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

[Darko]

So... the only difference I see with Grayven way of doing things is that the New Gods don't care about Earth Gods, that's it.

I find myself really disappointed that uplifting humanity literally needs divine intervention.

Click to shrink...

It doesn't really need it, but it can certainly be helpful to have the backing and help of several powerful beings that can help speed-up what you're doing and which are able to provide assistance and things that most mortals can't.

 

[Stsword]

To be fair to Zoat DC established that becoming the New New Gods was one of the fates of humanity.

It also established that one of the other fates was to be the New Guardians of the Universe, which makes me wonder if Zoat is planning on that for the Paragon timelilne.

 

[Sordid Snake]

well......that's good. So now the anti demon defense is too just have people carry living plants to smack a demon with.........neat

Click to shrink...

And Etrigan will have to run classes on "Self Defence against Mortals Armed With Fresh Fruit" for the other demons.

 

[Pinklestia]

I mean Paul is the one who set up this overthrow without any sort of succession plan or really anything for the aftermath.

Click to shrink...

Look, he only wanted to replace Zeus; the Ares thing was not his doing. If they need a new God of War? Well he already helped with that; time to move on.

 

[Coda]

Euanthe casually doing what the Silver City never managed in millenia.

Click to shrink...

Except the Silver City is doing it right now, through Euanthe.

Which is how they work.

Click to shrink...

Agreeing with Vaermina this time around, although I also think there's a decent chance that instead of this being the Silver City's machinations coming to fruition (pun intended)... there might have been a reason the Silver City didn't do something heavy-handed to protect Earth from the forces of Hell before.

 

[Mr Zoat]

May I say how gratifying it was that everyone understood my G'kar reference? It's nice to know that people are still watching the classics.

 

[Prognostic Hannya]

"Apparently, she's nearly managed to align it with the Green. When she does, every plant on the planet will burn any demon that touches it."

"And that's why we want her in the pantheon."

Click to shrink...

Wouldn't this only apply in regions where the Abrahamic faiths are dominant? Also, would things like brushes and shrubs be affected? Because lots of places on earth don't have many trees, particularly places central to the last of the three. Not many oaks on the passage between Mecca and Medina, I'm afraid.

 

[Assblaster5000]

May I say how gratifying it was that everyone understood my G'kar reference? It's nice to know that people are still watching the classics.

Click to shrink...

Apologies for being both a colonial and a philistine.

Wouldn't this only apply in regions where the Abrahamic faiths are dominant? Also, would things like brushes and shrubs be affected? Because lots of places on earth don't have many trees, particularly places central to the last of the three. Not many oaks on the passage between Mecca and Medina, I'm afraid.

Click to shrink...

Both in-story and in mainline canon The Silver City and (most) associated aspects of the Abrahamic faiths are at least somewhat connected to The Source, so range isn't really much of an issue even ignoring that gods can operate well outside the bounds of their places of worship.

The Green, on the other hand, is basically a magic group-mind for every plant in the universe in mainline DC, but in-story it's more limited because of how magic works. It would still cover every plant on Earth though, including things like gut-flora.

 

[Stsword]

The Green, on the other hand, is basically a magic group-mind for every plant in the universe in mainline DC, but in-story it's more limited because of how magic works. It would still cover every plant on Earth though, including things like gut-flora.

Click to shrink...

Which is certainly impressive since there is no such thing as actual plants in gut flora.

Mostly bacteria, with some archaea and fungi thrown in for variety, but nothing the Green has any business claiming.

So Paul pulling that gut flora trick is like Aquaman claiming dominion over silverfish. "They're called fish, they count!" in Batman the Brave and the Bold.

 

[Bramble Thorn]

"Apparently, she's nearly managed to align it with the Green. When she does, every plant on the planet will burn any demon that touches it."

Click to shrink...

Makes you wonder if something similar happened with vampires and sunlight/ running water/ some of their other crippling weaknesses. If it isn't anything endemic to their being, so much as some really powerful doing a "I deny you the vitality of the air" to their entire racial template, or adding them to a previously established 'list of Creatures of Darkness'

And if particular old, old vampires start overcoming those weaknesses, it is because their individual power became too much for the power of the curse to affect fully, or at all.

