The New Vanguard! FROSTBITE ISSUE #10 "Fallen"

Admin wrote:Frostbite glanced at the ground. The rock looked very hard and solid to him.

"Shall we go stop the Dark Lord?" asked Melody.

Frostbite nodded toward the others puzzling over Battle Bug's ability and the whole notion of the impossible citadel. They had to be cautious, Frostbite didn't need to tell the team a wounded animal like any villain would be both dangerous and cunning. But if they could cut the head off the snake, then the fighting could stop and the land restored.

"Let's go and see if we can't end this."

OOC: We'll strike as one, don't see how we can surprise our foe, but I hope we can make a good show of it.

Sj

Frostbot of the Future pauses. "I... must go. My power levels are diminishing and if I do not replenish them I shall shut down. Without electricity in the conventional sense to draw on in this place, I must find some other means."

"What? You're running out on us?" asked Melody.

"You require food, sleep, rest. I require none of those Melody, but I do require a means of replenishing my energies. Normally I could draw on solar energies or some other means but that is slow and requires constant light." replied Frostbot of the Future.

Melody, Battlebug and Frostbite look up. There was no sun here, only cloud. Hope, magic, the natural order of things was yet to be restored. Maybe Frostbot of the Future had a point.

Battlebug butted in. "You do look a little peaky. Slightly less... 'blue' " he chuckled. "I think we can spare you for a short while and we'll need you to check on the Sorcerer and the Elf Queen lady." he offers as a way out. Frostbot stares impassively at the youngster and turns to Frostbite. "I would implore you to wait but I know time is of the essence. I shall find some means to recharge then return."

He waits for Frostbites blessing...

Admin wrote:He waits for Frostbites blessing...

"Go we'll wait we need you and we'll need everyone. We can cool our heels and give the army a hand. It will further diminish Eliases power anyway."

With a look to the enigmatic future version of his own internal AI Frostbite directed the group toward the army. "Let's go check the queen and then give a hand as we can."

And with that, he offered Battle Bug and arm and then realised he'd probably get there in his own inimitable way.

OOC: OK Queen Elesieth and then to arms.

Sj

At the camp Queen Elesieth rested in the company of her brothers personal guard. As Queen over all the realm she should have her own armies, her own guards... but they were gone. Gone? No, not quite, but changed. Altered. Ensorcelled by the Dark Lord to serve him.

She looked up with a weary smile and the heroes walked into the camp, guards relaxing as they recognised the Vanguardians. Though skilled and magically empowered to a certain degree their strength was in numbers and they stood no chance against the Dark Knights, never mind the heroes who had made such short work of crushing them wherever they found them.

The Sorceress took Frostbite aside as Melody and Battlebug got a quick bite to eat before they would join the battle. The aborted plan to hurl the Citadel would have ended the battle but possibly injure or kill Professor Thoth and/or Nowhere Man. Despite the statement that Nowhere Man was a physical manifestation of the spirit of Vengeance he was a mortal man and by his own admission 'not much good in a stand up fistfight with a big hitter'. Frostbite assumed that 'being crushed by a million tons of iron and steel' qualified as 'a big hitter'.

With a glance at Queen Elesieth the Sorceress sighed. "Time is running out. Think of... think of the land as providing the magic and the 'life' to the Queen. She is immortal and undying - unless the land dies and then? Herein lies the other problem. They are inextricably linked so if the land dies, the Queen goes with it... and if the Queen dies?" She let the question hang for a moment and looked around. "The magic, the land dies with it. Gone. It will be a dead world, a husk. It will be like the moon in our universe. Utterly lifeless and the magic that holds the earth, trees, wildlife, rivers, streams, oceans, mountains, soil... everything on this world, all of it... will vanish with her."

Frostbite was just about to say "Well, we'll just have to make sure that..."

Sorceress waved him quiet and whispered "The Queens' life is no longer measured in decades, years or even months. She will be dead within the hour. If we are here when she dies, then we will drift into space with the oxygen and land and everything else. We've run out of time."

"yo Boss!" shouted Battlebug. "Gonna kick some ass an' take some names! You comin', or you gassin' to your new girlfriend some more?" he laughed.

"He really is quite annoying isn't he?" scowled Sorceress.

Admin wrote:"yo Boss!" shouted Battlebug. "Gonna kick some ass an' take some names! You comin', or you gassin' to your new girlfriend some more?" he laughed.

"He really is quite annoying isn't he?" scowled Sorceress.

Frostbite looked across to the youth and then back with a shrug, thinking something about the carelessness of youth. "We have to get some of that army under control, fewer Dark Knights means less power. It might delay Elesieth's condition and the land has begun to respond. But we cannot delay the confrontation with Elias. I am sorry Sorceress I hope we can take him back to face justice, but I am not sure he will leave us that option. You are welcome to join us, but I'll understand if you'd rather stay."

And with that Frostbite waved to the others, "Things are grim. Time is against us, let's see if we can thin the herd out there and then whether we succeed there or not, we've got to return to the tower, Elesieth...the land and everything else, doesn't have long before irreversible damage sets in. Lets go!"

OOC: OK we are going to thin the herd and then see about turning on Elias and his final stronghold.

Sj

Sorceress looks at the seething mass emptying the Citadel and spilling onto the plain. From the distant vantage point it looked - very much - like the Elves and Dwarves would be engulfed and overwhelmed!

All of a sudden the boys plan to throw the Citadel somewhere to crash into a twisted metal mass didn't seem like a bad plan. The Vanguard were world shattering powerful and had started to turn the tide... now that tide threatened to overwhelm the good work they'd done and the Dark Lord would snatch victory from the slavering jaws of defeat!

