World War II - Frostbite Issue #2

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

The plane taxied to a take off position, and Joe looked from the window. A last glance before he left the land of his birth once more to dive into the breach against the Nazis. His men were on board, having for the most part enjoyed their stay in America, and some were reading the newspaper that read...

AMERICA'S OWN SUPER HERO! GENERAL FREEDOM SMASHES SUPER CRIMINALS!

General Freedom was an idea, a costume, a symbol. Right now, and probably evermore, Joe was...



The plane took off without incident, and Joe settled back into the seat as US Air force planes escorted it away from US soil as far as their range would permit before turning back.

=========

Mayday, Mayday, this is Air Force five requesting urgent assistance!

In order to avoid any Nazi plots the plane would land at San Juan in Puerto Rico, refuel and head for Portugal, then make it's way up to Britain across the Bay of Biscay. The trip from Puerto Rico would be the longest stint, but a full tank of fuel would easily see the plane across the expanse of ocean.

Or so the Americans had thought.

"Bloody hell! What now?" shouted one of the commandos sat near Joe. He woke to see rain lashing the outside of the plane and flashes of lightning, not to mention the plane dipping and climbing, engines struggling.

<<One of the engines has been struck by lightning>> said the inner voice. <<The plane will have to make an emergency landing but this is perfectly feasible at the moment and repairs can be made at San Juan. You are passing through an area that will later gain notoriety as one in which planes and sea going vessels disappear. It will come to be known as 'The Bermuda triangle'.>>

Joe sat up, looking outside. It was dark and there wasn't much to see. Moving forwards to the cockpit he addressed the pilots. "Sir, we lost an engine about five minutes ago, but according to the charts we're not far off course for making San Juan in half an hour. That was until..." he pointed at the instrument binnacle. All were spinning wildly. "We have no idea where we are, what altitude, airspeed.. everything just went nuts!" cried the co-pilot, clearly flustered.

Suddenly there was a loud bang - another engine had been struck by lightning! What were the odds?

All three (pilot, co-plot and Joe) turned to look out the window to the burning wing. "That's torn it" said the pilot. "If we knew where we were, we could still land, but without guidance we'd have one shot - or it's into the drink, and trust me fella, in this weather we don't wanna be ditchin!"

Joe leaned back, steadying himself as the plane bucked again, the violent winds hammering its suddenly fragile seeming mass about. What could he do to help? Looking at the instruments again, he saw they were buzzing wildly around in one direction, then another - some plot of the Nazis, or something more mysterious?

=========

Elsewhere, not that far away...

"Scan shows another aeroplane in the zone. We have disabled it and have crews ready to retrieve. The scan shows..."

"Spit it out man!" said a haughty female voice.

"Scan shows 8 humans on board and one..."

"Yes?"

"One is something else..." stammered the Captain. He stood back as the Queen walked over to the panel, and her eyes widened... She pondered for a moment, then spoke "You know what to do!"

"By your command!" barked the Captain, bowing and saluting. The crew turned to the panel and adjusted dials, then watched and waited...

OOC Anything Joe want to do, or are you waiting to see what happens next?

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:
"If we knew where we were, we could still land, but without guidance we'd have one shot - or it's into the drink, and trust me fella, in this weather we don't wanna be ditchin!"

Joe leaned back, steadying himself as the plane bucked again, the violent winds hammering its suddenly fragile seeming mass about. What could he do to help? Looking at the instruments again, he saw they were buzzing wildly around in one direction, then another - some plot of the Nazis, or something more mysterious

"Given all we've seen and heard of gentlemen," Joe said slowly and carefully to the pilots, "I think we can't take anything for granted. Give the order for the men to strap in."

OOC:
Ok can we use the radio, if we can I will suggest radioing ahead and making sure people know we're in trouble.

Second once the men are strapped in, I'll ask my onboard computer if there is anyway we can glide out of this location, are all engines gone or is there enough power to keep going?

Third if there isn't enough engine capacity we need to brace for impact and make sure we have all the survival means we can get to exit the plan after making a landing.

Other than this I am not sure that I have anything worth a spit to make any sort of difference, here. So I'll help do what I can to make the most of our altitude and try and get the plane to go as far as it can toward its intended location before we have to come down. I don't intend to make it easy for whatever is out there to find us.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

<<The radio will not be strong enough to penetrate the electromagnetic forces the storm is producing. This unit is, however, fully ray shielded against natural phenomena and can operate at its full capacity>> said the computer, feeling pleased with itself. <<The plane seems destined to crash. Without all four engines it will take all of the pilots skill to remain level when it splashes down. You can attempt to help by perhaps freezing the water around the plane when it lands, in order to provide it with a limited buoyancy aide. The chances of success depend on your surviving the crash, however...>>

Around him, on Joe's orders, his men were strapped in. He heard the pilots yelling "Mayday! Mayday!" into the radio only to get static whilst the storm raged outside.

And the plane smashed into the water...

=========

Joe came to first...

He'd been hoping to get more notice of the plane crashing but it appeared the weather had other ideas. He watched as what must have been an enormous wave ran off the outside of the hull. The impact had shattered several windows and freezing sea water spilled in. The soldiers, strapped in as they were and unconscious, would drown! With superhuman strength Joe tore his own belt free and stood on an angled floor that lurched one way, then another as huge waves rolled underneath it.

<<turn to see the window situated at 37 degrees to your current location. No, that's the ... yes. That way.>>

Joe blinked. He's seen a glimpse of.. something! Light blue scaled skin on a pair of muscled legs? What the? Suddenly he looked up, hearing thuds on the roof! What was going on? Before he could move from the spot another wave crashed into the plane, which split in several places - now the water was really coming in!

OOC This might get messy unless Frosty comes up with some superhuman ingenuity!

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:
OOC This might get messy unless Frosty comes up with some superhuman ingenuity!

OOC:
Just awake enough to suggest cocooning us in ice, effectively blocking up the areas that are bringing in water. Or making us less susceptible to the to taking on water by trying to create 'sides' like that of a boat where the water is coming in. I'm happy to use whatever dice I have.

Or the other suggestion is a grab whatever floats and what not exist within the plan, for just such a situation (should a plan like this be equipped in this way).

Once I've done something the next task is to wake the men, get them in life jackets (assuming that isn't ahead of the curve here) and getting them into a position where we can start to bailout, into any life raft or cling to the wreckage - maybe with me creating an ice float around on piece to keep it from sinking.

Joe shouted as he worked, "Computer any ideas, this is going to be the death of the men if we don't get them awake and to safety and quick."

