Variant Earth 13 E Mail Game Archive Number 20

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 09:07:37 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

A.S.9 turns his attention to the chick that just blasted the monster. " Listen, Girlfriend, you better put that peashooter down or you will be put down. I just lost all my stuff that was on the Harley and I'm left out here in nowhere land. So I got nothing to lose, What do you have to lose?" A.S.9 said as he pulled back his blades but still keeps his whip slithering around in the air, ready to disarm if need be. ( just in case of her attack 75,45,86,89,26,)

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 17:18:10 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

(OCC: Sorry for the lack of response... being away tripled my workload... had no time to write)

Crimebuster draws his sword and steps near to Ari.  After she says her piece
he says "Son, I don't know where you got what you have, but if you want to keep it I would recommend putting it away. I have seen that gun work.  You don't want to be on the receiving end of it.  Trust me"

Waiting on this... thing's... response Crimebuster powers his chi down the  blade.  If this thing shoots at Ari he will try to jump in front on the co-ed and take the blast himself.

(OCC again for rolls: 74, 54, 10, 86 Init: 4)

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 19:51:27 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

"Oh, you've got *plenty* to lose, bucko.  Arms, legs...  Now knock off the Cyborg Deatheater shit and chill out.  We dropped the damn... thing... so Can we PLEASE just be copacetic for a minute here?  I REALLY need something to drink and my toe hurts."  Ari starts to lower the Defenestrator, but keeps it armed.

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 9:04:45 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Crimebuster looks again at the punk threatening his teammate and booms:

"YOU WILL DISARM IMMEDIATELY OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES"

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 14:44:43 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Tammy hits the ground a bit after the rest of you, though still before
Rebound, who takes his sweet time descending to the street with his odd
stickyweb parachute system (in other words, he's just left a great big
mess of the stuff all over the buildings above you).

Looking at the lot of you about to jump on each other, she simply
shrugs.  "You guys just love to scrap too much, I think.  You know, you
just beat up one techno-baddie, why add another to the list?  Besides,
the cops are coming - can't you hear 'em?"

Sure enough, the lot of you start to hear sirens descending on the area,
in the usual police 'show up right after all the mayhem' fashion.  You
can almost see hints of police lights reflecting in the remnants of the
windows on this particular city block - and beyond.

"So.  You lot want to beat the crud out of each other or get in jail?  I
know what I'm doin'..."  With that, Tammy starts to fly into the air,
but it would appear that Harry booked out of here when he saw the police
approaching - big obvious space ship and all...

What do you all do??

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 16:17:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: Scott Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

"So let's posse up ya'll."  Transforming back to normal and taking off back to Och's

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 16:26:02 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound stares at the whip-wielding cyborg/android (need a good description) and gathers two handfuls of strands, prepared for combat.

"It's your call, whip-boy.  You're outnumbered and outgunned.  The cops are on their way.  We're all ready to dance.  The only question is...will it be a tango, or a mosh?"

Rebound gets ready to attack or boogie it out of there as necessary...

Rolls: Init: 7,  Others: 81, 74, 59, 67, 44

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Re: Enter: the Pit!
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 18:41:56 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx does her best to roll with the blow, trying to keep her head during the struggle.

After Ahom's explanation, she sizes up her opponents for a moment and then pulls her vibro blade in her left hand while she dives for her mag cannon that was knocked from her grip.

She'd do her best to menace anyone coming near her during her short time in the air, rolling once she reached the gun, snatching it up and spraying the direction her attackers were approaching from with hot, magnetically-accelerated slugs.

OOC: 10 + Modifier for Initiative, 45 to go for the gun, 97 to Dodge, 28, 48 extra rolls.

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 22:10:59 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari looks to the rest of the team.  "Let's book!"

Subject: Re: [v13] Android needs a way out
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 22:06:45 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

A.S.9 shakes his head with is cable-like dreadlocks hanging in front of his face, while looking down as the three super-power people threaten his life and dismemberment.  AS9 puts his shades back on and smiles largely and said in an Aussie accent " I like a gang bang as much as the next guy, But I don't care to have one given by you guys or the cops or the A.S. corp either, so let me say, it been real, mates and I'm out of here." And with that A.S.9 pulls in his whip and starts looking around.  AS9 will look for the quickest way out of here either find a vehicle that can be hot-wired or climb the nearest building, or wait for a cop to get there so he can take him out of the police car and speed off, unless these goons try to offer him a way out. Rolls 71, 54, 58, 29, 31, 78, 2, 77, 82, 71

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 8:58:16 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Crimebuster goes with Ari and presumably Rebound, SC and Tammy back to the new hideout.  He will let the others get a little bit of a lead if possible, making sure they are not followed.

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 05:47:48 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

(well, gee, that went over swimingly)

As the police sirens approach, 9, you watch the big rock-man, the flying
girl, the loud girl with the louder electronic toy, and the guy with the
cloak, mask, and sticky goo strands take off, headed for parts unknown
to yourself as of yet.

Yourself, you climb up the face of the building closest to ground zero
from Ari's Defenestrator (tm) outburst, as the windows have been
shattered up enough to give you more than enough purchase to ascend the
vertical surface.

You've made it up to the fourth floor by the time the police come
screeching around the corner, and watch as they stop amidst the large
chunks of broken glass, the various holes in the concrete, and the big
pile of bio-mechanical ooze that was both your bike and your foe.

They look as though they were beginning to stop, but the police then spy
your ersatz foes rounding a handy dandy corner, and begin to give chase
- only to be stopped suddenly by what would appear to be a very large
band of motorized Viking cavalry!

You see about twenty biker thugs racing towards the scene of the carnage
wrought by the almost-Morbis, all of which are wearing crudely welded
helmets in a decidedly ancient Norse fashion; you see all too many
horned helms, winged helms, and (of course) spiked hammers.

The weird thing is that the leader of this curious pack, riding the
single most rustiest, broken-est motorcycle you've ever seen, appears to
be himself a rusty, battle-damaged and weather-worn robot himself, built
from motorcycle parts as well; odd coincidence, really. *

Upon seeing the police, the robot cries out various media-based battle
cries.  "Let Loose the Dogs of War!  Kill the Grand PooBah!  Make Seven
Up Yours!"  The robot then whizzes past the first cop, hitting his car
with a strange rusty axe-thing that flips the vehicle over completely!

As his compatriots follow, screaming random soundbytes from commercials
and such, the robot runs over your former ride, and adds "Bounty - The
Quicker Picker Upper!"  He then rounds another corner along with his
freaky cohorts, and is in turn followed by rather angry policemen.

After that bizarre procession leaves the scene, you return your
attention to those folks you fought the cycle-stealing blob with you,
and see that they seem to have made good on their escape - all but one,
that is; you spy the swordsman of the bunch casing the area.

Looks like he's beating a much slower retreat than his fellows, as if
making sure they aren't followed to wherever they're headed.  What now?

                                   ***

As the rest of you flee for Och's apartment (since that's where Stone
Cold started out for), Tammy looks at the lot of you from on high
(literally) and screams.  "What the hell was that all about?  What was
that thing?!  And why'd you guys try to kill that other robot-thing?!?"

!?

* And it is, actually, if anyone's been paying attention to some of the
oddities going on outside their particular threads... These goof-balls
were supposed to run afoul of Keith's journalistic fellow, though he
never got that far.  So, since they were around... =)  **

** Any yes, this IS a footnote thingie, in case anyone was wondering.
Just thought you'd wanna know in case you had NO idea what that was
about, and thought that I might have pulled that out of some nether
region best left undescribed ... hehhehheh

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Re: Enter: the Pit!
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 06:03:22 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Thug Number Two goes for you while you're doing your aerial acrobatics,
Jinx, and he loses two finger tips thanks to his valiant efforts.  He
drops his own concussion cannon and starts screaming in shock, which
only ads to the mayhem wrought by the calamity all around you.

Meanwhile, your primary opponent gathers his wits and tries to kick the
gun away from your reach, but fails to do so before you can seize the
thing and fill his torso with all kinds of hyper-velocity 9mm slugs.
The villain falls back, looking almost flabbergasted.

"Wretched trollop!  You have assaulted the royal personage!  I'll..."
The loudmouth then passes out, but Goon Number Two immediately snaps out
of his shock to see his lord and master fall.  "You've shot the Emperor!
Nooooo!"  He then collects the fallen man and carts him off.

You can see he's still breathing, of course, so assuming that he can be
gotten to the appropriate medical facility (also assuming that one's
still functional, after the devastation described by the disembodied
computer voice) he should pull through.

Moments later, Ahom calls to you, Jinx.  "Come, my Lady, let us be away
from this terrible place.  Let's go home... I'd like to forget this
whole ordeal as soon as possible, you know.  The last couple of weeks
have been murder on me."  He then motions towards a shimmering portal.

"Yes... let's leave these wretched fools to their own devices.  I was
going to recommend collecting your fellows and taking this aberrant time
line apart, but it looks like Fate has conspired to do my dirty work for
me... the Balance always prevails, it would seem."

You can hear the smile in Ahom's voice when he says that.  But anyway,
he prepares to leave, hoping to at least see you through the portal
first, so you don't somehow get magically left behind, when Slow Jim
pipes up.  "Hey!  You can't leave me here!"

"I ain't got anything left... that bastard killed off every last
Atlantean alive, leaving me as one of his damnable museum relics.  I'd
rather at least start fresh somewhere else... anywhere else.  Especially
somewhere with a viable ocean left...!"

Well?

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 07:15:15 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

After three pointless battles with the sickly, radioactive natives of
the tiny mining town of Beyond Hell, Ronin, you and your three allies -
two of which are natives to these strange realms which you and Masque
have found yourselves in - made it to the magma floe.

Stepping on to a large, floating chunk of the stuff (which seems like a
better idea than swimming through the magma, despite the magical rings
which protect you from this plane's heat), you and your fellow travelers
then float on towards the gateway to your next destination.

Once you cross the planar barrier, you sense that things are colder,
here, but you don't get to sense just how much colder because you're
suddenly falling through the air!  Looking down, you see the magma river
you were so recently on falling down like a fiery orange waterfall.

It seems to be striking a large, obsidian pillar, upon which you see a
man (?) chained up, and being continually immersed in the magma; the
look on his face would indicate that he's not as immune to heat as are
you.  When the rock you were floating on hits him, he looks even worse.

Before you can hit the ground, however, Gloria makes use of some item on
her person, and the lot of you slow down considerably; in fact, you
simply glide to the black, icy surface below you, and touch down like
the lightest of feathers.  Nice magic, that.

Just when you think it can't get any worse, you hear the hoots and
hollers of three nasty beasties coming your way, all of which seem to be
wanting you head on a platter - at least, that's what their tone would
indicate to you...

Meanwhile, on the other side of the monstrosities, you see the four
magma-riding travelers with more detail now, Magus.  One of them, a
powerful looking swordsman, is wearing rather outlandish clothing -
strange gray trousers, a black tunic (?) and a long leather coat.

Another seems to be a mage, at least judging by his dress.  He's got a
crimson red cape on, covering his off-white tunic (with blue sleeves),
his black trousers, leather boots, and the vast array of belts, ropes,
and pouches with which he seems to be carrying odd supplies.

The third fellow, the auburn haired one, has that witty, not as charming
as I think I am look on his face, and is wrapped up in various layers of
leather wear, as if to provide at least some defense against attack; it
should be brown, but looks positively orange next to the magma fall.

The fourth newcomer, of course, is something different.  Her white hair
is literally radiant, giving off light to the point that its color isn't
put off by the glowing, molten metal beside her.  Her flowing robes
appear mystical, but a bit more... religious in nature.

The foursome appear to be looking around as though absorbing the sights
for the very first time, which they are, but seem to be reacting
properly to the assault that is quickly moving their way; all of them
seem to be drawing forth weaponry to deal with their new enemies.

Luckily for you, Magus, the trio seems to have forgotten about you
entirely.  So, you could do either one of two things:  you could a) take
a sneak shot at the thingies before they get killed on their own, or b)
just work your way into the three-sided palace all by your lonesome.

?

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 08:56:27 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound answers with his usual eloquence (or lack thereof)...

"Well here goes...
A.  We investigated the abandoned bad guy base and ran into some, well,
bad guy bits.
B.  That was three clones of Morbius merged into one monstrosity.
C.  I have no idea what that other thing was, some sort of Jamaican
death machine, I suppose.  He seemed pretty hostile, but took the smart
path and didn't attack us."

With a shrug, Rebound continues on towards the apartment.

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 10:15:20 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Crimebuster, still a bit wary of being followed by that other robot says:
"The first thing was a conglomerate Morbis clone....I did not meet the first
one but I can't imagine I would like it any more than I liked this one.  As for
the other robot thing, if we had wanted to kill it, it would be dead.  It
threatened our friend Ari here..." He says, pointing to Ari "...with weapons drawn.  I see no reason we should have acted any other way."

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 13:10:49 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari nods.  "That's about the long and short of it.  The punkass rasta
Terminator just got in the way, I think..."

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 07:36:34 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

A.S.9 sees the Swordsman still looking around and he climbs down far enough
to get away if need be, but yet close enough to talk to the guy. A.S.9 said
" What is your guys problem? I help destroy that thing that ate my bike and
then ya'll ge trigger happy on my butt!" A.S.9 waits for a response, and
said " Well I think your thing is leading the band of bikers being chased by
the police, I'm going to try to stop them from hurting those cops, Do you
know what will stop that thing from sucking me up for lunch?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Re: Enter: the Pit!
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 21:41:00 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx would breath a slight sigh of relief as she realized that their foes had dispersed for parts unknown.

Glancing around the lab, she nods at Ahom and Jim.

"Right. If you don't have a problem with it, Magic Man, I don't either.  Come on, Jim. As long as you don't imitate a dolphin and stay out of Japanese tuna fishing lanes, you'll be just fine. Oh, and swim clear of the New Jersey boardwalk area."

With that, Jinx would accompany Ahom and Jim through the portal.

Subject: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2000 12:09:18 -0000
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

In a fluid and almost instinctual motion, Ronin draws the Thundercutter, the blade almost jumping into his open palm.  Without missing a beat, he rotates about 180 degrees, cutting a crescent sideways arc in front of his companions. A shame for the beastie that comes in contact with that enchanted metal.

Rolls - 78 58 83 16 (yuck on that one)

"On your guard!" he shouts to his 3 travel mates.  "We seem to have fallen out of the fire into a hotter ... errr... situation."

Okay.  So he's not good with the lingo.  Least the boy can swing a sword.

> (snip)

Being thus absorbed in the battle at hand, Ronin neither notices nor thinks of Magus.  His only focus are the 3 (4?) beasts bearing down on his party.  Everything else is a non-existent 2nd.

Subject: Re: [v13] Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 18:22:40 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

  *Certainly not a bard that one. But he seems capable with a sword...*
Magus thinks himself as both dextrous hands grip his dual swords and draws
them quietly from their sheaths.

