Forse

Locals and Paragon Times, January 8th 2011

Highschool in Troll Rave Hit

PPD and Heroes forces were alerted to a break-in at the Skyway High School late friday afternoon after dusk. A number of Trolls had broken into the sports hall and gym facilities at the high school, in what is believed to be an attempt to secure the location for a Troll rave.

Janitorial staff were attacked but fled the scene, and one casualty from the student body was recovered. Initial reports suggest the male student was found within the storage area of the school. It is believed he was taking refuge until help arrived when he was discovered by the rampaging Trolls.

The name of the student has yet to be released, however it is believed he is now under care in hospital. The hospital have yet to make an official statement on the status of the student, though insiders have noted they are still in the process of contacting the victim's family.

Officials for the school district have stated that it is not policy to allow students alone within the school facilities after activities at the school. They have also praised the actions of the police and Heroes that attended the scene, noting that silent alarms placed within the school has avoided much more serious damage being done. They do not believe the school will be closed, repairs begin next week.

I wouldn't consider Lotus/Chloe "evil" per se. Incredibly driven, selfish and manipulative to the point of screwing over the rest of the world and warp her interpretations of everything to suit her world-view, yes, she's certainly on that level.

My other characters (Mar in particular) would consider her bad/unlikable. What she does to them (him) could be considered evil by some. To others she's not yet walked down that slippery slope or leapt the moral event-horizon. Yet.

She still remains (just barely) functioning social though. But you *have* to take her in small doses, as I did when Theo first cropped up. Otherwise we get to the point FFM bought up, where people just want to run away screaming or stick you on ignore.

Really not sure how to treat it on my characters, the majority live in Kings Row. Which is the other zone being affected? (Or is that SPOILERS territory still?)

I'm leaning towards it not happening as a literal event until zone events occur. Until then...

Wish I'd known this before I reinstalled CoH.

Apparently though it's not helping and I can't access still.

Has anyone contacted Av or the techies?

Of course, you could just create your own universe with your own rules then canon-immigrant over some characters and ensure you faithfully follow the parts of the CoH canon that you can, and have explanations for those you can't...

>.> <.< ... >.>

Which gives me a small idea as to where this can all go for Forseverse's application of 'Incarnate' powers.

I have something vaguely planned for Tam, since he's most likely to hit 50 in time for the higher level stuff to be released whilst the rest of my characters wallow in their own misfortune at being slightly less interesting to play (forgive me, but SMASHY SMASHY scrank-ness is fun (okay so it's Shield Charge)). Closely followed by Mar, since he improves upon Tam's fun by adding Electrifying Bad-guys' Vital Organs When They Touch Him to the mix. But Tam has a headstart.

Sparky's safe to consider getting an invite I think :P.

The Venue/Ceremony:

The Elmhurst Hotel is situated on the outskirts of Paragon, and the venue has been decorated extensively in accordance with the coffee and cream theme. The initial ceremony is held within the hotel’s main dining room that has been laid out for the service, and takes the form of a confirming of vows rather than a religious ceremony. Rings are still exchanged.

There are several of Theo and Issa’s friends from work serving as bridesmaids, and Theo’s biggest fan Alice is the ringbearer/flower girl; she takes the role very seriously. Theo will be at the hotel to greet the guests already when most people arrive. The call goes out that Issa’s car is arriving slightly late (boo) and he’ll be in a rush to get to the driveway.

Issa arrives chauffeur-driven in the ’57 Cadillac Eldorado Seville that Jacob and Mar prepared for the wedding. It has a coffee paint scheme with a cream coloured soft top. Everything is polished and buffed to perfection; the chrome, interior woodwork, cream leather seats, everything. It is set up traditionally with the cream coloured ribbon arranged in a V across the bonnet. It’s a spectacular arrival for the bride.

