The New Vanguard! FROSTBITE ISSUE #10 "Fallen"

Admin wrote:Melody gasped and moves closer but stops short of the threshold! "Where did he go? Should we go in?"

A sideways glance at Nowhere Man and Frostbite nodded affirmatively. "We're in this together, lets see who invited themselves in."

And with that Frostbite stepped up to the door and stepped across the threshold.

OOC: let's get it on.

Sj

And then... they were somewhere else!

It was cold, dark and London was... not there. Frostbite spun about. He was alone and stood in a bog? The water was up to his thighs and the mist all around. The trees were blackened stumps, skeletal and thrusting out of the water of the peat bog.

He listened... aside from the odd frog croaking and cricket chirping, there was nothing!

Where were the others... and where on earth was Frostbite???

'Perhaps the question should be... 'WHEN' suggested Frostbot inside the heroes' head!

'Frostbot?' said another voice. 'It is I, Frostbot of the Future. You are feint. Where are you? I can see a castle of ancient origin. We appear to have been transported through... Ah. I seem to be under attack. Excuse me!'

Admin wrote:
'Frostbot?' said another voice. 'It is I, Frostbot of the Future. You are feint. Where are you? I can see a castle of ancient origin. We appear to have been transported through... Ah. I seem to be under attack. Excuse me!'

Frostbite rose from the bog, taking up he looked about for Future Frostbot. He and presumable the others had all been transported here, but where was here, or when was here it seemed to be the more operative question?

"Come in, team, does anyone hear me?"

Frostbite waited for a response even as he spun slowly around to see if he could spot Future Frostbot or any distinctive signs of a fight. Within himself, he also asked his own AI companion to see if he could locate them? Although it was unlikely without any access to any modern tech he knew that his own Frostbot was likely to be as blind as a bat having to rely totally on his own senses and abilities beyond which he might have nothing to comprehend or use to 'see' by.

OOC: OK looking about and seeking to see if I can spot anyone.

Sj

With a constant hiss from the earpiece Frostbite figured technology wasn't something that would work well here. Wherever here was.

He floated up out of the muck and through the fog and looked down upon what was a sunken forest/marsh/bog. The trees were barren and dead and jutted from the mist but otherwise the place was dead.

Looking over the mist and around he found himself to be near a valley with hills all about. Rising up they changed into a mountain range and the grey sky wasn't too cheery either.

Deciding that wasting his breath over the inoperative comms was a waste of time he picked a direction and soared through the air... and heard a SCREEEECHHHH!!!!

He instinctively ducked and morphed into his mistlike semi solid form as a creature swooped through him with claws extended!



What? A ... griffin? Moving across the threshold of Thoth's house had transported the Vanguardians to... somewhere else.

OOC Frostbite wins initiative. This thing is swooping about and coming back for another go! It's about 200 yards away at the moment then will swoop in fast!

Admin wrote:What? A ... griffin? Moving across the threshold of Thoth's house had transported the Vanguardians to... somewhere else.

OOC Frostbite wins initiative. This thing is swooping about and coming back for another go! It's about 200 yards away at the moment then will swoop in fast!

Where had Frostbite seen figures like this before? It was a long time ago early on in his career when he had jumped time and most probably space, to a similar mythic kingdom. Though there was no telling if this was that. He didn't want to hurt the Griffin just scare it off. He was not going to be an easy meal that was the message he wanted to send. Firing a blast of his ice-cold energy he aimed to partially freeze and frighten of his would hungry hunter rather than kill it.

OOC: Whilst I'm up high can I spot any tale-tale signs of the others?

Sj

OOC Ice Production 15APs with a trick shot... Frostbite waits for the beast to circle round then swoop in... then fires at its wings...

AV15 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,1,+0 Total:2 FAILED

Nothing came out of his hands and the hero groaned as the Griffin swooped in!

With claws outstretched it reached for the flying prey...

