The New Vanguard! FROSTBITE ISSUE #10 "Fallen"

One of the horsemen snorted in his helmet and trotted up, turning to the woman who'd spoken. "Shana, grant me the honour of slaying this whelp in mortal combat!"

"Robain, stay your hand. We have just seen Valuran and Cairbre humbled, need we add your name to the list?" said Shana. She dismounted in the same 'horse turn to smoke landing on feet like a cat' move that the others pulled off so smoothly.

Walking up to within ten feet of Frostbite, she answered. "The Dark Lord is the supreme master of Albion, Sorcerer Supreme and the god who walks among us. He raised us from the dirt to serve him, and by defying us, you have doomed yourself by defying him. Shall I take your message to him, man of ice?"

Admin wrote:One of the horsemen snorted in his helmet and trotted up, turning to the woman who'd spoken. "Shana, grant me the honour of slaying this whelp  in mortal combat!"

"Robain, stay your hand. We have just seen Valuran and Cairbre humbled, need we add your name to the list?" said Shana. She dismounted in the same 'horse turn to smoke landing on feet like a cat' move that the others pulled off so smoothly.

Walking up to within ten feet of Frostbite, she answered. "The Dark Lord is the supreme master of Albion, Sorcerer Supreme and the god who walks among us. He raised us from the dirt to serve him, and by defying us, you have doomed yourself by defying him. Shall I take your message to him, man of ice?"

Frostbite wanted to think big picture, but this place meant something to him. He couldn't turn his back on this and somehow it seemed that things were related, the broom, the grail, maybe they were all parts of a much bigger plan. If this is how things laid out before him then so be it. But first, he had to find Thoth, then regroup from there.

"You can tell the Dark Lord, that his days are numbered, we will not relent till he is deposed or we are dead. The people of this land are no longer defenceless - you can take that back to him from me."

And with that Frostbite went with Melody into the air, taking off in the direction that they hoped they'd be able to find Thoth

OOC: Unless of course we don't know it.

Sj

The Knights watched silently as the pair took off in the direction of the hoof prints.

"We must report to the Dark Lord." said Juahan. He led the prayers and the Knights convened in a circle, bowing their heads. The two unconscious Knights lay in the dirt where they'd fallen.

=========

"I really wanted to knock ALL their blocks off!" said Melody, flying at the side of Frostbite. As far as he could tell they were matched in speed.

"Glad I managed to put the guy down though! I've taken on a few goons with thugs and this guy who had these strange smoke bomb things that didn't affect me but that felt like a challenge!" she added.

Frostbite looked down and saw the course - or possible course - overlaid on his vision and leading to distant mountains. He could see something in the distance - a dark mass with smoke rising from it. There appeared to be a vast, sprawling city, though unlike any Frostbite had seen. It was a vast gathering of tents and wagons formed together into a chaotic jumble that vaguely resembled streets and a seething mass of people, but everything was dark about it, even given the lack of direct sunlight thanks to the permanent cloud cover.

Melody slowed and Frostbite hovered next to her. "We can't fight a city... can we? Maybe we should fish about... there!" she pointed down to a burnt out village. "Maybe we can find rags to cover us up. I'm coloured like a rainbow, you're blue. We kind of stand out..."

=========

"Your failure is disappointing. Describe to me these... Outlanders..." said the Dark Lord.

The gathered Knights saw him from afar in their minds eye as they crouched. "The woman was dressed in colours that were ghastly, like a rainbow. The man appeared to be covered in a sheath of ice. Their power was... staggering to behold! They brushed aside Cairbre and Varulan like they were nothing."

"Like you brushed aside the former Queens' Elven guards?" hissed the Dark Lord. "I raised you from the mud to be better, and here you are grovelling, snivelling that you have been bested. Forget your notions of honour! Would they have defeated you if you had come en masse at them?"

"But sire we..."

"SILENCE! Gather your fallen comrades and track them."

"They flew in the air."