> (snip)

 Magus considers making his way to the safety of the palace but the fact that almost assuredly more such 'friendly' faces lurk within only concretes his original intentions of helping the quartet of new arrivals to this frozen realm. Moving towards the trio of assailants Magus holds both blades at the ready and prepares to unleash upon them.

 With a solid whack upon the back of the head of one of the trio with the flat of his blade Magus readies himself to attack in a more lethal way once the odd foe's attention is to him.

<OOC: Assume you can roll some dice for me matey? Having problems here with mine at the current time...thanks>

Subject: Re: [v13] Enter: the Pit!
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 05:36:06 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Doesn't bother me a bit, Jinx... we've got all kinds of cross-temporal
denizens hanging out on our world anyway.  Jim's not much of a
troublemaker from what I can tell, so I don't think the cosmic balance
will have a big issue with us taking him home with us."

"Though I can think of a few investigator types who may not like it..."

With that, Ahom waves the two of you ahead, making sure he goes through
the portal last; not that he's setting you up for a fall or anything,
but he'd feel really bad if the thing winked out after he passed
through, leaving you and Jim to fend for yourselves.

Especially on a dying world.

The two of you step up to the shimmering gateway, and all seems well at
first; in fact, you can almost see the street outside the Direct Action
Americans' current headquarters on the other side of the glittery hole
between timelines, but then something goes wrong.

As you cross the threshold of the portal, you see a discharge of energy,
energy that seems to be originating within yourself - not Jim, also, but
only you - and then you feel your body being wrenched at relativistic
speeds away from what was to be your nice, normal destination.

You're not sure where this malfunctioning portal is going to deposit
you, but you've got the darndest feeling that you're not going to like
it.  By the time you manage to minimally regain your composure, you note
that the dimensional gateway has suddenly terminated.

But it's cannoned you out of itself at unpleasant speeds...

(to be continued in the Home Sweet... Home? post to follow immediately)

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 06:05:03 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

(since your dice have malfunctioned, Nate, I'll go ahead and help yer)

You whirl on the demonic beastie upon you, Ronin, and manage to cleave
the thing from its left armpit to its right hip, and you cause it to
fall to the ground cursing - in two pieces.  "Arrgrgrgghg!  I'll kill
you for that, mortal!  Harrrhraargh rhaarrghrhgrh rrh!"

It seems to have been rendered incoherently into a mad rage, or simply
lacks a detailed vocabulary - you're not sure which.  At any rate, it
continues trying to clutch at you, even though it's basically immobile
at this point, and you easily side-step its grasp.

Meanwhile, a strange fellow runs up behind the remaining two monsters,
and whacks one upside the head with one of his swords; why he does this
instead of just hacking at it, you're not sure.  However, he does get
the thing's attention.

It turns on him and tries to eat his face, from the stance it adopts;
the creature, about seven feet tall and seemingly made from too much
spare skin, has a maw as big as a football.  Before it can bite, though,
the stranger deftly removes its head.

The third, the most intelligent of the former trio, stands in such a way
to keep an eye on all of you, wary now that you've dropped its fellows.
It begins to wave its fingers about, but that's when Masque pipes up at
long last, and starts shouting something about some Hoggoth fellow.

The fiend is then enshrouded in a brilliant white light, and vanishes,
though not before cursing the wizard for its ill fortune.  That leaves
you no foes, though you've now got yourself a slightly reptilian looking
swordsman before you.

You have the urge to say something before Masque opens his big,
irrational mouth, but something else happens first.  You see this flash
of brilliant blue-white light in the sky, about twenty feet away from
you.  The weird thing is that it's cussing up a storm.

Before you can put two and two together, someone is ejected from the
glowing circle of light, someone who's issuing forth a litany of foul
language that you've only heard one human being utter - and she's flying
towards you way too fast to avoid.

When her uncontrolled flight terminates upon your body, the two of you
careen back into the black, acidic slush all around you.  While the
stuff is rather unpleasant in general, it at least cushions the effect
of the collision - you 'only' suffer Good (10) Blunt Attack damage.

Removing yourself from the irritating mush you've found yourself in, you
see that it was in fact Jinx who materialized out of nowhere to body
check you into the caustic ooze, as your ears correctly indicated.  She
does, at least, look just as surprised to see YOU.

As the others you came to this godforsaken plane of existence with
gather around to see what the heck is going on, you see two more people
exit the light in the sky, though they at least don't hit you.  One
appears to be a completely naked - yet transparent - fellow.

The other is no less than Ahom, who got you and Masque into this horrid
mess in the first place.  Generally speaking, that is.  He looks around,
having a sort of lost look to his features.  That's when the transparent
guy starts expressing himself.

"Nice place... maybe I should have stayed home... erg..."  Ahom just
raises an eyebrow at that, and shrugs.  "Curious... I am sure that I
pointed my gateway from that doomed earth to our own.  I wonder why my
destination went awry..."

Thinking back, Ronin, you recall that Masque had the same problem when
he tried to use his OWN dimension crossing magic to get the two of you
back home.  He might recall this as well, but he's too busy swimming in
the magma fall; good thing that ring lasts for two whole days...

So, everybody, now what?!

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 06:18:12 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

"Hmph... I don't know... after all, he did seem to be helping you guys
beat your little robo-pal or something..."  Tammy then descends into
silence as she flies above you all, looking around for potential trouble
as you make your way towards Och's penthouse.

That's when you realize that you're still being followed, Crimebuster.
Hearing the artificial voice behind you, you turn as your fellows press
on, and hear his various questions regarding those recent events.
You're not too sure about those OTHER bikers, though...

Of course, they were weird enough on their own to merit their own
investigation, should you have the time.  The question is, though, do
you?  This fellow on the rooftops above you (as you find out after
eventually locating him in the night) seems bent on it.

What do you do?  Go along with your fellows, check those freaky Vyking
wannabes out, or what?  And what about the rest of you, once you spy
Crimebuster talking to that fellow a few blocks back?  He don't seem
hostile anymore, but you can't hear what he's saying...

!?

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 09:57:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: Scott Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

"Yo' dude you comin'?"  Stone Cold asks, anything to take his mind off of 7-D.  He continues to move towards the apartment.

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 17:52:24 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari hangs back and watches the rest of the gang.  If they wanna investigate, fine by her.  If not, again, fine by her.  Whatever motivates your plot.

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 18:06:23 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

<Much appreciated pal.>

> (snip)

<OOC: Perhaps slaughtering a foe from behind isn't exactly 'good form'? =^)>

> (snip)

 Not even waiting for the decapitated monstrosity to fall to the ground
Magus spins to face the third and final foe only to see...

> (snip)

 Magus watches the quartet closely for any sign that the battle should extend to them against him. Realizing that they do not seem to wish to stand against him Magus holds his swords to his sides and opens his mouth to speak...

> (snip)

 "Hello..," is all that comes from the bronze skinned man before turning towards the source of the obscene outbursts.

> (snip)

 Magus watches as the two fly into the black mush surrounding the area and without a thought sheathes one sword and steps toward them before the following catches his attention...

> (snip)

 Glancing around at the original quartet and then towards the three new arrivals he breathlessly sighs aloud, "Is this perhaps an invasion?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 18:49:56 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx does indeed turn the air blue with her caustic curses before
getting the wind knocked out of her and landing in the ooze.

And then it starts all over again.

"DAMNIT! BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEPING BEEEEEEP!"* she exclaimed while pulling
herself off of whomever she had impacted with and out of the ooze.

Without even looking to see if Ahom was around she screams into the air,
"I thought I was going home!"

Finally realizing that there were people around, she takes a more
defensive stance, sizing up each individual before speaking, "What the
hell are you looking at? Oh, and where the hell am I?"

*Censored for the faint of heart.

OOC: Hey there folks! Good to be involved with other players again. Can
people give me a run down of who is about and describe their characters
for me? I've been out of the loop for quite some time.

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Mon, 04 Sep 2000 05:31:46 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Sure, Bil... here's some review-type recap stuff.

There is, of course, Ahom, who's hanging out with you right now, and
seems to be getting you into one mess after another.  He's the fellow
with the long, bone white hair and the flowing gray robes - though
they're currently covered in slightly acidic black slush.

Secondly, you've got Slow Jim, the transparent Atlantean that you picked
up on that strange, variant earth you so recently visited.  He's also
got long (if transparent) hair, and he's wearing nothing but the high
tech devices you procured for him from that otherworldly Flash.

Third, there's Masque.  He's wearing his usual, outlandish uniform,
consisting of his crimson red cape, his off-white tunic with the blue
sleeves, his black trousers, leather boots, and a rather large array of
belts, ropes, and pouches.  His boots are coated in magma, though.

Fourth on the list of people you see is this lady with glowing white
hair, who looks almost too angelic and innocent for her own good.  She
is wearing a suit made of leathery bits here and there, though it looks
ill suited for this weather.  She's holding two short swords.

Fifth, you see an auburn haired fellow who's got that shifty, 'I think
I'm smarter than you' look to him.  He's wrapped up in various layers of
what looks like boiled leather armor, armor that's complemented with
several eerie knee, elbow, and shoulder pads.

You see Ronin sixth (though you ran into him first), who's wearing gray
jeans, a black T-shirt, and a long leather coat; unless, of course, he's
wearing his ceremonial clothing type stuff, in that case he's got the
standard costume described on his own v13 page.

Seventh, of course, would be Magus, a bronzed, slightly reptilian
looking fellow (though you can't exactly place why) who's standing there
with two large blades, and is wearing some sort of medieval armor.
Taking a hint, you think you're in some barbaric realm or another.

Eighth, you see bits and pieces of two rather nasty looking critters on
the ground, each of which looks like they were seven feet tall - and had
enough skin for somebody three feet taller still.  They smell horrid,
and have jaws as big as your head.

And finally, of course, there's you - whatever you're wearing...

Further describing where you're at, you see that you seem to be at the
bottom of a local depression, vast mountains of black ice with eerie red
veins of color running throughout them surrounding the area.  Then
there's the big magma fall.

Watching Masque play around in the thing, you see that there's a massive
amount of molten orange metal spewing forth from a seeming hole in the
sky above you, descending upon an obsidian pillar where some fellow is
slowly being bathed in its elemental fury.

He's still in one piece, though, so you get the impression that he can
take it; nonetheless, he's wailing about it all the same.  Completing
your visual sweep of the area, you then spy the large keep behind you.
It seems to be an architectural tribute to the number three.

It's got three towers.  It's got three sides.  It's got three gates.
The doorways, towers, and windows are triangular.  The bricks are
triangular.  And there's three hideous looking fellows on one of the
walls looking at you all and pointing.

Also, the other weird thing (on top of everything else) seems to be that
whenever you get close to Ronin, you see a slight arc of what would
appear to be electricity leap between the two of you.  That should get
you up to speed, though.

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 08:19:14 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound pauses long enough to shout back, "Come on Crimebuster, It's
not like we have time for this.  Let's get going.  Och may have found
out how to get the rest of the group back and may be waiting for us.  I
am not going to let this opportunity slip away.  Not this time."

Rebound continues on towards Och's apartment, stepping up his pace in
anticipation of good news when he arrives.

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 13:10:10 GMT
From: "Charlie Clay Jr." <cclayjr@hotmail.com>

"Then we had better get going then."  Stone Cold says as he continues to
scope out the area, checking for other eyes.

Subject: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 16:15:37 -0000
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

Probably got the jeans on now.  Travel is hard in a robe and flip-flops.

> (snip)

The Warrior takes his time untangling himself from the human not that is himself and Jinx.

"Greetings comrades" he replies to everyone.  "It has been a long time since last we met.  It is good to see that you are all well.  I trust all remains the same with you."

> (snip)

Ronin blinks in surprise as lightning sparks between Jinx and himself.
"...Perhaps not all things" he adds.

Ronin would mention that whole 'dimensional teleport thing to Ahom, but he's more interested in this sparky spark thing btw Jinx and he.

"Is this a new ability of yours, Jinx?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 18:03:54 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Ah ha! Description of Jinx: A tall, buxom woman with lithe limbs wearing a black skin suit she was apparently poured into. Her strait blonde hair is damp with sweat and hangs down to the middle of her back in a severe pony tail. She has a utility belt hung on her hips that has two holsters for rather nasty looking hi-tech pistols. Her eyes are ice blue and she appears to have a constant grimace marring her otherwise beautiful features.
_____

Jinx would scratch her head, looking at the energy crackling between her and Ronin, slowly turning to Ahom, "No, man, nothing new that I'm aware of. Ahom, do you have any clue why Ronin and I are playing the static cling game over here?"

She'd take a look at her surroundings, frowning at the Triple Keep.

"Hey, are those guys on top of that weird building any kind of threat? And what about the poor schmuck stuck under the lava flow? What's his story?"

And turning back to Ahom, "Oh, and yeah, how the hell can you get us back home? For real this time."

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Wed, 06 Sep 2000 06:07:13 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Upon your interrogation of his person, Jinx, Ahom just sort of looks at
you and says "Er..."  He then starts looking around, and acts as though
he's trying to get his bearings.  "Hm."  The master mage then licks his
thumb and traces it in an arc across the sky.

"I have my theories, but I'm not sure exactly what is going on.  Let me
attempt to divine the nature of our predicament, and then the source of
the static between the two of you."  Ahom waves his fingers about willy
nilly, and then walks towards Masque.

He goes to shake the irrational mage's hand, and similar sparks seem to
fly between the two wizards.  "I see..." says Ahom, who takes a slush
snowball in the head for his troubles.  "You hit me with static cling!
Me!!"  Masque seems his usual self - unfortunately for you all.

Ahom returns to the rest of you, and looks as though he's thought of
something.  "I need to study the energies that seem to be coursing
through the four of our bodies, in order to determine whether or not I
am correct about their origins."

"If I am, that would explain a lot about what has transpired here... and
maybe allow us to get home post haste.  However, this may take me some
time, so I'll need all of you to cover me while I do this.  I think
we're about to have some company..."

Looking down at the three-sided palace below, all of you can see that a
much larger force has accumulated on the walls of what two of you know
to be Apomps' citadel.  A few of 'em have even leapt off the twenty
seven (3 times 3 times 3) foot tall walls to get a closer look.

What next?

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Wed, 06 Sep 2000 08:18:05 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

OOC: "It's alright.  I've been ionized.  I'm OK now." (name that quote!)

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2000 19:52:31 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

Magus stands a slight bit away from the newly arrived group of travelers listening in as he glances about the outlying area.

> (snip)

<snip>

> (snip)

 Magus lowers his head and shakes his head disappointingly, *Why can't there be five minutes of peace about my person?*

 Description of Magus: Standing at around seven feet tall with a metallic bronze cast to his elven like features. The large slitted greened eyes dart about constantly in a state of constant awareness as his muscular yet agile limbs rest statuesque like from his broad shoulders even as the muscles randomly tense and ripple in a state of coiled readiness. The medieval armor fits his torso perfectly in contrast to the loose pants hang from his waist held up by a thick leather belt which two large, well crafted and well cared for bastards swords would rest normally in their scabbards as well as a multitude of pouches and purses. A haggard looking leather backpack hangs from one shoulder.  seemingly packed for constant travel. A wickedly taloned hand brushes through his pitch black hair which is tied back in a loose ponytail except for a a braided strand hanging from each temple.