OOC Dex 8 + Weaponry (claws) 2D + Roll(4d12)+0: 3,8,10,3,+0 Total:18 (26) vs
OV11=5 Fluid Form (16) +2D Acrobatics + Roll(4d12)+0: 12,12,7,10,+0 Total:24 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 11,5,+0 Total:40 (56)

Gaining speed to outpace the creature Frostbite racked his brain... the magical land he'd visited once, with the Elven Queen ELESIETH who took over from Morgana Le Faye... He'd gotten a feeling when he passed through the gateway and the creature had confirmed it. But why? And what had happened to the place? It was ... barren, blasted... a murky dismal fog wreathed wasteland! Swamps instead of forest, hills devoid of vegetation save for stumps and barren looking heather... Albion!

OOC We're referencing a storyline that ran in 2011... been having to read up some in 'The Story so far' (OOC Link Issue 3 Frostbite and 'Old issues' (unhelpfully) as it seems some were put in one and others in others. I'll have to sort it out when I get a spare life. That was when we still used Golden Heroes, or rather a house ruled version as you had the Dark Power. Heh, the power Frostbite has now in the DC Heroes rules probably puts him on a par with the houseruled mega power you had back then.

Raspandarr the Dragon... Theruss the Mage... others.

Why was he back here now? He'd followed the trail to Thoth's house... What happened?

OOC Frostbite Int 9 + 2D Detective + Roll(4d12)+0: 2,10,1,6,+0 Total:16 (25) vs
Ov7 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,2,+0 Total:4 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 2,5,+0 Total:11 (18)
+4 (to 12 Will) vs RV7=5 RAPs

1) You've crossed time and space to a land of make believe, essentially.
2-3) Thoth may have cast some kind of spell to transport him to the original place the broom was made, thinking to find a way to undo the magic and leave the gateway sealed forever. Unbeknown to him that was not the Dark Ages on Earth but an other dimensional world of mystical creatures ruled over by the Elf Queen Elesieth.
4-6) Something interrupted Thoth and the spell went wrong. Instead of creating a single portal to transport himself the spell engulfed part of the house and as soon as the heroes crossed the threshold they were transported to this magical land. Because it went wrong they were all transported to different places rather than the same. Thoth will be unprepared for a journey to a place like this and may be in trouble, but he IS a mage, and a powerful one at that.

Frostbite watched as the Griffin made its way overhead. He was in the fog, watching the large dark shape circle about before losing interest and rose up out of it when the beast was gone.

Just then he heard something on the wind. Like distant music or a tune... Looking about he saw rolling hills, mist, sparse trees that were blackened and skeletal, forests devoid of life, just blackened stumps jutting from the mist for mile upon mile... That sound again. Distant, from the fog, echoing in the valley somewhere... like bells or tunes... or Melodies' power...

Admin wrote:

Just then he heard something on the wind. Like distant music or a tune... Looking about he saw rolling hills, mist, sparse trees that were blackened and skeletal, forests devoid of life, just blackened stumps jutting from the mist for mile upon mile... That sound again. Distant, from the fog, echoing in the valley somewhere... like bells or tunes... or Melodies' power...

Magic, it was a 'science' that made Frostbite skin crawl. He was alright around those he could trust, but it was so outside his comfort zone, maybe it was as much being a child of the midwest, being one with the land, being at home with farm machines or cars. And now his world was filled with fantastic machines so advance they could talk and think and act for themselves.

He locked on to the sound and speed off his speed accelerating as he got a clearer and clearer sense of the direction. As he went he took the opportunity to look about, both to scan the land and see what had happened here and also to spot if there were any tale-tale signs of his other friends about.

Sj

The land was barren.

What he could see through the thick, damp fog were those skeletal trees and the odd ruin of a building, like farmhouses and watch towers. They had all been fired at some point and collapsed, with gutted interiors and even the odd skeletal remains in some.

Heading towards the music he plunged into the fog and mused that it would be freezing were he an ordinary person. At least it wasn't fire, he could deal with the cold...