"Your sense of smell should still allow you to track them anywhere they go. The man of ice. What else did he look like?"

"There was something on his chest, he..."

"WHAT? This... thing on his chest... a glowing blue dome?" snarled the Dark Lord.

"Why ... yes, Lord, exactly so. Have you encountered him before?"

There was an extended silence and the Dark Lord finally replied. "Not directly but I know this man. Why or how he is here is more important, and who might have followed him. My plans are so close to fruition. They cannot be spoiled by a second rate superhero called Frostbite!"

The link was cut and the Knights rose.

"At least now we know the name of our enemy." said Daartel as the others dragged Cairbre and Valuran off the floor.

Admin wrote:There was an extended silence and the Dark Lord finally replied. "Not directly but I know this man. Why or how he is here is more important, and who might have followed him. My plans are so close to fruition. They cannot be spoiled by a second rate superhero called Frostbite!"

The link was cut and the Knights rose.

"At least now we know the name of our enemy." said Daartel as the others dragged Cairbre and Valuran off the floor.

OOC: I wondered if this Dark Lord might be a blast from my past. But I wonder who?

Frostbite thought for a moment about Melody's suggestion. "Yes I suppose we ought to take a look. But I think your suggestion for clothing is going to leave much to be desired. Still, I guess we'll blend in. Come on time is a wasting."

With that Frostbite flew down and searched the ruins, looking for something suitable robust to cover his glow and his body, let alone Melody.

OOC: OK looks like we are going into a real urban adventure location.

Sj

OOC Don't dig too deep to figure out who the bad guy is - you've never met before but I have mentioned the person already... That's about all the clue you'll get!

The pair sifted through the ruins of the village and came up with sack cloth and a cape with a hood. That was enough to cover the glow of Frostbites' chest and Melody smeared dirt into her cheeks before throwing the sack cloth over her costume.

"Well, we look like peasants." she offered.

=========

Walking the last few hundred yards to the vast tent/wagon city the pair noted that the majority of people walking around free were Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, Ogres and other humanoids of legend, including Dark Elves.

The wagons generally were basically cages on wheels with hapless peasants, farmers and citizens crowded in them. Shouting indicated that buying and selling was going on. This was a slaver city!

Brutish Ogre guards presided over events, sometimes meting out punishment for infractions. Dark Elves watched from ramshackle watch towers with loaded crossbows and more of those armoured Dark Knights prowled about, staring into the cages an occasionally pointing at healthy or attractive looking slaves, who were dragged out and chained up then made to follow the Knights.

A rough series of streets had been set up through the wagons and traders hawked their wares. People lived in tents pretty much everywhere with tarpaulins pinned to the side of wagons. As they walked the pair saw a man defecating and tossing the contents of a bucket into the street where a 10' high Troll was showered. The resulting fight was brutal and messy.

"This is..." started Melody.

"WHO ARE YOU?" bellowed Troll with horrible boiled skin and thick corded muscles. In its hand it held a spiked club which had dark brown stains (blood). A goblin, minuscule in comparison, stood beside its towering companion. It spoke up in a nasally voice. "You look like slaves to us..."

Nearby, an armoured dark knight glanced over...

Admin wrote:"WHO ARE YOU?" bellowed Troll with horrible boiled skin and thick corded muscles. In its hand it held a spiked club which had dark brown stains (blood). A goblin, minuscule in comparison, stood beside its towering companion. It spoke up in a nasally voice. "You look like slaves to us..."

Nearby, an armoured dark knight glanced over...

Frostbite groaned somehow in disguising themselves they'd walked into the only place they'd come to so far where Humans clearly looked out of place, where all these other fay creatures walked. Part of him just wanted to leave, it would mean nothing to go on from here. But part of him was also in need of information. Information was sorely needed so they didn't blunder into something worse. A fight would draw attention, so he tried subterfuge - at least for now.

