Mystic moved forward to another chamber, then consulted his notes from his conversation with Witch. He read the runes on the walls as best he could, and determined that the unused section of Orenbega, in the abandoned portion of the city, was down the only unlit hallway, crowded with cobwebs. Hmm, seems rather obvious now that I think about it, he jeered at himself.
A quick flash of fire sent spiders of all varieties hed never as much as heard of before, scurrying for the cracks in the tan stone. The hallway was clear before them, and he proceeded on. Not surprisingly, the hallway came to a juncture that was lit. Beyond, another dark corridor stretched on into the dark recesses of the city, but in the juncture was a dais, glowing with white magic and surrounded by mages. They had guides and guardians with them but no demons.
The tallest of the mages, made so by his huge orange hat, was standing in the middle and trying to decipher the runes. He was flanked by nasty looking mages with various forms of staves and wands and rods.
Mystic slowly pulled his head back around the corner and looked at Sting. After a moment, he grabbed Newton and pulled him slowly back around the corner.
Did you see
?
Yes, I saw, theres a few of them. Were going to have to defeat them quickly and quietly, before they call for re-enforcements. Since Im not at all good with the quiet, Im afraid well just have to be incredibly fast. Mystic took one more peek, then turned to the others. It looks as if they dont have any demons with them. Lets hit them with all weve got, then concentrate on the bloke in the funny hat. Sound good? Mystic tried to smile beneath his facecloth.
[ QUOTE ]
Yes, I saw, theres a few of them. Were going to have to defeat them quickly and quietly, before they call for re-enforcements. Since Im not at all good with the quiet, Im afraid well just have to be incredibly fast. Mystic took one more peek, then turned to the others. It looks as if they dont have any demons with them. Lets hit them with all weve got, then concentrate on the bloke in the funny hat. Sound good? Mystic tried to smile beneath his facecloth.
[/ QUOTE ]
But they all have funny hats, Newton said, grinning a bit. No demons or ghosts? Good. Humans I can get. The behemoths get a little tricky.
Newtons eyes narrowed and his expression became serious. Give the word, and Ill be ready.
This rune is death, Im certain of it. The Madness mage looked at the Death mage as if he were insanely babbling.
The wearer of the giant orange hat of status, and the orange robes of insanity scoffed at the darkly shrouded Death mage. Are you mad? What would the death rune be doing on a map?
The only answer he was to receive was a fireball hurled from a dark hallway and engulfing them all in flame, followed by a blue robed mage speeding in and coming down on the marker in question with his heavy, black boots. Mystic drew in all the energy he could gather from the room, concentrated it, locked it onto certain targets, and let fly in all directions as spells began battering his defenses.
Flame blasted down every corridor for a few feet and several Guides and Guardians went down without getting up. From that point, everything was a blur to Mystic, who was desperately trying to drink down his potion of enervating light in time to burn the energy from his foes and drain it back into himself. Were it not for Sting and Newton, he surely would have been overrun before he could complete the maneuver.
[ QUOTE ]
Flame blasted down every corridor for a few feet and several Guides and Guardians went down without getting up. From that point, everything was a blur to Mystic, who was desperately trying to drink down his potion of enervating light in time to burn the energy from his foes and drain it back into himself. Were it not for Sting and Newton, he surely would have been overrun before he could complete the maneuver.
[/ QUOTE ]
Just so many to keep track of, Newton said as he tossed a gravity field one of the entrances. The guardians and archers slowed to a crawl as flames engulfed them.
Without his readily available pile of junk to throw at the Circle his junk yard, after all was in a different dimension Newton had to improvise. Sometimes he wasnt quite sure what he had grabbed as he pulled it through his wormhole. He was just determined that it was heavy, so when a table laden with a full seven course meal appeared and slammed into the orange garbed mage, he was a little surprised.
Food fight? he called out as he set intense gravity on the death mage. The mage passed out from the weight of his own body.