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

With the computers help Joe fired blasts of freezing cold, creating ice instantly and holding sections of the plane together! With his dwindling energy he managed to form solid ice over several shattered windows and slow the flooding. It was all a temporary measure though. he simply did not have the sheer power required to freeze the entire ocean!

'I do.' said a voice quietly in his head! The rasping sound had come from deep within Joe, not the friendlier helpful voice that told him even now where to fire his cold. He thrust his hand out, only to find himself 'dry'. With a curse he moved to the seats and looked underneath, dragging out life jackets and slapping men awake. He couldn't afford to be too gentle - water was still coming in! Eventually the ice would melt and they'd be doomed!

"Mek'tome shara vu beteris!" barked a voice from the end of the cabin. Joe spun, and gaped!



OOC Let me know if the image is too slow to load or doesn't show, because I used a different file host from tinypic. For some reason this wacky laptop doesn't like tinypic with Chrome. And I'm using Chrome because Firefox crashes just about every time I open it. *sigh* Even had a few BSOD today into the mix. Fun fun fun

The Commandos were barely coming around. The cockpit area was gone, and presumably the pilots with it. All around the area Joe had frozen the hole but these newcomers had broken through the thin ice easily and now stood appraising him from 5m away. Each wore a see through mask, and the four of them held what looked to be glowing rods of coral. What new threat presented itself to Joe???

One of the blue skinned men barked an order in their strange tongue, but Joe was none the wiser. Suddenly the five spread out, and the coral in their hands began to glow!

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:One of the blue skinned men barked an order in their strange tongue, but Joe was none the wiser. Suddenly the five spread out, and the coral in their hands began to glow!

Not for the first time Joe regretted not being able to take the shield he had before, with him. He half toyed with the idea of getting one made, if he ever got back to England.

The language the people spoke was new to him, but clearly from what they were dressed in, their appearance it would seem these people either caused or exploit the situation here about for the own ends. Joe decided it might be worth trying to talk, but only so he could get a clear chance of defending the still groggy men.

"Hey we don't understand your language?" Joe didn't know any other language save English, what use for French, Italian would he have had, and German he was trying to pick up. Having seen what the German's had been up to, he did wonder if they might understand German!

As he spoke trying to calm the situation down, despite how it looked, he carefully looked to see if he could find anything to throw at them, some means to distract so he could attack.

OOC:
Ok I am looking for either a weapon to use, or something to throw as I doubt by the time I get to them they will have missed me.

If they respond to my English then we take it from there and I continue to look for stuff, in the meantime. But if they don't respond then I run at them, trying to put them on the backfoot assuming I get Initiative.

1d10=7 Initiative. If I get enough frames I go in to attack, I'll let you roll as I don't know what to add to hit, for Defences etc.

And if it does come to an attack I will tell the men to get weapons to defend ourselves.

Sj

OOC Greetings from a sidings somewhere at some silly time in the morning

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Joe glanced and saw a duffel bag full of pistols - a 'present' from the Americans bearing in mind the trouble Joe seemed to attract! He made a nod and motioned to the commandos to gather weapons whilst he faced off against the blue skinned newcomers. The coral rods glowed and the Blue skins glanced at each other before one stepped forwards. "Our blue Coral staves are translating for us. You are...outlanders. Intruders. We have orders to bring you to our Queen - dead or alive. What's it to be?"

The voice was lilting, almost musical. And though the blue skinned mans' mouth moved, the words that came out didn't match his movements. <<The coral is somehow translating the sounds your vocal chords make and these beings interpret the vibrations the coral picks up through some kind of 'sonar sense' this unit supposes. Fascinating. Further study is recommended. Note if you will their gills and their need for masks to breathe what appears to be liquid. This unit surmises these creatures to be sea dwellers, and out of their natural habitat, your ice powers may grant you an advantage. After all - whilst they can breathe water, can they breathe ice?>>

The computer had a point - all Frostbite had to do was wait until his ice powers recharged! Would these people wait that long? Also, this Queen that had wanted them brought - dead or alive. Was this some plan of the Nazis or something else entirely?

OOC not sure if you still want to fight.. over to you!

Admin wrote:OOC Greetings from a sidings somewhere at some silly time in the morning

So firstly yeah for mobile internet and laptops that work. Hope you get by the metal box communication thing and any other teasing problems.

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:OOC not sure if you still want to fight.. over to you!

Joe acknowledge the computers thoughts with gratitude. At least he had a potential ace up his sleeve, if only he could manipulate the temperature, making those breathing masks more difficult would potentially have an even more devastating effect than his cold snap attack.

"I don't understand, how can your jurisdiction extend to the space above the sea? How can people know that they are flying in an unknown zone. And what gives you the right to down planes, endangering life. Are you working for the Nazi's?"

Joe figured he might as well go for broke. He wanted to keep them talking so as to be able to recharge his powers. That and the fact he didn't like to allow the shadow voice any more latitude than it needed. Something from the past, his other life, remained very present in his confused memories now. Something terrible and dangerous about that voice.

"I and my men, haven't been given much in the way of reassurances that your Queen, will treat us with respect given they way you've enforced your sovereignty?" Joe added, for he figured that for a race that thought nothing of downing planes and he didn't feel particularly inclined to go to their leader, if this is the way they behaved? What treatment would they suffer - especially if they were working with the Nazi's.

OOC:
Ok lets see how they react, will they turn out to be a neutral party or Nazi sympathisers? I am inclined to go only if I can be reassured that we'll be treated with respect. Furthermore - since we can't actually escape on our own, what will be our fate should we go? If its to be put on trial or treated as criminals I'm inclined to attack on the basis that nothing they've said indicates we stand a chance of getting a fair trial - and why a trail when this is the first we've ever heard of a sovereign power being in charge of this area etc?

So that is my line of thinking, lets see where it goes and what it gets me!

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

"Sacrilege!" shouted one of the blue skinned men. "Such ignorance! What claim have the surface dwellers over the land, the sea, the sky? What indeed, save strength of arms and the ability to crush your enemy! Is this not so? And if so, look around you! We summoned the sotrm that downed you, dragging you down into our domain! And here it is WE who rule! Had your flimsy flying machine been stronger, more durable, you would not have crashed into our ocean! Humans were not meant to fly, but you fly anyway! Such colossal arrogance! Such..." he thrust his coral at Frostbite, only for another blue skinned man to grab his hand and pull it down. "The Queens orders! The special one... THIS MAN!" The others jerked at the order, and all raised their coral wands to point at Frostbite!

"Sir?" asked one of the commandos in the seat. He had a pistol at the ready, but a glance showed most of the others were dazed or knocked out cold! Worse - Frostbites' ice was melting, and the seawater pouring in!

