The New Vanguard! FROSTBITE ISSUE #10 "Fallen"

Admin wrote:"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!"

Frostbite weighed the odds, taking them all on was not what he wanted to do. If they were not decisive in their attack, they could be overwhelmed quickly. So he nodded to Melody, "Make sure you don't get caught, keep far enough ahead so that they can't tag or trap you. And watch those swords incoporeal or not they might still have ways to make it hurt. Meet me back where we left the Sorceress hopefully this won't take long."

And with that they split up whilst Melody went one way, Frosbite floated low and close to to disguise where he was and sought to reunite with the Sorceress.

Sj

Frostbite floated up and over low rooftops then set off to land in another quiet street.

He heard shouts behind and saw Melody take off in a different direction, drawing the Dark Knights who summoned spectral horses underneath them and crashing through the streets, scattering traders and citizens as they tracked their prey!

The Sorceress looked up from the shadows of the alleyway a half mile distant and saw Frostbite lowering himself down from the rooftop. The fact that most of the people in this sprawling messed up place cast their eyes downwards had been useful and Frostbite blending in with gathered soiled rags also helped. What he would do for a hot shower though!

The Sorceress nodded "You have done well. Have you considered joining the UKChampions? They'd welcome someone like you into the ranks and most of us have read the reports on Eurotrash. They are morons but there are so many of them it makes it tricky to take them out but you made it look easy."

She glanced at Frostbite. "Can you restrain him?"

Frostbite responded by encircling the Dark Knight with a solid block of diamond hard ice up to his neck!

"You are becoming ever more useful Mr Frostbite!" she smiled, then frowned, concentrating.

Placing a hand on the Dark Knights head she winced then arched her back... her eyes started to glow red! "This is inherently an evil act, drawing someone's soul energy from them but these creatures have dark souls and I'll be sure to say some hail marys later..."

The Dark Knight woke and Frostbite made ready to attack to put it down!

It screamed but no sound came out and Sorceress continued to draw life energy from the creature!

Frostbite looked up as Melody swooped in and low into the alleyway, glancing about. "They followed me out of the city and onto the plains. Then I set off back here at top speed and got here as quick as I could. We have maybe a few minutes. I tried losing them but they seem able to track, even in the air!"

The Sorceress spoke, her voice changed to go with red eyes. "The power is evil, I fear it may corrupt me but the cause is just and I will resist its call for as long as I can... HERE!"

She thrust a hand at a wall and a gate/portal appeared in it! There was a dark stone room beyond and very little light. "I could not completely locate the boy but he is not far. Go! I will keep the gate open as long as I can but if I am interrupted the gate will close and you will be trapped!"

"I'll guard you as best I can." said Melody. "But I'm on my own against how many Dark Knights? I won't abandon you. Either of you. I draw the line here."

Frostbite looked at the portal and the dark stone room beyond, probably in some sort of castle...

Admin wrote:"I'll guard you as best I can." said Melody. "But I'm on my own against how many Dark Knights? I won't abandon you. Either of you. I draw the line here."

Frostbite looked at the portal and the dark stone room beyond, probably in some sort of castle...

Once again Frostbite was forced to make a difficult choice. The original plan had entailed them all going in, now he was to go alone. It aided stealth, but what if his suit should fail? What if the Sorceress should succumb to the evil that now gripped her ex-husband, making him the dark lord? What if Melody was overwhelmed and the gate shut? He swept such thoughts aside - until he faced such a scenario it was pointless to burden himself with such thinking and divert his attention from what he knew was before him. Certainties were easier to deal with, but he still faced a lot of uncertainty.

Nodding to the two ladies, he stepped into the portal.

OOC: OK here we go, try and see if I can locate anything useful from the point of entry and then think about an approach to the castle and getting to see if BB is there.

Sj

Stepping through the portal and trusting to Melody to protect the Sorceress as she continued to drain the evil Dark Knight of his magic and turn it to her own purpose.

The place beyond was carved, crafted from some kind of black stone. Obsidian? There was little light and he moved his rags aside to cast a little blue light around the place.