Hmm... don't think I missed anything.

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2000 19:31:04 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx just frowns at the static and Ahom's vagueness.

"Right. Cover you. I know this story well enough," she mutters while readying her mag-cannons.

"OK, folks. We've got incoming. Ahom's going to be out of commission while he gets all mystic. If you want to get home, I suggest you do your best to keep him safe."

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2000 15:03:46 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus glances over his shoulder towards the boisterous woman even as he stands at the forefront of those gathered awaiting the charge of this realms montrosities. *Somehow I doubt our definition of home is all that simliar.*

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Sat, 09 Sep 2000 21:56:10 CDT
From: "Randy Alexander" <AS_nine@hotmail.com>

A.S.9 waits a little longer for a response, but after a while he will start running after the bikers, and possibly catch a ride with a cop. ( i.e. whip around axle on the car,and pull up to it, climb on top of the car, yank the cop out, and press the gas down, and fly after the bikers mowing down as many as possible.) Rolls 71, 54, 58, 29, 31, 78, 22,77, 82,71

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 10:27:05 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Looking back at the robot they had just had a standoff with, Crimebuster decides that now is not the best time for another conversation or confrontation.
He follows Rebound back to Och's.

(OCC: Sorry about being so late... Working for a living sucks :-)

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 15:15:45 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Tammy just shrugs, but nonetheless falls in as the majority of y'all
head back to Och's lavish penthouse apartment.  The rest of your foot
based journey is rather uneventful, as far as walking around in funny
clothes in the New York night is concerned, but nothing BIG happens.

Getting there, you see that Och is playing with a couple of high tech
gizmos on his kitchen table.  "Ah!  Hello, all!"  The diminutive
extraplanar man then returns to his work, but doesn't stop talking.  "I
do believe that I missed you, earlier."

"I returned to Morbis' former headquarters in order to sample the
energies that blasted you all to the farthest reaches of space and time
... there was nobody there.  However, I have managed to get a lock on
the energies that caused us so much trouble."

With that, Och holds up a hand-held scanner thing.  "I received this on
loan from the Pastordyne corporation... it's some sort of multiplanar
frequency scanner thing - I forget the actual name of the device, but it
has fifteen syllables in it, so that's unimportant..."

"It's indicating a specific direction with which we should travel to
meet up with the rest of our friends; the remnant energies of that
exploding Stellar Key you told me about seem to have all come together
in a specific location... somewhere..."

                                   ***

Meanwhile, as the others hear things about their wayward friends (though
that may be stretching the term somewhat), you follow the trail of
destruction towards your biker 'pals', 9.  You would've stolen a ride
from the police, but all of their cars have been all smashed up.

Your destination seems to be the headquarters of a group of folks
calling themselves the Warriors of Thor - at least, that's what it says
in big, neon letters on top of their medieval style bar.  You see
hundreds of motorcycles parked all over their sprawling parking lot.

And hundreds of makeshift Vykings.  Well, at least they COULD be
considered Vykings, if not for the studded leather jackets, poorly
welded helmets, boards-with-nails-in, and (of course) the motorcycles.
And there's the robot, of course.

What you've been programmed with as far as history is concerned does NOT
indicate that there were any robotic Vykings about 1000 years ago.  The
'bot gets off its rust-bucket hog and then steps back - at which point
the hog itself transforms into another, somehow feminine looking 'bot.

Both then hold hands and walk into the bar with their biker pals, and
you hear a raucous cheer issue throughout the facility.  Sounds...
interesting, to say the least... but the weirdest part is that there
isn't a small army of police converging on this spot.

!?

Subject: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 21:05:46 -0000
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

Ronin unsheathes the Thundercutter, slashing the air about him in dramatic arc.

"I hope this will suffice, Jinx" replies the swordsman.  "As for getting us home, I recall that Masque tried to do the same for he and I but failed.  Something about temporal energy?  I cannot recall the explaination."

Ronin turns to face the oncoming horde.

"But now is not the time for science and sorcery.  It's time for battle."

His eyes narrow and teeth bare, Ronin falls into a defensive stance, ready to meet the first attacker.

Oh, you want to unsubscribe, eh?  Feh!

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 19:01:30 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari nods.  "Do we have time for me to take a shower or somethin' first?
I've got gunk on me..."

<<And there's the robot, of course.>>

OOC: Dude.  You rule.  You SO rule.  That's all there is to it.

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 19:02:56 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 *Flashy guy..,* Magus thinks to himself as he stands with both his bastard swords at the ready.

> (snip)

*Temporal energy....chronal displacement? Could indeed interfere with spells of transportation and just about any other spell....hm.*

> (snip)

 Magus glances at the fellow swordsman and gives a curt nod of acknowledgement to signify that for a second time this day he stands with and not against the strangers.

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 18:33:53 -0500
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx glances at the two swordsman as they ready themselves for battle.

"Right. Glad to see we have some people who are ready to get into the thick of things. So, anybody fought these things before? What are their capabilities? Any weaknesses?"

With that, she'd go back to observing the approaching enemy. Squinting a bit, she'd drop to one knee and take a three-point stance before getting a bead on the knee cap of the closest enemy.

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 19:52:13 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Speaking over his shoulder Magus answers the expletive spouting woman in an educated tone of clear enunciation, "They bleed. They die. Aside from that there is not much more to be said, milady."

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 09:14:54 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

"Well, it looks like we know where to go now..."

Rebound begins the trudge in the general direction that Och indicates. He keeps an eye out to make sure they aren't being followed by any more of Morbius' agents.

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 13:19:13 GMT
From: "Charlie Clay Jr." <cclayjr@hotmail.com>

"So where do we find them?"  Stone Cold asks.  Try not to focus on anything in particular, even Tammy.

Subject: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 15:16:19 -0000
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

Ronin's eyes narrow even more (if such a thing is even possible). "Good...then we will ensure that they do both."

Subject: [v13] Nobody's Real or Get your motor burning?
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 17:18:51 -0500
From: "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

Searching his database for information concerning the phenomenon, come up with a reference to Dan Akroyd in a movie "Dragnet" and something about P.A.G.A.N.S.. He hits his own head thinking he must be having a Circuit Fart. Then he looks around for the best "Hog" around, tries to hotwire it, and then picks up one of the other Hogs and dumps the gasoline of it on the others, and then starts up the motorcycle to pull away a bit and then gives a little flame kiss to the gasoline. Then waits for the fireworks and the ants to start pouring out. ( OCC Used to love stomping ant beds and seeing all of them pour out!!! I know I'm a freak!) Rolls for these bad Moves 71, 54, 58, 29, 31, 78, 2, 77, 82, 71, 50

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 18:30:19 -0400
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus nods determined to stop the hordes from causing any harm this or any other day and in a low rumbling tone, "Aye. That we will swordsman. That we
will..."

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 03:57:49 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Wasn't that Buckaroo Banzai?  But I digress...

"They're Gehreleths, woman."  That, of course, would be Thaddeus, the
more talkative of Masque's and Ronin' guides.  "They're 'orrible
blighters, nasty fiends that thrive on destruction and decay.  They've
got super human strength and sharp, pointy teeth and claws."

"'S not all, either.  Them monsters pass nasty glue through their flesh
to confound and befuddle their foes, and have the ability to see both
magic, heat, and that which is invisible.  Further, they eventually
recover from any non-magical attack which strikes them."

That last bit makes you just a wee bit nervous, since the exact status
of the swords used to cut the two fiends at your feet down has yet to be
made known.  At least they're not stirring yet, but then, they have been
cleaved into convenient, bite sized pieces.

"We'll be having us a damn good donnybrook unless your mage friend there
can make heads or tails out of what he needs to know..."  As far as the
mage in question, Ahom brightens up upon hearing Ronin's eyewitness
account of Masque's failure to get himself and Ronin home.

"Temporal magic?  Aha!  Of course... that would explain why I was
shunted to an alternate realm, why Jinx was drawn to me when she entered
a transdimensional nexus, and why we were then drawn to Masque and
Ronin!  This is no mere temporal energies, this is the Stellar Key!"

Waving his hands frantically, Ahom casts a spell that causes the four of
you that have been tainted with the Stellar Key's power to glow, and
once you do, the portion of that artifact's energies that reside within
you flow out of you bodies, and into a glowing ball over Ahom's head.

"Aha!  You've planned well, Morbis, making contingency plan after
contingency plan to bring yourself back from the dead... but no matter!
With this move, I hereby nullify the threat of your Stellar Key once and
for all!"  Ahom then strikes the ball of energy, causing it to disperse.

It doesn't blow up all over the lot of you like it did last time, so
much as merely... fade from existence.  In the chill around you, you all
could swear you heard a cry of rage - at least, one that stood out above
and beyond those of the fiendish army approaching you.

Hearing that, Ahom then licks his finger, waves it around in the air,
and forges yet another mystical portal.  "Okay, everybody, we should be
safe to travel at this point... the doorway is open, unless you'd all
like to fight that tidal wave of fiendish foes..."

Before any of you can even react, Masque shrieks with joy.  "Ooh!  Magic
portal!"  He jumps through without thinking, and seems to manifest in an
alley amongst several people - an alley that is full of debris,
dumpsters, and more than one hulking automotive ruins.

You can't tell for sure, however, because some of the details are rather
fuzzy; you're not sure why.

Well, do you stay or do you go now?

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 04:15:18 -0500
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

You manage to detonate a good six cycles with that move, A.S.9, spraying
debris and shrapnel all over the place - you take out four more cycles
with wreckage alone!  It takes about eight seconds, but then about a
dozen Vyking-type bikers do emerge from the would-be tavern.

"What in Sam Hill!?"  That one looks amazingly like Yosemite Sam, being
exceptionally short, stocky, and having a moustache you could hide a
machete in.  Two, actually, when you get down to it.  Shortly
thereafter, even more Warriors of Thor pour out of the drinking hole.

Not sure where you're going with this, but I guess it's a start... =)

                                  ***

Meanwhile, you've all cleaned and freshened up as much as possible, and
on Och's urging, you head back out of the penthouse in order to acquire
some clue as to where your missing allies are; calling them friends
would be a bit premature at this point, so allies does work.

"Well, Stone Cold, we simply follow the direction indicated by this
anomalous energy detector, and we should be able to trace a path to our
comrades in arms, no matter where in the multiverse they are... I'm told
this device also indicates weaknesses in space-time we can traverse."

"Should be interesting, no?"  You follow Och through the streets of
Manhattan for about half an hour, and you all hear what sounds like an
exceptionally potent explosion going off in the distance.  Och won't let
you stop to investigate, however, for he's quite determined to succeed.

Of course, he does stop about twenty feet after insisting on continuing,
for his device has quit beeping altogether.  "Funny... we seem to have
lost the signal... I'm not sure why that would've happened unless
something unfortunate occured to our allies..."

"I wonder if -"  Before Och can continue, and before anybody else can
get a word in edgewise, a hole seems to open up in the air around you,
and from it issues forth a rather gaudily dressed man, who seems to have
molten metal stuck to his boots."

"Hoo Hah!", the bald man says as he comes down in the alley.  As you all
look at him with that look typically reserved for, say, raving
psychopaths, he looks at you all wild-eyed and says "Um... right.  You
wouldn't happen to have any pancakes handy, would you?"

?!?

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 08:37:38 EDT
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari casually looks into her backpack of holding and produces some Mrs.
Butterworth's, if that helps any...

(OOC: Good catch on the Buckaroo Banzai ref, BTW...)

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 08:44:47 -0400 (EDT)
From: Scott Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

You manage to detonate a good six cycles with that move, A.S.9, spraying
debris and shrapnel all over the place - you take out four more cycles
with wreckage alone!  It takes about eight seconds, but then about a
dozen Vyking-type bikers do emerge from the would-be tavern.

"What in Sam Hill!?"  That one looks amazingly like Yosemite Sam, being
exceptionally short, stocky, and having a moustache you could hide a
machete in.  Two, actually, when you get down to it.  Shortly
thereafter, even more Warriors of Thor pour out of the drinking hole.

Not sure where you're going with this, but I guess it's a start... =)

***

Meanwhile, you've all cleaned and freshened up as much as possible, and
on Och's urging, you head back out of the penthouse in order to acquire
some clue as to where your missing allies are; calling them friends
would be a bit premature at this point, so allies does work.

"Well, Stone Cold, we simply follow the direction indicated by this
anomalous energy detector, and we should be able to trace a path to our
comrades in arms, no matter where in the multiverse they are... I'm told
this device also indicates weaknesses in space-time we can traverse."

"Should be interesting, no?"  You follow Och through the streets of
Manhattan for about half an hour, and you all hear what sounds like an
exceptionally potent explosion going off in the distance.  Och won't let
you stop to investigate, however, for he's quite determined to succeed.

Of course, he does stop about twenty feet after insisting on continuing,
for his device has quit beeping altogether.  "Funny... we seem to have
lost the signal... I'm not sure why that would've happened unless
something unfortunate occured to our allies..."

"I wonder if -"  Before Och can continue, and before anybody else can
get a word in edgewise, a hole seems to open up in the air around you,
and from it issues forth a rather gaudily dressed man, who seems to have
molten metal stuck to his boots."

"Hoo Hah!", the bald man says as he comes down in the alley.  As you all
look at him with that look typically reserved for, say, raving
psychopaths, he looks at you all wild-eyed and says "Um... right.  You
wouldn't happen to have any pancakes handy, would you?"

"Pancakes are 'bout 3 block that way.  Who are you?"  Stone Cold.

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 08:53:50 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound simply shrugs, "Only in New York."

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 8:59:28 -0400
From: "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Crimebuster looks warily at the man and then around for an IHOP.  Barring
the incidental sighting of any of the blue tiled restaurants he says nothing.

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 17:36:38 -0500
From: "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

You manage to detonate a good six cycles with that move, A.S.9, spraying
debris and shrapnel all over the place - you take out four more cycles
with wreckage alone!  It takes about eight seconds, but then about a
dozen Vyking-type bikers do emerge from the would-be tavern.

"What in Sam Hill!?"  That one looks amazingly like Yosemite Sam, being
exceptionally short, stocky, and having a moustache you could hide a
machete in.  Two, actually, when you get down to it.  Shortly
thereafter, even more Warriors of Thor pour out of the drinking hole.

Hopefully A.S.9 was able to get a hot-wired first like he had tried to do.
He will then start targeting some of the other bikes nearby the other
bikers, hoping to pinpoint gas tanks and tires, then will drive off in the
direction of the last fight and try to setup some type of trap on the fly.
Rolls : 75,36,45,98,77,12,89,51,61,80

Subject: Re: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date:    Tue, 19 Sep 2000 08:23:54 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

"Oh, great.  THIS is an improvement...