Issa’s dress is a knee length white dress with a bolero jacket in white with cappuccino (almost light-caramel) accent colours (across the ‘elegant’ designs from the costume maker and the fur). She doesn’t wear a veil and her hair is mostly straightened (though she is wearing a gold/diamond tiara that isn’t possible in the costume maker D.

The hotel itself is of the ‘manor house’ look, although the dining room has large French windows down two sides, one of which is opened into the permanent-marquee, which houses the dance floor and dining tables. Everything (down to the napkins) is in the coffee and cream theme. Tables in the dining area sit eight. Altogether there are around 50-60 guests total (excluding Theo and Issa obviously), mostly made up of work colleagues + partners, team members, invited heroes and a spattering of family members that were willing to attempt the cross over to Paragon. Mainly this just means Theo’s parents and Issa’s parents and siblings. The wedding is probably considered “small” by American standards but Theo will note if people ask that he’s more comfortable this way.


The Food:

Whilst the ceremony will happen mid-afternoon, the sit-down meal happens around 5:30pm-7:30pm (roughly, so giving people time to then appear at GG after the dancing). Dinner is served as a three course meal, with menus on tables. There are plenty of waiters to go around. Each course is a choice of two (one being vegetarian option). Drinks are available at the bar (just outside the marquee inside the main hotel), but bottles of red and white wine are available on each table. Water/Orange is also available free, however if guests want more or different alcohol they’ll need to pay at the bar.

The wedding cake is a pretty standard affair, in keeping with the colour scheme. There is plenty to go around.


The Dancing:

After the wedding dinner the dance takes full control of the marquee area, with retreat possible back into the hotel’s dining room. Theo and Issa’s first dance is a slowed version of Train’s “Hey Soul Sister”, and those with super-hearing (or that can lip-read) will be able to tell that Theo is singing along with the song to Issa. After that music is a mix of tradition wedding music and whatever requests the DJ receives.


Issa & Theo Notes:

Mostly dealt with above, however Theo is on his best behaviour and looks pretty close to tears a couple of times (when Issa arrives, and after the first dance). Issa is abstaining from all attempts at offering her drinks beyond the wine she drinks with the meal.

If anyone brings gifts (although the invitations stated none were necessary) then Theo will politely take the person aside at the start and accept the gift which is then hidden away from the party to avoid unnecessary embarrassment.


Toppa Notes:

Toppa is serving as best man, and provides a speech at the start of the meal. He would go on (and on) about Theo and Issa’s contribution to the community and team, and wish them the usual luck in the future. He’d also tell a joke that probably only mages would get involving portals, energy feedback and Theo’s jumping underwear. (Make a noodle incident of the joke as you wish – but the savvy will remember what happened in the past...).

Anyone offering Toppa a dance will notice he’s actually pretty darn good at ballroom.


Tam Notes:

Tam is obviously quite happy to polish off his dinner, seconds, and then some. He is in his kilt, and mentions how it’s “just for these ceremonies” a few times. His first dance is with Toppa to show that he’s actually learnt something from him (though expect him to be a clumsy dancer!).


Mar Notes:

The young bundle of nerves spends much of the wedding fussing over his kilt, since he doesn’t like it and will state that to anyone that asks. He does look pretty good in it though. It’ll also be pretty obvious at this point that Mar is now both taller and broader than his father (Frank).

Mar will escape the dancing at any opportunity to go show off the wedding car to anyone who asks.


Alexia & Frank Notes:

Be warned ye with tails, Frank/Frakker has personal space issues when it comes to tails and thinks nothing of tugging on them to get your attention. He doesn’t do it to hurt anyone, and is more like the guy that gets your attention by slapping you on the shoulder than anything. In fact if you haven’t got a tail, he probably does slap/pat you on the shoulder/arm to get your attention. His thick Dundee accent is as unintelligible as usual when speaking.

Alexia gets annoyed with him at one point, and tells him off for “being typical”. She goes bright red and refuses to comment further if anyone intervenes.


