Queshire
Not too sore, are you?
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- Jan 26, 2019
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Are ya winning, son?
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I like how she is smart enough for all that but still dumb enough to poke Constantine
Circe this time! As I thought it might be, given the events. Now to see why she hasn't gotten her fine ass to Aberrance yet... And if anyone's wondering what an Orrery is: Orrery. This one presumably monitors Earth for particularly large magical outbursts.12th July 2012
14:00 GMT -7
I purse my lips as I stare at my orrery.
I'm sure that I've seen this before somewhere.
Oh, boy. So that rocky fellow Grayven took down wasn't the only one around. Grayven's going to have to do some radiological cleanup, methinks.Not the orrery, which was a protect which combined my arcane experience with and Sunset's arcane knowledge. It is by far a greater tool than any I worked with in eras past. I would never have tried focusing this spell through a simple map or wooden navigational aide. Not the eruption of elementals besieging Cranius's citadel. Temporarily imbuing the inanimate with life is something even a moderately talented magician could do, had they the knowing of it.
Ah, that explains it. Dang secret identities, eh? More trouble than they're worth sometimes...This way of concealing a presence.
On the other side of the room, Giovanni Zatara raises his eyebrows in enquiry.
"Professor Larissa, have you made any progress?"
Heh, no Diana Prince in this timeline, eh? Still, this does get us some Thessaly moments. She's a fun character in the 'Sandman' comics...That's… A drawback to being available for consultations. Sometimes, people want to consult with you at inconvenient times. As Circe I could arrive at Grayven's side and smite whoever dared attack our ally… But as Professor Larissa -a capable but not especially powerful wielder of magical power- I am forced to moderate my response in the presence of a member of the Justice League.
This 'secret identity' business is such a nuisance. I can see why Diana never bothered with one.
...Would recognise the feel of? After that laundry list of elder magicians, there's not many left. And the few that live that long quickly learn to keep themselves hidden..."No."
And I keep my sighs contained. If a magic tutor such as my false face failed to identify a malefactor that would merely indicate that they had taken a few sensible precautions. But I'm an ancient sorceress. Hiding from the magics I've been using -even at lower levels of raw power- is no mean feat. It's not Dracula -I'll never forget the feel of his magic, all brute force and no subtlety- and Mr. Near confirmed that it's not Dr. Mist -who could certainly hide from me but would sooner cut off his own right arm than be this overt- and it's clearly not a demon. So who does that leave that I would..?
So modern Atlantean magic has evolved over the millennia? Let me guess, made safer and easier to understand for those less skill in the Art? And in the process made more restricted and restrictive...Aaaaaah.
That's why it feels familiar. Centuries of feeling the edges of the workings of thousands of Atlantean practitioners means that I've become well accustomed to their style, but this isn't the way they practice in the modern era. It wouldn't even occur to Sunset to use magic in this manner. So, either an Atlantean archmage with an interest in history or someone older.
Ehhh... Given previous depictions of Gamemnae weren't pleasant (Remember the Obsidian age, and her 'Morass' spell that made her a giant crone?) I don't think that'll be a good thing.I'm sure Adom would love it if it turned out that Queen Gamemnae somehow survived-.
"Are you certain?"
It's more complex now because of numerous safety features added, I suppose... Bet Arion the Elder will be disgusted by all the 'lesser' folk being allowed to learn the Great Art...He doesn't know me well enough to interpret my expressions accurately, but he would spot an illusory mask.
"It reminds me of some of the older Atlantean techniques. Sunset uses the modern thaumaturgically complex forms while this makes more of an effort to work with existing arcane systems."
A long time? To be fair, when you've lived as long as Circe has, more than once a century might qualify as 'often'...Because he didn't have anything like the same level of theoretical knowledge back then that they do now and wouldn't have known how to do that. Ahri'ahn. Where has he been? I haven't seen him in the flesh for…
For…
Yes, you're having fun, aren't you? For all the hassles, all the annoyances... Getting to teach and see the world again... It feels good, doesn't it?For a while, but I haven't even felt his magic for…
I think I owe Grayven more than I realised for persuading me to leave Kalonymos. For at least two centuries.
