Wordmaker

Where there are maps...there must be war! Let's invade Up n Away! (again)

Nevermore and War Crow, solving the world's problems, one Z alt at a time!

Miss Ellie's in SO much trouble...

Hmm, since this time, Nevermore didn't steal Star , we can probably go with War Crow having either shown Nevermore how to conceal his aura, or given him a device to do so.

Ringmaster, PM on its way.

Oooooh!

Nevermore does indeed conceal his scent and pheremones. He can't conceal his aura, and many people can detect that.

Dammit, you're right!

Lady Chill grabbed Crow because he knew who Nevermore really was, and she wanted that information.

And yes, FFM, Miss Ellie will still know. The question is, has she said anything about it to Nevermore?

Okay, here's the general idea of the changes which will be happening to Nevermore. If anyone has any questions or queries about how their characters might be effected, or even just want to have something explained or clarified, please feel free to PM me.

Alan Drake is the son of billionaire entrepreneur and altruist Victor Drake, and Paragon City councillwoman Melissa Drake. They died 15 years ago, gunned down in a drive-by shooting by unknown assailants.

Victor Drake was the original Nevermore, though anyone with knowledge of Nevermor's background will find evidence of a long legacy of warriors who took on the raven mantle down through history. Nevermore always operated just a little bit outside of the rules, though never crossing certain boundaries. His oath against killing was famous.

Victor trained Alan from a young age to replace him as Nevermore one day. When his parents were killed, Alan at first turned away from the duty he had sworn to, and refused to put on the mask. He went to Harvard, tried to live a normal life. When that failed, he travelled the world, searching for purpose. Eventually, after the Rikti War, Alan realised his destiny lay in Paragon City, and returned there to make Nevermore live again.

The above is the new modified background to Nevermore. He still does not operate with a Hero Licence, but now he never had one to begin with. This means the pinning of his licence to the doors of City Hall never happened. He just understood that there were certain things that needed to be done by someone who would not be answerable to a bureaucracy. The Police and even Freedom Corps grudgingly admit that Nevermore is effective, and while his methods are not approved of, there is no concerted effort to bring him in for questioning.

Nevermore's identity is actually known to several members of the hero community. Whether through past associations with his father, Alan understands the need to be on good terms with other heroes, or simply because he has become friends with them, many know the man behind the mask.

In other words, if you want to be one of the people who knows who he is, PM me. I'd actually like a fair number of people to know, so I have reason to bring him to GG for social reasons, in or out of costume.

As regards the plot events which happened to Nevermore...

Rachel Swan is not dead. She was rescued from Ripper by Nevermore and Zortel, though she and Alan did split up, anyway, for other reasons. She does know who Nevermore is.

The Lady Chill plot happened almost exactly as it did before, with War Crow being captured and everything, though obviously did not end with Nevermore and Stargazer falling for each other. I'll be posting the stories again, adapted somewhat to show just how they have ended differently. That'll happen after New Year's.

The Salmarien plot didn't happen at all.

The Masquerade plot did happen, but without Masquerade's taunting of Stargazer/Aluria.

As regards Vigil membership:
Nevermore is still the leader
Alex Reed/Ravensclaw is still a member, and was Nevermore's first apprentice, and founding member of the Vigil.
White Warlock is still a member.
Zortel is still a member

Anything else regarding membership still needs to be discussed.

Basically what I want to do with Nevermore is give him reason to be at the statue, and the ability to interact with other characters without needing a reason like gathering information or asking for help. I'm lowering the angst and brooding in favour of a more relaxed character, both as Nevermore and as Alan Drake.

At the moment, my inspirations for how each side of Nevermore will behave are:

Alan Drake: Michael Douglas in "The American President"
Nevermore: Christian Bale in "Batman Begins"

Now hang on there! There's some things even gods can't do

TA/Archery is a fantastic set, it's just not what people initially think of when they think of a Defender. It's a very offensive set of powers, with good damage and rehcarge times. Yes, solo they're tough to level, but in a team they're incredibly valuable.

The sheer fact that Flash Arrow doesn't draw aggro is amazing! Stock up for Recharge enhancements, and you can afford the time to get two of them off for large groups before the team attacks.

We did? I would have thought turning her into a little plush doll would have been better.

No, she did clarify to me that the reply was a general one, not to Samy.

And FFM, I assume by "fix" you mean "oook"?

Okay, I get the feeling Aisla and myself have read Samy's post differently.

I read it as a bit of advice encouraging people to work -with- us as regards the effects of the retcon, and not as a warning to not let "Raven and Wordy" get away with forcing people into something. I hope I wasn't wrong in this.

Exactly, Samy, thank you! That's a very important thing about this whole retcon. We're not doing it to enforce anything or to act like everyone has to obey us (they already do anyway ). We just made a large number of choices about our characters which have left them pretty much unplayable as regards roleplaying, and we want to correct that.

The best way to look at a lot of situations and occurences in the past and how they may have changed is to think about how much of it was in the control of one of these three. The Minako incident was very much external to the lives of Nevermore, Stargazer, and War Crow, odds are Nevermore would have reacted in exactly the same way.

As Samy said, what's really the best thing to do is decide what status you want your characters to have with Nevermore, War Crow, and Stargazer, and then work with us to see how that can be achieved.

As I said, today I'll be writing up a summary of the changes I'm making to Nevermore who will, out of the three, be the character most changed in terms of how he behaves and what is known about him.

I would like to say, though, that we really do appreciate the fact that people are supporting us in doing this retcon.

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, so if Stargazer's dad never existed, then Nevermore never declared a personal war on him, so United never left because he didn't want to get involved in somebody else's war?

Now, you see, that changes a lot of things...

[/ QUOTE ]

Stargazer's dad did exist (I'm assuming), but the Salmarien plot didn't happen. I didn't actually know that was the reason for United leaving, I thought it was to do with his own personal things going on.

Besides, it was hardly a "personal war".