The Vanguard didn't seem worried though. Melody, a new heroine but incredible powerful though for the moment somewhat unsure of her abilities. That would come with time but the basis was there. In her time as a UKChampion Sorceress had seen many powerful super heroes and she wondered where Frostbite and Melody would fall in that ranking. Frostbite in the top third, Melody somewhere between mid way and the top third. Frostbite though was a hero used to somehow achieving the possible. In short, he could punch above his weight. More than that, he inspired others to do what they thought previously impossible in order to save the day.

She turned her gaze on the youngster. Laughing, joking and jumping about he was flippant, took nothing seriously and in terms of power she knew he would quickly grow more powerful over time and soon be hard to manage. A glance back at Frostbite. THAT was the man, the mentor, the leader, the friend the boy needed. Not some sprawling arrogant used to getting their own way organisation like the UKChampions or Ultrahumans. Or the government. First though, they needed to get through this.

"I need more power. I'll get close and see what I can do, but will need to drain downed Dark Knights." she said. "I'll be careful." she added.

==========

"Lord." said a Dark Knight from within a helmet. "The Citadel setting down allowed us to regroup and we have massed our forces to crush the rebels."

Inside the Throne Room the dark clad former superhero known as Dr Mystical breathed a sigh of relief and laughed at Professor Thoth. "Ha! HA! See? SEE? My forces will soon crush the rebels and my spell will soon take effect! The magic chains holding you cannot be broken! YOUR power will add to mine and I will crack the enchantment of the..."

"Lord!"

The Dark Lord frowned, hearing the voice in his head. "What is it? You interrupted me mid rant!"

"My Lord, my apologies, but the outlanders you warned us about are here! The one with the blue gem, the woman and the boy! The blue skinned one is not with them! What shall we do? Their power is..."

"WHAT???" screeched the Dark Lord. "CONCENTRATE ALL POWER ON THEM! SMASH THEM! CRUSH THEM! I will take control of one of you and direct the battle but they MUST fall! Sacrifice yourselves! Crush them!"

Thoth regained some hope. He'd been humiliated and surprised to have been ambushed and stripped of power so easily by the former superhero but something had happened when he'd gone through the gate and he knew that had affected his ability to cast spells. Frostbite and the Vanguard might yet save him and the day, but they would have to hurry... he felt his magic draining away, drop by drop...

The Dark Lord hissed, then narrowed his eyes... "There may be something else I can do... " he hissed.

OOC Update later for a battle royale!

Admin wrote:The Dark Lord hissed, then narrowed his eyes... "There may be something else I can do... " he hissed.

OOC Update later for a battle royale!

OOC: Uh Oh

Sj

Frostbite saw Dark Knights rush from the citadel.

All of a sudden the chance that Battlebug had passed on to throw the Citadel somewhere it couldn't do any damage and imprison or take out the massed forces didn't seem such a bad option.

The army of humanoids - orcs, goblins, ogres, trolls and more - spewed forth and the combined Dwarves and Elves bowed despite dropping the enemy in the dozens with arrows and slings as well as up close with melee weapons. The enemy was spilling around them though and Frostbite directed Melody to attack from the air on one flank, Battlebug to engage hand to hand to the side and he would help in the middle.

The battle lines strengthened and the Dark Lords forces wavered, stopping up the exits from the citadel and their superior numbers counted for less.

"There!" hissed a Dark Knight. "Take HIM!" he said, referring to Frostbite! The hooded/cloaked warriors pulled impossibly sharp daggers from their

OOC Frostbite wins initiative and there are six in this group facing him! They are going to attack with those razor sharp (well, sharper than any razor) thrown daggers that could cut through steel vault doors without any issues.

Multi Attack? Crit Blow? Dev Attack? Attack with energy blast or up close and personal?

Admin wrote:OOC Frostbite wins initiative and there are six in this group facing him! They are going to attack with those razor sharp (well, sharper than any razor) thrown daggers that could cut through steel vault doors without any issues.

Multi Attack? Crit Blow? Dev Attack? Attack with energy blast or up close and personal?

Frostbite didn't like the fact that he had been singled out, and was aware of his strategic value to the enemy should he fall at this point. Let alone the fact that the Dark Lord remained to be stopped. This wasn't the time for show-stopping antics, never really his forte anyway. But he needed something out of the hat and hoped it wasn't going to bite him back.

OOC: OK lets go for multi attack devastating blow and all on energy attack. I'll also take my move action to move further away (ob within range still) so as to make it easier for me but harder for them to if throwing those nasty daggers.

Sj

OOC Dev Attack Multi on six Energy Blast 25 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,1,+0 Total:10 (35) vs
Highest OV11 + Dev Attack 8 + 3D Acro + Roll(5d12)+0: 4,11,6,12,6,+0 Total:12 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 7,7,+0 Total:14 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 3,4,+0 Total:33 (52) attack missed!

Frostbite spreads himself too thin and blasts high and wide of the agile knights. He had to remember that though they were in bulky armour their incredible reflexes and Olympic level agility meant they were no pushovers!

He took to the sky and looked down from a mile up. There was a seething mass on the plain in front of the Citadel. The ordered lines of the Elves buckled and wavered whilst the Dwarves zig zagged and surged in areas, gave way in others where giant like humanoids smashed down with tree trunks onto their enemies! Thousands of lives on the line, a genuine war! Looking from this height he could see the forces of good were outnumbered by twenty to one or more and it was a hopeless task he faced!