Ah, she's worked that much out about Young Arion? Good to see the plot's been progressing offscreen. And I do not see Arion the Elder getting along with anyone these days... Methinks he'll be headed for a dirt nap."Do you think it could be Circe?"
That's a rational enough deduction. And the answer is no, because I'm perfectly willing to evoke spirits and gods whereas his skin crawls at the very notion of even talking to someone who isn't Greek. Which explains why there haven't been any demands issued; that would involve communication and he hasn't been in contact with modern Atlantis yet to recruit a 'surface-face'. I can well believe that he'd kill a surface dweller who 'cosplayed' as him for no better reason than that.
It'd take an unusual mind to be interested in outdated antiques of spellcraft, eh? I don't doubt there's one or two oddballs in Atlantis who are, though.But there's no reason for 'Professor Larissa' to know that or to be able to identify such subtle distinctions in their magic. A modern magic research would only know of him as a historical figure of note. Few among the people of Atlantis perform magic in historical styles for much the same reason that few people on the surface drive around in Model T Fords. But I suppose that it doesn't really matter if Giovanni thinks it's me or someone else, just so long as he's acting against them. So as much as it hurts my pride…
And she''s just itching to get down there, isn't she? Not only to help in the fight, but to get a lead on Arion the Elder... She just has to get Zatara moving...I nod. "It could be. I try to avoid people like that, so I've never experienced her magic close up. But whoever it is, according to this…" A portion of the orrery lights up, showing images of a damaged Aberrance street. "They're in Aberrance right now."
"Aberrance. Do you know it?"
A plausible reason for her to know Cranius. Always helpful to establish an alternate identity...I smile. "Yes, of course. Doctor von Schadel and I have corresponded at length on the use of Atlantean biomancy in his work. And of course the army wanted a second opinion on his implants."
He nods, then returns his attention to the orrery.
As long as he doesn't fall prey to 'when all you have is a Hammer...' Man might need to learn proper skills, not just rely on artifacts of power ."Can I use this to guide a teleportation spell?"
I didn't think he was powerful enough to attempt such a thing. How much has that necklace enhanced his abilities, I wonder? And would he be willing to let me study it? I'm not interested in drawing on the Plane of Order, but there are techniques that can be applied when using other sources of power.
And for when you can't, there's always Boom and Hush Tubes. The fun part of knowing a New God..."I.. imagine that you can. It can certainly form a sympathetic link for you. I'm afraid that sort of magic is a little beyond me."
I've been lying to people for over three thousand years, so even a lie like that doesn't trip me up. In truth unaided direct teleportation was… Difficult in the immediate aftermath of breaking my pact with Hecate. But something as trivial as moving around the material world at will is well within my abilities.
If he lasts that long. Superheroic adventuring isn't a career with long-term survivability... Unless you've got a little something extra, like Kryptonian powers or a Power Ring.As is maintaining a mental glamour against the type of probe Giovanni just attempted, concealing my real nature behind a façade and disguising that it is a façade. He's.. good, considering his relative youth. But he's using Lord Nabu's tools to punch above his weight and hasn't raised his own skills to match.
Maybe in a few centuries.
Good thing he was locked on. Imagine how red his face would be if he ended up at some other battlefield elsewhere on Earth. (Yes, I know his power primarily works on intent...)He nods politely.
"I thank you for your assistance. Tropsnart em ot eht dleifelttab!"
I can't imagine what the students are learning from Constantine... Besides being an ornery bastard. And that's a handy trick, even if it isn't as smart as she is.Gold light flashes and a watch the connections form between him, the orrery and the image of Aberrance. Then there's a flicker and he's gone. I wave my hands, making sure that he hasn't left any sort of observation spell behind. No, he kept to the rules of hospitality. What a pleasant surprise. I can't persuade Constantine to do that even after all of the minor 'corrective' curses I've put on him.
I turn and walk over to desk, pulling out a bundle of threads. Let's see… Social interaction, teaching, physicality, some creativity… I twist the threads into a knot and attach aspects of my character to each one… And stand back as a changeling wearing my 'Professor Larissa' face appears.