'A castle of some kind. The ambient temperature is warm, in the twenty centigrade range and there appears to be background radiation but you are practically immune to all but the hardest of radiation types, and even then you would receive a mild sunburn. Your target, the youngster known as Battlebug, has a known vulnerability to radiation. It is probable that you cannot rely on his help whilst he remains in this place as he may well have been rendered powerless.' said Frostbot.

Frostbite looked behind him. The wall shimmered. He placed a hand on it and it vanished, back into the place he'd come from. Fair enough. Frostbite marked their location on a head up display map and made it know he would track their progress through this place.

Glancing about he was in a cell of some kind. Bones in the corner chained to the wall revealed some unfortunate had long since expired in this place.

The lock on the door was sturdy, as was the door itself, but to someone who could phase through solid objects it presented no obstacle.

Into a corridor and a glance around, ten foot square corridor and doors set in the walls on left and right. They were cells and a glance in each revealed more bones and rotting meat that had been someone once.

'The temperature is increasing.' said Frostbot as he moved down the corridor. It also seemed to be sloping downwards. Sure enough it got steeper and Frostbite covered his chestplate up as he saw an archway ahead. There were three.. no four of the Imps he'd battled at Stonehenge. Cackling and pushing around a rag wearing human on the floor. The man was wounded, covered in ash and dirt and exhausted with no strength to resist the creatures. There was also a bored looking 'Etrigan', one of the more powerful creatures that bossed over the Imps. They'd been set to guarding the archway.

The man was crying, begging for mercy, death even. Frostbite would have to get by the guards, but he could circumvent them by vanishing through the walls or floor and Frostbot tracking his movement so he could be perfectly stealthy and they wouldn't know of his passing. The mission - saving his young team mate - was all important after all. The man cried out as an Imp scored his back with razor sharp claws and the others cackled!

Admin wrote:The man was crying, begging for mercy, death even. Frostbite would have to get by the guards, but he could circumvent them by vanishing through the walls or floor and Frostbot tracking his movement so he could be perfectly stealthy and they wouldn't know of his passing. The mission - saving his young team mate - was all important after all. The man cried out as an Imp scored his back with razor sharp claws and the others cackled!

Frostbite realised he could take down the enemies, but they might call for others and as much as it tore at him he was again thankful for the army training that could make him disciplined enough to resist taking a hand in matters that would only make his own position worse. He felt bad but had to push that aside. He was here for one thing, although keeping it the one thing he did here was going to be hard. He never for a moment imagined he find other human prisoners here.

Dispersing through the walls and doors, he clamped his teeth together as grimly he pressed on but part of him feeling less like a man and more like the machine that ran within his body as a separate entity within.

OOC: That caught me off guard, but I think Frostbite would go for BB, saving this man and then what - he couldn't bring him with them but maybe on the return?

Sj

Sinking into the floor and relying on Frostbot to track his direction and speed as well as his own senses (those he could use when he was moving through solid objects, anyway) and he reemerged on the other side of the archway about 20 metres away.

The screams of the man rung out in the corridor, replaced by cackling and a gurgling noise...

Sad, Frostbite moved on.

The heat was stifling and he had to admit he felt nervous. If this place were on fire he'd be in big trouble... He heard more screams, cries of agony that echoed off walls. Checking each cell as he went he found more humans all in various grim states. Most were injured, some were catatonic, others curled up in foetal positions.

'They are being... 'milked' by the Demons for their fear. The Demons sustain themselves with the fear the prisoners generate.' said Frostbot.

This place was a prison, a maze and he knew he probably wouldn't find the boy in here. Back in Albion Melody and Sorceress might be fighting for their lives and he knew that he may be trapped here the longer he was looking. Battlebug was probably dead, he realised. These other people could be saved, but there were hundreds ofDemons and only one of him. He waited until a group of imps pushed and pulled at a dozen bedraggled human prisoners and moved on, glancing through the portal into every cell and moving on.

Then he stopped, turned and moved back.

Chained to the wall and clad only in a loin cloth, filthy and battered, covered in criss crossed scars and hanging limp was an athletic form, unlike the emaciated people he'd seen so far.

Phasing through the wall he moved across the cell and lit it with his chestplate.