He also faced daggers, glowing and streaking upwards like arrows, heedless of the fact they were fired from the ground a mile distant!

OOC Six attacks!!! All from the ground a mile down, but these guys have Telescopic Vision which reduces the Range penalty from 10 (1 mile) to 5 (200 yards effective range) which is still a long was but these are not normal combatants!

Here we go...

Frostbite has Acrobatics 2 (2D) and uses his semi solid fluid form (5APs to Dex and RV) for defence... These guys are EXPERTS though, so hold onto your hat!

Av11 + Roll(7d12)+0: 4,2,7,5,11,4,8,+0 Total:8 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 11,5,+0 Total:24 (35) vs
OV16 + Range 5 + 2D Acro + Roll(4d12)+0: 4,9,12,12,+0 Total:24 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 10,1,+0 Total:35 (56) missed

Av11 + Roll(7d12)+0: 12,3,9,7,7,11,7,+0 Total:14 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 4,12,+0 Total:30 (41) vs
OV16 + Range 5 + 2D Acro + Roll(4d12)+0: 11,10,8,4,+0 Total:21 (42) missed

Av11 + Roll(7d12)+0: 7,12,11,4,2,10,7,+0 Total:14 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 10,3,+0 Total:27 (38) vs
OV16 + Range 5 + 2D Acro + Roll(4d12)+0: 12,5,6,7,+0 Total:19 (40) attack missed

Av11 + Roll(7d12)+0: 12,1,1,11,5,5,12,+0 Total:24 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 10,12,+0 Total:46 (57) vs
OV16 + Range 5 + 2D Acro + Roll(4d12)+0: 3,3,4,1,+0 Total:6 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 1,7,+0 Total:14 (35) Hit
+7 (to 24) vs RV16=8 RAPs. Frostbite is reduced to 3/11 Body!

Av11 + Roll(7d12)+0: 3,8,3,3,10,8,4,+0 Total:16 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 8,2,+0 Total:26 (37) vs
OV16 + Range 5 + 2D Acro + Roll(4d12)+0: 7,5,8,11,+0 Total:19 (40) Attack Missed

Av11 + Roll(7d12)+0: 4,3,1,2,11,7,2,+0 Total:18 (to take the double would burn the power out) (29) vs
OV16 + Range 5 + 2D Acro + Roll(4d12)+0: 10,10,7,8,+0 Total:20 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 12,2,+0 Total:34 (55) missed

Frostbite staggered in the air, the dagger slashing through his form and drawing blood! It seemed that range was no barrier to these warriors and he knew he couldn't take another hit like that!

On the ground an Orc spoke to its companion (OOC in Orcish) "Can you hear that? Singing?"

"Probably the Dwarves. They sing as well as they taste, but a meal is a meal." grunted his companion.

"No, it's something else. The Dwarves sound like dragging a shield on the floor. I have never heard the song 'Heeeeerrrrrreeeee I come to save the daaaaaayyyyy!' before from Dwarves." said the second Orc.

"Gumrrrash you have a good singing voice, you know?" said the first.

Gumrrrash whirled at the insult and was about to bash Grimfanng over the head when he saw bodies flying through the air!

OOC Multi on 3, Go for Broke +8/-12 Adren Surge 23 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,9,+0 Total:16 (39) vs
Highest OV 8 + GFB 8 + Multi 4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 4,11,+0 Total:15 (35)
+3 (to 26) vs RV8 + Multi 4 - GFB 12 (RV0)=26 RAPs.
Dex boosts to 34, Str to 32, Power Reserve to 33. Pow Res 1 point each to Dex (35) and Str (33)
Pow Reserve boosts Kinetic Absorption to 35. Practically invulnerable to physical attack in other words.

Multi on 125 Dev Attack AV35 + 3D M Arts (1D Acro) + Roll(5d12)+0: 10,10,6,6,5,+0 Total:20 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 6,7,+0 Total:33 (68) vs
Highest Ov11 + 3D Acro + Multi 14 + Dev Attack 8 + Roll(5d12)+0: 5,3,2,12,8,+0 Total:20 (53)
+5 (to 38) vs Highest RV20 + Multi 14 - Dev Attack 12 (RV22)=16 RAPS. 125 Enemies are DOWN and OUT!

From his vantage point Frostbite saw a shockwave build out as if a bomb had been dropped and a blur zipped about, sending bodies tumbling through the sky! A circle, hundreds of feet across in all direction, was suddenly cleared or littered with unconscious bodies and he knew all of a sudden where Battlebug was! The boy could summon forces beyond comprehension into his body and unleash them as startling violence! He saw the diminutive (from here) form stood in the middle, casually avoiding daggers, axes, arrows and the like and even walking forward not bothering to dodge things like rocks thrown by giants which smashed against him without effect!

The effect on morale was immediate and all of a sudden a crush of retreating humanoids pressed against the Citadel, stopping more from pouring out!

Meanwhile on the other flank Melody tried her best on a smaller scale to thin the crowd... In fact she plunged into the mass below her, to reduce the range and make it easier to blast - fine if it work, surrounded by enemies if it didn't!

OOC Multi on 30 Crit Blow Sonic Blast 20 + Roll(2d12)+0: 11,4,+0 Total:15 (35) vs
Highest OV11 + 3D Acro + Multi 10 + Crit Blow 4 + Roll(5d12)+0: 1,2,8,12,10,+0 Total:3 FAILED OV is ZERO!
+8 (to 28) vs Highest Rv20 + Multi 10 - Crit Blow 6 (RV24)=4 RAPs

Less effective but still successful Melody blasted out with a loud musical note and in a circle around her sporadic forms dropped, clutching their ears! The Dark Knights near her saw their chance and attacked!