"The Queen has given us orders which we will follow! Her whim - to slay, enslave or free you - is her own! You are nothing more than flotsam tossed about on our ocean, and soon to drown!" bellowed a blue skinned warrior. He laughed, a cold hard laugh. The seawater sloshed about them and instantly each of their bodies turned a lighter blue, almost luminescent! Muscles tautened, the warriors straightened, becoming more confident!

Frostbite had a choice... fight, and hope to win out, before finding some way of getting himself and his men back to shore in one piece! The alternative... surrender, was barely credible! A hero NEVER surrendered! And yet... he glanced about. The metal skill of the plane buckled, allowing more water to pour in. Time was running out!

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:
Frostbite had a choice... fight, and hope to win out, before finding some way of getting himself and his men back to shore in one piece! The alternative... surrender, was barely credible! A hero NEVER surrendered! And yet... he glanced about. The metal skill of the plane buckled, allowing more water to pour in. Time was running out!

Joe had to think of a plan and quick. It seemed that these men had both the upper hand over them. But they knew about him and his powers. Clearly if they were to succeed by force of arms, they would only still have to face the cruel sea.

"If I am so important to you, then you will treat my men as you would me. I will cooperate as long as its within my power to do so and will not dishonour my commitment to my people. But I want you're word that you will treat my men as you'd treat me, or you and your queen will not gain a thing from capturing me!"

Joe had no idea if his talk about honour, would mean anything to these men - but there often was a code of conduct among warriors. Joe had to hope they had one, as did he. For though he was a reluctant hero, he knew by fighting he would make matters worse. His men needed attention and if he could on the promise of his potential keep them safe, then they might have a chance - at least until they found out what this mysterious Queen wanted.

OOC:
Ok if I get the green light that these men will vouch for mine and not just despatch them I'll go with them. But if not - then we're getting it on like Donkey Kong. No point in surrendering if they've got no desire to honour my wishes.

I might also make the point that one man's flotsam is another man's treasure, the tide brings the unexpected sometimes.

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

The blue skinned warriors considered for a moment, glancing at each other. It was the young woman who stepped forward, speaking for the group. "You seem to be a man with honour, caring for the welfare of your men when it it obvious to us that you are so much more than them. Tell me, are you royalty of some kind? We have met others like you. Some in great iron vessels that chug through the sea, others recently in an a metal tub that travelled under the sea. Two of them were different, like you, but they did not care about the men they travelled with. We slew the lesser peoples, and after a battle, captured the other two. You, I think, are different."

One of the warriors spoke up "Your highness... your mother expressly stated that..."

The warrior was cut short with a withering glance from the beautiful young woman. He bowed his head and turned to face Frostbite. "By the Princesses' command, so shall it be. You are our prisoners. If you comply with our demands we will not harm you. Act against our wishes and you will die." said the warrior. Another warrior stepped forward. He held an outstretched hand, and within in, small white round pills, one for each of Frostbite and his men.

"Take this." stated the warrior, simply.

The commandos looked alarmed. "What if it's poison?" one wailed, as water gushed in from a collapsing side wall.

Frostbite looked up at the faces of blue skinned warriors. He saw nothing save impassive faces...

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:It was the young woman who stepped forward, speaking for the group. "You, I think, are different."

Surprised that the young women, the Queen's daughter no less, would be here Joe figured his hunch had been right. More than that they'd clearly had dealings with the Nazi's. Joe bowed, "I didn't realise we were in the presence of royalty marm! You are very kind to honour us in this way and we, my men and I are honoured by your being here in person."

Joe thought for a moment before adding, "You're right - I do care about my men, though I am possessed of powers many do not have. But I care for others also, like your people and all free peoples. The Nazi's, the ones who you saw to be cruel and uncaring, threaten a war on the surface, but if they know about you, they will not stop at your borders. No one is safe, from their plans. My men and I will come, as we would like to talk with your Queen. To help you with information if nothing else."

Admin wrote:
"Take this." stated the warrior, simply.

The commandos looked alarmed. "What if it's poison?" one wailed, as water gushed in from a collapsing side wall.

"Take it, Johnson, they've nothing to gain by lying to us and nothing to gain from killing you. They could have let the sea do that five minutes ago. These are an honourable people and we can trust them I believe." With that Joe looked back at the princess, knowing his faith in her might be misplaced, but having little choice. He took the pills, and then taking one himself, he let the other see he was ok, before he handed it out to the others. "Do not resist, all our lives depend on it."

Afterwards (OOC: assuming there is some sort of air breathing effect - I'm guessing, can the computer analyse what it is from being within me?) Joe turned again to the Princes, "It would appear we are ready to be brought to the Queen." And indicated for them to lead on.

OOC:
Ok I'm assuming we're going to have to leap into the water and follow or be taken into the water as they can swim much faster than us etc. Unless the pill turns us into water breathers and we can get down from there.

So I will follow on. But ready for any dirty tricks, now I know who their princess is I can threaten her life if need be by icing up her gills. With so much water in them they would cause massive damage.

Shame Silver Sentinel doesn't have one of these pills, right now ;-)

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Joe popped the pill... instantly his throat tightened, and he gasped, clutching at his throat!

The young womans coral glowed as she spoke. "Put your head below the water!"

<<Impressive. The pill has - temporarily I believe - altered your lungs so that they require water to function. They will extract oxygen from the water as efficiently as a fish, but the side effect is that they are drying out in air, and you will suffocate!>>

Joe crashed to the floor, clutching his throat. He saw the woman walk to the side wall of the plane and punch a hole through the aluminium! Sea water gushed in, quickly filling the plane to everyones knees and causing the plane to start sinking! As soon as water immersed Joes' head he gasped, breathing in... and his lungs opened, walking normally! Furthermore, there seemed to be some kind of silver bubble around his skin! The young woman knelt next to Joe, raising his head in her powerful hands, though she was gentle about it. "The pressure would crush you. Or perhaps not. Your men most certainly. The pill was developed by our ancestors to create an 'air pocket' around the skin that helped to protect from both the cold and the crushing ocean depths! Your eyes, too, will adapt! It is dangerous for your kind to take more than once, however... our ancestors found that when they arrived on this world, and their bodies changed so much they were 'stuck' in an undersea breathing form." She smiled. beautiful as she was, Joe was still distracted by breathing in water! "It's time to go. To ATLANTIS!"

Joes men were similarly amazed, and the group swam free from the sinking ship, amazed at their turn of speed thanks to the pills miraculous effects! Those who were normal men found themselves boosted to near superhuman levels! Joe found it hard to control his new level of strength! Every kick sent him spiralling through the water!

