Variant Earth 13 E Mail Game Archive Number 18

Subject: [v13] A.S.9. : Hooked Up Antonio
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 07:21:51 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

A.S.9 without speaking to the confused man, takes his whip and wraps it around both the man and girl and uses it to darg them out to Hazzard. A.S.9. then said " Antonio, hear touched this girl here, and no one else. So it's very possible that he's in her. What do you propose in doing Now?" A.S.9 still showing flesh & Metal, and a very pissed off look.

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 08:34:16 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Seeing an opening (if she truly DOES, that is, Ari will try to get the jump
on A-Lonse and whack him a good one to the back of his noggin, courtesy one
lead pipe.  If, unlikely as it seems, the villain falls, Ari simply grins
and raises her pipe, shouting "Now, son of Jor-El... KNEEL BEFORE *ZOD!*"
In the equally (if not more) likely occurence that Nothing Happens, or
alternately, Something Bad Happens, Ari will let out a mighty "eep!"

Rolls:  87, 94, 61 (phew... my dice they do loves me.)

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 08:51:49 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Seeing A-Lonse as he begins his unscheduled departure, Rebound will
attempt to catch the villain with a bunch of strands and carry him
along for the ride.

Since I have little doubt that this will NOT work, here is Rebound's
alternate plan:

Rebound begins humming the theme to "The Greatest American Hero" as he
sails through the air.  Knowing that a fall from this height would most
likely be bad even with his tremendous capacity to withstand impacts, he
scrambles for his communications device.

"Um...I don't know how to say this, but the man-sized object that is
currently sailing towards the sky is me.  You happen to have anything on
the ship that could catch me before I become the a grease spot somewhere
downrange?"

Rolls:

Init: 3

Hit: 71

Other: 44, 69, 90, 01 (real helpful there), 33,

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 11:30:30 EDT
From: Scott A Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

"Rebound, could you not have found a better way to get a date than flying
to the moon.""  Says stone Cold as he blasts ice to surround Rebound,
while running toward Alonzo at full speed to punch the everloving snot
out of him.  (Blast: 67 + 10 Karma for weight  to bring him back down and
float him in the ocean.  Running and punching A-Lonse 89+ 20 Karma.  Heck
of a time to get a high roll but thank the die gods anyway. )

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 12:16:15 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Crimebuster, hearing what kind of reaction A-Lonse is having to the disruption of the hydraulic lines, thinks to himself that this must be the weak point of his plan and draws his sword.  "Laugh at MY blasts will you....."  He says as he fires his karmic chi blasts at the hydraluic lifts.  If possible he is trying to crack it so that the fluid will shoot out toward A-Lonse.

(OCC:  I know it is asking alot....but this is a comic book...these things can happen LOL)

(OCC again, Rolls: 91, 23, 48, 100, 46, 82, 55. Init: 7...the dice doth play with my head )


Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 17:33:32 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus reaches out and grabs at the man's shoulder attempting to stop him
from walking away with the gesture, "Forgive my insinuations good sir. In
such an overwhelming place as this is one can never be too careful now can
they? I would indeed be interested in your aid. Perhaps we can discuss the
business over a meal?"

Subject: Re: [v13] the City
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 17:16:07 -0500
From: Chris <cwacers@home.com>

> (snip description of ice rings)

"Ooooooh!"

> (snip description of ice rings' transparency)

A Bit of disappointment travels across Masque's Face.

> (snip descrption of fire rings)

"Oooooh."

> (snip description of fire rings' permanency)

And that disappointment travels right on away, leaving in a disparaging moment only to look back and see a look of excitement start across the horizon of Masque's brow.

> (snip)

Masque spies Ronin approaching and runs up to him with something on a stick.

"You should really try these, they are absolutely...unique."

Masque takes a big ol' bite and offers you the other one he bought...

"That man over there sold me them. Said they were...ummmm....something-
onnastick. And would you believe the deal he gave me, practically cut
his own head off."

<Okay so that was less than a week>

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 21:00:49 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx tries to wrap her brain around all the temporal-babble the prisoner
spews at her and ends up just nodding, a look of non-comprehension on
her face.

"Right. Getting you out should be easy. Not getting noticed...well, I'm
not so sure about that. What's this security bot capable of? And excuse
me, but am I hallucinating or are you a transparent duck?" she asked
slipping her vibroblade knife out of its sheath and brings it to bear on
one of the bars of the cage.

Subject: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 03:35:17 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Hmph.  Stupid humans.  Just because I look like water doesn't mean I'm
necessarily a duck."  The transparent human then shrugs, and has a seat
in the rear of the dank cell.  "Hmph.  No, lady, the name's Slow Jim,
and I'm what you people like to call an Atlantean."

"You know, amphibious type of guy, swimmin' about under the sea, yadda
yadda.  You know."  The guy then breathes in through his nose, enjoying
the cloud of humidity spraying forth from the ceiling.  "As far as the
security bot is concerned, well, let's just say it's tough."

"It's a hover unit, about eight feet in diameter, and about two feet
tall, with all kinds of weaponry and other devices mounted around its
circumference.  The thing is ungodly tough, you might want to know.  I'm
sure you can get me free, but getting me out, well..."

"Dunno if you can get YOU out of here.  Good luck... and take me with
you, if you're at all decent inside."

?

Subject: [v13] The City
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 03:42:09 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

As the two of you eat, those two planewalkers who actually showed you to
the city and to the Court finally show up at your table.  "Sheesh.  We
wander off for two minutes, and the two of you take off, without even a
goodbye or something.  You headed home, then, I take it?"

Thaddeus just smiles weakly, while Gloria smiles at the two of you.
"Let me guess... the path placed before you is laced with unknown perils
and various and sundry threats to your lives?"  After a second or so,
she continues.  "Need any company?"

?

Subject: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 03:46:29 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

The man looks at you and grins, a knowing grin that you could label as
either a 'thought so' look or a 'excellent, I could use lunch' sort of
look.  Either way, the man nods his head in approval.  "Sure, I suppose
that couldn't hurt.  Haven't had lunch yet, no?"

"Just lead the way to the eatery of your choice, friends, and we'll talk
there, no?"

?

Subject: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 04:14:06 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

You feel the pit of your stomach dropping back below your feet as you
rise, rocket like, into the air, Rebound, no thanks to the
nigh-unstoppable force that the pressurized hydraulic fluids struck you
with upon breaking the pipe that was barely holding them in.

You almost want to pass out, thanks to the sheer speed of your ascent,
but before you do, you fling various sticky strands at you foeman, the
fuming A-Lonse.  You miss him, striking the ground by his feet, but the
sheer heat of the oil firing you into the air has done its work.

Having cut into the foundation of Stone Cold's ice mountain, it has
weakened it enough to allow your momentum to, once the sticky strands
hit their maximum elasticity, to tear the chunk of ice he's standing on
away, and bring it with you.

As A-Lonse begins his own, slightly slower ascent, Stone Cold slugs him
one between the eyes, knocking him off-balance before he can even move,
and onto his back on the slab of ice you're taking into the sky with
you.  You're still moving up, though.

However, that begins to change when Stone Cold starts to apply his cold
powers onto your person, freezing all the moisture around you into a
solid, heavy block of ice weighing several tons; it's enough to stop
your meteoric ascent into the heavens.

You start to drop, but A-Lonse, still flattened on his own slab of ice,
keeps going up, and once your sticky strands hit their maximum
elasticity again, the two of you get wrenched around, and when all is
said and done, you're both falling towards the earth - fast.

That, of course, is because the two of you are orbiting each other at
mind-liquefying speeds as you fall, a centrifugal pendulum that would
cause you to lose your lunch had you had one.  The orbit terminates upon
your return to Stone Cold's Mountain, however.

Unluckily for A-Lonse, he hit first, and he smashed right through the
hunk of frozen water with terminal velocity plus rotational velocity
backing it up, making for a spectacular explosion of ice and combat
armor as his protective shell and the surface he hits shatters.

Milliseconds later, however, your own descent stops cold when you hit
the side of the facility, and get bounced sideways off the massive
structure, through the base's protective force field, and into a nearby
rain forest, which bounces you around like nature's own pinball machine.

It hurts a lot.

What you didn't get to see, of course, was what happened when A-Lonse
touched down within his own world-destroying facility.  That was when,
de-armored by the work of you and Stone Cold, Ari came up and klonked
him on the noggin with her trademark pipe.

He don't look like he's getting back up this week - at least, you'd
think so if you'd seen the hit.  By this time, of course, it would be
hard to see much of anything, though, 'cause Crimebuster had taken apart
most of A-Lonse's hydraulic pipes, and there's an oil mist all over.

He didn't quite hit A-Lonse, of course, but he did quite a number on the
machinery herebouts.  In fact, he released enough of the pent-up,
world-moving pressure built into those pipes that the big ass barrel of
synthetic Neutronium A-Lonse has concocted is descending.

Not falling, like the man would've liked, but simply lowering, quite
slowly and with a speed that is most likely inadequate to shatter the
earth's current rotational axis.  It takes about fifteen seconds, but
the thing lowers with a hydraulic sigh, and just sits there.

Were you inside, man, you'd have seen that y'all won...

Subject: Re: [v13] A.S.9. : Hooked Up Antonio
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 04:19:20 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Hazzard pulls himself together, swiped a big bottle of... something from
behind the bar, and drags his blown up self out from the wreckage of the
bar and up to Antonio.  He then kicks the thug for good measure, and
producing a taser, stuns the two senseless.

"A'right, here's the deal.  We're gonna lock these two up in a room,
each of 'em sealed up nice and tight with duct tape, and we're gonna see
if anybody melts.  If they don't, we know we got our man.  If they do,
we know we got our man."

"Simple enough, I think."  Mark then walks out to his Jeep (TM), and
comes back in sporting a duffel bag full of what you can only imagine to
be fun stuff.  "Oh, lookie here, I've got lots of duct tape."  He also
produces a ball gag, mostly for effect, and puts it on Antonio.

"I'm so pissed, I don't even want to hear this jackass talk."  Mark then
gives you several rolls of tape, and proceeds to tie up the stripper -
after gagging Antonio.  "I'd take him, but then, I don't think he can
take over a 'bot like you.  Word?"

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 08:52:28 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari looks up from the much-maligned A-Lonse, to the construct.  "Holy shit!
We DID it!"  Raising the villain's (most likely unconscious, but it's the
spirit fo the thing...) noggin towards the scene, she "makes him look."
"See, dickweed?  We beat you!  We beat your aaaa-ss!  We beat your
aaaaaa-ss!"  This is then accompanied by a sort of skipping dance around the
fallen villain, and a sung/chanted chorus of "We whooped your aaass!  We
whooped your aaaass!"

After a few seconds, Ari composes herself, and, grabbing the alien by the
scruff of the neck, starts dragging himm back to the others.  "I feel like
Will Smith."  She shudders visibly.  "No. That would be BAD."

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 08:56:09 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

As Rebound collapses, unconscious on the floor of the rain forest, his
final thoughts flash like a CD-player on shuffle...

~Was that blur A-Lonse?  I hope it was, because that means we might have
 stopped this thing.~

~Where is my earth-shattering kaboom?~

~Nobody told me there'd be days like these~

~Oh great, here I am dying in the jungle. Again.  Fate hates me...~

Consciousness rapidly fades away to be replaced with the cacophony of
the rain forest.

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 08:56:32 EDT
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

Ronin glances over at Masque and then back to the two planewalkers.

"Your experience in such matters would come in handy.  But are you sure that
this is a trip you desire to make? Furthermore... how will you find your way
back?  And what if said perils? How will you survive them?"

Subject: [v13] A.S.9. : An A.I. is a terrible thing to waste.
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 09:05:23 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

" Yeah, and A.I. Is a terrible thing to waste. " A.S.9 said as he took the
ducktape and made Antonio like a mummy. Then turns to Mark and Said " Let's
put these into the oven and wait for 20 minutes and see what comes out!"
Then he starts taking rolls of tape and bandaging his wounds, and then
tosses it back to Mark.

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 19:05:13 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx squints a bit at the transparent Slow Jim before slipping out her
vibroblade and taking a look at the bars, trying to find the easiest
place to cut across the bars to free the prisoner.

She kept one ear open for the sound of the security bot and told Jim to
keep an eye out over her shoulder so she could work without being too
paranoid.

Bringing the knife to bear in one hand against the bars, she kept one
magcannon drawn in her other hand hoping that the bot wouldn't show up
during the breakout.

[66 on Intuition to keep an ear out for the bot and 00! to cut through
the bars.]

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 02:30:48 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus finds himself worrying slightly again at the stranger's grin but acts
as if the thought never struck him, "Seems we can always find the room for
more food or drink. Doesn't it Frank?"

> "Just lead the way to the eatery of your choice, friends, and we'll talk
> there, no?"

 Magus begins to walk off down the street hoping in his heart that Frank
would take the lead and point out somewhere tolerable to eat at the least
and at the best somewhere exquisite in taste yet low in price. After all if
he had to pay for his way home there was no telling what other expenses he
would incur along the way. "Besides it's always better to be cheap and stay
rich than not," he thought to himself in passing.

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 8:34:31 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Crimebuster, seeing the result of the combat (IE Ari with A-Lonse's prone
body at her feet) shouts toward Ari " I am going over toward where Rebound crashed.  Is there anything in your collection that you can use to tie up A-Lonse?"

Once by Rebound he tries to help the man regain consciousness and will
try to staunch any REALLY obvious wounds.

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 04:52:10 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

As you make your way back out of the structure, Crimebuster, you find
that you can see where Rebound went easily enough; in fact, there's a
rather large area of forest nearby that seems to have been hit by a
falling meteor or something - it's totally flattened.

Making your way to the zone of destruction, you find the man, smoking
like a campfire and laying in the detritus of what used to be about a
hundred trees.  He looks alive, what with him still breathing, but he
don't look too good.

Meanwhile, back inside A-Lonse's compound, you find that the place is
slowly becoming coated with a layer of red hot oil, Ari, Stone Cold,
what with the hydraulic fluids of A-Lonse's machinery leaking all about
and depressurizing quite nicely.

You've got the guy, though, as well as his nifty barrel of synthetic
neutronium, so what now?

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 04:56:50 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Back?  We're planewalkers, my good man!  We can find our way back to
Sigil from anywhere!"  Thaddeus orders himself a drink or two, and then
continues.  "As far as the perils go, what kind of environmental hazards
are the two of you going up against?"

