With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

[Vaermina]

Vega has at least half a dozen combat flotillas from multiple species, a cloning facility for Kryptonians with multiple combat users plus the doomsday and a local Orange Lantern Chapter. Their ability to tank a reach punitive attack is much higher than earth, hence why Grayv said he would use the opportunity to spread misinformation.

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So you ignore all their defensive forces and Supernova their sun.

 

[Darko]

So you ignore all their defensive forces and Supernova their sun.

Click to shrink...

You obviously didn't read what Chaoswind wrote because if you did then you would know that they have a bunch of ships, Kryptonians and Lanterns present there.

All of these things can stop the Reach from doing shenanigans with any celestial body.

In order for them to blow up any sun they'd have to get past any defense force.

They can't just ignore it.

Oh, and you forgot one little thing.

Granted with your track record you seem to forget practically everything.

A few pages ago you mentioned that this wasn't the Renegade but just Grayven that's been brainwashed into thinking that he's the Renegade.

This is important because in the chapter where this supposedly happened there was a machine that could let someone control the Vega system and things in it like the suns and planets.

So if the Reach somehow manage to get past a fleet of ships, an army of Lanterns and Kryptonians and blow up a sun, the Renegade can probably just push the rewind button and the sun will be back in working order.

 

[Vaermina]

You obviously didn't read what Chaoswind wrote because if you did then you would know that they have a bunch of ships, Kryptonians and Lanterns present there.

All of these things can stop the Reach from doing shenanigans with any celestial body.

In order for them to blow up any sun they'd have to get past any defense force.

They can't just ignore it.

Oh, and you forgot one little thing.

Granted with your track record you seem to forget practically everything.

A few pages ago you mentioned that this wasn't the Renegade but just Grayven that's been brainwashed into thinking that he's the Renegade.

This is important because in the chapter where this supposedly happened there was a machine that could let someone control the Vega system and things in it like the suns and planets.

So if the Reach somehow manage to get past a fleet of ships, an army of Lanterns and Kryptonians and blow up a sun, the Renegade can probably just push the rewind button and the sun will be back in working order.

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General reminder that we know from the main story that The Reach have ways to bypass any sort of FTL interdiction, which means the fleets don't actually matter.

Similarly we know, because they used one on Orange Lantern, that they possess "delete everything" bombs.

 

[Someguy Somewhere]

"With the Controllers." She considers me for a moment. "You've changed."

"If we ever meet, I'll give you a wooden spoon."

She blinks. "What?"

I shake my head, waving my right hand dismissively. "Cultural reference. A prize of no great value, usually awarded for last place or to someone who got no points."

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I know this sounds a bit odd, but I do want to point out that:
1) As the Reachian observed, 'Grayven' HAS changed, his behaviour being significantly different from 'evil overlord' to 'smiling and insulting'.
2) Has made a very much out of (observed) character reference to a fairly specific cultural oddity.

Now, this Reachian is dead or dying very soon by the look of things, but I'd half expect a recording of the communication to get out as part of the 'disinformation' idea Renegade is going on.

I wouldn't put it passed the reach to try and identify both the cause of the change in their foe, and the obtuse references made by him, in part of their psychological profiling and counter intel work.

So....given that Savage did contact them, what are the odds that they have any data on Earth Culture to back track this with?

 

[BR549]

To be clear, the Reach have no idea where Vega is or what kryptonians are.

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I'm not so sure about that. In canon Young Justice, it has been awhile (...14 years...), but I recall when the Reach learned of the Justice League, Black Beetle listed "Kryptonians, plural" as one of the reasons for his vote to give up the whole Earth project as a bad idea.

 

[Darko]

General reminder that we know from the main story that The Reach have ways to bypass any sort of FTL interdiction, which means the fleets don't actually matter.

Similarly we know, because they used one on Orange Lantern, that they possess "delete everything" bombs.

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Yeah, I'm sure that Dox and Renegade wouldn't have thought of adding any sort of censors in their tech that can detect ships coming near their territory.

And sure, the Reach ships can't be stopped, even though we've seen their ships destroyed plenty of times and they also have Kryptonian tech in Vega, which according to you is the most advanced tech in the universe.

Nit to mention the fact that so far we haven't seen them use qwa matter in the Renegade side of the stories, or even if they have enough to blow up a sun.

And you also didn't explain how they'd deal with the Orrery.

I'm not so sure about that. In canon Young Justice, it has been awhile (...14 years...), but I recall when the Reach learned of the Justice League, Black Beetle listed "Kryptonians, plural" as one of the reasons for his vote to give up the whole Earth project as a bad idea.

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That doesn't necessarily contradict what Zoat said.

The Reach came to Earth years after this chapter takes place in-universe, so they could have eventually learned about them.

 

[Sockmonkey]

The Reach does send infiltrators to scout out places before they make official contact. Probably a brainwashed member of some other species to cover their asses. Probably passive stealth probes to listen in on broadcasts too.