It was Sting that got the final blow in on the Madness mage, though he was locked in spell to spell combat with Mystic. The last blow from the Madness mage turned Mystics world upside down. It wasnt the first time that his brain had been locked up, but it was the first time hed been terrified by the results. He could hear the screams coming from the walls, feel the blood pouring down them and somehow, completely understood the marker he was standing on. It wasnt a sign, or a record, it was a warning to the Circle of Thorns. It was set in the nexus of these corridors to warn the invading mages of their impending doom, a doom that would follow them to the grave and beyond.
Boss?
Stings face wasnt exactly comforting, but then again it wasnt anything like a Circle of Thorns mage or demon. Uh, yeah. Alright, we need to go that way. The library is that way. Mystic pointed down the dark hallway that had dont go down me written all over it.
The corridor ran for nearly one hundred yards, without twist, turn or break, and ended in a large room like the inside of a pyramid. Mystic sent out flares of flame to the four corners of the room to provide some light in what was an otherwise entirely black room. A smaller, pyramid shaped room was at the center on the lowered floor, and steps led down from the ledge that they found themselves on upon exiting the hall.
The mage flew directly toward the building, leaving small flames dancing in mid air to light the path for the others along the way. Once he reached the door at the top of the small pyramid, he reached out to it with his mind and the doors flew open toward him. Inside, several rods hung against the wall like torches, but no flame came from them. Instead, at his entering, the tips of them began to glow with an eerie, red light..
Sting, you should keep watch. Mystic went to the nearest shelf of books and pulled a perfectly preserved text from it. He brushed aside some papers on the table in the middle of the room and opened the book. There was no dust on its pages, no cobwebs holding the shelves together. It was as if the book were just as it were when the Circle of Thorns mages scribed in it ages ago.
[ QUOTE ]
Sting, you should keep watch. Mystic went to the nearest shelf of books and pulled a perfectly preserved text from it. He brushed aside some papers on the table in the middle of the room and opened the book. There was no dust on its pages, no cobwebs holding the shelves together. It was as if the book were just as it were when the Circle of Thorns mages scribed in it ages ago.
[/ QUOTE ]
Newton pulled out a Three Musketeers Bar and munched on it quietly. So, anything in particular you want me to do? Im pretty good a thumb twiddling. Seeing the irritated glance Mystic tossed at him, Newton retreated and floated next to Sting. Newton was really beginning to get the feeling that Mystic would have been just as happy if he hadnt tagged along.
When we get back, remind me to spike Uncle Alfreds tea with some vodka, Newton murmured to Sting. He has a little too much British reserve rammed into his spine.
A glance from Sting silenced him as the insect man stared down the hallway. Sting didnt need any chit-chat in an echo chamber like the hall was.
Newton quietly watched the mage scan the book.
The first entries were made by someone that Mystic might have admired. From what he was gathering from the text, the individual had begun the invasion of Orenbenga with the best intentions and somewhat under duress. From what he could gather, things went really poorly at first. The Orenbengans fought with great tenacity using powerful magic and even technology. It was only through superior numbers and raw force that they pushed past the first few bottlenecks.
Then, the commanders began reporting that the defenders simply stopped fighting back, and were being slaughtered. To the force commanders credit, he tried to put an end to it, but could not control his suddenly bloodthirsty men. As Mystic flipped to the forward sections of the diary, the discussion changed to deciphering the ancient language being used by the Orenbengans, and trying to uncover the source of their magic. Dark imagery began to creep into his words, and his focus shifted from the secrets of magic which were being unlocked surprisingly easily to the nature of darkness and notes about how close they all were to the end. The final pages were a mixture of reports of losses, the description of how desperate the situation had become, and the ramblings of a madman.
Mystic closed the book. He began looking around for various tomes he could use, and putting them in his extra dimensional hiding place. He was busy leafing through a tome on the collective writings regarding the origins of Orenbenga and the secrets of their magical construction when Sting leaped from the ledge at the end of the hall, all the way to the doorway in one jump. Company, was his only word.