"I suggest you turn about and go before you accost the agents of his majesty the dark lord. We work for the dread master and you'd be wise not to incur his wrath with you petty prattle and unwanted attention. You have been warned, do not trouble us again."

Frostbite realised that such creatures probably responded better to physical threats of violence than mere words, but he hoped name dropping the dictator of this place might cause them to pause and think whilst he and Melody slipped away. But if not then with a sigh he guessed that they'd depart and seek to find their information another way.

Sj

The Ogre and Goblin looked uncertain.

The Dark Knight nearby was not. He strode over and towered above Frostbite and Melody, but even he was only at shoulder height to the Ogre.

"What's this? Who are you and state your business here. Failure to provide satisfactory answers shall see you fighting in the slave pits for your insolence!" roared the voice behind the helmet.

Melody bristled, not liking the arrogant nature of these Dark Knights - who they'd already humbled, at all!

Then she saw others gathering around - Dwarves, Elves, Ogres, some humans that looked extremely unsavoury, goblins, orcs, trolls... all forming a circle as they expected to see a fight!

Admin wrote:The Ogre and Goblin looked uncertain.

Then she saw others gathering around - Dwarves, Elves, Ogres, some humans that looked extremely unsavoury, goblins, orcs, trolls... all forming a circle as they expected to see a fight!

Frostbite gestured to one side, "Myself and the Maiden of Muse, are on business from the Dark Lord that I'll thank you not to expose so that your paltry skin isn't flayed from your sorry hide. You can see I am not of these by my skin..." and with that Frostbite thrust his hand out showing the pearly white iridescent nature of his hard frosted skin. "I serve as an agent of the dark lord and if you would not wish to serve washing the blood and gore of the unfortunates considered unsuitable for victory in the arena then, by all means, carry on detaining us. You'll have much time to regret it, trust me. If however, you've seen the error of your ways I will find little time to take your details and not while away my lonely hours having your company in the torture chamber. Do I make myself clear!" Frostbite added a chilling bite to his last words to make it quite clear he was not fooling around. Whether this blaggard decided to take the bait or not, he hoped that he had enough to suggest that this was not a good thing to pursue.

Sj

OOC Charisma/Persuasion attempt...

Infl 9 + 2D Charisma + Roll(4d12)+0: 7,3,2,2,+0 Total:4 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 9,2,+0 Total:15 (24) vs
Infl 7 + suspicious 2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,10,+0 Total:13 (22)
+2 (to 9) vs RV8 + suspicious 2 so RV10=0 RAPs. Failed!

The Dark Knight snarled. "Do you take me for a fool? ALL of the Dark lords minions are undead, like I am! You are clearly breathing, something I intend to rectify for your impertinence!"

"A thousand crowns for their heads!" bellowed the Knight as he moved in!

The crowd - fifty or more of them - pulled weapons and closed in!

"Oh boy." muttered Melody.

OOC initiative...



You both act at the same time (same initiative score, same Dex). Melody intends to take to the air, dispersed, and blast the mob if Frosty wants to take the Knight. Remember to call out crit blows, dev attacks or special maneuvers! Also I assume Energy Blast is getting your power reserve. You've done multiple attacks before (most recently with Battlebug with some spectacular results in terms of numbers) so don't be shy about attack more than one target!

Admin wrote:You both act at the same time (same initiative score, same Dex). Melody intends to take to the air, dispersed, and blast the mob if Frosty wants to take the Knight. Remember to call out crit blows, dev attacks or special maneuvers! Also I assume Energy Blast is getting your power reserve. You've done multiple attacks before (most recently with Battlebug with some spectacular results in terms of numbers) so don't be shy about attack more than one target![/i][/color]

OOC: OK I think if I take down Farung first it might get the others to think again. And by the way, I think the Dark Lord is the Paladin - now an Anti-Paladin as per D&D v1 ;-)!

