Mr_Grey

Grey's Army has updated.

Cory has Azuria take a look at the Tomes of Three Eyes in order to learn what they're capable of and to gain perspective on the identity of the Blue Druid. Together, with Cory's pupil, Michael White, they learn what it is about the books that has the Circle of Thorns so interested in Kings Row.

"Thank you for coming, Azuria," Cory explained as he led her down the corridors of the base.

"This... Is not what I had in mind," the older woman replied in surprise as she looked about the wood-paneled walls and pillars, "I expected cold steel and a rigidly defined structure to all of this. The psychological report of your boss, Mister Grey, shows he's an unimaginative sort..."

"Oh, he is. Much of the base's current design comes from others. Randall helped with the construction, though, to make sure everything is solid."

He led her to the chambers of the fallen hero, The Blue Druid, Cullen Bran Joro. She explained that the man had called himself a much simpler name when a civilian, Connor Jordan. He had been a kind man, though passionate. He was the sort that would rescue a kitten from a tree while throwing lightning at a group of thugs.

Apparently, during the first Rikti Invasion, he had brought down a couple ships by summoning a massive lightning storm. The ships resisted at first, but the lightning strikes grew in intensity and frequency, and there was nothing for the ships to fire upon. The summoner of the inclement weather had simply vanished. Once the ships had fallen and collided to the earth just outside Kings Row, the clouds dissipated, but the Blue Druid didn't return.

"I figured he may have fled to recuperate," the sorceress sighed, "But I suppose that was just wishful thinking."

"It sounds like he engaged in a form of blood magic to boost his weather control powers," Cory replied, "It would enable him to use his spirit to strengthen the spells. The resulting symbiosis between him and the magic was probably more than his body could take."

"Indeed."

They passed a young man with white hair and a black beard and Cory tapped his shoulder. He rose from his chair and gave a light bow to Azuria.

"This is Michael White..." Cory replied, "He used to go under the moniker 'Project Whirlwind' before he and his friends eliminated a corporate conglomerate."

"We didn't eliminate it," Michael replied with a disappointed sigh, "But we did weaken it to the point that it's not an everpresent threat."

"You know, your name is the same as the Back Alley Brawler's?" Azuria asked.

"An unfortunate coincidence," the magician replied with a sheepish grin, "They're not terribly uncommon names, after all."

"Come along, Michael," Cory clapped the younger man on the shoulder and led the way into the Blue Druid's Refuge, "We'll have a look at what these 'Tomes of the Three Eyes' have to say."

So long as the books weren't removed from their pedestals, the defenses wouldn't be activated. Azuria clucked her tongue at that. It left her worried that the artifacts might be truly dangerous, that Cullen Bran Joro felt he was the only one who could be trusted to protect them.

"I don't know if these are the doomsday device you fear," Cortland replied to her concerns as he read the middle book, "But there is a problem... These words, these symbols... These are definitely spellbooks, but where most are designed to befuddle the minds of those who try to steal their secrets, these are exceptionally easy to read. The symbols are ancient, twisted and alien, but I can read it as easily as if I were reading a children's book."

"This is crazy," Michael breathed, "The things in here... I never imagined... So much power could act through one person..."

"Magic is capable of a great many things," Azuria cautioned as she walked over and gently pulled the young man away from the third book, "But you need to work your way to such things. You can't just jump headlong into it, or you'll risk drowning your self in the power."

"I know... I know..." the man continued breathing hard, like he had just finished jogging, "I just never... I never... Imagined..."

Cory closed his book and walked over to help comfort his friend. He also took the moment to gaze into the younger man's eyes and get a gauge for how he was feeling. A spark of electricity arced inside Michael's right pupil. He'd memorized something.

"I hope you don't intend to try anything foolish," the dark-skinned sorcerer warned, "In mystical arts, a man must be wary when his reach extends beyond his grasp."

"I know, Cory... I just... I know a way to use my own lightning storms better. Maybe then... Maybe then I won't lose somebody when on a mission... I can use the storm to hold the enemy at bay."

Cory nodded. Michael had been at the fateful mission in which their friend, Psycho13, had been kidnapped by the sadistic Silver Mantis. They didn't learn until much later what she had put the young man through. While they were still looking for what kind of emotional damage and psychological trauma the incident had caused the regenerator, they hadn't considered how it had made the others involved with that mission feel.

