Paragonian Knights Creative Origin Contest

Little over a month ago a member of our supergroup named Coopikins came to me with the idea of giving back to the group and sponsoring a contest. He decided to let the Knights post creative character origins to be judged on. So far nothing really unusual about this. However, for the prizes he went over the top.

<ul type="square">First Prize in the contest won a Lap Top Computer!

Second Prize won a iPod Shuffle,

Third Prize won a 60 day time card to City of Heroes.[/list] Copy of the Contest Announcement.

I am sure you are asking, "Grae, why are you telling us about this if the contest is over?" Well, I wanted to share with you all the entries from the winners and also demonstrate the generosity of players in this game and their commitment to the community. They are pretty good works and I hope you enjoy them.

3rd Place. Winner of a 60 day CoX Time Card

"Beguiler's Tribute" by Peaches Teaberry

I threw back my head and roared with laughter. The tiny girl in the black armor with the pink bunny tail grinned, bowed, and shimmied back to the bar. Once there she reclaimed her glass of soda and the banana split reward for her efforts. I took another swig of my rum and let my eyes wander. The pink and purple base was filled to capacity and then some. Paragonian Knights were lounging in chairs, dancing on the dance floor, and bellying up to the bar. Some of the flyers were perched in the rafters while others were dancing overhead.

I gazed at the circle I was part of curiously. I knew I’d be expected to take my own turn at providing entertainment for the evening. It was a tradition amongst the knights. The sisters had started it. They had the best facilities for social gatherings so it had become our custom to gather in their base to celebrate the holidays. I helped myself to another buffalo wing as Styx and his seeing-eye beagle moved to the center of the circle to take their turn.

A firm hand slapped me on the back. I lowered the bones to the bone bowl and looked up. Sword Wraith grinned as he plopped down in a seat beside me. I grinned back as I wiped my fingers on a napkin. “So they finally let you off sentry duty did they? That’ll teach you to put starch in the knight commander’s shorts.” Sword laughed and took a long deep drink of some heady looking brew. “Actually it was computer duty. I’ve been pouring over records for the last three days.”

“Whew,” I exclaimed. “That sounds like dry work. Who’s cornflakes did you piss in to draw that assignment?” He gave me his famous graveyard grin. “It’s more of that southern bay issue. Someone suggested there might be a connection with this new Reno matter.” We both grimaced. “Since I was already investigating the first one…” He trailed off with a shrug. I patted his arm sympathetically. “Good luck with it. Let’s hope it turns out to be a wild goose chase.” He snagged a pretzel from a nearby bowl. “Yes, we don’t need an enemy that well organized.”

We watched as Styx stumbled around in a humorous routine, chasing Troubadour as she bounced around from knight to knight with his handkerchief. She was a quite a ham and always a crowd pleaser. As I leaned forward laughing and applauding the end of the performance, Sword pointed at me with both hands in pistol formation. The rest of the knights quickly followed his lead chanting, “Spin us a tale Captain. Tell us a story Albatross. Story! Story! Story!”

I laughed at the familiar demand. I wound up making the same payment every holiday. They never seemed to get tired of my tales. Fortunately I was good at weaving a myth or legend on the spur of the moment. I took a swig of rum and smiled at the leader of the mob. “What story would you hae tonight, Sword ole son?” He grinned with a wicked gleam in the set of his glowing eyes. I felt a sudden sense of unease flutter through my chest. What was he up to?

Sword gestured for silence. Then he looked at me and replied. “Tell us the story of your origins Albatross. How you got your skill with a bow, where you come from.” The room grew silent as knights gathered close. I’d never spoken of my past in all the years I’d known them. Despite many requests, and even demands to know.

My hidden gift struck without warning. That brilliant blinding flash of vision that had condemned me so many years ago. My hand rose involuntarily to clutch the ring I wore on a cold iron chain around my neck. I saw shadows and the blades they held, lying in wait for a man in a gray suit. I smelled the spicy scent of his Chinese take out. I saw ancient runes along the wall. They spelled out ‘death’ and ‘hunters moon’. As quickly as it started it was gone. It probably hadn’t lasted more than ten or fifteen seconds. The tsoo were calling a hunt and this poor man would be their prey. I knew what I’d be doing tomorrow night…

Sword cleared his throat. I seized a mug and took a log swig of someone else’s beer. Mentally I slammed the doors shut, bolting them against memory and loss. Not tonight. I would think about the hunt tomorrow. Tonight was for living in the present. Not the past. Not the future.

I slammed the now empty mug down on the table. I bought myself more time as I made a show of wiping my mouth on my arm and looking around the room at the slightly concerned faces of my friends and peers. Finally I brought them back to meet Sword’s and pasted a grin on my face.