Alfred unrolled a nearby map after placing the book away in another dimension. According to the diary, there should be another exit from where the Circle began their attack. If we can find that
Hurry.
[ QUOTE ]
Alfred unrolled a nearby map after placing the book away in another dimension. According to the diary, there should be another exit from where the Circle began their attack. If we can find that
Hurry.
[/ QUOTE ]
Newton silently followed the other two, glancing behind to check for pursuers. He saw no figures, but the various glowing auras of their hunters did not inspire confidence in their chances of survival. Mystic had better find the other exit before their copmany found the trio of heroes.
The hallway ended in a gate, but it wasnt powered. And by ended, I mean there was no more hallway. They were in a small room with rock walls and nowhere to hide.
Mystic stood in front of the gate, using flame from his hand to light the runes. He read from right to left, from down to up and came to one conclusion. He was not reading a manual on how to start up a transportation gate.
You may want to hurry. The sound of spines escaping their fleshy sheaths punctuated Stings request.
Mystic threw his will at the gate and the runes lit up instantly in response. He didnt know how he knew, but he knew that the gate on the other side was not there, and the enchantment was busily searching for a gate to respond. Finding one in moments, it would still be more seconds before enough magical energy could be built up to allow the enchantment to work.
Mystic turned toward the hallway. When the gate powers up, you go, Ill hold them off.
Thats ridiculous.
No no, I can do it, Mystic waved his hand, gesturing for them to go without question, then added softly, for a while.
When they heard the magical enchantment of the gate become active, the voices of their trapped prey and saw the light at the end of the hall, the pursuers became frenzied.
Alfred saw a madness mage leading the pack, with a behemoth overlord behind him, lighting the hallway with the flames that trailed from his hands. He recited the Geas of the kind one, and the Eye of the Magus and stood in the hallway. They came at him. He drew forth all the power he could muster, focused it and aimed it, then let loose his fireball, flaming breath and sent out an inferno. The behemoth overlord was injured and angry, and picked Mystic up with both hands and threw him.
From the ground, the mage drank a small, blue vial of liquid, then waded into the re-enforcements. He consumed their life energy in blue flame, and drew it into him, then released it in red and yellow flame that scorched the walls black. Flame and psychic energy, and life energy, and rocks flew down the hallway at him in a sea of crossbows. The aura of flame that erupted around him seared anyone that got close enough to touch him, keeping their attention on him, but the clock was ticking. The spells would last only a little while longer, and even with their protection, he was being mercilessly battered, and had to use a healing potion, for fear of losing consciousness.
The mage looked over his shoulder as he continued to hurl flame down the hallway. The gate had just come to life. A swirling, white mist formed in the center of it.
Hours, days, seconds, he had no idea. Alfred woke slowly to the burning sensation of pain in his leg and arms. His breath caused him sharp, stabbing pains, and he felt like he couldnt lift his eyelids for more than a few seconds. He could hear the dripping of water, and what sounded like Trolls talking. He closed his eyes for half a second.
The sound of music all around, and a flash of brilliant light. Then Troll voices again, Me gotz! Hope him waz famous, so Trog be famouser! Drink up little dead hero. The taste of warm beer flooded his mouth as it filtered through his mask.
You not even kill blue hero, how youz be famouser? Another Troll voice chimed in from the back. The sounds of fighting and partying went on, but Alfred didnt have the strength to move or open his eyes.
He woke then to the sound of a woman crying and being comforted. She spoke between sobs. I dont know if Im cut out for this. I just never expected to see a dead hero, thrown away like trash.
A voice near the sobbing girl that sounded like a younger man comforting her, reached his ears, but he couldnt make out what he was saying. Then another girl, this one with a strong, determined voice could be heard directly over him. Guys, hand me a hospital tag. I dont think hes dead.