[ QUOTE ]
Actually, the change in Nevermore's outward face does present some interesting issues. have to think about that one, Wordy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah...I'll make a post tomorrow with an overview of the changes I want to make to Nevermore. If anyone has any problems with it, they can let me know.

There was an altercation on the GGOOC channel tonight. I'm not going into the details because everyone involved who I've spoken to wants the matter closed. I'm happy with this.

It did, however, highlight the fact that, while the GGOOC channel has moderators, it doesn't have guidelines for what is and is not acceptable behaviour.

This isn't an attempt to enforce any kind of rules on anyone, just a request which, as a Moderator of the channel, I feel I have the right, and obligation, to make.

Please, in future, if something causes offence in GGOOC, can people try to keep it to /tells, and away from the channel itself? It does nothing but create a bad atmosphere for everyone involved, and make the situation worse. I think we'd all like the channel to be a place where we can talk amongst friends without having to see an argument play out.

Basically, if someone does or says anything over GGOOC that causes offence, there are three options:

1: Ignore it
2: Send a /tell
3: Notify a Moderator

Please play nice?

Um, why would it mean that?

There's simply no reason for Alan Drake to get married. Alan could only ever really marry someone who knew his secret, and wouldn't marry someone in a throwaway manner like that.

So it's more a case of there simply not being another character he could marry.

The basic idea is that certain events in the past history of GG and our characters' background are being changed to that they either did not happen, or happened differently. Sure, someone could look into why Alan Drake is no longer married, but there'd be no reason to. As far as the universe knows, Alan Drake was never even engaged.

Wouldn't say that the Galaxy Girl meets are the "best" place to start, because they're not for everybody. We are, however, the easiest group of roleplayers to find. Generally, you're IC whenever you want to be, using Local for IC chat, and anything OOC put in double brackets ((like this)). The /em command is what we use to show we're performing an action, so "/em sits down" comes up in the chat window as "<name> sits down". We have a Global Channel called GGOOC for OOC chat.

Some people act IC all the time, others, like myself, treat large portions of the game (most missions, the shops, respecs, etc) as OOC and aren't part of our characters' storylines.

Well, the idea is that Amelia Careros (Stargazer, who later became Aluria Careros) never broke up with War Crow, and never had a relationship with Alan Drake at all, so a wedding would be a little hard to manage without a bride.

