eyes widen >in horror as he hears a familiar whistling sound. He tries to pull >away, but Dracul's used the holes the Prince has pierced in his force >field to pin him. That's when a huge man made of dark gray metal >crashes into the former Champion of Evil. > "Meet your replacement," Dracul exhales as Ironclad, apparently >immune to Obsidian-6's vampirism, proceeds to finish pummelling him >into the dirt. "I found him in the Malvan gladiator pits. He's tough, >honorable to a fault, intensely loyal...and utterly immune to >vampiric effects." Dracul turns to Greywolf as he mulches gospog by >the thousand and Ironclad finishes Obsidian with a well-placed boot. >"I intended to savor that, but somehow, it would >feel...inappropriate, now. Suggestions, lady Greywolf?" > Defender hammers a Cylon mecha aside with a thought and strides >forward, eyes blazing and locked on the Gaunt Man. > >"What else?" Morgan gestures at the leader of both the CAoL and >Champions. "Run interference for him." */That goes for everyone who's >not busy with someone,/* she adds mentally to the rest of the CaoL >and allied forces. > > "Right," Dracul nods. "\YOU HEARD THE LADY, CHAMPIONS -- we're >blocking for the fullback, and there's no penalties for roughing!\" > Both Jaguars roar, and thirteen Champions move to hold off >villains. And villains there are aplenty, because while the Gaunt Man >is clearly ready for Roland, he clearly doesn't want to face him. The Gaunt Man chants as Defender strides towards him. Red Fury grunts as a Wraith's scythe crashes into his katana; the widdershins Champion summons a wakizashi into his off hand and slices the monster to ribbons. A plant-woman who would make Poison Ivy gape in shock fires vines at him, which he turns around in mid-air to wrap her up with them. When she simply re-absorbs the vines and turns her hands into giant carnivorous plant-mouths, he bathes her in pure flame, but even that isn't enough to kill one of Gaunt Man's top horrors. *Would a Solitaire like to step in here?* he asks, the annoyance at the woman's continued survival clear in his voice. Two Morgans concentrate, and the verdant creature turns dead-leaf brown in under a second. As they realize what they're doing, each figures out almost immediately how to heterodyne with the other, and within a few seconds more nothing is left of Dracul's erstwhile foe but a pile of withered roots. A few seconds after that, _nothing_ is left, the remains absorbed by the earth for recycling. Dracul smiles coolly. *"I love watching you work."* Bloodwolf chuckles. *"Hey, this time I had help."* *"True enough."* He glances sidelong at Greywolf, his smile becoming more considering. *"Though I notice she's dressing more like you lately,"* he notes, eyes flickering across the gaps in her tunic. Her neckline plunges far more deeply than it had thanks to Gaiasbane's final slash, barely kept at PG-13 by pinpoint uses of her life magick. *"_I_ had help,"* Morgan quips wryly, fingering the First Metis' abdominal contribution to her wardrobe malfunction. *"Use what you've got, sister,"* Solitaire-6 laughs, matching deeds to words as the Viper villain Rampage comes to a screeching halt at the sight of her leaning over noticeably. That's when the blade goes through the brick's bare, muscle-bound chest. "Today's lesson, kids: steroids kill your brain," Dracul notes amusedly as the Viper agent falls over quietly. His humor vanishes at the sight of a bedraggled pre-teen boy padding up to them, his feet bare. "And you are?" "Punch," the boy said with a smile that looked, for all the world, utterly innocent. Dracul paled. "Frack me." Punch held out his hand, palm facing Red Fury, and a giant fist on a spring shot out, apparently striking his forcefield harmlessly. Faces started growing on the blood-red field, and screaming. Dracul grunted and backpedaled. "So, which of you lovely ladies wants to match magic with me?" he said, his voice full of childhood naivete and laughter. Seeing Greywolf paling much as Dracul had, Bloodwolf bares her teeth and strides forward carefully. *"I've got him,"* she snarls, double-ended blade spinning into a blur. *"Pull it together, Fury, and Punch? For the record..."* she lashes out with a slice that he almost evades, leaving only a faint line of blood trickling down his cheek. *"...I don't _have_ children."* Punch's smile turns sickeningly sadistic and knowing. "That's okay, I'm not one." He points his finger at Bloodwolf, and a "BANG!" flag pops out of it. Bloodwolf raises an eyebrow and moves to decapitate the boy, but the flag shoots out, a needle growing from its end and sticking into her. This doesn't slow her down, but the flag growing ten feet square and smothering her does. It takes her several seconds to cut herself free, revealing a deep red half-wolf form a foot taller than she was, eyes glowing violent and frenzied. Punch is already dancing away, laughing. "I _have_ him," Bloodwolf growls when Dracul moves forward to help. "Keep blocking for blue boy." Dracul nods, then spits out a curse that incinerates the nearest gospog and makes a savage pulling gesture with his katana-filled hand at the sky. The Black Paladin and his draconic steed, Malais, come crashing to the ground near the odd duo of Red Fury and Morgan Greywolf. Malais shakes his head quickly, shrugging off the impact, and glares balefully at Dracul. "What foolishness is this, little brother?" the dragon asks in his Vader-like voice. "I would not destroy you, but I will if I must." Dracul spins his blades and flows into a ready stance. "Then come get some." Meanwhile, the Black Paladin leaps from Malais' back and lands past Morgan. Jets and wings emerge from the back plate of his apparently archaic armor, but the jets sputter and die at Greywolf's glare. He turns and scowls back, summoning a mace that crackles with electricity and a shield that hums with power. "I don't know what you're doing with Red Fury, woman, but I've heard of you. I'd rather not get the Verbena having a hate-on for me 'cause I killed you. Out of my way." "The Verbena are the least of your worries," Morgan shoots back, twirling Aramegil in one hand and pointedly circling to come between the Paladin and Defender. The Paladin stretches out his shield arm, and shock-discs fly from his hand. A split-second later, he bashes at the