"After all, certain planes have their own quirky laws of physics that
don't quite agree with yours or mine, and the two of us might be needing
ourselves some specialized gear, as I see the two of you require."  He
is, of course, indicating the two pairs of rings Masque is drooling on.

"Besides, it's not like the two of us have anything else to do this
year, right?"  Thaddeus looks at Gloria, who simply nods in the
affirmative.  She then nods and smiles at the two of you.  "Aye.  After
all, I've never been to one of your earthly realms.  Intriguing, yes?"

?!

Subject: Re: [v13] A.S.9. : An A.I. is a terrible thing to waste.
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 04:59:35 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Mark takes the proffered rolls of tape, and then picks up the stripper.
"Okay, lady, we're just gonna borrow you for an hour or so to make sure
that you're not him, m'kay?  We ain't gonna do nothin', so don't get all
worried or anything.  Once we're sure you're you, we'll bring you back."

Mark then smiles.  "Honest."

Once he's got her comfortably (you ever try to pick up somebody coated
in duct tape?), Mark then carries her off, laying her in the back of the
Jeep.  While he waits for you to package up Antonio, he starts the
beater up and tunes in to some local rock station.

"Shall we go get us a hotel room to wait 'em out, pal?"

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 05:03:53 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

You slice through the titanium bars after about a minute or so, your
vibroblade doing their work on the reinforced metal despite it's vaunted
strength, and have freed Slow Jim without incident from any security
automatons.  "Thanks, lady!  'Preciate it!"

Slow Jim takes one more deep breath from the cloud of humidity that is
bearing down on him from the ceiling of his cell, and then exits it.
"Okay, lady, we need to get upstairs fast.  There's a stairwell about
halfway around the circle of the jail."

"Of course, opening it up'll trip the security system, and sic that
prison 'bot on us.  So I s'pose we'll have to fight it there, either in
or before the stairwell.  What do you think, your guns there enough to
take down a robot?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 05:09:32 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Knowing of your inherent cluelessness in regards to places to eat
hereabout, Frank leads you and your ersatz guide about a block through
the streets, to some nameless restaurant (due to a lack of a sign on
top, at least), nearby.

It looks somewhat Spartan, but at least it's not dirty.

As you sit down, Frank just gets a glass of water (still feeling
somewhat woozy after last night), and watches as the guide you've
acquired orders a bit plate of cold cuts with which to appease his
appetite.

"So, what'cha want to know, bloods?"

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 07:53:56 EDT
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

Ronin considers their words carefully.  After a few moments contemplation,
he nods.  "Yes, very intriguing" he remarks simply.  Indicating the drooled
upon rings he says "The sage warned us that we would have to pass through a
plane of elemental fire and one of ice.  Thus he gave us those trinkets to
protect ourselves with."  From the swordsman's tone, it doesn't sound like
he buys that idea in the least.

Turning the subject Ronin asks, "From your 'experience' in such matters,
what can the Mage and I must likely expect upon such a trek as this?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 08:47:43 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari just *GAWKS.*  "Wow.  I guess I should call myself Property Damage
Girl."  She delivers another swift kick to A-Lonse's side.  "I say we make
him clean this whole thing up... it's gotta be some kinda health hazard.
Hmm... Hey, Rocky... think you could freeze all that oil 'n' stuff until we
found a safe way to get rid of it?"

Subject: Re: [v13] A.S.9. : Yo quero una burrito antonio.
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 07:52:51 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

"Shall we go get us a hotel room to wait 'em out, pal?"

" Sure, we can also finish healing up." A.S.9 said as he flopped down
Antonio in the back of the jeep, next to the chick burrito. " So do you have
any idea how you are going to get these burritos into the room, without them
thinking we are sadist bastards, and calling the cops on us? " A.S.9 said as
he jumped in the passenger side.

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 15:31:36 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

After treating Rebound and bringing him back to consciousness,  Crimebuster
asks him "So what do you guys do with bad guys once you are done with them?  A normal jail will not hold this guy....And what do you think we can do with the barrell of neutronium?  I cant see just leaving it here....who knows if this psycho can time travel back here....can we destroy it somehow?

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 16:03:47 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound shakes his head to clear out the cobwebs and makes an attempt at
coherent thought.

"Who...What?   Oh, it's you.  I hope we won."

While listening to Crimebuster's fusillade of questions, Rebound groans,
holding a hand to his ringing head.  "Whoa...not so fast.  Not so loud
either.  I need a drink.  I really need a drink."

Struggling to his feet, Rebound surveys the destruction around him and
whistles in amazement.  Well, tries to whistle anyway.  It comes off rather
more as a sickening gurgle.

"I guess I don't have to tell you about what the other guy looks like.
Geez.  Did I do all that?   What?  A-Lonse.  Oh, Um..."  Rebound pauses in
thought before nearly leaping off his feet...

"OH BOY, do I have an idea what to do with A-Lonse...You happen to have a
cell phone or a digital watch?"

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 16:37:24 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Crimebuster, ever prepared, produces his left wrist on which he is wearing a
Sanyo Digital Hong Kong Special (tm) watch.

"Umm....I really would like that back...it was a gift"

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 16:57:22 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

"Let's go take care of A-Loser.  You can get a new watch.  I need to
cannibalize this one for...UM...parts.  Yea, parts."

Rebound follows (slowly) the trail of destruction he left in his wake back
to the chaos.  When he gets to the barrel, he (with some help from his
friends) gets A-Lonse on top of the barrel making sure that the guy has
absolutely no technological gear on him at all.  He then uses ample amounts
of strands to strap the maniac to the top of the barrel.

"OK, this is step one."

He then calls up to the ship.  "Hey there, you like the show?  Mind giving
us a lift out of here?"

When the ship arrives, Rebound will open the watch and adjust the gps
tracing signal to return a coded signal that basically declares a N.E.S.T.
(Nuclear Emergency Strike Team) emergency.  Leaving the watch on top of the
Barrel, He takes off for the ship.

"All right everybody, we have about 10 minutes to get out of this time zone.
Let's go!!!!"

Rolls:

Sticking A-Lonse to the Barrel: 75
Fiddling with the watch: 97

(I thank the dice gods and make a run for it)

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 18:06:27 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

As Magus walks close to Frank he nods his thankfulness in stepping in to
lead his clueless self.

> (snip) 
Ordering simply bread and a rather mundane beverage feeling last night's
effects just as badly as Frank he's sure.

> "So, what'cha want to know, bloods?"

"Quite simply. How do I return to my home and how much will it cost me? And
what be your name friend?"

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 17:46:27 -0500
From: Chris <cwacers@home.com>

Masques wipes his chin and nods happily.

> (snip)

A tiny frown appears magically, well not really magically because there
ain't nothin' magic about frowns, on his face:

"Harumphhh..the only thing intriguing about our quaint little Earthly
realm is the fact that the inhabitants seem hell bent on their own
destruction. What with all the taxis and ..." Masque spits on the
ground, "Computers!"

> (snip)

Masque detects Ronin's cynicism and shoots him a look of disgust...

"As for the rings, they seem to be able to ward off the effects the
planes we must traverse."

Indicating the icy one:
"This one will be useless after 24 hours of use...Gehenna, is it? Is
apparently pretty damned hot and i didn't bring any tanning lotion..."

Masque starts rummaging through his Infinite pockets...

"Nope, None...anywho this ring will protect us from some sort of icy
plane and just might last forever!!!"

Masque begins drooling again:

"But I do not know if'n you can acquire such things but I am sure with
my Charm and Ronin's steadfastness we can get our Charitable Friends
at (insert name of the faction or whatever is sending us home here) will
be more than happy to supply you with what you need."

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 21:09:53 EDT
From: Scott A Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

Stone Cold encases the barrel in a foot of ice as cushion.  Then Waits
for Rebound and tammy to show up again.  To make sure everyone is
accounted for after seeing Crimebuster come out.

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 18:31:59 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx breathes a sigh of relief as she realized she had freed Jim from
the cage without incident.

She thinks for a moment, trying to decide the best route of action.

"Well, I'd prefer not to fight the thing in the stairwell as there'd be
no place for us to go, and we're not sure if anyone's waiting on the
other side of the door. If we catch it before it can get in the
stairwell, we can use the entry to the stairwell for cover as it
approaches us, taking as many shots as we can before it gets close
enough to attack. How's that sound?"

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 04:50:12 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Well," says Thaddeus, "Gloria here is immune to temperature extremes,
herself, thanks to her Celestial heritage, but I must rely upon magical
trinkets to protect myself on the planes.  This here," and Thaddeus
shows you an impressive white gold amulet, "keeps me goin' out of town."

"No heat, no cold, no vacuum, no water, no earth, no nothin' can keep me
from running out of air, and no prevailing environmental conditions will
cause me direct harm.  Of course, there's the incidental stuff that I've
got to worry about, but then, who doesn't?"

"As far as what to expect on our little jaunt, well, let's just say that
I'd expect legendary monsters, fearsome obstacles, and at least one
terrible revelation about one of us during our journey.  After all,
these things are so cliche that they just have to happen, neh?"

Thaddeus stops to let the fact that he's not really being serious settle
in, and then he continues.  "Overall, I wouldn't worry about it.  Me'n
Gloria have dealt with all kinds of fun planar trips, ranging from the
depths of Baator to the screaming tunnels of Pandemonium."

"It's all good."

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 04:52:42 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Er, ah, um..."  Slow Jim doesn't make much of a response, but then,
judging from the shadow that's looming over his transparent person, you
can see why.  It would seem that the security system for this
anachronistic facility has just caught on to your presence.

"Halt, paranormal entity, lest I be forced to smite thee verily, or
something.  No, really!"  The robot is, in fact, about two feet tall,
though it is ten feet in diameter, like Slow Jim said, and armed with an
exceptionally huge array of attachments around its equator.

What'cha do?

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 04:55:53 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Harry Spiv's the name, and finding portals is what I do best.  Some
might say I've got me a... knack for it.  I been using my... edge with
portals to find more than my fair share of bloods to get back home, or
alternately, to set up a nice little import / export niche hereabouts."

"As far as the two of you go, I c'n get'cher a portal back home for, oh,
call it 100 golden bezants, or whatever similar coinage you've happen to
got on your humble personage.  The fee includes a guided trip through
the portal, so's you know I'm not dumping you in, say, the Abyss."

"Is that doable for you?"

Subject: Re: [v13] A.S.9. : Yo quero una burrito antonio.
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 04:59:36 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Sure.  I just pulls up and gets us a room out of sight.  All we got to
do is cover these two up with a blanket, and we ain't got no problem.
Once the bellhop or whoever gets out of range, we just load up our cargo
and sit tight, watchin' what happens."

"I dunno how long it takes our pal to switch over to new people, but
since I only got to hold onto one of his former pals for about four
hours, I'm guessin' that we won't be too long.  Seems easy 'nuff to
me... and this dive ought to do just nice."

Hazzard pulls into the parking lot of a seedy hotel, one shaped in a
sort of 'U' format that lends itself to not being too conspicuous -
especially since most of the rooms have doors opening up into the
outside of said 'U'.

"I'll buy the room, you take our friends inside and make 'em feel all
cozy, 'kay?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 05:09:53 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Through the din of the spraying oil jets, the lot of you finally spot
Och and poor Tammy, whose attempts to secure the barrel of neutronium
with her telekinesis caused her to pass out cold.  The diminutive
warrior is carrying her out just as Rebound pulls his little stunt.

In response to his query, your friendly neighborhood space pilot calls
in on his communicator.  "Shore thing, pal, I'm comin' down right now.
Last call for New York City!"  You can hear the jets of his craft firing
even as Rebound and Stone Cold secure the neutronium (and A-Lonse).

Once you've all gotten out of A-Lonse's massive, synchronized power
plant network and into the spacecraft from the future, Harry rockets off
with nary a look back, hoping to escape whatever doom that Rebound's
called in on the unconscious villain.

"We should be clear of whatever you've caused here soon enough, pal...
whatever that happens to be."  Harry then pauses for a few moments, and
then picks up the thought where he left off.  "Just what the heck DID
you do, anyway?"

Subject: [v13] A.S.9. : Snug as a bug
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 10:06:14 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

" Sure, Hazzard, and ask if they have HBO, I could use a good laugh, that
Chris Rock is so funny." A.S.9 said as he went to the jeep and picked up the
two and carried them into the room. He sits them down seperately and then
turns on the TV waiting for him to get in. ( OCC: I guess hazzard threw me
the key as he filled out stuff, so i can get into the right room?) Then
A.S.9 turns on his repair system, and sits back as the his wounds starts to
be closed by his lasers emitting a different color beam than normal.
Afterwards he gets under the sheets and pulls out a phonebook and looks up
local bar nearby, just in case he gets bored while waiting.

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 12:08:56 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

"Interesting gift you possess then, Harry. It must make you extremely
popular in this land of travellers."

> "As far as the two of you go, I c'n get'cher a portal back home for, oh,
> call it 100 golden bezants, or whatever similar coinage you've happen to
> got on your humble personage.  The fee includes a guided trip through
> the portal, so's you know I'm not dumping you in, say, the Abyss."

> "Is that doable for you?"

 Thinking to himself for a moment as not to look too eager to accept the
man's offer Magus finally speaks after a moment, "I suppose that would be
doable, Harry. But I do not believe my friend here was considering returning
with me. Were you Frank?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 13:17:53 EDT
From: Scott A Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

As Stone Cold rushes to Tammy's side to check on her, and get her to a
state of at least semi-consciousness.  "Tammy are you alright?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 14:45:29 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

"Damnit, you didn't give me much warning, Jim!" Jinx cursed as she spun
to face the robotic sentry.

Sizing up the situation, she hefted the chunk of removed bar she was
grasping, letting her arm fall to her side as if she were surrendering,
but at the last second swinging it around to toss the length of titanium
at the robot while she dove for the ground, pulling her magcannon and
taking a shot if possible.

[8 + Modifier for Initiative. 96 + 10 Karma for Extra attacks (total of
2 attacks), 87 to Hit, 85 Damage, 73 to Hit, 40 Damage, 35 Dodge, 64,
82, 03 for any other rolls necessary.]

Subject: [v13] Hey, lookit!
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 19:29:47 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

I found it!  I found a girl who's the *perfect* match for our Ari!  Go
Lookit HERE:

http://www3.calculusgirls.com/rebecca.html

The first two pictures are the ones that really scream "ARI!" to me, BTW.

-ez0

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 18:36:33 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx curses as she's pinned to the wall, reaching down to pull the
vibroblade from its sheath, attempting to slice through the fork's tines
without taking off her own head.