Other Notes:

The bride and groom’s families are doing their best to fit in with the Paragon-verse. They cope better with those that look ‘normal’ to them, or those they can rationalise their powers away. For example Jacob and his glowing eyes would be seen as him being a mage and probably just casting far too much, whereas Ellie they’d be unable to explain and more dubious of.

Theo’s parents would amuse themselves during the dancing by going around and asking “And what do you do? And how does that work?” to as many heroes as possible. The attentive would pick up that they’re not particularly fond of the idea of super-powered individuals.

At the end of the evening (around 8.30pm) Theo and Issa will return back to the wedding Cadillac to be whisked away for the start of their honeymoon. Tam was unsuccessful at convincing them that they should have tins on strings tied to the back.



I *think* that covers anything and everything I had planned with the couple of spring-board points to develop further. OOC/IC posts for questions and guest activities are very much welcome.

True, however a line must be drawn where ICly, not all opinions are valid.

There are some opinions that are totally not valid. "Murder all Longbow because they're stupid" is an extremely silly example, and to many characters would be offensive.

OOCly it might be fun to play a character holding such a contraversial opinion. However you shouldn't fall victim to OOCly insisting that people must ICly accept that opinion as a permanent part of the game world if it takes RP contortionism to the extreme to make it fit the canon. You might pull it off for a day or two before getting arrested, but the arrest WOULD stick. Mass-Murdering an authority organisation... not likely to see the sun ever again.

We get to write canon for our characters and world only so far as the toes of the developers and owners who wrote the initial canon. Once you start stepping on those toes it's not the RP-community's right to say "Actually, we're okay with that" or "Actually, we don't like that". At that point you're infringing on a higher-power's canon.

Whilst they're unlikely to slap you down for it, you'd be hard pressed to maintain the charade for very long; as the more people that interact with you but stay within the Dev-canon the more your personal canon will get holes poked in it.

It wasn't the death of 1,000 people. It was the death of 1,000 young children in their first week of school. The hypothetical response to those two things is entirely different - and one requires huge changes you cannot adequately simulate in the game.

Specific details in stories are what people will take the most disagreement with, such as the above. It will be the *type* of human trafficking that causes a problem, not the trafficking itself (if there is a problem).

I'd have no problem with a human trafficking plot in general. It'd depend on the specific details as to whether other people do.

The main thing however is not whether you do it or not. It's what you do after you do it and (hypothetically) get resistance to it.

It's terribull the linguistic gymnastics being witnessed to make the puns applicabull. It's comparabull to torture of the ears most horribull.

Simply put, incredibull leaps of grammar have turned the passabull into the notabull.


(Have we run out yet? or is there a few still left?)

I did /bug it. It's odd because all the other contents of the pack are there, but the gloves on Huge aren't. I'm amazed how that could be allowed to happen if the content is all within the same patch.

But nevermind, hope it gets fixed again soon.

Thank you. I thought it was only me. I've had to redesign a costume because of this, and it's a real shame because now the feet and hands don't match properly to the theme.

Are they at least aware of WHY this keeps happening? After all those gloves are a *paid* extra, I'm not amused that they disappeared after I paid for them.

Beyond the time issue (takes longer to get the NDA back) there shouldn't specifically be much of a difference between someone in north America and someone in say the UK signing a NDA.

Having them doesn't rule out EU involvement.

The timescale and the number issue does.

And that sucks.

Evil Birdy.

That is all.

Really.

Evil.

That's all.

...

You're still here. It's evil. That's it. That's how it's supposed to be. Sheesh, talk about setting the bar higher...

None of my characters do either, and are unlikely to find out. If Theo in particular was to find out however it'd probably cause a Heroic BSOD. He'd still carry her off to the police though.

A good way of dealing with characters like that (Children not being children) is to play innocent and dump a bucket of D'Awww on them. Not many RPers can resist D'Awww.