air savagely with his mace, and a humming, barbed net spins towards her. Only _then_ does he leap, shouting a wordless battle-cry as he swings his mace at the Greywolf. Before the discs are halfway to their target, however, Morgan vanishes. "What in Shadow...?" Paladin blurts, striding to where she'd been. He shrugs -- she hadn't been his true target, anyway -- and gestures to reactivate his jets. When that doesn't work, he curses and takes a step towards Defender. That's as far as he gets before an incredibly strong python wraps around his legs and sends him crashing to the ground. "AARGH!" he screams, trying to crush the python's head with his mace, but by the time he finishes his swing, the python has vanished, replaced by a hummingbird that darts easily out of reach. Stumbling to his feet, he then sprays a fiery wave of burning liquid that would be hard even for a hummingbird to dodge. To his fury, Morgan's turned into a mythical salamander, the chemicals and flame only soothing and feeding her current form. He immediately follows up with a Captain Cold-style hand cannon, firing a stream of ice and cold, but Morgan is already shifting again, back to her human form but protected by lupine fur, and swings Aramegil to slice the gun in half. The Paladin backpedals, cursing, then laughs as the jets finally kick in. "Ha! Brains defeat brute force again!" He takes to the sky. "Better luck next -- oh god," he breathes, as Morgan growls furiously, grows gray raptor's wings, and rockets into the air to give chase. =========================== Subject: [CAoL Main] Re: AAE9: Beginning of the End On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 23:07:01 -0700 Roland X Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12920 >On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:27:39 -0800 (PST) >Peter Eng Sent CAoL Post 12913 > >>Roland X Sent CAoL Post 12912 >> >> "I AM THIS REALITY," Atlan intones. >> The stelae shatter. > > Seconds later, a red-haired girl with an odd hairstyle walks up to >Kagato and tugs on his pants leg. "Kagato, what are you up to now? >There's nothing scientific about a battlefield, and you know it. If >you were testing a new weapon, I could see it of you, but attacking >people for no other reason? It's beneath you." > "WASHUU?!" > Rob digs through his memory, hoping to keep Kagato distracted. >Half the challenge is making the illusion believable, the other half >is keeping his opponent from attacking him. [After all, if he attacks >me with the force he'd need to inconvenience Washuu-chan, I won't >last long enough to regret this stunt...] "It's an honor-debt, sensei," Kagato explains ruefully. "How did you think I came back from the dea..." Kagato blinks. He's explaining himself. To Washuu-chan. [How does she _do_ that to me?] he wonders, forming a force-blast in one palm. That's when the thin golden serpents leap out, snaking out to bind Rachel and Washuu. Kagato smiles confidently. "You always think you're smarter than anyone else, but I made you my slave once, and I can do it again." "Not with a hoary old trick like this!" Rachel shouts defiantly, buzzsawing her entire body to shatter the serpents before they can constrict around her. She flares her TK, pitting it against his, only to meet her equal. Kagato smiles down at the frustrated female Blaze. "Child, if you think my serpent-bonds are the only trick in my arsenal, you are even more foolish that Ryoko's friendship makes you out to be." "HEY!" Ryoko objects plaintively from nearly half a mile away. Ayeka giggles. Rachel, incongruously, grins. "We'll see who the fool is." Washuu-chan laughs. "And here I would have hoped that would be clear to everyone present." Kagato doesn't quite boggle. He's too _cool_ to boggle. Still, a lesser anime character would have facefaulted by now. "What?!" He glances from one Washuu-chan to the other, eyes glowing green and yet _still_ unable to tell the real from the fake. (OOC: That's because the other one's a fake, too, one of Washuu-chan's "Washuu dolls." Somehow, Rob knows this. ;-) >On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 23:22:19 -0700 >Richard Bagnall Sent CAoL Post 12914 > >>On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:36:56 -0700 >>Roland X Sent CAoL Post 12911 >> >> "Not again, " Ming snarls as their battle, now far more even than >>Ming would have liked, is fully engaged. Even with his forces >>bolstered with Cylon reinforcements, they are seriously depleted by >>heroic interference -- a certain Mr. Nishikawa's in particular. > >Harlock glances over at the battle site. While the Metal Men and >Cylons look to be losing, it also looks like it could take them a >while. [Maybe...my future self said I will have going to create two >avatars over the next hour or so. Perhaps a battle avatar?] At the >thought, a figure in power armor appears close to Ming's forces. >Which wouldn't be particularly remarkable under the circumstances, >except for the fact that the figure is 20 feet tall. The Bard >blink-blinks. ['Twould appear the tale will grown in the telling.] (OOC: Will "groan" indeed. Temporal puns...) >PFC Harlock, TMC, begins his part of the combat by launching a salvo >of EMP grenades into the thick of the Cylons. He then limbers a >triple-barreled weapon that would make a glitterboy turn green with >envy and starts mowing down Metal Men by the dozen...with single >shots. Within moments, Flash Gordon's forces are forming a wedge to >drive straight at Ming. "G'wan," booms Harlock's voice from the >loudspeakers, "I gotcher flanks!" Little of this battle is taking place in the sky -- most of the flight-capable vehicles are battling among the outer planets -- but a few flying heroes and villains wheel and joust in the air. Three Cylon Raiders divebomb Glitterlock, firing with suicidal abandon in a strafing run - slash - kamikaze dive. >Meanwhile, Marivale is dancing through the battle, slicing up >creepies, crawlies, and things that go "bump" in the night, when a >metallic whip slashes dangerously close to his ankle. Marivale >glances over his shoulder at Arturo and shakes his head in >exasperation. "And what, might I ask, are you doing here?" > >"The Gaunt Man brought me here to kill you, swordsman." > >Marivale brings his off hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. >"Well, I thought a fall