Luckily, her probability field was up so she had some slack to work
with, but she still didn't trust her field to stand-up under the fine
cutting edge of the knife.

Once she freed herself, she would sneak a bit close to the robot and lie
down so she could get a better angle at the propulsion unit it must have
on its underside before taking a single shot.

[10 + Modifier for Initiative! 74 to cut through the bars. 100 to Hit
the robot! 54 for Damage. 14 Dodge, 35, 18, 44 for extra rolls.]

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 19:49:42 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari digs in her backpack.  "Think so.  I usually carry a first aid kit in
here.  Don't know how to USE the danged thing, but I have it!"

(Hey!  There's what *I'M* doing with *MY* Karma!  Woo! :D)

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 19:17:18 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Frank looks at you and shrugs.  "Well, not particularly, blood.  I'll
walk you to the gate out, but that's as far as I go.  I'm a planar, mo
frere, and would rather not go prime, if you get my meaning.  I just
like it too much out here."

Frank shrugs again.  "Nothin' personal, Magus.  But if you make your way
back out here, to Sigil, feel free to look me'n the boys up, no?"

?

Subject: Re: [v13] A.S.9. : Snug as a bug
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 19:17:21 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

After about fifteen minutes, Mark Hazzard joins you in the room, right
after you snuggle up all cozy-like under the sheets of the hotel room
bed.  He sees you flipping through the phone book casually, and just
shrugs.  "If you take off, bring me a six pack of Corona."

He then sits down and whips out a local newspaper from his jacket, just
biding his time while the identities of the man and the woman before you
resolves themselves.  You can hear the two of them being somewhat surly
at the two of you, mmphing and rrghing at you through their gags.

"Hey, quiet you two.  We'll sort you two out soon enough.  I figure just
two more hours, and we're all cool."  Of course, now you must wait the
hours out, so it's a hard time coming.  You staying with Hazzard to sit
it out or you going to take a breather?

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 19:17:23 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Er, um, uh... ugh.  Sorry about that."

You whirl on the security bot and toss that titanium pipe at the electromechanical monstrosity, hitting the beast on one of its video
sensors and momentarily distracting it.  "Arg, you painted jezebel!
This unit will destr - I mean, vanquish you verily!!  Yeah!!!"

Before you even whip out you mag cannons and take a shot at the robot,
it fires a burst of automatic fire at you and Slow Jim, though it barely
misses both of you.  You return fire, and hit the thing twice, but it's
so big... you're not sure how much of an affect you've had.

"Why you...!"  The robot then launches some sort of fork prong thingie
at you, Jinx, pinning you to the concrete prison wall at the neck; the
two prongs of the fork seem to have missed cutting your head off by
about an eighth of an inch.

"I'll deal with you later, harlot.  First, however, my primary directive
insists that I recover the prisoner whom you have so casually freed from
his display case.  I bid you adieu!"  The robot then flies after Slow
Jim, who's since fled up the stairwell.

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 19:19:18 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

As you pull the unconscious psi onto the spacecraft, she finally wakes
up.  "Ugh.... I'll live.  But I got a headache this big..."  She makes a
sweeping motion with her hands, indicating a space pretty much the size
of the craft.  "You wouldn't happen to have a bottle of aspirin, eh?"

!?

Subject: [v13] A.S.9. : Pool, Punches, and Party, a few more of my favorite things.
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 20:49:13 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

A.S.9 finds a biker bar located nearby and said " I see what I can bring
back, I'll be back in an hour, Now don't you go running off with our bounty.
I can make you 50/50!" he said as he smiled largely and popped out one of
the blades for his finger, then walks out. Once reaching the bar, he is
going to look around for a pool table and possible do some betting.  He will
use his targeting system to aim. 93,40,45,33 I guess using my agility? Then
if there is a fight afterwards 75,34,72,53, then will head back for Hazzard,
taking 6 coronas and a bottle of Tequila.

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 12:43:37 GMT
From: "Charlie Clay Jr." <cclayjr@hotmail.com>

"Don't do aspirin gorgeous, but I have some Ibuprofen.  Keep a couple of
packets, migraines some days.  Growing pains I guess."  Said Stone Cold.

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 09:02:12 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound smiles to himself as he describes what he left behind. "Well, I
left a signal beacon on a coded frequency used by a small, but very
powerful agency in the United States government.  This agency, the NEST
as it is called, is responsible for dealing with emergencies resulting
from nuclear, chemical, biological, and other weapons of mass destruction.
The NSA or the NRO will pick up the signal and direct their spy satellites
to take a closer look.  When they see that set-up, they will undoubtedly
send a strike team in to investigate.  By my estimate, A-Lonse has about 15
minutes from the time they pick up the signal to get out of there.  I have
severe doubts he can even move, let alone leave, before the strike team gets
there and he has to answer all kinds of questions asked by people who don't
care about how they get their answers.  I'm sure he'll have fun with the
government flunkies."

"And before you ask, no, I don't want to tell you how I know that."

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 20:10:17 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus nods at Frank and his comments, "That's exactly what I figured. And I
could understand this life given I did not feel the need to hurry to my
home's aid."

> Frank shrugs again.  "Nothin' personal, Magus.  But if you make your way
> back out here, to Sigil, feel free to look me'n the boys up, no?"

 "Of course not friend. And you know by Io I will if I am ever in this land
again. After all I still need to show you and the boys how to drink," the
draconic being said with a smirk.

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 05:01:37 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"... I see.  That ought to take care of him, then, eh?"

Your pilot then just files on, and you get the oddest sensation, for but
a moment, that something passed you going the other direction, for you
feel this potent turbulence for about half a second.  "I s'pose that'd
be your pals, then, no?"

Harry then flies on for a bit, indifferent in general, having helped the
lot of you to do your work and save the world.  "Well, kids, where do
you want me to drop y'all off?  I've got some exploring to do, what with
this bein' a whole new world here..."

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 05:12:26 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

You creep up the stairs of this odd prison, and shoot the strange
saucer-bot in the center of its mass, the silvery dome at its bottom,
which seems to down the thing.  "Argh!  Foolish harlot, thou hastest
ruined my magical flying chariot!  Woe is me!  Woe, woe is me!"

The robot hits the stairs hard, and then falls back towards you,
launching various projectiles at you all the while.  "Aie!  Ouf!  Ugh!
Destroy you!"  It flings several grappler thingies at you, and wraps you
up tight... but not tight enough.

You slip though the grapples thanks to your probability field, and watch
it go tumbling down the flights of stairs.  Moving on up, to the top,
you find Slow Jim all trussed up with wires similar to those that were
used on you... though they seem to have stuck to him better.

"Heh heh... hi."

Subject: Re: [v13] A.S.9. : Pool, Punches, and Party, a few more of my favorite things.
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 05:15:45 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

You return to the hotel room somewhat disappointed, for nobody was
willing to start up a fight with you... something about the way your
scars slowly disappeared as the game progressed sort of dissuaded any
violence from occurring.

However, by the time you get back, several hours later, you find Mark
waiting, though without the lady from the bar.  "She didn't switch... I
s'pose that our pal was just trying to fake us out or something...
dunno.  But, I guess we c'n head back now."

"And no, I wasn't about to run out on ya... I'm not the dishonest type."

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 05:19:02 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Indeed, my friend.  But, let us get you home, no?  If you lack the
coin, I can cover the cost of getting you home..."  Regardless of your
answer, Frank gets up, slowly steadying himself for the walk to the
portal that will take you home.

"Yes, my lost son of Io... let us get you back where you wish to be.  I
can get you there within about half an hour, depending on the traffic
that we'll encounter on the way.  The portal itself lies in the Lower
Ward, towards the Ditch.  Shall we?"

Subject: [v13] A.S.9. : Wanted: 1 or Many pieces
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 07:01:07 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

" Just got to watch out for number uno, you know how that goes right" A.S.9
said looking at Antonio. A.S.9 said " I can't remember if the wanted poster
said Dead or Alive, Do they pay the same for either way?" A.S.9. then
squatted down with all his blades popped out, smiling largely trying to scare
Antonio.

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 8:06:24 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Crimebuster turns to the others and says "I guess that is the million dollar
question.  What now? "

He suddenly remembers that long-awaited, dreaded meeting with his parents
that he has been trying to put off.

"I am open to ideas...."

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 14:07:58 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari shrugs.  "As fun as it would be to show up on my parents' doorstep with A UFO and real live superheroes, I think I'd give 'em a heart attack.  I'm Done for the semester, and my grades'll be forwarded to my apartment, so, I guess I'd better get back to Berkeley sometime this month, before they cut my utilities off.  Saving the universe is hardly an excuse for missing this month's rent."

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 15:04:52 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" nathangecko@yahoo.com

 "I appreciate your offer Frank but I believe I should be able to cover my
bill of passage. Besides keep your money who knows how broke I might be
whenever I manage to make my way back to you and the rest of our friends."
Magus clasps his hand easily on Frank's shoulder as he stands beside the
man, "Well let's be off already. I feel as if my homeland may have been
devastated most horrendously while I was away."

> (snip)

 "Lead the way good fellow and I will most assuredly follow. Perhaps you can
give me an idea of exactly where I will arrive in my homeland upon my
return?'

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 12:30:22 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound turns to regard the group.

"There has been a lot of weird things going on over the past few weeks.  I
don't know what any of you have on your agendas, but I think we worked
pretty well together.  Maybe we should stick together for a bit longer.  At
this point, I have nothing better to do."

> (snip)

"Well, then maybe we should put a stop in at Berkeley.  Would that be
California of Connecticut?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 12:45:45 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

"That's in Cali.  Of course, if you guys don't mind, I'll stick around a WEE
bit longer..."

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 12:49:19 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Regarding Ari Crimebuster says "I don't  mind at all.  You proved yourself
well in the 4 or 5 fights we have had. "

Crimebuster turns to Rebound and says "Why don't we head back to NY, maybe
we can find the other
friends you said you said you lost."

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 12:55:07 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

"That's in Cali.  Of course, if you guys don't mind, I'll stick around a WEE

bit longer..."

Rebound chuckles..."Stay with us as long as you want.  You wouldn't happen
to have a sandwich in that special bag of yours, would you?"

Subject: Re: [v13] A.S.9. : Wanted: 1 or Many pieces
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 05:05:54 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"True, true.  Of course, we could kill him, but I think it'd just be a
bit more satisfying to just, I dunno, bring him in once and for all, ya
know?  Mister Escape bein' brought to justice at long last, y'know.  The
thought makes me all warm and fuzzy 'n all..."

"Just killing him doesn't seem enough, ya know?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 05:14:56 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

As Tammy gulps down the proffered aspirin AND ibuprofen (big ass head
ache'll do that, ya know), and while the rest of you debate your near
futures, Och decides to chime in on the conversation.  "Well, we really
should figure out what happened to the rest of our little group."

"We're still missing that Connell fellow, as well as the Reaper, Masque,
Ronin, and that violent, gun-toting Jinx lady.  And that's not even
including Silhouette, who was lost before we even met Morbis, nor the
architect of our losses, Ahom, who as of yet is still missing..."

And Och grimaces before continuing.  "... or hiding."

Meanwhile, your pilot also seems curious about what is to come next.
"Well, my fine fellows, I hate to be a wet blanket, but I do need to
find me a nice, out of the way place to plant this ship for a while,
so's I can get it all fixed up proper."

"It's been running non-stop since I got blasted into this time period,
and all.  You wouldn't happen to have a handy air hangar, now, would
you...?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 05:21:18 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Sure thing, my friend.  The portal itself leads to a small corner
nestled within an ancient stone keep, one bordering on a desert nation
in what I understand to be the equatorial regions of your world.  It has
been converted into something of an inn, complete with a stocked bar."

"A nice arrival to one's home, one would think..."

Once you've all finished, the guide does indeed lead you to the gateway,
at which point Frank shakes your hand.  "It was fun while it lasted, my
friend.  Again, should you make your way back to our humble City of
Doors, feel free to come drink with us again!"

(insert goodbyes here, if required)

After that is settled, your guide then removes what looks like a
shrunken head, and the doorway before you - previously the back door of
a small craftsman's shop, shimmers with a golden light, and becomes a
doorway to elsewhere.

"Follow me," says your guide, who steps through the doorway.  Do you?

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 05:24:31 -0500
From: Chris <cwacers@home.com>

Masque looks almost frightnened, then ecstactic then just plain
Masque-ish..

"Ohhhh..I get it....hahhahahhahhahahahhahah....you were
joking...teehee."

Masque takes another bite from his stick and stands up:

"Then shall we...I believe we have another hour to kill lets go get our
necessary 50 foot of rope and all that huh?"

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 07:12:38 EDT
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

Ronin, always the straightman, simply looks at the trio.  Totally deadpan.

Well....Moving right along....
>Masque takes another bite from his stick and stands up:
>
>"Then shall we...I believe we have another hour to kill lets go get our
>necessary 50 foot of rope and all that huh?"

The Warrior nods. "Yes.  Your help..." he says to Thadeus and Gloria, "Would
be most appreciated in this.  As experienced travelers, you will now what
best to take with us."

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 08:48:45 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari thinks.  "Um... lessee.... ah... No.  Can't say I do. Hangar-In-A-Can
has yet to come out of the bag."  She grins.

Subject: [v13] A.S.9. : Disposal Appointment
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 19:07:26 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

" Yeah, but what happens to him after we turn him in, one touch on a cop and
this wiggle worm is scott-free. We have to make sure he doesn't roam again!"
A.S.9. said as he kicked Antonio, and went and sat on the bed nearby. " SO
when is our appointment to turn this bag of slime in?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 00:01:56 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 "Yes it should be. I imagine my village will be closeby to our arrival
point," Magus says this with all the enthusiasm of a dead troll as his
thoughts roll <I can only hope there is something...anything left of my
homeland to return to. Never have I seen such creatures as that day....and
so many of them....perhaps I should try to acquire some help in case my
return is not to the world as I use to know it. Blast it...Io grant me
wisdom...>

> (snip)

 "Indeed I will my friend. And until that day when I can make it back to you
and the other's company keep drinking. Perhaps one day you'll actually be
able to hold your liquor in a manner near my own," Magus punctuates the
friendly barb with a smirk and an outstretched hand to Frank. "Give the
others my regards, Frank. I am forever appreciative of actually stumbling
upon your souls. I shudder to think what my fate would be now if I had not."