Yes, a lot of details like Talos and the surrounding little islands and Independance Port would be created -after- the 'split' between our reality and Paragon (after the superheroes became common place {or existed at all}, and so on).

So you can probably ignore them when trying to match it to a map.

Whilst valid, the options aren't applicable due to the nature of Unionverse.

No, not all players on Union adhere to the Unionverse structure, but a LOT (if not all) of the vocal people in this thread do, and that is why they are so vocal.

Union will not fall because of this event. Unionverse will have to adjust or retcon. Right now the over-riding vote seems to be for retcon, as the topic and numbers just seem far too beyond reason (and there's the gaping plothole of date as Birdy and I pointed out between us eventually, but that's neither here nor there).

I was aware they ran for a long summer, starting early. I wasn't aware that Mar should already have started back at school though. Meep. He should be starting his High School stuff now and be at Skyway High where Rauri's the counsellor and Tam's assistant coach.

Also, CB, most if not all English schools of the non-private variety will be starting this week or next. Some tomorrow/friday, some monday/tuesday. I've never known them to start during August, or after the first week of september. Universities and colleges will start two to three weeks after secondary schools do. (Working in School Healthcare does have some benefits I guess...)

Unfortunately, that knowledge doesn't help me with the American system.

Even so, this makes the tragedy of those children dying all the more tragic. They'd just started school. There's *no* way you could possibly hope to sweep any of the emotional impact under the carpet.

Wait what...

what... *deadpan* what?


I don't read every RP thread. I had *no* idea that this school story happened. I have a character that works *in a school*, I have characters attend schools. I'm seeing a big problem here.

((IT'S THE SUMMER BREAK.))


Why were there more than a handful of children in a school in August?

I mean, did I just overlook some really pertinent piece of information that explains the stupid away? Because there's this gaping plothole I'm seeing here.

--------

Anyway, on with my opinion.

It's going to be ignored by me. Sorry, but this plot is not something I would be comfortable RPing, nor have I had any preparation for it, nor do I like the tone being used to explain it to the un-aware masses.

Sorry, but no. Just no.

You may continue as you see fit. It won't include me.


---------

As for the "wide" events. I was writing a terrorist attack story for Forseverse, the punishment Chimera was about to pay to the Trollkins for their assisting the Wand team. I won't be writing it now because of its topic. It wasn't against a school but it was nearly as bad (numbers were considerably lower though), and I don't think it could be taken well by the RP community so close to a similiar plot being taken so badly.

Nathan Clarity - he's the Praetorian version of Averment, a mild Technopath with the ability to make machines/robots work because he believes they should. Unfortunately his powers are stunted because he's never really had the confidence to use them. His main friend is Copperpot, his robot.

Pris'N - Still have to make her. Praetorian gender-swapped version of Forse. She's a psychopath with elements of Harley Quinn.


And that's it. For now.

MWahahaha.

<Epilogue - All He Left Us Was... Alone>

Crowne Memorial, Kings Row, 10.06pm Monday 28th June 2010

A medical alert flashed across the computer monitors and a teleport beacon lit up. Doctors flew into action and Dr Hamilton was called into the foyer of Crowne. For a few minutes there was a deathly silence, before Issa and Alexia burst into the reception area and locked gaze with him.

“He’s upstairs. This way. He was bought in by the assisting hero, Tiger White.”

Dr Hamilton had been studying the team’s various biology differences since their arrival in Paragon. He was Tam’s doctor, and thus Mar’s as well – the only consultant available in Paragon City that had both the medical knowledge to assist and the rapport with the team to get information. It was his suggestion that he served that purpose – they had saved him previously and he had saved them since.

“Broken ribs, two. Healing has already started on those and sorted out a third. He has broken metacarpals below the second and third digits on his left hand and a fractured wrist on his right. Mar’s young, his healing is even faster than Thomas’. Bruising is going down and we’re doing scans for organ damage. There are large bruises across his back and stomach – kicked. There’s blunt trauma to his head and back, and a massive dose of sedatives in his system, I’d say...”