 

[Mr Zoat]

18th August 2013
09:37 GMT -5

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

By which I mean of course the Dark Elves have warded their library. Which forces me to rely on Lushun to actually find anything. I'm just fortunate that the books aren't individually warded so I can scan the contents while interrogating the man directly. He seems to find my power ring's scanning ability fascinating.

"So this… Sandro person is the only one on this entire world who has managed to leave Ashan."

"According to himself and his followers, certainly. But with him dead at the hands of the Griffin Empire's knights, and his acolytes Markal confirmed dead in the Griffin Empire and Lucretia in the wind, there isn't any way to check."

"Two necromancers… Dead?"

"I understand your scepticism, but Archmage Zehir took measure to ensure that Markal couldn't come back." He looks contemplative for a moment. "With Sandro… Who can say?" He shrugs. "But I do know that he isn't here to answer questions, and any writings he had on his experiments would be under lock and key in Talonguard… Assuming that the barbarians didn't just burn them."

"You're an admirer?"

"It's a fascinating subject, and one so few researchers touch. Even the magicians of the Silver Cities who consider themselves above godly restrictions are so besotted with the idea of copying Sar-Elam's feat of apotheosis that they've never examined their underlying assumptions…" He regards me curiously. "But how is it for you?"

"Not even my first time."

"No?"

"My original homeworld didn't have… Magic, gods, elves… We'd gotten pretty good at material technology, but I suppose you could call it all mundane stuff."

"Material technology such as?"

"Rocketry that would let us leave the surface of the planet and send people into the airless void beyond. Tiny pieces of silicon etched with metal that could think… Or at least fake it convincingly. The ability to move still living organs from a dead person and put them into the body of someone whose own organs were failing… Or the truly cutting edge where new organs could be grown. And the ability to use focused explosive charges to force dense metals to undergo energetic decay and release enough heat and pressure to destroy a city."

I sigh.

"And I went to bed one night and woke up somewhere completely different. A new world, magic, interventionist deities, machines that people back home… Could imagine, but couldn't build… And it's possible that the operational laws of our universe wouldn't let them work anyway."

"But whose laws?"

"'In the beginning was nothing, which exploded.' My original home's study of universal background radiation can't tell us anything more. Certainly, there doesn't appear to be any single creature responsible, though any number of religions will tell you otherwise."

"But if there aren't any gods-."

"There's no good evidence of gods. Here, you can just head over to their roost and talk to a dragon if you want to communicate with a demigod. And you can go to Malassa's temple and make an offering if you want to speak to an actual god. That wasn't possible on my original homeworld. But that doesn't stop people imagining, trying to… Order the world in their mind in such a way that requires a directing intelligence. It's-. This world was created by Asha, right?"

"So every nation believes."

"But the orcs don't." I gesture to what is essentially a travelogue written by a wizard who spent some time following Gotai around after he left the Seven Cities at the end of the war. "'Earth Mother' and 'Sky Father', despite knowing who Asha is and who created them."

"They are orcs."

"Underestimating their intelligence has gotten a lot of people who should have known better in a lot of trouble." I send out a filament, pick up a book on the Orc Rebellion and pointedly wave it at him.

"Yes, but… They don't even use magic."

"Their war cries require mana, so… They do. Arguably, creating a form of magic that no one else uses is a greater achievement."

"In ignorance, perhaps. How did you get here? And… The other one."

"Several versions of me went to a great many places. I imagine that whatever it was that banished me from my original world and brought me to Universe Sixteen brought him here, but I have no more idea what that was now than I did when it happened."

"No idea?"

I shrug, shaking my head. "I've found a whole lot of ways that it didn't happen." I sigh. "Okay. I need to find out whether or not my colleagues came here-."

"Ah-. Pardon, but you didn't explain how you came from 'Universe Sixteen' to Ashan."

"Oh. Well, I'm not totally sure, but I think it was a misfiring fate manipulation spell cast and left to moulder by a magician called Zachary Zor. If I were to guess, it was supposed to alter my fate so that I immediately died, but between its age, the fact that Angelica was actively destroying it when it went off and my own defences, it just sent me to a version of me who had already died... But that's highly speculative."

Ah… First step. Find out if Ashan supports radio waves.

I… Fabricate a pair of radio transmitter handsets and hold one out to Lushun.

"Quick experiment. Hold this."

"Ah." He takes it awkwardly. "What is it?"

"It uses things called radio waves to send messages." I transition to the opposite end of the room and press 'talk'. "Testing, testing. Press the large orange button on the side and then speak into the cluster of holes at the bottom."

"Like this?"

"Yes, well done." I transition back, putting the other down on the desk. "Angelica should have a radio. Mazikeen might, but I want to eliminate the possibility before considering more extreme measures."

"And if you find them… Or if you find that they're not here… You plan to leave Ashan?"