"That wasn't your fault," Cory gave his friend a reassuring pat on the shoulder, "You all did what you could. Levi says he wouldn't change what he did, that if things still turned out the same, he would do it all over again."

"Well... I'm trying to make sure it never turns out like that again..."

"The first two tomes seem to be about improving the self," Azuria explained as she glanced over them, "The last one is new forms of magic. Methods for casting spells we haven't even considered yet."

"And I think we've found what the Oranbegans have been looking for all this time," Cory added, "With these tomes, they'd be able to turn their demonic wizards into a force that would be nigh unstoppable. They would be able to launch an offensive against Arachnos' Mu sorcerers, they'd be able to topple this city's heroes... They could usher in a whole new world-spanning mystical war..."

"Worse, Cortland, they would be able to wage the war through dimensions!" Azuria sighed and folded her arms over her chest, "Michael wasn't reading for even half a minute and he's already changed."

"I don't think any of us got away from that unscathed," Cory agreed, "Heh... Maybe the boost in power will help you keep a hold of magic artifacts from here on out."

Azuria rolled her eyes and smirked at the wizard. Her smile faded quickly, however, and she turned back to the books.

"We need to find a way to protect these. I will consult with MAGI and Gregor. You talk to that D'Jinni, Koro Al'Rom, and see what he has to say. Cortland... This is a serious endeavor. Do you believe your group is up to this?"

Cory looked to Michael and smiled. The former Brutal Warriors weren't the only ones who'd been learning during the course of these months. They all had been gaining valuable insights from the suddenly education-minded heavy-hitters of the group.

"Yes, ma'am," he answered, "I believe this group is up to it."

Me, I like that Tips System idea! I remember seeing something similar requested in the Suggestions forum a long time ago, and to see that it got the Developers' minds percolating is pretty damn spiffy!

As for the Cathedral of Pain... I don't know. If it's still an SG thing, I don't know if I'll ever really see it. My SG lacks the numbers.

Enjoy yourself, my good friend.

You've found something rare and precious. For that, you deserve congratulations.

Your absence is entirely understandable.

Congratulations, Ice.

No, just a tongue-in-cheek poke at drama long-past.

As for whether or not I'd like to run one...

Don't know. Never run one before.

From how it looks, Kid's more of a maestro. The individuals and groups tend to know what they have to do, they just need somebody to let them know when. Without the maestro, without the people to lead the necessary groups, I have my doubts about successful Hamidon Raids.

Considering my record when it comes to organizing PUG TFs, I have my doubts about having the necessary recognition to successfully lead a Hamidon Raid.

<insert vitriolic rant here>

Now it just needs to be stickied, too.

Out of context, that "Thwip" is ominous...

But, that thread Rasta pointed to IS a Protector thread.

It's... It's RIGHT there, at the bottom (for now) of the stickies...

I actually had a character in mind to use the Bioluminescence "gloves," and wound up using the rest on my Plant/Rad Controller (making it all glowy with the power of the sun!).

The Organic armor and swords wound up on one of my DB/Regen Scrapper's outfits. I was finally able to make something I like to call "The Dead Jester" as close as I can to one of my nightmares (the developers haven't and probably can't come up with dreadlocks that hang down to the knees, much less ones that are tipped with hooks; so I'll probably never get this one quite right).

It's been just plain FANTASTIC!

I understand the concept behind Sky High, but how does that fit into a themed TF? Do you want characters dressed up as Sky High characters?

Grey's Army update.

The defenses activate and grow increasingly more difficult to battle as Kip foolishly believes he can handle the growing threat. The other denizens of Randall's base find themselves having to struggle with the new assailants as well before the tome is returned to its rightful place.

The shadow creatures weren't strong, especially not against the bright energy attacks Charlene and Ryat66 employed against them. The stick figures shattered and vanished as they were struck, and when they got too close, they struck with attacks that were barely powerful enough to count as punches or kicks.

However, there were a lot of them. They seemed to just pour from the rift, which was now looking like a red crack in the middle of the air. It was getting bigger, too, but it seemed somehow stable. Simmons and Durj arrived in the central chamber as the top-most point of the rift touched the ceiling.