Frostbite didn't want to prolong this and thought a quick takedown of his main protagonist might well disperse the crowd quickly. With his arms raised in what might look like sudden surrender, to throw the others off a bit, he then just a quickly lowered them when he wrong-footed them and shot a devasting blow at the undead black knight.

Sj

OOC I did say not to look too deep into the Dark Lords' identity Someone mentioned that Frosty hasn't met

Frostbite tried the old 'rope a dope' trick and lowered his hands to blast the Dark Knight... at popint blank range!

OOC Dev Attack Energy Blast 25 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,4,+0 Total:16 (41) vs
OV11 + Dev Att 8 + 1D Acro (4D Weapons) + Roll(3d12)+0: 11,11,7,+0 Total:22 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 3,7,+0 Total:32 (51) Attack Missed!

The Knight danced aside from Frostbites powerful blow which scythed through the crowd on that side and sent some of the strange creatures flying!

Melody rose into the air, dispersed and shouted "Frostbite! They have crossbows! Look out!"

With that she took aim...

OOC Multi Attack Sonic Beam 20 + Roll(2d12)+0: 11,11,+0 Total:22 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 4,6,+0 Total:32 (52) vs
OV7 + Multi 12 (60 targets) + 1D Acro + Roll(3d12)+0: 4,11,4,+0 Total:8 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 10,11,+0 Total:29 (48)
+3 (to 23) vs RV8 + Multi 12 so RV20=3 RAPs damage to sixty targets

Melody blasted into the crowd, giving them minor injuries from the solid white sound she put out with the strange orchestral noise. It wasn't quite the effect she wanted though as they responded with a hail of arrows!

The Dark Knight growled "You possess powerful sorcery stranger... but it will avail you nothing if your aim is not true!"

With that he swung with his sword at Frostbite!

OOC CRIT BLOW AV11 +4D Weaponry + Roll(6d12)+0: 9,9,3,6,4,7,+0 Total:18 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 9,4,+0 Total:31 (42) vs
OV11 + Fluid Form 5 + crit blow 4 + 2D Acro + Roll(4d12)+0: 8,11,2,3,+0 Total:19 (39)
+2 (to 22) vs RV16 - 6 CB so RV10=12 RAPs damage. You have 45HP and need to spend 3HP to absorb 2 damage and leave you on Body 1/11 and STUNNED for next round otherwise Frosty is KO'd! FROSTBITE HP 42 BODY 1/11 STUNNED

"Ha! The sword will cut through anything, man of mist and smoke, even your ghostly form! The Dark Lord will want to question you, so you live for now." said the armoured foe, prowling around Frostbite.

"Frostbite!" yelled Melody from above. The arrows sailed around and through her (OOC her defence is very good).

OOC intiative...



Melody floats down and blasts at the Knight!

OOC CRIT BLOW Sonic Beam 20 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,10,+0 Total:17 (37) vs
OV11 + 2D Acro (3D Weapons) + Crit Blow 4 + Roll(4d12)+0: 3,11,8,10,+0 Total:21 (36)
+1 (to 21) vs RV20 - 6CB so RV14=7 RAPs. The Dark Knight is on 3/10 Body

"You are more accurate than your companion woman..." snarled the Dark Knight. "But you, too, shall feel my wrath!"

OOC Crit Blow AV11 + 3D Weapons + Roll(5d12)+0: 7,2,3,2,2,+0 Total:4 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 3,12,+0 Total:19 (30) vs
OV11 + Fluid Form 11 + Crit Blow 4 + 3D Acro + Roll(5d12)+0: 8,3,7,5,4,+0 Total:15 (41) Attack Missed

Some of the crowd moved in to grab at Frostbite but hands passed through his insubstantial form. Luckily Melody's attack on the Knight had bought him enough time to recover his senses but he realised now these Knights were not the pushovers he'd thought they were!

OOC Initiative...

Frostbite is up then Melody. You are SURROUNDED by those creatures of myth and the Dark Knight is in front of you with that deadly sword of his. He's wounded but Frostbite is more so!