Thats how Alfred told the story in the hospital to Freedom Phalanxs investigator. He left out everything about the Cult of Mu. He left out everything about Orenbenga. When he finally was released, his first stop was to the Two Six. He realized that he had a new job to do.
He found no immediate signs of anyone there. He looked for Exodus, he looked for Newton and Sting, he looked for all the others who had joined him at one time or another. The Two Six was empty. And with the Two Six empty, evil could finally triumph in Kings Row.
The next evening he set about doing something he never thought he would ever do. He began setting up a magical room. A room for enchanting and magical defense against hostile forces and spirits. He intended to infiltrate the Rogue Isles, and discover the plans of Arachnos, Recluse, and this cult. He would need refuge. And alone against such odds, he would need luck.
As Sting hurled Newton through the gate he took time to take one last look at Mystic battling furiously against the horde. He resisted the urge to leap into the fray and instead launched a handful of spines at a nearby mage. He turned and leapt through the gate, but not before the mage had launched a bolt of dark magical energy.
Sting didnt see the bolt strike the gate as he passed through but he certainly felt the effect. The normal mild disorientation of gate travel was replaced by a gut-wrenching pain. Sting tried to scream but nothing came out and all he saw was a swirl of dark and light. Finally the lights went out and he slammed into something cold and hard.
He had no idea how long he was unconscious but he awoke it total darkness. He could move and was alive (he couldnt hurt that bad and be dead), but was totally blind. No, not blind, he was underground and there was no light at all. His motion sensitive antennae allowed him to get a vague idea that he was in a large room containing rubble. The gate he came through was on one end and there was an exit on the other.
There was no one else here apparently he did not go to the same place as Newton or Mystic.
Sting shook his head. Just my freaking luck. He murmured, listening to the echo of his voice.
A search of the room on hands and knees revealed that the gate may have been buried and he had burst through the rock when he came through. Well that explains the headache.
Beyond the room was a hallway that lead to several rooms all equally dark and devoid of life. He could tell that a couple rooms seemed to be set up as some sort of magical laboratories but it was hard to tell in the dark. He searched for some light source but the wall sconces contained nothing but ash. During his search he knocked a metal rod onto the floor and lit up briefly. Finding it again he struck it on the hard floor and it started glowing dimly. It was a two-foot long piece of bluish metal with a gold, now glowing, sphere at one end. Ok, magic might be good for something, but Im still not a fan.
Now with light, Sting confirmed his previous hypothesis of magical laboratories. It was quite clear that this area had been empty for a long, long time. Though in this dark sealed area several books still survived.
Sting pushed open a door at the end of the hall. There in the middle of the room was a huge humanoid chained to a slab of rock. The humanoid form seemed to be carved from rock and clay, with a spiked metal head. As Sting approached the arcane symbol on its chest started to glow faintly.
Sure wish Mystic were here, he would understand this crap
Sting didnt get to finish when suddenly the huge figure sat up, showering the room with shattered chains. What the &#^%?!?! He shouted, leaping back.
Masters of Mu, I am prepared to face the enemy. The thing said in a deep voice.
Spines deployed Sting stood at the ready. I aint no Master of Mu
He stopped and thought for a moment. Um, but they sent me. Yeah and were supposed to get out of here. Uh, after you tell me who or what you are
um, for security purposes! Yeah, thats it.
Sting stood there for a moment as the giant stared at him. He hoped that his rather poorly delivered ruse would work.
I am a golem created to fight the enemy of the Mu The Circle of Thorns. We go now. The golem said as it rose to its feet.
Uh right. You lead the way buddy
er, golem. The golem marched forward before Sting was even done speaking and went directly to the portal. In a few moments it had cleared all of the rubble and then stepped back. Red electricity arced from the golems hands to the gate, and the gate began to glow.
Without a word the golem stepped through.
Ah crap I guess I had better follow! Sting said has he stepped through the fading glow of the portal
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
Mystics area of expertise was not in general magic. In fact, he never studied magic at all until after his powers came to light. Because of that, he had to learn everything backward. He would get an effect and had to troubleshoot the cause. It robbed him of his ability to plan, and create. His spells were always just ahead of him, mistakes that he made up for by learning to control them.