"That's not good, Kipland," Cory pointed it out, "Those creatures are just scouts. There will be more... Bigger... Tougher..."

"Then we'll drive them back..." the shorter young man grunted as he lunged into the fray.

"Kip!" the sorcerer shouted, "Just take the book back to the pedestal! That's all we need to do at this point! They're just here to protect the book and keep it from being stolen!"

Kipland slammed one of his legs through the abdomen of a stick-figure scout. The creature collapsed and crumpled before dissipating into a smoke that wafted back through the rift. Cory narrowed his eyes at this and watched as Ryat66 and Charlene eliminated their assailants. Similar wafts of formless smoke made its way back toward the rift.

"If you don't hurry, Kipland, we will have far too many foes to deal with!"

A larger specimen of the strange shadow creatures leaped through the rift as it widened to accommodate types that would match athletic males. It was like a human male body, but devoid of any features. It didn't even have a face.

A flood of scouts and more of the larger warrior types pushed their way out of the rift. Charlene and Ryat66 couldn't wipe them out fast enough and the chainguns built into the entrance to the chamber revved up. The shadow creatures were susceptible to the kinetic impact, though not nearly as much as the energy blasts of Charlene and Ryat66.

Kip saw that Cory was right at that moment. The shadow creatures were starting to flood their way through the halls and corridors of Randall's base. Some poured into the motor pool, where they found an irritated Mattock McGinty who was pleased to find something that would distract him from the irritation his bike repairs were putting him through. Next door to that chamber, in the storage and machinists shop, they ran into Dale Simms, who blasted them away with his heavily modified sonic emitters. They vaulted into the laboratory, where Sheldon and his pet, Felix, ejected them with a powerful application of force.

In the lounge, Roland and Snuggle Purr found themselves ambushed by the little monsters. Before the portly hunter felt he had to use an explosive to get them off, a series of spikes skewered the shadows beanpiling him and stapled them to the wall. The spiky catgirl battled her way to his side as he pulled the pieces of his collapsible compound bow from his jacket and assembled it. By the time he cranked the drawstring taught, a group of four warrior types barreled into the lounge. This made Snuggle giggle a little. She could have taken six by herself. With Roland, she could probably have taken sixteen.

In the northern warrens of the base, Raging James and Draven Erickson contended with what scouts and warriors made their way to them. James could already imagine the streets above as Police Drones frantically scoured the pavement for an entrance to the location where somebody was using an illegal power combination. Just to mess with them further, he slammed a shadow creature against the ceiling. Hopefully, a drone would hear the thump.

"You got a real problem with how things are run in this city, huh?" Jared asked his friend.

"I need a vacation," James grunted as he bodyslammed one of the bigger shadow men to the mat, "From my vacation..."

"You call what Cedric and Matt do to us a vacation?"

"Well, it's better than getting shot at just because I have super powers..."

Again in the old mystical base of the Blue Druid, Kipland found himself cut off from the north chambers. The shadow men were flooding the chamber, and no amount of fire or energy bombardment was pushing them back into the rift that was now wide enough to let a large truck through.

The orange glowing portal seemed stable, though. It wasn't growing anymore and the strange cracks it left in the air around it had faded. Even larger examples of the warriors stepped through, two at a time. They were as big as Sam Bibbins, but still featureless. They took more than a few blasts to knock down, and what blasts were hitting them weren't hitting anything else.

A loud, thunderous crash at the northern corridor signaled Randall's arrival. The big man let loose a loud bellow and charged through the little creatures.

Kipland, seeing an opportunity, called for the old man, "Randall! Catch!"

He threw the tome over the heads of the shadow men. The big man caught it and looked at it with a perturbed expression. As he did so, many of the smaller shadow creatures wailed on his thighs and back with about as much effect as cotton balls against a mountain.

"Take it back to where you found it!" Cory shouted, "We're cut off! It may be our only chance to finish this!"

"Alright, alright..." the big man grunted as he turned and palmed one of the head of one of taller shadow men into the wall as he worked his way back north.

Another larger shadow creature pushed its way through the rift. As its head cleared the breach, Charlene ran up and delivered a punch square to its jawline. The shadow hulk rolled back into the rift and didn't re-emerge. The one that followed it, however, looked back as if it was concerned for a friend.