OOC Just so you know whilst the pill is working you have... Breathing Water, able to survive natural pressure depths down to the bottom of the ocean, ability to see in darkness, immune to the freezing cold of the ocean deep (Frostbite would have been immune to much of this stuff anyway) +10 strength and +5 vigour (with +20 htc and +20 htk). The character is also more sensitive to sound and vibrations (though these Atlanteans are speaking through the use of their magical coral devices, which also translate. They can speak any language that way, but the vibrations from the coral are able to turn their voices into sounds the recipient can understand). Whilst the toughened musculature doesn't become bulletproof, it is more bullet resistant. Swimming speed is enhanced by the slippery form of the air bubble around the recipient and increased musculature. Characters can swim at 2x their normal movement speed and up to 3x in long straight swimming. Whilst the pill is in effect coming out of the water removes all of those effects immediately and the person will start to drown, losing 1d6 htk/htc per frame. Immersing in water will restore the effects but not any lost health - you need to heal normally for that. The commandos have +2 to +5 damage modifier, jump from 20 htc/htk to 40 in each and have all other effects as listed.

Looking around, he saw the others, marvelling at the clarity of vision in the darkness! As the plane sank below them, the Princess and Captain of the guard led the way whilst the other Atlanteans acted as guard, ensuring that no one swam off, and warning off any undersea predators. Once or twice sharks cruised close by, but a pulse from the coral staves of nearby guards warned them off!

Just as Joe was starting to get used to the sensation of acting freely underwater, watching the silvered forms dart and swim about, he saw something else that amazed!



The Princess waited for him to catch up, and the coral pulsed. "These.. Nazis you speak of were not brought down here as you were. They are our captives, but do not for a moment consider yourselves to be our guests! That is for my mother - the Queen - to decide!" She touched a hand gently to Joes shoulder "But so long as you show due respect, and possibly even help with a problem we have, I am sure you will be allowed to leave." She gave a small smile, then sped off through the dark waters towards the amazing underwater city at the bottom of the ocean!

OOC I assume Joe and the others will go without incident? Hence...

=========

The citizens of Atlantis were much like land dwelling humans...

Save many went without clothing. Some were strange indeed, with the bottom portion of their body formed like a fish! Perhaps it is these people who gave rise to the legends of mermaids...

"We came from a distant world, or at least our ancestors did. When they realised their beloved land, and vast cities, were sinking into the oceans they diverted all their efforts into making the tablet you took. There were... experiments... on brave souls who volunteered. Many died, some were changed. There was no cover up. Those changed were honoured and treated as any other citizen, and still are, generations later. They are merely different, but not inferior in any way. Indeed, under the water, few can match their speed!" said one of the guards near Joe. Joe was distracted as he saw the Princess greeted, and a man with seaweed robes scold her gently before a group of young women ushered her away.

The Captain came over. "You are to be treated as prisoners for now. behave, and you will be treated well. Take them." he said to the guards.

Johnson swam over. "Sir! This is.. this is amazing! Look at all these people! And the women! They go without clothes! Why.. it's paradise!"

One of the Atlantean guards grinned "You get used to it. Down here, we are masters of the domain, and Atlantean law will not be challenged by surface dwellers!" Another piped up "But keep your hands to yourselves! Any transgressions or dalliances will be treated unfavourably!"

The city was much like a surface dwelling one, save everyone swum - or rather, seemed to fly under the water, passing at dizzying speeds. Some stopped to look and chatter to their fellow citizens, remarking on the new arrivals. Soon the small group came to a large tower, and were admitted in by guards.

Minutes later they were in a large cell. The walls appeared to be made of some ultra hard coral - in fact the whole city seemed to have been coated in the stuff - or perhaps it was grown!

One of the Commandos, Morley, sat down next to Joe. "What do you suppose will happen to us sir?"

Joe's answer was interrupted by a guard opening the door! "Prisoners! As per Atlantean law, you must prove your worth... in the gladiatorial games! Those not worthy will be fed to the sharks!"

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:
Joe popped the pill... instantly his throat tightened, and he gasped, clutching at his throat!

Sure glad none of us are allergic ;-)

Admin wrote:Johnson swam over. "Sir! This is.. this is amazing! Look at all these people! And the women! They go without clothes! Why.. it's paradise!"

"And you, will remember that you are a soldier in her Majesties armed forces and treat the civilians with due respect at all times." Joe said, somewhat embarressed by the brazen open attitude of the Atlanteans.

Admin wrote:
Minutes later they were in a large cell. The walls appeared to be made of some ultra hard coral - in fact the whole city seemed to have been coated in the stuff - or perhaps it was grown!

"Prisoners! As per Atlantean law, you must prove your worth... in the gladiatorial games! Those not worthy will be fed to the sharks!"

Joe stood up as did his men in indignation and shock. Joe waved them quiet so he could talk. "There must be some mistake. Our understanding was that we were to be brought to the Queen! Or is this here way of deciding our fate?"

Joe couldn't help but feel this was like the Saturday morning shows or those Edgar Rice Burroughs novels he had read one summer. He imagined that this race, for all their sophistication still took great pleasure in trials of skill and expertise. He noted the simpler weapons, how they liked to show up in person - clearly the warrior aspect of the race, ran through to their entertainment - or so he surmised.

OOC: Assuming I am right, I imagine we've little choice, but I take comfort from the advancement we've all gained in physical strength and if we work as a team then we can show the Atlanteans that we can be trusted. I'm thinking that this is intended to show our worth - weaknesses is punished as their unfortunate early experiments show - they're honoured for surviving and their strength in doing so!

Joe turned to the men, "Guys with the advancement we've all gained, I am sure we can beat this. If we work as a team we can overcome the arena. My hunch is that these people follow a warrior code, they respect strength. If we do well, even in the face of the odds, they will be likely to trust us. As it is we could have ended up down here as fish food anyway - so I say we give it a try. When in Rome...? He said leaving a pregnant pause. Before turning to the men, and nodding. He indicated they would come willingly.

But privately Joe was less sure, he hoped that his talk would bolster the men's courage, for he worried that they may face this trial in smaller groups, or even alone, in which case, then what?

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

The group was taken under heavy guard - two per man and three spares - through the Prison block and to an entrance leading down steps into a tunnel. As the group drifted along with no real need to touch the floor Joe could feel the walls and floor shake. All the while the guards had said nothing to them!