Admin wrote:OOC Initiative...

Frostbite is up then Melody. You are SURROUNDED by those creatures of myth and the Dark Knight is in front of you with that deadly sword of his. He's wounded but Frostbite is more so!

OOC: Wow you are not kidding. I am deeply regretting coming here...

Frostbite had fought many different enemies, and even here before albeit it, his predecessor. Nonetheless, he had never felt a blow cripple him so badly in one strike. If this knight could do that, what else could they do? He had to end this and quick, taking to the air to give him some distance from the knight he again fired, hoping to better catch the knight off guard as Melody also fought on.

OOC: Crit blow and all on the Knight.

Sj

Frostbite tried to be more accurate this time and would probably pay the Knights more respect in future!

If he lived through this!

OOC Energy Blast 25 + Roll(2d12)+0: 8,11,+0 Total:19 (44) vs
OV11 + Crit Blow 4 + 2D Acro (3D weapon) + Roll(4d12)+0: 3,4,9,3,+0 Total:6 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 2,5,+0 Total:13 (27)
+6 (to 31) vs RV20 - 6 Cr Blow so RV14=17 RAPs. Far more than he can absorb, the Dark Knight goes down!

Far too dense and heavy in that armour, the Knight stands there as Frostbite pours on a might blast! The Knight takes a step forwards... then falls backwards into the ash!

That was enough to discourage the mob surrounding them and they quickly started dispersing, running and finding somewhere else to be at that moment!

"Are you alright Frostbite?" asked Melody.

"Excuse me." said a cloaked and hooded figure stepping forwards with a staff. "Who are you? I feel you are ... familiar to me, but we have not met." It was a female voice...

Admin wrote:"Are you alright Frostbite?" asked Melody.

"Excuse me." said a cloaked and hooded figure stepping forwards with a staff. "Who are you? I feel you are ... familiar to me, but we have not met." It was a female voice...

Frostbite nodded to Melody, "I will be, well done back there." Then turning to scrutinise the person before them, Frostbite said. "I'm not accustomed to being addressed by someone whom I know not. Please let us see your face if we are going to be open with such forward questions, we'd best start as we mean to go on. Besides you might be familiar to me, showing us your face will clear that up in no time."

Frostbite stood back he'd taken a battering and he needed a moment, or two, to get himself back to a place he felt able to withstand whatever this place might yet throw at him. So not taking any chances he gave the woman space.

Sj

Glancing about, the woman removed her hood and revealed... a woman he'd not seen before. She was in her forties probably, with a distinctive feature. Her neck was covered in tattoos of what looked like runes and mystic symbols.

Her hands were clear but from the wrist upwards the tattoos continued up her arms. She was probably covered all over her body with the mystical symbols!

"I am... or was... Sorceress." she said in the shadow of a wagon. Orcs walked by, giving Frostbite mean stares but a wide berth and Melody kept an eye out. "Until recently I was in the UKChampions. I recognise you - I think - from the recent files. Are you Frostbite? Was it you and your people who sorted out that Eurotrash thing recently?"

With a nod to the affirmative the woman visibly relaxed. "I'm in BIG trouble Frostbite! You have no idea how glad I am to see you! My ... ex... Dr Mystical has been doing things he shouldn't have been doing. I followed the trail here, to the magical realm of Albion. He's been using artefacts from this place to enhance his power, then he started to leech power from the beings and the land itself! Soon only creatures of darkness will exist here and in order to maintain and grow the power he's stolen he needs more of it. Our realm - Britain - still has magic in certain places and in certain beings. The main source is artefacts though, and for Dr Mystical there is the greatest gain to be had from draining artefacts from Albion. Like the broomstick Professor Thoth foolishly brought here in order to find the key phrase that could unlock its power and be used as a means of sealing the rift to the demons realm. I followed the trail too... and found most of my powers drained!"