Floating above the murk of the swamp Frostbite moved between the blackened rotting stumps of the trees and finally came to an 'island' of sorts where the bushes and shrubs clung to what they could in order to escape the slimy swamp. He looked about, still listening for the music/tune/harmony that radiated whenever Melody used her powers and saw her sat on a tree stump.

She was partially declothed and wringing out her top with back to Frostbite so he did the gentlemanly thing (I assume) and coughed, causing her to whirl about then breathe a sigh of relief with her filthy top clutched to her chest. "Oh thank goodness!" she exclaimed. "I thought I was the only one stuck in this place!" She turned about, pulled on her top and back round again, hair hanging in rats tails and mask nowhere to be seen, not that it would matter here. She was a pretty lady but covered from head to toe in swamp sludge.

"I appeared in this place under the swamp water and swallowed half of it." she muttered. "Where are we? Oh and..." she paused, having a think. "Seeing as you have seen my real face and would find out at some point I'm Georgina. Gina. Morrison." she said with a hand to shake. "Please tell me you have a plan to get us back home!"

[quote="Admin""I appeared in this place under the swamp water and swallowed half of it." she muttered. "Where are we? Oh and..." she paused, having a think. "Seeing as you have seen my real face and would find out at some point I'm Georgina. Gina. Morrison." she said with a hand to shake. "Please tell me you have a plan to get us back home!"[/quote]

After waiting for Gina, Melody to get herself halfway decent, Frostbite floated over to her. Then he explained as much as he could, what he had surmised, extrapolated and guessed at given the evidence before him.

"Some kind of terrible disaster has so blighted the land that it is no longer the fertile garden-like place of beauty I left, but this...barely clinging to life. Its like someone set of a warhead or something. I will get us back, I've been here before, if only I could get my bearings there was once a castle..."

Turning within, Frostbite asked Frostbot if he could, from his memory, extrapolate some idea of where they were and if possible anything that resembled a location that they'd been to previously. Perhaps in this way, they might start with something halfway familiar, and keep a keen eye out for the rest of the team if at all possible.

Sj

Frostbot replied 'You must give me a frame of reference. Mountains generally will help, and we can work from there.'

So said, Frostbite beckoned for Melody to follow and the superheroes flew up out of the fog and high over the stricken land.

From a great height it 'looked' much like Britain, or like Britain might do before the seas rose and shaped it to that which they knew, but this was bigger, wider and blighted as far as they could see. Frostbot asked for Frostbite to fly over the mountain ranges he saw and he also noted burned out settlements, forests blighted by fires and rivers darkened with... something.

'Please rotate. Stop. There. Continue in this direction for approximately one minute, a distance of 60 miles or so at your maximum velocity.' stated his robotic friend.

The pair did so and soon came across lands that Frostbite remembered. Instead of tilled fields and happy villages, they came across desolation. Cattle rotted in the fields, the crops seemingly failed or the fields themselves sown with salt so that nought would grow.

Finally they came across the once beautiful castle on the hill that overlooked the valley from where the Elven Queen , Elesieth, ruled. The tower was half crumbled, smashed as if by some weapon like a bomb or a missile. It started to rain and normally Frostbite wouldn't mind so much but the rain had a greenish tinge to it...

"What happened to this place?" asked Melody. "It's like... some kind of post apocalyptic wasteland..."

Frostbite wanted to know that himself...

The pair flew in, mindful of attacks...

As they got closer, they saw movement. People sifting through the rubble of the castle and the surrounding town. They looked vagrant, rags for clothes and starving. Some looked up but paid little mind to the flying pair. So long as they weren't something that wanted to swoop down and eat them, they were more interested in finding scraps of rotting food.

The once vast and fairytale castle was a damp ruin, water having flooded in and smashed floors leaving the place with a damp, rotten smell. Once beautiful tapestries laid waste along with rusted, pitted amour and weapons. Furniture broken up, some of having been burned for firewood.

The castle itself on the upper levels, accessible through one of many holes in the walls, was as ruined as that below. Frostbite moved from memory, going down one corridor then another until he came to a smashed pair of leaning double doors, their towering twenty feet height now warped and smashed for firewood. Water and sludge everywhere, the place was thoroughly ruined and the heroes stepped into the throneroom.