The head raised a little, revealing a mostly closed eye and puffy bruises. "B... Boss?" croaked the parched voice. "Is that... is that you or... another trick? I ain't talkin... and I won't scream... you don't... scare me scumbags..." he said, voice cracked..

Admin wrote:The head raised a little, revealing a mostly closed eye and puffy bruises. "B... Boss?" croaked the parched voice. "Is that... is that you or... another trick? I ain't talkin... and I won't scream... you don't... scare me scumbags..." he said, voice cracked...

FINALLY! Frostbite would whoop for joy if it wasn't the most inappropriate thing to do right there and then. Moving over to Battle Bug, he said, "I swear son, you are going to be the death of me. We can't stay, we've got allies who helped us get to you, but their means of bringing me here are severely limited and even now tested to the limits."

With that Frostbite moved to snap the chains holding the boy and release him. The only problem then was going to be how to get him out.

OOC: Yeah that is the big problem, how to get him past so many guards - is it the case I have to get to the same space to get out as I got in? If so I best find a way to bend bars and break doors a quietly as I dare. Either that or can I phase more than one person?

Sj

OOC You can't disperse with others (as far as I can tell) and would need the 'usable on others' advantage which would cost a fortune in HP so...

Battlebug grinned through cracked lips. "I know what you are doin' Demon. You can't fool me. Just kill me an' get it over with. My leader is badass. One day you will get yours." he chuckles as he sags into Frostbites arms after the Vanguardian leader snapped the chains with a twist of his wrist.

The teenager looked up. "You even got the colour of his chestplate right... Y'know... My uncle Tommy was... the greatest hero I ever ... heard of... till he died. Then I met the man you are imitating... you can't scare me by... copying him. You only make me... more determined to tell you... nothing!" he laughed. "Frostbite is my hero, and I don't scare easy..." He lapsed into unconsciousness.

Frostbite carried the unconscious youngster to the door and stuck his head through it.

The black stone corridor with dim light was empty but he could hear snarling, guttering noises coming from around a bend. Something was coming this way!

Admin wrote:The black stone corridor with dim light was empty but he could hear snarling, guttering noises coming from around a bend. Something was coming this way!

Since Battle Bug was so affected by his ordeal, it was understandable that he hadn't yet realised Frostbite was for real. But he needed a way out and he needed one fast. Who knew what was coming but it was a fair bet to imagine they were coming for the boy and the others along this corridor. Surprise then would be the best bet, a hard and fast attack in which Frostbite hoped to overwhelm his enemy before they could alert others or others could stumble on them.

Putting Battle Bug down carefully, Frostbite walked through the wall, so as to be behind whoever was coming down the corridor when he stepped out behind them and aimed to make his shot count.

OOC: I'm hoping that the dice will favour me, but who can tell. Anyway wanting to stack things in my favour, come out shooting and full on, onto my energy attack. If its a number of creatures better go for Multi attack, if its just a big bad, go all out with a Devastating attack.

Sj

Frostbite set BBug down and moved to the doorway.

Peeking through the wall with his face through it he watched as a Demon and three imps rounded the corner. The 'Etrigan' class Demon (as described by the after action report by Dawson) was a Class 3/4 level threat and Frostbite knew to strike that down must be a priority. He waited until it got closer and ... stepped into their path firing point blank!

OOC Dev Attack Surprise Energy Blast 25 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,5,+0 Total:11 (36) vs
OV9 - Surprise 4 + Dev Att 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,2,+0 Total:12 (25)
+5 (30) vs RV12 - 12 D Att=30RAPs. Frostbite blasted the creature into ... dust!

Taking the creatures out here, in their home, without any need to hold back, meant that their physical bodies would be banished as before but they would be resurrected - eventually - as an Imp! Frostbite had no qualms about unleashing his full power and it was devastating in effect without the Etrigan being able to throw up a sorceress forcefield or protection of some kind. Thankfully he'd achieved surprise and so...

The Imps squealed and made to turn tail and run!

OOC initiative...



Attack all three? They are being evasive, trying to skedaddle...

Admin wrote:Attack all three? They are being evasive, trying to skedaddle...[/i][/color]

Needing to make sure his presence remained unnoticed for as long as was possible, Frostbite aimed wide hoping to catch al three of the critters as they sought to evade him.