“They knocked my son down, beat him, kicked him, and stopped him getting back up, over and over again... they drugged him to stop his Rush and left him alone, locked away until they were ready to do it all over again.” Alexia gave the doctor a stern glare and barged her way through a set of double doors, “Don’t tell me what my son’s been through. I can tell. I just KNOW. NOW WHERE IS HE?”


Zephyr Institute, ‘Atlantic’, 11am local time, Monday 28th June 2010

James sat watching over Mar in silence. After his food the night before Mar had noticed both the pain in his hands and the queasiness in his stomach. James insisted he lay down and very quickly the sedatives in the food had taken affect.

James knew the drugs were there for both of them. He also knew Trollkin would survive a double dose. It would leave Mar asleep for a long time however... James didn’t know how long, but they certainly couldn’t question him if they couldn’t keep him conscious. It was to be his last desperate attempt to keep him alive just a little longer. To hold out until help arrived.

James pressed his ear to the door of the cell. Guards outside had been speaking almost non-stop about the arrival of Joseph Zephyr that morning. Soon he would be taken for questioning. He was their only conscious prisoner...


Crowne Memorial, Kings Row, 10:21am Tuesday 29th June 2010

Mar sat up in his hospital bed sorely and glanced around the room. He was already feeling much better, a combination of the much more advanced medical technology of Paragon City and his Trollkin accelerated healing. He hadn’t slept again after waking. On the couch opposite his mother slept, she had remained on silent vigil over her son throughout the night – and it was only when Mar was certain she had finally succumbed to sleep that he began to stir himself and move around.

He didn’t want to be left alone. He smiled softly through a stitched up lip at his mom’s form, he felt secure. Something bugged him relentlessly. There was no sign of James. Where had he gone, had they taken him, was it too late to save him too?

Mar lay back down and hugged the pillow tightly. He looked over at the door left ajar at his request. He couldn’t have it closed. He couldn’t get locked in again with no way out. His gaze also caught a plate of cookies left with the get well soon card and flowers. His bandages hands couldn’t reach to check who had left them yet, but he was sure to ask his mom about visitors.


Zephyr Institute, ‘Atlantic’, 8:50pm, Monday 28th June 2010

The guards had come for James half an hour ago, and lead him to the Zephyr chamber as James had suspected they would. He went along quietly, no more resistance from him that could endanger Mar.

James sat in silence in the Zephyr, watching a glass of water break down. It was almost like watching it evaporate slowly. The water looked there, yet at the same time was rapidly phasing out of reality, the glass would soon join it. The water wasn’t for him anyway as it was a warning to him what would happen if he did not speak.

Zephyr entered the room and cast a glare at him. Slowly he walked over to the table and leant across it. He picked up the glass and moved it aside, placing it back down on his end. The water stayed where it was, giving up on its vain attempt to stay liquid and boiling away into the ether.

“At which point did you remove the video from the facility?”

“There is no answer I can give to that question that will spare my life.”

“Was there any time you worked at this facility that you were not also under the employ of the Trollkin Parliament?”

“There is no answer I can give to that question that will spare my life.”

Zephyr quirked an eyebrow and his brow furrowed. He had been told that the spy was prepared to speak in exchange for the Mongrel’s good treatment. Was not food and a locked door good enough treatment?

“At which point did you remove the video from the facility?”

“My name is James.”

Zephyr smashed the glass against the far wall with a blast of icy wind. “YOU WILL ANSWER MY QUESTIONS!” he roared with brightly glowing eyes, and drew himself up to loom over James. “At which point...”

“There is no answer I can give to that question that will spare my life.” James interrupted. “In less than twenty minutes you will begin to die from organ failure as you phase out of reality. Do you understand?” said Zephyr, beginning to pace along his side of the room. James took a moment of silence, he was already feeling light headed from the affects of exposure and with Zephyr casting within his patron Artifact the process seemed accelerated – yet Zephyr took no notice, he could not tell what was happening in James’ mind after all. He answered for the first time a question he could answer truthfully without endangering the Parliament or himself further.