After the Super Naturals disbanded, he found some time to study, and learned that his power was not just over flame, but other things as well. He learned to fly and dabbled in teleportation and pushing his flight energy out to others around him, but the practical uses for these things were limited and he forgot them with disuse. Though he used several body strengthening and protection spells in combat, he was still vulnerable to just about everything. Now he was going to try to strengthen a room, and he needed to be much more capable than he felt himself.
He began with several runes drawn on the walls and placed on stones around the room. Then he burned them into the rock. With several orbs of flame floating around him, he retrieved the book from its mystical hiding place. Pouring through the pages, he paused to imagine that he were some kind of real mage, like the Circle of Thorns from eons ago, trying to unlock some secret of the universe. It was only in that brief glimmer of imagination that he realized that he was exactly that.
The book dealt with heritage, control, elements, but didnt speak of demons. It spoke of summoning as awakening and had an entire section devoted to just that. He continued to scour the pages for defenses. When he finally came across it, the book spoke in riddles and simile. He tried to imagine what it spoke of in the form of stone or steel or painted runes, but his mind could not wrap around them.
After nearly twelve hours of straight research, he pulled free the other books that he had hidden away, and laid them out on the floor around the Tome of Empires. Another six hours produced nothing, and he began to feel exhaustion overtaking him.
He used a small, defensive spell to create a pyramid of flame around him for protection. Once the sheets of flame had been put into place, he looked at them intently. He moved his head from side to side, and put his finger to his lips. Aha!
The flames dissipated and he set to work on his new project, of shaping stone and wax into the runes he would require for defense of the room.
Somewhere in that time, Smurd came in and leaned against the wall, Im assuming your choice to redecorate has something to do with why youve been gone for a week?
A week? Alfred stopped working. Yes, I suppose, what with the hospital time
Smurd furrowed a brow. Hospital time?
Im sorry, John, Id love to explain, but I simply must get this done. I need to defend this room that I might put a portal here. Mystic returned to shaping the wax into the stone to fit into the pattern of a rune.
A portal to where? Smurd asked more out of general curiosity than a sense of eminent doom.
The Rogue Isles.
Then came the sense of eminent doom. You want me to come along?
I couldnt ask you to
Ill get my armor. John Smurd was already halfway up the stairs by the time Mystic finished his sentence. Mystic ignited the first stone, and a defensive symbol burned on the waxy surface. Then the flame rose above the surface and formed a proper rune in the air, out of shaped flame.
Yes. Yes that will do quite nicely.
Two red and white clad Longbow agents flanked the short, balding, slightly pudgy man as he approached the twenty-sixth precinct building it was clear he was taking no chances in the Row or with the Two-Six. Though it was not particularly warm out, the man, wearing a cheap brown suit and tie, padded his forehead with a handkerchief as he paused at the front door. In his hand was a stack of somewhat rumpled but official looking papers.
Place looks deserted, Mr. Upjohn. One of the Longbow agents stated to the man in the suit.
I knew this whole idea was a bad one from the start heroes cant settle down like this and certainly not the group of losers that were assigned to this place. The other agent said with distaste.
The first Longbow agent looked a bit surprised at the comment but didnt make an issue.
Mr. Upjohn looked through his papers then sighed. Well, looks like we have to put out a warrant for the arrest of Poison Sting and Newtons Apple due to non-completion of required community service. Well leave the Cease and Desist all Superheroic Activities notice here I guess. He shrugged but a sly grin crossed his face.
A single spine struck the papers, sticking them to the front door of the Two-Six.
Hey chumps, you looking for me? Sting smiled. We werent derelict in our duties, we were on a field trip. Of course I dont have a clue where the others ended up or even if they survived.
Slightly behind sting the giant golem stood silently.
The Longbow agents turned and immediately drew their weapons.