"They have personality," Cory explained as he burned more into the strange smoke that they reverted into, "They think, they feel... But I think they can't be actually harmed on this plane... You might have actually hurt one, Missus Grey, because it hadn't crossed the threshold."

"Oh..." she replied as she formed three energy spheres that scattered out and exploded into three different groups, "Should I be concerned?"

"Well... These things aren't evil," the wizard explained, "They're just doing a job they've been hired for."

"I see..."

Charlene deflected another of the human-sized creatures before jumping up and slamming into its shoulders with a double hammerfist. It crumpled to the floor and Ryat66 shot over her head to take down two creatures that were about to bound on top of her while she recovered.

There was a loud keening, suddenly, and the shadows all seemed to stop. They looked to each other, then what ones were in the central chamber of the Blue Druid's base looked to the rift. It had shifted from its original orange-red color and was now a bluish white. The shadows turned to the heroes and resumed fighting.

"I think they would prefer to go down fighting," Cory explained as he hacked one aside with an ice sword.

"Cool, I was getting worried I'd have to apologize for hurt feelings," Kip barked as he side-kicked another shadow through the rift.

The fight really had only taken twenty minutes. When it was over, the last of the shadows had been sent through the rift and the blue energy field rapidly sealed itself afterward. While the other heroes recovered, Cory returned to the crystal ball to communicate with Koro again.

"You survived!" the D'Jinn chortled through the crystal ball, "Excellent! Excellent! I had a feeling you were in powerful company. Of course, Cullen's deal with the Hands of Penumbra wasn't a particularly expensive one... They're not the most lethal of interdimensional mercenaries, but they're dogged!"

"That was an incredible ordeal, nonetheless," the sorcerer rasped, "Koro... These must be important relics, these Tomes of the Three Eyes... And... I believe that it is a good thing we were the first to find them."

"Oh? What makes you say that, young Shrak'mi?"

"Because... Well... Tell me, Koro Al'Rom... What do you know of Oranbega and its inhabitants?"

Happy birthday, Rasta.

Hulkers... You DO realize that you're not exactly promising us a Subtle-free TF, right?

Frankly, I would imagine a Blaster would be the exact opposite of the monster of a tanker that Subtle is, anyway.

And, knowing your nature, I'm expecting some kind of assault on my vision in any case.

I foresee chaos at the beginning. Then things will even out. Then people will start complaining when their stuff doesn't sell and the stuff they want they can't afford.

I would like in on this, Abrahms.

I'm not sure who I'll bring, though. Maybe Kipland... He tends to run into enough weird stuff in his adventures.

This server's population, no matter who tells you what, is rather steady. I find it's best to liken it to a small-town mentality.

If you find the right group, you should be able to find steady teams and plenty to do.

I recommend hitting up the global channels Jello Shooters, Protector Vigilance, Protector Watch and Protector TFs to get a good finger on the pulse of what's happening here on Protector.

On other servers, I recommend chatting with them to see what they recommend.

Well, for those that wanted Slime Armor, they're a step closer in roleplaying terms.

I've been writing a whole lot of stuff over on my DeviantArt page lately. This cut into my writing Grey's Army, but I think I've finally hit a balance that will allow me to get my story up to speed.

I've gotten involved with a group called Angel Falls. Since I wasn't getting much feedback on any of my work here (though what I did get is extremely appreciated, and I thank each of you who sent me a message with commentary or critique, both were helpful and uplifting), I decided I would try my hand at a more dynamic environment, one that was (in my opinion) part roleplay, part collaborative effort. It also has elements that I'm not entirely comfortable with writing, but it's the sort of thing that happens (you can disagree with an act or the philosophy behind it as much as you want, but that doesn't stop it from happening), so I need to learn to get past it.

I threw some of my BWO characters that I felt I was neglecting and some of my Grey's Army characters into the setting. Other background characters may find themselves over there, and if my characters come to a point where the [poop] has hit the fan, Kipland will be going over there...

To break Ultrawoman's ribs. It's not me saying it... It's KIP!

Well, I obliterated all of my old arcs... This has left me somewhat sad, but, meh. Life goes on. It wasn't like anybody was playing them, anyway.

To get myself back into the Architect, I decided to try my hand at something nonsensical.