Also, sucks for those few beings that happen to have a demonic nature, but not actually evil, or at least haven't actually done really evil act yet.

 

[Vaermina]

Agreeing with Vaermina this time around, although I also think there's a decent chance that instead of this being the Silver City's machinations coming to fruition (pun intended)... there might have been a reason the Silver City didn't do something heavy-handed to protect Earth from the forces of Hell before.

Click to shrink...

The most obvious reason?

Because "If I can't have it nobody will" is a valid line of reasoning for demons, and the Forces of Hell could easily destroy Earth before the forces of the Silver City could stop them if they actually wanted to.

Thus the Silver City leaves the Forces of Hell with just enough operating room to keep thinking they have a chance of actually conquering Earth. And in turn the Forces of Hell keep trying for that chance and metaphorically bashing their heads against the cities walls instead of just blowing the city itself up.

 

[BlueMangoAdea]

Also, sucks for those few beings that happen to have a demonic nature, but not actually evil, or at least haven't actually done really evil act yet.

Click to shrink...

The seasonal allergies for anyone demon related...

 

[The Unaligned Player]

The seasonal allergies for anyone demon related...

Click to shrink...

Tear gas wishes it was that effective.

 

[Pinklestia]

It doesn't really need it,

Click to shrink...

One has the spear of Destiny making humans love tech. The other has a New God subtly manipulating his subjects.

So yeah... disappointing.

 

[Sockmonkey]

I'm wondering if the "holy" effect will extend at all to foods made from plants. If so, everyone is more or less immune to demonic magic, as are most animals.

 

[Darko]

Agreeing with Vaermina this time around, although I also think there's a decent chance that instead of this being the Silver City's machinations coming to fruition (pun intended)... there might have been a reason the Silver City didn't do something heavy-handed to protect Earth from the forces of Hell before.

Click to shrink...

Not that Paul may care about that reason.

Heck it could have just been them believing that mortals need to be tempted to be allowed into paradise so they left the demons to run a mock.

Wouldn't this only apply in regions where the Abrahamic faiths are dominant? Also, would things like brushes and shrubs be affected? Because lots of places on earth don't have many trees, particularly places central to the last of the three. Not many oaks on the passage between Mecca and Medina, I'm afraid.

Click to shrink...

The Green is more than just trees, so it should work, and the Green isn't connected to any one faith.

Makes you wonder if something similar happened with vampires and sunlight/ running water/ some of their other crippling weaknesses. If it isn't anything endemic to their being, so much as some really powerful doing a "I deny you the vitality of the air" to their entire racial template, or adding them to a previously established 'list of Creatures of Darkness'

And if particular old, old vampires start overcoming those weaknesses, it is because their individual power became too much for the power of the curse to affect fully, or at al

Click to shrink...

If Zoat is using Hellblazer canon for the vampires in this story then aside from sunlight, all of the other weaknesses are things the vamps can overcome just by not believing in them.

In Hellblazer, Constantine talked to the King of Vampires, who offered him vampirism and told him that aside from sunlight, all of the other weaknesses are more like annoyances or subconscious limitations that can be overcome in the same way a person can overcome some phobia or something like that.

And honestly, this may be the case in this story.

After Paul interviewed that female vampire, he told Guy that he ran several tests on her, including pulling out a number of religious symbols to see how she'd react.

At first there was nothing, but when he informed her that they were religious in nature, she immediately became uncomfortable.

Sha apparently couldn't even stare at his ring symbol by the end.

This kinda points to at least some vampires being like they were in Hellblazer.

If that's the case then older vampires may no longer by weakened by such things since they've had a long time to master themselves and no longer associate such things with harm.

It's also possible that they'd have a harder time dealing with it since they've probably believed in those things for a long time and it's not easy to let go of such long-held beliefs.

One has the spear of Destiny making humans love tech. The other has a New God subtly manipulating his subjects.

So yeah... disappointing.

Click to shrink...

I don't think Heph still has the Spear.