Mr. Upjohn simply smiled and stepped forward. Mr. Poison Sting, you are hereby requested to cease and desist all superheroic activities and surrender yourself to the local authorities, Longbow, Hero Corps, or the FBSA. He crossed his arms smugly.
One of the Longbow agents pulled out a PDA and tapped out a few commands. Um, and who is this thing with you. It is not registered as a hero in Paragon City.
Aha, harboring a superpowered being we can add to your already long list of crimes Mr. Sting. Upjohn chuckled. Looks like you are definitely taking a trip to the Zigg.
Sting weighed his options, trying to decide if he could take out both Longbow agents before the bureaucrat got away. Of course adding assault of Longbow agents to his growing list of crimes wasnt going to help his cause.
Before he could decide the golem suddenly stiffened. Enemy detected! He grumbled and moved forward. Eliminate Circle of Thorns! He shouted as he grabbed Upjohn by the front of his cheap suit.
Bullets from the Longbow agents ricocheted off the golems skin leaving little more than scratches.
Sting stood, shocked, for a moment, unsure of what to do when suddenly a burst of dark energy came from the man. As the cloud of darkness settled Sting saw an Agony Mage where the man had been a moment earlier. The Longbow agents didnt have a chance to move before the former Mr. Upjohn waved his arms and dark energy drained the life from them.
The golem, still holding the remnants of the suit, seemed un-phased. One of his already massive fists expanded into a huge stone hammer and he struck the Agony mage, knocking him to the ground. Before the mage could get to his feet another swing of the hammer sent him tumbling.
Hey, you dont get to have all the fun big buddy. Sting said as he leapt at the mage, shredding his cloak with a series of cuts with his spines. The mage was tough though and used his dark energy to heal himself at the expense of Sting and the golem.
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
Smurd had already donned his armor when the crashing began. He drew his sword and flew directly out to the lobby, then drew up to a hover as he stared at the scene before him.
Mystic had been downstairs, watching the dust fall into his flaming rune when he realized that the dust falling meant something else. He flew up the stairs to see Sting and a golem engaging a dark mage. A half of a second later and he hurled a huge ball of flame toward the Agony mage, but it veered toward the golem and sunk into his body, before exploding out from him and singing the Agony mage. Mystic raised an eyebrow and breathed flame toward the Agony mage. Again, it was pulled toward the golem and absorbed. A second later the golem opened its mouth and flame rained down on the mage as the golems eyes danced with fire.
Smurd didnt move, he just hovered. What
what
Sting looked a bit surprised as Mystic and some other dude with a sword rushed out of the precinct building. He noted the odd activity of the fiery magic on the golem.
Um, nice to see you too, boss. Glad youre not
well, dead.
The golem put its two massive fists together, forming a block of stone, and brought it down with considerable force. When the dust cleared the broken body of the Agony mage lay in the middle of the newly formed crater. The golem looked up at Mystic and Smurd, almost seeming to scan them. He then took a step back and stood still as a statue once again.
The strong, silent guy is some kind of golem. Apparently he was created a long time ago by some Mu guys to fight the Circle of Thorns but was never activated. Well, until I stumbled into his cozy little home while trying to escape that little party in Orenbega you took us to.
Sting was about to continue when the golem spoke up. I must find Mu and Circle of Thorns. Direct me.
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
A blast of light. The sound of a body falling.
Newton painfully reached up and grabbed the side of the sink. He was in the Two-Six. He had made it. He was worried that he wouldnt make it. The transition nearly pulled him apart. He couldnt imagine making that trip without a gravity field. Sting may have made it, but Mystic Inferno
highly unlikely.
He pulled himself up and looked in the mirror above the sink, and then at his shaking hand. The hand looked almost emaciated. The face in the mirror was that of a stranger. His familiar chubby features were gone, replaced by a drawn, gray face with a lot of loose skin. His clothes hung on him like a tent.
That trip took more out of him than he thought.