Session Start: Wed Dec 21 19:10:02 2005
Session Ident: #COH_WORDMAKER
* Now talking in #COH_WORDMAKER
* Jane_Darc has joined #COH_WORDMAKER
* QS has joined #COH_WORDMAKER
* JasonCaine has joined #COH_WORDMAKER
* ooc_Stef has joined #COH_WORDMAKER
<ooc_Stef> #join COH_WORDMAKER_OOC
* Wordmaker sets mode: +o Jane_Darc
* ooc_Stef is now known as Shadows_Grac
* Shadows_Grac is now known as ShadowsGrace
* Jane_Darc sets mode: +st
* Wordmaker changes topic to 'Saving the mother f***ing day...'
<Wordmaker> <Memory has called together all the people present, in response to a convergence of magical energies in the skies above Steel Canyon. Atop a high rise apartment block, there is a dark ritual taking place. Riegan, wearing a long coat blowing in the wind, recites an ancient incantation over a naked female body, a grotesque jigsaw patchwork of stolen body parts, the biting snow apparently not hindering his concentration
<Wordmaker> <Riegan is apparently alone, the naked body lying on a stone altar, the gods know how Riegan managed to get it there. It stands amid the usual collection of rooftop terrain, vents, pipes, wooden crates, and scattered about the place are old, stained tarps>
* JasonCaine Jason takes in the view "Why does this look like an enormous trap?"
<Wordmaker> *Memory nods, smirking beneath his hat and mask* "Because it usually is?"
<QS> isent it always a trap ? no point in makeing your plan easy to foil
* Chrysalis_ looks around, her stance the only giveaway of how nervous she is
* Jane_Darc looks at the body on the altar. "I just realised something..."
<Wordmaker> Memory: "What's that?"
* Chrysalis_ looks at Jane with expectant eyes
* ShadowsGrace carefully glances about, giving an absent nod at Jason's words, and to those of others in response.
<Jane_Darc> "I could play the perfect dead body on TV. No need for extra make-up or stopping my chest moving."
* ShadowsGrace raises an eyebrow to Jane, she's staying strangely quiet.
* Chrysalis_ smirks
* JasonCaine smirks
<Wordmaker> *Memory smiles* Well, if you're very good, I'll introduce you to the dead body over there, maybe you can go for coffee"
<Jane_Darc> "I'm always good, even if I'm bad, I'm good at it. Anyway, she looks a little stuck up for my liking. Probably drinks decaf. If she had the ability to."
* ShadowsGrace frowns a little, shaking her head. 1 "Pardon me for breaking the fun here, but we have a very bad thing going on here, and we are making jokes about the undead?" She mutters in hushed tones.
* Chrysalis_ sniggers slightly "Yeah, reducing her caffeine intake, how dare she!"
* QS srugs "lets go sping the trap"
* Jane_Darc shrugs. "Hey, Jewish people tell jokes about Jewish people, black people about black people, living impaired about living impaired. Always good to be able to laugh at yourself, I find!"
<JasonCaine> Actually, that's just the dead, for now.
<Wordmaker> *Memory tilts his head back to Liz* "You'd be surprised how many battles I've been in where a bit of mirth beforehand helps stop you [censored] yourself"
* Chrysalis_ nods "I agree with Jo, let's get this done and dusted"
* JasonCaine chuckles 1"Culoden was good for that."
* Jane_Darc pulls some knuckle dusters from her jacket and slips them on her hands. "Good thing I'm wearing my heels. Get him on the floor and I'll jump on him a bit."
<QS> anyone want a lift down ?
* ShadowsGrace looks back to Memory. 1 "You'd be surprised how many I saw that didn't... I just want to get this over with."
<JasonCaine> Just don't kill him until... Well, until I get to him.
<Wordmaker> <Riegan's chanting becomes louder, the wind changes, clouds turning purple overhead as the snow whirls about the rooftop>
* JasonCaine He slips something out of a pouch on his belt, keeping it hidden in his palm.
* Chrysalis_ peers at Jason's hand
<JasonCaine> We better do this, soon I think
<Jane_Darc> "That change put a chill wind through me." 6Jane sighed, tapping her knuckledusters together.
* ShadowsGrace checks her katana, her eyes never leaving Riegan.
<Wordmaker> *Memory notches an arrow* "Okay, let's move out, last one to save the day buys the beer"
* QS eyes glow as she rises gently form the ground
* Chrysalis_ nods
<Wordmaker> *Memory inches forward*
<QS> say when
* JasonCaine Mutters a spell, fading from view, and begins moving quickly across the rooftop.
* Jane_Darc gives the thumbs up sign. "It's clobberin' time!"
<Wordmaker> <Riegan glances up, smirking>
* Chrysalis_ cracks her knuckles, and stretches
<Wordmaker> *Memory swears under his breath* "Move"
* QS shifts in to intagablity power forward at the same time
* Chrysalis_ looks at Memory "To where?"
<Wordmaker> Memory: Scatter, surround
* Jane_Darc nods, scuttling off while hunched over.
* Chrysalis_ nods and moves a few paces to her left, concealing herself behind a chimney
* JasonCaine closes to within 20 yards of Riegan, skirting around him to come in from the back
* QS moves behind Riegan and to his left
* Wordmaker <Riegan's lips split into a wide grin as a ring of flame rises, spreading out 15 yards from where he stands>
* ShadowsGrace pulls her katana free with one, well-practiced, fluid motion, drawing it in an arc. As it comes to a halt in front of her, in a defensive position, she begins her advance, shift, near invisible as she moves at great speed.
* QS begins to layer her self with energy protecting, insualting
* Chrysalis_ mutters a chant under her breath and is briefly surrounded by a bright green glow
* Wordmaker <Riegan> "I knew you'd try something, Karsten! You have no idea what you're doing!"
* Chrysalis_ begins to creep forwards, moving silently and quickly until she's about 5 feet from Riegan, standing behind him
<Chrysalis_> *edit* until she's standing just outside the wall of flame
* Wordmaker <something stirs in the shadows, both within and outside the circle of flame, human shapes, draped in rags, snarling, with burning red eyes>
* Chrysalis_ swallows hard, but stands where she is, not moving
* QS drops to the ground, remaing intangable, slowly building up to attack
<Wordmaker> *Memory squints at the blazing heat of the flames, frowing at the creatures in the shadows, he fires and arrow at one, his eyes widening briefly as it lands in its chest, but does not stop it...*
* ShadowsGrace moves towards where she is best at ease, in her element. She is hardly visible, until there is a moment in which a soft, green glow surrounds her, just before the shadow envelops her, coming to a stand some 6 feet away from one of the creatures.
* JasonCaine (He's stealthed so you won't see this) Jason's body is enveloped in a brilliant green glow as he takes two steps forward and takes off, moving in a high arc, peeking over the flame barrier, aiming to land beside riegan
* Jane_Darc steps forwards from behind some ventilation shafts, pulling her arm back before lobbing one of her knuckledusters at Evil Bill.
* JasonCaine Lands, blanances himself and summons up a powerful necromantic spell
<Wordmaker> *the knuckleduster lands square on Riegan's nose, sending a burst of blood across his face and the altar*
* Jane_Darc grins. "Talk about bloodying his nose."
<Wordmaker> *Riegan's body is wracked with pain from Jason's spell, and he staggers, the naked body twitches somewhat and the clouds overhead quicken into a growing maelstrom, purple lightning crackling*
<JasonCaine> (( Oh, note, Jason will now be visible after casting the spell ))