“Yes.”


Crowne Memorial, Kings Row, 11:50am Tuesday 29th June 2010

Mar had sat chatting with his mother since she awoke at around 11am. They spoke about the news, about going bowling on Saturday with Jacob, about summer vacations and Bubble and Chichester visiting whilst he was being treated.

It wasn’t his mother that bought up the abduction first. Mar apologised for playing with the Artifact Stones. Alexia just started to cry and gave him the firmest and gentlest hug she could.


Zephyr Institute, ‘Atlantic’, 9:19pm, Monday 28th June 2010

An alarm started to sound, and both Joseph and James broke their locked exchange to stare up in the direction of the noise. James’ condition was worsening quickly as his already weakened body had no resistance to the affects of the room. They had left the table some time ago, and James was now sat against the far wall. The table had long since vanished and now Zephyr simply crouched before him, still relentlessly questioning him with the same unanswered questions over and over. The alarm had drawn his attention however, and James took that moment to reach into his overalls and touch his necklace gently. Zephyr turned to James with a smirk and stated, “The alarm notifies me I must now leave you to your fate. Such a shame you refused to answer questions.”

“There wasna an alarm before.”

“It’s new.”

“It’s na – someone’s here.”

Zephyr’s face grew sallow and he stood, turning away from James. “Do you have any last requests?”

“One.” James was struggling for breath and his voice grew wispy and tired. He laboured on to keep his thoughts focused. “Turn out the lights... when you leave... you do na need to watch...no-one does.”

Zephyr did not turn around, but gave James a dismissive wave as he headed for the door and safety, “Very well. It makes no difference to me.”


Independence Port, Paragon City, 11:50am Tuesday 29th June 2010

Chimera sat by the sewer access building, quietly reading in the midday sunshine. It wasn’t the sort of book he usually cared for, and someone had torn out the front inside cover. He glanced out across the waters of the docks, even thick with pollutants and the affects of industry he couldn’t help but be slightly amused with the way the light shone off the surface.

A dockworker, a young man in his very late teens, interrupted him.

“You can’t doss here. Get lost.”

Chimera straightened himself up and took a good look at the intruder into his personal space. He stared at him with his pale eyes and the dockworker backed off slightly, a tense moment of silence was broken by Chimera, “You use Aria Chem creams...”

“No I don’t.”

“Yes, you do... I can tell.”

“It’s... it’s my girl’s yeah... don’t, what you doing? This is whack yeah...”

The dockworker turned but Chimera was already next to him. “Yes, it is whack”, said Chimera with a smirk, bringing both his fists down hard against the young man’s shoulders. As Chimera drained the energy from his target the discarded book sat on a packaging crate, the high sun reflecting off the glossy cover – and just barely the indentations of someone’s writing could be seen briefly.



<<THE END>>

<Mission 2 Writeup>

Theo met the heroes at the statue early into the evening. The team gathered and discussed the completion of the portal technology and installation of Richard's relay and transponder, as well as the basic plan of action.

The team grew to consist of: Annette, Theo, Ellie, Shanna, Jacob, Kumi, Chichester, and Michael. Whilst Theo gave one last call to Alexia to reassure her, the rest of the team headed to the Wand's apartment in Kings Row.

What greeted them was an apartment that was mostly device. Toppa had filled much of the main area (lounge/kitchen/diner) with equipment and was busily bringing the Keystone Portal to life. Cassandra Baudin was also present, and took a personal item from each of the team members. If there was a point where they ventured into a place Toppa couldn't bring them back ((such as inside the Zephyr Artifact itself)), or they became hopelessly split up then she was their security net.