Rapping on a solid looking metal door (interestingly, there was not a mark of rust on it) the guards ushered the group into a room and from there they were separated into smaller groups of three and a four. Heavy metal doors clanged behind them, whilst one wall in the cell was barred, and looking out onto the sandy floor of an arena! The arena itself was domed, to prevent escape, and all around the dome were rows of seats, quickly filling with chanting citizens! Without one of the mystical coral wands to translate there was no way to tell what they were saying, but the crowd hushed all of a sudden. Looking out, the small group saw what appeared to be a royal box in the distance across the arena, and an imperious, but cold looking woman in robes of state - made of fine mesh seaweed and leaving little to the imagination - made her way into the box, surrounded by an entourage that included her glum looking daughter. The Queen looked down upon the distant cells set into the arena wall, and Joe felt piercing eyes fall on him. The woman could be of any age - she was beautiful, but in the cold way that showed her beauty was simply a tool to be used. Her hair, blue like everyone else's, was decorated with precious stones and metals woven to create a crown on her head. In her hand she held a full, finely sculpted sceptre of the blue coral, and when she spoke it sent out a powerful voice that not only translated but filled the arena and beyond!

"As you know, my people, our realm has ever been under attack from surface dwellers! They farm our oceans with little thought for stock levels, dump their rubbish and pollute the waters we breathe! Now they bring their vessels of war into our territory! Furthermore, they send vessels which fly through the sky, doubtless filled with bombs to drop on us whilst thinking themselves immune to our reach! But our reach is long, and our will iron!" she yelled, and the crowd roared. "We have captured two groups of outlanders recently. One came in a metal tub that sailed under the surface of our ocean, and they resisted our attempts at diplomacy, killing several of our guards and forcing our hand! We have their survivors in our custody, and discover they are enhanced! They have powers and abilities that suggest they are making ready to once and for all crush us and our way of life! For those surface dwellers, called Nazis, we say 'Death!' " she howled, and the crowd roared.

"Another group flew over our waves. They were captured by my own dear daughter, the Princess Anemone but came in peace, testimony to my daughters diplomacy, but also viewed by some as an act of weakness! All should know, we are NOT weak! We will not be swayed! These outlanders shall, however, be given a chance to prove themselves! Live, and they may serve us, and find their freedom and our thanks as just reward if they succeed in the task we set! But first, before that, they must face the undefeated champion of the arena! The villainous murderer known as Orcan!"

Mixed with the cheers were quite a few 'ooohs' and it was clear there was a feeling of dread through the arena, though many had faith in the silvery bubble acting as dome and preventing combatants from escaping.

Johnson turned to Joe "Now what?"

The gates slid upwards...

The crowd cheered again, and across the arena, a large gate - twice as wide and high as the ones the group Joe was with used - slid open, though nothing came out straight away. It would be Joe's group of three against Orcan - whatever that was. The others would doubtless be tossed in as desert after this thing had had it's way!

OOC The other entrance is 100m away. The arena is 100m x 100m in an oval, with the silvered dome over the top being around 20m high. The arena is full of spectators - thousands, including armed guards! You have 2 frames before whatever is coming out, comes out...

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:OOC The other entrance is 100m away. The arena is 100m x 100m in an oval, with the silvered dome over the top being around 20m high. The arena is full of spectators - thousands, including armed guards! You have 2 frames before whatever is coming out, comes out...

Joe was a least thankful he was within the first group. He picked up from the queen what he had suspected that as warriors they preferred strength - but clearly this was within certain bounds as the Nazi's had found out when they over stepped them.

Joe turned to his men, "Fella's this thing is going to be tough, but we are working as a team with powers we'd all better get used to. Chances are this thing isn't champion for no reason. We need to spread out and try and get it from behind. There is no terrain or way to get at it, save by making myself the decoy and for you to come in high and low. Don't bunch up save to attack and then spread out again. Follow my lead and I will try and make sure this thing feels the sting of the cold."

OOC:

I like the fact that you are leaving me in the dark as to what we are facing. I guess it could be a Kraken or giant Squid, perhaps some Atlantean half fish half man creature or something else. But that it was called the Murderer suggests its a person, not a thing.

Therefore trying to pre-empt what is happening I am going to try and get it to either come for me and let the others attack from behind, or if it goes for them try and get in between so they can come behind. I can resist its strength better than they. And My aim is to try and freeze whatever it uses to breath so its fighting for air, rather than fighting us. Depending also on what its got - I might try and freeze its eyes, What I wouldn't do for Field Manipulation cold to return right about now.

Finally after briefing the others, Joe said, "We will get through this! Don't panic, keep you're wits about you and let me get at it, but don't take stupid chances, I can handle myself." The last thought was in part because Joe had visions of a giant whale coming out and swallowing him whole.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

The two commandos with Joe, despite their enhanced abilities, looked fearful. As well they should!



The creature looked to be about the size of a Killer Whale (That is, 25' or so from nose to tail) save it stood and had humanoid limbs! Having had to duck to emerge from its cage the creature bellowed its rage and shot upwards to the silvered bubble of the dome, causing dozens of panicked patrons to pull back. The dome simply stretched though, as if elasticated, and twanged back, delivering an equal force to that which had been applied!

THUD! The huge form crashed down into the sand which rose like a great dust cloud!

Morton, one of the commandos, peered through the sand cloud. "Where is it?" he yelled. Joe gaped as a hug dark shape loomed behind Morton, who saw Joes' face and asked "What?" then he turned.

OOC The arena is full of sand, like a cloud, which makes it hard to make out details. Enough to see this thing, mind. Morton is 5m away from Joe, and the creature 5m behind Morton. Intiative is 9, good guys, 5 for Orcan. 2 frames. the sand may well interfere with distance weapons, but it will settle fairly fast. Communications between you and your little team will soon be very limited as the crowd finds its voice!

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote: The creature looked to be about the size of a Killer Whale (That is, 25' or so from nose to tail) save it stood and had humanoid limbs!

OOC: I imagine that this creature is the way it is due to the pills and some sort of inbreeding!

Morton, one of the commandos, peered through the sand cloud. "Where is it?" he yelled. Joe gaped as a hug dark shape loomed behind Morton, who saw Joes' face and asked "What?" then he turned.

Joe didn't hesitate, he saw forward as fast as he could realising the creature may well have Sonar of some sort and be using the sand as a distraction for it to pounce rather than the other way around. Creeping up on Morton, as a easier target so as to weaken Joe's response when it came to their opportunity to clash.

As Joe leapt forward he shouted quickly, aware that the creature may understand his intent, but having little choice in the murk, "Circle wide" He indicated asking Johnson to flank Morton's position wide so he could come around.