"Geeze."  Ari just watches the insanity, ready to whoop out with some badassedy shit if anything goes wrong, but for now, she just smirks.  "So.  What the hell's going on here, or is that too difficult a question?"

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date:    Tue, 19 Sep 2000 08:35:40 -0400
From:    Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound smiles to himself imagining what kind of a response this will garner.

"Hello Masque.  You wouldn't happen to know where Ahom is, would you?
Or any of the others for that matter..."

Rebound turns back to Ari.  "This would be one of the missing... well, I WANTED to use the term hero, but I'm not entirely sure the term applies...And this (pointing to the other new arrival) is...um, er, I have no idea."

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date:    Tue, 19 Sep 2000 08:38:23 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

"Well," she beams, "one out of two ain't so bad!"  Then, pokingly, towards Mr. Plexiglass-ass, "Hey.  Hey, pal.  Who the heck're you?"

Subject: RE: [v13] Nobody's Real?
Date:    Tue, 19 Sep 2000 8:54:01 -0400
From:    "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Crimebuster chuckles lightly to himself at the "Mr. Plexiglass-ass" comment.  He turns to Rebound and says "I see you have found your friends. Not quite how I imagined them."  

Unsure if he truly wants to shake the hand of someone who drinks syrup straight from the bottle (for fear of where his hand may have been) Crimebuster extends his hand and says evenly "My name is Crimebuster.  Who's your friend?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date:    Tue, 19 Sep 2000 18:03:48 -0500
From:    "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx would nod curtly after Ahom opened the portal, following shortly after Masque, hoping the manic fool would take the brunt of any damage from any aggressors on the other side of the portal.

Once she was in the alley, she would immediately seek cover behind the nearest hunk of metal, appraising the tactical situation.

Subject: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date:    Wed, 20 Sep 2000 12:38:08 -0000
From:    "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

Ronin looks from the fiends to the portal and back a few times.  Its obvious that he's actually weighing the options here.

> (snip) 

The Swordsman lets out an audible groan.  Hey!  You spend months on end in close proxity with Masque and see if you don't do the same.

> (snip)

Ronin nods resigned as Jinx follows the magician into the portal.

"Another day, fiends!" he growls at the horde of besties.

Sheathing his blade and fixing his gear, Ronin strides into the portal  and back home(?).

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date:    Wed, 20 Sep 2000 18:03:43 -0400
From:    "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus arches an eyebrow slightly at the conversation and rather insane
reaction one of the new arrivals elicit at it while still staring ahead at
the oncoming horde.

> (snip)

 Magus turns to watch the trio step through the portal just as it would seem
the small amount of support in the coming melee is dwindling in a rather
rapid fashion. Muttering slightly to himself, "Well that's a fine thank
you..," as he turns back and strides towards the rushing fiends.

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date:    Wed, 20 Sep 2000 19:10:39 -0400
From:    "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

Turning over at this Ahom fellow Magus snorts slightly, "Says you..."

> (snip)

 Glancing back at the hundred or so foes making their way through the slush and sludge towards him Magus glances back to Ahom, "Fine. Let us go, but I plan on discussing exactly what in the seven hells is going on when this is done with..." Pausing to lock eyes with him, "And since I am travelling with you now what pray tell is your name?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date:    Wed, 20 Sep 2000 17:43:16 -0700
From:    firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

(...?)

Anyway, you leap through the portal, Jinx, but you find that Slow Jim
has beat you to it, wanting to be just about anywhere else but here. 
Crossing the breach in space-time, you land on the concrete of some
unknown alley, and roll to shelter.

Before you do, you see that Masque is talking to several, rather
familiar folks...  Meanwhile, Ronin, you see those two split, and
breaking away from the coming conflict, you decide that this way would
be preferable to the long trip you and Masque had embarked on.

Especially since he left you high and dry.  Leaping through, you too see
that your allies were not alone upon their arrival, and it would seem
that a bunch of folks you thought were lost are waiting for you.  Of
course, they still seem mesmerized by Masque's magma covered boots.

That just leaves you, that Ahom fellow, and the other two planewalkers
that came here via that magma floe, Magus.  That's when Ahom, who built
the mystic portal in the first place, shouts at you.  "Hey, you can't
beat 'em all, warrior!  Quickly, come with us!"

The other two, seeing the veritable horde of fiends rushing out of the
Three Sided Palace towards your position, take his advice in your stead,
and leap through the portal without thinking twice.  The one called
Thaddeus isn't quiet about it, though.  "I ain't that ready to die...!"

Looking down the hill from your position, Magus, you see there's about
one hundred of these monsters coming at you... and it don't look like
they're about to run out.  That Ahom fellow's holding his portal open
while you make up your mind... do you fight... or beat feet?

?!?!?

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Home Sweet... Home?
Date:    Thu, 21 Sep 2000 18:40:32 -0500
From:    "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx observes the conversation between Masque and the others for a moment or two, and then comes out from hiding once things look like they'll remain civil.

Making her way to them, she questions them about their current whereabouts, "OK, a few questions: 1) What city, state, country, continent, planet is this? 2) What time/day/month/year is this? 3) Who is the President of the United States?"

Subject: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Fri, 22 Sep 2000 04:46:46 -0700
From:    Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

(okay... to prevent you from getting lost, I've decided to paste your
various posts in the order that they occurred, so's we can get an idear
what's going on, m'kay?  Sorry if this bugs you, but I figured that at
this particular point, this was the best option...)

EmarZero wrote:

> "Geeze."  Ari just watches the insanity, ready to whoop out with some 
> badassedy shit if anything goes wrong, but for now, she just smirks.  
> "So.  What the hell's going on here, or is that too difficult a 
> question?"

Douglas Lohse wrote:

> Rebound smiles to himself imagining what kind of a response this will
> garner.

"Difficult?  Difficult?  Listen here, Little Missy, we've been lost out
in the middle of frickin-nowhere for the last month!  Fighting demons
and monsters and bureaucrats and other things with sharp, pointy teeth
who wanted to make steak out of us.  Mmm... steak..."

Masque then gets a sort of disconnected look in his eye, and slowly pans
his head around as if he were looking for the closest Sizzler (TM)...

> "Hello Masque.  You wouldn't happen to know where Ahom is, would you?
> Or any of the others for that matter..."

Slowly returning to this plane of existence, Masque stops looking
around, and sort of rotates on the balls of his feet in your general
direction.  He starts pointing with each of his index fingers, both of
which happen to be moving in a different direction.
 
"Um... it's hard to point in six dimensions..."

> Rebound turns back to Ari.  "This would be one of the missing...
> well, I WANTED to use the term hero, but I'm not entirely sure the
> term applies...And this (pointing to the other new arrival) is...um,
> er, I have no idea."

EmarZero wrote:

> "Well," she beams, "one out of two ain't so bad!"  Then, pokingly, 
> towards Mr. Plexiglass-ass, "Hey.  Hey, pal.  Who the heck're you?"

"Plexiglass Ass?"  You're not quite sure what the transparent man said
after that, but it was rather mumble-y, but you're sure it involved at
least one 'uckin' and quite possibly an 'itch'.  But then, it's hard to
tell, what with all the urban background noise and all...

"Well, my friends call me Slow Jim, but you... well, um... I s'pose you
can, too, or something..."

Scott Greengold wrote:

> Crimebuster chukles lightly to himself at the "Mr. Plexiglass-ass" 
> comment.  He turns to Rebound and says "I see you have found your 
> friends. Not quite how I imagined them."  Unsure if he truly wants to 
> shake the hand of someone who drinks syrup straight from the bottle
> (for fear of where his hand may have been) Crimebuster extends his 
> hand and says evenly "My name is Crimebuster.  Who's your friend?"

Masque stops again, looking like you'd just startled him enough to drop
an expensive Ming vase... you could swear that every molecule in his
body leapt into the air at the exact same nanosecond... in tune to the
shock you delivered to his tiny grip on reality...

"Friend?  Pfah... I don't even know that guy.  He came here with
whats-her-face... the angry lady...  Um... her..."  Masque starts doing
that eye-watering thing with his fingers again, but this time, they do
at least converge on one point - that portal over your heads.
 
William Lockwood wrote:

> Jinx would nod curtly after Ahom opened the portal, following shortly
> after Masque, hoping the manic fool would take the brunt of any damage
> from any agressors on the other side of the portal.

> Once she was in the alley, she would immediately seek cover behind the
> nearest hunk of metal, appraising the tactical situation.

Masque just looks at you, Crimebuster.  "Yep, that's her... the one behind the dumpster."

Peter Chamers wrote:

> Ronin looks from the fiends to the portal and back a few times.  Its 
> obvious that he's actually weighing the options here.

>> (sinp)
 
> The Swordsman lets out an audible groan.  Hey!  You spend months on 
> end in close proxity with Masque and see if you don't do the same.
 
>> (snip squared)
 
> Ronin nods resigned as Jinx follows the magician into the portal.
 
> "Another day, fiends!" he growls at the horde of besties.
 
> Sheathing his blade and fixing his gear, Ronin strides into the
> portal and back home(?).

Nathan Gecko wrote:

>  Magus arches an eyebrow slightly at the conversation and rather 
> insane reaction one of the new arrivals elicit at it while still 
> staring ahead at the oncoming horde.
 
>> (snip cubed)
 
>  Magus turns to watch the trio step through the portal just as it 
> would seem the small amount of support in the coming melee is 
> dwindling in a rather rapid fashion. Muttering slightly to himself, 
> "Well that's a fine thank you..," as he turns back and strides towards 
> the rushing fiends.

I wrote:

> (...?)

> Anyway, you leap through the portal, Jinx, but you find that Slow Jim
> has beat you to it, wanting to be just about anywhere else but here. 
> Crossing the breach in space-time, you land on the concrete of some
> unknown alley, and roll to shelter.
 
> Before you do, you see that Masque is talking to several, rather
> familiar folks...  Meanwhile, Ronin, you see those two split, and
> breaking away from the coming conflict, you decide that this way would
> be preferrable to the long trip you and Masque had embarked on.
 
> Especially since he left you high and dry.  Leaping through, you too 
> see that your allies were not alone upon their arrival, and it would 
> seem that a bunch of folks you thought were lost are waiting for you. 
> Of course, they still seem mesmerized by Masque's magma covered boots.
 
> That just leaves you, that Ahom fellow, and the other two planewalkers
> that came here via that magma floe, Magus.  That's when Ahom, who 
> built the mystic portal in the first place, shouts at you.  "Hey, you 
> can't beat 'em all, warrior!  Quickly, come with us!"

> The other two, seeing the veritable horde of fiends rushing out of the
> Three Sided Palace towards your position, take his advice in your 
> stead, and leap through the portal without thinking twice.  The one 
> called Thaddeus isn't quiet about it, though.  "I ain't that ready to 
> die...!"

> Looking down the hill from your position, Magus, you see there's about
> one hundred of these monsters coming at you... and it don't look like
> they're about to run out.  That Ahom fellow's holding his portal open
> while you make up your mind... do you fight... or beat feet?

Meanwhile, yet another fellow issues forth from the alleyway portal
to... elsewhere.  He's followed shortly thereafter by two more folks,
both of which have a sort of ... steam punk look to their attire.  Both
are wielding short swords and an attitude, however.

Actually, now that you mention it, all three of 'em are armed with
swords of some type...

Nathan Gecko wrote:

> Turning over at this Ahom fellow Magus snorts slightly, "Says you..."
 
>> (snip to the fourth power!)

>  Glancing back at the hundred or so foes making their way through the 
> slush and sludge towards him Magus glances back to Ahom, "Fine. Let us 
> go, but I plan on discussing exactly what in the seven hells is going 
> on when this is done with..." Pausing to lock eyes with him, "And 
> since I am travelling with you now what pray tell is your name?"

Meanwhile, back on the other side of the portal, the lone human on this
desolate plane of existence looks at you and shrugs.  "The name's Ahom,
dear sir, and I do apologize for not introducing myself properly, though
I assumed you at least heard my name mentioned by the... others."

"At any rate, we should be going now...  I do so believe we've outlasted
our welcome... by far.  And that's nine hells, by the way.  The seven
goes to the heavens, if memory serves; I haven't been around this
particular neighborhood of the multiverse in years..."
 
Bil Lockwood wrote:

> Jinx observes the conversation between Masque and the others for a
> moment or two, and then comes out from hiding once things look like
> they'll remain civil.

> Making her way to them, she questions them about their current
> whereabouts, "OK, a few questions: 1) What city, state, country,
> continent, planet is this? 2) What time/day/month/year is this? 3) Who
> is the President of the United States?"

When you come out of hiding, Jinx, you find that most of the others have
arrived through the portal as well... and they're talking to your old
allies in the fight against Morbis.  They don't get a chance to answer
your queries yet, however, as the portal explodes overhead.

When the dust settles, you see that it spat out Ahom and that Magus
fellow... kind of violently.  "Sorry about that, everybody, I had to
make sure those gehreleth things didn't follow us through to our own
realm... especially with us so close to a Confluence neighborhood."

Ahom dusts himself off, and looks at the exceptionally large crowd
around him.  "Ah, excellent... it would seem that almost everybody has
been accounted for, now, doesn't it?  We need only find Reaper and that
Ken Connell fellow, now, don't we?  Hm..."

As everybody seems to get used to the idea of being home (except for
Jinx, since nobody's answered her questions yet), things seem to calm
down... but anybody who's looking would notice that Och isn't too
happy... in fact, he's holding his golden axe in a death grip...

?!?

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Fri, 22 Sep 2000 9:19:35 -0400
From:    "Scott J. Greengold" <scott.greengold@ey.com>

Crimebuster visual:  6'3" 235  Short black hair with deep, piercing green eyes. He is dressed in a black "superhero" suit with no noticable pockets. He wears a halfmask that covers his face from the bridge of the nose down. On his back is strapped an amazing japanese style katana.  It has a pommel  that appears to be made of ivory.  

While Crimebuster looks over the odd group assembled before him he hears Jinx's question and turns to answer:  You are in New York City.  There is nowhere else like it.  It is September.  The year is 2000.  The Millennium went as smoothly as could be expected.  As for the President...I will let someone else answer that. My name is Crimebuster.  I have been working with Rebound, Ari, Stone Cold and the others here against a technowizard named A-Lonse and a....thing named Morbis.  Both have been soundly routed.  

With that he extends his hand in a gesture of friendship.   

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Fri, 22 Sep 2000 10:18:13 -0400
From:    scott.greengold@ey.com

One more update:

Crimebuster also wears a red sash that is tied off to the right side in a standard Gi knot.

OCC: Whoops.

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Fri, 22 Sep 2000 13:47:17 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

Ari just boggles.  "Man.  I'm NEVER gonna get used to this shit.  I swear to god.  What a fucking day."