<Wordmaker> *Memory notches another arrow, its head glistening with ice, and fires it at the creature. It hits, encasing the creature in a block of crude ice as Memory falls back* "Keep together! We're surrounded. Damn you, Riegan, what the hell are you doing?"
* JasonCaine appears to be slightly confused, but rallies and slams the palm of his hand into Riegan's chest (( aiming to drive a soul gem into his heart ))
* QS phases back in to real space, and throws a Luminous Detonation in to the cretures in the shadows
<Wordmaker> *the soul gem jabs into Riegan's flesh, his eyes widening in realisation and rage as the gem starts to glow*
<Wordmaker> <QS's blast detonates, tearing at vent shafts and pipes, scattering steel debris and shrapnel, two of the creatures are torn apart*
<Wordmaker> *The debris misses QS and Liz, but Jane receives a large shred in her stomach, Memory's flak jacket manages to deflect a few smaller pieces, which do, however, cut at the skin of his elbow and shoulder joints on his left arm. Chrysalis' armour shields her from any damage*
* ShadowsGrace jumps forward, her katana raised as she attacks the nearest shadow creature.
* QS curses "damn it, Jane that hit anything vital ?"
<Wordmaker> *Grace's katana slices down through the creature's arm, severing it at the shoulder, now that they've moved closer to the light of the flames, their true visage can be seen. They are rotten corpses, twisted and distorted by necromantic power, yet their gait, their demeanour, is bestial, feral, their teeth elongated into fangs gripping with gore, their fingers are black talons, cracked like the aged flesh on their bones*
* Wordmaker *Riegan's eye begin to crackle with energy, and he grabs Jason's arm, his legs almost beginning to buckle as he tried to resist the power of the gem. His hand bursts into flame, scorching Jason's flesh with intense heat*
* JasonCaine Jason grimaces from the pain
* Wordmaker *The creature Liz is fighting claws at her face....tearing three deep strips from her skin across her cheek, almost tearing out her left eye*
* Wordmaker *two of the creatures pounce like great jungle cats at Memory, rending his kevlar and sending him through the flaming wall, he grunts as he hits the ground, struggling with both*
* ShadowsGrace lets out a loud scream as the pain of the wound washes over her.
* Wordmaker *one each then sets upon Jane, QS, and Chrysalis. The one on Jane snags her ankle in its jaws, biting hard. The one fighting QS claws at the woman's arms, slicing her forearm in a deep gash. Chrysalis manages to parry and block the one fighting her, her body surrendering to the power within her*
* Chrysalis_ braces herself against the creature, and muttering under her breath, manages to cast a spell, draining some of the creatures energy, channelling it into her own body
* Jane_Darc looks at the cut on her stomach, then at QS. "I find your stomach tuck to be lacking in finese, other than that I'm peachy!" she calls out.
* Wordmaker *The zombie screams in defiance, and its essence leaves a foul taste in Chrysalis' mouth, but it seems otherwise unharmed*
* QS flinches at the strike, yelping pain
<QS> good to hear jane *building up for her hext attack*
* Jane_Darc looks down. "Hey, what do you think you're doing? You're no bear trap, and I'm no bear." she says, lifting her foot up before thrusting the sharp point of her heel at the creatures head. "I got weapon focus in footwear." she banters.
<Wordmaker> *unfortunately, the zombie has Jane off balance, and her foot only hits the ground, snapping off the heel of her shoe and twisting her ankle, she falls onto her back*
<Jane_Darc> "Gah! Those were $15!" 6Jane moans out as she hits the floor face first.
* Jane_Darc turns to look at the creature on her foot, swinging her foot at it. "THAC0, don't fail me now!" she muttered.
<Wordmaker> *Jane manages to kick the beast in the head, she can hear something crack, but that's all*
* Chrysalis_ takes a deep breath, and in a flurry of fists, hits the creatures face as many times as she can land a punch without damaging herself
<Wordmaker> *Chrysalis' blows are too fast even for the apparently lightning quick relfexes of the undead monster, her fists coming away with chipped bone and spattered gore until finally it drops to the ground and lies still*
* QS smashes her hand in to the creture, with a Radiant Strike "get the Hell off of me"
* Chrysalis_ picks herself up, and dusts herself off, turning to Memory "Am I gonna smell like that when I die? If I am, cremate me!"
<Wordmaker> *The zombie's chest explodes around Quantum's hand, splattering her with gore*
<Wordmaker> *Memory shouts from under the two zombies* "Okay, I'll be sure to remember that when I'm putting my own limbs back on!"
* Chrysalis_ shouts "You want a hand over there?"
<Jane_Darc> "I can set you up with a nice taxidermists. Once this damn zombie gets off my foot! Geez, you're a foot fetishist, I get the picture!" 6Jane calls out, strugling with the zombie on her foot.
* Chrysalis_ runs over to Jane to help her get the evil dead thing off her boot
<Wordmaker> *Memory's reply is cut off by one of the zombies biting into his trapesium, becoming a cry of pain as he holds the other at bay with a hand around its throat*
<Wordmaker> *The zombie attacking Jane manages to bite deeper, to the sound of popping cartiledge and snapping bones*
<Wordmaker> *The zombie currently battling Grace claws at her again, across her ribs, its talons cracking ribs and chipping bone*
* Jane_Darc points at Memory. 1"Get those ones!" She called out, before looking down at the zombie. "Geez, vore too? You just go across the spectrum."
* Wordmaker *Riegan grins, raising his free hand, in which a flaming sword appears as he utters a final incantation and strikes, the burning blade lashing Jason's face*
* JasonCaine stumbles back, leaving the gem embedded in Riegan's chest
<Wordmaker> *The naked body starts to twitch, and a visible pillar of swirling light, almost discernable in it are humaoid forms, scores of them, which flood the naked body*
* ShadowsGrace while the fist wound slowly heals, the new wound rips a loud shriek from Liz, who jumps back.
* JasonCaine steps forward and reaches out for Riegan's arm, dark energy swirling around his hand (do I touch him?)
<Wordmaker> (no, he steps back in a defensive position)
<JasonCaine> (k, bugger)
* JasonCaine steps back slightly yelling 1"I think it's animating!"
* Chrysalis_ looks up to the body "Oh Christ..."
<QS> blinking from the gore in her eyes "bugger" and turns towards memory
* ShadowsGrace takes a few steps back, her breathing heavy, holding the katana in her left hand, her right hand clutching at the wound at her chest. she begins to prepare for a few parries, to allow herself time to heal.
* ShadowsGrace prepares to make another attack, this time making sure that she covers her defence in the process. She jumps rather high into the air, turning 360 degrees in the air, her blade lashing at the zombies closest to her before landing again, a few feet away from the zombies.
<Wordmaker> *Liz's strike splits the zombie fighting her in two, the flame reflecting in her eyes as she eyes up her next targets...*
<Wordmaker> *more zombies emerge from the shadows, surrounding the circle and the heroes there, two charge at Liz, one of which loses a hand to her swift parry, the other clawing her shoulder*
<Wordmaker> *The zombie which is making a meal of Jane lifts her up by the leg, chewing on the broken stub where her foot used to be*