OOC: Yup, I go for all three wide dispersals of the Energy Attack and hope I do enough to stop them.

Sj

Frostbite spread his arms out to blast the enemy!

OOC Energy Blast 25 + Roll(2d12)+0: 11,10,+0 Total:21 (46) vs
OV7 + 2D Acro + multi 4 + Roll(4d12)+0: 4,11,3,3,+0 Total:6 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 3,5,+0 Total:14 (25)
+6 (to 31) vs RV8 + Multi 4 (RV12)=19RAPs. All Demons are DOWN and OUT!

The Demons vanish into thin air before Frostbite realises that just one of them with their fiery breath might render him powerless! The vulnerability to naked flame had been a recent development and one he'd not had to contend with before. It would also mean disaster seeing as Battlebug was incapacitated!

He scooped the youngster up over his shoulder and moved down the corridor following the inlaid map on his inner vision. Soon enough he came to the first - and final - obstacle. Getting past where the unfortunate man had been strangled and was now being toyed with by Imps was the next challenge. The victim had died and Frostbite winced. Might he have been able to save him?

The Etrigan looked bored as the Imps fought over the dead mans innards. It was a ghastly scene and sickened the hero. He was a warrior and had fought in wars, had to kill, but this?

"Whurrrr are we?" mumbled Battlebug. One of the Imps glanced up and looked around, breaking off from the messy eating and hopping/ambling down to where the corridor turned and Frostbite hid from view. The Etrigan glanced up, interest piqued and stood from its crouch, but still looked bored.

OOC they are around forty feet away round a slight bend in the corridor. Four imps and an Etrigan. Watch out for flames if they get chance to use them!

Admin wrote:
OOC they are around forty feet away round a slight bend in the corridor. Four imps and an Etrigan. Watch out for flames if they get chance to use them!

Putting his friend and companion down, Frostbite thought of a possible solution, at least one that might give him a minor advantage.

Forming a super thick wall in front of him, for all but a hole at its centre, he built a wall that could, he hoped, absorb some of the potential damage from the demons, whilst giving him a space from which to attack back.

Then he slipped through the wall his molecules with practised ease, allow him to pass through unimpeded. As he neared the bend, he readied an attack, hoping to get as many as he could before retreating back to the wall to fire when those that remained might come after him.

OOC: Hope that is clear as an attack, build a wall, leave space to fire from behind it. Pass through, try and attack as before Devastating attack on them demons...as many as I can get within reason. And then retreat back behind the wall to allow it to absorb flame damage whilst I try and attack as they come around the corner after me.

Sj

Forming up a steel hard wall (OOC 15APs is twice as strong as a bank vault door) of ice Frostbite then switches his power to his dispersal to move through the wall.

Then he waits a moment, gathering his thoughts then moves around the corridor, blasting as he moves and back through the icy wall after switching his dispersal over!

It would require split second timing, but he felt reasonably confident...

OOC Surprise attack, Multi Attack Energy Blast 25 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,4,+0 Total:16 (41) vs
OV9 + range 2 - surprise 6 + multi 4 (etrigan and four imps) + dev attack 8 +
Roll(2d12)+0: 2,9,+0 Total:11 (32)
+4 (29) vs RV12 + multi 6 - dev att 12 so Rv6=23 RAPs. All Demons VANISH from sight!

Frostbite glanced down at his hands. He possessed a level of power that he'd barely been able to dream of before. Only when he'd had the Dark Power within him could he have summoned more than that which he now commanded. What had happened to him?

'Your body is adjusting. You are weak when flames are near, strong everywhere else. As you become more versed in your abilities your natural desire to repress yourself so as not to over exert your powers has diminished. It is possible you will grow more powerful still, over time. Do not be complacent though. A single shot of flame from one of those creatures might have reduced your powers to nothing, rendering you as a normal man. The offer of a fire proof costume from Wandafar is one you should seriously consider.' said Frostbot.

Frostbite scooped up the youngster and fled down the corridor. He heard shouts somewhere and knew that someone, somewhere, had discovered the intruder! the Etrigans were master sorcerers and only their merely 'powerful' physical attributes let them down. Because of Frostbites mighty energy blast he was clear and free to enter the cell and through the wall...