of that magnitude would shake something >loose. Pity it was your brain, rather than something vital." He then >yanks a parrying dagger off of his belt and makes a rolling "come on" >gesture with it. Arturo grins, then spins and slashes with _far_ greater speed than he'd had. Nothing superhuman, to be sure, but where he had been plodding before, agile but slow, he now moves with a precise, mechanical fluidity that has him attacking five times for every once he would have before. "I do not fear even the Gaunt Man as I am, but he pulled me from a month-long walk at the bottom of this world's sea, and gave me my old panache back." A flintlock pistol spins out of one arm into the hand that held the whip and fires in a tenth of a second. It takes a full second to reload while Arturo presses his attack with his strange, rust-colored blade, but he fires again far more swiftly than a normal flintlock would allow. "Among other things. What tricks have you left against an invulnerable man, sword-swinger?" >On Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:53:52 -0700 >Patrick O'Shea Sent CAoL Post 12915 > >With a grunt, he swings the sword in a wide arc, driving back a >handful of gospog, cleaving a number of zombies. Two more swings >clear a circular area around him; Quiet Moon slams the sword point >first into the tainted ground, shouting a single, arcane syllable, >pouring what power he can through the blade. Seconds later, the evil >dead are reduced to nonthreatening dust. He makes no attempt to mask >the source of the power, a clear challenge to the remaining >overlords. Undaunted, more swarms advance, though these come a bit >more slowly, even their blasted minds somewhat cowed. He arched an >eyebrow as, out of the shattered pieces of reality, a nebulous form >approached A figure largely dressed in shades of green, wearing round violet sunglasses, steps forward and laughs with cruel confidence. "You are the one who has been training that delightful experiment Lloyd, are you not?" he asks with a smirk. "Then you certainly know of the greatest, most brilliant, cleverest and _certainly_ most stylish Grand Cardinal, Iron Will Rodyle!" Rodyle bows. "You have my permission to die now. Or alternately, to grovel for your life." >On Sat, 17 Mar 2007 13:08:19 -0700 >Dane Anderson Sent CAoL Post 12918 > >Hydra, badly injured but still very much in the fight, reaches out, >WAY out, to The Stardragon. The Stardragon in turn 'gives back' the >energies that Krona had used against Hydra. Energies that have been >modified and magnified. The incomming energies heal Hydra's wounds in >a single tic of the cosmic clock. Hydra then turns his attention back >to Malfael. Pausing only a moment to analyze the magical energies >that Stellara is employing against Malfael. He adds HIS power to >hers, while reaching out to drain the energy from quasar after quasar >in alternate realities, to feed the assault against their monstrous >foe. Under that dual assault Malfael goes down. Kicking and screaming >as it were, but the monster DOES go down and goes down quickly. > >Ebon suddenly find himself fighting four beings of TREMENDOUS power, >and what's worse they ALL are weaving his one true name into the >forces they're using to attack him, and that witch Aurora is hitting >him with ten times the force she was BEFORE he called Neron in. Even >with the added energies that Neron provided him, he cannot last long >against them. Looking about in desperation, he sees that the most >poweful of these cursed Starspawn has somehow finished MALFAEL off, >and is turning to join the other four against him. Glancing the Gaunt >Man's way he realizes aid from HIM won't be comming any time soon. >His only hope, is to escape. Suiting thought to action, he gates out. > >/*"Persue him."*/ Hydra tells the three remaining guardians /*"When >you catch up to him, notify me, but do NOT attack. We will provide >new Guardians for this world in your absence. Go."*/ > >The three Guardians vanish from the field, as Hydra and Aurora turn >to survey the battle. Malfeas no longer exists; that place was formed from Malfael, who has since been obliterated. The interdimensional 'space' the Demon Realm existed in remains, however, and that is where Ebon has retreated. An endless desert of shifting sands, some glowing toxic green, some midnight black, but most the gray of dull emptiness, ripples at its base. There, the remnants of the Outsider Things gather. Alas, these 'remnants' remain an unimaginably powerful force. Ebon curls, the Death Wind of the Yozi Desert whipping around him. An empty metal pillar, manacles dangling from it, clatters beneath him, and countless hordes of Yozi monsters gather at his ululating roar. He clearly does not want to seal the gate to this place, as that will trap him as well, but better that than death. Perhaps. In the reality of Earth-9, meanwhile, Heketon pulses as if beating. The literal, physical heart does not move -- nor should it be capable of moving on its own -- but it seems to quiver with...anticipation? *Let us see how your Champion fares against my High Lord,* it sends, taunting and confident, to Hydra and Aurora. -- Evil GM-San "I see that the Chosen and her travelling band of fools are still alive. You're as stubborn as cockroaches." -- Rodyle, reluctantly noting the hardiness of heroes =========================== To: "Callahanian Army of Light" On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:44:06 -0700 Richard Bagnall Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12921 >On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 23:07:01 -0700 >Roland X Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12920 > >>PFC Harlock, TMC, begins his part of the combat by launching a salvo >>of EMP grenades into the thick of the Cylons. He then limbers a >>triple-barreled weapon that would make a glitterboy turn green with >>envy and starts mowing down Metal Men by the dozen...with single >>shots. Within moments, Flash Gordon's forces are forming a wedge to >>drive straight at Ming. "G'wan," booms Harlock's voice from the >>loudspeakers, "I gotcher flanks!" > > Little of this battle is taking place in the sky -- most of the >flight-capable vehicles are battling among the outer planets -- but a >few flying heroes and villains wheel and joust in the air. Three >Cylon