So, I made this...

Arc Name: The Secret of Nemesis Gas
Arc ID: 416665
Morality: Hero (though it's written to be ambiguous)
Factions: Nemesis and Rikti
Length: 4 Missions
Difficulty: Depends on whether or not you are running against bosses, but without EBs, AVs, or custom characters, it's pretty much the standard fare you'd find throughout the rest of the game.
Creator: @Mr Grey

Note: This is meant to be a humorous arc. If anything seems overtly silly, it's meant to be.

I wasn't even sure if I wanted to show up for this one.

I had to toss a coin (best two out of three) to see if I would in the end.

I'm glad I did. That was an excellent assault. We downright devoured Jell-O Mold!

Grey's Army

The members of Grey's Army investigate the new chamber. It's not a criminal organization's base, but who did it belong to instead? What secrets lie within it?

It was a base alright, just not that of one that belonged to a criminal organization. Flashlights revealed elaborately carved stone walls, spires, pillars and arches. Runes, calligraphy and markings of indiscernible origin were carved into all of it. Randall, Ryat99 and Ryat66 spent a day placing lights at strategic points so they could examine the chambers more easily.

The central room, the one they'd broken into, had two rings in its center, one on the floor, another on the ceiling. They curved stone spikes looked like teeth for a mouth that would never close. In the center of the maw was a strange energy. Once the eyes adjusted to the darkness, a soft glow could finally be discerned. When they placed the lights, the glow brightened slightly, always a little above the ambient illumination.

"That can't be good," Ryat99 observed, "There must be some form of mystical energy at play."

"I already called Cory to get over here with Mike," Kipland explained as he grasped one of the spires, "Huh. I don't feel anything from this..."

The southernmost chamber was mostly a narrow corridor riddled with strange carved shapes. Charlene, Randall's wife, pointed out that the carvings were hands, and while they had been treated to look ancient, they actually were quite recent.

"It's in the little details," she explained as she brushed a little dust off a corner, "Ancient structures are usually more rounded, more worn... This stuff... This stuff feels moderately fresh. I would say this was all carved within... Twenty years, thirty, tops."

At the end of the corridor, they found a strange altar. There were four crystal balls, one at each corner of the squarish stone slab, and a central, larger crystal ball, its interior swirling with purple mist. Kipland explained that there was a presence in the area.

Torches on the back wall flared to life suddenly and Cory walked into the chamber. He was obviously entranced by the discovery, and had many questions for Kip and Randy. However, the big man pointed at the wall and told him to deal with what was obviously an escalating situation.

"Yes, yes..." Cory examined the chamber and found an old mat for kneeling before the altar, "Ah... Please, leave the chamber..."

They headed to the northern room from there. The corridor leading to it had a small meditation chamber that was dominated by a stone head, with its mouth serving as the doorway. Again, torches flared to life and Randall grumped in reaction.

"That's getting weird. Why didn't they do that when we put up the lights?"

Kip shook his head. He wasn't liking it either.

"I don't know Randy, but I'm getting that old bad feeling."

They continued on to the northern chamber. It was carved stone, like the rest of the newly discovered warren, its surface also carved in intricate markings. The center of the chamber was dominated by another great stone hand, this one rising from the floor to grip a dome in the ceiling. Under the hand were three pedestals, each one holding a large tome. Kipland approached these and arched his eyebrow at them.

"I never heard of any books like these before," he muttered as he looked them over, "I don't recognize any of these markings..."

"The Tome of Three Eyes," Randall said and screwed up his face, "But why do I know that?"

"Why do we know that?" Kipland added, "I can read this easily..."

He grabbed the first book and pulled it off the pedestal. He started heading back down the corridor to take it to Simmons.

"Maybe Cory can help explain this..."

Randall nodded and turned his attention to inspecting the rest of the chamber. There wasn't much more to find, however. There were crystals that glowed faintly in one of the back corner, but not much else except a big flat floor. Smiling, the big man realized he'd found a better place to throw all of the Brutal Warriors Order's junk.

In the southern chamber, things were proceeding at a surprising pace. Cortland had found a few notes on enchantments to call through the crystal ball. It was like a telephone, and the ball was keyed to various phrases to call various individuals. The first enchantment called to a dark place, and Cory was unable to converse with anybody. The second didn't seem to cause a change in the orb from the purple smoke and the young warlock was left wondering if he'd done something wrong.