There, at the end of a ruined hall, windows all smashed and the floor itself having rotted through to the floor below in places, was the throne, and on it, a woman in rags with blonde rat tail hair, pointed ears drooping. Elesieth, supposedly immortal, looked to have aged decades and now resembled a woman in her eighties or nineties. She looked through rheumy eyes and peered out. "Who is it?" she gasped in a feeble voice. "Who goes there?" she asked, fearful and tentative.

Frostbite realised she was blind, and his heart sank even further.

Admin wrote:Frostbite realised she was blind, and his heart sank even further.

Frostbite remembered the bright beautiful and dignified ruler of this place, the strength and courage and conviction. What had happened to her, in some ways it was almost as if the land was mirroring the blighted blinded woman before him. Trying to get his emotions under control. He looked away. He realised Melody could see his face and despite his hard ice-like covering, his emotion was hard to conceal.

After recovering his composure and sure he could speak without his voice cracking with emotion he said, "Elesieth, Elesieth it is I, Frostbite, I have returned...only I do not recognise your kingdom and you my Queen, what has happened here?"

Frostbite went nearer so that despite her blindness she could reach out and touch him if that is what would reassure her that it really was him.

OOC: Wow that was a complete shocker.

Sj

The old womans' face faltered. "Wha...? Is this some foul trick of the dark one?" she cried. "I... cannot dare to hope... to believe... I... I am at my lowest ebb... Please do not let this be... a ... a falsehood!" she cried, tears rolling down her wrinkled cheeks.

She tottered from the throne, crying freely and and in anguish, feeling out. She tripped, stumbling and fell to her knees, and Frostbite raced to her side. "Ahhh the cold! Can it be? The brave Sir Knight who saved my kingdom and all in it so very, very long ago?" She cried and ran a hand down Frostbites' icy face. "So cold... it can only be you... Frostbite... you have returned!" She sobbed.

Comforting her, Frostbite was mindful that he was icy cold and so 'turned it down' so to speak, till he was only cool to the touch. Melody, looking about, asked "What happened here?"

The Queen looked up, sniffling. "A calamity. The ancient cup of lore and legend, tied to the land of Brittania and to Albion, has been moved from its resting place. Some... 123 years hence. We have slowly fallen into darkness and despair, and the dark lord has risen, the power that no longer keeps it in check and as my power waned, his grew. Now the land is under cloud. We have not seen the sun for an age. The crops failed, the dead rose from their graves and the powers of law and order faded. Now bandit kings rule, robbing what few citizens remain and I have no power to stop them. The fallen Queen, am I, they say."

Wiping her nose on a tattered dirty sleeve she rose with help from Frostbite. "What little food and wealth I had I traded away to feed my people. When all I had ran out, they left. Only the oldest, most faithful of friends and servants stay, and they grub about in the ruins for food."

"The Dark Lord will reign supreme until the Grail is returned." she sighed. "Returned to the Queen of the Empire who pledged always, like all Kings and Queens had, to guard it. It was stolen from her and we as a mirror of the land have suffered all this time."

Frostbite wasn't quite sure to what she referred. The Grail? The Holy Grail as in... Arthurian Legend? Queen of the Empire?

OOC Steeplejack on the other hand, knows what has transpired... In 1897.

"Do not face the Dark Lord!" she gasps. "His power... supreme! Without the Grail to hold the evil in sway his power has grown over the century and more, so now he rules... The Grail. Help restore the grail..."

Admin wrote:Frostbite wasn't quite sure to what she referred. The Grail? The Holy Grail as in... Arthurian Legend? Queen of the Empire?

OOC Steeplejack on the other hand, knows what has transpired... In 1897.

"Do not face the Dark Lord!" she gasps. "His power... supreme! Without the Grail to hold the evil in sway his power has grown over the century and more, so now he rules... The Grail. Help restore the grail..."