Raiders divebomb Glitterlock, firing with suicidal abandon in a >strafing run - slash - kamikaze dive. PFC Harlock notes the approaching puffs of dust indicating an incoming strafing run. Then he notes two more sets. [Aw, drat. Angles are wrong to get 'em to shoot each other. Timing could be tricky on this. First things first, though, are the weapons mechanical or...] With the grenade launcher built into his off-hand gauntlet, he launches an EMP grenade at each of the incoming Cylon Raiders. The rail gun in his primary hand is still steadily mowing down Metal Men. >>Meanwhile, Marivale is dancing through the battle, slicing up >>creepies, crawlies, and things that go "bump" in the night, when a >>metallic whip slashes dangerously close to his ankle. Marivale >>glances over his shoulder at Arturo and shakes his head in >>exasperation. "And what, might I ask, are you doing here?" >> >>"The Gaunt Man brought me here to kill you, swordsman." >> >>Marivale brings his off hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. >>"Well, I thought a fall of that magnitude would shake something >>loose. Pity it was your brain, rather than something vital." He then >>yanks a parrying dagger off of his belt and makes a rolling "come >>on" gesture with it. > > Arturo grins, then spins and slashes with _far_ greater speed than >he'd had. Nothing superhuman, to be sure, but where he had been >plodding before, agile but slow, he now moves with a precise, >mechanical fluidity that has him attacking five times for every once >he would have before. Marivale does not even bother doing a take at this, let alone a doubletake. [Huh. Nimblewraith, or some variant thereof.] He simply flows into the defensive stance that even Kanto had trouble penetrating. >"I do not fear even the Gaunt Man as I am, but he pulled me from a >month-long walk at the bottom of this world's sea, and gave me my old >panache back." A flintlock pistol spins out of one arm into the hand >that held the whip and fires in a tenth of a second. With a slight "ping" the bullet veers off course to strike an approaching gospog. It would appear that Marivale somehow managed to deflect the bullet with his rapier. Marivale smirks. >It takes a full second to reload while Arturo presses his attack with >his strange, rust-colored blade, but he fires again far more swiftly >than a normal flintlock would allow. Marivale's smirk disappears as he ducks just in time to avoid getting lead poisoning. >"Among other things. What tricks have you left against an >invulnerable man, sword-swinger?" Marivale sighs again. "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." "I have been watching you fight me, you know. And so I know you have eyes." With a flick of the wrist, he dips his off-hand into a belt pouch and flips a flashpellet into Arturo's face. "You respond to people's voices, so you have ears." Marivale boxes Arturo's ears quite soundly with the pommels of his weapons. His next attack shaves a wide patch of skin off of Arturo. "And frankly, I don't care what those gears are made of. Nothing turns forever." And he sheathes his parrying dagger, yanks a small ceramic jar out of yet another belt pouch, and shoves it into a handy cavity. If Arturo's eyes have cleared by this time, he may have noticed the label: "Sovereign Glue." But by the time he can do anything about it, a loud "crunch" announces the shattering of the jar. =========================== Subject: [CAoL Main] Re: AAE9: Beginning of the End On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:24:53 -0700 Dane Anderson Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12922 >Roland X wrote Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12920 > >Malfeas no longer exists; that place was formed from Malfael, who has >since been obliterated. The interdimensional 'space' the Demon Realm >existed in remains, however, and that is where Ebon has retreated. An >endless desert of shifting sands, some glowing toxic green, some >midnight black, but most the gray of dull emptiness, ripples at its >base. There, the remnants of the Outsider Things gather. Alas, these >'remnants' remain an unimaginably powerful force. Ebon curls, the >Death Wind of the Yozi Desert whipping around him. An empty metal >pillar, manacles dangling from it, clatters beneath him, and >countless hordes of Yozi monsters gather at his ululating roar. He >clearly does not want to seal the gate to this place, as that will >trap him as well, but better that than death. Perhaps. Seeing where Ebon has gone, the three Guardian Starspawn 'stop' just short of entering the Demon Realm's hyper-volume. /*"Hydra, we have located him. He has returned to {}."*/ One sends. /*"Seal him in. Leave exactly one way out for him. Trap that with a shredder. Draw upon the power of The Stardragon for the seal and the trap. We are not interested in the other inhabitants, so key the seal and the trap to him, and him alone. We will destroy him later."*/ Hydra commands. /*"It will be done, my friend."*/ the partner of the slain Starspawn answers. /*"Aurora?"*/ The other two inquire. /*"Please do as Hydra has asked."*/ She answers. The three 'reach' out gently, respectfully, and almost reverently, to the most powerful being they have EVER encountered, even fearfully. Only to find it ready and waiting for their 'approach'. Power flows into them. Almost more than they can handle, almost. But handle it they do, and quickly the hyper volume of the Demon's Realm is sealed up tight, against Ebon. Leaving one and ONLY one exit available to him. Sitting in that exit is a trap. Keyed to him, and him alone in all the Megaverse, is a construct designed to split into three separate 'things' the mind, body, and spirit of ANYTHING less powerful than The Stardragon itself. Then having separated the three to shred them as completely as is cosmically possible. > In the reality of Earth-9, meanwhile, Heketon pulses as if >beating. The literal, physical heart does not move -- nor should it >be capable of moving on its own -- but it seems to quiver >with...anticipation? *Let us see how your Champion fares against my >High Lord,* it sends, taunting and confident, to Hydra and Aurora. Hydra does not respond. Aurora merely grimaces slightly in disgust, as though she had experienced the unwanted touch of something vile and