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Fri, 22 Sep 2000 14:04:28 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

Ari waves at the mention of her name.  She's about five six or so, with short close-cropped hair, dyed a deep blue, almost black.  "Buddy Holly" style glasses are perched on the end of her small nose, giving an overall impression of harmlessness.  A brightly woven bag is slung over one shoulder, and a backpack of unspecified design is on her... well, back.  She's wearing a bright blue woven top and a long patterned skirt, with huge combat boots.

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Fri, 22 Sep 2000 22:54:42 -0400
From:    "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

<OOC: For everyone's perusal again in case you missed it the first time
around.

 Description of Magus: Standing at around seven feet tall with a metallic bronze cast to his elven like features. The large slitted greened eyes dart about constantly in a state of constant awareness as his muscular yet agile limbs rest statuesque from his broad shoulders even as the muscles randomly tense and ripple in a state of coiled readiness. The medieval armor fits his torso perfectly in contrast to the loose pants hang from his waist held up by a thick leather belt which two large, well crafted and well cared for bastards swords would rest normally in their scabbards as well as a multitude of pouches and purses. A haggard looking leather backpack hangs from one shoulder. seemingly packed for constant travel. A wickedly taloned hand brushes through his pitch black hair which is tied back in a loose ponytail except for a a braided strand hanging from each temple.

Hmm......don't think I missed anything.

And I still don't....hmmm.>

> (snip)

 "Of course I did, spell-wielder, but manners are still a learned thing," he states simply as the two bastard swords are slid into their respective sheathes, "Now, Ahom, let us be off before I decide to exercise my warrior training against that misbegotten army coming over the rise."

 Beginning to stride towards the strange Ahom fellow Magus suddenly stops in his tracks and turns about in an effort to locate his guide with the severe case of frostbite with a whispering mutter to himself, "Now where did that berk get to...."

<OOC: Actions might slightly change depending on what occurs on the above but I'll go ahead and play out the rest and retcon it if need be. Kosher? Good.>

> (snip)

 "I concur that in some lands the seven hells do serve to purify one's soul to enter the heavens, but for your information I'm not from these parts. And don't correct me in such a way again, please. Reminds me of my days spent as an apprentice...truly those years were at least three of the seven," Magus drifts off as they step through the portal together.

> (snip)

 Magus casts a glare at Ahom, "It might have proven prudent to mention such
a plan to us first," he mutters to no one in particular, and almost more to
himself,  in a refined and erudite tone that belies his large stature and
obvious warrior dress.

> (snip)

Ignoring the comments, mainly because of his lack of knowing any Connell fellow even though Reaper sounds distinctly like something or someone familiar,  Magus stands and with a shrug of his shoulder adjusts the large, worn, leather backpack on his shoulder as his hands rest casually atop the pommels of the large swords and his large, slitted green eyes look all about those gathered as well as that of this strange, new world.

> (snip)

<OOC: Everybody? Use to being home?? Excuse me...<ahem>...>

  Magus notices the appearance of the dwarf as well as the look of anger and wonders if it's directed to anyone in particular. Sure he had heard of dwarves not exactly being fond of elven or half-elven folk but in his homeland all worked together with little to no conflicts of such a trivial nature. Nonetheless he decides to remain wary of the axe-wielding dwarf all the while deciding exactly what next to do in this new land.

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Sat, 23 Sep 2000 19:49:59 -0500
From:    "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx nods at Crimebuster, but doesn't offer her hand in response to his.

"Thanks. Anyway, does anyone want to tell me who the current President
of the United States of America is?" she inquires after acknowledging
Crimebuster's statement.

As soon as Ahom pops through the portal, though, she would quickly
approach him and question him with no pleasantries in her voice, "Right.
Did you get us through to the right place this time?"

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Sat, 23 Sep 2000 21:04:45 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

"President?  Everyone knows that Adolf Hitler, Junior, is our glorious Fuhrer!"  Ari deadpans, then grins.  "Nah.  It's ol' Slick Willie, at least for a few months more."

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Sat, 23 Sep 2000 20:01:03 -0500
From:    "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx stares daggers into Ari before responding, "Har har har. Very funny."

Then, to the assembled group, "So, what now? Someone said something about Morbis. Is he finished yet? Oh, and Ahom, you mentioned something about the other guys. What about them? Why do we need to find them? Something to do with that Cosmic Key energy we were bathed in?"

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Sat, 23 Sep 2000 21:15:35 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

Ari just giggles slightly.  Looks like we have the bitch and the Happy Little 
Elf here, gang...

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Sat, 23 Sep 2000 20:18:04 -0500
From:    "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

OOC: Aye...should be great fun with juxtaposition.

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Sat, 23 Sep 2000 21:23:11 -0400
From:    "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

<OOC: I am not a happy little Elf thank you.>

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Sat, 23 Sep 2000 21:23:42 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

Uh... I meant Ari, as opposed to Jinx.   One's a happy little elfin girl, and 
the other's a hardassedy bitch.  (love ya, Bil! :D)  

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Sat, 23 Sep 2000 21:36:00 -0400
From:    "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

<OOC: I know what ya meant, nimrod. I was stating the fact that the large
half-elf character with the even larger swords was not a happy little elf.
Perhaps moderately cheerful at times but even then...and quit kissin' up
already, E.......sheeeeeesh.>

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Sat, 23 Sep 2000 20:30:45 -0500
From:    "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

OOC: Hey! I like kissing up! My ego could always use some stroking. I mean, it's huge enough to be a menace if it gets cranky. *nods*

Subject: RE: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Mon, 25 Sep 2000 08:44:20 -0400
From:    Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound just shakes his head and stays out of the verbal barrage that is sure to ensue.

(OCC:  Don't know why this didn't go out the first time...)

Subject: [v13] A Confluence of Events ( An A.S.9. Add-on)
Date:    Mon, 25 Sep 2000 11:12:20 -0500
From:    "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

A.S.9 continues to ride the Harley Davidson "Hog" at the fastest speeds that he can manage. With No helmet on, his dread-lock cable hair is blowing wildly from the wind, as well as the black leather straps from his boots and jacket. Looking through his ray-ban sunglasses, he looks for anything that may hinder the gang of crazy Viking bikers heading towards him. With his fingertip razors from one hand, he grips the handle of the bike as with his other hand shoots forth his long metallic looking tentacle and grabs a nearby trashcan, and tosses it behind him. Then in an instant the tentacle is gone back in to his hand. Seeing that the gang wasn't slowed nearly enough. He lift up his ray-bans and shoots forth lasers hitting a lamp post that begins to fall. Then seeing a nearby abandoned car, he takes a deep breath before covering the car with flame, hoping that somewhere within the car something will explode.  After that he pulls out one of his 9mm and starts shooting for tires. Using his android brain, he tries to recall anything that he might saw at the last fight that he may use against this
horde of Vikings. ( rolls: 87, 80, 38, 97, 88, 6, 95, 37, 53, 77 )

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Mon, 02 Oct 2000 01:09:11 -0500
From:    Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

(ooc:  traveling back in time a hair...)

Anyway, Magus, before the two of you stepped through that portal of
Ahom's devising, you did spy that fellow who was your guide, up until a
few moments ago.  You were about to ask if he was okay, but you can see
that this is plainly the case.

He's got something of a manic grin on his face, and he's drooling in
anticipation of the ... remnants of one of the things you and that Ronin
fellow felled with your swords.  He's dragging it off into the distance,
away from the approaching horde, and looks like he'll be fed for months.

You're guessing he'll be fine...

(ooc:  moving back into the present)

In response to your complaints upon entering this new world, Magus, Ahom
simply shrugs.  "Sorry... I figured you didn't want to be responsible
for some sort of demon plague on this particular world.  If my mystic
senses tell me correctly, it wouldn't have been your first, though..."

In response to your query, Jinx, Ahom simply looks at you and grins.  He
licks his thumb, waves it around in the air while looking at it with one
eye open, and says "...yes, Jinx.  I do believe that you are finally
home.  You can relax, now."

"And I'd watch that tone, woman, or next time I'll leave you to deal
with the people you've riled up.  I don't think you'd appreciate that
all too much..."  With that, Ahom looks around, his eyes aglow with
magical energy as though he were looking for something.

When you continue to prattle on with your questions, Jinx, Ahom simply
smiles.  "Well, as far as finding Connell and Reaper goes, I figured
that was simply common courtesy, my Lady.  After all, they did do the
world a great service by disposing of Morbis."

"No matter, though, for they are on their way home, it would seem, and
all traces of that Stellar Key seem to have vanished with my final
banishment spell.  Unless Morbis has authored yet another scheme to
revive himself, he should be gone for good."

The mage looks all smug with himself, and looks like he's about to do
something when the axe flies.  Och throws it in such a way that the
weapon pins Ahom to the brick wall behind him by the robes, and looks as
though it could've taken his head off just as easily.

"You forgot one thing, mage... where's Silhouette?"*  Ahom simply looks
up as if in disgust, and then shrugs.  "Go look in her apartment, you
excitable little man."  He then looks at that axe funny, and pulls
himself free of it - though it rips his robes up in the process.

"Now, unless there's anything else, I'll be going.  Safety of the
universes to concern myself with, etc...  Ta taa, all.  And you might
want to move along... I'm sure the police wouldn't react too well to the
dozen or so of you paranormal type folks hanging about in alleys..."

Ahom then waves his fingers all funny, and you see the space between the
two buildings beside you get all watery, and then an image of... another
building seems to overlap the one that you're looking at on the other
side of the alleyway.

The effect looks somewhat familiar, Stone Cold, Crimebuster.

Ahom steps through, and the dimensional incongruity fades, taking him
with it.  That just leaves Och, who picks up his axe and then stomps off
in a huff.  "You'd better not be lying, wizard... or I'll hunt you down
and take your hide..."

That leaves the lot of you hanging out in this alleyway, one which has
been the site of a significant disturbance of late - sure to attact
authority types 'n all.  Especially since there's over a dozen of you
all, and you're all wearing funny costumes and heavily armed...

What now?

(ooc:  somewhere to the left...)

You race down the crowded streets of New York City, A.S.9, creating
havoc in your wake and generally ticking off every single person that is
sharing the road with you.  The bevy of broken devices and burning
wreckage behind you has left a stream of cursing motorists.

Of course, that does help to hinder the Warriors of Thor behind you, and
you eventually lose them in the mayhem.  Thus, the Uzi bursts are really
unnecessary, but that leaves you with nothing else to to... by the time
you return to the site of your last fight, you're unopposed.

You do spy something strange, though.  While looking around for trouble,
you spot a very, very short little man, walking with purpose and
carrying a really big, golden axe in his stocky, hairy little arm.  You
get the impression he's a Man With A Mission.

?!

* For those of you that are wondering, Silhouette is a former PC that
was utilized by Lady Arakne while she had time to game with us all...
her character was lost in the big fight with Morbis that some of these
folks keep going on about... =)

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Mon, 2 Oct 2000 02:28:00 -0400
From:    "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

> (ooc:  traveling back in time a hair...)

<OOC: Eat your heart, ya TARDIS using freak.>

> (snip)

 Magus watches the strange fellow...

> (snip)

...and harumphs to himself as he turns to follow this Ahom fellow through
the portal.

> (ooc:  moving back into the present)

<OOC: Here we go again...>

> (snip)

 The almond shaped, slitted emerald eyes narrow at the comment giving the distinct feeling that the just spoken words rubbed the strange looking fellow the wrong way, but despite the smoldering anger that lingers within those jade pools Magus realizes that the situation is not exactly conducive to acting rashly and merely glares at the spellthrower.

> (snip)

 A smirk manages to be stifled by Magus' anger even though a bit of relief
is felt by the fact that said golden axe wasn't aimed at himself.

> (snip)

Magus tries to understand exactly what the magic user is prattling on about
exactly when he suddenly begins to weave another spell.

> (snip)

 Magus steps towards Ahom after the casting is complete, "I do believe this isn't my home exactly and as such there's nothing for me to be relieved about, mystic. So I ask thee why not forsake your departure for the foreseeable future until I am enlighten as to why I should not worry so anymore." The comment, although spoken eloquently and diplomatically, has an underlying edge to it that would seem to mean it wasn't really an optional thing as the the newcomer saw it.

> (snip)

<OOC: Well let's see about the above first...>

> (snip)

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Mon, 2 Oct 2000 08:40:05 -0400 (EDT)
From:    Scott Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

"Unless you all feel like answering a lot of questions, I think we'd better bounce."  Stone Cold says trying to recall the particular affect.

Subject: RE: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Mon, 2 Oct 2000 08:51:46 -0400
From:    Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

"That's not exactly the best thing to suggest with me around..."

Rebound quickly hurries to catch up to Och, hoping the rest of the group will follow.

"Hey, Och!  Where the heck is Silhouette's apartment?  Or is that where you are headed?"

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Mon, 02 Oct 2000 13:57:22 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

Ari follows after Och.  "Och!  Wait up!"  Given that the dwarf is readily the closest thing to a friend she has in this lot, she's gonna follow him around for a bit.

Subject: RE: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Mon, 2 Oct 2000 14:48:56 -0500
From:    "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

A.S.9 looks at the guy and scratches his head and thinks to himself that there must be a Renaissance festival around here somewhere. A.S.9 drives up and stops about 10' short of the short stocky man and says " You don't happen to be a part of group of biker vikings do ya? " With a smirk widely across his face. Then he spots Rebound and Ari coming towards the Short Guy and said " Watch out, little man, we've got trouble!!!" And with that he jumps off his bike and stands ready with his glasses taken off and  watches for sudden movement from either one of the spandex models. ( OCC:I will not attack until one of them does!)

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Mon, 2 Oct 2000 17:28:29 -0400
From:    scott.greengold@ey.com

Crimebuster turns to Jinx and says "Looks like it is time for us to clear out.  We're headed to a safe place.  You and your friends are welcome to join."  With that he takes off after Ari, Rebound and the others.

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Mon, 2 Oct 2000 23:16:55 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

OOC: Ari's not wearing spandex...

"What the fuck's up with the James Cameron reject, Och?"  Ari beams.  "Looks 
like the love child of Terminator and Predator..."

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Tue, 03 Oct 2000 20:00:03 -0500
From:    "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx frowns at the vanishing Ahom and grumbles something about "string-pullers" before turning to jog after Och and the others.

"Right, saftey in numbers and all that jazz."

Once she saw the newcomer, she'd holler, "Cool your jets, man! We're non-hostiles! Well, to Och, at least. You, well, you're another story altogether."

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Wed, 4 Oct 2000 08:21:27 -0400
From:    scott.greengold@EY.COM

Catching back up to Ari, Och, and the others Crimebuster turns to see the android again. He turns to Rebound and says "Does it feel to you like we are being followed? You think this thing is with Morbis or A-Lonse?"

Subject: RE: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Wed, 4 Oct 2000 08:38:28 -0400
From:    Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound pauses for a moment to consider the possibility.