"Who are you?" he heard as he reviewed the note.

The demon-blooded wizard blinked in surprise and looked up at the sphere. Inside it, a creature that looked vaguely Arabian, aside from its bright red skin, stared out at him. A pair of gold-coated ram horns jutted from its forehead and curled around the sides of its head. It narrowed its golden eyes and a hand started stroking its goatee as it grew agitated.

"My apologies!" Cory finally gasped, "I just never expected to encounter a real D'Jinn in my lifetime!"

"Then I shall forgive your behavior as a symptom of your exasperation," the entity replied as it visibly calmed and a hint of amusement entered its voice, "Though, I must say, I am quite surprised as well. Where is Cullen Bran Jorro? Where is the Blue Druid?"

"Cullen Bran Jorro? I'm afraid... I'm afraid I've never even heard of this man, or the moniker of 'Blue Druid.'"

The D'Jinn blinked and nodded. He could hear that the wizard was telling him the truth.

"I'm Cortland Simmons, of the Simmons lineage, leading back to a tribal family called..."

"Ah... The Shrak'mi clan... I remember your story. It is good to see that such a thorn in the side of the infernal depths continues to thrive to this day."

"Yes, well, we are not without our challenges..." Cory smiled and nodded to the D'Jinn.

"I am Koro Al'Rom. I believe your kind would call me a scholar or a merchant... Perhaps both. I had been working with Cullen Jorro in his efforts as the Blue Druid to help protect a region he called 'Kings Row.'"

"Yes," Cory rubbed his chin and tried to wrack his brain for information, "Unfortunately, I don't remember anything about a Blue Druid in Kings Row. I suppose I could talk with Azuria about this. She's an authority on magically-inspired heroes throughout the city."

"I suppose I could explain him to you as well, but..." Koro stopped and seemed to look past Cory, "Goodness, what have you got there? You don't know where you are or what you're doing, and you immediately commence with looting?"

"I'm not looting anything," Kipland barked back, "I just wanted Cory to see this book and tell me what he can about it."

"I can see your aura, young man, and I can see you are a powerful, capable young man. However, you misunderstand me. You see, I wasn't calling you a looter from my point of view..."

The torches flickered and dimmed. There was a low rumble that came from the central chamber.

"...I was calling you one from the Refuge's point of view. Cortland of the Shrak'mi, stranger... By removing that book from its pedestal, you have activated the Refuge's defenses. Cullen recognized he had a powerful relic in that and its sister tomes. He purchased a powerful trap from me... One you are about to have to deal with personally. I am sorry, Cortland... If you cannot survive this battle, I am afraid we will not be able to continue our conversation."

"Can I put the tome back and it will shut down the defense?" Kip asked.

"I don't know. It was meant to deal with thieves who were on the run..."

Koro stroked his chin.

"I suppose it could work... The defenses do bring the object back to its rightful place and dissipate afterward... The problem, young mortal, is that the defenses are now between you and the pedestal..."

From the central chamber, the rumbling sound had turned to a loud keening. Ryat66 turned to the point in the center of the maw and saw a tear opening in the fabric of space.

"Portal detected," he shouted through the communication channel, "I think we're about to have some company!"

"Randy!" Charlene shouted as a black limb emerged from the portal.

The creature was humanoid, and exceptionally slender. It reminded Charlene of the stick figures her son used to draw when he was a toddler. It turned its faceless head toward her, and she could distinctly hear a sniffing sound.

"What a peculiar creature," she could hear Sol'Ra T'Cha gasp in her mind, "I don't think it's friendly, though."

"I agree," she muttered before joining the small android's side, "Sixty-six, I believe we have a fight on our hands..."

"Yes ma'am!"

The android saluted and armor plates started emerging from his normal civilian-mode frame. When they were done in just a few seconds, he looked like a tiny walking tank.

"Ready for combat, ma'am!"

Back in the crystal ball chamber, Koro Al'Rom raised a wine goblet to his lips, took a sip, then gestured with it toward Cory and Kipland.

"Good luck," he sighed, and the crystal ball shifted back to purple glowing smoke.