She sighed and sagged back against the wagon. "Stepping through the gateway to get here was my mistake. Without wards I was vulnerable to the magic drain. Elias - Dr Mystical - not only wen through the gate he also went through time. He's been here for over 100 years and his power has grown over that time. I can't match him now."

"He calls himself 'The Dark Lord' and he'll be able to realise his ambitions once he unlocks the phrase that binds the magic to the broomstick." she said, shaking her head. "And since he stole most of my magic, I'm trapped here and have barely enough left to protect myself!"

Frostbot spoke up inside Frostbites' head. 'This is one of the two people able to open the portal to the realm where Battlebug was taken. The other is the Dark Lord himself.'

Admin wrote:Frostbot spoke up inside Frostbites' head. 'This is one of the two people able to open the portal to the realm where Battlebug was taken. The other is the Dark Lord himself.'

Coincidence! What were the chances of finding this woman and her ex both two powerful sorcerers here of all times and places? Something to ponder later. Frostbite spoke up for the first time since the Sorceress had explained what she was doing here.

"That is grim news...we...Thoth was helping us we have a friend. A boy really he was taken into that dimension that Thoth was trying to gain access to rescue him. But due to Thoth's situation, we got sucked back here. So I guess it looks like Thoth is either with this Dark Lord or nearby I've no doubt. Besides which, if like you, he is drained of magical power he will be in real trouble. But perhaps were magic has floundered we might yet find a way. Who knows, we can at least try. Do you know where the Dark Lord is?"

Frostbite was aware that they were drawing attention or might do so soon. One of the Dark Knights might well come looking it was best that they took their leave and planned their next move.

Sj

The Sorceress scowled. "My magic is not yet drained but every time I use it more vanishes. I used it to alert me of when outlanders appeared in Albion in the hope it was my UKChampions team mates but alas...Nonetheless when I detected you I teleported to your location and used yet more of my dwindling magical powers."

She sighed. "You intend to face my ex husband? Are you resistant to powerful magic? If not it would be a short fight." she said, saddened. "You came here in search of your friend you say?"

She paused. Melody hissed. "There's someone coming!"

Frostbite looked and muttered to the Sorceress. "We need to go." Half a dozen black knights were making their way through the crowds which parted like water. They would be here in seconds!

The Dark Knights marched to where the downed Knight lay. Some of them dragged him to his feet, others started spreading about. One marched over to where Frostbite, Melody and the Sorceress had been.

"They was ere." said an orc, pointing at the spot. "Only seconds ago!"

The Dark Knight knelt, then sniffed through the all face helmet.

"I have their scent." he says, rising. "In this city of unwashed bodies it would impossible to track." he muttered to a companion. "But we can track them now. Anywhere."

=========

The Sorceress peered from the side of a wagon.

She'd placed a hand on Frostbite and Melodys shoulder and teleported them all across to the far edge of the city. A mess of people, slaves, wagons, tents and beastly creatures, it sprawled on for miles in each direction. From where they were a distant mountain range could be seen where a huge dark Castle loomed on a mountainside. It looked small from here but the size of it must be vast indeed.

"The nearer I get to him, the more he can drain my magical energy." scowled the Sorceress. "However... I may regret this... I may have enough to open a portal to where your friend the boy is, though it would leave me powerless..."

Admin wrote:"The nearer I get to him, the more he can drain my magical energy." scowled the Sorceress. "However... I may regret this... I may have enough to open a portal to where your friend the boy is, though it would leave me powerless..."

Frostbite took a moment to get his bearings then said, "Battle Bug would be an enormous help here, but and this is a big but...we were told that Thoth or Nowhere man or someone on that side would have to open the portal there for us to get back. If you open it you won't be able to keep it open long enough for us to rescue the boy and return. Frankly, we've no idea what we'll face only exchanging one hellish landscape from here to one there. But we need all the help we can get, and it was rescuing Battle Bug that brought us here, albeit accidentily."