I'm wondering if the "holy" effect will extend at all to foods made from plants. If so, everyone is more or less immune to demonic magic, as are most animals.

Click to shrink...

If people find out then I'm expecting vegetarianism or veganism to become very popular.

 

[Prince Charon]

I'm wondering if the "holy" effect will extend at all to foods made from plants. If so, everyone is more or less immune to demonic magic, as are most animals.

Click to shrink...

<bad pun>Holy cow!</bad pun>

 

[Mr Zoat]

29th October 2012
23:59 GMT -3

Orange light shines out across the subterranean cavern, the various highly toxic alchemical substances that leaked down here from the Sheeda ship being unmade.

Dr. Isley shudders in relief. "Thank you. You have no idea what it felt like to have something that unnatural under my skin."

"Under your skin?"

She holds up her left arm and points at a slightly discoloured patch of skin. As I watch, the darker green gradually retreats until it's gone entirely.

"Are you..? Alright?"

"I finally have the connection to plant life that I used to think I had. Their strength is my strength and their pain is my pain." She shrugs. "It has its down sides, but I… I like it. I like being part of something bigger than myself, even if that's literal."

"As long as you're happy." I nod and smile. "And not murdering people, then it's all good."

"No, that's not something I do any more." She does a quiet laugh-snort. "I spend more time trying to keep people alive. With all the farmland Euanthe reforested, farming… Farming stopped. That wasn't a problem for the Accala or the other forest tribes, but the people who are still living in the cities were in danger of starving."

"Cities need to be fed by large areas of countryside in order to function. Did you persuade Euanthe to spare subsistence farms?"

"No, but I gave the fruit-bearing plants around them a boost and created some new super fruits." She shakes her head. "Hugo sent some missionaries, but the people still there aren't interested in learning."

"Learning..? To live in the forest?"

"We're not ordering everyone to live in caves. The Accala have homes. But high-density settlements don't have a place in the civilization we're building. They're not good for the land or for humans."

"Um…"

"We're trying to show people a better way to live. You've seen alien civilizations; you can't tell me that every species destroys their natural habitat to industrialise."

"You'd like Alstair and O. The Dominion use some plant-based technology, but… Yes. The path that the human species has taken is… Fairly typical. Magic-based civilisation are usually less antagonistic, but there aren't all that many of those. And then you've got the problem of civilisations which don't have the fuel to fully industrialise…"

"Could I visit those worlds? If I could see what they're doing differently, it could end up helping everyone."

"I think it would be better if I invited someone from there, here. I don't think having the person whose job it is to explain humans to Euanthe should wander too far away."

We turn away from the purified pool, plant roots already poking through the earth around us to drink from it. I put an environmental shield around both of us and up we go.

"You could do that."

"I've got a lot on." She smirks. "What?"

"I have been teaching Euanthe how to be more human. Did you know that she can shift herself into a more humanlike shape?"

We land back on the surface, and I withdraw my environmental shield. It's only a short walk back to the temple-palace, and with that problem dealt with I hope that Euanthe will be in a convivial mood.

"She's fairly human-looking now."

She rolls her eyes. "Do you need me to spell it out?"

"Yes. And if people did that more often they'd find their interactions with me much more productive."

"She told me that she wanted your 'meat'."

"She told me that she thought that was a way of thanking me for rescuing her."

"Plants don't have sex. Plant reproductive systems-."

"Dad was a biology teacher. I know how plant reproduction works."

"She looks like she does because she's -spiritually- humanlike. The reason she could even think about 'meating' you is because when she's more human she has human desires."

I frown. "I-."

"She's into you. I'm trying to set you up with her, is what I'm saying."

"And I'm saying that while I appreciate your consideration and directness, I'm perfectly happy in my present relationship."

Dr. Isley's eyes widen a little. "Oh, I-. Didn't know."

"No reason why you would. Honestly, I've been assuming that the two of you were together."

"Why?"

"Your obvious reverence for her and your victim profile."

She frowns. "You thought I killed men because I was gay?"

"Not because, but if I had to guess your orientation based on how good your relationships with-."