...What happens if your magic gets sent awry? Would she just pop out of existence like a soap bubble, or through some Dreamy fluke, become her own person? That would be amusing..."Take my classes and help the students."
She nods and heads to the 'Introduction to Magic' class that I'd had to put on hold. It won't require her to actually use magic, which is good because while she can draw on my reserves, if I'm going to be fighting Ahri'ahn I don't want to be at anything less than my best.
Circe Used 'Teleport To Ally'! It's on target!Even if he hasn't left any monitoring spells on the orrery, Giovanni might feel it if I use it. Fortunately, I know the shape of Sunset's magic well enough not to need it. I simply raise my hands and walk towards her heat and skill and friendship, shimmering-
12th July 2012
13:04 GMT -8
Hmm... Is that Filial love or Eros? I wonder.-into being next to her in the Aberrance car park, the illusion of Professor Larissa well and truly discarded.
Flames are curling around Sunset as she partially etherealises, proving that she's well on her way to true apotheosis. Man-shaped lumps of macadam slump inert in a circle around her where she's defended herself against attack. She glances at me as I appear, and her… Genuine smile actually makes my heart flutter.
"Or would you like some help?" Though I doubt Circe would put it that way. She knows all too well how fragile a young lady's ego can be, especially in her chosen fields of study...
It's more complex now because of numerous safety features added, I suppose... Bet Arion the Elder will be disgusted by all the 'lesser' folk being allowed to learn the Great Art...
Ah, she's worked that much out about Young Arion? Good to see the plot's been progressing offscreen. And I do not see Arion the elder getting along with anyone these days... Methinks he'll be headed for a dirt nap.
It'd take an unusual mind to be interested in outdated antiques of spellcraft, eh? I don't doubt there's one or two oddballs in Atlantis who are, though.
I can't imagine what the students are learning from Constantine... Besides being an ornery bastard. And that's a handy trick, even if it isn't as smart as she is.
"Or would you like some help?" Though I doubt Circe would put it that way. She knows all too well how fragile a young lady's ego can be, especially in her chosen fields of study...
..I stand corrected. On the upside, that makes Sunset's defences even more impressive.
I believe the cookie is named after the road style, involving crushed nuts that look like the crushed stones...I stand corrected. On the upside, that makes Sunset's defences even more impressive.
What a pleasant surprise. I can't persuade Constantine to do that even after all of the minor 'corrective' curses I've put on him.
The cookie is named after the nuts. The nuts are named in honor of a Scottish scientist.I believe the cookie is named after the road style, involving crushed nuts that look like the crushed stones.
Ahri'ahn. Where has he been? I haven't seen him in the flesh for…
For…
For a while, but I haven't even felt his magic for…
Yes.Zoat, how did Circe meet Ahri'ahn?
In this universe she's apparently three thousand years old, but Ahri'ahn may be over five thousand years old, based on Gamemnae, who knew Adom before he was imprisoned in his body, and tried to raise Atlantis from the waters, which he was present for when it sunk, so he was most likely born before she was.
Has he come out of whatever hibernation he was in before in the past and met Circe during one such time?
Also is this a Renegade only event (Ahri'ahn coming back) and if so why?
The SI doesn't know.Also is this a Renegade only event (Ahri'ahn coming back) and if so why?
Or is he also in the Paragon side, but because Paul wasn't connected to Doom (and Circe being part of the Light) no one found out he is back, and things are developing differently?
"No, but it will stop them feeling it. There's no cure yet. Ge
I think calling the League in would be a good course of action; I'm sure a bunch of their members would be resistant to the insectoid's effects for whatever reason. And if Ahr'ian is still around they would be good backup to have.
Thank you, corrected.
The originals are from Louisiana. Later additions come from a variety of places.
The originals are from Louisiana. Later additions come from a variety of places.
Yeah, I've done that in games myself: Charge in expecting to steamroll an enemy, only to catch their attack with my face. One of the most painful recently was charging at a Space Marine Devastator with a Lascannon. One word: Cored.12th July 2012
13:03 GMT -8
I dash out of the boom tube and into one of the insectoid enclosures-. Shiiiiiit die!