Each team member took a portstone device from Toppa, and the Keystone surged into life - much to the glee of Toppa. The large circular mainbody filled with a rippling pool of white magical energy. The process was simple enough getting there. Toppa had a stable abrupt portal that was being wedged open Paragon side. All they had to do was step close enough to vanish inside the light.

The team quickly made their way into the facility, where Toppa needed a moment to configure the Stonegaze to allow scanning of the facility. So they bought him time by battling the mages and the scientists that had armed themselves. Toppa managed to identify a 'blackspot' up ahead that was masking everything inside, and suggested heading there.

The team also bumped into a Disgraced Guard, who desperately fled as the battle grew more intense between the security services and the Heroes. He begged for mercy, claimed he was only following orders... but was knocked unconscious before he could explain further. Toppa grew concerned over this guard's behaviour, but the Team moved on. Soon they were battling within the processing labs of the facility itself. A mixture of Zephyr Prison Guards and the lab teams cobbled together into a formidable fighting force. Michael was knocked down early on but staggered back into the fray, firing off as many spells as he could to keep the larger groups split and fractured out.

During the scrap in the processing lab Annette was also knocked out by a Prison Guard, who Theo was quite sure said something vaguely specist as he beat his face to a bloody pulp with the hilt of his blade. Annette got back up and pressed on unwaiveringly.

Jacob held the team together through the deeper sections of the lab, and was holding up the rear with first Michael, then Theo and Shanna. Toppa identified that they were very close to the Zephyr Artifact itself, and Ellie could definitely sense an immensely powerful item close by.

At this point, Toppa gave them a choice, should they take a look at the Zephyr or press on? Ellie called it a "Dead end" to which Theo added "Literally". He did check the Zephyr Artifact's room, however someone had turned the lights off and it was impossible to see inside from the monitoring stations. Although Shanna hesitated at the decision Theo did point out they can come back later - so they left.

Deeper into the labs still they beat down the guards held up in the security offices, and dived down the corridors at super speeds. Chichester led out front - even when she didn't have to - and kept pulling in the guards and gathered nasties (even when she didn't have to... she was just that concentrated on finding her friend). Kumi was looking out for her however, and the pair would dive into groups of Class first, as everyone else waded into the fray of flying security officers and "Swatters" as Theo put it - the Trollkin SWAT guards still loyal to the Class.

Finally near the Class labs they found Joseph Zephyr himself. Toppa had warned them that they couldn't shut down security doors and free up time to save Mar until they had Joseph's keycard.

Joseph, for all his posturing and attempts to look tough, was beat down by a furious Jacob and Ellie. His personal guards were mopped up, and his attempt to call in more failed miserably has he was forced down to the ground and medported out injured. Jacob was able to recover the keycard... but one of the prison guards with Joseph smirked as he medported away...

Back in the security office they found out why. With Zephyr porting out the Security Computers were being trashed remotely. Boobytraps or sabotage? Theo wasn't sure. The team spread out and searched for a computer not yet shut down. They found one tucked away - forgot in the hasty retreat of the guards. All the Class members were fleeing now that Joseph had been taken down.

With the doors now opened, Theo again offered them a choice - the blackout was gone and there was *something* inside the Zephyr Artifact, and there were lifesigns in the offices around where Joseph himself was guarding. Kumi spoke up first - lifesigns are good news. Let's go for that. So the team headed off back past the security room.

Theo carefully opened the doors a little (The left one, as Toppa pointed out helpfully) and took a look inside. A form was tucked into bed gently... Ellie got him to stand back and shredded the doors entirely with her energy claws. Mar was in one of two beds, but they couldn't wake him. He was in pretty bad shape and Jacob and Ellie agreed that he was likely sedated as well. Theo gave Ellie the oneway as she was carrying Mar and they disappeared in an abrupt portal. Mar was rushed to Crowne Memorial and Issa flew into action to fetch Alexia immediately. Ellie attended alongside Doctor Hamilton ((the lovely Doctor Hamilton... see below)) until she was asked to give the family space.