Frostbite looked a bit perplexed and looked at Melody somewhat out of his depth. "Melady you speak in riddles, we know not what you refer to. The grail in my time is a legend a myth? And here, if it is stolen, how can we get it back, where and with whom does it lie?"

Frostbite was all for seeing this dark lord put back in the lamp or dark cellar he'd emerged from and the land once again restored. But the grail, as far as he was aware was a legend and myth of yesteryear. Then again, here he was in Albion, across time and space and with magic in full evidence. Maybe he ought not to be so sceptical.

"My Queen my friends and I are happy to do what we can, but we are scattered and were on a mission to free on of our number trapped in another place undoubtedly resembling this in some respects. If we can help we will, but tell me more?"

Sj

OOC Wires crossed, the Queen was talking about the Grail, Melody asking her questions...

The Queen sighed. "I could... the last of my magic, use it, open a gate to the time of the grail. Return it to the protection of the Queen... her name.. Victoria. She is very sad, always wears black."

"Have you... do you know of others, like us? A man dressed in black? Nowhere Man?" asked Melody. "He's a bit of an oddball."

"I know of the Nowhere Man." said the Queen. "He has been here before. He is a troubled man but... I think a good one. on the whole. His soul is grey. Black, White, most others fall one way or the other, his is most definitely on the knifes edge."

"I can ... scry...for him. It's the only way i can still see. We Elves are supposed to be immortal but when the Grail was taken and the Dark Power took hold, the good magic leaked away and now? There is none left. We are dead, we just don't know it yet..." said Elesieth.

Frostbite asked of Thoth and of Frostbot of the Future.

"Thoth? I do not know the name. A Magus by the name Arker arrived a short time ago seeking the Witch Esmerelda whose broom he carries. She dwells in the dead lands, surrounded by the soulless undead. He was pursued, I think, by demons. My people and I... we had to hide..."

OOC You can be transported (with the last of her magic) to 1897 to join the heroes (steeplejack and Haunt) there or can venture to the dead lands to find Thoth. Alternately you can scour this place to find Frostbot of the Future and Nowhere Man...

Admin wrote:]OOC You can be transported (with the last of her magic) to 1897 to join the heroes (steeplejack and Haunt) there or can venture to the deadlands to find Thoth. Alternately you can scour this place to find Frostbot of the Future and Nowhere Man...

Frostbite immediately discounted the idea of going back in time, he had enough of time travel and it was a messy business at the best of times. Besides Thoth was their only way of getting back to Battle Bug, and since he knew no one who knew magic like him, it seemed that their path ought to lie with him. Nowhere Man was a seasoned hero and Future Frostbot was, if anything like his own companion, a well-experienced hero, they would cope. Thoth - within this world maybe not so much. And moreover, the broom might well bring forth its mistress...

His mind made up Frostbite gently took Elesieth by the hand and spoke compassionately to her. "Clearly all is not lost or else all would already be lost. I see it hangs but by a thread, but still whilst that thread remains there might yet be a way to knit back the whole. Thoth is the one who brought us here, and he holds the key I think to help us. He will know what to do, but I fear he is in over his head. I need to locate him, my companions should be experienced enough to take care of themselves. Can you show me where I need to go?"

OOC: I'm hoping that Frostbot will be able to extrapolate from whatever she says or is able to draw in the ground the way to where Thoth might be and to rescue him, hopefully.

Sj

Elesieth reaches into an old sack and brings out what looks to be a crystal ball...

It was cracked and dirty but worked when she uttered a word in elvish and it started glowing...

"Seek the witch that you know Frostbite..." she whispered.

OOC Check out... THIS THREAD from 17 Nov 2011...

Chereth.

She'd created a Crystal sword that trapped a Knight who frostbite had freed. Apparently she'd also created the broom and gifted it to a 9th century witch on Earth who used it to open a portal to summon a demon. She would be able to unlock the magic of the broom which could then be used to permanently seal any rifts from the Demons dimension. However if Thoth did that before Battlebug was rescued, the boy would be trapped and would die... He needed to be stopped - at least until Frostbite had been there and gotten back with the youngster. It was a race against time. Thoth was trying to ensure no more demons would come through so wasn't to know. The Demons were after him to get the Broom and ensure that not only the portal would stay open, but it would widen and open up in several other places...