OOC AV11 + 2D Weaponry (3D Acro) + Roll(4d12)+0: 3,3,12,3,+0 Total:6 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 6,5,+0 Total:17 (28) vs
OV22 + Acro 3D + Roll(5d12)+0: 2,9,7,11,6,+0 Total:20 (42) Attack Missed

OOC AV11 + 5D Weaponry (0D Acro) + Roll(7d12)+0: 1,10,6,5,5,4,7,+0 Total:10 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 9,7,+0 Total:26 (37) vs
OV22 + Acro 3D + Roll(5d12)+0: 10,9,10,12,12,+0 Total:24 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 7,1,+0 Total:32 (54) Attack Missed

With humanoids pouring away from the ghostlike woman whilst two Dark Knights swung ineffectually at the heroine.

'Fighting on this scale means only you and the boy are effective.' said Frostbot inside Frostbites' head. 'The Humanoid army is cowardly and fights 'only when they are winning' or forced to by their powerful master. You can continue to fight or you can attempt to cut the head from the snake and hopefully the Dark Knights - who act as leaders, masters and slave drivers - will lose their supernatural abilities. Plus, my scans of your physical form suggest you cannot survive another strike AND a fall from this height. Caution advised.'

Frostbite looked down at the Dark Knights, readying more deadly projectiles! Basically they could fight at a greater range than he could with their supernatural eyesight whereas he would struggle to hit one of the dots far below him, let alone half a dozen!

He scanned the battlefield. The forces of good were buckling in many places, their lines thin and wavering. He looked further, to where Elesieth and her Brother waited in their came half a mile distant. They couldn't run and the Prince had lined up his personal guard of twenty or so to protect the Queen but they would not hold against that seething mass! Smoke and dust rose in a cloud visible for miles and the din was deafening even from up here!

He had a choice to make! Stay and help or aim to take out the head of the snake!

Admin wrote:He scanned the battlefield. The forces of good were buckling in many places, their lines thin and wavering. He looked further, to where Elesieth and her Brother waited in their came half a mile distant. They couldn't run and the Prince had lined up his personal guard of twenty or so to protect the Queen but they would not hold against that seething mass! Smoke and dust rose in a cloud visible for miles and the din was deafening even from up here!

He had a choice to make! Stay and help or aim to take out the head of the snake!

A battle was like a living thing, a huge organism with varying parts and he could see as these two snaked, buckled & weaved around one another that this clash if left as it was, would only go one way. This was desperate - but he knew what he had to do. To finish what he had unwittingly been brought here to do. Cut the head of this snake or all they had striven for would be lost. He signalled to Elesieth and her brother that he intended to cut the head of the snake and shot down as quickly as he could. Allowing his dispersed form to not allow any obstacle to impede his descent into the heart of this evil.

OOC: Wow talk about running off fumes, 3 body, no backup and taking on a mega villain - I've got to have my head examined. Well, this is one way to go out! It's interesting that both Lionheart and Frostbite are useless against magic. I know you can't have every defence up, Supes is also weak in this area I believe, but what a time to go against a super, super baddie with no magical defence. Ha, talk about last-ditch stand!

Sj

'Heeeeerrrrrreeeee I come to save the daaaaaayyyyy!'


ooc: Dang you! I really thought Mighty Mouse was going to show up after that!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdIev12fCPs

Dispersing and hoping that the Dark Knights could not then continue to injure him he made a gesture to the distant elves who actually responded with a wave (which Frostbite could barely see) - the Elves had amazing eyesight!

Melody continued to fly about, blasting and looked up "Where are you going?" she shouted...

Frostbite looked around before he plunged through a metal wall but saw she was referring to Battlebug! The youngster had smashed another mini army of foes creating a pair of bubbles of enemy free zones that bought time for the beleaguered forces of good...

... then he'd noticed Frostbite leaving and headed off to follow him to the Citadel!

Moving through the walls Frostbite heard shouts and orders bouncing off the corridor walls in this vast place. Now he had to find the bad guy and in this huge place? Normally he'd be heading to the very top of a place but that was stupid tactically. Surrounding himself with guards and scrying with crystal balls would be a better bet for the Dark Lord/Dr Mystical/Elias.

CRASH!!!

The walls punched inwards like they were made of paper and Battlebug landed in a crouch a few yards away. "Can't get away that quickly Boss! You saved me, you came back and no way am I letting you fight some big bad without help! Besides... I might be able to find him better than you can..."

Suddenly there were clattering footsteps heading their way from around a corner. Company!

Admin wrote:CRASH!!!

The walls punched inwards like they were made of paper and Battlebug landed in a crouch a few yards away. "Can't get away that quickly Boss! You saved me, you came back and no way am I letting you fight some big bad without help! Besides... I might be able to find him better than you can..."

Suddenly there were clattering footsteps heading their way from around a corner. Company!

The boy was irrepressible. "If we are going to turn this around we have to stop Elias. We can't slow down for opposition I can move through them, and I can't imagine they'll give you much trouble. Come on, we've got people to rescue and a war to end."

Assuming that the guards were coming from where Elias was directing them as Frostbite knew they couldn't afford a game of hide and seek. Time was on Elias' side but not there's. They had to find him and force this to end or else all would be for nothing. Which would be a staggering burden on anyone's conscience. So grimly Frostbite moved forward taking point.