unclean. =========================== Subject: [CAoL Main] Re: AAE9: Beginning of the End On Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:03:09 -0800 (PST) Peter Eng Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12923 >Roland X Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12920 > >>On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:27:39 -0800 (PST) >>Peter Eng Sent CAoL Post 12913 >> >> Seconds later, a red-haired girl with an odd hairstyle walks up >>to Kagato and tugs on his pants leg. "Kagato, what are you up to >>now? There's nothing scientific about a battlefield, and you know >>it. If you were testing a new weapon, I could see it of you, but >>attacking people for no other reason? It's beneath you." >> "WASHUU?!" >> Rob digs through his memory, hoping to keep Kagato distracted. >>Half the challenge is making the illusion believable, the other half >>is keeping his opponent from attacking him. [After all, if he >>attacks me with the force he'd need to inconvenience Washuu-chan, I >>won't last long enough to regret this stunt...] > > "It's an honor-debt, sensei," Kagato explains ruefully. "How did >you think I came back from the dea..." Kagato blinks. He's explaining >himself. To Washuu-chan. [How does she _do_ that to me?] he wonders, >forming a force-blast in one palm. > That's when the thin golden serpents leap out, snaking out to bind >Rachel and Washuu. Kagato smiles confidently. "You always think >you're smarter than anyone else, but I made you my slave once, and I >can do it again." Sensibly, Rob "vanishes" out of the attack, using the Clouded Mind to simulate a teleportation. /Thanks for taking down those stelae, Roland./ By the time Kagato re-establishes where the false Washuu is, Rob's back in place to play the part. > "Not with a hoary old trick like this!" Rachel shouts defiantly, >buzzsawing her entire body to shatter the serpents before they can >constrict around her. She flares her TK, pitting it against his, only >to meet her equal. > Kagato smiles down at the frustrated female Blaze. "Child, if you >think my serpent-bonds are the only trick in my arsenal, you are even >more foolish that Ryoko's friendship makes you out to be." "Washuu" sighs. "You haven't learned anything, have you?" > "HEY!" Ryoko objects plaintively from nearly half a mile away. >Ayeka giggles. > Rachel, incongruously, grins. "We'll see who the fool is." > Washuu-chan laughs. "And here I would have hoped that would be >clear to everyone present." > Kagato doesn't quite boggle. He's too _cool_ to boggle. Still, a >lesser anime character would have facefaulted by now. "What?!" He >glances from one Washuu-chan to the other, eyes glowing green and yet >_still_ unable to tell the real from the fake. > (OOC: That's because the other one's a fake, too, one of >Washuu-chan's "Washuu dolls." Somehow, Rob knows this. ;-) [That's not Washuu...but how do I know that?] Shoving that concern aside for a moment, Rob takes advantage of Kagato's confusion by slipping into his mind. There are few telepaths weaker than Rob is. But subtle manipulations are a matter of skill more than power, and a Virtual Adept, of all people, taught an interesting one. "See, the reason telepathy is so rare is that people have to be able to make sense of other people's symbols. It's worse than transferring files from, say, a Mac to a Unix system, because people write their own OS for everything. Twins grow up with similar hardware, so their software ends up being a close match." "But if you can get into somebody's 'OS' and make sense of it, it's just a matter of adding a neat hack..." Rewriting Kagato's sight is simple, oddly. Apparently he's focused more on physical effects than mental ones. Case: Humanoid if (female and posthypnoticTrigger=yes) return "Washuu" else (use standard identification methods) "Kagato, didn't I cover alternate dimensions with you? And there's enough examples out there right now," Rob says, waving at the two Morgans. "There's more than one dimension, and more than one Washuu. Come to think of it, I'm not sure you're my Kagato...his hair was darker, and I'm pretty sure he was taller than you are." "Taller than you" is the posthypnotic trigger. The phrase to switch it off is "You're not as bad as I thought, Kagato," spoken in Ryoko's voice. This brings Kagato a muscle twitch closer to boggling, as every female on the battlefield suddenly looks like Washuu. "An infinite number of universes means a slightly smaller number of Washuus," Rob continues, "so having two of us show up is hardly improbable. Actually, I could show you the math proving that in a multiversal event like this, the odds of two of me showing up approaches 1:1 - if I had a whiteboard or two..." [What was that phrase about baffling them with bull?] =========================== Subject: [CAoL Main] AAE 9: Lancing Evil On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 18:08:21 -0700 The Lancers Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12924 Eric could never explain it. His whole life, slaying monsters had been a dirty job that he did because _someone_ had to. And to use the cliche, he's the best there is at what he does. The truth was, at best he took a grim satisfaction at doing an ugly job well, and at worst he hated having to put down the ones who really were no worse than mad dogs...but hell, you have to put down mad dogs, too. The Carredon is different. "YEE-HAH!" Eric whoops, laughing as he swings from one leg to slash at the monstrous draconian's underbelly, only to land on his back again at the wing joint. A dozen whips of light-killing energy snake out at him, but he parries every one. Another howling curse pummels him from beyond physical reality, but a quick bit of Kuji-in (Buddhist mudras, often used in "legend" by ninja) parries the effect. Naturally, the Carredon spins in the air, trying to throw off his flightless tormentor, but Eric is more than ready for this trick as well. He wraps his kusari-gama around the wing's base and hangs on, pummelling at the sensitive juncture with a climbing claw. All this effort has just now started to inconvenience the foul enforcer of the Gaunt Man's will. The Hunter has a long, grueling battle ahead of him. Inconceivably, he wouldn't want it any other way. [What's gotten _in_ to me?] a part of him wonders, laughing as he dashes along