Joe wondered from the size of this creature what he could do to it. Oddly right then, whilst he was swimming for dear life, to save a fellow soldier, the voice decided to return. The other Joe! In another life he knew this Joe would be a friend, in this life he didn't know what to think since they seemed to be sharing one body. The voice simply reminded him of the old maxim, "The bigger they are..." And then a thought struck Joe. It was dangerous but perhaps what was so dangerous about this creature was its shear size, it was probably armoured and would be hard to hurt, but its one weakness was if someone could harm the inside. After all it was going to have a lot of delicate organs filled with liquid, filled with water?

Joe swam on, determined not to loose either of his men.

OOC:
1. Ok my thought is this, the shear size of this creature reminds me of Jonah and the Whale. If I could get inside its mouth, assuming its open, I could blast it with the cold I produce from the inside where it would probably not have any damage dividers in the way it would outside.
2. Now problem being it probably doesn't make a habit of opening its mouth so I aim to try and get in behind its head, to its gills and shove my hands in to blast at point blank range into its body...if at all possible.

Meanwhile my aim is to get it as quickly as I can between it and Morton, to give them chance to attack it if it focuses on me. When they hurt it and its attention is caught by them, then I will try and make my move.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

For its size the things speed was frightening! Still, its intelligence seemed limited to be very good at killing prey, admittedly not a bad trait to have in an arena!

The crowd roared as the sand swirled about. Joe sped over to a place between the creature and Morton, who looked blindly about before seeing the dark looming shape in front of him! Despite having been trained as a commando, and been on a mission or two, nothing could have prepared him for this! All of the men were, literally and figuratively speaking, 'out of their depth'!

OOC I assume a Quick blast as best I can from your description? 7D6 split 4htc/3htk? If so, roll 12 hit. 12htc, 11htk. You get it's attention with that. If you want to call the shot and aim for the mouth as it moves in, I'll apply a -5 to hit thanks to the things speed. It might have been more, but that gaping maw is hard to miss. Sort of. Frostbite is on 8/15 energy, round 1. Will have to start putting in the graphics with the energy bars and so on, but time as you know has been unkind lately...

The thing paused in its charge, roaring pain and fury as it shook ice from its face! Bellowing in rage it brings down a mighty fist towards Frostbite!

OOC Orcan used a frame to move. It's huge mass and natural adaptation to water gives it a bonus when attacking. It is, after all, an 'apex predator' (which I thoght applied to Great Whites until I heard of Orcas hunting and eating the things...). Three strikes... 12, hit, 30htc (dividers reduced by 1 due to Apex predator adaptation so 15 damage), 5, miss, 20, critical hit. 32 damage including bonus from excess hit roll. DD reduced by a further 1 from the critical, meaning it would cause 32Htc... Frostbite sees the blows coming... his response? He has 2 frames, then his men get their two. This thing is living up to its name! Over to you.

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote: Frostbite is on 8/15 energy, round 1. Will have to start putting in the graphics with the energy bars and so on, but time as you know has been unkind lately...[/i]

I don't mind just having the tally, as nice as the graphics were, I'd rather you feel you were using your time productively, especially with four threads on the go.

As to what I do I guess I parry, there ain't much else I can do and not much more I'll have left if it hits again like that. I was kinda hoping that this would be easier, as its in water and what not. I guess I can slug it out, but not sure how well I'll stand up to it.

Ok so its using a melee attack I'll counter with one and see who comes out the better.

1d20=4, 1d20=11 So I miss one and parry one, I'll leave you to work out the damage. And as soon as I can strike back I will. Rolled for initiative (and wished I hadn't) 1d10=1.

Oh dear, well I'll continue to parry, or try and get in the way, so the others can have a go, for what its worth.
==================

Joe struggled under the mighty creatures killing blows, seeking to fend its attack off and hoping to find a point of weakness to strike back from, as he gave the others time to regroup and attack.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

OOC Frostys superhuman strength is a lifesaver in this instance. He reduced the critical to 8 damage thanks to a half decent roll so ends up taking 23htc. He has 24htc remaining.

Frostbite threw up his arms to fend off the superhuman battering he was taking!

<<Vital signs fluctuating! Scanning! Damage concussive, host unit still at 50% effectiveness. Enemy is displaying tactics of the animal it appears to be genetically formed from. It will render you unconscious before expending the energy required to eat you. The same tactic is used on sharks by this Genus. They will ram the shark, turn it over and nip a dorsal fin to keep the Shark on its back, inducing a state of torpor. The Shark is then rendered unconscious - or asleep - in moments and the Orca would devour the sharks liver, leaving the rest to float to the ocean bottom as flotsam.>>

'Call on the power' said an ominous voice from somewhere within Frostbite. 'Your mortal form may yet survive as I feel it is slowly adapting to the power. For me this is frustrating - all the effort and time I placed in your previous host has been reset!'

=========

The Queen looked on as the leader of the surface dwellers was pounded upon by one of the renegade Orcans...

The Orcans were slave labour, menial soldiers, thugs. They weren't civilised enough to be a citizen of Atlantis, and when this one had murdered a Slave master, it had been sentenced to death in the Arena, as per the law. Now it galled her that the thing was winning, again. She considered putting the surface men known as Nazis into the arena but their threats and demonstrations of power, slaying several of her soldiers, had unsettled her. They were held captive in an air bubble. Free to move about, but if they left the bubble the crushing ocean depths would kill them, if they didn't drown first.

Suddenly the sceptre in her hand vibrated, and she frowned. '...the effort and time I placed in your previous host...' she 'heard' in her mind. Whilst her subjects, including her own offspring, used common blue coral harvested from the depths of the ocean, she as queen used the special coral, a gold veined variant the scientists had named 'sipstrassi'* The blue coral had a tiny portion of the stuff in it that allowed the wielders to translate vibrations, use it to enhance their combat strength and other minor effects. The Queens imbued in her a power classified as mystical! It had stemmed the ageing process and allowed her to protect her people from invasion countless times, even from her renegade estranged husband, the former King!

Now she narrowed eyes on the man taking a beating. What was he? He was... different. She'd scanned him and the others, finding his companions to be normal surface dwellers and him enhanced, albeit mildly compared to the Nazis. Now the feeling she was getting... she gaped! Glancing at the Sceptre she stood, alarmed!

=========

Joe glanced about. His men, despite being enhanced, rained blows on the creature from all about. It ignored them for the most part...

...thick hide brushing off blows that could have put a small dent in steel!