> (snip deluxe)

 Magus looks back towards the planar city with a moment of contemplation
before turning to the guide, "Aye. I believe I am as ready as I will be."
Magus mutters under his breath as he stares at the magical portal, "Unless
you know a good king or five that would be willing to lend me an army that
is..."

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 15:13:23 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Most excellent!"  Thaddeus stops to finish his drink, seemingly
manifested from nowhere, and he 'n Gloria get up.  "Tells you what,
then, bloods.  We'll go collect our stuff, and we'll be seeing you at
the City Court in an hour.  Okay?"

Assuming this is doable, the duo then takes off to collect their own
gear, leaving you to pick up your own from the Fraternity of Order.
After the check is delivered, and the food 'n drinks paid for, the two
of you finally make your way back to the Court.

There's a retinue waiting for you.

Your sage pal, in addition to two burly porters and two scribe looking
fellows, each of which have what would appear to be a contract ready for
you to sign.  "Just a formality, friends, but this is just to show that
the two of you agreed to undertake this expedition for us."

"Really quite minor, but we must follow the rules..."

?

Subject: Re: [v13] A.S.9. : Disposal Appointment
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 15:16:34 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Hazzard then stomps on Antonio's back for emphasis.  "Yeah, I know
what'cha mean.  We've got to tell the cops about this joker and his
'power', but we have no way to make sure they listen to us.  Until a
couple of 'em find themselves dead, of course."

He then stops to open up a Corona and light a smoke, and continues.  "I
say we high tail it out of here and make for Chicago post-haste.  We c'n
get there in about six hours, I think, which means Antonio won't spoil
his coccoon too much."

"At least, the boss told ME that he'd be in Chicago tomorrow morning.
Dunno about you..."

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 15:22:31 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Frank shakes your hand as you offer it, and wishes you farewell and good
luck.  As you turn into the portal, you are dazzled momentarily by the
light surrounding it, and once you pass through, you find that you are
no longer in the dark, cold City of Doors.

You are in a rather cool hallway, constructed of stone, which bends in a
curve in both directions away from you.  Ahead, you hear sounds of
civilization, the sounds of conversation.  It would appear that you've
arrived home.

"Walk this way, friend, and I'll deliver you unto the tavern I spoke
of."  With that, your guide turns away from the wooden beams and ceiling
support bar that the portal from Sigil deposited you beneath, and walks
towards the commotion.

You?

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 16:22:57 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

"A good point my friend, but where in the world do we find them?  You
know this Jinx lady much better than I.  In fact, you know most of them
except for Ken better than me, and I don't know Ken that well."

Meanwhile, your pilot also seems curious about what is to come next.
"Well, my fine fellows, I hate to be a wet blanket, but I do need to
find me a nice, out of the way place to plant this ship for a while,
so's I can get it all fixed up proper."

"It's been running non-stop since I got blasted into this time period,
and all.  You wouldn't happen to have a handy air hangar, now, would
you...?"

"Hanger?  You need a hanger...hmmm...Maybe somewhere out on Long Island
where that defense contractor shut down.  They might have an unattended
hangar.  Anyone else have any thoughts?"

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...? Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 16:36:26 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Thinking that LI is probably far enough away from Connecticut, Crimebuster
says:

"That is as good a place as any.   Where was the last place you saw your
friends?"
 "Last I saw them was in that sewer.  Unfortunately, it looks like that lead
has already played out."

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 16:40:18 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

"You said that you were all scattered across time/space.  Do you think there
is any way we can track them? "

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 16:51:14 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

"You said that you were all scattered across time/space.  Do you think there
is any way we can track them? "

"If there is, I don't know about it.  This time travel stuff is all new to
me.  Maybe if we could get in touch with the time police, they could help us
track them down.  Then again, The only way I know how to get the time police
is to time travel.  Catch 22 my boy.  Catch 22."

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 16:53:05 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

"Hmm....so in order to get the time police you have to actually time travel.
Have you ever done that?  I know I never have.....Anyone else maybe?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 18:31:23 EDT
From: Scott A Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

"I am at a loss, I like terra firma.  Most of my powers are based on
that.  So I like that."  Stone Cold said.

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 23:39:12 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 "Aye let us see what lies ahead of us. But let's be wary not to walk into
anything unprepared," Magus says as he carefully trods after his tour guide
his hands resting on the pommels of his two blades.

Subject: [v13] A.S.9. : Sweet Rewards
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 23:27:37 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

" Yeah... That's what he told me too." A.S.9 said as he jumped into under
the covers. First thing in the morning A.S.9 turns on the TV to see if any
news of the bar fight from earlier. Then He will grab Antonio and load him
up for Hazzard. He tells Hazzard he wants to get his hog, then he gets on
his Hog and follows Hazzard Up to Chicago for the reward.

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 13:33:56 EDT
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

Ronin raises a wary eyebrow. "What does this document consist of? What does
it mean?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 14:09:12 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Och just looks at a loss.  "Sorry... my expertise in such matters are
something less than minimal.  The only space travel I have experienced
has occurred since I met up with you all.  As for time travel, I've
never done that at all.  Not to my knowledge..."

Tammy seems about as clueless.  Almost.  "Well, we could always try to
find some big name company who's doing research on this stuff.  Or some
villains.  There's always somebody trying to figure this stuff out, so
they can take over the world or something, aren't there?"

"After all, what else can you use time travel for?"

As the discussion goes on, Harry pulls over New York City, landing in
the old Navy air yards.  "This ought to do.  Seems that the local
po-lice are holed up in that corner of the place.  This area seems
totally empty, according to my motion sensors."

He starts to taxi the beast into a nearby hangar, after hopping out and
smashing the padlocks on the door off with a hammer, and pulls the ship
in.  The place is empty enough, so the man finally turns his cloaking
field off, as well as the ship's other systems, so they can be serviced.

"There we go..."

What next?

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 14:12:39 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

The two of you walk ahead, but your guide has no such fear of conflict,
it would seem for he strides with authority, totally unarmed and self
assured, around the corner.  Once he makes that turn, he (and you) find
yourselves in a nice, homely tavern.

There's a bartender, of course, and one patron.  The patron looks rather
dirty, in that he's covered in all kinds of red soil, as though he'd
either been digging or had it blown all over him.  He's otherwise
wearing leather boots and a leather cloak, and brown clothing.

"Well, this ought to do.  I'll be heading back, unless you have any
worries, friend.  Oh, and of course, there's the matter of my fee..."

Subject: Re: [v13] A.S.9. : Sweet Rewards
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 14:19:54 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Oddly, you find nothing about yourself on the television, but then, you
may've just hit the wrong local affiliate when tuning into the boob tube
on this fine dawn of your third day of existence.  After you finish, the
two of you load up your cargo, and take off.

Hopefully, nobody'll notice the status of your bike on the road.

The road trip itself is mostly quite boring, really, in that nothing
really happens to the two of you save for a pit stop or three en route.
Once in the windy city, you make a call and find out exactly where your
current employer is going to be.

And then make your way there.

It would seem that he has a local office here in Chicago, on the fifth
floor of some nameless office tower, and that he's more than happy to
receive your package.  "Ah, there he is.  Good work, my friends, good
work.  I suppose you'll be wanting your payment, of course."

He brings each of you fifteen thousand dollars.  "After hearing what
trouble you had picking this menace to society up, I figured that yes, a
bonus would be in order.  After all, nobody else has gotten this far
when picking this goon up.  I do so appreciate your efforts."

Hazzard then lights up a smoke.  Two, actually.  "So.  Now that we got
you this retard, what's next?  You can't just lock him up with regular
folks, he'll be free in no time.  Unless you put him in a teflon body
suit for the rest of his life... or take him out..."

??

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 14:21:12 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Oh, just technicalities, really.  Just an agreement to take on this
quest for us, disclaimers that absolve us of fault should you find a
horrible end out on the planes, you know.  Legalities.  Nothing
requiring your first born son, I assure you..."

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 16:09:28 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

> (snip)

 Magus takes a lingering look at the both of the men present already.
Determining if they appear to be of some native race to his homeland.

> "Well, this ought to do.  I'll be heading back, unless you have any
> worries, friend.  Oh, and of course, there's the matter of my fee..."

 "Aye I have forgotten not of your fee. But if you are in no particular hurry you would like a drink first? My treat of course. Consider it a personal thank you once I've ascertained if this is truly my homeland. Fair enough?"

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 16:17:09 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

"OK, So we're in New York City.  The city that never sleeps, and let me
tell you, I am dead tired.  I think I'm going to find a place to hole up
for a day or two and get some rest.  Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll hear some
bit of news on our MIA's.  If not, then I'll...well, I don't know what
I'll do, but it will probably involve an explosion or something."

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 17:58:30 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

[OOC: Denny, I responded to your message on 4/20/2000 on the same day,
but I don't remember ever getting it back or a response from you so I'm
re-sending it.]

"Woe is you is right, you anachronistic piece of junk!" Jinx taunted the
robot as she bounded over it during its rough descent, doing her best to
make it to Jim in a timely fashion.

"Hmmm. Right. Hold still - very still," she commanded her transparent
compatriot as she whipped out her vibroblade again.

"Now keep a close eye over my shoulder and let me know if that robot
tries anything...anything," she explains, patting her holster
menacingly.

[10 + Modifier for Initiative. 85 to cut the bindings off of Jim, 23
Damage. 33, 62, 89 for any other necessary rolls.]

Subject: [v13] A.S.9. : Sweet Release
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 21:31:15 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

A.S.9 smiled as he continued to look at the money. Then took out his leather
wallet and shoved as much as he can into it and then the rest in his front
and back pockets, and even some into his leather pant's crotch area. Then he
turned to their boss and said " You have any more exciting people like this
one on the books?" After listening to boss, he will ask if Hazzard wants to
still work together for now. OCC: Did I get any Karma through this time. I
didn't remember if you give that out yet so I can up my characters stats and
stuff. Just thought I would ask.

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 18:22:07 -0500
From: Chris <cwacers@home.com>

Masque begins to say something then a look of confusion crosses his
face.

"My First born son? You mean to tell me that I have a son? Well How come
I didn't know about this? How old is he? Has he learned to drive yet? I
hope not.....maybe I can find him and direct him towards the ways of
Magic. Unless of course he already chosen that path. We Smithengales are
very good with Magicks. I remember My great Grandpa used to pull his
teeth out everyday and could suck out an egg with only a tiny pinhole in
the shell. He also had alot of tattoos....you know what I don't think he
was grandpa after all...that bastard!!!! Lied to me...ooooo....."

Masque snatches the paper and pen or quill or whatever from the fellow
and angrily signs his name.

"Let's get this over with I have a fake grandpa to find and do something
not very nice to!"

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 21:15:34 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Fair enough."

The guide follows you to the bar, and waits for you to order two drinks,
and though he's not saying it, for his fee; it'd be rude, after all.
The bartender shrugs at you when you order two drinks, and mixes 'em up
in no time flat.

"You'll definitely need them, friends.  It's particularly hot out this
morning.  'Course, it IS a desert out there, so what's new, neh?"

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 21:32:22 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Fie!  Fie upon thee, yon harlot!  I will avenge myself upon thee - at
least, I will once I get all fixed up and stuff.  Sheesh!"  The sentry
bot finally comes to a stop at the bottom of the prison / museum
stairwell bottom, sqarking and sparking in dismay.

As you cut Slow Jim out of his makeshift bonds, he thanks you profusely,
and then stands up, ready to get away.  "Quickly, before that ruckus
attracts actual guards and things, we must flee.  Up and out, I say, my
fair lady!  Up and out!!"

Slow Jim fails to live up to his namesake as he bounds up the stairs to
the top door in the stairwell, and pulls it open.  Looking beyond, you
can see that the door itself leads to a posh looking reception area
large enough to hold over one hundred bluebloods.

Luckily, it's unoccupied at this time.

Peering about into the empty chamber, you see that across the way is a
pair of crystalline doors that are all that lie between you, Slow Jim,
and the busy street outside.  Furthermore, you see several signs in this
room indicating the stairs behind you.

More than a couple of them declare the chamber beyond to hold 'bizarre
relics of the past!', and admonish you to 'see the outmoded mutations
caused by faith in the ludicrous concept of gods' and 'look upon the
mythological rejects - see the trappings of so-called 'magic'!'.

That, of course, is when the apparition takes its cue.  "Hello, Jinx.  I
was wondering when one of you would find me."  Whipping around in a
paranoid frenzy, you see the ghostly image of Ahom before you, even more
translucent than your newfound friend, Slow Jim.

?!?!?

Subject: Re: [v13] A.S.9. : Sweet Release
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 21:43:23 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Fortunately, my friend, I have no other need of your services at this
time.  This monster was responsible for untold misery in my life, and he
was the only person I required your assistance in dealing with.  If I do
have need of your power, though, I will definitely seek you out."

In regards to your other question, Hazzard himself also answers in the
negative.  "Heh.  Sorry, kid, but I think I need to take me a week or so
off before I get back into the action.  Our little Sioux City riot seems
to have busted this old man up real good."

"Here's my number, though.  I may not have your raw power, kid, but I
definitely got connections.  Gimme a call in a day or so, and if you're
needin' cash, I can point ya in the right direction.  S'at doable,
friend?"  With that, Hazzard offers you his hand...

(theoretical response space)

At any rate, this first adventure thingie is basically done... and we
sort of seem to be in the proper swing of things.  As far as Karma goes,
we'll call it 225 this time 'round; oh, sure, you woulda had more, but
there's that whole grand theft-auto thing.

And some gratuitous property damage... =)

I'll get your next one going here soon, and get moving on getting you
meshed into the group proper-like - assuming they get themselves all
back to earth in the near future...

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 23:03:43 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

"Glad you think so," Magus says with a courteous smile.

> (snip)

 Magus reaches into the small pouch tied around his belt and fetches a
couple of gold coins to cover the drinks.

> "You'll definitely need them, friends.  It's particularly hot out this
> morning.  'Course, it IS a desert out there, so what's new, neh?"

 "Indeed it is rather hot today. As for what's new, I'm beginning to feel
the ache of homesickness. I've been gone sometime now from my village.
Perhaps you've heard news about it or the area around it concerning how
things have been in my time away? I'm from the northern provinces of the
Blood Isles of course. My village is one of the one's under the protection
of Elder Brightwing. Tell me good sir that you have heard news from my home.
For my very essence cries out to know of anything I may have missed in my
time away travelling."

<OOC: What races are the bartender and the only other patron?>

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:25:42 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Och just looks at you and smiles.  "Well, Rebound, I have a decent
amount of money saved up.  I can easily afford hotel rooms for the lot
of you if necessary.  That way, you all can get properly rested up
before you make your next move."