I belched and began my tale. “Aye mate, I be a captain. I’m the captain of the Black Albatross. She’s the finest ship what ever rounded the cape to dance the seven seas and strike fear into the hearts of land lover and shore hugger alike. Prowled the ends of the earth she did. Touched the shores of Midas and out ran the flames of Dragon Wing and Greek Fire. Laughed at the best efforts of the Storm Lords of the Merris fleet she did, then nestled safe in the Harbor of Dead Men with slaves, goods and gold to bath in fer her efforts. Imagine me sittin’ in the captain’s chair judging and ruling over it all. Aye those was good times.” I grinned again and took my own mug of rum in hand.

“Drink up mate!” I leaned forward “Those was grand days, but the best is yet to come. See I’d a mind to take the Golden Phoenix. A fair prize she promised to be too: fast and fierce, with a seasoned crew and a captain skilled in battle.

Word come to me that she’d be setting sail from Cimorara. I bethought me that, I was perhaps entitled to a wee bit of shore leave. I’d no idea - then.” I leaned back again. “Buy us another round mate.” I took the chance to gaze around at my audience and gauge their reactions. So far they were intrigued and listening. Tassatis played bartender and replaced my mug with another. I nodded my thanks and took a sip. The rum slid down my throat like silk over bare skin. I smiled happily, set the mug down, and continued.

“Now I didn’t want to spook my pigeon so I wandered around the town doing all the normal things one does when havin’ a holiday. There was rum to be drunk, fine goods to be liberated, I mean purchased, and as fine a collection of young men and women waitin’ to be shown a pleasing time as any sailor could hope for.” I grinned and gave the crowd a teasing conspiratorial wink. It won me a round of laughs and even a blush or two.

“It was the latter what got me inta trouble. I’d met a fine young blacksmith who was lookin’ ta add a notch or two ta the bedpost as ya say nowdays. We’d decided ta have a bit of a roll at the shore and it being midday and a trifle warm we retreated to the caves for shade and a bit a privacy.” I glanced from side to side dramatically. “Then, outa nowhere there comes this carnival troupe, the likes of which I’d never seen before. Colors bright enough to make tha eyes bleed and all talking with a strange accent. I figured they was foreigners and thought to meself, mayhaps they had somethin’ of value hidden thereabouts.

Anyways, I grabbed me pants and shirt and hightailed it down the tunnel after ‘em.” I took a quick sip of my rum . “I figured I could always find another sweet young thing for a dalliance. One or two of them carnies woulda sufficed good enough.” I gave a nonchalant shrug. Most of the knights knew I was a good time girl. I had earthy appetites and no qualms about satisfying them.

“Anyways, I followed the carnies through the cavern. We wove our way through the tunnels for nigh on to an hour. I managed to leave my trail markers on the walls at each o’ the turns soz I could find my way back without their aid if need be.

At long last we came to the first of what would be several glowing blue whirlwinds. The carnies gathered around and one by one they stepped inta the breach.” I paused dramatically. “Ye can imagine my surprise and consternation when they up and vanished from sight. Aye, disappeared as if they’d no been there a’tall.”

A few of the knights from other times and planets nodded as if remembering their own first experiences with teleportation devices. That’s the key to a good storyteller. One should always make the listener a part of the story; give them something they can connect to.

I picked my tale back up. “I didn’t fight my way to a captaincy of the most feared… ah… privateer of my day by turning me back on a challenge.” I nodded emphatically. “ I marched meself down to that spinning devil storm and leaped right in after them.” There were several grins and chuckles from knights I’d fought side by side with. Kerris lifted her glass in salute to some of our recent endeavors together.

“Next thing I knows I’m standing in some kinda libery. Books all over tha place. Maps on tha walls. Not my cup a tea, ya know. At least it did provide me with plenty of hiding spots. The carnies was just around the corner of one of them bookshelves talking in whispers. After a few moments of that they headed out with me right on their heels. We worked our way down tha corridors to some kinda temple. T’wernt easy going I can tell ya.” I took another swig and leaned in again.

There was warriors all over tha place wearing some kinda fancy black and grey outfits. They musta come from the desert cause they was all dressed for freezing weather. Covered up from head to toe. The only thing ye could see was they eyes. They was good fighters though. Every one of them used two curved swords, like what tha moors use over in tha empire.”

I paused as if in pleasant memory. “Now there’s a place ta spend yer holiday.” I licked my lips in appreciation. “Keep to the tale Albatross!” Lady Grae laughed as she pulled me back from my reverie. I grinned and waved my glass in the air while shooting Tass a look of pleading.