Back inside the facility, something was bugging Shanna. She needed to see the Zephyr Artifact. Theo reluctantly took her to it, and the team followed. Once there he switched the lights inside back on, and opened the doors...

Annette ventured inside the room, warned that she couldn't stay inside for too long. *Something* was dissipating quickly, but an Artifact Stone necklace stayed behind. Michael recovered it inside a glowing golden sphere of energy. However the necklace was a mystery to him, it was certainly magical in some form. Meanwhile Kumi and Jacob were keeping Chichester occupied as they feared what could be inside the room. So Chichester got a first aid lesson.

Theo shut the doors again, and Shanna took out her frustration by melting the wall into the door, sealing the Zephyr Artifact inside its own storage room, and Michael added some of his own sigil seals for good measure. Theo also took the opportunity to complete trash their monitoring stations as well and scramble as much as he could.

Toppa was having trouble getting people out so close to the Artifact, so everyone pulled back and started to leave. The trip back was much more unpleasant, like being pinched all over and pulled out of existance. Toppa warned people of this slightly too late for 'backing out of the process' complaints. Annette likened it to dying - but Toppa was expecting the feeling to be more like falling backwards through a giant marshmellow.

The team started to break up now back home. They had just been through an exhausting process. Jacob left mostly silently after helping Annette back to her feet, giving Theo a reassuring nod. Michael went back to study, and Ms Baudin followed - each person collecting their belonging as they went. Shanna was exhausted and disappeared home quickly whilst Toppa was distracted shutting down Keystone in the noisiest, wallshuddering, vaguely pink lightning that will knock you over even if you're sitting down, way. Chichester snuck off to visit Mar in Crowne Memorial.

Mar was still unconscious, the sedatives kept him asleep even whilst the Doctors checked him out, with Alexia's watchful eyes on her son at all times. He still got too visitors immediately; Chichester, who insisted on trying to sneak in - and Bubble, who bought cookies. They stayed as long as the Doctors allowed, Alexia mostly just remained silently sitting by her son's bedside.

-----

((Wow, even more than last time. Can the person with the necklace please raise their hand. I think Michael retained it but didn't catch a message of him returning it to Toppa or Theo.))

((For anyone wanting to run the mission again or separately, the Arc ID# is 422630, "Saving Mar from the Zephyr Institute". I'll leave both missions up until the weekend is over.))

<Ingame Roundup Note: Sunday>

((Was zonked out last night, playing a desperate mother is hard work.))

Alexia was at the statue for air. She was barely holding on to her composure by a thread and was doing her best to distract herself with a Maeve Binchy book. Which didn't really help, but proved useful for hiding in.

She spoke for a while with Annette and Ellie, who did their best to reassure her that Mar was going to be okay and that the heroes always win and the bad guys always lose. She wasn't totally convinced, but trusted that their confidence must be well founded. Jacob headed over and gave key, dramatic, pointed moments of advice and support, and offered her a cup of tea (such a nice young enormous man). He also offered her to a room at the Tower to stay until Mar was saved, and Alexia agreed that she couldn't go to her apartment or stay in the portal-filled apartment either. Ellie and Annette urged her to get sleep - but as she said - she's petrified she'll wake up to bad news, so she can't sleep.

Shanna and Richard also came over, and Alexia apologised for declining Shanna's mother's offer of a place to stay - but Shanna understood. Richard also asked for the delivery address for this relay and transponder - so Alexia tore the front coverpage of her book out and wrote down the address whilst leaning on the cover.

After more talking people began to drift away, and Alexia asked for a moment before she headed on to the Tower (with some overnight things). Jacob stayed around for a while to reassure her, then headed off for more training - whilst Ellie and Annette headed on with their duties (Annette to head to London for another batch of 'Stone).

Alexia left after speaking briefly with Chichester. She left her half finished cup of tea, and the Maeve Binchy book with the torn out page on the seat of the picnic table.