"Myself, I have to find the rest of those who fought Morbis and were
scattered to... wherever... but what you all do is up to you.  I will
research those who can determine what actually occurred in the sewers,
and get back to you soon."

"Of course, if you're not wanting to be too... public... right now, you
can always just make use of my apartment for the time being.  I'm fine
either way, especially since I'll be out of town for the next couple
days.  Hm?"

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:25:46 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Excellent, excellent... shall we proceed?"  Assuming that you, too, sign
the proffered document, Ronin, the Guvners give each of you a pack of
supplies with which to journey across the planes with, and two heavy
duty guides who are to escort you to the portal to Gehenna.

Once you wind your way through the City of Doors back towards the Great
Foundry yet again, your two Planewalking friends catch up to you yet
again.  "Eesh... just couldn't wait to get home, now, could you?",
Thaddeus says as he tries to catch his breath.

The two guards stop only half a block from the Foundry itself, and
present the (now) four of you with a vial of mercury.  "This is the key
to a portal to Gehenna, which you can activate by pouring the liquid
metal on the curb before the entrance to that shop."

The Guvner minder points to a small bakery, inside which a curious
shopkeep is looking at you with his head cocked oddly.  "What, 'chu
gonna buy somethin', or what?"  The presenter of the portal key looks at
you and smiles.  "Have a good journey, friends.  And good luck!"

...?

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 23:28:49 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari shrugs.  "Sounds super-effective to me.  I call first dibs on the
shower!"

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:37:46 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Can't say that I've heard of it, to be honest.  I've only been to
this... land once or twice in my time, and I didn't get to wander very
far while I was here."  He takes a sip of whatever drink you ordered
him, and looks at the barkeep.

"'Course, he may know better than I, blood."

The bartender, a completely human and completely bald and sweaty man,
looks at you and smiles a toothless grin.  "Yeah, I s'pose that sounds a
wee bit farmililar.  I'd say you'd want to head due north of here, in
order to get out of the desert."

"Anywhere you'd need to go would be better reached after that... there's
nothing but dense forests north of this endless expanse of hostile dust
and flying grit... at least, after crossing the twin rivers about twenty
miles between here and there."

"Hm?"

 (for reference, the other patron of the bar is a dirty, dour elf-type)

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date:    Sun, 30 Apr 2000 23:53:10 -0400
From:    "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus looks towards his guide, "Well I had intended for him to answer."
Smiling slightly, "But thanks for the help anyway."

> (snip)

 "Thank you sir. Tell me have there perhaps been any rumors of hostility in
the lands? I had heard that perhaps stranger and stranger creatures had made
their way towards my homeland. I fear that they may have less than honorable
thoughts on their misbegotten minds."

 After the barkeeps reply Magus turns towards the planewalker that sits
beside him, "I assume you're quite eager to be gone from here." Shrugging
the backpack from his shoulder Magus reaches in and grab a larger pouch out
of it, "Mind if I beg of you one more queary before you depart home?  I was
wondeirng if our means of access here could be used for me to return to the
city? If not then do you have any knowledge of how I could perhaps find my
way back if need be?"

Assuming my guide is indeed eager to go Magus rewards him with his fee and
bids him farewell.

Afterwards Magus grabs his mug and makes his way to the dour looking elf,
"Mind if I sit with you and talk, friend?"


>  (for reference, the other patron of the bar is a dirty, dour elf-type)

 (thank ye)

Subject: [v13] A.S.9. : Parting is such good timing.
Date:    Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:54:16 CDT
From:    "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>
 
A.S.9 said bye to both and headed out. He heard that there was more action 
to be found in New York City, so I guess it's a road trip he going on. (I 
guess you can direct him in whatever direction you want him to meet up with 
the team) Thanks for the fun. I guess I will see what I can do with that 
Karma. Later.

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 21:15:34 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Fair enough."

The guide follows you to the bar, and waits for you to order two drinks,
and though he's not saying it, for his fee; it'd be rude, after all.
The bartender shrugs at you when you order two drinks, and mixes 'em up
in no time flat.

"You'll definitely need them, friends.  It's particularly hot out this
morning.  'Course, it IS a desert out there, so what's new, neh?"

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 21:32:22 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Fie!  Fie upon thee, yon harlot!  I will avenge myself upon thee - at
least, I will once I get all fixed up and stuff.  Sheesh!"  The sentry
bot finally comes to a stop at the bottom of the prison / museum
stairwell bottom, sqarking and sparking in dismay.

As you cut Slow Jim out of his makeshift bonds, he thanks you profusely,
and then stands up, ready to get away.  "Quickly, before that ruckus
attracts actual guards and things, we must flee.  Up and out, I say, my
fair lady!  Up and out!!"

Slow Jim fails to live up to his namesake as he bounds up the stairs to
the top door in the stairwell, and pulls it open.  Looking beyond, you
can see that the door itself leads to a posh looking reception area
large enough to hold over one hundred bluebloods.

Luckily, it's unoccupied at this time.

Peering about into the empty chamber, you see that across the way is a
pair of crystalline doors that are all that lie between you, Slow Jim,
and the busy street outside.  Furthermore, you see several signs in this
room indicating the stairs behind you.

More than a couple of them declare the chamber beyond to hold 'bizarre
relics of the past!', and admonish you to 'see the outmoded mutations
caused by faith in the ludicrous concept of gods' and 'look upon the
mythological rejects - see the trappings of so-called 'magic'!'.

That, of course, is when the apparition takes its cue.  "Hello, Jinx.  I
was wondering when one of you would find me."  Whipping around in a
paranoid frenzy, you see the ghostly image of Ahom before you, even more
translucent than your newfound friend, Slow Jim.

?!?!?

Subject: Re: [v13] A.S.9. : Sweet Release
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 21:43:23 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Fortunately, my friend, I have no other need of your services at this
time.  This monster was responsible for untold misery in my life, and he
was the only person I required your assistance in dealing with.  If I do
have need of your power, though, I will definitely seek you out."

In regards to your other question, Hazzard himself also answers in the
negative.  "Heh.  Sorry, kid, but I think I need to take me a week or so
off before I get back into the action.  Our little Sioux City riot seems
to have busted this old man up real good."

"Here's my number, though.  I may not have your raw power, kid, but I
definitely got connections.  Gimme a call in a day or so, and if you're
needin' cash, I can point ya in the right direction.  S'at doable,
friend?"  With that, Hazzard offers you his hand...

(theoretical response space)

At any rate, this first adventure thingie is basically done... and we
sort of seem to be in the proper swing of things.  As far as Karma goes,
we'll call it 225 this time 'round; oh, sure, you woulda had more, but
there's that whole grand theft-auto thing.

And some gratuitous property damage... =)

I'll get your next one going here soon, and get moving on getting you
meshed into the group proper-like - assuming they get themselves all
back to earth in the near future...

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 23:03:43 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

> "Fair enough."

"Glad you think so," Magus says with a courteous smile.

> The guide follows you to the bar, and waits for you to order two drinks,
> and though he's not saying it, for his fee; it'd be rude, after all.
> The bartender shrugs at you when you order two drinks, and mixes 'em up
> in no time flat.

 Magus reaches into the small pouch tied around his belt and fetches a
couple of gold coins to cover the drinks.

> "You'll definitely need them, friends.  It's particularly hot out this
> morning.  'Course, it IS a desert out there, so what's new, neh?"

 "Indeed it is rather hot today. As for what's new, I'm beginning to feel
the ache of homesickness. I've been gone sometime now from my village.
Perhaps you've heard news about it or the area around it concerning how
things have been in my time away? I'm from the northern provinces of the
Blood Isles of course. My village is one of the one's under the protection
of Elder Brightwing. Tell me good sir that you have heard news from my home.
For my very essence cries out to know of anything I may have missed in my
time away travelling."

<OOC: What races are the bartender and the only other patron?>

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:25:42 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Och just looks at you and smiles.  "Well, Rebound, I have a decent
amount of money saved up.  I can easily afford hotel rooms for the lot
of you if necessary.  That way, you all can get properly rested up
before you make your next move."

"Myself, I have to find the rest of those who fought Morbis and were
scattered to... wherever... but what you all do is up to you.  I will
research those who can determine what actually occurred in the sewers,
and get back to you soon."

"Of course, if you're not wanting to be too... public... right now, you
can always just make use of my apartment for the time being.  I'm fine
either way, especially since I'll be out of town for the next couple
days.  Hm?"

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:25:46 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Excellent excellent... shall we proceed?"  Assuming that you, too, sign
the proffered document, Ronin, the Guvners give each of you a pack of
supplies with which to journey across the planes with, and two heavy
duty guides who are to escort you to the portal to Gehenna.

Once you wind your way through the City of Doors back towards the Great
Foundry yet again, your two Planewalking friends catch up to you yet
again.  "Eesh... just couldn't wait to get home, now, could you?",
Thaddeus says as he tries to catch his breath.

The two guards stop only half a block from the Foundry itself, and
present the (now) four of you with a vial of mercury.  "This is the key
to a portal to Gehenna, which you can activate by pouring the liquid
metal on the curb before the entrance to that shop."

The Guvner minder points to a small bakery, inside which a curious
shopkeep is looking at you with his head cocked oddly.  "What, 'chu
gonna buy somethin', or what?"  The presenter of the portal key looks at
you and smiles.  "Have a good journey, friends.  And good luck!"

...?

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 23:28:49 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

> "Of course, if you're not wanting to be too... public... right now, you
>  can always just make use of my apartment for the time being.  I'm fine
>  either way, especially since I'll be out of town for the next couple
>  days.  Hm?"

Ari shrugs.  "Sounds super-effective to me.  I call first dibs on the
shower!"

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:37:46 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Can't say that I've heard of it, to be honest.  I've only been to
this... land once or twice in my time, and I didn't get to wander very
far while I was here."  He takes a sip of whatever drink you ordered
him, and looks at the barkeep.

"'Course, he may know better than I, blood."

The bartender, a completely human and completely bald and sweaty man,
looks at you and smiles a toothless grin.  "Yeah, I s'pose that sounds a
wee bit farmililar.  I'd say you'd want to head due north of here, in
order to get out of the desert."

"Anywhere you'd need to go would be better reached after that... there's
nothing but dense forests north of this endless expanse of hostile dust
and flying grit... at least, after crossing the twin rivers about twenty
miles between here and there."

"Hm?"

 (for reference, the other patron of the bar is a dirty, dour elf-type)

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 23:53:10 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

Magus looks towards his guide, "Well I had intended for him to answer."
Smiling slightly, "But thanks for the help anyway."

> The bartender, a completely human and completely bald and sweaty man,
> looks at you and smiles a toothless grin.  "Yeah, I s'pose that sounds a
> wee bit farmililar.  I'd say you'd want to head due north of here, in
> order to get out of the desert."
>
> "Anywhere you'd need to go would be better reached after that... there's
> nothing but dense forests north of this endless expanse of hostile dust
> and flying grit... at least, after crossing the twin rivers about twenty
> miles between here and there."

 "Thank you sir. Tell me have there perhaps been any rumors of hostility in
the lands? I had heard that perhaps stranger and stranger creatures had made
their way towards my homeland. I fear that they may have less than honorable
thoughts on their misbegotten minds."

 After the barkeeps reply Magus turns towards the planewalker that sits
beside him, "I assume you're quite eager to be gone from here." Shrugging
the backpack from his shoulder Magus reaches in and grab a larger pouch out
of it, "Mind if I beg of you one more queary before you depart home?  I was
wondering if our means of access here could be used for me to return to the
city? If not then do you have any knowledge of how I could perhaps find my
way back if need be?"

Assuming my guide is indeed eager to go Magus rewards him with his fee and
bids him farewell.

Afterwards Magus grabs his mug and makes his way to the dour looking elf,
"Mind if I sit with you and talk, friend?"

>  (for reference, the other patron of the bar is a dirty, dour elf-type)

 (thank ye)

Subject: [v13] A.S.9. : Parting is such good timing.
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:54:16 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

A.S.9 said bye to both and headed out. He heard that there was more action
to be found in New York City, so I guess it's a road trip he going on. (I
guess you can direct him in whatever direction you want him to meet up with
the team) Thanks for the fun. I guess I will see what I can do with that
Karma. Later.

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 14:08:25 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

"That sounds good to me.  I could use a place to....unwind."

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 20:09:31 GMT
From: "Charlie Clay Jr." <cclayjr@hotmail.com>

"Doesn't sound like too bad of a plan to me."  Said Stone Cold, feeling like
he is in need of some R&R and a shower.

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 16:57:36 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

"I'm grateful for the offer on the apartment.  One thing concerns me,
though...How on Earth are you going to find the missing ones?  It's not
like you can go up to the average street bum and ask him if he saw a
gaggle of enhanced beings wandering around and expect an intelligible
answer."

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 16:38:53 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

The bartender gives you the hairy eyeball for a few seconds, and then
nods.  "Aye.  For the last three days, I've been hearin' from travelers
headed my way that there be a godawful large array of thugs and
hooligans who came from nowhere to cause trouble up north."

As you then speak to your guide, he just shakes his head.  "Don't get me
wrong, friend, it's not like I'm anxious or anything... I just find
that, in these older days of mine, that I prefer to have the City under
my feet.  These earths always feel a bit unstable to my footing."

"But then, I'm used to having an infinite amount of ground beneath me."
The guide then sips from his drink again, and then takes a full swig as
you fish out your moneybags.  While you count out your cash, he answers
your other query.

"Well, the portal is a two way jobber, elsewise I'd be here with you for
the forseeable future, friend."  He smiles at that, apparently amused at
his humor, and then continues.  "Seriously, though, the key to get you
back to Sigil is just a pint of water held up to the portal."

"That, of course, being the archway of timber that we materialized in
here on your world.  'Course, that may be a bit hard to come across in
these parts, especially since it needs to be in a clear glass bottle,
but other than that, that's you doorway back to the planes, blood."

He stands up and, after accepting the coins you've offered, bids you
farewell.  "Hope to be seeing you in Sigil again, someday... but then,
one never knows.  Adieu!"  Assuming you have nothing else to say, he
then exits, stage left.

Meanwhile, you move over to the elf at the table before you, and he
merely nods as you ask your question.  After you have a seat, the elf
looks at you and asks "So, what brings you to my happy home?"  Of
course, the voice sounds all wrong.  Almost... reptilian...

?!?