“Aye miss. Now where was I? Oh yes, the fight. Well, I pulled me blades and was about ta lay inta one of the beggars when this green ray of light come slamming into him from the eyes of one of the carnies. I can tell ya I jumped back into the shadows and stayed there. They was throwing all kinds of lights around, and fire and blocks of ice forming around the warriors… it was … awesome. I didn’t know where they got them powers from but I knowed I could take command of the fleet and fair rule the seas if I could find some way ta make ‘em mine. So I followed along.

We reached the temple and there was this huge altar with wizards and demons and a high priestess in a skimpy little black robe.” I grinned even broader. “ She was one fine looking honey of a woman I can tell ya.” I sighed deeply. “Deadly as a black widder too. She throwed some kinda black smokey stuff and suddenly everyone was moving like they was wading through water or worse. And then she called up some kinda demons. Huge fury bat winged demons with cloven hooves and horns, that could throw hellfire around.

I kept to tha shadows and did what I could ta help them. After calling on every god, goddess, avatar, spirit and elemental force I’d ever heard tell of, to be sure. I be a fair hand with ma bow as many of you can attest. I managed to pick off some of the guards and a few of the mages while dodging fire and that black smokey hell stuff.”

I slammed my hand down on the table for emphasis! “Then the witch goes and calls up some greater hell lord. I didn’t catch his name but the carnies seemed a bit put off by it. All of a sudden they all was bouncing around the room and flying through the air ta slam into the walls while being set on fire.

I didn’t see how I could do anything ta help with taking a hell lord out but I did notice there was a pair of lamps blazing near his lady friend. So, I oiled up some rags, tied ‘em to my arrows and let ‘em fly. It were a bit grisly. Hell lord didn’t seem to happy about it either. Did you know a hell lord can spot a sea captain hiding in shadows in about two seconds?” I tried to look sad and carry off an air of having been betrayed by fate. “In four seconds he can call up a big honkin fireball and write your name on it.

I shoulda died right then and there. I was lit up by hellfire like the night sky on the fourth of July.” I shook my head sadly. “I guess I don’t need to tell ye it hurt like…” I paused and looked around catching the eyes of several kids from the academy in our circle. “…the dickens.” I amended. Xanis grinned and winked. He wasn’t fooled in the least about what I’d intended to say. I pretended not to notice.

I shrugged. “Maybe it was the whirlwind we passed through. Maybe some of that black stuff the priestess was tossing around had rubbed off on me or one of them lights they was throwing around took a shine to me. I don’t know. But I lived and she didn’t. I burned. They fought the demon and bested it finally. Still I burned.

They gathered around me and talked in their foreign tongue. I guess they was trying to decide if I was friend or foe and what they oughta do bout me. In the end they did some kinda wizard mojo and brung me with ‘em. We traveled back to the whirlwind and out of the cave. The wizard was reading from his floaty books and his apprentice was moving me along in the air, cause I was still burning. I guess he was making some air elemental carry me for his master.”

I paused and accepted another glass from Tass. I took several swigs as if I were overwhelmed by memories. Slowly I lowered the glass, now half full, to the table beside me. I lifted my head and looked around the circle. “Once we reached the spot where water meets earth the wizard called up another of them devil storms for us to travel through. It was the first of many. I lost count of them. Some led to rooms, others to places outside…swamps, deserts, one was in a barren ice covered mountain. I burned through it all and never even felt the cold.

Finally we came to a room like nothing I’d ever imagined. All metal and lights without flame. It chilled my heart. The only thing in that room that offered any comfort at all was a tapestry hanging on the wall. It was a black and gold cross with spirals inside like some of the slaves from keltica draw. I had a bracelet with keltica spirals on it once. Got it from a lass what wanted to get out of an arranged marriage. I took ‘er as cabin girl for a couple years. Think she ran off with a sailor from the east.” I shrugged. Chrysilla was long dead and I had a tale to finish.

The two wizards called up a gathering of wizards, mages and sorcerers to ponder the problem. It took ‘em days to pour over enough of them floaty tomes to figure out what ta do. In the end they all gathered round me and did a bunch of runes on the floor and walls. They called upon their magics and maybe their gods and goddesses too fer all I know. They was bright colored lights and fire and lightening all round the room. It all suddenly came flying at me. I cried out to every god and goddess I ever heard of… When I could see again I was lying on the floor and the fire was gone. Along with me bow, belongings and even me clothes. Yep, I was nakid as a jaybird. All the spellcasters was lying on the floor too. I guess it took a lot outa them or maybe they called in one favor too many to whoever. I grabbed a pair of pants and a shirt off the smallest one and high tailed it outta there I can tell ye.”