He stumbled out of the bathroom and back towards his room. He had a stash of food there. He needed to get some sugar fast. He could the diabetic shock coming over him.
Newton sighed as he finished the Mountain Dew. He had gorged himself, he knew, but without the fat back up to draw energy from, he would have to be constantly eating anytime he for any time he used his power. He saw his reflection in the stainless steel door of his refrigerator. He had some color back, but he was still too thin.
Heh, another four pounds off and I could look like one of those super-models, he muttered to himself.
He rose, grabbing on to his pants. He sighed, turned and dug through one of his dresser drawers, found some black suspenders, and clipped them onto his pants. It looked a little silly, but hes look even sillier with his trousers around his ankles.
Picking up a box of Fruit Loops, he started moving slowly towards the downstairs. He wasnt sure if any of the others who had worked at the Two Six still had any of the communication devices that either Mystic or IonFlux had given them, but he keyed his anyways. Newtons Apple in the Two Six. Anyone on this channel, over? Exhausted by his few steps, Newton sat down on the landing halfway between the first floor and the second floor. He munched a few Fruit Loops and waited for a response.
Mystic picked up his replacement com from his belt and turned back to the building. "Newton, delightful news. I was worried that you didn't make it out, or had chosen to follow other pursuits. We're outside, with a bit of a... well, rather a number of problems. Come join us."
Smurd sheathed his sword and looked at the people on the sidewalk that were staring. "Everything's alright now, folks. Go back to... whatever it is you were doing."
Mystic faced Sting again. "Once more from the top. You found him where again? And what was a Madness mage doing here with... are these Longbow agents?" The mage addressed one of the agents. "And what exactly were you doing escorting a madness mage to our precinct?"
((looks like I missed the line about the Longbow agents dying. Rewrite of the post found here as I am too late to edit it.))
Mystic picked up his replacement com from his belt and turned back to the building. "Newton, delightful news. I was worried that you didn't make it out, or had chosen to follow other pursuits. We're outside, with a bit of a... well, rather a number of problems. Come join us."
Smurd sheathed his sword and looked at the people on the sidewalk that were staring. "Everything's alright now, folks. Go back to... whatever it is you were doing."
Mystic faced Sting again. "Once more from the top. You found him where again? And what was a Madness mage doing here with... were these Longbow agents?" The mage knest by one of the agents. "And what exactly were they doing escorting a madness mage to our precinct?"
[ QUOTE ]
Mystic faced Sting again. "Once more from the top. You found him where again? And what was a Madness mage doing here with... were these Longbow agents?" The mage knelt by one of the agents. "And what exactly were they doing escorting a madness mage to our precinct?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Sting sighed. He was buried in a tomb like place. I ended up there when I jumped through that gate to escape the mob in Orenbega. Hes a golem you know a magically animated construct. Sting looked at Mystic with a sort of well duh kind of expression, as if Sting were a third grader explaining quantum physics to Stephen Hawking.
Oh and the poor Longbow dudes and the bureaucrat were here to arrest me, but golem here sniffed out the fact that the guy was actually a Circle mage. Pretty sure the Longbow guys had no idea what he really was to them he was just some stuffed shirt that needed some protection.
Sting looked at the documents they had been holding. I guess I wasnt fulfilling my community service appropriately. Sting shook his head. Looks like there might be a little problem explaining this and I may be spending a little time in the Zigg.
The golem spoke up in his deep, gravelly voice, I was constructed by an archmage of the Cult of Mu to aid in their destruction of the Circle of Thorns. Since this battle still rages I must determine the status of both the Mu and the Circle of Thorns. The golem almost looked uncomfortable for a moment. It would seem that the odd circumstances of my activation have given me a sentience not anticipated by my creators.
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
[ QUOTE ]
Mystic picked up his replacement com from his belt and turned back to the building. "Newton, delightful news. I was worried that you didn't make it out, or had chosen to follow other pursuits. We're outside, with a bit of a... well, rather a number of problems. Come join us."