As he went he shouted out, "Well Elias, you wanted me, now I'm here come out, come out you coward wherever you are?"

It was a long shot but Frostbite wanted to try to goad him into revealing his position anything that could help them find him urgently.

Sj

The heroes moved down the iron corridor leaving the gaping hole that Battlebug had entered through behind them!

A group of six Dark Knights came into view!

"The master has decreed you are to come with us. Dead or alive. You cannot stop us..." rasped one from inside the helmet.

Just then a clanking noise came from behind them and Battlebug spun to see... six more dark knights, TWELVE in total!

Battlebug hissed "Boss...?"

Frostbite was injured, tottering about but knew so long as he could avoid the attacks he could flatten these guys. He'd done it before but...

"Sorry Boss, can't hold back!" said the youth, leaping into action!

OOC BB goes first, Multi on three, Go for broke +8/-12 Adren Surge 23 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,12,+0 Total:14 (37) vs
Highest OV8 + Multi 4 + GFB 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,3,+0 Total:9 (29)
+4 (to 27) vs RV8 + Multi 2 - GFB 12 (RV0)=27 RAPs

Dex to 35, Str to 33, Pow Res to 34 (1 point each to Dex/Str, all rest to Kinetic Absoprtion)

Multi on 12 Dev Attack AV36 + 4D m arts (0D Acro)+ Roll(6d12)+0: 5,7,10,6,11,6,+0 Total:12 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0:
10,6,+0 Total:28 (64) vs
OV11 + Multi 8 + Dev Att 8 + 3D Acro + Roll(5d12)+0: 12,3,1,11,9,+0 Total:23 (50)
+5 (to 39) vs RV20 + Multi 8 - Dev Attack 12 (RV16)=23 RAPs. All twelve are DOWN and OUT!

Bang! THWACK! CRACK! Thooooom! BONG! CRUNCH! CRICK! THWACK!

"The boy! His aura!" gasped one Knight until a fist took her in the side of the helmet and the powerful blow slammed her into an iron wall, embedding her body deep in the metal - and the entire corridor shook with the impact! With so many lightning fast blinding impacts the entire structure started to shudder and Frostbite hovered, steadying himself and about to fire ... until he didn't need to.

Downed Dark Knights lay everywhere.

"Sorry Boss. Can't help it but start punching when bad guys start yakking. Don't want to listen to their jibber jabber when it's an easy thing to summon up that thingy inside of me and start punching. Sorry boss." he added, sheepishly.

=========

"I don't... don't believe it... "said Elias.. He staggered back from the crystal scrying ball.

Still dangling from the chains on the wall Thoth chuckled through bruised lips. "You just don't get it Doc! That boy, under Frostbites' tutelage, will be one of the most powerful heroes out there... the Vanguard is already a legend to those who know of them and more will enter their fold. This is just the beginning for them... and the end for you! Frostbite is the key! he will draw them in, and their light will put paid to all the darkness they encounter!"

The Dark Lord snarled, hissing! He summoned power, magic! Drawing more and more into himself, Thoth wondered if he'd gone too far!

He could see - with what little Magic Sense he had left - the sheer power the Dark Lord was drawing into himself!

=========

Melody ducked. She couldn't face this many Dark Knights on her own and couldn't believe Battlebug and Frostbite had run out to leave her...

A dark knight crashed face first into the floor, then another... All across the battlefield they collapsed where they stood and the Dark lords' humanoid forces backed off from the attacks of the Elves and Dwarves. When the sun broke through the clouds and shone on the battlefield and a glowing light started to rise from the earth! Green shoots started to burst through the ash, growing and spreading across the battlefield...

The forces of darkness staggered back, aghast, then some started to turn and run, shielding eyes against the sun which had been absent for an age!

A ragged cheer went up and the Sorceress, in the Elven camp, looked up at the Citadel... "Beware heroes... a cornered rat is still dangerous..." she whispered.

Then she turned as someone else arrived. "Who... oh, it's you..." she said.

=========

The entire citadel was creaking, wobbling. Cracks appeared in the iron and a horrible loud sound that signified the rending of metal suggested something was happening!

Some of the Robed Sorcerers, screaming and fleeing, raced down a corridor then turned and headed to the heroes, stopping and staggering back after seeing the Dark Knights fallen everywhere...

Frostbite grabbed one. "The Dark Lord! Where!"

A quivering hand pointed down a side corridor, now skewed at an angle as the Citadel began collapsing under its own weight without magic to strengthen it!

The heroes knew where to go...

OOC Any power switching about, precautions, using a lucky rabbits foot etc..?

Admin wrote:Frostbite grabbed one. "The Dark Lord! Where!"

A quivering hand pointed down a side corridor, now skewed at an angle as the Citadel began collapsing under its own weight without magic to strengthen it!

The heroes knew where to go...

OOC Any power switching about, precautions, using a lucky rabbits foot etc..?

Moving forward toward the indicated corridor, Frostbite looked over at Battle Bug.  "BB, Billy we need to be wise this snake still has a bad bite.  You're good but don't think he hasn't got something to come back at us with.  I didn't just save you to throw it all away.   You suck it in son, we'll get a chance to dance with this devil, but let's make sure we don't get suckered into anything and give him the advantage.  Follow my lead and we'll get through this or else make him regret the day he tried."

Since they were going up against magic it seemed best to Frostbite that he use his own best defences and shifted his form to a dense broader and stronger version of himself.

OOC: OK so go for super dense and strong, and fly in with BB to see what we can find.