OOC 7 initiative for the Orcan. That's 3 frames of pain... Joes companions are hitting, but thanks to this things dividers (better even than Joes) it'll be a long while before it starts to suffer! Meanwhile, 19, hit, 25Htc, 20, critical hit, 35 htc and 10, hit, 25 htc. Ouch, ouch and ouch. Dividers reduce the first to 12 htc, the second is a critical and inflicts 35htc, the third reduced to 12 htc. I assume you parried all three, and all three rolls made it. First blow totally parried, no damage. Second, a roll of 2 means Joe takes 18htc after reducing by 17htc, nothing from the last hit. That's 17htc, dropping Joe to seven. He is staggered.

<<Warning Incoming...WHACK!...Vital signs showing extreme ... WHUD! ... Caution! Advise immediate withdrawal! The host unit shows signs of... SMACK!>>

Joe heard roaring in his ears over the clamour of the computer inside him. On his knees having clashed three times to stop the powerful blows he moved to his feet on shaky legs. This time it was him who was surrounded by his two companions in the arena as they sought to defend their leader with their own lives!

The crowd roared, and Joe heard the calls from the other four who were in the next cell, doubtless the dessert after this thing had mopped up Frostbite and companions!

"HALT!"

The voice rang through every living being in the city, and all looked to where their Queen stood! She looked down, imperious, on the arena floor. "I have not yet given leave to slay these Surface dwellers, Orcan! Obey your queen!"

The Orcan stood, defiant. "LOOK AT MY POWER!" it bellowed, voice like the grinding of stone through a machine. "I BEAT ALL YOU SEND! I AM TRUE POWER! YOU, QUEEN OF SAND! QUEEN OF NOTHING! WE ORCAN READY TO RULE! YOU BE OUR SLAVES!"

The crowd murmured in shock and outrage, whilst the Queen levelled her sceptre. "Insolence shall receive it's just reward!" she cried!

A green beam of energy shot out, striking the Orcan and disintegrating it! Joe and the others turned away as the creatures body exploded, showering them in white torn flesh as the powerful creature was destroyed! Apex predator and a mighty foe it was, but no match for the Queen!

"Bring the surface dweller leader to me! Jail the rest! They fight later." ordered the Queen, and she left with a sweep of her robes and a hurrying entourage...

=========

Back in her throne room the Queen retired briefly to her chamber, and rushed over to a mirror...

She looked at her lustrous hair, and saw distinct grey now at the temples, fine lines around the eyes! She glanced at the Sceptre, and saw the golden lines even thinner than before! Crying out in near panic she sought to quell it and gathered the Sceptre to her breast. It glowed briefly, and the lines were gone! The grey too, and her beauty restored!

A look at the sceptre revealed the golden lines were mere slivers in places now though...

OOC Joe escapes with the skin of his teeth left intact. Well, what teeth are left after a kicking. Sometimes, every now and again you come across a foe that you can't beat, not without a few good rolls! That initiative roll really battered you, and the decent hit rolls ( 2 criticals!) hammered the point home. Still, i was expecting you to win because your plan was sound, and he came out of the fight alive, though dragged from the arena. They say any crash you can walk away from.... Does dragging count? Feel free to post Joes' reaction before the next update, when he meets the Queen...

*Sipstrassi is a creation of my favourite fantasy author, the late David Gemmell (RIP). It shows up in quite a few of his tales ranging from Arthurian Britain and the men who use it to become near immortal, like Merlin, Gilgamesh, Morganna and Lancelot (all by different names) and in other books featuring a man named Jon Shannow, the Jerusalem man. A Clint Eastwood-esque bible quoting gunfighter ridding a post apocalyptic wasteland of evil men, beasts, and worse. Well worth looking up

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:OOC Frostys superhuman strength is a lifesaver in this instance...They say any crash you can walk away from.... Does dragging count? Feel free to post Joes' reaction before the next update, when he meets the Queen...

Firstly I love the Jon Shannow books, and the Sipstrasssi stones etc. I read them only about a year ago all over again. Great books. I like Gemmell as a writer as well, sometimes a bit blood thirsty or more realistic than I care to think about, but he was a good solid writer all the same. I liked his characters and the way he wrote. It was a shame he beat cancer to die of an undiagnosed heart condition.

Loving where this thread is going by the way, your right on the rolls thing, this is where even the best laid plans can come undone and the worst laid plans bloom undeservedly with good rolls. Sometimes in a game this is where I think you need something extra to counter randomness where it has no place. Hero points or action points etc. Anyway onto the action...Joe was so close and may yet be to letting go of the shadows within, as he has no idea how bad it can be, only how bad things were getting.
=========

With a look to his men, to reassure them that he was ok, Joe shut out the sound of the crowd, the noise all around. The VOICE within was still echoing in the vaults of his mind. Its power undeniable and the temptation all along was to succumb. He had to get back to England, he had to stop the Nazi's getting a foothold on the Island. He had aliens of one kind or another popping up and England was not even ready for what must be her darkest hour.

Yet within the enforced silence one voice penetrated, as it couldn't be shut out. "Hold fast soldier, the time for force of that nature is not now. Once the genie is out of the bottle its a whole other thing to get it back again. Soon me and you should meet and talk things over. We've got some choices to make. But right now listen to what the Queen has to say. Play it calm and know that you are not alone, as you might think!"

Then as the voice went silent, Joe found he could open his eyes and take in the surroundings again. His head hurt and he knew he'd be bruised for sometime. But he was alive. He didn't know exactly what had made the Queen step in, the Orcan's threat was something that had clearly rattled the Atlanteans. Maybe there was more of a deeper undertone there.

Joe didn't know how he now stood with his captors, nor did he like the idea his men would be kept for further entertainment when the Nazi's held here seemed to be just denied their freedom. But his answers clearly lie with the Queen.

Unresisting he allowed himself to be taken, with just a quick glance back to reassure his men. He allowed himself to be taken, feigning weakness so he could take a moment to catch his breath and be ready for whatever came next.

OOC:
Ok allow myself to be taken, to see the Queen and take things from there.

I've really enjoyed playing this Joe and yet I am aware there is a whole other me waiting in the wings so I'm thinking about trying to combine both men, in some way soon. It might follow the action as things hot up.

Anyway lets go see the Queen.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Atlantean guards helped a shaky Joe from the arena as his men were led away back to their cells. The Captain of the guard spoke up. "You are brave. And powerful." he grunted. "Our own Atlantean criminals are put into the arena with renegade Orcans and the fight is usually short, and brutal. If those creatures managed to combine their forces our civilisation here would be destroyed, and the people killed."

They walked along the corridor, and a Queens aide came alongside. "Do not address the Queen unless spoke to. Do not look the Queen in the eye unless she allows it through her manner or speech. Do not seek to impress or otherwise affect the Queens will. She sees all, knows all. She does not need a surface dweller to repeat what she already knows! Know that guards stand ready to slay you should you take hostile action, but the Queen herself is more than capable of defending herself. You are here by the Queens will. Your life hangs in the balance of the Queens will. You are already favoured - Orcans have a total success rate in the arena. Hold that in mind that you owe the Queen..."