"That's my aim, but I have no idea how to replicate the-."

"Ah, well…" He runs off towards a distant shelf. "I was able to find this… Where is it..? Ah! This record of the void walking ritual." He approaches with a… Fairly thin notebook. "If it works, it would take you -and passengers- outside of Ashan. Sandro lamented that he couldn't go further because he had no idea where to go. But if you have a destination…"

"It might be possible to use that ritual as a first step." I nod. "I assume you want to come? "

"What sort of wizard would I be if I didn't?"

"Happy and alive?" I snort. "Far be it from me to tell you how to live your life. How do we get to the surface from here?"

 

[Mr Zoat]

I'm not so sure about that. In canon Young Justice, it has been awhile (...14 years...), but I recall when the Reach learned of the Justice League, Black Beetle listed "Kryptonians, plural" as one of the reasons for his vote to give up the whole Earth project as a bad idea.

Click to shrink...

That was in the comics, where Superman had been a lot more active off Earth for a very long time.

 

[Duke Long]

"It's a fascinating subject, and one so few researchers touch. Even the magicians of the Silver Cities who consider themselves above godly restrictions are so besotted with the idea of copying Sar-Elam's feat of apotheosis that they've never examined their underlying assumptions…" He regards me curiously. "But how it is for you?"

Click to shrink...

'is it'? I'm not sure I understand the sentence.

"Several version of me went to a great many places. I imagine that whatever it was that banished me from my original world and brought me to Universe Sixteen brought him here, but I have no more idea what that was now than I did when it happened."

Click to shrink...

'versions'

"Ah, well…" He runs off towards a distant shelf. "I was able to find this… Where is it..? Ah! Thisrecord of the void walking ritual." He approaches with a… Fairly thin notebook. "If it works, it would take you -and passengers- outside of Ashan. Sandro lamented that he couldn't go further because he had no idea where to go. But if you have a destination…"

"It might be possible to just that ritual as a first step." I nod. "I assume you want to come? "

Click to shrink...

'This record'?
'use'?

Quite eager to defect, isn't he? I suppose this country does seem like a bit of a shithole.

 

[hkim]

"Happy and alive?" I snort.

Click to shrink...

Well, one out of two ain't bad.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

18th August 2013
09:37 GMT -5

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

By which I mean of course the Dark Elves have warded their library. Which forces me to rely on Lushun to actually find anything. I'm just fortunate that the books aren't individually warded so I can scan the contents while interrogating the man directly. He seems to find my power ring's scanning ability fascinating.

Click to shrink...

Of course he would. Imagine the ability to know every word a book contains without having to take the time to translate, read and understand the text. For a seeker of knowledge, that would be a literal godsend.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

"So this… Sandro person is the only one on this entire world who has managed to leave Ashan."

"According to himself and his followers, certainly. But with him dead at the hands of the Griffin Empire's knights, and his acolytes Markal confirmed dead in the Griffin Empire and Lucretia in the wind, there isn't any way to check."

Click to shrink...

Frustrating, no doubt. Though being aware that at least one powerful necromancer is at large means they can be prepared for when they make a move.

"Two necromancers… Dead?"

"I understand your scepticism, but Archmage Zehir took measure to ensure that Markal couldn't come back." He looks contemplative for a moment. "With Sandro… Who can say?" He shrugs. "But I do know that he isn't here to answer questions, and any writings he had on his experiments would be under lock and key in Talonguard… Assuming that the barbarians didn't just burn them."

Click to shrink...

I would imagine the bodies were burnt to ash and the ashes scattered to the wind and sea beyond any normal hope of recovery. On the other hand, magic can patch al sorts of openings.

"You're an admirer?"

"It's a fascinating subject, and one so few researchers touch. Even the magicians of the Silver Cities who consider themselves above godly restrictions are so besotted with the idea of copying Sar-Elam's feat of apotheosis that they've never examined their underlying assumptions…" He regards me curiously. "But how it is for you?"

Click to shrink...

I wonder if the fellow could actually manage to create an interdimensional portal, given sufficient knowledge...

"Not even my first time."

"No?"

Click to shrink...

Oh, he really wants to cross the void, doesn't he?

"My original homeworld didn't have… Magic, gods, elves… We'd gotten pretty good at material technology, but I suppose you could call it all mundane stuff."

"Material technology such as?"

Click to shrink...

Given the typical fantasy metals of Adamantine, Mithral and Orichalcum, Earthly materials would seem as magical in turn

"Rocketry that would let us leave the surface of the planet and send people into the airless void beyond. Tiny pieces of silicon etched with metal that could think… Or at least fake it convincingly. The ability to move still living organs from a dead person and put them into the body of someone whose own organs were failing… Or the truly cutting edge where new organs could be grown. And the ability to use focused explosive charges to force dense metals to undergo energetic decay and release enough heat and pressure to destroy a city."