Frostbite looked on earnestly. He was out of his depth and unsure as to how to proceed, this wasn't his usual tactile field and the Dark Lord had clearly grown so powerful to take him on even with Melody's help seemed impossible unless he could marshal his own team. Even then...could he be certain?

Sj

"There is a way I could keep it open, but it's dangerous." said the Sorceress.

"When Dr Mystical - Elias - creates those Dark Knights of his they form a bond with him. He leeches power from the land, the people in it and all the artefacts he can get his hands on. Then he hands it out to his powerful minions. If the connection is severed I expect they will die. However, whilst they still live - in a fashion anyway, those dark knights require life force to survive and are effectively Vampires - they have that connection. If you could capture one and keep it conscious... I can drain the magic from it. basically the Dark Lord's power which I will drain and use to keep the gate open for hopefully long enough to rescue the boy. If I'm interrupted in any way the process will be broken and you may get trapped!"

"Sounds risky." said Melody.

"Very. But it's the only way I can think of to get enough power to do what needs to be done. Plus it's a way to get back at Elias. He stole MY power, I'll return the favour..." she said.

Admin wrote:"Sounds risky." said Melody.

"Very. But it's the only way I can think of to get enough power to do what needs to be done. Plus it's a way to get back at Elias. He stole MY power, I'll return the favour..." she said.

Frostbite agreed, "Since those things think they can sniff us out as well, it might be hard to separate one from the pack let alone keep the 'alive' but I don't see we've got any other choice. Besides, we might have teleported to this location, but I'm sure it won't be long before they find our scent again. So we'd best get on with this as soon as we can."

Looking about, from behind the wagon, Frostbite looked to see if there were any of the dark lord's knights about. "Let's see if we can get one, drag him away and try this I've got a feeling we're going to be up against time whichever way we go about this."

OOC: OK looking for a dark knight to take down and wrap up warm (harder for me than it sounds) and get to some faraway place where we can gain enough time to do this.

Sj

Frostbite and Melody, dressed in rags and blending in with the general hum and buzz of the extraordinary tent/caravan city, spread out but within sight of each other.

Sure enough a glance at his new team mate had her pointing and Frostbite followed her gaze.

In the shadow of a rough built wooden building (which were few and far between in this messed up place) that was some kind of tavern, a 'Dark knight' had walked down an alleyway dragging some hapless young peasant woman behind her, possibly for nefarious purposes. The others in the street cast glances but kept their distance and Melody/Frostbite were the only ones near the end of the alleyway.

With his thermal vision in the darkness Frostbite saw only one main heat source and the knight had a much cooler outline. He was holding the young crying woman up by her hair and Frostbite heard him speak. "Your life force will be taken to serve the Dark Lord and HIS minions. Know that when your body is a withered husks it shall be left for the rats and the dogs but part of your spirit will live in me so that..."

"Please don't urt me mister!" she wailed.

"SILENCE WOMAN!" snarled the Knight, twisting a handful of hair! "I will repeat the sermon and if you interrupt again I shall make your passing a sea of agony!"

"Your life force will be taken to serve the Dark Lord and HIS minions. Know that ..."

As he started to speak Melody hissed "Capture him? I'm going to KILL this scum!" she said, moving forwards into the alley!

Admin wrote:As he started to speak Melody hissed "Capture him? I'm going to KILL this scum!" she said, moving forwards into the alley!

Frostbite understood and sympathised with her anger. His own anger was barely held in check as he seethed at the wicked and depraved people were made to 'feed' this growing darkness. One could only wonder that an empire built on leeching out all life would eventually fall in on itself. But Frostbite was not prepared to let that be its fate.

"Melody, no, he will serve a far greater purpose if the thing he meant to do to her, actually serves toward the undoing of this whole twisted kingdom. His lifeforce can save Battle Bug, and with BB, we can begin to raise an army to tear this twisted kingdom to the ground. That is a purpose far better and probably more excruitiating than simply killing it."