<Wordmaker> *two more zombies charge at Quantum, but one stumbles, causing both to tumble over one another, and stop in the flame. Though writhing and screaming and burning, they still seem intent on killing their prey*
<Wordmaker> *Memory still wrestles with the two zombies on him, blood starting to flow quickly from his wound*
<Wordmaker> *A zombie tries to tackle Chrysalis, but cannot reach her in time*
* Wordmaker *Riegan pulls the soul gem from his heart, screaming in agony, threads of light stretching between himself and the stone, eventually snapping. Clasping his hand over the wound, he utters and incantation to stop the bleeding*
<Jane_Darc> "Oh no. My foot has been eaten." 6Jane says in a droll tone. "Guess it'd be creeper if you tried to sniff my shoes..."
<Wordmaker> *Memory pulls a long bowie knife from his belt and presses it against the neck of the zombie biting him, with a heave, he cuts deep and wrenches the head from the body, throwing it aside*
* Wordmaker *the naked woman's eyes open*
* Chrysalis_ runs through the flame, preparing an incantation as she goes, and casts another spell to drain the life force from Riegan, channelling it into herself
<Wordmaker> *Chrysalis' armour shields her from the heat, flames licking against her as she runs, her spell strikes Riegan, who buckles slightly, grunting, before turning to her* "Hello Miss Chryalis. You have something I want"
<Chrysalis_> "And what's that?"
* Wordmaker *Riegan grins* "Orin"
<Chrysalis_> "Yeah? What's your beef with him?"
* ShadowsGrace overhear's Riegan talk to Chrys and mumbles. 1 "Orin... "
* Wordmaker Riegan: "You get me all wrong, my dear. I don't want to harm him."
* Chrysalis_ shakes her head "No, you want to unleash that son of a [censored] into this world."
* Wordmaker Riegan: "You've no idea what I endured under his torture. The pain, the torment. My body, my mind, taken and twisted to his perversions!"
* JasonCaine steps swiftly forward, his arms wrapping in dark energy as he drives punch after punch into Riegan (his back, I'm guessing)
* Chrysalis_ shrugs "Then what do you want with him?"
<Wordmaker> *Jason's attack catches Riegen unprepared, distratced as he is by Chrysalis, blow after blow hammering into his back*
* Wordmaker *Riegan shouts out, staggering forward* "Some people have no manners..."
* JasonCaine dark energy flows around Riegan, blocking his vision (accuracy reduction)
* QS ignoring the gash on her arm forceing her self in to Combat flight to rise above the sheild, she throws a Gleaming Blast at the other creture attacking Memory "damn it, what the hell is that thing ?"
<Wordmaker> *Quantum's blast strikes the creature, destroying its spine and much of its upper torso, it slumps to the ground*
<Wordmaker> Memory: "Thanks!"
* Jane_Darc leans up to grab the zombie's head with both hands, before letting one hand go and spreading her fingers, jabbing them into the zombies eyes. "Didn't block!"
<Wordmaker> *Jane's fingers plunge into the zombie's eyes, it screams, dropping her*
* QS grins tightly "no problem, now whats the patch work thing ?"
<Wordmaker> Memory: "Vessel of some kind...the dead here...they're..." *his face pales* "Oh god...no...."
<QS> oh that sounds good, bugger
* Wordmaker Riegan: "This is my offering...I'm setting them free, giving them back to you, Orin...let them feel your loving torture once more"
* Jane_Darc kicks her foot up between the zombies legs, the point of her shoe aimed at a certain area.
* JasonCaine nods, his eyes on Riegan 1"They're in the body, all of them."
<QS> i have an idea, but we need to gather
<Wordmaker> *Jane's shoe impales the zombie's nether regions*
* Chrysalis_ turns her attention to the reanimated body "[censored]..." and pummels it with flying fists
<Wordmaker> *the body opens its eyes, they are a milky white. It catches Chrysalis' fist and holds on tightly*
* Jane_Darc mock winces. "Shows you should wear a cup when out. Or use the safeword." she looks about. "I'll be over in a second... just when I... hobble over there."
* Chrysalis_ screams out beyond the flames "I'm gonna need some help with this one"
<Wordmaker> Memory: "What have you done, Riegan??"
* JasonCaine follows up to Riegan's chest with a Shadow Punch, hoping to drive the gem deeper
<Wordmaker> *Riegan blocks Jason's attack with his free arm* Riegan: "I'm giving them peace, Karsten!"
<ShadowsGrace> "[censored]..." 6 She growls under her breath, picks up some speed and leaps through the flames at a fair speed, immediately landing on the other side, her eyes taking in the situation, her blade protectively held before her, ready to either block, or attack.
<Wordmaker> *Liz's flesh is scorched by the flames, her clothing charred in places*
<Wordmaker> *the zombie attacking Jane stumbles away, blind and crippled, however she is soon surrounded by the surviving ones Quantum and Grace left her to deal with*
* Wordmaker *Riegan swipes at Jason with his flaming sword, though Jason is able to duck and weave between his strikes*
<Jane_Darc> "Zombie groupies. Great. Get a camera someone, people'd pay money for this."
<Wordmaker> *the dead body stands up, applying more pressure to Chrysalis' hand, breaking bones in her hand*
* Chrysalis_ cries out in pain
<Wordmaker> *Memory gets to his feet, lifting his bow as he calls out* "Chrysalis!" *he fires a shot, and the arrow pierces the hand of the dead body, pulling its grip away from Chrysalis' hand*
* Chrysalis_ staggers backwards, clutching her wrist
* QS lands next to Memory "god i hope this works" and Concentrates on the group, phase shifting them, building to to release a Dawn Strike, as the wave of energy releases, she collapses, the others phasing back in.
<Wordmaker> *the flash of light is blinding, the altar obliterated, the dead body sent flying across the roof. Riegan is also sent flying across the roof*
<ShadowsGrace> "Double [censored]..."
<Wordmaker> *Jane is caught in the blast, though the damage done is primarily concussive, and mostly from the large air vent she is flung against, leaving a zombie-girl-shaped dent*
<Wordmaker> *burned, but still alive, Riegan manages to grab onto the ledge of the roof, and hangs there*
* Chrysalis_ takes another deep breath and loudly chanting the incantation, focuses all her energy on draining that of the walking dead girl in front of her
<Wordmaker> *nothing comes from the dead body, which is already standing from its fall, its face a mask of impassive pain and rage*
* QS Slowly pushes her self to her knees, but looks dazed still "did that work ?"
<Wordmaker> *Memory looks around* "Not sure...did something"
* ShadowsGrace glances to Jason, almost as if working on automatic pilot, silently seeming to ask which target he would go for so she will go for the other.
* JasonCaine nods to the body infront of Chrysalis
<QS> that took more Effort than i though, feel as weak as a new born
* ShadowsGrace gives a nod and makes her way to the edge of the building, where Riegan was blown across.
* Chrysalis_ points at the evil [censored] in front of her "If nothing else, the [censored] broke my hand. Get her!"
<Wordmaker> *Riegan is hanging from the roof, blood trickling from his mouth and nose, he looks tired and battered*
<Wordmaker> Memory: "Chrysalis! Those souls...they're The Defiled!"
* Chrysalis_ looks up "Huh?"
<Wordmaker> Memory: "The ones Orin tortured, they were never able to rest, they were driven mad!"