They were here, somewhere. Without the boy Frostbite would have to hope Melody could help. He could take on a few by himself but any more than that?

"Do you know who she's talking about?" asked Melody.

Admin wrote:Elesieth reaches into an old sack and brings out what looks to be a crystal ball...

It was cracked and dirty but worked when she uttered a word in elvish and it started glowing...

"Seek the witch that you know Frostbite..." she whispered.

OOC Check out... THIS THREAD from 17 Nov 2011...

Chereth.

She'd created a Crystal sword that trapped a Knight who frostbite had freed. Apparently she'd also created the broom and gifted it to a 9th century witch on Earth who used it to open a portal to summon a demon. She would be able to unlock the magic of the broom which could then be used to permanently seal any rifts from the Demons dimension. However if Thoth did that before Battlebug was rescued, the boy would be trapped and would die... He needed to be stopped - at least until Frostbite had been there and gotten back with the youngster. It was a race against time. Thoth was trying to ensure no more demons would come through so wasn't to know. The Demons were after him to get the Broom and ensure that not only the portal would stay open, but it would widen and open up in several other places...

They were here, somewhere. Without the boy Frostbite would have to hope Melody could help. He could take on a few by himself but any more than that?

"Do you know who she's talking about?" asked Melody.

OOC: wow so much has changed that was Frostbite mark1 I'd forgotten it was not this Frostbite.

Frostbite nodded, though the memories were not his but belonged to the original Frostbite, none the less they were still as real to him as if they were his own.

"I know, or rather knew the witch who created the broom. She made much mischief in her time, but that was then and she would be long dead by now - or at least she should be? But who knows so much has changed."

Turning back to Elesieth Frostbite added, "Thank you, we will do all we can, we can but pray that it will be enough."

Sad with but without words to utter them for the plight of the place the original Frostbite knew as Albion, Frostbite followed the root they'd come in and having got the idea of where to go, took to the air, unable to look back.

OOC: OK after Thoth then...

Sj

Setting off in the direction of the village he'd met the witch in as another person/in another life with Frostbot guiding as a kind of GPS albeit without satellites.

Melody kept quiet, looking about for... well, anything really.

An hour passed, two. Deserted or ruined buildings, lonely burned out forests, field gone fallow or weed strewn... the place was a parched post apocalyptic wasteland. The lack of sunshine and heavy cloud cover with leaden clouds added to the gloom. It was daytime, but not so much as you could tell the difference from dusk.

They moved on.

=========

Ash and burned out remains ground underfoot.

Melody crouched, running it through her hands. "Another burned out ruin." she muttered.

Frostbite looked about. The witches hovel was a collapsed ruin like the other buildings, everything inside smashed or ruin by fire then water.

OOC Int 9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,9,+0 Total:11 (20) vs
OV5 + Roll(2d12)+0: 4,4,+0 Total:8 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 2,3,+0 Total:13 (18) +2 (to 10) vs RV5=5 RAPs

1) This took place some time ago. It would in theory take only weeks or months for such decay to set in and the ruins are not smouldering
2-3) Hoof prints from a number of horses lead into the village then around it. They circled the place, fired it, slaughtered or dragged civilians away then left
4-6) You see a number of hoof prints leading off towards the hills/mountains. They are mixed with footprints. Captives? Slaves possibly?

There is a set of tracks to follow, but time has eroded them. Frostbite is reasonably competent (with +2D) at tracking...

AV9 + 2D tracking + Roll(4d12)+0: 2,5,5,3,+0 Total:10 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 4,11,+0 Total:30 (39) vs
OV2 + Extreme 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 8,2,+0 Total:10 (20)
+6 (to 14) vs RV2 + Extreme 8 so RV10=4 RAPs. That's only 150' then more rolls are needed... This could go on for miles!

Melody asked "Have you found something? Is this a dead end or...?"