Okay, this is not a place you want melee combatants. good thing Adom isn't here, I guess. I'm not sure that his divinely-granted Potency would protect him...The humanoid lump of concrete and steel is blasted apart by my beam and what's left is smashed to powder by my construct hammer.
"Grayven to everyone."
Last thing you want is a New God Speedster getting anywhere near these things, yeah...Another lunges at me, concrete forelimb pulverising itself against my cuirass before my counterpunch sends its head flying into what's left of the containment chamber wall.
"The insectoids are out. Iname, evacuate Uncorp but do not let them touch you. Your safety-"
Ironically, the elementals are probably the best weapon against the infectious bugs. Pity they're not on your side.I raise my right arm and bring it down, smashing the still-upright elemental… Thing, to detritus.
"-is paramount."
Man, these things are insane. Those blades would make it hard to block...Because that's what destroyed the world in Marvel Zombies. Pietro got infected, then infected millions all across the world in a matter of moments. The sensible thing would probably be to get her to pull out, but this is going to be a slaughter otherwise. Just have to risk it.
A second of pressure on my back, then two transparent scythes swing at my eyes! I raise my left arm to block, the-. The transparent aluminium grinds against my vambrace as the surprisingly strong whatever-this-is tries to force through its attack before being knocked off by a wrecking ball construct.
Drones with death rays. Another good option to take these things down. Seriously, why were they not entirely wiped out, or at least Boom Tubed to some remote planetoid somewhere? Were Cranius and Crassus that attached to them?"Malefactors include elementals conjured from local materials. Sunset, if you can get here without exposing yourself to the insectoids, do so and unsummon this lot."
My immediate vicinity's clear and drones are heading in to find my targets.
Kill him quickly! And with no splatter!"Sure. What's so dangerous about-?"
"Master, one of the people here has been bitten. What-?"
Man, Arion the Elder is an arsehole. Did he not realize how dangerous they were? Did he simply not care?Whoever did this caused the concrete to form a ornate staircase down into the holding chambers down from the observation area. I go up at a jog. The insectoids would want to get out, but they're essentially animals navigating an unfamiliar environment. Not all of them will go far.
"If it's a small bite, cut off the body part. If that's not practical, knock them out."
"Every dead body that is not exterminated becomes one of them. It gets up and kills! The people it kills get up and kill!" Yeah, this is not a time to be sloppy."Will that stop it?"
"No, but it will stop them feeling it. There's no cure yet. Get bitten, you turn. Get cut, you turn. Their spit, their poison, everything-"
Damn, this shit's looking like Dead Space in here! Thank Goodness Anton Arcane wasn't a gamer, he might have gotten inspired.A tentacle-covered twelve legged insectoid drops on me from the wall! I catch it in both hands and my arms are swiftly enveloped in sucker-covered tentacles which secrete some sort of caustic substance.
"-about them is designed to infect-"
Don't push your luck, girl. This is no time to try and show off to your sweetie.Which they can't do to my armour but can do to the tiny amounts of organic residue on my armour, a dull yellow foam appearing on my forelimbs.
"-and convert."
"I can kill them, Master."
Thank goodness these things can't think. That'd be even more horrifying, being trapped inside your own body watching it kill and rampage...Construct pneumatic rams begin slamming into where I think this creature's brain is. As far as we've been able to tell they don't feel fear, but there's still plenty of fear in this building alone.
"Nughgreehraughhhh!"
Cage is patched up. Now for the escapees. Get scanning, Ringnestro... We got us a bug hunt.I twist, slamming it against the wall and then getting-. Spartan kicking it down the steps into the containment chamber. It hits the ground and rolls over end over end until it hits the back wall. I.. need to fix this. I never though I'd need to build a place to hold these creatures. The place I put the British cultists isn't big enough or resilient enough.
I fly backwards, pieces of rubble being altered and shoved into place to cover the hole. I transmute a little titanium and steel… That should do for now.
"Currently casting Fist! A lot!" I see she's having fun. And we'll get to see if our guesses paid off.
The only drawback is that the Tube aperture can only form so fast... And only so many at a time... Seriously, Grayven needs to arrange some offworld containment somewhere obscure.I nod. Knockout's resilience is her one useful quality so I don't feel obliged to rush to her aid. Corralling the insectoids if my highest priority.