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 16:47:14 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Very well, then.  Let us go to my place, and I'll get you all fixed up,
then."  With that, Och leads you away from the hangar and into the wilds
of Long Island, whence he hails a cab.  It takes a bit to get two, as no
one cab could hold all six of you, but eventually you're off.

About forty five minutes later, you arrive at a sixteen story apartment
tower, and Och leads you through the security door and into the
elevators.  The doorman doesn't seem to even bat an eye at the lot of
you as you pass, but then, Och just slipped him a fifty.

Once you arrive at his top floor penthouse, you find that you all have
more than enough room to spread out in - and that it's a rather nice
place.  "If there's anything you need, food, music, whatever, feel free
to enjoy yourselves.  The bathroom's around the corner, here."

"And so's the shower."

After a few minutes, once Och himself has settled in, changed his
clothes, and arranged to deal with matters like bills that have arrived
in his absence, the diminutive extraplanar being finally answers your
question, Rebound.

"Well, friend, I'm not sure.  My hope is to look into some of these...
corporations of yours, and see who might know anything about transport
through either space or time.  I doubt I will find much, but it's better
than looking for some sort of mage to help us."

"With one notable exception, I have had nothing but trouble with the
wizards of your world, and would rather keep them out of this.  At the
very least, I am hoping that somebody will help me track the energies
that bombarded the group when they were split up."

"At best, these people will have the means to either collect our allies
or shunt us to their side, so we may bring them home.  I don't know,
however, for I am truly grasping at straws, here.  I just cannot abide
the thought of them being in danger, and doing nothing."

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Touring the City of Doors
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 17:47:47 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

"Hmm...most distressing that the rumors may be true. My thanks to you
barkeep."

> "That, of course, being the archway of timber that we materialized in
> here on your world.  'Course, that may be a bit hard to come across in
> these parts, especially since it needs to be in a clear glass bottle,
> but other than that, that's you doorway back to the planes, blood."

 "So all that I require to return to Sigil is a pint of water in a clear
glass bottle held up to that door that we came through? Seems easy enough a
task even if we are in a desert," Magus says as he counts the last of the
coins out and hands them to the antsy guide.

> He stands up and, after accepting the coins you've offered, bids you
> farewell.  "Hope to be seeing you in Sigil again, someday... but then,
> one never knows.  Adieu!"  Assuming you have nothing else to say, he
> then exits, stage left.

 "Aye. And fare thee well."

> Meanwhile, you move over to the elf at the table before you, and he
> merely nods as you ask your question.  After you have a seat, the elf
> looks at you and asks "So, what brings you to my happy home?"  Of
> course, the voice sounds all wrong.  Almost... reptilian...

 "I am simply on my return to my home," Magus says casually to the strange
sounding elf. "My name be Magus. What be your's friend?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 17:54:26 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari takes a shower and returns to the group, clad in baggy corduroy slacks,
a "Tank Girl" t-shirt, and sandals.  "Whee.  MUCH better."  She then proceeds
to flop onto the biggest, comfiest, couch she can find.

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 18:34:12 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx just "'feh's" the robot as she flees with Jim up and out of the
stairwell, grimacing at Jim's anachronistic usage of the English
language.

"Yeah, whatever," is all she retorts.

Once they get into the reception area, she checks the corners and does
her best to keep her face out of the view of any obvious cameras.

"Ahom?! What the hell is wrong with you, ya old man?!" she exclaims,
peering through his ghostly form.

Subject: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 18:47:28 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Who're you callin' friend, berk?!"

The elf looks back at its drink, and then downs it in one fell gulp.  He
then looks back at you and grins, a grin too full of sharp, pointy teeth
for an elf of any stripe, and laughs.  "Ah hah hah hah!  Since you wish
to know, know that I am Horath Throateater, Master of the Abyss!"

The elf then sort of shifts shape, and is no longer an elf.  It is, in
fact, a rather tall looking fellow, about nine feet, and he's armed and
armored to the teeth.  He has coal-black skin, though it is pocked by
random scales, and his eyes glow with a darkling light.

The bar disappears in a flash, leaving only a pile of rubble, and a
makeshift table with a couple bottles of booze on top.  The bartender
himself is gone, replaced with what would appear to be a twelve foot
tal, vulture-like creature - if one armed with a spear.

"Welcome to our home, you foolish mortal... do you think you'd taste
better cooked or raw?"  Horath advances upon you, a blade in each hand.
What do you do?

!

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 18:54:14 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Well, Jinx, I got myself blasted here after Morbis' little Key was
broken.  It seems to be some sort of variant earth, as far as I've
gathered, one where some... Frankologist, as he calls himself, got ahold
of a time platform and changed history to suit his philosophy."

"I can get us home easily enough, but there's the simple matter of
accessing my mystical powers.  This time-traveling buffoon has wrapped
my person up in some anti-magical bonds, and as such, I cannot focus my
will enough to utilize my spells."

"If you can come get me, I will deliver us unto our rightful plane of
existence, Jinx.  Of course, there's the matter of getting to the roof
of this tower.  The intervening floors are simply too well defended to
blast your way through."

"In fact, guards seem to be coming this way now.  I must flee, for they
are still hunting my astral form, which I liberated moments before those
bonds of theirs took effect.  In fact - argh!"  With that, Ahom's mental
projection fades into nothingness.

"Call me crazy, lady, but I recommend we just bug out.  You c'n always
come back for your wacky pal later..."  Not waiting for you to make up
your mind, Slow Jim sprints out the door, opening the building up to the
outside air.  The familiar smells of smog and city life wash over you.

And the building itself.  That, of course, is when the alarms go crazy.

What'cha do?

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 18:46:09 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

"Well I was simply being..," Magus begins to speak.

> The elf looks back at its drink, and then downs it in one fell gulp.  He
> then looks back at you and grins, a grin too full of sharp, pointy teeth
> for an elf of any stripe, and laughs.  "Ah hah hah hah!  Since you wish
> to know, know that I am Horath Throateater, Master of the Abyss!"

"....polite," Magus finishes.

> The elf then sort of shifts shape, and is no longer an elf.  It is, in
> fact, a rather tall looking fellow, about nine feet, and he's armed and
> armored to the teeth.  He has coal-black skin, though it is pocked by
> random scales, and his eyes glow with a darkling light.
>
> The bar disappears in a flash, leaving only a pile of rubble, and a
> makeshift table with a couple bottles of booze on top.  The bartender
> himself is gone, replaced with what would appear to be a twelve foot
> tall, vulture-like creature - if one armed with a spear.
>
> "Welcome to our home, you foolish mortal... do you think you'd taste
> better cooked or raw?"  Horath advances upon you, a blade in each hand.

 "Well I usually don't partake of my own flesh, you rather ignorant troll
dropping. Now see you went and made me act rudely," Magus says almost
nonchalantly as the twin bastard swords flash out of their sheaths. "Of
course that breath of your's is fairly rude itself. Perhaps you should seek
a cleric out to cast a healing spell or three on those teeth of your's and
then you wouldn't have to be so rude yourself," Magus holds his prized
weapons before him ready for the battle that is to commence. No sooner has
Horath advanced within the reach of the razor sharp blades does the
dragonkin slash at the supposed Master of the Abyss with both blades in a
devestating strike across the chest of Throateater.

<Rolls: 89, 85, 70....if ya need some more roll'em yourselves.....feh>

Subject: Re: [v13] The City
Date: Thu, 04 May 2000 09:01:13 EDT
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

Ronin does indeed sign, but only a lengthy inquiry about the need to
sacrifice offspring in order to ratify a legal agreement.  Once assured that
it was a joke, he signs.

>Once you wind your way through the City of Doors back towards the Great
>Foundry yet again, your two Planewalking friends catch up to you yet again.
>  "Eesh... just couldn't wait to get home, now, could you?", Thaddeus says
>as he tries to catch his breath.

"Time weights for Newman" replies Ronin, "...or something like that."

>The two guards stop only half a block from the Foundry itself, and
>present the (now) four of you with a vial of mercury.  "This is the key to
>a portal to Gehenna, which you can activate by pouring the liquid metal on
>the curb before the entrance to that shop."

>The Guvner minder points to a small bakery, inside which a curious
>shopkeep is looking at you with his head cocked oddly.  "What, 'chu
>gonna buy somethin', or what?"  The presenter of the portal key looks at
>you and smiles.  "Have a good journey, friends.  And good luck!"

Ronin looks to his comrades.  "He did say pour it on the curb, neh?"

Confused, uncertain and plain not knowing better, the young samurai attempts
to do just that.

Subject: [v13] Hell Fire!!
Date: Thu, 04 May 2000 14:14:47 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

You pour the tube of mercury as described, Ronin, and the doorway opens
up - though not as you expected.  Instead of a mere door opening up, a
shimmering gateway manifests in the bounded space of the doorway,
glowing with an eerie golden light, and beckoning you inward.

"Last one in's a rotten egg!"  Before you can even respond, Gloria leaps
through the portal, hatchet in hand and giddy laughter on her lips.
Thaddeus himself doesn't take much longer, saying something akin to 'woo
woo!' as he jumps through the portal.

Once the two of you do so as well, you find that you have left the cold,
dank City of Doors behind, and have entered a wholly different realm.
This one looks like a world in its death-throes, completely consisting
of a rocky, craggy surface blasted by an otherworldly heat.

And what heat!  You feel that before you notice anything else, for yon
gateway actually dumped the lot of you onto an actual magma puddle, one
of numerous such floes you see crossing the eternally diagonal
planescape before you.  You couldn't imagine living here normally.

Not without special protection, at any rate.  Luckily, you have those
magical rings proffered by the Fraternity of Order, however, and the one
carved from elemental ice instantly kicked into overdrive for each of
you once you arrived here.

You can tell it's working, though, because the magma at your feet, a
floe which is about ankle deep, seems to be cooling and solidifying as
it passes by your feet - if only to melt again once it escapes your
presence.  The magic in that ice ring must be potent, indeed.

"Well, now that we've taken in the sights, bloods, how's about one of
you breaking out a map and figuring out how we get from here to our next
destination?  Gehenna is impressive, I'm sure, but I wouldn't want to
stay here for long."

"Not with those rings of yours being transient in nature, and definitely
not with the yugoloths running 'round these parts..."  You're not sure
what Thaddeus is talking about, but he says 'yugoloth' with more than a
little bit of dread...

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 15:33:36 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

what's on the agenda,
should you wish your people to do anything, we'll get crackin'!

(OCC: Are you sure you don't  mean Cracklin'? ;-)

Crimebuster is  feeling a little relieved at the apparent downtime. Having
already showered and shaved (not to mention
changed to his other suit) he looks around for something to read.
Case 1) Finding a book on Chi and Japanese Philosophy, Crimebuster sits on
one of the many couches and
passes his time reading until someone suggests something else or night time
falls.  If night falls first, the
black clad Chi-master says "I am up for a little.....R&R.  Anyone know their
way around here?"

Case 2) Not finding the book, Crimebuster decides a trip to the local
bookstore is in order.  "I am going to head to the nearest Borders or such.  Anyone care to join?"

-CB

(OCC again:  Does any healing take place here? I am still down a few
points....electroshock and lines of force do that....)

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Thu, 04 May 2000 14:39:26 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

You walk into the darkling creature's swordplay arc before he expects
it, and before he can strike you, you slash him mightily across the
chest, ripping apart his finely crafted breastplate and (apparently)
several of his ribs.

"Argh!  Fie!  Fie upon thee!  I will have your head for breakfast,
mortal... Die!"  The coal-skinned fiend then backs away from you while
its partner jumps you, apparently hoping to gain some time for its pal.
It leaps at you in a feather-filled fury, jabbing at you with its spear.

You manage to leap out of the way easily enough, but that spear looked
like it was coated in a black, eerie goo.  You've got the impression
that, should this fiend actually strike you with said goo, this fight
will be over with before you know it.

As you prepare to counter the giant's attack, it suddenly leaps into the
air, making you wonder what Horath is up to.  You find out sure enough,
when you see him waving his fingers and gurgling at you in his anxious,
barking language.  He's casting magic!

Before you can act, the monstrous man fires a bolt of flame at you, one
that explodes upon contact, and catches you and your things on fire!
However, oddly enough, you don't feel any pain; in fact, you don't even
feel any heat.

Neither you or your stuff is being at all harmed by the magical attack
that has been used on you.  It would appear that you're invulnerable to
flames today.  How nice.  "Uh?  You're immune to flames?!  Damnation...
I'll have to switch to acid, I suppose...  Graargh!"

The man looks as though he's preparing to do more magic, Magus.

What do you do?

Subject: Re: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Thu, 04 May 2000 14:44:54 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>
Reply-To: v13@egroups.com
Organization: Meat-Eatin' Masqueraders of the Mighty Madagascar Market!
To: v13@egroups.com

Well, once you get out of the shower, we'll assume that the rest of you
chill for the night, cleaning up, resting, and freely partaking of Och's
ample storehouse of food, drinks, and high fidelity electronics.  You
did win a grand battle tonight - saved the world, even!

How often does THAT happen!?

Come morning, though, it's just a matter of figuring out what the lot of
you are going to do next.  Och himself departed, saying that he'd found
something close to what he was looking for in the form of the Pastordyne
corporation, who purportedly work on spatial research and the like.

He said he should be back tomorrow.

So, that primarily gives all of you a day off before the mayhem starts
up again.  So, there's just the matter of handing out the Karma, I
suppose.  Since this was one of those long, arduous battles, going from
the alien Cracklin' Mad Pinpoint to A-Lonse and his goons, it's a lot.

All of your various foes, plus a nice hefty story award, round out to
exactly 500 Karma each.  Don't spend it all in one place, kids... =)
Once you four get back to me and say what's up and what's on the agenda,
should you wish your people to do anything, we'll get crackin'!

- Firebomb

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 17:58:13 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 "Well in that case you misbegotten son of kobold, Fie upon you and your pet
parakeet too."

> You manage to leap out of the way easily enough, but that spear looked
> like it was coated in a black, eerie goo.  You've got the impression
> that, should this fiend actually strike you with said goo, this fight
> will be over with before you know it.

 Turning his attention away from Horath only momentarily Magus stares at the
vulture-like creature with a look of slight anger. "Lousy barkeep....I pay
you and what do I get in return? Poked at with a lousy stick! At least you
could've tried and annihilate me with something unique."