Click to shrink...

Best not to let them know about the possibility of such things beyond what you've said. Last thing anyone needs is someone creating non-magical nukes.

I sigh.

"And I went to bed one night and woke up somewhere completely different. A new world, magic, interventionist deities, machines that people back home… Could imagine, but couldn't build… And it's possible that the operational laws of our universe wouldn't let them work anyway."

Click to shrink...

It's always a strange thing when two universes can have fundamentally different rules. It reminds me of Exalted, where every physics interaction is managed by little-g gods, and you can 'cheat' reality with tricks like causing tiny 'errors' in one place so the god can't see you doing shit elsewhere.

"But whose laws?"

"'In the beginning was nothing, which exploded.' My original home's study of universal background radiation can't tell us anything more. Certainly, there doesn't appear to be any single creature responsible, though any number of religions will tell you otherwise."

Click to shrink...

As for the DC Multiverse, it's a pretty well-known fact how it all got started: The Source.

"But if there aren't any gods-."

"There's no good evidence of gods. Here, you can just head over to their roost and talk to a dragon if you want to communicate with a demigod. And you can go to Malassa's temple and make an offering if you want to speak to an actual god. That wasn't possible on my original homeworld. But that doesn't stop people imagining, trying to… Order the world in their mind in such a way that requires a directing intelligence. It's-. This world was created by Asha, right?"

Click to shrink...

In our world, the most we can find is the occasional weirdness. Coincidences and strange feelings like deja vu. Honestly, I'm not sure if we're better off without overt gods or not...

"So every nation believes."

"But the orcs don't." I gesture to what is essentially a travelogue written by a wizard who spent some time following Gotai around after he left the Seven Cities at the end of the war. "'Earth Mother' and 'Sky Father', despite knowing who Asha is and who created them."

Click to shrink...

Takes a lot of brass to look at a clear example of a creator deity and say 'naw, we ain't buying it.'

"They are orcs."

"Underestimating their intelligence has gotten a lot of people who should have known better in a lot of trouble." I send out a filament, pick up a book on the Orc Rebellion and pointedly wave it at him.

Click to shrink...

Just because a culture doesn't operate the same way as others, doesn't make them primitive, after all. Makes me wonder what they'd think of a technologically advanced culture without any magic.

"Yes, but… They don't even use magic."

"Their war cries require mana, so… They do. Arguably, creating a form of magic that no one else uses is a greater achievement."

Click to shrink...

See? Just because they don't cast spells by waving tools around or saying funny words doesn't mean they aren't using magic.

"In ignorance, perhaps. How did you get here? And… The other one."

"Several version of me went to a great many places. I imagine that whatever it was that banished me from my original world and brought me to Universe Sixteen brought him here, but I have no more idea what that was now than I did when it happened."

Click to shrink...

Quite a lot of different versions indeed, given that he met a lot of them during that little mini-crisis. And many more he isn't aware of...

"No idea?"

I shrug, shaking my head. "I've found a whole lot of ways that it didn't happen." I sigh. "Okay. I need to find out whether or not my colleagues came here-."

"Ah-. Pardon, but you didn't explain how you came from 'Universe Sixteen' to Ashan."

Click to shrink...

That's a good point. It could be entirely relevant to the problem at hand.

"Oh. Well, I'm not totally sure, but I think it was a misfiring fate manipulation spell cast and left to moulder by a magician called Zachary Zor. If I were to guess, it was supposed to alter my fate so that I immediately died, but between its age, the fact that Angelica was actively destroying it when it went off and my own defences, it just sent me to a version of me who had already died... But that's highly speculative."

Click to shrink...

Or worse, it could have gone off at the exact moment they cast their resurrection spell on the local Paul. A fluke connection between realities that would be very heard to reproduce.

Ah… First step. Find out if Ashan supports radio waves.

I… Fabricate a pair of radio transmitter handsets and hold one out to Lushun.

Click to shrink...

Very good idea to check that. Just because things seem to work how you expect with regards to gravity, breathing and the like...

"Quick experiment. Hold this."

"Ah." He takes it awkwardly. "What is it?"

Click to shrink...

Ah, a walkie-talkie. Might want to get some distance just to be sure of their effectiveness. Especially if the building's warding interferes...

"It uses things called radio waves to send messages." I transition to the opposite end of the room and press 'talk'. "Testing, testing. Press the large orange button on the side and then speak into the cluster of holes at the bottom."

"Like this?"

Click to shrink...

Okay, it works over a short range. Let's hope they can broadcast over longer distances.

"Yes, well done." I transition back, putting the other down on the desk. "Angelica should have a radio. Mazikeen might, but I want to eliminate the possibility before considering more extreme measures."

"And if you find them… Or if you find that they're not here… You plan to leave Ashan?"

Click to shrink...