Just then she was interrupted by thundering hooves at a distance... the pair turned and saw... a group of ten or more fully armoured horsemen riding towards the village! They were several hundred yards away but coming on at speed!

Admin wrote:Melody asked "Have you found something? Is this a dead end or...?"

Just then she was interrupted by thundering hooves at a distance... the pair turned and saw... a group of ten or more fully armoured horsemen riding towards the village! They were several hundred yards away but coming on at speed!

"Something or someone has found us...be ready!"

Frostbite moved out toward the men, he didn't want to give too much away so allowed himself to walk toward them his hands raised he hailed them

"Greetings riders, what brings you here, what business have you in this ash heap? Can you tell us what happened to the occupants of this place, I look for a sister who once lived here but seemingly no more?"

OOC: Frostbite at the ready to attack if need be, I'm also mindful that Thoth is a big issue here, I want to help the villagers but time is running out for Thoth as well...

Sj

The lead rider stopped in the saddle, raising a hand.

Frostbite couldn't help but notice they moved with a fluidity and grace that belied the ornamental, bulky armour.



With a deep voice from within the helmet the leader spoke. "Your appearance is unusual, stranger. State your name."

"Shall I behead him Cairbre? The dark lords intentions were clear." said a feminine voice from one of the slimmer knights.

"Let him speak Lorelei. Besides, it is Valuran's turn for sport." replied the leader.

'Valuran' dismounted the horse in an unusual fashion. The Horse simply disappeared into a smoking cloud which dissipated near instantly. The man simply landed on his feet with barely any noise, unusual considering the bulk and weight of armour - plus that he stood some seven feet high.

"In accordance with the law you must surrender yourselves and all artefacts that you carry. Any possessions you have are forfeit, your future, that which is left, will be spent in the slave pits of the Dark Lord. Kneel and accept your fate." the giant said, as if reading from a cue card. Clearly it was an order repeated hundreds, thousands of times.

"Furthermore, revealing the location of children shall net you further benefits that will aid your servitude. Failure to disclose that information now will result in your torture and extended torment."

He looked Frostbite and Melody over. "The woman is pleasing to my eye. I wish to claim her Cairbre."

"I'll not be claimed by anyone!" declared Melody.

"Silence woman! For that outburst your skin shall be flayed with whips." snarled Valuran.

Frostbite got the distinct idea these were not very nice people at all.

Admin wrote:"Silence woman! For that outburst your skin shall be flayed with whips." snarled Valuran.

Frostbite got the distinct idea these were not very nice people at all.

Frostbite suspected from the first these were not going to be nice people or cooperative but he wouldn't feel happy not giving them a chance. That just expired with the cold indifferent way these people saw them and the others whom they'd clearly captured. "He's yours their leader is mine!" Frostbite said and blasted the leader with his Ice blast before launching up into the air to get a better aim.

OOC: Devastating attack on the leader with my energy blast

Sj

OOC initiative...



Frostbite switches his inner power reserve to his energy blast and unleashes his most DEVASTATING ATTACK!!!

Melody starts then follows likewise, unleashing a powerful torrent of pure sound at her target, the giant.

OOC DEV ATTACK Energy Blast 25 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,9,+0 Total:12 (37) vs
OV11 + Acro 3D (weaponry 2D) + range 1 + Dev Attack 8 + Roll(5d12)+0: 11,9,4,8,3,+0 Total:20 (40) Attack Missed!

The blast goes high and wide as the suprrisingly agile leader 'dismounts' his horse by it doing its vanishing trick. The others on horseback pull jet black swords but the leader calls out "Hold! Single combat is my honour, no other shall intervene!"

Melody becomes partially solid with only her sand corporeal and blasts at the loathsome giant!

OOC CRIT BLOW Sonic Beam 20 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,11,+0 Total:18 (38) vs
OV11 + 2D Acro (3D weaponry) + range 1 + Crit Blow 4 + Roll(4d12)+0: 9,2,1,8,+0 Total:17 (33)
+3 (to 23) vs RV20 -6 CB so RV14=9 RAPs. Valuran absorbs 5 damage (15HP) and is on Body 6/10 and HP 5

Cairbre summons a black bladed sword and leaps to the attack, moving with a speed and silence despite the clunky metal armour he wore! He swiped at Frostbite...