I picked up my mug in a hand that only shook a little and took a long drink. The key to convincing someone your tale is true is to actually mix in some of the truth. I knew Sword had some sort of ulterior reason for wanting to know the story behind my arrival and talents. Did he suspect I had abilities other than the skill at archery I was known for? I prayed he didn’t. I did not want to open that pandora’s box, ever.

I held the mug in front of me as I surveyed the crowd. In my normal voice I continued. “There are other stories connected to my arrival. My initial days in the isles, the hunt Lord Grae and his cronies launched after my escape from their fortress, even my eventual rescue into Paragon by none other than your own Shad0hawk, Elemento and Lady Polgara of honored memory. Those tales can wait for another time. I’ve paid my dues tonight and now tis someone else’s turn. There’s rum sweet rum calling and a fine figure of a bartender to coax it from.” I raised my mug in salute as they cheered and clapped. Then rising I headed towards what I hoped would be the start of a more pleasant night ahead of me. I did not see the brooding look on Sword’s face as he reached inside his coat to shut off the recording device.

…several days later…

I stood silently watching as the guard made his rounds. He checked each lock. He looked out each window searching for signs of trouble. He gazed up at the ceiling, examining each tile for any sign of tampering. Every case received his personal attention. Finally he paused at the door. His gaze surveyed the room like a king overseeing his realm. Then at last he strode out the door to carry out a repeat performance down the hall in the room dedicated to the treasures of some other forgotten place in time and history.

I slowly crept from my hiding place. I had not wanted to cloud his mind to my presence but the thoroughness of his survey had made it necessary. I moved to the post I had selected. It was high up on top of a display case holding a collection of wax figures representing a band of pioneer travelers gathered around a reproduction of a covered wagon. I could see the entire room from here. I settled down to wait.

I knew he was coming. The visions had been coming more and more frequently of late. They always became more prevalent as the full moons approached. I had foreseen the theft of the artifact stored here. The mage was coming. Tonight.

I clenched my teeth as I twisted my thoughts aside from yet another foretelling. In another day or two I would not be able to resist. The solstice would see to that. Twice a year I found myself in this position. I closed my eyes and laid my hands on the top of the case for balance. It helped a little. The room stopped threatening to spin out of reality for the moment.

I felt that all too familiar surge of connectedness as future and present merged. The purple swirl of a portal field manifested in the center of the room. The mage stepped through. His green robes swirled around his ankles. The scent of burnt offerings and dark deeds sank like lead weights in my guts. Acid burned the back of my throat as it rose up threatening to bring the contents of my dinner with it. I should have passed on the extra anchovies.

I swallowed hard and tried to ignore the gagging sensation at the back of my throat. Once the mage had the portal linked to the local ley line instead of himself, reality settled and with it, my stomach. I watched as he turned towards the artifact.

I’d checked out the mask two days after the party. It was of Arcadian origin. I thought perhaps it had been influenced by Indian as well as island traditions. That would explain the mage’s interest. I still didn’t understand why it was important enough to trigger my visions. The magics’ aligned to it were minor. I couldn’t imagine that it would be of earth shattering use.

Still, my visions were incredibly accurate at this time of the year. So here I was preparing to launch an attack on a mage in a museum in the wee hours of the morning. Oh lucky me.

It was at that moment the case I was crouching on decided I was too fat to be there. The sound of shattering glass accompanied by my shriek of surprise alerted the mage.

He spun around and fired off a Levin bolt of energy. I slammed through the door into the hallway. I jumped to my feet, ignoring the way my muscles screamed in protest. So much for fighting from cover. I grabbed my bow off of my back and launched a counterattack. Two of the four arrows struck, one in the shoulder and one in the thigh.

A pair of bolts slammed into me. I managed to keep my feet, but the well-waxed floor squeaked as I slid back another eight feet. I grimaced as the door to another room pressed into my back. I stepped forward a pace or two in order to draw my bow. The snap of the string sang in my ears as another arrow sailed forward. It passed the mage to strike down his familiar. The weasel writhed on the ground beside the mask display. I heard it’s high-pitched screams meld with the mage’s groan as power seeped from him. I didn’t envy him the loss. I doubt having such a binding torn asunder in combat was pleasant.

He turned towards me again. His eyes were pools of blood dripping down in imitation of gothic wannabes on all hallows eve. I tried to brace myself as his hands crashed together. I heard the glass in the windows shatter. I faintly felt the winds swirling around us as the alarms alerted anyone still unaware to the presence of an intruder. I screamed as the stream of white energy crashed down upon me like a tsunami. My spine snapped as I plowed through the door into the chamber holding a recreation of Delphi.