...back into the alleyway!

Overhead Melody was blasting down at something out of sight - Dark Knights no doubt!

Sorceress was holding a near shrivelled Dark Knight by the head. The skin hung from its bones, the eyes dangled from sockets and hair was white and wispy!

As Frostbite set Battlebug down Sorceress gasped and peeled her hand from the Dark Knights flesh, sagging back exhausted. "I drew what I could from its mortal shell and the Dark Lord detected me! he cut the power off so I was running out! Any longer and you would have been trapped!"

She glanced over at the dirty, stirring teenager. "Is that him? he doesn't look impressive at all!" She reached over and placed a hand on his brow, pouring the last of her energy to boosting his healing powers...

Colour immediately returned to Battlebug. Away from the radiation his powers returned and boosted, his regeneration was enough to heal the sores and wounds and restore him to full health!

The Sorceress gasped again. "I am spent! Spent!" she cried, exhausted. "I cannot help you against these Dark Knights!"

"A little help here!" shouted Melody. "Sorceress! I need help!"

Battlebug woke, flexing a fist and looking around. "It IS you! I never doubted it!" he cried, hugging Frostbite. "You came back for me Boss!"

Melody cried out again "I can't hold them off any longer, they are going for the alleyway!"

Admin wrote:OOC initiative...

At the end of the alleyway Dark Knights are throwing spears of energy at Melody who is zipping about in the sky and blasting back where she can but hopelessly outnumbered by nine Dark Knights. Some of them have stopped firing and are heading to the edge of the alley where Sorceress is lying against a wall, exhausted and Frostbite/Battlebug are waiting. Battlebug is back on his feet and ready to go.

There are a lot of opponents but you can do the multi attack and crit blow/dev attack thing and we know what Battlebug can do.

"Its good to have you back son, but looks like we've going to have to put off the celebration. I'll protect the Sorceress. Help Melody"

And with that Frostbite hovered over the Sorceress and blasted away at the oncoming knights.

OOC: OK dev attack at the front row of knights.

Sj

Frostbite blasted at the first four Dark Knights as they entered the alleyway!

OOC DEV ATTACK MULTI on four AV25 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,12,+0 Total:18 (43) vs
OV11 + 8 Dev Att + Range 2 + Multi 4 + 2D Acro (one has 3D weaponry others have 5D) + Roll(4d12)+0: 10,3,2,6,+0 Total:16 (41)
+2 (to 27) vs RV20 +multi 4 - 12 Dev Att so RV12=15RAPs. All four Dark Knights go down!

Melody, encouraged after seeing Frostbite has returned, suddenly stops dodging blasts and targets two Dark Knights!

OOC Multi Crit Blow Sonic Beam 20 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,10,+0 Total:11 (31) vs
OV11 + Multi 2 + Crit  Blow 4 + Range 3+  2D acro (3D weaponry) + Roll(4d12)+0: 8,11,1,12,+0 Total:23 (43) Attack Missed

She comes up short and a Dark Knight shoots back at her!

OOC Projectile Weapons 11 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,7,+0 Total:14 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 5,2,+0 Total:21 (32) vs
OV22 + 3D Acro + range 3 + Roll(5d12)+0: 7,12,3,7,4,+0 Total:14 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 7,10,+0 Total:31 (56) attack Missed

Her phased form makes it childs play to avoid the energy spear the Dark Knight tossed at her.

Battlebug crouched, pressing a fist into the floor. He'd been beaten, humiliated, tortured, taken to the point of death and madness... and his friend, his mentor, his hero had saved him. Time to repay that favour!

OOC GFB +8/-12 Adren Surge 23 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,11,+0 Total:16 (39) vs
OV8 + Multi 4 + GFB 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,6,+0 Total:9 (29)
+4 (27) vs RV8 + multi 4 - GFB 12 so RV0=27 RAPs.
Dex boosts to 35, Str to 33, Power Reserve to 34 (boosts Kinetic Absorption to 38)

Multi on five AV35 + 4D M arts + Roll(6d12)+0: 11,2,7,2,5,5,+0 Total:10 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 12,5,+0 Total:27 (62) vs
OV11 + Multi 6 + 2D Acro (3D weaponry on one) + Roll(4d12)+0: 2,3,6,11,+0 Total:17 (34)
+7 (to 40) vs RV20 + multi 6 so RV26=14 RAPs to each Dark Knight. All Dark Knight are DOWN and OUT!