OOC AV11 + 2D Weaponry + Roll(4d12)+0: 12,11,4,10,+0 Total:23 (34) vs
OV11 + fluid form 5 + Acro 2D + Roll(4d12)+0: 10,3,12,9,+0 Total:22 (38) Attack Missed

"You are... more... stranger. You move like smoke!" said Cairbre after he was certain his sword had struck only for Frostbite to move his partially dispersed form around the blade like water!

"You'll pay for that woman! I shall enjoy devouring your life for..." started Valuran but Cairbre shouted "Valuran! Kill the woman, don't chat to her!"

The Giant growled and swung!

OOC Crit Blow AV11 + 3D weapons + Roll(5d12)+0: 12,6,9,3,7,+0 Total:21 (32) vs
OV11 + acro 3D + fluid form 11 + crit blow 4 + Roll(5d12)+0: 7,10,7,3,11,+0 Total:14 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 11,1,+0 Total:26 (52) attack missed!

The Giant stumbles, moving through Melodys incorporeal form and falling into the ash! He roars, angry and charges at the heroine again!

OOC Initiative...



Melody blasts again at her foe!

OOC CRIT BLOW Sonic Beam 20 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,3,+0 Total:9 (29) vs
OV11 + Crit Blow 4 + 1D Acro (4D weapon) + Roll(3d12)+0: 2,6,1,+0 Total:8 (23)
+3 (23) vs RV20 - 6CB so RV14=9 RAPs. Valuran doesn't have enough HP so is DOWN and OUT!

"Vile pig!" hisses Melody. "Who's next? Eh? EH?" screams the heroine.

OOC Frostbite up next. Crit Blow or Dev Attack? Buy a die?

Admin wrote:"Vile pig!" hisses Melody. "Who's next? Eh? EH?" screams the heroine.

OOC Frostbite up next. Crit Blow or Dev Attack? Buy a die?

OOC: Yeah buy a die and go for Devastating attack want to take this bully down so I can see if I can scare the others into giving up info.

"We are just full of surprises..."

Sj

OOC DEV ATTACK Energy Blast 25 + Roll(3d12)+0: 3,1,3,+0 Total:6 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 1,11,+0 Total:18 (43) vs
OV11 + 2D acro (3D weapon) + Dev Att 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,7,+0 Total:19 (38)
+3 (to 28) vs RV20 - 12 Dev Att so RV8=20 RAPs damage. No way that Cairbre can absorb that kind of punishment (5APs off a 100 megaton nuclear device as Lionheart just found out) and is DOWN and OUT

With a supremely powerful blast Frostbite sends the knight tilting backwards to crash into the ash!

The Knights sit silent until one, a woman, spurs her horse forward. "You can fight the rest of us... or allow us to take our fallen and leave." she stats, voice sounding hollow in the helmet.

Admin wrote:The Knights sit silent until one, a woman, spurs her horse forward. "You can fight the rest of us... or allow us to take our fallen and leave." she stats, voice sounding hollow in the helmet.

Frostbite raised a hand, "I don't think you realise the gravity of who you are facing and its not for you to give orders unless you wish to end up like either of these two. Who are you, who is this dark lord? Many slaves are breaking away from their masters and claiming all sorts of pretentious nonsense. Speak quickly and don't try me!"

Frostbite wasn't one for theatrics, but being in a world where everything was just slightly larger than life -almost operatic he might say if he was conversant with the Opera, but this seemed to positively call for it. Besides, he hated the pompous and arrogant way these people behaved obviously used to making many cower as they bullied the people for their so-called master.

OOC: I'm not too worried about this folk, truth be told I'm more interested in recovering Thoth and finding out where he is. However, I've a feeling that I'm about to be dragged into this whether I want to or not ;-)

Sj