"Technology was their bailiwick, but something seems different about this thing.  It doesn't seem to have their style.  I don't trust machines that talk back to me though, so be ready for anything."

Rebound makes sure he places himself between the threat and the members of the group less able to take a hit.

Subject: RE: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Wed, 4 Oct 2000 08:43:27 -0500
From:    "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

A.S.9. Puts on his shades again and says " I am totally into being non-hostile, even though it's not as much fun... But these Viking Bikers are like coming this way, one of them even transformed a motorcycle into a biker babe..." Looking down and shaking his head, he looks up and says " Why didn't I get the power to change machines into chicks, dating would be so much easier!" Then he puts his hand out and said " My name is A.S.9., and I know I met some of you earlier during that fight with the thing that ate my hog, So who the heck are all of you? Is there a Superhero convention in town?"

Subject: RE: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Thu, 5 Oct 2000 08:43:53 -0400
From:    scott.greengold@ey.com

Crimebuster eyes the robot warily, ready to draw Achira at a moment's notice.  He says: "My name is Crimebuster and you will pardon my distrust but the last time we met you were picking a fight with my friend here"  eyeing over to Ari

<Presumed Ari Response space here>

 "Who, if you have not noticed, is not what I would consider a fair fight.  No offense, Ari.  Now,  Who/what are you?"

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Thu, 5 Oct 2000 17:56:27 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

"Hey!"  She drops both hands to her hips.  "I could take this bucket of bolts!"  She turns back to the cyborg, and grins broadly.  "Ain't that right, Tin Can Man?"

Subject: RE: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Thu, 5 Oct 2000 19:44:40 -0500
From:    "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

" Actually "Ari" there is no bolts in my body, but I do have a lot of screws you can take, but not in a bucket; and I am Anatomically Correct." Then turning to Crimebuster, he said" As for who I am, I am still learning that, as far as I can tell is I was created by A.S. Corporation as an Android Assasination Solder, I was the 9th one, thus my name A.S.9. Well my creator actually brought me to life by accident, by his love for caffenine. He spilled coffee on my main circuits, and you see the handsome android before you." A.S.9 relaxes a bit and said " I didn't know who the heck you were earlier, as far as I knew you was the bad guys, even though the spandex should have given it away! So have you seen the horde of Viking bikers heading this way or not?"

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Thu, 5 Oct 2000 20:49:25 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

"...ew."  Ari stops abruptly, and sidles off behind Crimebuster.  

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Thu, 5 Oct 2000 23:12:00
From:    Bil!

Jinx would lean over to Ari and whisper, "He just gave you a tactical advantage; it's the best place to aim for on a guy, well, besides their head."

After that bit of female conspiracy, Jinx would look A.S.9 over a bit then scratch her head after hearing his schpiel, "Wait a sec, A.S. Corporation? You mean Ariel-Shijitzu? Crap! You're one of the damn robots from that lab! Tell me, do you have any love for the company that built you?"

Subject: RE: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Thu, 5 Oct 2000 23:13:27 -0500
From:   "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

" The same one, I even fought the owner, who did some kind of marital arts type thing, but I did escape. I think I have lost most of his hired guns, but I am always on the run, so you tell why the trashing of my hog, really pissed me off." A.S.9 said as he reached to tie his cables in a small pony tail.

Subject: RE: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Fri, 6 Oct 2000 08:41:54 -0400
From:    Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound turns back to Jinx...

"Don't tell me it that same guy that took over Ken.  Speaking of whom, didn't Ahom say he would be here any minute?"

Rebound sizes up the 'anatomically correct' android, looking for any sign of what makes it tick just in case things get out of hand.  He turns back to the newcomer...

"Listen up, bucket-head.  You had better answer the lady's question real careful-like.  She can tell if you're lying..."

Subject: [v13] Sugary sweet
Date:    Sat, 7 Oct 2000 11:21:03 -0500
From:    "Chris Acers" <cwacers1@home.com>

As if Masque suddenly became self-aware, as it were, he lets out a yelp:
 
"Ackkkkk...a robot!"
 
Then promptly falls over, clutching his stomach.
 
"Was I drinking syrup again?"
 
Subject: Re: [v13] Sugary sweet
Date:    Sat, 7 Oct 2000 11:22:57 -0500
From:    "Chris Acers" <cwacers1@home.com>

OOC:    I really have no idea if I am even with this group, but after reading through the last month of messages, i couldn't really tell......if not then strike the post....or whatever it is you do to posts...

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Mon, 09 Oct 2000 17:18:01 -0500
From:    "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx would raise an eyebrow at Rebound then turn back A.S.9, "Riiiight. Anyway, if you're an enemy of Roy then I've got no problem with you. At least for now."

Turning back to Rebound, "Did he? I know he said something about Ken, but I was a bit disoriented from jumping through that portal."

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Tue, 10 Oct 2000 01:09:24 -0500
From:    Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

(wow... 23 posts... and STILL not everybody responded... ah well...)

You confront the wizard Ahom, Magus, as he attempts to return to his
home, and do manage to get a word in edge-wise before he goes.  Taking
in all that you say, Ahom simply looks at you and smiles.  "Don't worry
about it, Magus... this is definitely better than where you were."

"Besides, the resources necessary to get yourself home are indeed extant
on this earth... should you still wish to."  With that, Ahom really does
exit, stage right, though one or two of you in tune with that sort of
thing swears you could smell pancakes as he goes.

Smells like the pancakes you all had before Ahom brought you into battle
with that Morbis creep, Masque (you know a pancake when you smells it).
Also, when it fades, Stone Cold, you're reminded of the strange rift
between buildings that stuck you in L.A. earlier tonight.

Anyway, Masque, you are indeed surrounded by that group you fought
Morbis with, sans Ahom (now, at least), though there's seemingly been
some additions.  There's you, Ronin, Thaddeus, and Gloria from the
planes, along with Jinx, Magus, and that Slow Jim fellow.

He's a transparent guy that was hanging out with Jinx (long story). 
Also, though, there's Rebound, Stone Cold, and Och from before, and two
new folks that identify themselves as Ari and Crimebuster, or at least
let others do it in conversation.

(Less'n that I missed someone, too)

Speaking of Och, though, he takes off in a huff after talking to Ahom,
and everybody seems to follow him.  Since nobody denies doing so, I
assume y'all did this, and when you make it to the wreckage left by a
fight with that Morbis clone-thing, you find A.S.9 waiting.

He's talking to Och, sort of, when you all encounter him (some for the
first time, some not).  Och looks like he was about to say something to
9 when all of y'all start hooting and hollering and such back and forth;
that's most of the posts collected below... =)

As you all gabber at each other, though, Och disappears, bent on his
current, very personal mission.  Once you all start to notice this,
though, and begin looking for him, you spy him about six blocks down the
road, talking to someone in the doorway to an apartment building.

They chat for a few minutes, and then Och starts to walk back towards
the lot of you.  "Well, since that's been dealt with -"  The diminutive
man doesn't even get to finish his sentence before all heck breaks loose
around here.  It starts with the robot bikers.

You see a cop car spin out at the intersection nearest Och, and then get
hit by a robot on a rather rusty looking motorcycle.  The rider flies
over the car and smashes into a light pole.  He looks mad, and screams
out "I said the magic words... I did!"

His ride then changes shape, shifting into what looks like a decidedly
female version of her former rider, and punches a policeman in the face
as he tries to manhandle her.  "I'm not inviting your friends over for
dinner anymore...", she says.

The 'male' robot then extracts himself from the light pole, and changes
into a cycle himself.  His former ride then rides him off, screaming all
the while.  "We're going to Disneyland!"  All kids of cops then start
chasing them on foot, implying that their vehicles are toasted.

You see them streaming afterward for quite a bit, though the cops with
the lesser amounts of personal exercise regimens are huffing and hooing
along at less than walking speeds.  Och looks at you all as you watch
this, and shrugs.

"Hey, it's New York City.  Shall we head to my place before the local
constabulary notices us as well??"

?!

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Tue, 10 Oct 2000 02:05:26 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

Ari beams during the whole fiasco with the robot bikers.  They're FUNNY, damnit!

As the duo ride off into the sunset, she hollers after them "HAIL TO THE KING, BABY!" and scampers off.

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Tue, 10 Oct 2000 08:27:17 -0400 (EDT)
From:    Scott Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

"Yeah I think that it is best so that we can regroup.  This has been a long day."  As Stone Cold reflect back to the temporal distortion between buildings.

Subject: RE: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Tue, 10 Oct 2000 08:36:38 -0400
From:    Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

"Yeah I think that it is best so that we can regroup.  This has been a long day."  As Stone Cold reflect back to the temporal distortion between buildings.

Rebound shrugs.  "This many people...we should have a party..."

Subject: RE: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Tue, 10 Oct 2000 09:02:03 -0400
From:    scott.greengold@ey.com

The usually serious face of Crimebuster breaks a small smile at the comment from Rebound. "Looking at the lot of us I say it should be a costume party."  He then goes with the group to Och's.

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Tue, 10 Oct 2000 17:05:23 -0500
From:    "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx watches the transforming duo as they drive off into the wilds of
NYC, shaking her head.

"I wonder if they're related to that robot I saw during the contest... Hmmm..."

Without giving it much more thought than that, she'd take a look at
everyone and shrug her shoulders, following them to Ochs, "Well, it's
not like I've got anything better to do. I'm getting some solid drinking
in before I go back on duty!"

{Thinking to herself, ~Jeez, 'tash, you're probably going to just end up getting these guys crushed in some freak skyscraper collapse. Get a few drinks and leave before anything messy happens.~}

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Fri, 13 Oct 2000 21:21:09 -0400
From:    "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 "And your opinion is overly assuring to me, Ahom," Magus replies with a hidden twinge of sarcasm.

> (snip)

 Standing in a rather statuesque fashion Magus glares at the fading portal which Ahom disappeared into moments ago seemingly oblivious to the others gathered about him. The eerie beauty of his features accented by the burning ire lurking behind the physical form of the strangely majestic being. Even as the others begin to meander away steadily after the dwarf Magus remains standing in the shadows of the alleyway. Glued to the exact same spot with the same smoldering of emotions lurking behind his reptilian-like emerald eyes he slowly closes his eyes for a moment and breathes a slow, deep, ragged breath before turning swiftly to face the road as the others stand about conversing and such only moments before the high speed arrival of assorted bikers and cops and such.

> (snip)

 With a deliberate, steady gait Magus makes his way towards the assemblage
of odd folks gathered about as the chase takes place and in less than a few
seconds stands less than a foot or so from them all. Ever silent as they
respond to the shenanigans, Magus simply lurks.

> (snip oddities)

 The slightest raising of his eyebrow at the dwarf's word goes unnoticed by
the group.

> (snip again)

 An all too brief glances shoots to Stone Cold...

> Rebound shrugs.  "This many people...we should have a party..."

...and to Rebound...

> (snip)

...and then again to Crimebuster...

> (snip)

...and once more to Jinx...

> (snip)

...before finally resting on the strange one called A.S. 9. As Magus hears the responses and plans of these strange folks his head turns to look up and down the road that they all currently stand upon pondering his own options at this point.

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Sat, 14 Oct 2000 21:37:41 -0500
From:    "Chris Acers" <cwacers1@home.com>

Masque's whole outfit seems to smile. The smell of pancakes has that effect
on all things wizardly.....

> (snip)

Masque nods to the two newcomers and quickly pulls out some twinkies
from....somewhere in his robes..

"Ahh two packages left....would you two care for some? Twinkie's are the
best cure for dimensional hopping and whatnot. Calm's the gizzard.  S'what
me grandpappy used to say. He also used to say that Lightning bugs glowed
like that because they were horny.....hah!"

Masque giggles a bit.

"But we all know that those little buggers glow because they don't have
anything to read by...That's evolution for you. Give a bug a good book and
sooner or later they are going to need some good lighting."

Settled by his own wacked out logic, Masque starts scanning the street
signs.

"I know there's an IHOP around here somewhere's"

> (snip)

Upon seeing A.S.9 again Masque utters loudly;

"Ackkk!"  And for those of you with quick eyes, you notice his hands do
something... something... something fast and unintelligible, even Marlee
Matlin would have trouble reading the motions they are doing. And then
Masque Disappears.

Roughly ten seconds later Masque Reappears, albeit a bit embarrassed.

"Sorry....Metally things have that effect on me, I can't even stop it."

> (snip)

"Eeeeep!"   And Masque Disappears again.

> (snip)

From out of the air Masque's voice announces;

"I think he's got Pancakes and Milk."

Subject: Re: [v13] A Confluence of Events
Date:    Fri, 20 Oct 2000 13:47:13 -0500
From:    "Chris Acers" <cwacers1@home.com>

And from out of some more air Masque states in a panic:

"Where Did everyone go?!?"

Subject: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date:    Sun, 22 Oct 2000 00:19:01 -0700
From:    Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Och looks at you curiously, A.S.9, and shrugs.  "Unfortunately, no, I
have no Jack, 'Jack'.  However, I've got a couple home-recipe brews that
will knock your socks off."  And looking at you, Masque, Och nods.  "But
of course I have milk and pancakes.  Make for a good breakfast!"

Assuming that nothing else happens, or no other homicides or riots break
out in your vicinity, the lot of you make it to Och's apartment in no
time flat - he lives relatively close to this location, which is
apparently the apartment of his friend, Silhouette.

When you get there, some of you find the place to be just as comfortable
as it was when you first left, but for those of you that have never been
here before, a description is in order.  It's a rather large penthouse
apartment, with more than enough room for all of you.

It's got all kinds of cozy couches and chairs, a nice, top of the line
entertainment system, three different bedrooms, a bathroom about as big
as a standard bedroom (complete with hot tub style tub), and a very well
stocked kitchen.

As the dozen or so of you make yourselves at home, Och greets each of
you in turn, even those he doesn't know yet.  "I don't know all of you
as of yet, but you're all welcome here - assuming you new folks don't
cause me any trouble, or wreck my furniture..."

He says that with a smile, of course, but you sense at least a hair of
seriousness in it.  "For those of you that don't know me, the name's
Och, and I'm something of an adventurer, like my fellows, here.  Have
been ever since I got stranded on this odd world years ago."

"I've done okay for myself, though, and am willing to help those of you
out who may need it for a short time.  That is, until you all get
yourselves set up.  That begs the question... what do you all plan on
doing, now that you're together?"

(Hm?)

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date:    Sun, 22 Oct 2000 04:51:01 GMT
From:    "Charlie Clay Jr." <cclayjr@hotmail.com>

"Then let's get on with the grub then.  Any games on the tube?  So where 
have you all been"  Stone Cold asked.

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date:    Sun, 22 Oct 2000 12:55:39 EDT
From:    EmarZero@aol.com

Ari scratches her head.  "Well, I'm done for the term, but I guess 
eventually, I have to get back to art school... but for now, I mean... hey, 
I've never BEEN to New York before!"