I tried not to breath as my mind registered the punctured lung. The mage stalked through the door after me. He stopped next to my feet. I gagged again as I tasted the blood dribbling from my mouth. I couldn’t focus my thoughts past the pain. I was defenseless. My eyesight blurred as a figure in black and gold materialized behind the mage.

I smiled despite the pain. My hosioi had come. He would protect me as he had in the past. I whispered in my native tongue. The cherished syllables of ancient Crete trickled out between gasps of pain. I paused to vomit as the sounds of battle raged around me. There was blinding pain behind my eyes. I closed them and lay my head down on the floor. Perhaps I would rest awhile. The hosioi would wake me when it was time to conduct the rituals.

I nestled my head down on my arm and with the other I drew my legs up into a fetal position. My free hand snuggled into my shirt and drew out my ring: the ring of my office, the ring of the Pythia. Comforted, by its familiar presence I drew in one last shuttering breath and stopped breathing.

Behind me the man in black and gold robes stepped over the unconscious mage to kneel at my side. He smiled as he reached down to trigger the emergency teleportation device on my wrist. The device activated instantly whisking me away.

Sword Wraith picked up the fallen ring and examined it carefully. His eyes were irresistibly drawn to its twin in a case near the center of the room. He ignored the sound of guards shuffling uncertainly near the door. He ignored their questions shouted from what they felt to be a safe distance. He walked to the case to stare at the plaque beneath it. His eyes moved to the ring in his hand once more. In perfect greek he muttered to himself. “Heal quickly Oracle. I have questions. And I will have answers!”

….two days later…

Weakly I opened my eyes and gazed around the room. It stank of chemicals and recycled air. The crisp white linens on the bed were scratchy and irritating to the touch. I gagged as my saliva glands tried to bring moisture to a mouth and throat parched from days spent unconscious.

There was a rolling table beside the bed. Sitting in the middle of it were a pitcher and a single cup. I struggled to lean closer. The thin sheets weighed me down like lead. Over the course of an eternity I worked my right hand free of their grasp. Panting from the effort I seized the edge of the bed and dragged myself onto my side. I gagged again as the cup loomed within reach.

My eyes remained locked on the prize. I spider crawled my fingers up the leg of the table and across to the cup. The Styrofoam felt cool to the touch. Slowly, I dragged the cup across the table. I only spilled a little of its contents as I slid it off the table to land shakily on the edge of the bed. Patiently I worked it up the bed and across the pillow to my cracked lips.

Nothing had ever tasted so sweet. So cold. So delicious. I closed my eyes and swallowed more. Strength surged through my veins as my metabolism responded to the essence of laurel hidden in the water. It was like mainlining LSD. The visions caught me by surprise. One after another they flashed through my mind. My heart raced, as I lay there too weak and unprepared to resist. My body convulsed in response to the familiar stimuli.

I saw nothing but the visions. I barely felt the firm hands holding me to the bed. A voice whispered in my ear. Over and over, it demanded to know what I saw. I struggled to put what the visions into words. The voice came at me again and again. Demanding. Cajoling. Pleading. I struggled to speak. To give him what he wanted. Minutes. Hours. Days. Time lost all meaning as I watched and spoke. My mind swirled, lost in the streams of probability, of possibilities hovering ahead of the ever-changing present. The darkness lunged up shattering their hold on me at last. I sank into the abyss with relief.

…hours later…

I rose slowly from the depths into warm beautiful sunshine. It danced across the walls and floor to nestle upon the sheets of my bed. I sighed softly. I missed the sun of my homeland. The light carried with it a special luminescence in the lands of the Aegean. Nowhere else could begin to compare. Still it was wonderful to see the sun again, to be grounded in the here and now.

I must have stirred without realizing it. A hand reached across from behind and gently tucked the sheet beneath my chin. I looked at the black and gold sleeve and for a moment, only a moment, I was home again letting my hosioi cater to my needs.

“Pythia…” the familiar voice queried.

”No!” I shouted out my rejection. My eyes narrowed to slits as tears welled up in them. The pain of loss ripped through me as I looked up at Sword Wraith. “No,” I whispered. “Don’t call me that.”

Sword Wraith took my hand in his and opened my palm. His other hand slowly opened above mine. His fingertips held fast to one end of the cold iron chain as it unraveled until the ring dropped into my upturned hand. His glowing eyes never left mine. “It’s what you are isn’t it Albatross? You are one of the ancient oracles of Greece. Aren’t you?”