The Aide seemed oblivious to the fact that Joe wouldn't have even been in the arena if not for the 'Queens will'. That said, his men were alive, and he, too, was in one piece, albeit a rather battered one!

The Captain watched the aide go, then continued to talked as the group moved along the corridor. "Pompous ass. Your weakness in the arena was your compassion for your men. Your initial tactics seemed to be sound - stay at a distance and emit the incredible freezing power you possess. Unfortunately, as you well know, tides turn as often in battle as in our home. Now." He said, straightening. He pulled a face at Joes appearance and straightened his tattered shirt. With a shrug he turned, and heavily armoured guards pushed open two vast tall ornately decorated gates with mother of pearl, inlaid gold and coral to show the way to the throne room.

The throne room was vast, opulent, and filled with advisers, courtiers, guards and hangers on.



The Queen was beautiful. She'd changed her clothes in the few minutes since leaving the arena and stood in front of her throne. All around everyone bowed, and Joe respectfully (OOC I assume?) followed suit. The Queen didn't stand on ceremony for long however. "We saved your life because we saw in you something... greater. Explain now, and omit no detail, about the power within you, mortal."

<<The Queen has been... enhanced. This unit cannot ascertain how, or why, but she appears to emanate some kind of power. It is centred on the sceptre in her hand, a possible power source? However, see as I switch your vision...>>

Joe blinked. His vision blurred - all around the room he could barely make anything out, but when he saw the Queen? She was clear, distinct and glowing in a golden energy that surrounded both her and the sceptre. He shivered, and his vision switched to normal, along with a headache. With a groan he blinked away pain.

<<That is why you do not have superhuman senses. I simply altered the way your brain uses the information that your eyes send. You saw a symbiotic energy relationship between the Queen and the Sceptre. The power in each is inextricably tied. Remove one from the other and there will be consequences.>>

The Queen gazed imperiously at Joe, awaiting an answer. There was also something else in her look, Joe thought. Pleading? Desperation? Fear?

OOC How much Joe says is up to him - your chance to reveal more or less of Frostbites character has arrived Of course, you can do that when you like, so *shrug* over to you

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

OOC: Just to say firstly that I can't seem to see the pictures you've been loading either in chrome or firefox, but they sometimes show up when I hit the quote reply button?

Admin wrote:The Queen gazed imperiously at Joe, awaiting an answer. There was also something else in her look, Joe thought. Pleading? Desperation? Fear?

"Your Majesty," Joe said, looking up since he had been addressed, and standing stronger even though he had taken quite a pounding. He knew that what he had to say, sounded fantastic even to him, but both his freedom and that of his men was in real danger. He knew the dark power within was always present and more than available. But at what cost, he didn't want to get to the surface to save the free world, only to have lowered himself to the level of the Nazi's by destroying this one in the process.

Joe continued, aware that there was little point in lying, but that meant he could also use his ignorance to its fullest potential. After all there was still a lot he just didn't know.

"You speak rightly when you say there is within me a power. I will attempt to explain, but please also understand that if I appear vague or unsure, it is because what has transpired, few mortals, few humans have ever experienced!"

Joe was not an accomplished speaker, but he had noticed that the way he was speaking didn't sound like him so much as his other self, almost as if what he needed the two offered by working together.

"Not many months ago I enlisted in the efforts for the Allied forces, to fight the Nazi's. But before I could get to basic training I and a number of other people, were struck down by a mystery illness. We were all in a coma for a week. But when we awoke we were more than we'd ever been. For I had the power to freeze things and since have also gained strength far beyond what any of my men possess.

There is within us something, someone who it seems is actively working through us. For behind the Nazi's are also powers who have been at work in them, powers that use them and their philosophy for some mysterious unknown end. But this I do know, these shadows will not stop until they take over all kingdoms of the earth -with or without the Nazi's as their puppets.

I came with your men, not because I had to, but because our fight is for the freedom of all people. I came to find out what transpired down here and since being here, my fear is that the long arm of the puppet masters might already be at work. And if it isn't yet, I imagine it won't be long before they recruit to every disaffected, power hungry or traitorous Atlantean, with promises of wealth and power so as to even try and take on your court and your kingdom, majesty! Shocking though this may seem, in truth this is the pattern we've begun to witness even now on the surface."

Joe reflected on how even America was being dragged into the war, the Shadows empowering who they will to get at him. With that Joe, bowed down and said no more, waiting for the Queen to address him as she wished.

OOC:

Ok hopefully I've been truthful but vague enough to preserve the innocent. If she wishes to know more she can ask, but I've not lied.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

OOC Strange about the picture viewing thing. I can only assume its some kind of security setting. I see them fine, but I also get completely random crashes of Firefox too, so *shrug* not sure what the answer is :S

The Queen was somewhat taken aback by Frostbites honesty. Still, she raised herself up. "I saved you from the brute in the arena because I believe we can be of service to one another. My people want nothing to do with the surface dwellers wars, but it seems they invade our realm as they like, when they like. This is not acceptable to us. I will be candid. There is a precious stone in the darkest depths of a trench not too far from here, guarded by those who cannot use it, but seek to stop us from using it for the good of our people. I sent a delegation to negotiate for trade, but the renegades sent their heads back in baskets. I sent a force of soldiers, 100 strong, and they were slain outright. Our city was attacked in retaliation and we had to fight off an army of the brutish Orcans." She looked about. "Leave us, save my seneschal and Captains."

The people in the throne room looked at one another and filed out, leaving half a dozen or so of the top ranking officials and soldiers. "If we do not retrieve a new supply of this stone, our way of life is over. Our people believe they were born with the genetics to survive underwater. This is only partially true. In fact what makes them civilised and intelligent is also rebelling against their abilities to survive under the sea! In a generation we will be like the Orcans, brutish, violent and depraved. In short, we are a dying race. The sipstrassi alone, a stone from another world, can be used to correct the genetic imbalance. We need it, the Orcans have it. My... former husband, a traitor to his people, leads the Orcans. I want you and your men to retrieve a supply of the Sipstrassi and return with it. If you do that, our people will be strong enough to wrest control of the remainder and we will be in your debt. We will... offer our help in policing the seas from these nazis. I believe that would be ample payment for your services, and help us in the bargain. One word of warning though... you faced one Orcan. We are talking about hundreds! The power inside you... you may need to use it in order to win through!"