Sj

OOC Technically the best defence you have is fluid form (harder to hit and damage) but Density Increase will be a good option when you get a bunch of HP next because:

a) It will be tweaked because an option when the character created is now available (does not reduce Dex) and you can pay the difference at character creation cost (I'm nice like that) rather than the hugely inflated advancement charge and
b) This is the big one. Coupled with a) paying 25HP to be able to boost density increase with Power Reserve officially boosts Frostbite into the big hitters league!

Chastened, the youngster nods. "You're the boss. Lead on!"

The pair make their way down the corridor and note how it skews and twists ominously with the weight of the Citadel/City on the side of the mountain suddenly exposed to its own weight without magic to support it!

There were supposed to be grand double doors with statues and carvings depicting demons, devils and other evil signs but all was twisted and buckling moment by moment! The doors were twisted closed but proved no barrier to Frostbite as he kicked them in with a grinding shriek of metal!

Inside the room was large, columns holding the roof up but struggling, and at the far end a dais with a throne on it. Beside the throne, dangling from glowing chains was Professor Thoth!

And stood in front of the throne, a dark clad pale skinned figure, floating, energy wafting about him, and looking very angry!



"That's the guy!" said Battlebug! "Let's punch his teeth in and get out of here before..."

"SILENCE!" roared the Dark Lord. "You have defied me, upset my plans, set them back... but by defeating you I shall gain the power I need!"

"MMMMMFFFFF!!!" said Thoth, his mouth shackled by a glowing face clamp!

Admin wrote:"That's the guy!" said Battlebug! "Let's punch his teeth in and get out of here before..."" said Thoth, his mouth shackled by a glowing face clamp!

Moving around to Thoth, aware that he was telegraphing his actions and not slowing to do so, Frostbite spoke.

"Did you hear that BB, I think he is threatening us. It's not enough that this guy felt his pride was dented when his wife decided enough was enough, he had to show he was a man by raping a world and feeding his ego with the fat of the land. Wow, what kind of a deranged man must you be to sleep at night with that on your conscience? I guess since we have upset his little celebration party, one who is so fragile that he can't realise that the biggest threat to his whole plan, like this overstuffed tower, is his ego under which it's all collapsing. You know Elias you might win, I grant you that. But what kind of king would you be? One who doesn't care for his subjects but has them bleed for him...but then what? A parasite to live has to have something to live off, but you're hungry, your appetite has grown so large, I wonder if anything can satisfy it and what will be left in the end with no one to witness your victory but a massive hollow universe dead and yet still more alive than you will be to have wished and willed such a catastrophe on all existence. To imagine you can be the centre of a universe and that that centre was one deep hole that was never filled a yawning emptiness - I think that strikes me as the fitting analogy of what you've become. You are one deek dark black hole. And kill us you may, but someone is going to put a plug in you and it might as well be us."

OOC: Unless challenged, and I can't imagine we won't be challenged, Frostbite is aiming to get to Thoth and take off the gage, I suspect we are being lured into a trap and Thoth is trying to warn us. Hence the reason I am dialoguing here, but also trying to give us both time to assess the field and give Elias one last chance to come to some sort of sense. I suspect he is too far gone, but hey call me an optimist I never give up on a chance to tell someone how we can help them if they'd have it so. Its the preacher man in me ;-)

Sj

"You free the wizards, I'm gonna punch his teeth in!" said Battlebug leaping forward and swinging!

Frostbite made his way over to Thoth whilst making his speech and grabbed, his vast superhuman strength against what appeared to be some kind of magical adhesive sticking the metal mouth guard to Thoth's mouth... Frostbite glanced at Thoth who stared back, then nodded, resigned...

OOC Frostbite Str 15 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,8,+0 Total:15 (30) vs
OV10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,12,+0 Total:19 (29)
+1 (to 16) vs Rv10=6 RAPs. Success.

Rrrrriiiippppp! "RARRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!" screamed Thoth, a days beard growth peeling from his face leaving red raw skin and a mage maddened with pain!

"Aaaaargghhh... B... B... BEHIND YOU!!!" he screams, breathless...

Frostbite glances at Battlebug landing a blow... through the Dark Lord... The youngster swipes again, too many times for anyone without Lionhearts speed to see and even then...

"Huh. What gives...? BOSS!" he screams, the Youngster turning and leaping across the room...

Towards where an invisible form ripples into view, his image decoy fading from view on the dais before the throne and the Dark Lord levels an arm...

"DIE!" he hisses!

OOC Magic Blast KILLING COMBAT!!! Crit Blow Multi on two 15 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,9,+0 Total:15 (30) vs
Highest OV 9 + Crit Blow 4 + Multi 2 + Range 1 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,9,+0 Total:12 (28)
+2 (to 17) vs Highest RV9 + Multi 2 - Crit Blow 6 (RV5)=12 RAPs.
Frostbite is DOWN and OUT and is DYING on -3 Spirit!
Battlebug is STUNNED, absorbs 6 damage (21HP) and is on 1/7 Spirit

The world goes dark for Frostbite!

As the floor zooms up to smack him in the face Frostbite catches a glimpse of Dark Knights rushing in, the Dark Lord triumphant and cackling, raising a hand to blast at the boy with a coup de grace! The Youngster is heedless of that, stumbling on his knees towards his friend and mentor with a scream shouting "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" Frostbite hears the youngster scream and knows he is going to be killed! Regardless, the boy clamps a hand on Frostbites arms and screams "No! Not again! Don't die!"

OOC Battlebug pays for a desperation recovery check for Frosty 1 HP.