"The insectoid enclosure is repaired. Iname, if you're able, call for boom tubes and send the insectoids back."
I doubt the Bugs did this. Presumably Arion's doing... Which raises some questions about how..."Yes, master!"
I head out through what used to be a series of secure corridors, now warped into some sort of promenade. A thick vault security door has been crushed like tinfoil, with the controls blasted apart-. From the inside, from the looks of it. Alright, that-.
An unconventional application of summoned Elementals... Quasi-Elementals of Lightning?Wiring leaps out of the walls and wraps around me, electricity arcing!
And doesn't do a thing to me, as my armour is pretty darn insulated, but that would have been a nasty trap for someone without my level of resilience. Construct wire cutters snip and cut through, but the wires are animated and twist around each other to keep the current flowing.
Well done, Sunset. Gold star!And then they fall dead.
"Sunset to Grayven. I've… Countered the spell, but that was… Really powerful. I don't know if I could stop it quickly if it got cast again."
And hopefully staying out of Zatara's sight? Last thing we need is a 'let's you and him fight' scenario.I pull free of the last few wires, then fly at speed through the redesigned corridors.
"Just do your best. Any sign of Circe?"
"She's in the middle of something."
Denied! Back in your hole, bug!
Boy, that's nasty stuff. Might need to quarantine the place and sweep to make sure they didn't leave any surprises about the place...BOOM.
-and a construct battering ram shoves it back into the portal aperture as the mutagenic gunk hits my cuirass. FACE ME!
Yes, people thought the same thing of another bug species. That didn't work out too well for them either. You know, the shiny black ones...Disintegrate it.
Done, Lantern Grayven. What a fascinating terror weapon they would make.
In other words, Earth is too nice? But he has a point. Unless their very blood releases mutagens, killing them all would be the best idea...No, they're too effective and too wild. They'd convert a world before anything useful could be achieved.
They die when they're damaged sufficiently. An advanced world would accept that they couldn't be saved and kill them, at tremendous cost to their morale. Do not allow Earth's abnormalities to jade you to the effectiveness of conventional military power.
No. One scratch and you've got a fresh convert. And these things have shown they're too wily and adept at ambush tactics to be easily fought that way...I hesitate as something that looks like a bodybuilding praying mantis charges me.
Would it be better to use soldiers? As a federal agent I can call on Department of Metahuman Affairs SWAT teams and since we're in Aberrance I imagine that the Department of Energy's equivalents would be made available as well. With current generation ABC warfare gear they should be able to manage acceptably well.
"This could take all day..."
So it'll come down to nigh-invulnerable heroes laying in with blades and bullets. Short of some manner of kill-switch, and I doubt Anton thought that far ahead. He would have wanted these things to rampage unstoppably, of course. And if they could kill him? Then so be it.But they might take casualties. People converted into insectoids. Which would cause people to associate that with Un-Men, regardless of the fact this is only happening because a high-powered wizard is attacking the place and decided they were mildly more convenient than making more elementals. That would set Cranius back and it probably wouldn't even improve the situation. Heavy bombardment would work, and completely stop anything useful happening here.
Well, then. Thank goodness for speedsters.No, I'm going to have to clear this with my own resour-
Iname appears.
"All done, Master!"
And introduce Arion the Elder to the Knuckle brothers: Righty and Lefty... Then the Sword of the First and Second, if he's still got it.
BOOM.
-and a construct battering ram shoves it back into the portal aperture as the mutagenic gunk hits my cuirass. FACE ME!
Man, Arion the Elder is an arsehole. Did he not realize how dangerous they were? Did he simply not care?
Presumably Arion's doing... Which raises some questions about how
There are some places even insectoids fear to tread.
This has all been covered in the story, but in summary:I would also like to know where these Insectoids come from? Who made them? And why, if they are so dangerous, they weren't being stored and studied off-world?
Grayven has access to multiple different types of portals that would make the commute for researchers unproblematic.
All we know is that he's studying at the White School. It's probable that we'll never see him in the story.