They could easily have turned up together. Or maybe Mazikeen found herself in the local Hell with a very confused bureaucracy trying to process the arrival. Heck, Angelica might have gotten dragged off to their Heaven to explain herself too.

"That's my aim, but I have no idea how to replicate the-."

"Ah, well…" He runs off towards a distant shelf. "I was able to find this… Where is it..? Ah! Thisrecord of the void walking ritual." He approaches with a… Fairly thin notebook. "If it works, it would take you -and passengers- outside of Ashan. Sandro lamented that he couldn't go further because he had no idea where to go. But if you have a destination…"

Click to shrink...

Hmm... Potential. If he can find Angelica and Mazikeen, they might be able to work out how to make use if that knowledge.

"It might be possible to just that ritual as a first step." I nod. "I assume you want to come? "

"What sort of wizard would I be if I didn't?"

"Happy and alive?" I snort. "Far be it from me to tell you how to live your life. How do we get to the surface from here?"

Click to shrink...

Well, one option is a big drill and going straight up...

One good thing about OL having a Power Ring here is the ability to cover ground insanely quickly by their standards. Once he gets topside and starts calling around, he should find Angelica with no trouble. Mazikeen might be trickier, especially if she ended up somewhere infernal. There's a local demon race, right?

 

[Bigreader]

How does he know that a local version of him died here already?
Update
Never mind I just checked, and apparently. I skipped a chapter that I didn't know existed. So my question is when they tried to resurrect him.Did they just resurrect an empty body since presumably?He hadn't been in this universe, long enough to naturally absorb magic energy and form a soul? So is it just a living, But comatose body?

 

[Mr Zoat]

'is it'? I'm not sure I understand the sentence.
'versions'
'This record'?
'use'?

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

So my question is when they tried to resurrect him.Did they just resurrect an empty body since presumably?He hadn't been in this universe, long enough to naturally absorb magic energy and form a soul? So is it just a living, But comatose body?

Click to shrink...

There are two ways to resurrect someone on Ashan. Find a strong souled hero who can cast 'Resurrection', or get an archangel to do it. The problem is that in game that only works if you do it in the battle they die in. Leave it too long and it becomes impossible. The other alternative is undeath. There's less of a time restriction there, but the Ashan Lantern didn't have a soul. Also, that requires a necromancer, and elves generally don't study necromancy.

 

[Old Knife]

so.... couldn't orange lantern just build a body based of the dead version of him, using his own as template?

also... is this a dark elf wizard OC?

 

[WereDragon]

Which forces me to rely on Lushun to actually find anything.

Click to shrink...

In fairness he has proven to be quite helpful.

"What sort of wizard would I be if I didn't?"

Click to shrink...

"I didn't become a wizard to not grab hold of the threads that form the very fabric of reality and give them a good sharp tug to see what happens."

 

[Mr Zoat]

so.... couldn't orange lantern just build a body based of the dead version of him, using his own as template?

Click to shrink...

Yes, and then he'd have two corpses, one fresher than the other.

also... is this a dark elf wizard OC?

Click to shrink...

Technically, no.

 

[lancelot]

That was in the comics, where Superman had been a lot more active off Earth for a very long time.

Click to shrink...

Quick question did you store your other versions body to possibly resurrect using the local magic later?

 

[Mr Zoat]

Quick question did you store your other versions body to possibly resurrect using the local magic later?

Click to shrink...

I've never met another version of myself, and I think that if I found a body I'd probably report it to the police.

If you mean, 'Did the SI store his body?' then the answer is 'no'.

 

[Silveraith]

@Mr Zoat , I noticed that you've yet to name the new travelling companion. Is he a named character of particular note?

 

[Duke Long]

@Mr Zoat , I noticed that you've yet to name the new travelling companion. Is he a named character of particular note?

Click to shrink...

By which I mean of course the Dark Elves have warded their library. Which forces me to rely on Lushun to actually find anything. I'm just fortunate that the books aren't individually warded so I can scan the contents while interrogating the man directly. He seems to find my power ring's scanning ability fascinating.

Click to shrink...

I think his name is Lushun.

 

[BR549]

That was in the comics, where Superman had been a lot more active off Earth for a very long time.

Click to shrink...

No, that was Young Justice, the television series.

I forget which exact episode it was after all this time, but I think it was the ending denoument, with the Reach having learned just what, exactly, Earth entailed, and Black Beetle, having the most sense of all of them combined, immediately proposing they throw in the towel and leave yesterday.

 

[Old Knife]

Yes, and then he'd have two corpses, one fresher than the other.

Click to shrink...

Sorry. I was assuming he could use a portion of his own orange soul to give the new body one. But then I realized that... That's technically not reviving the other paul anyway. With or without the reconstructed memories.... which wouldn't be there because the data's already degraded/gone... Which doesn't matter because it's not the same soul.

Yeah. Way too much for something like this.

 

[Mr Zoat]

No, that was Young Justice, the television series.

Click to shrink...