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date:    Mon, 23 Oct 2000 08:24:54 -0400
From:    scott.greengold@ey.com

Crimebuster, hearing Och's question, responds.  "Well, Rebound, Ari, Stone
Cold, Tammy (I think) and I were looking into....ahem....refurbishing Morbis's old hideout as our own.  That is when we ran into the Morbis clone and consequently wound up here.  I see no reason why we don't continue on that task.  After some of those pancakes of course....they sound fantastic."

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date:    Mon, 23 Oct 2000 08:36:32 -0500
From:   "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

A.S.9 plopping down on a plush couch, and putting his black army boots on a
table nearby, he said " Well for me, Och, The first thing I am going to do
is get one of those home-made brews, then I don't know... I am constantly on
the run from the A.S. Corp, so I am constantly seeking a hideaway, anyone
looking for someone who can kick some ass and take names? I am not wanting
to be in the public light too much, since wanting to stay hidden as much as
possible. I don't want to be disassembled, A.S.9 is very much alive." then
gives a large smile to Ari and a wink.

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date:    Mon, 23 Oct 2000 18:31:53 -0500
From:    "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

Jinx would take Och up on his offer of a drink and after chugging it, would try to clear her head.

Realizing she hadn't gotten cleaned up yet after hiding in the refuse transport she wrinkled her nose, "Hey, Och, you don't mind if I make use of your bathroom and get cleaned up? I smell like a horse... or something worse."

Before heading to the bathroom, though, she'd speak up after A.S.9's
comment, "My employer may have some place for you. It depends on how
patriotic you're willing to be. You think about it and if you're
interested I'll see about hooking you up with somebody."

Subject: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 16:16:05 -0000
From: "Peter Chamers" <lil_blk_duck@hotmail.com>

Ronin glances at his various comrades in arms, both old and new. "Considering that Fate intervened to bring us together, perhaps we should remain so.  However, I am still concerned about finding my parents....."

Ronin shrugs unsure of which path Fate is guiding him.

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 12:30:48 -0400
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

As the dozen or so of you make yourselves at home, Och greets each of you in turn, even those he doesn't know yet.  "I don't know all of you as of yet, but you're all welcome here - assuming you new folks don't cause me any trouble, or wreck my furniture..."

He says that with a smile, of course, but you sense at least a hair of seriousness in it.  "For those of you that don't know me, the name's Och, and I'm something of an adventurer, like my fellows, here.  Have been ever since I got stranded on this odd world years ago."

"I've done okay for myself, though, and am willing to help those of you out who may need it for a short time.  That is, until you all get yourselves set up.  That begs the question... what do you all plan on doing, now that you're together?"

Rebound watches quietly as the group goes about its business, keeping a careful eye on the newcomers, hoping to get some idea as to their true motives.  He offers no commentary to the group.  Instead, he sits quietly hidden behind his mask, waiting for something.

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Thu, 2 Nov 2000 21:45:18 -0500
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus quietly stands a few feet apart from the gathered crew as he minds his own business silently.

> (snip)

 Seeing no other alternative at the moment Magus follows silently behind the gathered group pondering exactly what sort of tavern that he is being led towards and whether or not any of the local magick guilds might have any clue as to help him out.

<snippity>

 Magus lingers in the doorway essentially obscuring it's existence by his sheer size as he quietly watches everyone else interact with one another while remaining none too sure of why he even bothered following along with them in the first place.

> (snip)

 His gaze darts around to each person as they speak which only seems to enhance the fact that only his eyes seem to move as he remains rather statuesque in front of the door.

> (snip)

 The spark of experience and intelligence burns in his emerald, serpentine
like eyes as he soaks in every detail possible of the surroundings including
the spoken and unspoken words of all assembled.

> (snip)

 *Strange are these folks. Of that I'm sure,* he thinks to himself even as the assemblage continues bantering amongst themselves as if having been in one another's presence for years.

> (snip)

 *Perhaps to an examining table,* he ponders, *Never has a golem been
so....so....faulty.*

> (snip)

> Roning shrugs unsure of which path Fate is guiding him.

 His attention is most assuredly given to the sword-wielder he first saw on the frozen planes. Rolling his every word and non-vocal action in his mind Magus believes that this is one of the few here that might actually be of similar mind to himself, *This bears thought*

> (snip)

 Magus watches the silent masked man and when his gaze finally falls upon the draconic figure he finds that the emerald orbs are already watching him in as much a scrutinizing fashion as Rebound was doing to the others.

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 10:50:15 -0500
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Noticing his heavy stare, Rebound carefully makes his way over to the
newcomer, wondering why he has yet to come into the room.

Hoping for the best, Rebound extends his gloved hand...

"Greetings.  You may call me Rebound.  How may I address you?  You mentioned
that you were trying to get somewhere. Where might that be?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 18:47:46 -0500
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus takes the offered hand in his grasp and shakes it with a firm grip before returning to his original stance.

> (snip)

 "Magus," is his response to the revelation of your name, "And that would be my home," despite his large and seemingly war-like stature the tone of his voice is that of an educated man schooled obviously in scholarly ways.

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 18:32:56 -0600
From: "Christopher William Acers" <cwacers1@home.com>

Masque Hollers from the kitchen....

"Pancakes are ready!!!........"

The you hear something...

"Oh dear... I think I ate most of the batter...No matter... this will do... some more yeast... some blueberries... there... Pancakes are ready!!!"

Subject: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 07 Nov 2000 14:08:42 -0000
From: "Randy Alexander" <as9@quixnet.net>

A.S.9 turns and said " Sure I am as patriotic as they come, as long as the funds
come too!" Then A.S.9 notices others watching one another. With one of Och's brews in hand, he turns to the Peepers and says " What are you guys staring at, never seen such a handsome android before?" and with that he finishes the drink and then walks around smiling at the lady folk still left.

OCC: Can we get a run down on who everyone is again and basic description, or is that posted somewhere.

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 18:41:53 -0500
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

Magus pays no attention to the inane comments of the odd golem just as
Rebound comes over and introduces himself to the man.

> OCC: Can we get a run down on who everyone is again and basic description, or 
> is that posted somewhere.

<OOC: Once again....

Description of Magus: Standing at around seven feet tall with a metallic bronze cast to his elven like features. The large slitted greened eyes dart about constantly in a state of constant awareness as his muscular yet agile limbs rest statuesque from his broad shoulders even as the muscles randomly tense and ripple in a state of coiled readiness. The medieval armor fits his torso perfectly in contrast to the loose pants hang from his waist held up by a thick leather belt which two large, well crafted and well cared for bastards swords would rest normally in their scabbards as well as a multitude of pouches and purses. A haggard looking leather backpack hangs from one shoulder, seemingly packed for constant travel. A wickedly taloned hand brushes through his pitch black hair which is tied back in a loose ponytail except for a a braided strand hanging from each temple

There ya go for the third time now...>

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Thu, 09 Nov 2000 02:52:30 -0600
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

Tammy looks at you as you explain your situation, Ari, and smiles.
"Well, you know you could always transfer your college courses here.
Unless we find some way to get us back and forth in a real jiffy 'round
here, that is, then you could take classes and blow up bad guys with
us!"

Upon hearing your statements, Crimebuster, Och looks at you and shrugs a
mighty shrug.  "Well, it would be easy enough to refurbish that facility
to suit our needs, if we were to truly band together to 'fight evil' or
some such, but one or two minor hassles remain."

"If we claim that underground facility, we would need to determine who
the rightful owner, or owners, of the building it houses are.  After
all, in this day of... lawyers... it would behoove us to do everything
on the up and up, lest we be litigated into ruin.  Or worse."

Och then heads back into the kitchen to work on the breakfast type
materials some, pausing only for what appears a millisecond to look at
the combat boots on his expensive table, and he gives the feet housed
within what would appear to be the slightest of disapproving glances.

To the casual observer, at least.  Those of you who know Och, who really
have a handle on his personality, are trying to figure out why the man's
legs didn't just disintegrate into their component molecules under the
terrible weight of that gaze... he never gives people THAT kind of look.

As you approach him, Jinx, Och turns to make you a proper Dwarven drink,
and pours you some sort of greenish fluid, giving you a bowl full of the
stuff.  "I'd set it on fire for you, but I don't think you're into that
sort of thing, Jinx.  I added the extra alcohol anyway, though."

After you make your own comments, Ronin, your friends from Sigil,
Thaddeus and Gloria, have to disagree.  "Fate, schmate", says Thaddeus.
"We're just here for the adventure of it all.  Actually, come morning,
the two of us'll be off to explore your curious, yet clueless world."

Gloria simply nods in agreement, feeling she has nothing to add to the conversation.  She does, however, take a glance at Masque, particularly at the magical stones he's got in hand.  Thaddeus follows her gaze, and then picks up the hint.  "Hey, Masque!  Aren't you forgetting something?"

Before the wizard can respond, of course, he bounds up in a righteous rush for pancakes, diving into the batch before the rest of you can even blink. Luckily, Och's cooking a whole lot of breakfast goods this night, else you'd have to thump him on the head or something equally vindictive.

As he cooks away, Och just watches the various conversations going on in the room, not feeling like he has too much else to add without further input, at least not yet.  The others simply continue on in small talk for the time being, simply enjoying NOT being in combat for a change lately.

?

(ooc:  i'll provide those there requested descriptions for the NPC types tomorrow or something - I'm too tired to look 'em up specifically tonight)

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 10:30:18 -0500 (EST)
From: Scott Clay <cclayjr2@juno.com>

Stone Cold looks around finally settling on the TV to distract his mind as he listens to the conversations.

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 18:07:47 EST
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari nods.  "Yeah.  YEAH.  I could, couldn't I?  Out of the frying pan, into
the fire.  Same as it ever was!"  She laughs lightly.

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 12:31:14 -0500
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound turns back to Ari... "Let's not have any references to 'Burning down the house'."

He turns back to the draconian figure before him and speaks very quietly, almost conspirationally so.  "Well, Magus, I would welcome you to join us in our endeavors.  I can't, however, speak for the entire group.  This fractious coalition is made of what seems to be this world's well-meaning rabble.  We are all different from the rest of the population of this world in some way or another.  You would be no more different than the rest of us.  Care to lend your swords to the cause of good?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 16:51:50 -0500
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 In an equally quiet whisper that could almost border on a rumbling growl Magus responds to the masked figure, "I will most assuredly have to take your word as to their intentions, but I concur with your use of rabble to describe the majority of them. And although I know nothing of these endeavors you invite me to partake of alongside I can only say that I am here now and that will have to be enough for the forseeable future." A brief pause at the end of his last words is followed with a sweeping gaze over the room before him, "As for my 'difference,' that would seem to be the problem of others more so than any problem of my own." Watching the various events transpiring as some move to partake of food while others appear to scrye into the lives of others Magus ponders quietly to himself, "As I said previously, Rebound, I'm here for the moment and that is all that I can assure you of for now. And no offense to you, but my swords and talents are never for lending to the side of good. That would infer that it was only a temporary alignment between me and the light instead of the permanent bond that it truly is in my life."

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 19:05:27 -0600
From: "Christopher William Acers" <cwacers1@home.com>

"Ooooo... Fightin' Evil!!...  I think that is a great idear. What else would we do? Evil is abundant in this world.  A veritable Buffett of Evil. I say we smite the enemy with great vengeance and eat big lunches. Heck... why don't we just eat. Notjin' better than fightin' Evil on a full stomach. It's not like swimmin' or anything. I mean if Evil punches you in the tummy, they are gonna get a faceful of your very own brewed Vengeance. And I never heard of anyone who drowned fightin' Evil ." Says Masque.

> (snip)

" I hear Lawyers are Evil."  Masque adds.

> (snip)

"None of that poison for me. A nice cold glass of milk any day. Does a body good."

> (snip)

Spraying a mouthful of buckwheat and strawberry jam, Masque ...responds;

"Drat... I completely forgot about that. So sorry... it's the smell of pancakes sorry. I was traveling for so long in your... curious... worlds that it completely passed my mind. ...Hold on.."

Masque stands up, then falls back down. He pulls the belt out from under his foot and stands up again. Waving a shameful finger at his belt and mumbling something to the effect of "you better not embarrass me again. I have a mind to roll you up and put you away for good!" But then again he could have been just mumbling something about not enough pancakes.

Masque holds the stones out and says something... magical, does a funny dance and it looks almost as if he tripped again but he gracefully fell back into step and places the stones on the floor. Without any pause whatsoever he pulls off the guilty belt and rolls it up and stuffs it somewhere in his robes.  Then resumes his incantation.

Grinning and seemingly satisfied he sits back down and Nods at Gloria and
Thaddeus and asks Gloria;

"You gonna eat that?"

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 03:50:43 -0600
From: Firebomb <firebomb@home.com>

As Gloria wordlessly passes the remainder of her breakfast on to you,
Masque, her sidekick looks at you and grins.  "Nice display, there.  At least you won't have to worry about the Guvners coming to hunt you down.  They should only show up to collect their stone.  Peaceably, too."

"Of course, Masque, you could give that thing to me, so we can save you the hassle of dealing with the Fraternity of Order's pathfinders.  Besides, it'd help us to trace a path back home ourselves, once the two of us decide we're done with your curious homeworld, here."

When Gloria yawns, Thaddeus again picks up on the hint.  "Well, ladies,
gentlemen, we should be retiring for the night.  We've got a lot of
exploring to do, and only so much daylight to do it in.  You all have a
good one, y'hear?"

As the two park it in one of Och's many rooms, Thaddeus being stuck on
the floor (you can tell he's gone through this before), Och starts to
show his exhaustion as well.  "Well, people, I'll be hitting the hay myself here, shortly, unless any of you need any more pancakes or drinks."

The dwarf waits to see if anybody else has any requests, and while he
does, Tammy sidles up to Stone Cold as the various conversations around
her seem to fizzle out.  "So, big guy, you gonna tell me what's on your
mind, or what?"

On the television, you hear about the mayhem you've all participated in
tonight, though not too many eyewitness accounts seem to paint the same
picture regarding what actually happened.  You hear reports ranging from
mad alien invasions to robot assaults to biker riots.

None of them seem to quite match up to what you experienced, though.
They do put up a nice picture of AS9, via police sketch, which has added
(once again) huge sholder pads and a big cape.  They even mention that
they've seen this guy before, in a fire rescue or something.

That's when Slow Jim sits up.  "Okay.  I'm sleeping in the tub tonight,
so if anyone needs to use the John, now's the time!"

(er, um, uh...)

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2000 15:14:20 EST
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari shoves her way to the front of the 'loo line', freshens up, does her thing, and returns, in her pjs.  (of COURSE she has them with her.  You wouldn't BELIEVE how much shit her backpack can hold...) She looks around. "Alright.  Where's the comfy bed?"  And so help me, if AS9 gets flippy with her, she will shoot him a super glare of death.  And probably hose him down with silly string or something.  Freak.