"No, no, I mostly killed men because they were the leading polluters and industrialists, and because it was easy because I could control their minds. I… When I was Poison Ivy, I found the idea of any sort of physical intimacy with any… Meat, revolting. Any flirting was just… Contempt for their… Meat-ness."

"Ah. I apologise for my presumption. Are you..? How are you doing now?"

"I'm not seeing anyone. I know I… Could, but-. I killed a lot of people as Poison Ivy. I don't… Back.. how I was then, I wouldn't have hurt Euanthe."

I nod. "She's safe for you to be around, but you're not sure who else would be. You're scared of relapsing."

"Swamp Thing fixed my brain, but behaviors are habit-forming. I think it's… Best, if I limit how close I get to people."

"Thank you for trusting me enough to exempt me."

"Please. You're no more at risk than Euanthe."

"Are you sure? I know that I've got plant matter in my body, and Euanthe banned me from directly controlling them."

"You can control-?"

The root-covered street in front of me blisters and writhes, existing ground cover shoved aside as a… Seed pod emerges from the ground, turning from near-white to mid-green to brown as it swells to two metres in height.

"I didn't think Euanthe-?"

Bramble armour slides into place over Dr. Isley's body.

"It's not her."

The seed pod cracks and splits, husk falling away and shrivelling up to reveal a cream coloured manikin-like feminine humanoid. For a moment it looks like it's about to collapse, then it steadies itself and looks directly at me.

"Hello?"

"Orange Lantern. I am Persephone, Queen of Erebos, and I wish to petition Hephaestaean for a divorce."

 

[Ngamer11]

The root-covered street in front of my blisters and writhes, existing ground cover shoved aside as a… Seed pod emerges from the ground, turning from near-white to mid-green to brown as it swells to two metres in height.

Click to shrink...

That should say 'me'.

"Orange Lantern. I am Persephone, Queen of Erebos, and I wish to petition Hephaestaean for a divorce."

Click to shrink...

This is going to be interesting.

 

[Grimnar]

So... John Constantine is under the fanon Muggle repelling spell right?

"I need to find john con- did I leave the stove on?"

Repeat as needed.

 

[moralrelativity]

guess you orientation

Click to shrink...

you -> your

 

[PDV]

"Orange Lantern. I am Persephone, Queen of Erebos, and I wish to petition Hephaestaean for a divorce."

Click to shrink...

Well, that got called good and proper.

The Laughing Magician continues having good cause to laugh at Paul. "I'm supposed to be looking for John Con- Ooh, look, a squirrel!"

 

[Z000]

she could have just gone to Heph, he reasonable enough to do it

no need to go to Paul

yeah, John is definitely fucking with Paul by shoving issue at him

 

[Ngamer11]

she could have just gone to Heph, he reasonable enough to do it

no need to go to Paul

yeah, John is definitely fucking with Paul by shoving issue at him

Click to shrink...

I think it's because people in the know are aware that if you want to do something that will definitely be against the status quo, Orange Lantern is the man you turn to.

 

[GhostKing 666]

"No, that's not something I do any more." She does a quiet laugh-snort. "I spend more time trying to keep people alive. With all the farmland Euanthe reforested, farming… Farming stopped. That wasn't a problem for the Accala or the other forest tribes, but the people who are still living in the cities were in danger of starving."

"Cities need to be fed by large areas of countryside in order to function. Did you persuade Euanthe to spare subsistence farms?"

"No, but I gave the fruit-bearing plants around them a boost and created some new super fruits." She shakes her head. "Hugo sent some missionaries, but the people still there aren't interested in learning."

"Learning..? To live in the forest?"

"We're not ordering everyone to live in caves. The Accala have homes. But high-density settlements don't have a place in the civilization we're building. They're not good for the land or for humans."

Click to shrink...

Tell that to the dense populations that used to live in the Amazon prior to the introduction of small pox and other European diseases. I'm surprised that Euanthe doesn't support traditional amazonian style farming practices, the kind that enriched the earth and created terra preta(turning some of the world's worst soil into some of the best) over the modern slash and burn style.