Frostbite was fast. Superhuman fast. This kid? His reflexes made him appear as if he were in several places at once, enough so that Lionheart wouldn't be able to land a punch on him even! His potential was huge but he needed carefully nurturing and training. He had a lot of rage in him after what happened to his uncle. Frostbite was right now the best chance for turning this kid into one of the most powerful and best heroes the country had ever seen. The responsibility was huge, and he knew the UKChampions and the UK Government would have something to say about it. They would try to turn the boy into a weapon, one that could steam roller practically any threat into the floor... In doing so he would lose much of himself and Frostbite knew that would unleash a darker side to him, perhaps even tip him over the edge to villainy though he didn't want that.

Could he do it?

He looked about. Between himself and Battlebug they'd crushed a small army of Dark Knights and left them lying about in heaps.

Melody landed. "You did it! He's back!" she said, rushing over to hug the youngtster.

"Mmm, hugs." said Battlebug, grinning. "Melody? You're hot without a mask on!"

She frowned, pushing him off, playfully and turned to Frostbite. "Sorry I'm not that effective yet. I'm trying to learn but ... you two? you really showed these creeps!"

There were shouts from somewhere and galloping hooves - LOTS of Hooves. More Dark Knights coming no doubt! They had only a short time before more turned up!

Battlebug threw on a rag with holes cut through for arms and tied a strip of rag across his face for a mask. "I should rename myself super tramp." he muttered.

Admin wrote:Battlebug threw on a rag with holes cut through for arms and tied a strip of rag across his face for a mask. "I should rename myself super tramp." he muttered.

Picking up Sorceress from where she lay, Frostbite motioned to the others. "Time to go friends, we've overstayed our welcome. Let's go."

And with that Frostbite flew up allowing Battle Bug to either hitch a lift with him or Melody or go as normal under his own steam.

OOC: Not sure where we are going, but first things first attend to Sorceress, allow Battle Bug to get reorientated and debriefed.

Sj

Melody held out a hand for Battlebug whilst Sorceress was scooped up by Frostbite.

Despite the fact they could be tracked by the dozens of Dark Knights that roared up on horses the group quickly outdistance them as the city inhibited fast progress.

High over the place Sorceress pointed out a forested hillside. Well, there had been a forest. Now there were charred stumps of trees and a fog settling over the place.

The group flew for half an hour before setting down on the edge of a valley looking down into a fog strewn dip where a burnt out cottage stood forlorn. Broken fences where animals had lived marked this as someones home once. "I used to stay here, as a retreat from superheroics." said Sorceress. She moved about. "The Dark Lord sent his cronies to every place he knew about. I'd hoped to spare this place, my little retreat but I suppose he remembered about it." She picked up a charred bucket and set it right. Frostbite saw it had been painted with flowers and treated with love at some point. Now it was ruined, like everything else.

"You got what you wanted I suppose." said Sorceress. She glanced at Battlebug stood there in his rags. "Does that mean you're leaving? The Dark Lord will finish this world off you know, drain the magic from it completely and once he's done that Elias will move on."

Thoth, Frostbot of the Future and Nowhere Man were here somewhere. They had to be recovered and that broomstick, as unlikely as it was, was a magic artefact of some power.

Frostbite glanced at Battlebug who was looking around. The boy had been tortured and though physically healed thanks to his regeneration, would bear scars under the skin. Could he ask him to help? Melody was untried, doing her best and inexperienced. Going up against a mage and his forces might be more than she could handle.

"I'd kill for something to eat." muttered Battlebug. "My belly thinks my throats been cut."

Melody looks over. "We can't abandon these people! We have to try to stop Dr Mystical!"

Sorceress looks over. "I can show you where he is, but I can't help you without magic. I'm an ordinary person right now, my sorcery is gone from me!"

Admin wrote:Melody looks over. "We can't abandon these people! We have to try to stop Dr Mystical!"

Sorceress looks over. "I can show you where he is, but I can't help you without magic. I'm an ordinary person right now, my sorcery is gone from me!"