> As you prepare to counter the giant's attack, it suddenly leaps into the
> air, making you wonder what Horath is up to.  You find out sure enough,
> when you see him waving his fingers and gurgling at you in his anxious,
> barking language.  He's casting magic!
>
> Before you can act, the monstrous man fires a bolt of flame at you, one
> that explodes upon contact, and catches you and your things on fire!
> However, oddly enough, you don't feel any pain; in fact, you don't even
> feel any heat.
>
> Neither you or your stuff is being at all harmed by the magical attack
> that has been used on you.  It would appear that you're invulnerable to
> flames today.  How nice.  "Uh?  You're immune to flames?!  Damnation...
> I'll have to switch to acid, I suppose...  Graargh!"

 Magus eyes Horath before a creeping, evilish grin appears on his face, "And
a lot more than you can throw at me you worthless splinter of your treant
mother."

> The man looks as though he's preparing to do more magic, Magus.

 "Tsk tsk tsk....no more spells from you right now. It's my turn," Magus
thrusts his head outward and upward towards Throateater (and possibly his
birdie too?) as his mouth opens wide a rumbling rolling sound akin to a
mixture of thunder and a ferocious growl comes from the dragonkin mere
seconds before lightning bolts explode outward from Magus' open maw striking
Horath Throateater as he floats in midair safely away from the edge of
Magus' blades.

<Assuming the Vulture man wasn't struck by said cone of electricity:>

 Magus waited only long enough for the lightning to fully expend itself
before turning to the flying henchman and letting loose another fierce
volley of lightning from within himself and allowing the full brunt of the
devastating attack to strike the servant much as it just did the master.

 Gripping the handles of his two swords Magus defiantly strode towards
Horath, "Yield or die, Horath," as if to punctuate the statement the razor
sharp edge of the blades rested upon the monster's throat.

<Rolls: 74, 100, 88, 83, 98.....and now I must go and sacrifice a goat to
appease my gods for gracing me.............anyone want ribs?>

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Fri, 05 May 2000 17:40:47 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx just cocks her head to one side as she listens to Ahom explain his
situation before wincing as his story is cut short by the guards.

She hesitates a bit when Jim takes off, but then nods and follows,
knowing that getting herself captured now would only make her job that
much harder.

Doing her best to catch up with Jim, Jinx sprints after him, cursing the
entire time.

Subject: Re: [v13] Hell Fire!!
Date: Fri, 05 May 2000 20:39:46 -0500
From: Chris <cwacers@home.com>

"Ack!...."
Masque instantly jumps into the air and just as fast falls on his face
in the puddle, from which he was trying to escape.

> You can tell it's working, though, because the magma at your feet, a
> floe which is about ankle deep, seems to be cooling and solidifying as
> it passes by your feet - if only to melt again once it escapes your
> presence.  The magic in that ice ring must be potent, indeed.

Masque stands up and brushes off the ..magma. Checking to see if his
feet are still there he look as at that ring with adoration and
thankfulness.

"Boy Oh boy..I sure thought I had a flying spell in my head somewheres."

> "Well, now that we've taken in the sights, bloods, how's about one of
> you breaking out a map and figuring out how we get from here to our next
> destination?  Gehenna is impressive, I'm sure, but I wouldn't want to
> stay here for long."

"Right ..the map...."
Rummaging through his pack he produces the Gehenna map...
"From what I can see here we are supposed to take a left at
Albequerque..."
He glances around to see if anyone got that this little joke and finding
that no one does he snickers to himself anyways.

He hands the Map to Ronin and then starts 'puddle-jumping'. Because He
can! Hell if ya got the magic why waste it?!

Subject: Re: [v13] Hell Fire!!
Date: Sat, 06 May 2000 06:16:36 EDT
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

Ronin reaches out a restraining hand....

>Masque instantly jumps into the air and just as fast falls on his face in
>the puddle, from which he was trying to escape.

...but to no avail.

>You can tell it's working, though, because the magma at your feet, a
>floe which is about ankle deep, seems to be cooling and solidifying as it
>passes by your feet - if only to melt again once it escapes your presence.
>The magic in that ice ring must be potent, indeed.
>
>Masque stands up and brushes off the ..magma. Checking to see if his
>feet are still there he look as at that ring with adoration and
>thankfullness.
>
>"Boy Oh boy..I sure thought I had a flying spell in my head >somewheres."

Ronin frowns at his companion.  (What bad karma did I earn to deserve
-this-...) Ronin wondered to himself.

>"Well, now that we've taken in the sights, bloods, how's about one of you
>breaking out a map and figuring out how we get from here to our next
>destination?  Gehenna is impressive, I'm sure, but I wouldn't want to stay
>here for long."

Ronin nods in agreement.

>"Right ..the map...."
>Rummaging through his pack he produces the Gehenna map...
>"From what I can see here we are supposed to take a left at
>Albequerque..."

"Al-bee-cur-key?" questions the swordsman.

>He glances around to see if anyone got that this little joke and finding
>that no one does he snickers to himself anyways.
>
>He hands the Map to Ronin and then starts 'puddle-jumping'. Because He can!
>Hell if ya got the magic why waste it?!

Ronin takes the map with a sigh of exasperation.  To the best of his
ability, he picks out the route for the travelers.

Rolls - Rea and/or Int: 89 45 85 56 86 (heck..why not make it fun)

"I believe...we must head..." Ronin points, "...in that direction."

Ronin glances over at the puddle jumping mage.  "Someone restrain him."
Odd...sounds like he actually meant that.

Subject: Re: [v13] Hell Fire!!
Date: Mon, 08 May 2000 19:32:23 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Gloria looks at the off-kilter mage as he bounds through the magma floe,
making small explosions of searing hot, molten orange metal fly all over
the place - and just shakes her head.  "I would, Ronin, but he appears
to be having SO much fun..."

In fact, his boots and pants seem to be coated in molten metal... you
get the impression that that's going to be somewhat difficult to shout
out.  However, he's having the apparent time of his life, so it's
probably worth it.  Probably.

As Masque continues to play, your planewalking compatriots take a look
at the map you hold, and try to make sense of the Guvner's directions.
"It would appear that, after exiting the portal," and Thaddeus indicates
a strangely solid arch of obsidian behind you, "we go this way."

He points forward ominously, towards what would appear to be a town in
the distance.  Of course, it's hard to tell for sure, in that the heat
haze between you and it make it look somewhat watery, and the smoke in
the air on this hellish mountain of molten earth obscures its visage.

"Once we exit this town, we need to ride on a magma stream through a
strange planar conduit that leads to the frigid, nigh-lifeless bottom
layer of Carceri, the layer known to most planar-types as Agathys.  The
stream of molten metal interacts with the black Carceri ice angrily."

"Or so it says.  Oh, yeah, and it says here to watch out for angry
yugoloth troops.  They have more than a little bit of a problem with the
portal we head for - or, at least, something on the other side.  So, I
suppose the trip ought to be interesting... "

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Mon, 08 May 2000 20:48:07 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

You make it out the door with Slow Jim, only to find yourself in a world
you never made.  If you didn't know better, you'd say you'd just found
yourself in the future... a far future, at that, for you didn't just
walk into regular traffic... you walked into a stream of hover-cars!

They're buzzing and whooshing past at ridiculous speeds, their drivers
waving fists and middle fingers at you as they zip by.... luckily,
you're on the ground, so it's easy enough to avoid the flying cars by
simply ducking and letting them move along.

Slow Jim beckons you across the street, after which he ducks into a back
alley, followed by the astral form of Ahom.  "How unfortunate.  I cannot
properly utilize my magic without alerting them to our location, and
yet, I cannot even begin to attempt to get us home without it."

"And then, who would there be to rescue my physical body?"  Ahom pauses
to consider what he should do next, even as security guards bust out of
the building you just exited, and fan out around the structure.  They
apparently didn't think you'd duck across the busy street so quickly.

"Well, Jinx, all we need to do is get you up top in that building, and
free my physical self, and we can then make our way home... you game?
However, I do think that this world is in need of repair... we may have
to come back another time to set it right.  Yes..."

"Definitely must come back..."

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Mon, 08 May 2000 21:12:38 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

You breathe your horrible electric breath upon both of the vicious
fiends before you, the titanic rumbling of the energetic discharge
ringing in your ears, and the smell of ozone tearing through your
nostrils.  However, they both look rather nonplussed by the assault.

"Feh.  Is that the best you can do, you clueless berk?!  Tanar'ri are
immune to electrical attacks of all varieties you sorry sod!  Don't they
teach that in demon hunting 101 back at home?  Or, should I say, what
was left of it...?"

Before you can react to that particular statement, Horath lunges at you
again, though he seems unable to strike at you with his blade; though he
himself was immune to your dread lightning strike, it would seem that
his weapons were not, and they have been destroyed by the discharge.

So, he reacts by attacking with his wicked looking claws, and gives you
a good swipe across the chest - which thankfully doesn't penetrate your
chain mail armor.  Apparently, Horath's having a rotten day today.  His
pal isn't, though, for he struck you square in the back.

With that poisoned spear.

The funny thing, though, is that you don't feel as nasty as the
feathered tanar'ri thinks you ought to be.  In fact, you merely feel as
though you'd been stabbed in the back, without the correspondingly
hyper-deadly poison to accompany it.

"Caw!", it says.

You only took Good (10) Edged Attack damage from that assault, Magus,
leaving you with more than enough oomph to take another shot at the
fiends.  As you end this round with your blades to Horath, who doesn't
appear to be yielding, what next?

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Mon, 08 May 2000 21:50:17 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx just squints her eyes at all of the high tech surrounding her,
grumbling that she'll probably never be able to bring any of it back
with her before making her way quickly across the street.

"This place has definitely got a homey feel, though. Anyway, about
freeing your body. If we can't use your almight magick, we'll just have
to depend on more mundane alternatives. Say, perhaps, technology. Maybe
we can find some blackmarket dealers of hot tech. We don't need it very
long; as long as it's effective and doesn't kill us it'd be worth the
investment. Hmmm...unfortunately, I don't think we have anything to
offer as barter," she babbled, stopping herself from going any farther
so she could catch a breath and check the alley for anyone
eavesdropping.

"Of course, my powers shouldn't be a problem. I mean, they're not
magickal, so they shouldn't be so quick to snag me," she continued,
blissfully unaware of the nature of her powers.

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Tue, 9 May 2000 17:58:19 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus turns angrily at the stupid birdman and lets loose an indescribable
roar in draconic that would essentially translate into something about him
and the penguin he road in on.

> You only took Good (10) Edged Attack damage from that assault, Magus,
> leaving you with more than enough oomph to take another shot at the
> fiends.  As you end this round with your blades to Horath, who doesn't
> appear to be yielding, what next?

 Magus strikes fiercely with his cherished blades at Horath, "You were
warned you incompetent spawn of the Abyss. Now your life proves forfeit."

 Magus turns back to the cawing birdman, "You're next."

<rolls-60, 82, 77>

Subject: RE: [v13] Coincidence...?
Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 08:27:25 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound will spend the day inside the apartment relaxing and watching some
television.  Hopefully, he will be able to catch up on some of what is going
on in the rest of the world.  If not, maybe he can catch some Simpsons
reruns.

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 04:43:34 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Nobody here but that bum with the dirty silver coat and moon boots.

Ahom just looks at you and shrugs, Jinx.  Considering that he lacks a
physical body, it's an impressive maneuver.  "Well... we could bargain
with the natives, or just combat-assault the tower above all
direct-like.  You like being directly violent, no?"

"You ARE a Direct Action American, aren't you?"

"However, the odds of us surviving that are rather low, so if you'd like
to somehow acquire some extra equipment with which to combat the
facility, I have no problem with that.  After all, I can only offer
advice... I'm somewhat useless in my current state."

"I just don't understand... I should be able to at least utilize my
magic to some extent in this form.  I am most impressed by the means by
which I have been restrained.  This warrants... research... into my
plight - if once we've ended it.  Hm?"

"What do you think?"

Slow Jim looks around in a manner that suggests all the hounds of Hell
are on his heels.  "Ergh... ughg... steel everywhere... in the sky, on
the ground, no dirt, no water.  How do you humans live in such horrid
conditions?  Ooogh... dizzy..."

???

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 05:00:59 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Horath tries to produce another magical assault before you make your
move, assuming that you're not quite as gullible as you apparently look,
and almost seems surprised as his head finds itself removed from his
neck, and it rolls on the ground towards the towering bird-thing.

After your pronouncement, it says "Caw!"  And then its eyes glow red.

Inside your mind, you hear the terrible, yapping evil voice assaulting
you with its fould language.  "Know me and tremble, mortal!  I've been
working on that foolish cambion for years, and you go and kill it... you
will pay for that!  No one crosses a vrock and lives!!!"

It then leaps at you, dropping the spear and assailing you with a speed
you didn't imagine until moments ago.  It swipes at you four times with
it's strange, clawed hands (which, until moments ago, were nestled under
its wings) and pecks at you with its foul beak.

The combined assaults give you, after your armor, Excellent (20) Edged
Attack damage, but then it's your turn.  And, after being bloodied by
the vrock, you find yourself more than happy to return the favor.  You
cleave the thing once, and liberate one of it's miniature arms.

"Caw!"  And then, in your mind, you hear the seething evil of its mind
creep into your own.  "Mortal pig!  Prepare to die!"

?

Subject: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 05:14:10 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

It's a nice day to relax, really, after you saved the world.  Once you
all got your sleep in, and a decent shower (and, where applicable, a
shave), most of you simply settled into watching television, whether it
be the Simpsons or a decent news cast.

While the lot of you relax up in Och's apartment, you do come across a
funny news report from Madagascar, one involving a 'environmental
catastrophe' caused by the local 'Complex Corporation' and its abject
disrespect for the country's vanilla crops - caused by its power plants.

It's a good rest, and during this time, you all recover all of your lost
Health points.  Ari, Crimebuster, Rebound, Stone Cold, and Tammy, you've
all returned to your maximum Health scores.  You're all a bit sore and
such, but your physical well-being is assured.

Especially with this day off.

After a good long time of doing nothing, however, at least one of you
decides to step out for a stroll - and to visit a good book store.  It
don't take you too long to come up with one, Crimebuster - this IS New
York City we're talking about, you know.

In fact, you find what you're looking for in no time flat, and once
you've purchased the tome, you start to head back to Och's penthouse
apartment, when you hear voices behind you.  Voices screaming in terror,
and loud shouting that would indicate a fight is apace.

Right behind you, in fact.  What do you do?

Meanwhile, back in the apartment, Tammy looks at the lot of you, and
pops the question.  "So, guys, now that we're back home, what do you
think we should do?  I mean, college is probably shot for me, having
been gone so long 'n all."