A single tear made its escape and trickled down my face. This was no hosioi dedicated to my protection and care. This was a knight warrior engaged in some sort of hunt. I could expect no mercy. Until he had the answers he wanted I would have no peace. I clutched my ring as my lips quivered. I was alone. Another tear dropped unbidden from its wellspring. I always would be.

“Elini” I murmured. “My name is…was Elini.” I clenched my fist tightly as if afraid he would try to take the one remaining link with my past. The ring of my office was all I had left. Everyone I had loved, everything I had cherished…all lost to the passage of time. “I was the Pythia of Crete. The Oracle,” I reiterated my title in English for his benefit.

The sun warmed sheets cooled beneath his interrogation. “What really brought you here? When? How accurate are your visions? Can you control them?” I sighed weakly as he paused for breath. I had never wanted to be a Pythia. I had spent my childhood preparing for life as one of the famed archers of Crete. Our skill with the bow had been legendary for over five hundred years. That dream had died when the visions claimed me at the age of twelve.

I refocused on my current companion. I doubted he wanted or cared to know how I’d fallen trying to rescue a wandering ewe in the mountains during that summer. My brothers had found me days later delirious and raving. The priests and sorcerers had been summoned. By the time the fever departed I was firmly ensconced in the temple.

“I came through a time portal.” I sighed. “That part of the story was true. I had left Crete after Justinian demanded the closing of the temples and forbade the Pythia from prophesying.” I watched his eyes widen slightly as he realized how old that made me. “I might not have been as famous as my sister-oracle at Delphi, but I was respected as being the most accurate of us all.” I let a little pride creep into my voice as I remembered how my caretakers had preened over that fact.

I had managed to resist all their efforts to move me into the more prominent temples of Greece. They’d always thought I was a shy modest shepherd girl from the mountains. In truth, I’d been terrified. I could just imagine slipping up and informing some general or priest or sorcerer that I held no belief in the gods or goddesses of our day. I had been pretty sure my abilities would not keep them from killing me as a blasphemer.

I blinked rapidly to force the rest of my tears back into the depths of that well of sorrow I called my heart. It surprised me when he closed his hand over mine. I looked at the compassion in his face and hastily averted my eyes. He wasn’t the davetia he looked like. No demon would have understood my grief without words that way.

I continued in a shaky voice. “I can bring them on, but I have no control over them. There are triggers that I’ve been conditioned to respond to. Water and laurel leaves…” I gestured at the pitcher still sitting on the table. “You’ve done enough research to have discovered that. There are others as well.”

I swallowed and then blushed as my tummy growled loudly. I was suddenly ravenous. “Not hungry are you,” he teased. I drew my lips up on one side in a smirk. “You spend 21 years living under siege to the ottomans. See if it doesn’t give you a new appreciation for regular meals.” He grinned and reached down. I heard the rattle of paper. Moments later a vision of delight swam into view. A chocolate éclair danced in front of me. I growled and seized it from him. Sword chuckled as he shook his fingers in mock fear.

I didn’t pause till I’d polished off the third one. Sword sat there waiting patiently. I wasn’t fooled. Not for one minute did I think this was over. He wanted something. He thought he could use me to get it. I was tired. I wasn’t a fool. I’d seen avarice before. The only difference between this man and those who had sought my answers in the temple was time.

I had no doubt he meant well. He was a man of principle. The desire to help those who couldn’t help themselves would be behind his efforts. I could appreciate that. There had been plenty of men and women of integrity in my past too. But there was an ever-increasing price attached to my abilities. A price to knowing the future that I was not willing to pay. I had lost so much. I slumped down as if overwhelmed by weakness and lowered my eyes. I would fight him. It was the only way I could protect him. The only way I could protect them all.

2nd Place: Winner of a iPod Shuffle

"Letter to a Friend"by Arrow's Ego

Dearest Serenna,

I just wanted to let you know that I'm alive and well after all that has happened. I'm not sure if you've forgotten, but you left me for dead. Remember? You lifted my spirits, my hope, you made me soar in the highest clouds. My happiness was endless. Then almost as instantly as you'd given it to me, you took it away. The fall was painful, every bone in my body shattered into hundreds of pieces. As I tried to lift myself up (which is rather difficult with so many broken bones, you know) you dug a large pit, filled it with corpses, and lit it on fire. Then, you threw me in. But no, I didn't burn. I laid there, watching, smelling, feeling the bodies corrode with the fire.