[/ QUOTE ]
Newton smiled. He was worried that Mystic hadnt made it out. It was only his own gravity field that kept him from being torn apart in transition. He forced himself up and hurried downstairs as quickly as he could. On the way past the massive desk, he grabbed another Mountain Dew and a Snickers bar.
He came to the outside door and leaned against the doorframe, exhausted again. He saw Mystic kneeling by a red and white garbed body. Poison and a man with a sword stood nearby. A massive statue stood over a crater with a robed Circle mage in the center of it.
[ QUOTE ]
The mage knelt by one of the agents. "And what exactly were they doing escorting a madness mage to our precinct?"
[/ QUOTE ]
There are dead Longbow agents on our doorstep. Thats never a good thing, He looked over at Sting. Glad you two are still alive. He took a swig of his Mountain Dew.
Newton set the Mountain Dew can in midair and used his gravity powers to make it float. So, whats the story? Newton said, opening the Snickers bar. He sagged a little and the Mountain Dew can dipped suddenly. He managed to grab it before it spilled. Oye, he murmured. His face was ashen. He shakily took a bite of the chocolate bar.
Sting cocked his head and looked at Newton. Man, you look terrible.
He sat down on the front steps of the 2-6 and re-told the story of passing through the gate into the dark, sealed area, then finding the golem and then returning to find the Longbow agents and disguised Circle of Thorns mage.
So, um, since we were gone so long, and our record before that wasnt what Id call stellar, apparently some yo-yos downtown thought that we were not fulfilling our debt to society. Oh yeah, Im in big trouble, but I think they have it out for you too, Newton.
Sting sighed. Anyway, apparently this golem thing wants to find and beat on Circle of Thorns and find out more about his creators, the Cult of Mu, which is Mystics little pet project as well. So somehow this all ties in together well except that you and I seem to be just along for the ride.
He leaned back on the stairs. Oh and some yahoo with a big sword is here too
he must be the bosss toady or something. Sting said in his typical irreverent tone.
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
[ QUOTE ]
Sting cocked his head and looked at Newton. Man, you look terrible.
[/ QUOTE ]
Those looks aint deceiving, my friend, Newton said with a wan smile.
[ QUOTE ]
(Sting) sat down on the front steps of the 2-6 and re-told the story of passing through the gate into the dark, sealed area, then finding the golem and then returning to find the Longbow agents and disguised Circle of Thorns mage.
So, um, since we were gone so long, and our record before that wasnt what Id call stellar, apparently some yo-yos downtown thought that we were not fulfilling our debt to society. Oh yeah, Im in big trouble, but I think they have it out for you too, Newton.
[/ QUOTE ]
Great, Newton muttered. A quick note from Mystic should straighten that out. I hope. Unless hes on the list too.
[ QUOTE ]
Sting sighed. Anyway, apparently this golem thing wants to find and beat on Circle of Thorns and find out more about his creators, the Cult of Mu, which is Mystics little pet project as well. So somehow this all ties in together well except that you and I seem to be just along for the ride.
He leaned back on the stairs. Oh and some yahoo with a big sword is here too
he must be the bosss toady or something. Sting said in his typical irreverent tone.
[/ QUOTE ]
The bosss toady? Newton asked, a little light returning to his eyes. I feel so left out. When do I get a toady?
Newton looked around. Do you have any idea how many days were we gone? Has there been any sign of any of the others? Seeing the nugatory, he grinned a little. At least the creepy little imp thingee is gone, then.
[ QUOTE ]
Upon floating down the hallway a bit, he realized that his view was blocked, and there was another hall that the demons and mages were now walking down.
[/ QUOTE ]
That was somewhat closer than I like it, Newton said as he floated next to Mystic Inferno. The portly hero was sweating a little. Those behemoths did they look hungry to you?
Newton realized he was talking a little nervously and much and clamped his mouth shut, and glanced behind them to make sure Sting had followed them in.