* ShadowsGrace katana in her left hand, she undoes her belt with her right, dangling it for Riegan to see. 1 "I'm going to throw you the end of this, any trick, and I will let it go, in so doing dropping you. Capiche?"
<Wordmaker> *Riegan nods*
* QS forces herself to her feet "Bugger, is that thing still going ?"
<Wordmaker> Memory: "You underestimate the strength of that many souls"
* ShadowsGrace folding the soft end of it one around her right hand, her left foot set against the fortified edge for leverage, she throws Riegan the buckle end.
<Wordmaker> *Riegan catches it, and pulls himself up to the roof*
<Wordmaker> *Memory turns to Jason* "The soul gem! Where?"
<QS> i think i just have no idea what they could do, any way to break it ? the vessal that is ?
* JasonCaine looks around for the gem
<Wordmaker> *the gem is lying on the ground close to them*
* JasonCaine makes a grab for it, turning toward the vessel
<Wordmaker> Memory: "That many souls...the body will be almost indesctructable. They've been existing in torment for 800 years"
<Wordmaker> *Memory follows Jason*
<Chrysalis_> "We're gonna have to take it's head off"
* ShadowsGrace instantly steps back, putting her katana between her and Riegan, snatching her belt back. 1 "You, Billy, have been a bad boy, and do you know what we do with bad boys around here?"
* JasonCaine Keep the damn thing off me for a few seconds
<JasonCaine> (( That should have been speech ))
* QS looking tiredly at Memory "oh joy" draws her self up, trying to ready herself for the fight
* Jane_Darc climbs up from the floor. 1"Friendly fire... someone needs friend or foe systems." she groans, starting to roll towards the others.
<Wordmaker> *The Vessel frowns, reaching for Chrysalis to stroke her face, almost tenderly. It's voice is a hundred, male and female, sad in tone* "Orin...? You are imprisoned...as we were...give us your care once more...give us the pain..."
* Chrysalis_ looks terrified
* Wordmaker *Riegan nods, smiling* "Oh, I do, Miss. I do. Which is why I can't let you do the same to me..." *he utters an incantation and there is a flash of red light around him*
<Wordmaker> The Vessel: *reaches for Chrysalis, drawing it's face to hers, bringing their lips close*
<Wordmaker> The Vessel: "Pain...and peace..."
<Wordmaker> *Memory arrives, drawing a sword from across his back* "Step away from her!"
<Wordmaker> *The Vessel hisses at Memory as it backs away* "Annointed One..."
<Wordmaker> *The Vessel snarls, eyes flooding with blood that drips like tears down its face* "You shall not have the master!" *It lunges at Memory, batting the sword away as he tries to parry, and clawing at his face*
<Wordmaker> ((ignore))
* JasonCaine takes in the situation with Memory and Liz and yells 1"Hold it!" 6 Then he leaps across the roof at high speed, bringing his fists down toward Riegan's head as he lands
<Wordmaker> *Jason's fist connects with the red light, it tingles and burns as Riegan's form stumbles, falling back off the roof*
<Wordmaker> <Wordmaker> *The Vessel snarls, eyes flooding with blood that drips like tears down its face* "You shall not have the master!" *It lunges at Memory, batting the sword away as he tries to parry, and clawing at his face*
* Chrysalis_ steals a quick look at memory before driving her fist into it's stomach as it reaches for her
<Wordmaker> *Chrysalis' blow strikes well, almost lifting The Vessel off it's feet briefly*
* Jane_Darc continues her rolling towards Chrysalis, Memory and the patch-lady.
* ShadowsGrace looks wide-eyed up at Jason who seems to appear out of nowhere and hits Riegan off the rooftop again.
* Wordmaker *Riegan falls from the building silently*
* QS fires off a Gleaming Blast to try to knock the Vessal back, and moves towards jane
<QS> coming jane
<Wordmaker> *Quantum's shot goes wild, blasting apart a steam pipe, filling the area with steam*
* Chrysalis_ follows up the single punch with a lightning quick sequence
<Wordmaker> *Chrysalis' combo batters The Vessel away from Memory, a look of...joy, spreading across its face* "Yes, Master, we knew you would remember us in time. Let us love you...let us show you our servitude"
<Wordmaker> *The Vessel drops to it's knees, looking up adoringly at Chrysalis* "Tell us your wish, Master...do to us as you will"
* Wordmaker *Riegan's falling form shrinks, the red glow fading away, until only a black bird remains, which flies off into the night*
* Chrysalis_ looks at Memory "Any clues?"
<Wordmaker> Memory: "The soul gem...wait here..."
<JasonCaine> "[censored]!"
<ShadowsGrace> "Double [censored]..." 6 She hisses.
* Jane_Darc looks about. "What did I miss?" she asks.
* JasonCaine turns toward the vessel, taking off in another long jump to land in front of it
<Wordmaker> Memory: "They need to rest, Jason...but, not like this. I can try to help them, but being in this body, it won't do anything for them"
<Wordmaker> *The Vessel gazes up at Chrysalis*
* QS Hauls jane up on to her good leg
<Jane_Darc> "Ouch.. going to take me ages to grow a new foot... unless I can find the zombie with my old one in..."
* JasonCaine lifts the soul gem in his hand looking toward Memory
<Wordmaker> *Memory turns to Jason, small scratches on his face still bleeding* "You want me to?"
<QS> will see what i can do */me she extends a glowing touch to jane
<JasonCaine> Athena wouldn't like it 6 Turns and drives the gem at the vessel's 'heart'
<QS> damn, am too tired can't give you much
<Wordmaker> *The Vessel looks up, eyes wide in shock. It gives a scream as the gem glows* "Master! Please! Don't let them take us!" *it claws at Jason's arms madly*
<Wordmaker> *Memory steps back, closing his eyes*
* ShadowsGrace stares after the bird until it disappears from view, noting in which direction it went before making her way back to the others just in time to see Jason put the gem into the vessel.
<Jane_Darc> "Best not give at all then. I'm like a tick. I latch on until I have my full. Or something... guess I need a moth sidekick."
* Chrysalis_ stands there, looking at the vessel, a look of sorrow and relief on her face
* QS looks at Jane " give me a minet then"
* Chrysalis_ drops to her knees, clutching her head "Jesus Christ, make them stop!"
* JasonCaine holds on, trying to drive the gem deeper, ignoring the scratches and cuts on his arm
<Wordmaker> *not as experienced, powerful, or even as coherent and sane as Riegan, the souls in the Vessel cannot resist the gems power, and the glow quickly overtakes the Vessel, finally fading back into the gem. The Vessel falls and lies still*
* JasonCaine pulls the gem from the body as it falls, bits of zombie flesh clinging to his fingers
* Chrysalis_ slumps over
<Wordmaker> *Memory moves to Chrysalis' side and kneels, putting his arms around her* "Chrysalis...?"
* Chrysalis_ looks up "You sure it's gone...?"
* ShadowsGrace shudders a little.
<Wordmaker> Memory: "The souls are safe. Riegan..." *he looks up at Jason* "Riegan?"
* Jane_Darc hobbles out of Jo's grasp and crawls over to the body. "Think it'd mind if I yoinked its right foot?"
* JasonCaine flicks the gore off his hand 1"He flew off."
<QS> i know i wouldent
* Chrysalis_ smirks at Jane
<Wordmaker> *Memory nods, frowning
<ShadowsGrace> He turned into a bird, and flew off.
<Jane_Darc> "Someone lend me a sword please?" she asked, measuring off where she needed to cut.
<JasonCaine> You got something useful you can do with this lot, Richard? 6 he turns the glowing gem as he speaks, watching the flickering within
* QS looks down at her self "i am covered in Zombie bits, thats disgusting"
<Wordmaker> *Memory hands her his sword*