Frustratingly, I can't find a good image to link to, but if you search for 'reach' and 'time to retire the party', you should find it.

 

[Mr Zoat]

18th August 2013
09:52 GMT -5

It's a bit of a relief to see daylight again. But I can't help but wonder…

"What made those underground tunnel networks?"

"Our slaves dig some passageways." Lushun squints at the light and raises his right arm to shield his eyes. "The dwarves dig their own tunnels… Rather better decorated than ours, to tell the truth. The demons have their own, and I've read reports that they have vast fiery serpents who make tunnels for them."

"Alright." I look around at the… Pleasant greenery and woodlands. Huh. Rather nice. "But there's a difference between 'slave-dug tunnel to keep our nation connected' and 'if you painted the roof blue I'd think I was outside'. Those spaces are huge."

"I'm not sure I understand. Is that unusual where you're from?"

"It's unheard of where I'm from." I look up and scan… Nothing dangerous nearby. "Are you afraid of heights?"

"I admit that I spend most of my time underground, but few elves suffer from agoraphobia. A little fresh air-"

I tether him with a filament and then fly us into the air.

"-is ohthat'swhatyoumeant!"

Green forests and grassland, blue and grey water, yellow sand, grey rock and white ice. Pretty standard for an inhabited world. I start mapping roads -few, stone paved- and major settlements.

"Um. How are we flying? I can't feel you manipulating mana."

"Do you see the orange glow around our bodies?"

"Yes?"

"Essentially, my desire for us to fly causes my rings to draw emotional energy and apply it to that purpose. I'm lucky that this pocket universe supports it."

"Is there a limit to it?"

"Less experienced Lanterns than me can end up going crazy if they experience emotions more intense than they can cope with. Rings can only carry finite charge, but we're all issued with a device which can restore their power. Unfortunately, I'm cut off from it here."

"Then, should you be using it like this? If you need an elevated location, there are mountains only a few weeks travel from here."

"No good. I don't speak your languages." I generate a radio broadcaster construct, a receiver construct and a giant orange sigil. "I'd be out of power before we arrived, and then I wouldn't be able to communicate with anyone."

"I see."

"What colour ring did the other fellow have?"

"Orange."

"Huh. Surprised that he couldn't work something out. Orange rings are usually fairly forgiving about adapting other fuel sources." Isolate Justice League frequency and transmit. "Orange Lantern to Angelica Blaze. Angelica, please respond."

"What do they look like?"

"Female humanoid with angel wings and red skin. Long straight black hair and horns-" I trace their shape from my forehead. "-from the top of her head curling outwards."

"Is she a demon?"

"Technically, no. Her mother was, her father was a powerful wizard, and then I fed her fruit which realigned her morals and got a mad physician to attach angel wings to her back. The Host seems to have accepted her."

"I… Think that it might be a good idea to keep her away from the Holy Empire. And your other companion?"

"Also technically not a demon. But we probably shouldn't leave her in something called a 'Holy Empire' either."

"A curious choice of companions."

"I wanted to do the beckoning in a place no one would miss, just in case. That may have been unwise."

Alright. Ring, do a big scan. Find me…

Wait, was Angelica wearing anything technological? I assume that she had a communicator but I didn't actually check…

Circuitry. Plastic. Something the locals wouldn't have but Angelica might.

Compliance. Searching. Not found.

Darn it.

"Are there any seers around who would have picked up something arriving in Ashan from outside?"

"Perhaps… But most people assume that nothing can come from outside of Ashan. Ah, most people who think about it, I should say. It… Occurs to me that there is another way."

"Go on."

"As I said, Sandro was most curious about the subject. If we could get hold of some of his tools, I should be able to perform a ritual to track passage through the void and into Ashan. And if you intend to leave with my assistance then I would probably need them anyway."

I smile ruefully. "A fetch quest, then. What do we need?"

"Any of Sandro's more powerful artefacts would help, but I could probably make do with the Staff of the Netherworld. And perhaps the Ring of the Unrepentant, in case our actions draw Elrath's eye."

"Do you have any idea where they are?"

"Sandro's student Markal captured both artefacts in the Silver Cities during his alliance with Queen Isabelle. After his death and the chaos that followed, the artefacts appear to have been split up. Arantir supposedly gathered them before his attack on Flammschrein, but there are no reports of him having them during his attack on Stonehelm. It may be that he left them in his home in the city of Nar-Heresh, or they may be in Stonehelm, captured by one notable or other. Or they may have been stolen away by one of his subordinates after his death, or taken to a reliquary in the Holy Empire…"

"Nar-Heresh seems most likely. Someone there should at least have some idea where to look. Did he have an heir?"

"Ornella, but she died prior to his attack on Flammschrein. Beyond that, I do not know."

"Marvellous. Alright, which way to Nar-Heresh?"