Body 11 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,6,+0 Total:13 (24) vs
Ov3 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,11,+0 Total:12 (15)
+4 (to 15) vs RV3=12 RAPs. Spirit is raised to zero and Frostbite is no longer dying!

=========

Darkness.

"I know you're awake."

That voice. The Dark Lord. No... familiar though. What?

Frostbite wakes.

Looking around, he's in the citadel still though it's deep within the depths.

There are hundreds of Dark Knights sat on benches in some kind of arena! Frostbite glances down and sees some kind of chain on his ankle to the floor. He can easily break that, he... blinks. What was he thinking again?

"I cast a spell." that voice again. It... He looks up.

Across the dust and sand covered arena is Battlebug, mask off and hands on waist. The Dark Knights look down on him with awe and reverence.

"When you try to fly off, or free yourself, or use any power that involves you escaping that shackle, your brain simply... 'shuts down'. Hypnotism!" Battlebug laughs.

"You can't escape, and your rebellion is ended!" laughs Battlebug. "Bring her in!" he laughs...

A bruised, shackled and chained Melody is dragged in to the arena and shackled to the wall by her ankles, wrists and neck... With a gesture the Dark Lord/Battlebug tightens the chains and yanks the heroine tight against the wall where the chains start to squeeezzzzze. She gasps, eyes bulging and glances at Frostbite, desperate!

"Thoth is dead. I drained his magic. The rebellion is over. My Dark Knights rallied and defeated your pathetic troops. The Elven Queen is dead as iis her brother. You have failed. Now ... it is time for YOU to die, Frostbite, whilst this boy grants me power, physical might to match my sorcery! I shall use that to DESTROY you, and your last thought shall be seeing the boy deliver your death blow!!!"

Melody screams "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

Battlebug/Dark Lord starts to laugh, though his body radiates with power, as well as an eerie dark smoke writhing around him...

OOC THIS IS IT!!!

BATTLEBUG VS FROSTBITE! (sort of)

Try your best but know that a very powerful Hypnotic suggestion has been used to zap Frostbites mind so he can't escape the arena, faff about with the chain or otherwise escape!

Admin wrote:OOC THIS IS IT!!!

BATTLEBUG VS FROSTBITE! (sort of)

Try your best but know that a very powerful Hypnotic suggestion has been used to zap Frostbites mind so he can't escape the arena, faff about with the chain or otherwise escape!

Frostbite head felt fuzzy, his tongue seemed too large for his mouth. His limbs seemed to exist somehow disconnected from him, yet he was by some people's estimation a hero. Some kind of good samaritan with bells on. As Lionheart might quip. He knew that his mind was being played with, he fell, he was shattered by the spell that Elias let go of...magic always a hard one to get your head around. He had grown up thinking its a trick, the clever use of hand quicker than the eye, playing your audience. In some ways that still seemed to true, just now with bells on!

Moving forward, lurching really as this wasn't gracious as he might have been. He forced his limbs to get their act together and move forward. Although He saw Battle Bug, he knew that the Dark Lord had done something to him or them both. He wasn't going to stand for that. Battle Bug deserved better than to be the puppet of some deranged psychopath with delusions of power.

Lurching forward Frostbite raised his arms and let go with the best he could for of his super cold power.

OOC: OK fighting blind here, not sure what I can and can't do to through this off, hence the slight monologue. And hoping that something vaguely sensible comes forth. Have to say this is somewhat disturbing I don't think I've come this close to being killed in a long time.

Sj

OOC initiative!

BB/Dark Lord 29 + Roll(1d12)+0: 11,+0 Total:11 (40) vs
Frostbite 29 + Roll(1d12)+0: 7,+0 Total:7 (36)

Hmmm. I re-read the power description of the control I was using on Battlebug and it appears Personality Transfer is NOT usable for the purposes of this scenario so instead, the Dark Lord controls the boy mentally, dictating his actions...

"HAHAHAHA!" shouted the Dark Lord/Battlebug. "This body is exquisite! This boy has physical power I never DREAMED of, and it's about to be used to generate a living nightmare for you, 'hero' " he laughed as a disembodied smoke wraith close to Battlebug who stood with glazed eyes staring at Frostbite. "USE YOUR POWER BOY! THIS MAN IS YOUR ENEMY!"

OOC Adren Surge Multi on three AV23 + Roll(2d12)+0: 4,8,+0 Total:12 (35) vs
Highest OV8 + Multi 4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,3,+0 Total:12 (24)
+5 (to 28 EV) vs RV8 + Multi 4 (RV12)=16 RAPs

Boosts to: Dex 24 Str 22 Pow Reserve 23 (split to 11 Energy Absorb (16) and 12 to Kinetic Absorb (16))

AV24 + 2D M Arts + Roll(4d12)+0: 5,1,12,6,+0 Total:18 (42) vs
OV16 (fluid form - he can still use his powers but not escape) + 2D Acro (0D M Arts) + Roll(4d12)+0: 9,12,1,7,+0 Total:21 (37)
+3 (to 25) vs RV16=9 RAPs. Frostbite is on Body 2/11

Hopping forward, leaping over Frostbite, delivering a jarring kidney shot then a karate kick with a spin Frostbite crashes to the floor in the dust!

He knew the boy could hit hard and a glance at Battlebug... the boy was in a fighting crouch staring at Frostbite and a tear rolled from his eye, his gritted teeth showing evidence of the battle within!

OOC Battlebug tries to escape the control!