Frostbite didn't need to think about his answer but gave himself a moment to compose his thoughts. After all, it was a different Joe, a different life who had been the Frostbite that had previously saved this land. But he could not turn his back on these people, not as he had to have done with that prisoner in order to rescue Battle Bug.

"I can assure you that we will do our utmost to restore order. Power should never be used to inflict harm but help. I have been here before also, in a manner of speaking, and not only do I have a...friend here but we have our teammates and Prof Thoth to rescue as well. Not to mention your Ex-Husband, Sorceress. It might be he is too far gone, but it might be that there are larger forces at work and this deep in he is unable to pull himself out. Maybe there might be some redemption for him, in a manner of speaking. The thing is how do we go about sorting things out? Where are our friends, would the dark lord gone and found them - could he have detected them on entry? And more importantly, without corrupting you, Sorceress how can we get you empowered so you aren't vulnerable yourself? We'd best brain storm, I have a friend who might be able to help, the Elf queen Elesieth. Any ideas Sorceress"

Sj

Sorceress pondered. "Whatever Dr Mystical is doing, it is drawing the natural ambient magic from the land and all in it. He gathers that into himself and it may be that the process has corrupted him. The Dark Knights are his ... antennae. They disperse into the land and draw magic from the people, from the land itself."

Battlebug, stood in his rags, muttered "So, take out the Dark Knights, cut him off from drawing new magic in..."

"Yes." said Sorceress. "The land will heal if it is given chance. Even the slightest spark of magic will flourish and grow. We do not have the power to take on Elias in his base of power where all the magic is drawn into, but by taking out his Dark Knights and starving him of power we will force him out to act. There, outside of the walls, he will be vulnerable."

Melody added "What did he want with that broomstick?"

Sorceress explained "By drawing the power from powerful artefacts into himself there may be a way to create a new artefact, like a ring or crown, that effectively makes him able to leave the castle that is the basis for his power. Once he is mobile there will be no way to stop him! He will journey to other worlds, other places, gaining more power as he goes. Finally, empowered, he would step through Stonehenge into our world, or a version of it. Once there he would drain not just magic but life force. The power in him needs to feed and grow. If we can stop him here the power may be released back into the land in time to save it, otherwise it will be a husk of lifeless forests and barren rivers."

Frostbite thought of Elesieth. There was a way to save her! They just had to defeat an army of Dark Knights to draw out the Dark Lord then defeat the Dark Lord himself!

Nowhere Man, Frostbot of the Future and Thoth were still out there. If they could be added to the fold the task would be, if not easy, then at least less daunting!

Admin wrote:Frostbite thought of Elesieth. There was a way to save her! They just had to defeat an army of Dark Knights to draw out the Dark Lord then defeat the Dark Lord himself!

Nowhere Man, Frostbot of the Future and Thoth were still out there. If they could be added to the fold the task would be, if not easy, then at least less daunting!

Frostbite nodded in approval, "Its good to know there might be a way to weaken him, however, it how we go about that. I once had allies, Dragons, but being magical in nature I imagine, they with the land, have also suffered and are but a shell of their former selves if they remain alive. It would be good if we could draw together our allies, but it might be possible to gain a foothold if we start here in the city. If we can destroy the dark knights here, then the city might rise up to defend itself against more. It would draw others here whom perhaps we could intercept on the way and take out before they have a chance to mass and defeat our fledgeling rebellion. Any thoughts?"

Frostbite was gratified to be talking strategy and taking the fight back to the sorcerer of darkness. His need to feed would consume all, as evil always does as all evil does not have the capacity to create only to feed on that which it destroys until it turns on itself. If he could not be turned then he would need to be stopped and stopping the supply train was a well-known strategy in war and it seemed like once again Frostbite the soldier was in one.

Sj

Battlebug held up a hand to speak, glancing about nervously. "Ummm. Maybe bait? They want the lady... we ... 'give' her to them. And then smack the teeth out of their heads."

Melody shook her head. "If it goes wrong they have her and we are in even worse shape."

"i can't defend myself, I have no magic left. I used it to open the portal that rescued you." said Sorceress to Battlebug.