* Jane_Darc takes the sword and starts sawing off the Vessel's right foot. "Foot bones connected to the naked patchwork girl..."
* QS consentrates, restoring her essence healing the wound on her arm
<Wordmaker> *Memory stands and holds his hand out* "I can perform some rituals, try to help them overcome their pain, and pass on. What Riegan wanted to do..." *he shakes his head in disgust*
<QS> anyone need healing up ?
<QS> apart for jane the peg there
* Chrysalis_ looks up "What..? What did he want to do?" before looking at Jo "Um...yeah, please"
* JasonCaine passes the gem to Memory
* Jane_Darc takes the foot off and presses it against her stump. "Jane the Peg? I kind of like it... I need a patch now, and a parrot." she jokes, wrapping the foot to her leg with her tie. "Guess this'll have to do till someone dies."
<QS> reaths her hand in energy, reaches out and touches Chrysalis
* JasonCaine looks at the various healed wounds he now doesn't have 1"No, I seem to be pretty much fine, as usual."
<QS> good, i am Knackered, think i will sleep for a week
<Wordmaker> *Memory takes the gem, looking into it sadly* "These spirits, they died from Orin's torture. They know only pain, so much that they long for it again. They're so alone...all they want is to be noticed, attended to, cared for. What Orin did...was the only thing they remembered as anything other than loneliness, so they wanted it again"
* ShadowsGrace looks to Memory. "There is perhaps a way to set them free."
<QS> thats awful, and thats whats inside Chrys ? this thing that did that to them
<JasonCaine> We still have one of them to deal with
<Wordmaker> *Memory turns to Grace* "What have you in mind?"
* Chrysalis_ nods "Hey, it's not like I'm proud to be a demon-hostess!"
* Jane_Darc hobbles upright. "He flew away as a bird? Shame... red mist or a flock of bats would have been nice."
* ShadowsGrace smiles. 1 "Why, a ritual, ofcourse."
* QS slumps to the ground "sorry nothing against you"
<Wordmaker> Memory: "How long?"
* Chrysalis_ shakes her head "I know. Sorry, I didn't mean to take it out on you..."
<ShadowsGrace> A day or so.
<Wordmaker> *Memory nods* "Quicker than what I had in mind."
<QS> am to tired to be coherant anyway, so it ok
* Chrysalis_ nods
<JasonCaine> And there's what to do with the patchwork lady there... Cremation would be a good idea.
* Jane_Darc shudders as someone in the city passes away, her wounds sealing over. "Now I just need to wait for the foot to be mine properly... and get rid of that hangnail..."
<Wordmaker> *Memory nods* "Definitely. It's too well made a vessel to be left intact
* QS smiles at jane "take alost to get you down doesent it"
* JasonCaine shakes his head slightly and grins in Jane's direction
* Chrysalis_ nods as the word cremation is mentioned
* JasonCaine sniffs 1"I think I have a suitable incantation... hang on..."
<Jane_Darc> "I'm full of zest and life... well, not the later. But zest... I'm like an orange. A dead... pale orange. Or a lemon."
<Wordmaker> *Memory checks his neck wound, wincing as his gloved hand touches it* "Still bleeding...."
* QS looks at memory, "come here"
* JasonCaine takes a small bottle from his belt and drips a liquid from it on the body' forehead, then over its heart
<Wordmaker> *Memory walks over to QS* "You need to rest, you're exhausted"
* JasonCaine takes a couple of steps back and looks around
* ShadowsGrace scans the rooftops, taking in the damage, then looks to the others, mentally already going over the list of required items and proper rites.
<JasonCaine> Jane, you want to move a little further back? The reaction can be a little... violent
<QS> yeah, but i will be ok to do this *reaches out, touching her had to the wound sealing it*
<QS> will still be tender, would get an anti inflamatory for it, the brusie will be nasty
<Jane_Darc> "Oh yeah, Jo? You do shoddy stomach surgery... and you cut my jacket. I demand repirations! Reichmarks will do." she grinned.
<Wordmaker> *Memory nods, stepping back as Jason instructed* "Thanks, Jo."
* Jane_Darc stumps away from the body.
<QS> after i sleep jane, plus my banker will take a while to get them
<Jane_Darc> "A needle and thread'd do too."
* JasonCaine mutters a single word under his breath and the body explodes into searing hot flame. Jason's hair streams backwards in the outrush of hot air.
<QS> sure you don't want gunnies ?
* JasonCaine After a few seconds, there is nothing left but glowing ash
* Jane_Darc watches. "Should have sold that to Fox. They pay good money for clips like that."
* QS leavers her self up "good god, thats quite the inccineration"
<Wordmaker> *Memory squints at the flash*
<JasonCaine> Sometimes you need to get rid of a dead body in an evidence free manner 6 He shrugs
<QS> will remember that
* Chrysalis_ looks around "Is it over yet?"
<Jane_Darc> "And we didn't have the knives and forks."
<Wordmaker> *Memory collects his sword, and his bow, slinging both over his back. He brushes some zombie bits off of his hat before placing it back on his head*
<QS> thatnk god it was wash day yesterday, at least i can shower and throw these ones away
<ShadowsGrace> Over? I doubt it... Riegan is still out there.
<Jane_Darc> "He owes me a new pair of shoes."
<QS> yeah, how are we to track him down, not that i care to much right now
<Wordmaker> *Memory glances around, walking towards the edge of the roof* "He'll be back. After he's licked his wounds for a while."
<JasonCaine> I have no doubt. I suggest we retire to lick ours.
<QS> well either way lets get the hell out of here, i need to shower the gore off me
* Chrysalis_ sits quietly, surveying the scene
<Wordmaker> *Memory nods, looking out at the night, closing his eyes briefly, whispering,* "Until next time, old friend..."
* ShadowsGrace glances down at her tunic, then sighs at the gaping hole in the fabric of her top, just below her left chest. 1 "Wounds, no. Getting changed? Defenately."
<Jane_Darc> "Damn, I'm missing King of the Hill. I'll hobble my way on home, I think. And trim my nails."
* JasonCaine looks around at Liz 1"You okay, Liz."
<QS> glad i live here, only sort flight home
* ShadowsGrace looks to Jason, frowning a little, then nods, managing a small smile. 1 "I'll live, as always. Which is more then I can say for this shirt."
* JasonCaine grins at Liz
* Chrysalis_ pulls herself to her feet "Right...well, I'm gonna go home and wash the goo out of my skin"
<Wordmaker> *Memory steps away from the edge* "I've got a girl to get back to..."
* ShadowsGrace actually grins back to Jason. "Opportunist."
<JasonCaine> Always. Goodnight to you all. Rest well. 6 Doesn't wait for a reply, but leaps off across the rooftops toward the Green Line station
* Chrysalis_ smiles at Memory "Go..go home to Bev, she's probably sitting up worried sick about you"
<Wordmaker> *Memory smiles back at Chrysalis* "You going to be okay getting home on your own?"
* QS lifts into the air "bye all"
* Jane_Darc hobbles off to the fire escape. "Stupid dead pins and needles... back off home to my TV!"
* Chrysalis_ nods "I'm fine. You go home to your girl"
* QS has left #COH_WORDMAKER
* JasonCaine has left #COH_WORDMAKER
<Wordmaker> *Memory smiles* "I'll give you a call tomorrow"
* Chrysalis_ nods "Sure"
* Wordmaker has quit IRC (Quit)
* Jane_Darc has quit IRC (Quit: * Faelaya is brought to you by Faelaya Heavy Industrial Concern. Battlemecha-size business solutions in a kitten-sized wrapper.)
* Disconnected
Session Close: Wed Dec 21 23:40:01 2005