Then, through the smoke and flames, I saw something approach. An angel? No, death. His robed body and hooded face seemed to float over the bodies towards me. Stopping a few feet away, I could feel his deathly stare through his hood. He had come to take me away, end this suffering, remove me from this mortal plane of pain. He put out his skelatel hand to, and through all my broken bones I was somehow able to lift my arm and grasp it. The next moment I was standing, although not entirely on my own.

The next thing I remember is waking up in a hospital bed. Between the doctors and nurses coming in and out I realized I was correct. Almost every bone in my body had been broken. It took several surgeons and even the power of heroes to mend my shattered frame. While lying in the recovery room I had only thinking to do. You had broken my body, it had been healed. My spirit and hope were beyond recovery. My mind you didn't destroy, for which I am thankful. It was confused, in a vortex, but I had regained it. In the time I spent waiting to get out of this bed I trained my mind. I found that unlike before I could now send small undetected pulses into people's brains. It took practice, but I was eventually capable of putting people to sleep, making them violent towards their friends, giving them massive headaches, and making them see their greatest fears come alive. It was a horrible thing to do to the people who had helped me, but I needed to practice and there was nothing else to do.

Finally the time came when I could get up and walk. My body was strong. Stronger than it was before. Now I could leave the hospital and take my vengeance upon you. At first I thought to kill you with my own hands, but then I began to think of the tools at my disposal. My bow from high school. Yes, I could pierce your heart with an arrow and the blame would fall on the Warriors, or possibly the Tsoo. I hunted you down, searched everywhere. When I had finally found you I notched an arrow, took aim... Then someone came up behind me and pulled me away. Manticore, that rich boy do-gooder. He began ranting about how what I was doing was wrong, this and that, whatever. I related to him my story, although possibly a bit exaggerated. He sighed, and told me if I was to go around defeating people who had comitted acts of evil that it should not be with a weapon as lethal as this. He gave me several of his 'trick' arrows and told me if I ever needed more I could stop by.

Once he was finished giving me his speeches and left, you were gone aswell. I searched some more but couldn't find you. Coward. So, to pass the time I took Manticore's advice and registered as a hero. My mind and archery are helping me pay back the good citizens and heroes that helped bring me back to who I am today. But hear this: If we ever cross eachother on this plane, or any other, there will be hell to pay.

Your best friend,
Sean
AKA
Arrow's Ego

1st Place: Winner of a Lap Top Computer

"Villainous Origin of Dr. Unmoglich" by Cpt. Slowloader

......

“Genius. Nice word, isn’t it? To be possessed of extraordinary intellect. Unfortunately, when you’re surrounded by other people with extraordinary intellect, you settle back into the background. You’re no longer special. And here I am, in a city where almost everyone is special.”

“I see, Mr. In…”

“Doktor”

A sharp intake of breath “Excuse me?”

“I actually do have a doctorate, you know. From Technische Universität Dresden in Electrical Engineering. I’m not one of those posers who name themselves Captain this or Lord that because it sounds cool. I am a man of science. It should be in my file.”

“Go on”

“That was where I realized I had a talent for robotic systems. A gift, if you will. Not that it mattered.”

“Why is that?”

“Gifts don’t bring you happiness. Or research grants. All that is determined by family connections and popularity. Do you play poker?”

“Ah, yes, but I don’t see…”

“You may have been dealt a great card, but without other matching cards, it is useless. A pair of fours still beats a King.”

“Why do you feel you weren’t popular?”

“I was too shy, didn’t know how to hobnob at parties. I didn’t have the same background. You know, when you’re growing up, they tell you science and math careers are based on intellect. Lies! It’s all a popularity contest. Do you know I met Caitlin Murray once? She came to TUD recruiting for D.A.T.A.. I thought I had a shot, but her interviews were limited. Not by grades, not by intellect, but ‘all spots are filled’. Because if you’re the child of a paranormal, you get first shot.”

“Tell me about your family.”

“What about them? Normal, drab people living out their normal, drab lives. They didn’t know how to relate to me, so we stopped talking. Before TUD, I received a scholarship to an advanced school. I thought finally some challenging material. Finally I will fit in. Bah. Popular kids stay popular. Shy nerds stay shy nerds. It was the same as before. At least the labs were better. I was able to be a little more creative. At TUD, I realized that nothing had changed again. What is that expression? The more things change, the more they stay the same? Anyway, I did what was expected of me, got my doctorate, and left.”

“Where did you go?”

“Not back home, that’s for sure. I ended up working for Crey Industries for a time. Until I built up enough of a nest egg. I worked for CERN for a while. Or rather, I broke into CERN, hacked their personnel records, and made them think I was working there. My first heist. Good times. I’d managed to liberate enough material to set up my lab in style.”