toxic green scales, feet thumping maddeningly along one twisted rib. [I'm actually enjoying myself!] It didn't hurt matters that, as a supremely arrogant devil, the Carredon cannot abide to be mocked, causing Eric's exultation to distract his foe far more than it could him. Looking down, he sees the horned monstrosity that finally defeated Darkseid marching across the field, crushing all in his -- its? -- path. His grin broadens evilly. "Right turn, Clyde," he drawls, his Sahara-dry tone tinged with wry amusement. Leaping to the Carredon's head, he somehow gets his chain between the teeth of the whipsawing mouth and yanks _hard._ He encourages the beast with a few Solar Shuriken to the eardrum. "You wish to dive, fleshbag?" the Carredon snarls, his menacing voice ruined by the chain bit. "As you wish!" Hunter and monster plummet, rushing toward the ground with sickening alacrity. Eric wonders briefly if this was a good idea, even if his aim _is_ perfect. Ganon looks up and scowls, snout twitching as he grunts in annoyance. Holding up twin blades, he hums a deep tonal note of power. A golden triangle appears directly in front of the unwillingly matched duo, repelling even the dread Carredon with ease and sending both warriors back into the sky, higher up than they started. Both are stunned for a spell. /ooOOoo.../ Eric blinks, shaking his head gently, while the Carredon does more or less the same thing. /This is bad. Anyone know who hornhead down there is? I don't recognize him or his ficton./ /You didn't spend much time on video games, did you, bro?/ Rio replies sympathetically. /But even you must have heard of "Zelda." That was Ganon, and he's a lot tougher than he looks. And like a lot of these guys,/ she adds, taking down another ord, /he's got a unique weakness. Right tool for the right job, right?/ She sends a wink at her big brother as she switches her Rio to loop "Time," slowing down the enemies around her (but not friendlies unless they want to be). Pulling a sapphire blue potato-shaped object from her pocket, she plays a simple three-note tune: <_^>__ <_^>__ ... A melodic trill sounds from nowhere, and a handsome young man, nearly a bishonen, wearing a forest green tunic and brown boots over a white shirt and stockings, appears next to Rio. Long pointed ears stick out from under a green cap which trails down nearly to his waist. He wears a sword and a shield on his back, and anyone with magical senses can detect the fantastic power of the blade, though the shield is impressive as well. He looks around, confused but strangely not surprised, then turns to the woman with the sapphire musical instrument and raises an eyebrow. "...?" "No, she's not here," Rio smiles, "and this isn't Hyrule, but this world needs your help." "...?" "Him." Rio points to Ganon. "The main objective it to keep anyone from stopping Roland from taking down the Gaunt Man," she nods in the direction of that epic battle. "If the Gaunt Man wins, he'll endanger other worlds as well as destroying this one. You in?" The young man gives a decisive nod, and turns a determined gaze on the porcine evil. Drawing the Master Sword from its sheath and strapping on the indestructible Hylian Shield -- all in one smooth motion -- Link, the Hero of Time, strides forward to face his eternal foe once more. Ganon is not amused. "Youuu," he rumbles, all his attention on the teenage defender of Hyrule before him. "How many times, boy? How many times must I rid myself of you? When will you admit that your victories are nothing more than temporary reprieves? I am _Power._ What are you?" All Link does is stare implacably back at the King of Evil and spin his blade in his hand. His answer, though, is written in the wind: "Courage." Ganon roars. "So be it!" And their endless battle begins anew. Meanwhile, Eric and the Carredon have recovered. Eric's throwing blades helped keep Rio clear while she dealt with Ganon, but now the Carredon has returned its attention to its annoying pest. Eric is no longer amused. [Oh, hell,] he thinks, running down the length of one wing while dark spikes, curses, Oblivion Acid breath, and the ghosts of those the Carredon has eaten swirl towards him. Realizing that he's about to run out of breathing room, he leaps, flying through ghosts and past spikes, barely avoiding the green-black bile that destroys the very air in its wake, and gritting his teeth against a curse that settles into his Infra-Red-mutated frame. The Carredon chuckles hatefully. "Greater heroes than you have thought to end my days, little slayer," he rumbles, "and I have ever ended theirs." Eric catches a spine protruding from the monster's back and angles himself so the evil thing's own foul assaults wash over his scales, adding some Primal Unweaving to open gaps in the Carredon's defenses. The draconian screams. "I'm not a hero or a slayer, fool," Eric grunts, throwing the bladed end of the kusari-gama into one of the wounds and letting his foe's own thrashing pull him back onto its back. "I am a _hunter,_ and you've got this relationship backwards, _prey!_" When the Carredon lashes his tail at the paragon of Hunters, Eric catches it with the other end of his chain and rides its momentum underneath his blasphemous foe -- which also pulls the bladed end from the wound it was embedded in, _hard._ Again, the Carredon screams, more grievously wounded than it has been in many years. Eric finally abandons the chain, now hopelessly caught around the beast's tail, and draws spiked stakes to pull himself hand over hand across the Carredon's underbelly. All four claws lash out towards him, coming closer than Eric would like -- one even manages to open a shallow wound in his side, triggering his blood-hunger -- but he moves forward steadily. Again, the Carredon dives, and Eric immediately sees the monster's intent to grind him to nothing against the mountainside. [Please, Sol, Gaia...Zia...let this work.] He concentrates...and a Lightning Chain identical to the one he lost in the initial battle against Apokolips forms in his hands. Made from pure Essence, it acts like an extension of his arm and will. Again, he sends the chain into the monster's mouth, but this time, he draws himself up to it, and in an instant finds himself eyeball to eyeball with the Gaunt Man's ultimate killing machine. Eric smiles coldly. "I warned you." "You warned _me?!