And with that Frostbite nodded to his compatriate as they made to attack together to render the knight unconscious and thereafter able to serve their purposes in ending his own master's reign.

OOC: OK Lets go for team attack, and putting everything into energy blast.

Sj

At the count of three the pair of them flew forwards and combined blasts to target the Dark Knight!

OOC Team Attack Crit Blow Energy Blast 25 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,8,+0 Total:9 (34) vs
OV11 - Blindside 2 - team attack 2 + Crit Blow 4 + 2D Acro + Roll(4d12)+0: 8,4,11,7,+0 Total:19 (30)
+3 (to 28) vs RV20 - 6 CB so RV14=14 RAPs. The Dark Knight is DOWN and OUT!

The Dark Knight turns as light enters the alleyway from Frostbites' chestplate partially covered. "WHAT? Who dares disturb...?" he starts.

Frostbite blasts him from ten feet away with Melody blasting in support but in truth the Vanguard Leader was more than up to the task! The Dark Knight dropped where he stood and the woman was helped up by Melody. "Are you... angels come to save us?" she asked, clearly in pain and terrified but relieved for what seemed to be a miraculous reprieve!

Melody glanced at Frostbite then back at the woman. "No. We are here to help though. Tell others like yourself to hide, stay hidden, wait and watch for a sign. You'll know what it is when this place goes crazy. The Dark Knights days are numbered!" she says. "The VANGUARD is coming to save this world!"

Frostbite scooped up the Dark Knight by an ankle and dragged him to the end of the alleyway. There coast appeared clear....

=========

"Where is Dramak?" snarled the leader of the group of five knights.

"He thirsts, he is feeding." replied another Dark Knight.

"He ALWAYS thirst, he is a glutton. Find him."

Another Knight closed her eyes. "He is..." she looked up. "Under attack!"

"Knights! Mobilise!" said the leader!

Moving faster than their armoured forms suggested, they started int he direction of their fallen comrade!

===========

"The coast seems clear but... someone is bound to notice we're dragging an unconscious scumbag through this place." said Melody.

She had a point. Still, at this time did Frostbite care? The two of them might be able to take on a group of Dark Knights if they kept their wits about them...

Just then across the relatively clear square in this portion of the city a group of Dark Knights appeared from down an alleyway, spreading out and looking at stalls, shoppers, slavers, searching for something...

Frostbite glanced down at the limp form he held by the ankle...

[quote="Admin"Frostbite glanced down at the limp form he held by the ankle... [/quote]

Frostbite thought for a moment he had to wonder if these things had more than rudimentary senses. "I wonder if the Socerress can handle a bit more than one. But the real question is can we?" Nodding in the direction of the Knights, Frostbite motioned to their spoil. "I don't know how but some how we must have triggered an alert, they know where here. I'm tempted to take these on, but that those swords pack a punch."

OOC: Can we get away unnoticed, flying, or walking etc...or its it deductable from what I've seen that facing them here or later is likely so its not a question of if but when? I'm justing thinking if we can get away we shall, but if not maybe it would be best to finish this and take a few extra buddies to the Sorcesress? If the later then we go from where we are with ranged attacks, and let them drawn near.

Sj

Frostbite looked about. Those Dark Knights would be at the edge of the alleyway in moments!

"I don't know if we can fight them." said Melody. "There are three... no... five of them! If we are going to hit them, we need to zap them hard whilst they aren't able to dodge!"

Frostbot agreed 'Your team mate is correct. These creatures have superhuman reflexes and durability. Catching them off guard will be the best way to fight them. If you can take two or three out the others would not be able to fight you one on one.'

Frostbite glanced about. The 'walls' of this alleyway were wooden and easily broken through but whoever was on the other side might not take too kindly to their walls being smashed in!

"Another way..." said Melody "I guess... I can lead them off while you take the scumbag back to the Sorceress."

Frostbite looked at Melody who shrugged. "I turn my body into a living sound wave. They may not be able to harm me. I'm willing to try, Frostbite!"