Av7 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,6,+0 Total:18 (25) vs
Ov16 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,5,+0 Total:12 (28) Failed

Peeling his fog like form from the ground Frostbite knew he was being toyed with! He also knew Battlebug, though Lightning fast, could be much, much faster and stronger - and more dangerous! The boy was doing the minimum he could with the power controlling his mind ... until that controller decided the boy could do better!

OOC you're up!

Admin wrote:Peeling his fog like form from the ground Frostbite knew he was being toyed with! He also knew Battlebug, though Lightning fast, could be much, much faster and stronger - and more dangerous! The boy was doing the minimum he could with the power controlling his mind ... until that controller decided the boy could do better!

OOC you're up!

"Fight him, Billy, fight him. Don't worry about me, it's him who is humiliating you. But it doesn't need to be so. This is why we have to fight with brains and will not just power. I know you've got this son. There is no need to prove anything to me, but show him what you've got."

Frostbite was willing Battle Bug to fight on but didn't know what else to do. He felt for the lad, he knew he cared deeply, his own father now being dead. This would tear him up and Elias was sadistically lapping it up. This was more than a power trip, something quite evil seemed to possess what was once a man people also referred to as a hero, well as far as Frostbite knew. He moved his own form to try and disperse himself, no point in trying to make this easy.

Sj

Admin wrote:OOC Are you attacking or going on the defensive? The Chains shackling Frostbite to the same spot have a ten foot length but he can blast with his energy blast or whatever and if he disperses the chains still prevent him from just flying off, but this guy wants you to attack Billy. If you know that and are ok to soak up the punishment (or avoid it as much as you can) that's fine but I suspect one more punch and Frosty goes down... with a roll, a crit blow and a bit of luck you might tag BBug as he's not fighting anywhere near his potential... your call!

OOC: I don't know what to do. I am very reluctant to hit at the boy, even if he is all but powerful. No, as I write this I am not that way inclined I won't play this his way.

Frostbite became dispersed. He was exhausted jumping dimensions. The various conflicts to get to Billy and rescue him now this. He was tired of being the pawn of someone else's game, in this case, Elias. He wasn't about to be used to batter the very lad he'd given so much to save. If it cost him his life so that Billy could fight back so be it. Everyone had to die, and he'd rather die well than die harming those whom he loved and cared about. He wasn't about to hurt another person who once again Elias sought to use for his own twisted game. He wasn't going to play that game.

Sj

The Dark Lord watched as - even though dispersed - Battlebug scooped up Frostbite by the throat and backhanded him unconscious.

"Pathetic." the Dark Lord snarled as he looked down at Frostbite's unconscious form. "Some... 'hero'." He turned to look at the boy, watching him quiver. "You're fighting me aren't you lad? I can feel you, hear you screaming inside! Keep wasting your time. You are my personal assassin now. These others...?" he waved a hand...

The illusion of the Dark Knights vanished, their forms, their clanking sounds, all realistic but an illusion. As was Melody. She faded from view as the illusion was dropped.

At the other side of the arena Thoth faded into view, an illusionary wall vanishing. He was knelt, chained up, gagged. With a wave the gag vanished.

"You... " he gasped. "You're nearly at the end of your power Elias...." said Thoth, struggling without success at his chains.

"Fool!" rasped the Dark Lord. "You don't get it do you?" he said, snarling with fist clenched. "This boy, and HIM!" he said pointing at Frostbite "Will be my new dark lieutenants, doing my bidding and subjugating this land finally!" He looked up and about at the quivering ceiling and walls shaking, no longer steady now the illusion was dropped. "When I have... tainted ... them, every death, every slave they capture shall serve to feed ME!" he said, though his eyes were fearful.

"You!" he shouted at Battlebug. "Take him... and take him." he nodded at Thoth. "We shall get the rebels to surrender then I shall taint those two and..."

He stopped.

Stood in the entrance arch of the arena was a blue skinned humanoid holding a rock. Behind him was his ex wife, The Sorceress!

"It's over Elias." she said. "Your forces have lost. You have no magic left. This place is about to collapse!"

"Noooo!!!" he screamed. "Boy! Smash that... that thing!" he said, pointing at Frostbot. "Boy! Did you hear me?" He turned and saw Battlebug wobbling, rubbing his head, sweating, throwing up...

Frostbot threw the radioactive rock aside and in a smooth movement swept up to the Dark Lord. Grasping the man by the throat he lifted him off the floor! "I can still ... blast your soul!" said Elias.

With an internal switch, a nanosecond of time, Frostbot turned off the programming that made him self aware, almost 'alive'. He was now a robot. A device. Nothing more. Elias blasted Frostbot of the future with a soul searing magic blast as he'd used on Frostbite and Battlebug.

Nothing happened. The 'soul' blast required a soul as a target...

"My function is to protect the life of Frostbite. In order to best ensure that, your life must be extinguished Doctor Mystical." said Frostbot in a monotone voice, squeezing harder and making the Dark Lord gurgle!

Sorceress screamed "NO!"

Which is when Frostbite woke up, fully healed (OOC he heals very very fast!) to see Frostbot of the Future dangling the Dark Lord by his throat, the mans face turning blue to almost match the robot!

'Something is wrong.' said Frostbot inside Frostbites' head. 'I can no longer sense Frostbot of the Future. His ... soul... has gone. He is now simply a machine.'

Frostbot of the Future turned stiffly to face Frostbite. "Master. State your bidding." it said as the Dark Lord thrashed about in his vice like grip...

"B... boss?" croaked Battlebug, slumped against the wall and looking very pale, sweat drenched.