_" The Carredon laughs. "DIE!" With a snap of his long, sinuous neck, the monster attempts to flip Eric off his snout and into his mouth, a move he performs with long-practiced ease. Much to the Carredon's surprise, Eric refuses to be flipped. Instead, several feet of lightning-spiked chain goes down the killer's throat. The scream is burbling and weaker this time, and for only the second time in aeons, the Carredon wonders if he might be in actual danger. "Eat this," Eric snarls, his humor completely gone. The Carredon spins and swings his head, throwing some magic into the physical force and finally throwing the Hunter off his snout. The chain flies from Eric's hands -- then unwraps from the Carredon's upper jaw and flies down his throat. Even roaring in agony, however, the Carredon manages to catch Eric in his mouth, tongue lashing to swallow the Hunter whole. That was the Carredon's last mistake. The chain, already past the monster's gullet, flies all the way into its body, wrapping around several organs and growing burning, claw-like daggers from every link. Eric, meanwhile, anchors himself by driving a glowing golden blade through the Carredon's tongue into his lower jaw, Then he gestures to the chain. It returns to him. Every one of the Carredon's previous screams is as nothing compared to the bellowing roar of hate and fear that washes over the battlefield. Even Roland and the Gaunt Man halt their preparations for a moment to stare up in amazement, the dreaded High Lord's jaw finally dropping ever so slightly at the sight of his supreme enforcer wheeling uncontrollably in the air, blood trailing from the draconian's mouth. After twisting, plummeting and wheeling through the sky in mad aerial convulsions, it finally lands in a small sea of gospog, skidding across an entire field's worth of the undead zombie horrors. The Carredon's head makes one final twitch into the sky, howling in fury denied, then falls over with an earth-shaking crash, mouth open wide. From the ruins of the monster's foul substance falls the Hunter, acid-burned, glowing a sickly poisoned green and with over two dozen slashes across his body, but still alive. He draws heavily on the Starspawn's blood-gift, then weakly stands. "Warned you," he quips quietly. "I'll have to thank Infra-Red -- just before I kill her, that is." His vampirism vanishes. "Oh hell," he groans, his wounds hitting him tenfold. [Figures that she'd have a contingency plan.] Eric stumbles forward one step, then another. Mindless monsters stream toward him, but even in his condition, holding these lesser creatures off is easy enough. (No sentient villain on the field wants to mess with the guy who killed the FREAKIN' CARREDON.) A few sun-spikes and silver shuriken drive back the hordes of robotic servitors, and even they get the hint. But after nine steps, his body simply refuses to work. "I thought that fight made me a little Thor," he jokes as he collapses. Eric groans. [Oh no. I am _not_ going out on a pun. Not...a chance...I...] The Hunter loses consciousness. Dracul frowns. "Greywolf..." "Already on it," Morgan replies. Dracul throws up a force screen, holding off both the Black Paladin and Malais briefly, while the mistress of Life Magick stabilizes the Hunter. [Doing better than he has any right to,] she thinks, repelling the poison from his body. After a brief considering thought -- Dracul's shield is already wavering against the double assault -- she teleports Eric to Champions Island with a gesture, reports psychically to Rio and anyone she thinks might be a self-aware Zia-analogue, and rejoins the battle, taking on Black Paladin again and allowing Dracul to return his full attention to Malais. -- Eric Lancer: The Hunter Fight like you can live forever. Love like you can die tomorrow. Both are true. =========================== Subject: [CAoL Main] Re: AAE9: Beginning of the End On Sun, 25 Mar 2007 22:40:30 -0700 Patrick O'Shea Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12925 >On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 23:07:01 -0700 >Roland X Sent Callahanian Army of Light Post Number: 12920 > >>On Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:53:52 -0700 >>Patrick O'Shea Sent CAoL Post 12915 >> >>With a grunt, he swings the sword in a wide arc, driving back a >>handful of gospog, cleaving a number of zombies. Two more swings >>clear a circular area around him; Quiet Moon slams the sword point >>first into the tainted ground, shouting a single, arcane syllable, >>pouring what power he can through the blade. Seconds later, the evil >>dead are reduced to nonthreatening dust. He makes no attempt to mask >>the source of the power, a clear challenge to the remaining >>overlords. Undaunted, more swarms advance, though these come a bit >>more slowly, even their blasted minds somewhat cowed. He arched an >>eyebrow as, out of the shattered pieces of reality, a nebulous form >>approached > > A figure largely dressed in shades of green, wearing round violet >sunglasses, steps forward and laughs with cruel confidence. "You are >the one who has been training that delightful experiment Lloyd, are >you not?" he asks with a smirk. "Then you certainly know of the >greatest, most brilliant, cleverest and _certainly_ most stylish >Grand Cardinal, Iron Will Rodyle!" Rodyle bows. "You have my >permission to die now. Or alternately, to grovel for your life." OOC: Oh, it's only Rodyle. Now, if it were Dist, then I'd be worried. About the -GM-, mind, but still... "You'll forgive me if I choose option three." The Kai grins slightly, sword up in the ready position. "Please, do begin." 