 

[Darko]

. "But there's a difference between 'slave-dug tunnel to keep our nation connected' and 'if you painted the roof blue I'd think I was outside. Those spaces are huge."

"I'm not sure I understand. Is that unusual where you're from?"

"It's unheard of where I'm from

Click to shrink...

There may be some places like that on Earth 16.

"Then, should you be using it like this? If you need an elevated location, there are mountains only a few weeks travel from here."

"No good. I don't speak your languages

Click to shrink...

But you do have a translator.

I'd be out of power before we arrived, and then I wouldn't be able to communicate with anyone."

Click to shrink...

You travel lightyears in mere seconds, I think a few thousand miles wouldn't pose a threat.

"Female humanoid with angel wings and red skin

Click to shrink...

I thought she lost the red skin.

Long straight black hair and horns

Click to shrink...

And the horns became more like small nubs.

And your other companion?"

"Also technically not a demon

Click to shrink...

The Lilim are sorta...diverse when it comes to their family tree.

 

[Mr Zoat]

You travel lightyears in mere seconds, I think a few thousand miles wouldn't pose a threat.

Click to shrink...

He's talking about what would happen if they travelled there on foot.

I thought she lost the red skin.

And the horns became more like small nubs.

Click to shrink...

Ah... I don't remember. Do you remember where it came up?

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

18th August 2013
09:52 GMT -5

It's a bit of a relief to see daylight again. But I can't help but wonder…

"What made those underground tunnel networks?"

Click to shrink...

Pure muscle, I suspect. Slaves with picks, spending lives over centuries to create networks beneath the Earth. Though navigating the excavations would be tricky. One pocket of unstable geology or hostile fauna and you'd have to reroute miles.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

"Our slaves dig some passageways." Lushun squints at the light and raises his right arm to shield his eyes. "The dwarves dig their own tunnels… Rather better decorated than ours, to tell the truth. The demons have their own, and I've read reports that they have vast fiery serpents who make tunnels for them."

Click to shrink...

Well, giant burrowing worms (or wyrms, maybe) is just cheating. They probably have much better luck at getting where they want to...

"Alright." I look around at the… Pleasant greenery and woodlands. Huh. Rather nice. "But there's a difference between 'slave-dug tunnel to keep our nation connected' and 'if you painted the roof blue I'd think I was outside. Those spaces are huge."

"I'm not sure I understand. Is that unusual where you're from?"

Click to shrink...

Oh, very much so. The sort of titanic caverns you see in fantasy illustrations? Exactly that, fantasy. Yet another way Real Life fails to live up to the potential...

"It's unheard of where I'm from." I look up and scan… Nothing dangerous nearby. "Are you afraid of heights?"

"I admit that I spend most of my time underground, but few elves suffer from agoraphobia. A little fresh air-"

Click to shrink...

Oh, that is not what he was asking. I also find myself wondering if they have airships, or if flight is limited to riding flying creatures or simple personal magic.

I tether him with a filament and then fly us into the air.

"-is ohthat'swhatyoumeant!"

Click to shrink...

Hopefully he doesn't suffer from motion sickness. Or a weak bladder...

Green forests and grassland, blue and grey water, yellow sand, grey rock and white ice. Pretty standard for an inhabited world. I start mapping roads -few, stone paved- and major settlements.

"Um. How are we flying? I can't feel you manipulating mana."

Click to shrink...

That's going to be a common experience around OL in this world, I bet. Confusion and curiosity.

"Do you see the orange glow around our bodies?"

"Yes?"

"Essentially, my desire for us to fly causes my rings to draw emotional energy and apply it to that purpose. I'm lucky that this pocket universe supports it."

Click to shrink...

If it didn't he'd be up ship shit creek.

"Is there a limit to it?"

"Less experienced Lanterns than me can end up going crazy if they experience emotions more intense than they can cope with. Rings can only carry finite charge, but we're all issued with a device which can restore their power. Unfortunately, I'm cut off from it here."

Click to shrink...

And he may not be able to recharge via Feeding, it seems. Quite the challenge run, then.

"Then, should you be using it like this? If you need an elevated location, there are mountains only a few weeks travel from here."

"No good. I don't speak your languages." I generate a radio broadcaster construct, a receiver construct and a giant orange sigil. "I'd be out of power before we arrived, and then I wouldn't be able to communicate with anyone."

Click to shrink...

And he's skilled enough that he can conserve charge quite well. Most of what he's done is likely only consuming a single percentage point of charge...

"I see."

"What colour ring did the other fellow have?"

Click to shrink...

Good, checking that would be a good plan. If only to make sure someone isn't about to trigger an Orange-pocalypse.

"Orange."

"Huh. Surprised that he couldn't work something out. Orange rings are usually fairly forgiving about adapting other fuel sources." Isolate Justice League frequency and transmit. "Orange Lantern to Angelica Blaze. Angelica, please respond."

Click to shrink...