"And, since we seem to generally work together, and saved the world and
stuff, do you think we should keep at it?  I think I've got the bug
myself, so I'm moving up here to New York, and while I can probably do
this without y'all, I'd rather not."

"You're all pretty cool, after all..."

?

Subject: [v13] Kinda Sorta Homecoming
Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 05:20:07 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

It took you a good day or so to make your way back to New York City,
A.S.9, but the drive was worth it.  It allowed you do to a lot of
thinking, mostly about yourself and your place in the world - something
you didn't have much time to figure out when you were first activated.

That whole assassination mission and whatnot, coupled with your little
fracas with the mind-transferring Antonio, kind of occupied most of your
time.  However, having arrived in the Big Apple with ten grand and a hot
cycle, your future is really up to you - and only you.

So, I guess the question is this:  what's next?

(ooc:  actually, I had neglected to factor that whole conflict you had
with the other A.S. android into your Karma sum, dude, so go ahead and
give yourself another 125 Karma before we get going here.  Groovy?)

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 8:51:42 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Ever alert, Crimebuster turns toward the sound of the combat.
Heading over toward the fight scene he tries to discern if this is a
super being fight or just a couple of normal people who got too drunk.
And all this without dropping his new book.

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 10:06:12 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari flushes.  "I... I dunno.  I kinda like it, but let's be honest... you
guys have POWERS.  I'm a girl with a magic bookbag."

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 10:16:26 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound chuckles.  "Yes, a girl with a magic bookbag.  But that bookbag
casually tossed out weapons that none of us have ever seen before.  You
seem to have something in there for every situation.  That in and of
itself is power enough.  I would gladly have you on the team..."

Rebound pauses in mid-sentence.  "Team?  I can't believe this.  Oh,
what the hell.  Sure we're a great team; we saved the world.  Does
anyone have any idea what we should call ourselves?  Maybe something
ominous like 'The Dread Legion'  or more upbeat like 'The Dream Team'?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 12:51:10 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 "The incompetent fool couldn't have been that valuable to you. But then
again you are a rock and I naturally assume that means you're as stupid as
one."

> "Caw!"  And then, in your mind, you hear the seething evil of its mind
> creep into your own.  "Mortal pig!  Prepare to die!"

 "I am one of Io's immortal children, fool. A warrior scholar born of the
noblest of beings. Me and my family are always prepared for death. But that
death is one of a worthy foe. Not some tainted cockatil like yourself."

 Magus steadies himself. Breathing slowly and deeply Magus feels himself at
peace even in such surroundings and situations like his current one. His
hands heft the weight of his cherished swords as he prepares himself for the
next attack of the flying cacophony of cawk'ing. When the bird-like creature
is within range, Magus' swords swipe through the air in a flash. The light
playing off of the blades before they slice through the villain's flesh and
coat the metal with a sheen of it's foul blood.

<Rolls - 86, 46, 78>

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 15:21:30 EDT
From: 

"I think you are ok too.  But, We can only hold up in Och's place for so
long.  I have to give my cousin a call and let her know where I am and
when I will be home if at all."  Trying not to look at Tammy.  He grabs
the phone.

OCC:  Yeah, yeah, I am still here. ;)

Subject: Re: [v13] Hell Fire!!
Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 12:31:42 -0000
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

OOC: And here I was cursing that FB hadn't posted in a while! Oy Vey!
 Seems like messages aren't getting thru from egroups as I had to log
in to the site to get this one.  Happening to me on a lot of
different groups here.

Ronin nods as Thaddues points out the town in question and describes
the rest of the journey.

"Onward to the town then...." he replies succintly. Reaching over, he
grabs Masque by the collar and pulls him along.

"Enough prancing, Mage.  We have far to go and a short time to
traverse this land.  Focus on the task at hand and leave your game
playing for another time."

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 16:35:15 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Beats me", says Tammy.  "If we were to stick around, though, we should
get our own place, though.  Stoney's right; we definitely can't stay
here forever, even if this place DOES have the room.  I suppose I'll
have to get me my own apartment up here... so much for MY finals."

"I think I missed 'em entirely."

Tammy pauses to crack open a nice, frosty Corona, and after taking a
drink or three, picks up on her thoughts.  "If we do actually stick
together, though, and try to be real life superheroes or something,
though, we should all be in on it, no?"

"Let's wait till that Crimebuster cat gets back before we make any more
serious decisions or something.  Where'd he say he was going, again?"

Speaking of the one and only Crimebuster, you whirl around in your
search for trouble, and don't find it.  Or, at the very least, you don't
see it.  You still hear cries of horror behind you, as though someone
were playing a movie without the picture.  Or the television.

Then you hear gunfire, which makes everybody around you flinch
reflexively, though no bullets (or bodies) are generated.  Looking
around nervously, you attempt to find the source of this calamity, to no
avail - until he materialized before you!

Of course, materialized is something of a misnomer.  The guy, a
battle-scarred and grizzled looking old man, sort of walked right into
existence, fading in from nothingness as he crossed the line in the
nearby alleyway between two buildings.

He sees you staring, mouth agape, and then shrugs and runs down the
alley.  Moments later, two more fellows fade into being after him, and
start chasing him down.  These cloaked folk then expose their power
gauntlets, and begin to fire at him whilst he flees down the dumpsters.

??

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 19:05:05 EDT
From: Scott A Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

"I think you should at least see if you can finish them so you can at
least transfer."  Stone Cold Said.  Picking up the phone and calling his
aunt.  10 minutes later, he is off the phone and slumps down on to the
couch.  He then get up goes into the kitchen grabs a few beers and sits
down again and begins drinking.

>Tammy pauses to crack open a nice, frosty Corona, and after taking a
>drink or three, picks up on her thoughts.  "If we do actually stick
>together, though, and try to be real life superheroes or something,
>though, we should all be in on it, no?"

"So are we going to do the superhero thing, how about funding?"  He says
half way through his second.

Subject: Re: [v13] Hell Fire!!
Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 04:33:10 -0500
From: Christopher Acers <cwacers@home.com>

Masque stands with his maw agape.
And promptly flicks Ronin in the Ear.

"Fine Fine Fine..."

Masque summons four of his mystical equines and getsures towards them.

"Anyone who can ride, hop on..."

<sheesh....what a party pooper>

Subject: Re: [v13] Hell Fire!!
Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 05:46:37 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

> OOC: And here I was cursing that FB hadn't posted in a while! Oy Vey!
> Seems like messages aren't getting thru from egroups as I had to log
> in to the site to get this one.  Happening to me on a lot of
> different groups here.

Yeah... that'll teach yer!  =)  I've been seeing lots of that lately,
though... stupid egroups.  Better service my hairy ass!  But I digress.

As I was saying...

Once you reign Masque in, Ronin, the lot of you can finally proceed
towards your current destination, that being the town indicated on the
Fraternity of Order's maps.  This town, known as Beyond Hell, is known
for its curious, disease-carrying metals - and a forge to work them.

Culled from a lava floe that erupts a mere quarter mile up the mountain
you walk on at this very moment, this metal has an adverse effect on the
unprepared, eventually causing one's hair and teeth to fall out,
excessive lesions across the body, and other nasty ailments.

Sounds almost... radioactive.  However, these 'barmies', as the map
indicates, forge weapons made of this poisonous metal for particularly
tough fiends, especially a crack legion of 'mezzoloth' troops with an
(obviously) huge turnover rate.

To leave the terrible mount you currently reside in, all you must do is
enter the town and cross its magma river; once you do so, you will
readily see the planar conduit out of Gehenna - it is the floe of magma
that descends back into the mount like a terrifying waterfall.

There's a massive gout of steam issuing forth from it.

Moving along, the four of you make your way towards Beyond Hell with
just a little bit of dread in your hearts, and after about an hour
crossing the jagged, semi-molten landscape, you arrive without incident.
You find that the town was aptly named.

Before you stands two large checkpoints, which appear to have been
linked together at some point in the distant past by a wooden gate, and
flanked by a similarly constructed fencing.  There's nothing but char
left where they stood, and the guards are similarly spent.

However, there is one fellow leaning up against the ersatz checkpoint, a
man in a padded leather outfit.  He's got reddish-black skin, pointy
ears, and orange streaks in his otherwise gray hair.  He looks like he
was birthed directly from essence of the plane you now walk through.

He's tossing a dagger up in the air as though it were a plaything,
catching it and tossing it in the air again, as though he were bored -
and used to getting cut; he has several nasty slashes across his hand,
one of which looks recently fresh.

"What can I do for yer, bloods?  Come all the way to the great Beyond,
and here we are without a proper escort.  Care for a bodyguard??"

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 05:54:40 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

You strike the villainous monstrosity before you with a mighty slash
across its chest before it can even think of hitting you back, and you
do indeed let loose a viscous spray of blood from the vrock.  However,
its spray is horrendous, indeed, for that which hit you is moving!

The blood has quickly coagulated into a strange, vine-like growth, which
is quickly wrapping itself around your body, virtually eliminating your
ability to move.  However, while you are pinned, the vrock chooses the
better part of valor, and flies off.

Not very fast, however, for it is quite wounded.  It takes you about
thirty seconds to divest yourself of the strange, almost fungal
entanglements that would have meant your doom had you not so severely
wounded the vrock, which pretty much leaves you on your own.

All alone.

Looking around, you see nothing but the rubble which formed the portal
from which you were so unceremoniously dumped out of Sigil; having been
so 'peeled' into falling for this ambush, it's hard to say if you're
even at home.  And if you're not, then where are you?

So.  That leaves you with but one question:  what next?

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 15:16:37 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

Grumbling to himself as he pulls the last of the vine-like growth off of his
person, "By the blood of Io....I'm going to have to kill that guide."

Looking around the landscape Magus grumbles incoherently to himself again as
he begins to march forward into whatever land he is in.

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 16:26:43 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

You walk for a consistent eight hours without stopping, and find that
most of the landscape before you is similar in tone, if not in specific
content.  The dirt is sort of a bluish gray in color, the rocks a
definite shade of navy, and the sky is a merciless neon orange.

You've traveled a long way without food or drink, mostly because there's
been an abject lack of anything living in the intervening space between
your entrance to this unknown realm and where you sit now.  As you go to
rest in this misbegotten land, you spy something on the edge of vision.

Far, far in the distance, you see what would appear to be a keep and, as
soon as you recognize what you see, you find yourself reeling through
space towards it; of course, as it happens, it almost feels like you're
standing still, and the realm beneath you is racing.

It's very disconcerting.

However, you're there before you know it, in what would appear to be a
battle-blasted town.  There are no signs of movement or occupation, but
you do hear a sound behind you.  Looking back, you see a vrock limping
towards the village, looking somewhat battle-scarred.

And even more familiar.  Somehow, thanks to the weird nature of this
plane, or at least this specific realm, you've made it to this place
before the foeman who tried to bring you low moments before.  Further,
it doesn't seem to notice this just yet, being absorbed in its own pain.

What next?  Vengeance or exploration?

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 17:39:27 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus quietly moves into the ruined city a little further and upon finding
an appropriate place to hide decides to wait and watch the wounded foe for a
few moments before deciding whether to renew his attack or not. *Perhaps it
might be persuaded by now to serve me in finding a way out of this
misbegotten territory. But somehow I feel more like I will need to simple
make it suffer the same fate as Horath.*

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 19:49:37 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Hm... I s'pose you're right, Stoney... I'll have to give 'em a call
here in a few minutes."  And, once you've gotten off the phone, Tammy
goes to pick it up.  She's on the line for about twenty minutes herself,
after which she comes back to you with something of an announcement.

"Well, they said I could make 'em up if I get down to Atlanta tomorrow,
otherwise I'm screwed.  So, I suppose I'll have to fly on down to
Georg-i-a today sometime and get that over with.  I'm still up for the
hero biz, but I'll just have to wait a day or so."

"Hope that's not a problem, guys."  After your other comment, Stone
Cold, Tammy at least has one answer.  "Who needs real funding?  All we
need to do is set up with an apartment, or something, and go with it.
Unless you want to go all Justice League or something."

"Big white marble building, inviso-plane, annoying shapechanging alien
sidekicks, etc...  Of course, if we do that, there's the whole
credibility issue... who's gonna believe that we're actually super
heroes - and that we'll be any good at it?!"

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 19:55:02 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Watching from out of sight, Magus, you spy the vrock as it collapses
from blood (?) loss onto the abandoned city street, making pathetic
gurgling noises all the while.  "Cawrghk..."  After a minute or so, some
one else comes wandering by to inspect the wreckage.

"Hmm, meat!"  It looks like a big frog-man, about seven feet tall and
emerald green in hue - complete with a big green gemstone seemingly
sticking out of its forehead, one that is ringed with all kinds of
intricate tattoos and such.

Of course, it betrays its carniverous nature by exposing its large set
of teeth, gaping out of its foot-wide maw, and bites the vrock's head
off in one fell swoop.  After a few moments of disgusting chewing and
swallowing sounds, the things makes a horrid groan.

"Urgh, it was already dead... feh.  'Course, something had to kill my
dead lunch..."  The frog-thing then looks around, sniffs a few times,
and then shrugs.  "Feh... smell no tanar'ri here.  Maybe there's more by
the gateway..."

The frog-man then shambles off, back from whence it came from some
unknown location within the hidden town...

?

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 22:32:20 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari perks.  "Can I have a monkey in that case?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 23:13:57 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus simply shakes his head thinking to himself, *Why do I always run
across the things with the intelligence of a bar rag?*

 Magus carefully and quietly follows behind the frog-man as he shambles off.
Being sure to maintain more than a safe and discreet distance from the
creature he can only ponder what this gateway it mentioned might be.

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 23:34:36 EDT
From: Scott A Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

"We  do I am broke except for about a few grand and a credit card.  And
you need to get to GA, beautiful, so when is your plane leaving?"  Says
Stone Cold

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 15:07:04 -0500
From: Bil (no, really)

Jinx just looks at Ahom with a not so pleased look on her face, "Ha
Ha, Gramps. Trust me, our chances of surviving a direct assault on a
well-established and superior enemy in this situation would be nil. We
require equipment that will allow us to avoid detection as well as
some disposable protection and armament. Passive detection equipment
would be quite useful, too."

After that little statement she looked at Jim, "Man, are you gonna
blow chunks, or what? You need a dose of nature? I don't think we're
gonna find any of that around here, but you never know."

With that, she made her way over to the bum and pulled out some spare
change, "Hey, mister. I have some antique coins that you can take to a
collector and make a bundle. They're yours if you can answer a few
questions. Deal?"