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2000 14:35:18 -0600
From: cclayjr2@juno.com

Stone Cold looks at her quizzically.   A lie coming to his mind first,
well partial lie.  "Well Tammy I was actually wondering how I could get
closer to you with having my head bitten off."  He looks at her with a
straight face trying not to smile.  Breaking slightly.

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 20:19:51 -0600
From: "William H. Lockwood" <albedo1@home.com>

After Jinx had cleaned up in the bathroom, she would have emerged to find a relatively private corner to make a call out to one of her D.A.A. contacts.

She'd basically let them know that she was available again for missions, but that she was looking to be down-graded to a secondary agent as she might have a more permanent job in New York.

After she had handled this, she'd come back to the living room area and listen to the others gab for a while before speaking up, "I don't have a problem working with other people. I may be a bitch, but I'm good at what I do. I'm getting a bit sick of running around the world (and multiverse) and think that settling down in the Big Apple might not be a bad idea. You can count me in on any operations you plan on setting up.

I think we should all get some sleep and get some plans worked up in the morning. I have some experience with organized operations and might have some ideas.

Unfortunately, I'm not going to crash here tonight. I have a credit card and I'm going to use it. Have a good night, I'll catch you in the morning."

~Yeah, don't want a gas main to blow while you're at a sleep over and get these people killed before you can even work with them!~

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 21:18:22 -0600
From: "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

A.S.9 thinks to himself that it would be funny to fill tub with Maple syrup, but then continues to watch the T.V. enjoying the artwork and laughing really hard at the cape and shoulder pads.

Ari shoves her way to the front of the 'loo line', freshens up, does her thing, and returns, in her pjs.  (of COURSE she has them with her.  You wouldn't BELIEVE how much shit her backpack can hold...) She looks around. "Alright.  Where's the comfy bed?"  And so help me, if AS9 gets flippy with her, she will shoot him a super glare of death.  And probably hose him down with silly string or something.  Freak.

A.S.9 having no idea what Ari is thinking, but does see her cute PJ's and said " This couch is pretty comfy, you can snuggle up over here, I won't bite, I only sting a little!" then will turn the T.V. to all star Women Wrestling.

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 22:20:51 EST
From: EmarZero@aol.com

As promised, Ari just glares at him.  "Someone muzzle this nutty Erector set before I turn him into a toaster?"

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 08:25:59 -0500
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

"My vote is for a toaster.  Can't ya see the lady don't want any part of your mechanical anatomy?  If you can't get that through your head, then you and me are going to have a BIG problem.  Clear?"

Rebound waits for a response, hoping the message sinks in without having to resort to destruction.

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 07:16:37 -0800 (PST)
From: Nathan Gecko <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus stands ominously behind Rebound all the while remaining eerily silent throughout his comments. His hands rest comfortably atop the handles of his two large bastard swords as his reptilian eyes stare towards AS9. Thinking to himself, *I know not these folks well enough to judge their ways but if this one that deigned to speak to me when no other would then I shall aid him if he may need it,* the large warrior thought to himself as his eyes continued to watch the strange golem for his next move.

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 16:23:47 EST
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari beams.  "Thank you, Glooey Louie!"  She points.  "I *like* him.  He catches on quick!"

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 16:39:39 -0500
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

Rebound smiles beneath his mask and offers a subdued response.  "Trust me, you don't want any part of my anatomy either.  I doubt you'd have the stomach for it."

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 21:19:09 -0600
From: "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>
Reply-To: v13@egroups.com
To: <v13@egroups.com>

A.S.9 not even turning from the TV said " Whoa, little man, I am so scared, please let me go change my superhero underoos, Come back to me when you are out of Pull-ups and then we will see how big our problem really is!"

>> (snip)

" I know that's right..." and then turned to look at big reptile guy and said " Don't you have a dungeon to purge?" then turns back to the TV, saying " That's the way you do it, Chyna, punch her in the face! ohh that's got to hurt!"

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 23:33:42 -0500
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

  Magus glared at the insufferable being and spoke in a deep rumbling growl,
"Watch thy tongue unless you seek to have it carved from that overactive mouth of yours, golem."

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 03:16:29 -0600
From: "Christopher William Acers" <cwacers1@home.com>

Masque chimes in, although not in a very chimey way... more of a subtle Mean-ness that none have heard before;

"I know these types. All you have to do is unplug them."

The in a more distant way, much more like the Masque we all know;

"I mean, it's not like there is that pink rabbit running around that tin can and going all over the world and creating all kinds of havoc with not a worry for what the world is doing. Inconsiderate little bast...."

Blushing a bit;

"Sorry, one too many pancakes."

The he just stands there attempting to look smug. Actually considering his phobia of all things technological, he looks more like an itchy trigger wizard.

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 08:35:04 -0500
From: Douglas Lohse <Lohsed@MSCDirect.com>

"Tin boy, you have worn out your welcome.  It's time for you to leave.  And while you are at it, find a personality chip that has made it past the third grade."  Rebound moves aside to make room for the adolescent to leave.

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 09:23:22 EST
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari just beams.  They like her, they really like her!  She sidles over towards Rebound and the big lizardy guy, then puts one hand on her hip, in classic "Yeah, girlfriend!" pose.

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 10:23:29 -0800 (PST)
From: Nathan Gecko <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus stands unmoving before the doorway.  His tall, muscular form barring passage through it as he continues to stare at the socially inept being still lingering in his seat still in front of the scrying pool.

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 13:34:10 -0500
From: scott.greengold@ey.com

Crimebuster, hearing the things AS9 is saying, gets up from the table where he was enjoying the last of his 17 pancakes.  He stands in behind Rebound and Ari and opens the door for the automaton.

"You heard the man. Grow up on someone else's dime. "

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 11:47:05 -0800 (PST)
From: Nathan Gecko <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus glances at Crimebuster as the human attempts to open the door while he still stands before it blocking it's path.

> "You heard the man. Grow up on someone else's dime."

 He looks curious at Crimebuster and then steps forward from the doorway enough for it to be opened. His gaze always returns to that of the odd, rude being currently being shown the way out.

Subject: Re: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 14:58:09 -0500
From: scott.greengold@ey.com

Crimebuster looks at Magus and says "No, not you, friend".   He looks at AS9 and says "Him."

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 15:39:48 -0600
From: "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

A.S.9 after hearing all of the comments, still doesn't turn around, takes the remote and turns up the TV a little louder, and said " Geez, you guys need a nap or some kind of relaxation, because you are just wound up too tight. Why you all scurry somewhere where there is evil to smite, while I finish the show? and I am sure you don't want to mess up Och's penthouse, he looks like he could be one pissed off dwarf."  A.S.9 will then continue to watch the show, but will keep his senses open for any type of aggression towards himself.

Subject: RE: [v13] Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 14:53:42 -0800 (PST)
From: Nathan Gecko <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus states to no one in particularly in a most definite tone, "Someone awaken Och. If this one is so slow of mind to not recognize his lack of welcome here then perhaps our host will like to school him in such crucial matters as manners."

 As he says so he steps between AS9 and the odd contraption he continues to stare at mindlessly. Although his hands continue to rest atop the pommels of his swords his intent is rather indiscernible.

Subject: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 23:27:15 -0000
From: "Randy Alexander" <as9@quixnet.net>

A.S.9 looks at D&D want-to be and stands up and said " Listen, Chain-mail boy, I am not hurting anyone and I have done no harm...yet. If you and your over steroid guys want to strap then I am all game, but personally I would rather finish watching the TV show than mop up the floor with the likes of you. Och said to make myself comfortable and I have until you guys get so uptight about a comment. Now if you want some property damage, I can put up, but remember you guys are the ones wanting to tussle not myself!" and with that he sits down on another couch and continues to watch TV.

OCC: Geez, what is it gang up on A.S.9 day, a few in character comments and you guys want to throw me to the wolves... calm down, maybe Firebomb needs to send some action your guys way. If you don't want me around, I guess I can go solo again, if Firebomb wants. Or if you want a friendly fight we can do that too!!! 8-) Beat up the newbee, oh what fun!!!

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 16:31:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Nathan Gecko <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 Magus stares down at the shorter mechanical being as he sits again on the couch before him, "The name you may call me is Magus. True you have not physically harmed anyone here yet, but only a fool would not see that your words and attitude are the main offense here. The fact is that you are no longer welcome here this night and have been asked to leave. Yet you refuse and thus seek to provoke a reaction from those gathered here. Your options are simple. Leave now quietly or take the responsibility for whatever your actions may cause to follow."

 With that said Magus reaches back and presses the power button on the front of the television

<OOC: No it's not gang up on you day. It's more like standing up to a lecherous character that shows no interest in anything but making petty little comments and such so as to make himself seem so special. When in truth you're coming across as a jerk both in character and out of character now. And instead of suggesting how everyone else should play their characters you should focus on our own. After all you got yourself in this situation all on your own so deal with it. And finally you're not the only 'newbie' around here. Crimebuster and Magus both started off around the same time as you did. The only difference is that we're not the ones about to make enemies out of the other PCs.>

Subject: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 01:13:49 -0000
From: "Randy Alexander" <as9@quixnet.net>

" WoW, the Medievil guy knows how to use a button, I am so immpressed." after that he turns and leaps over the couch and heads towards one of the many rooms that Och offered up, and hopes there is a Tv inside. If anyone gets in his way he will push them to the side and we will strap, but he won't throw the first punch.

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 08:25:16 -0500
From: scott.greengold@ey.com

Crimebuster looks to Rebound and asks him to get Och.   As AS9 pushes past him, Crimebuster gives way before contact, a subtle move that throws one off balance.
He then ducks low and executes a well trained foot sweep, intended on taking the robot down.

Rolls: (+30 karma to each) 86+30=116, 54+30=84, 78+30=108, 43+30=73.  Init: 4

OCC: AS9: When we first started the first thing you did was try and go all power up on Ari.  We LIKE Ari. You have never apologized for it, indeed your behavior has gotten worse.  You got yourself in this mess, not us.

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 13:53:13 -0000
From: "Doug Lohse" <v13Rebound@hotmail.com>

As Rebound sees the progression of violence, he reacts (as usual) with action over thought...

He throws two strands from each hand across AS9 to slow down, or if possible immobilize the machine.

"I don't take kindly to that kind of attitude.  If it weren't for the fact that we are ALL guests here, you would be nothing more than slagged metal. If you can't get that through your faulty Asimov circuits, then we'll go. If you drop the attitude, then we can all be amiable-like.  The ball's in your court, machine--can you learn to be cordial, or do we have to reprogram you the hard way?"

Rolls:

Init: 6  Hit: 86  Dam: None (yet)

Subject: RE: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 08:10:26 -0600
From: "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

" So you want to play with the big boys, Shouldn't you be looking for crime to stop, not a person going to bed?" A.S.9 will shoot his whip at crime buster and try to entangle him and then he will shoot his eye beams at whatever else comes at him, like any kind of strands that may try to bind him. 89 (whip shooting), 54,73, eye beams Int. 6 ( If I remember correctly it is just 1d10 for int. Is there any plusses for Intuition.

OCC:  Actually A.S.9 was pissed about losing his bike and if you read the post, he was not actually going to hurt Ari, he was wanting to know how was the creator of the thing that eat his bike. I have been trying to make good on my actions, but every time I move people want to fight me, melt me, re-program me, Let me go to bed, and we will be done with this scene. You can't force people to say sorry, you big bullies 8-(

Subject: RE: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 11:21:34 -0500
From: scott.greengold@ey.com
Reply-To: v13@egroups.com
To: v13@egroups.com

If I read the post? Crimebuster does not read posts.  He reacts to what people say and how they act.  You acted like you were going to go at it with Ari. Crimebuster reacted with what he, in character, felt was an appropriate response.  He does not like you.  You have done nothing but talk trash and act like the badass.  When you play the badass you have to realize that some, if not all, people are not going to like it.  Don't go playing all big and tough and then whine about people getting pissed at you.  Geez....

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 12:33:45 EST
From: EmarZero@aol.com

Ari scowls.  With that, she jumps up on the back of the couch, pulls a HUGE FUCKING GUN out of her backpack, and trains it on the entire lot.  "ALRIGHT!
Knock it the fuck off!  *CHRIST,* people!  Don't go fighting in Och's apartment!  You're all acting like a bunch of... of... BIG DUMB MEN!" Despite the extreme seriousness of the situation, Ari fights back giggles.
"So behave.  All of you."

Subject: RE: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 14:56:47 -0600
From: "AS9" <as9@quixnet.net>

A fter seeing Ari pull out the big gun, A.S.9 said " Crimebuster is the
A-hole that wanted to wrestle, I just wanted to go to bed. He feels he has to show off in front of you I think. All I care about it getting away from these pricks who took away by Tv watching priviledges. And If they don't leave me alone we will have some property damage, and it will BIG." Then Turns to Crimebuster.. " we can finish this another time if you want, but not now!" and with that will try again to go to room. (That is after he lets crimebuster loose and gets loose from rebound's strands)

Ooc:  Umm... Let's see who decided he wanted to do mr. Kung-fu to a guy who was just going to a room and leaving the scene. I have only talked trash and acted like a badass because that is who he is. Talks Big and Kicks Ass Big, that's his character, rough and tough, he has only made a few comments towards Ari and those were in fun. If you want him to be a goody two shoes, then that will not be himself. I had not done any actions towards you in this apartment other than trying to wathc Tv and go to a room, and three guys want to surroiund me and kick my ass  Stop pointing the finger at me and look at the big picture  ( a few words, and it has come down to possible property damage, and each time he has tried to ignore and go on, but I think someone just wants to show off his abilities and this an opportunity to do so. Wellthat's my 2 cents. So are we going to fight or end this and go on to the next day?

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 18:13:02 -0500
From: "Douglas Lohse"

Rebound cringes at Ari's reaction, realizing that he was on the verge of blowing the whole place up.  He retracts the strands (if they are still there) and turns to leave the apartment.

"Out of respect for you and Och, I'll let this whole thing slide Ari, but if that thing steps out of line again, I won't be so forgiving.  This is not about being a big man.  It's about respect.  If anyone here doesn't have respect for others, then I am not going to be able to work with them."

As he heads out the door..."If anyone needs me, I'll be on the roof."

(He heads for the roof to blow off some steam)

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 18:13:02 -0500
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

> As he heads out the door..."If anyone needs me, I'll be on the roof."

 Magus stands quietly through the mechanical beings outbursts and confrontations until after the thing has disappeared to a room or some such. After that is said he slowly looks around at those left around the room and then silently steps out of the apartment to parts unknown.

Subject: Re: [v13] Re: Exit, Stage Right
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 18:15:11 -0500
From: "Nathan Gecko" <nathangecko@yahoo.com>

 A short while later Magus finds himself standing on the rooftop watching the man named Rebound for a few moments before stating the man's name aloud to get his attention, "Rebound. I would like to have words with you for a moment if I may."