Battlebug, who'd been perched on the side of a ramshackle three storey building that leaned alarmingly to one side muttered "Yo! There's something going on..."

Frostbite and Melody hovered up to join him and looked to where smoke was rising from a distant part of the city. Trouble in THIS city? Clearly that meant 'the enemy of my enemy must also be... my friend?'

Frostbite glanced down. Sorceress was still the Dark Lord's target. Some desire to capture his former wife drove the Dark Lord to send his troops after her and even this heaving sweat mess of bodies that the city represented, it would only be a matter of time before they tracked her down. They had... minutes, an hour maybe, before that incredible 'sense' they had of tracking someone's soul led them to her.

That would give them time to investigate the disturbance across the tent/slaver city.

Frostbite glanced at what he had. Melody was powerful, capable, inexperienced and suffered slightly from a lack of confidence. Battlebug was impulsive, reckless, a liability a lot of the time. His overconfidence and seeming fearlessness would get him killed or serious injured unless he curbed it.

He was also potentially the single most powerful superhuman Frostbite had allied himself with and could give Lionheart a run for his money, who'd been the most powerful Vanguardian until recently. Now Frostbite was changed himself, able to rival Lionheart and more than capable of taking on very powerful opponents, even groups of them. He wasn't alone though. He was the leader of the Vanguard. He glanced at Melody and Battlebug. They were Vanguard.

This core, this trio, was forming the start of something new, something that could be countered, suffer setbacks, the occasional failure and heartache, but could not, ultimately, be stopped.

"What's it to be Boss? Go check it out and smack some fatheads around?" asked Battlebug, the boy looking like a refugee in his filthy rags and smeared, sooty skin.

Admin wrote:"What's it to be Boss? Go check it out and smack some fatheads around?" asked Battlebug, the boy looking like a refugee in his filthy rags and smeared, sooty skin.

"This may be a distraction, or it may be an opportunity. Either way, I think we owe it to these people if we are going to encourage them to rebel to see whom they are fighting with. Besides which, right now we are being hunted, and the clock is ticking. We need to get this show on the road or we'll soon run out of road. Sorceress, you stay with me. Battle Bug wait for my orders, ok as a heavy hand could tip our hand before we know what is what. Melody lead us off, let's get to it."

And with that Frostbite with Sorceress consent carried her in the air as they sped over to the disturbance, being careful to stay low and use what cover they could so as not to draw attention to themselves, before alighting where they could gain a view of what was happening down below.

Sj

The Vanguardians and the Sorceress made their way across the city. Battlebug clung to a high tower side, the rickety structure made of crumbling stone and patched up wood.

Carrying Sorceress in his arms Frostbite looked down on the scene from the cover of the tower that Battlebug clung to. Melody looked about, wary, though in truth she was practically invulnerable in her 'living sound' form.

There were a dozen... no, ten Dark Knights in a circle surrounded by Orcs, Trolls, Ogres and other dark creatures that made up the majority of the inhabitants of this 'city', the rest being prisoners, slaves or mercenaries.

In the middle of the circle were a mixed group of men, women and children. They weren't all human - some were Elves like Elesieth. All were bedraggled, rag wearing and dirty. In the middle of them stood a blue skinned figure, warily looking around at the Dark Knights, daring them to attack whilst he maintained a blue hemisphere as protection over the group. The dome flickered but Frostbot of the future looked determined! Could even he take on that many Dark Knights and survive?

"He freed my slaves!" said an Orc slaver, roaring and pointing a finger! "Fresh and ripe for the Dark Lord they are, and worth a high price! I demand that... thing... returns them!"

Frostbite heard one of the Dark Knights speak. "You are... an outlander. We cannot feel you as alive but you have a form of soul. You shall feed us, outlander, and the prisoners shall go back to their cells. Before you die you will tell us where we can find more like you." the Knight hissed.

Battlebug crouched, ready to pounce but checked himself and glanced at Frostbite. He was learning, but when unleashed the boy could be spectacularly effective and he was raring to go at the Dark Knights who seemed - as yet - unaware of the danger nearby.

=========

"They were here." said a Dark Knight, rising form a crouch. "Not long ago."

"Let's move." said another Knight. They set off...