 

[Ngamer11]

Tell that to the dense populations that used to live in the Amazon prior to the introduction of small pox and other European diseases. I'm surprised that Euanthe doesn't support traditional amazonian style farming practices, the kind that enriched the earth and created terra preta(turning some of the world's worst soil into some of the best) over the modern slash and burn style.

Click to shrink...

She probably isn't aware of it. Maybe some Amazons can visit and teach her this.

 

[Darko]

arm and point at a slightly

Click to shrink...

'points'

But high-density settlements don't have a place in the civilization we're building. They're not good for the land or for humans."

Click to shrink...

Yeah, citites can be hell on mental health.

"Hugo sent some missionaries, but the people still there aren't interested in learning."

"Learning..? To live in the forest?"

Click to shrink...

Or to manipulate the forest if the missionaries were druids.

The Dominion use some plant-based technology, but

Click to shrink...

They're not the friendliest.

problem of civilisation which don't have the fuel to fully industrialise…"

Click to shrink...

'civilisations'

to Euanthe should wonder too far away."

Click to shrink...

'wander'

"She's fairly human-looking now."

She rolls her eyes. "Do you need me to spell it out?"

Click to shrink...

Yeah, he does.

"Yes. And if people did that more often they'd find their interactions with me much more productive."

Click to shrink...

So true.

"And I'm saying that while I appreciate your consideration and directness, I'm perfectly happy in my present relationship."

Dr. Isley's eyes widen a little. "Oh, I-. Didn't know."

"No reason why you would.

Click to shrink...

He doesn't really give off relationship vibes.

"No reason why you would. Honestly, I've been assuming that the two of you were together."

"Why?"

"Your obvious reverence for her and your victim profile."

She frowns. "You thought I killed men because I was gay?"

"Not because, but if I had to guess you orientation based on how good your relationships with-."

Click to shrink...

That's a bit prejudiced.

People can kill people of the opposite gender even if they're attracted to said gender and the reverence can be her viewing her as a goddess without being sexually attracted to her.

"Please. You're no more at risk than Euanthe."

"Are you sure? I know that I've got plant matter in my body

Click to shrink...

You can just remove them.

 

[Darko]

she could have just gone to Heph, he reasonable enough to do it

no need to go to Paul

Click to shrink...

I think it's because people in the know are aware that if you want to do something that will definitely be against the status quo, Orange Lantern is the man you turn to.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, and she may not be all that close to Heph but if she can convince the guy that seems to be his closest ally then he can convince Heph to do it.

 

[Prognostic Hannya]

The seed pod cracks and splits, husk falling away and shrivelling up to reveal a cream coloured manikin-like feminine humanoid. For a moment it looks like it's about to collapse, then it steadies itself and looks directly at me.

Click to shrink...

What is her new role going to be, once she gets divorced? Her Underworld associations are actually stronger than her "goddess of spring" associations, so that'll be... interesting. She seems perfectly poised to act in some role that straddles the line of "living plants" and "dead plants". If you don't consider the awkwardness of dealing with her ex-husband, that is.

Maybe something like a goddess of ecosystems, plant fertilization, and the life cycle? Like, a fertility/birth goddess but focused on plants, since for plants, there's a much more tangible association between death and new birth, with the fertilizer for the new generation being made from the corpses of the old.

The live-death-life pattern of "plants → food for animal → animal carcass/manure → fertilizer → plants" is perfectly within her wheelhouse (greenhouse?) as a goddess with strong ties to both the Underworld and to the Green.

Also for real girl, you've had literally thousands of years with a loving husband who's completely devoted to you, you couldn't Cat Stark it and learn to love him? Smh.

 

[Vaermina]

No, no, I mostly killed men because they were the leading polluters and industrialists, and because it was easy because I could control their minds. I… When I was Poison Ivy, I found the idea of any sort of physical intimacy with any… Meat, revolting. Any flirting was just… Contempt for their… Meat-ness."

Click to shrink...

Bullshit... One of Poison Ivy's staples is her sexual relationship with Harley Quinn.

"Orange Lantern. I am Persephone, Queen of Erebos, and I wish to petition Hephaestaean for a divorce."

Click to shrink...

Maybe LePaul will do the smart thing and suggest they get relationship consoling?