Well, we did it! Managed to get everything done, and I still have a villain to play with!

I'll be checking out the logs of the mission, seeing if I can post them up for others to see, it'll be much easier than trying to summarise everything that happened.

I am now of the following opinions:

Memory is a cross between Indiana Jones and Ray Stanz from the Ghostbusters.

Jason's springy, and still thinks of Liz as his "beloved"

Liz thinks and works a lot like Jason. And needs a new shirt.

Quantum Seraphim needs to learn to aim

Chrysalis is not someone you want to p*ss off.

Jane Darc is pure comedy gold!

As part of the retcon, Rachel Swan, who one or two of us old-timers will remember as having died in the very first Nevermore plot, is still alive. She does know who Nevermore is, and not only was she saved from Ripper by Nevermore, but the two had not split up at that point. They did, however, split up afterwards for personal reasons, including the fact that Alan Drake was worried she would be in danger again in the future.

The Culture Shock Festival, and the events involving The Order and Lady Chill following, happened as normal. Lady Chill escaped from the Zig in the confusion following the spate of Arachnos-led break-outs (around the release of CoV), and is still at large.

The Masquerade plot happened as before.

The Salmarien plot, I'll have to talk with Aisla, as with any of the events surrounding the character Clover.

Alan Drake is still currently single, having never married, nor even had any relationship whatsoever with Amelia Careros. He is still known for dating models and other beautiful women, sometimes he even only dates one at once. They are never serious, however, and the longest he has been associated with any one woman in recent months is about a week.

Gah! Stupid typos!!!!