'Well, I suppose manners count for something," the Desian sneers. "I'll see to it that your grave marker says something nice." Maintaining his sneer, Rodyle lifts up a hand and calls forth a Gravity Well. "My time after the escape of that sinful chosen has not been ill-spent, fool! My powers have increased tenfold. Nothing that sword-swinging whelp could have told you could prepare you for the torment I have planned for you!" "Actually," Quiet Moon replies honestly, "he never mentioned you. Did you battle him?" "Well...wait, never," Rodyle stammers, momentarily thrown off. "Your pathetic attempt to distract me...I'm insulted." An arcane syllable causes the ground to erupt underneath Quiet Moon's feet, Kai reflexes the only thing keeping him from being impaled on a spire of rock. "Now hold still and die, worm. I do have an appointment on Derris-Kharlan. I'm told there may yet be a few ex...ahh, but I talk too much." The two battle on pointlessly for the next few minutes, Quiet Moon's physical skills able to keep up with, but not quite surpass, the Desian General's innate mystical skills. Then: "I tire of this. Strike!" Hand raised again, Rodyle called forth a longer string of syllables, using the intervention of a few reanimated soldiers to occupy Quiet Moon's. And a sun reached down, its finger smiting the ground in front of the monk. "Hmm. I can see that my Neo-Mana Cannon still needs some work. Lower quality parts, and masking the presence of an orbital canon capable of channeling Mana into a single destructive bolt is a challenge(1). easy for one such as myself, yes. Well, perhaps when this is over, I can have one of the more cosmically inclined members of the 'army' you've fallen in with for my...experiments. Have fun dancing," Rodyle finished with another sneer, before reciting the line again, with a few extra additions. Quiet Moon's senses, while not translating the line exactly, gave him the general idea. 'Random fire. Wide area. Hit anything green.' He, and Rian, the Padawan-turned sword, looked up, saw several dozen bolts come out of the now-blue sky. The area of the battlefield occupied by the Kai vanished in a blue white sphere of destruction, chaotic energy ripped out of its normal path and slammed back to the ground. A safe distance away, Rodyle nodded at the destruction, satisfied. "Hmm. Some minor lensing problems, but I can correct those. Now, about that fool Kratos..." "RODYLE!" The Desian looked upward, stunned, mouthing a denial, then scrambled left, avoiding the sword blade that cleaves into the ground. His eyes widened, then narrowed, picking out the telltale energy signatures and residues. "Teleportation. I am impressed." Barely standing now, Quiet Moon ignored the jibe, staying on guard, hoping that his own regenerative abilities were enough to keep him on his feet for the upcoming battle. Teleportation was an advanced Battle Magic spell, but the only way he could have survived the attack. *You're not just tapping your own abilities. Use the force, monk,* Rian suggested. Quiet Moon started to form a reply, then stumbled away as a wave of earth reached up and smacked him in the face. *Focus!* Quiet Moon got to his feet, letting his senses reach out. He could feel the Force that Rian had mentioned several times now, but had never had the chance to let it touch him. Personal pride, a part of his mind decided, or professional pride. Either one could get him killed. Alongside that realization was the sense of Rodyle's spell twisting the earth, shaping it into his next attack. The Kai closed his eyes, sword dipping. He felt the attack coming, and, with the psychic whispers of Rian guiding him, raised his sword in a sudden, fluid motion, slicing the hurled boulder in half. It was sketchy and barely audible, if hearing the Force could be described in such a way, but it was there. *Rian...NOW* With a yell, he hurled the blade upwards, charging forward, psychic and mystic shields raised to their fullest. Above, the sword hovered for a moment, then dropped straight down. And transformed(2). Rian's humanoid form was small, barely half the Kai's own height, but he charged down, slicing at Rodyle with the razor edged wings that had formed the blade in his transformed mode. Distracted, Rodyle let his own defenses slip, allowing the Kai to smash through and deliver a solid right hook to the demented Desian's face. Quiet Moon pulled back, that brief contact allowing him to get a mental glimpse of the evils that Rodyle had perpetrated in his long, long life. [That shouldn't have happened...] *The Force connects all things,* Rian mock-lectured. *No matter how twisted.* Quiet Moon nodded. Rian transformed back to a sword, settled into Quiet Moon's hand, and glowed. "Rodyle...your evil ends here." "I think not. I was saving this for that traitor Kratos, but..." He takes out a small crystal, and places it on the back of his hand. "This time, my Cruxis Crystal is properly grown." As he speaks, translucent crystal wings appear out of his back., and his body glows with silvery light. "Die! Shining Bind!" The ground erupts in white light. "Yes. Now feel the wrath of a god! Indignant Grave!" A spire of stone blasts from the ground, shattered moments later by a massive bolt of lightning. "And you can feel the fury of the Kai! Radiant Wolf's Howl!" Quiet Moon jumped, poured every bit of energy he could summon up into Rian, who added his own Force energies to it, and fired it out. The bolt shot forward, slamming into Rodyle's barrier. The two energies clawed at each, each trying to overcome the other. Quiet Moon could feel the strain that Rian was suffering, trying not to focus on the sword blade, which was starting to waver. Rodyle grinned, continuing the assault, the faltered as he heard a cracking sound. Glancing at his hand, he saw that the Cruxis crystal he had forged was starting to shatter, unable to contain and control the energies being put forth by it. "My calculations appear to be off," he muttered, then gaped as the shield protecting him started to buckle. "I-" Energy poured through, enveloping the Desian. The gout of energy continued through the battlefield, boring a hole into the ground after wiping out countless more reanimated dead. Nothing was left behind in its wake. "Well," Quiet Moon gasped, sinking to one knee. *Who wants some more?* Rian telepathically broadcasted. "That may not be necessary. The endgame is near..." Quiet Moon stared towards the battle with Heketon, wincing as he saw the number of injured on the field. Sheathing Rian, he headed over to help the injured and wounded, focusing on those who could not wait to be taken back to safer places. Besides, if things went bad, a few reinforcements wouldn't hurt much... OOC: 1- http://bp1.blogger.com/_fYpsA3iAQDU/RfM-VFyIzRI/AAAAAAAAADw/SpeR7sh8gc 4/s1600-h/Deathstar.jpg . Looked about right for Rodyle... 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBvvREFtu-s , first 10 seconds. Had to get a Brave Robot in there somewhere ;-) ===========================