And he'd have to have run out of charge, or he'd probably never have died in the first place. At least from conventional methods of attack. Magic could have messed him up... So unless whoever has the Ring now can charge it, it's reasonably low-priority.

"What do they look like?"

"Female humanoid with angel wings and red skin. Long straight black hair and horns-" I trace their shape from my forehead. "-from the top of her heads curing outwards."

Click to shrink...

Even if she's lost aspects of that, she might well spare a little magic to create the illusion as a public identity...

"Is she a demon?"

"Technically, no. Her mother was, her father was a powerful wizard, and then I fed her fruit which realigned her morals and got a mad physician to attach angel wings to her back. The Host seems to have accepted her."

Click to shrink...

And saying it like that really sounds... Exceptional. Some would say insane.

"I… Think that it might be a good idea to keep her away from the Holy Empire. And your other companion?"

"Also technically not a demon. But we probably shouldn't leave her in something called a 'Holy Empire' either."

Click to shrink...

Although if she turned up amongst the demons, she'd probably be facing similar issues. Or she'd be in charge within days.

"A curious choice of companions."

"I wanted to do the beckoning in a place no one would miss, just in case. That may have been unwise."

Click to shrink...

Hopefully the League is already noticing they've dropped off the grid.

Alright. Ring, do a big scan. Find me…

Wait, was Angelica wearing anything technological? I assume that she had a communicator but I didn't actually check…

Click to shrink...

He has her DNA on file, right? Maybe ping for that if looking for tech fails.

Circuitry. Plastic. Something the locals wouldn't have but Angelica might.

Compliance. Searching. Not found.

Click to shrink...

Could simply be that they didn't get dragged along. Or she wasn't carrying tech.

Darn it.

"Are there any seers around who would have picked up something arriving in Ashan from outside?"

Click to shrink...

That would be a very specific role to play for someone. And likely seen as odd as we picture conspiracy theorists.

"Perhaps… But most people assume that nothing can come from outside of Ashan. Ah, most people who think about it, I should say. It… Occurs to me that there is another way."

"Go on."

Click to shrink...

Worst case, OL goes looking for Asha and poking the goddess-dragon into finding a way to send him back to Earth Sixteen.

"As I said, Sandro was most curious about the subject. If we could get hold of some of his tools, I should be able to perform a ritual to track passage through the void and into Ashan. And if you intend to leave with my assistance then I would probably need them anyway."

Click to shrink...

Great. A scavenger hunt.

I smile ruefully. "A fetch quest, then. What do we need?"

"Any of Sandro's more powerful artefacts would help, but I could probably make do with the Staff of the Netherworld. And perhaps the Ring of the Unrepentant, in case our actions draw Elrath's eye."

"Do you have any idea where they are?"

Click to shrink...

Hurm... Artefacts quite useful in a necromancer's hands. OL will probably be keeping an eye on him for possible betrayals, of course.

"Sandro's student Markal captured both artefacts in the Silver Cities during his alliance with Queen Isabelle. After his death and the chaos that followed, the artefacts appear to have been split up. Arantir supposedly gathered them before his attack on Flammschrein, but there are no reports of him having them during his attack on Stonehelm. It may be that he left them in his home in the city of Nar-Heresh, or they may be in Stonehelm, captured by one notable or other. Or they may have been stolen away by one of his subordinates after his death, or taken to a reliquary in the Holy Empire…"

Click to shrink...

Joy... Expending more charge zipping back and forth.

"Nar-Heresh seems most likely. Someone there should at least have some idea where to look. Did he have an heir?"

"Ornella, but she died prior to his attack on Flammschrein. Beyond that, I do not know."

"Marvellous. Alright, which way to Nar-Heresh?"

Click to shrink...

Time to speedrun this scenario.

It's entirely possible that Angelica and Mazikeen aren't here, or that they're each somewhere the Rings couldn't scan. And if they turned up somewhere that would be hostile, they may have been imprisoned somewhere heavily warded. I can't imagine this Holy Empire tolerating either of them, with their evident devilish features...

 

[Ngamer11]

Ah... I don't remember. Do you remember where it came up?

Click to shrink...

This is what I was able to find.

Gold-white flames flare up from where it lands, rising into an approximately humanoid figure before vanishing. In its place stands B-. Stands Angelica, modestly dressed in business trousers and a soft blue roll neck jumper. With two large white wings sticking out through the back. It doesn't have wing holes exactly; the sheer size of the wings made that impractical. Instead, it has two slits which button up at the bottom. Her skin tanned, her hair remained black and her horns have shrunk to a more lintel-friendly length.

Click to shrink...

 

[BR549]

Frustratingly, I can't find a good image to link to, but if you search for 'reach' and 'time to retire the party', you should find it.

Click to shrink...

...huh, apparently it was from the comics. I guess it's been long enough I morphed it into an episode.

...still establishes that Black Beetle has more common sense than the rest of them combined, though.