“Why..”

“Why did I become a criminal?”

“Yes.”

“Gott in Himmel, can you try not to be so predictable? I suppose if you were an expert psychiatrist, you wouldn’t be here, interviewing me. Then again, I suppose if I were an expert criminal, I wouldn’t be here either. Ha. It’s quite simple, really. Most corporations, organizations, etc, care about their appearance, and political fallout. Too concerned with how things will look, and who might be offended. Appearance, and politics. Whereas most organizations on the criminal side of things have a more pragmatic approach. They care more about results. And if you can provide a little panache at the same time, well, that’s just a bonus. And I get to hurt people. That’s always a bonus.”

“You…”

“Yes, I enjoy hurting people. Why shouldn’t I? After all I….”

Rustling noises

“Please, Mr….”

“Doktor, I told you. Idiot. Yes, yes, predictable question, and predictable notes. Ahem. Enjoys hurting people, question mark. Possible childhood emotional abuse, question mark. Family, question mark, and ooh, an underline. Here, you can have your pad back. Try to make some notes worth writing next time.”

“I..err”

“And no, you’re quite safe from me. After all, if I kill you to stop this endless prattle, they’ll only send another social worker, won’t they? I understand efficiency. It would not be efficient to eliminate you, regardless of my personal preference.”

Pause

“No, please, I insist, continue. Where were we? Oh yes. No, my father never abused me, and my fights with my siblings were depressingly normal. I was not forcibly sodomized in school, nor was I excessively caned by school administration. Does that answer your question?”

“Yes, I suppose, though..”

“You can’t help wondering if there’s something more there?”

“No, actually, I was wondering when you’d interrupt me again.”

“Oh, touché, doctor, touché. Very well, go ahead.”

“Doktor. Surely you realize that with the advances you’ve made in miniaturization and robotics, you could set yourself up at a major corporation and enjoy everything your life of crime has brought you and not have to worry about legal repercussions. Plus gain the respect of your peers.”

“Doctor. After all this time, you still don’t understand me. I don’t worry about legal repercussions now. It’s part of the job. Besides, you gain credibility by ending up in the Zigg once in a while. And, to be honest, it’s relaxing. And respect of my peers? I have respect of my peers. Arachnos respects me. Dr. Aeon, infuriating though he may be, respects me. And you must admit, Psywind, or rather, her family and friends respect me.”

“Ahhh, Psywind. Why did you kill her?”

“Kill? No, say what you mean, doctor. Murder. Cold-blooded, first-degree murder. That is the charge, after all, is it not? Simple, I was paid.”

“Paid? You mean there was no other reason?”

“No, no personal involvement whatsoever.”

“But you… I mean, the records, your testimony.”

“Oh, we dated for a while, true. But that was after I got her commission. Again, just part of the job, as was the dissemination during the trial. And for starting out a shy nerd, I learned how to be quite popular with the ladies, so it was easy enough to arrange. I have to say though, she was dynamite in the sack. I will miss that. Mmmm, the things she could... But it was the only way I could plant the nanoseed inside her without her knowledge. Well, not the only way. But certainly the most enjoyable. You see, I hadn’t perfected the delivery system, and the only way to plant it was through direct physical contact. Then, when the seed had leeched enough materials from her body, the growth program started, and it tore her apart from within.”

“But why during the conference?”

“Panache, as I said, style. My employer wanted a message to be sent. Having her torn apart from within on live television sent that message loud and clear. I received a substantial bonus for that one. Pity I can’t do it again, now that the method is known, a simple X-ray will detect the seed in time. And I can’t put much shielding on such a small package. &lt;pause&gt; What? You don’t approve? Don’t you realize the technical expertise required?”

“Well, yes, I’m sure it was quite brilliant, but to demean that achievement to use it in the taking of a life…”

“Two lives.”

“What?”

“Two lives. Psywind was just the first, you understand. The second, well, the second nanoseed I planted on your notebook before I gave it back to you. It should have migrated through your skin by now.”

“But, you said you couldn’t do it again?”

“Ah, not in the same way. So there will be no robot destroyer ripping you apart from the inside.”

“Please, Doktor, joking about such things…”

“Instead, I programmed it to migrate to your brain and cause a series of strokes. You see, this is part of the message as well.”

“Guards! GUARDS! I’ve…Ahhhhh! Help!”

Sounds of door slamming open, running feet.

“Gullible Idiot.” Metallic sounds

TRANSCRIPT ENDS

This being the recording of the final court-appointed therapy session with Doktor Unmöglich before his escape. It was determined that he left the therapy room and made his way to the roof, where he escaped by unknown means.