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

[Mr Zoat]

This made me suspicious, so I decided to check the proper spelling of his name and skim through his appearances. Mostly it was correct, but not always. Hopefully I didn't miss any, because I'm not going to double-check.

'B'dg'

'B'dg'

'B'dg'

'B'dg'

'B'dg'

'B'dg'
'B'dg'

'B'dg'

'B'dg'

'B'dg'

'B'dg'

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[Bramble Thorn]

"The Guardians aren't happy about this."
"How unhappy?"
"The entire Corps is getting put on alert to find these people."
"Makes my life easier."
"They want the whole thing shut down. It was her using the green light that pushed them over."
I shrug. "As long as they wait until the Anti-Life is gone, that's fine with me."

Click to shrink...

Ok I have to honest, This is bad.

I don't just mean morally and logically, I mean writing quality.
Which has taken a dive recently, like you are half ass it while slightly tipsy or whatever the Brits do.

I thought OL was supposed to be a rational actor, who both wanted the universe to work a certain way, and was all about "what can I do for you? What can I give you that you want that is also something that I want?"

Have the Indigo Lantern Core done something to offend him, does he have some outside context knowledge that they are bad guys doing bad things, and the universe is better off without them? And more importantly, that they are bigger fuckups than the Guardians of the Universe? Because he does have lots of Outside Context info about their various cockups, both in the past (Sector 666), but also potential problems in the future (The whole Alpha Lanterns thing).

Here you have what appears to be a Penitent Corps of Righteous Do-Gooders going about Going Good while also paying special attention to those with psychological issues in a way other than punching them into the local prison. This seems like something OL should approve of and want to happen because it progresses the universe in the direction he wants.

Also, the Indigo Corps it trying to keep a low profile, and OL wants their help here. So OL is bringing them to the attention of opponents who want to end them as an organization and shut down their light use. Which OL is fine with and doesn't plan on stopping. You do realize that is something that would be INCREDIBLY DAMAGING TO HIS REPUTATION AND HINDER HIS ABILITY TO RECRUIT HELP FROM OTHERS IN THE FUTURE? Because it makes associating with him an active danger, and makes him seem villainous and treacherous.

It also presents the problem that Anti-Life is an ongoing problem, and this actively fucks with the possibility of using White Light against it the next time it becomes a problem. It is the equivalent of taking a long term strategic option, and turning it into a consumable. Even if OL is fine fucking over everyone else's ability to use White Light against their Anti-Life problems because he doesn't care about him, he has no guarantee the next Anti-Life issue won't also be a 'something he cares about' issue.

OL: Oh look another horrible incidence of Anti-Life, better gather the colors!
Guardians: Good luck with that. We disbanded the Indigo Corps for existing without our permission. You know, like we would do with you and your OLC if we thought we could get away with it. But thanks for being the unionist that did not speak out for the socialists.

Which also seaways into the issue of why OL thinks whether the Guardians approval should matter here, and why they should be pandered to. If their feeling actually matter, he should have turned the ring over to them at the beginning and become a banker instead of using it to secure his own safely. I thought he held more than a little contempt for them. This feels a lot like:

Lex Luthor: I don't really approve of how Superman approaches the solution to crime. I'll need to depower him.
OL: Well I'm using him for something right now, but once I'm done, why should I care?
...like yeah, he wanted to turn Lex and make his a force for good, and can even agree about Superman being suboptimal. But this is still fucked up.

So Zoat, could you maybe take a break for a day or two? Skip a few updates to plot the plot a bit better, and also maybe explain what the hell you were thinking when you do stuff like this?

 

[Darko]

Ok I have to honest, This is bad.

I don't just mean morally and logically, I mean writing quality.
Which has taken a dive recently, like you are half ass it while slightly tipsy or whatever the Brits do.

I thought OL was supposed to be a rational actor, who both wanted the universe to work a certain way, and was all about "what can I do for you? What can I give you that you want that is also something that I want?"

Have the Indigo Lantern Core done something to offend him, does he have some outside context knowledge that they are bad guys doing bad things, and the universe is better off without them? And more importantly, that they are bigger fuckups than the Guardians of the Universe? Because he does have lots of Outside Context info about their various cockups, both in the past (Sector 666), but also potential problems in the future (The whole Alpha Lanterns thing).

Here you have what appears to be a Penitent Corps of Righteous Do-Gooders going about Going Good while also paying special attention to those with psychological issues in a way other than punching them into the local prison. This seems like something OL should approve of and want to happen because it progresses the universe in the direction he wants.

Also, the Indigo Corps it trying to keep a low profile, and OL wants their help here. So OL is bringing them to the attention of opponents who want to end them as an organization and shut down their light use. Which OL is fine with and doesn't plan on stopping. You do realize that is something that would be INCREDIBLY DAMAGING TO HIS REPUTATION AND HINDER HIS ABILITY TO RECRUIT HELP FROM OTHERS IN THE FUTURE? Because it makes associating with him an active danger, and makes him seem villainous and treacherous.

It also presents the problem that Anti-Life is an ongoing problem, and this actively fucks with the possibility of using White Light against it the next time it becomes a problem. It is the equivalent of taking a long term strategic option, and turning it into a consumable. Even if OL is fine fucking over everyone else's ability to use White Light against their Anti-Life problems because he doesn't care about him, he has no guarantee the next Anti-Life issue won't also be a 'something he cares about' issue.

OL: Oh look another horrible incidence of Anti-Life, better gather the colors!
Guardians: Good luck with that. We disbanded the Indigo Corps for existing without our permission. You know, like we would do with you and your OLC if we thought we could get away with it. But thanks for being the unionist that did not speak out for the socialists.

Which also seaways into the issue of why OL thinks whether the Guardians approval should matter here, and why they should be pandered to. If their feeling actually matter, he should have turned the ring over to them at the beginning and become a banker instead of using it to secure his own safely. I thought he held more than a little contempt for them. This feels a lot like:

Lex Luthor: I don't really approve of how Superman approaches the solution to crime. I'll need to depower him.
OL: Well I'm using him for something right now, but once I'm done, why should I care?
...like yeah, he wanted to turn Lex and make his a force for good, and can even agree about Superman being suboptimal. But this is still fucked up.

So Zoat, could you maybe take a break for a day or two? Skip a few updates to plot the plot a bit better, and also maybe explain what the hell you were thinking when you do stuff like this?

Click to shrink...

The Guardians decision to oppose the Indigo Corps is something that's only been covered in a few sentences.

An author can sometimes have their character say something without an indication that they're opposed to what they're saying, but in the next chapter the character will say that they're opposed to the idea.

Paul may not have said anything against it because as it was mentioned the GLC will be looking for them and that makes his search easier, so if he says that he's against it he loses his new means of locating them.

 

[Stsword]

Ok I have to honest, This is bad.

I don't just mean morally and logically, I mean writing quality.
Which has taken a dive recently, like you are half ass it while slightly tipsy or whatever the Brits do.

I thought OL was supposed to be a rational actor, who both wanted the universe to work a certain way, and was all about "what can I do for you? What can I give you that you want that is also something that I want?"

Click to shrink...

Bramble, the GLC has a snowballs chance in hell of destroying the Indigos, who not only are masters of teleportation but who operated for years right under the Guardians' noses.

So why are you expecting Paul to get emotionally invested in the Guardians wasting time on something that has zip zilch nada chance of actually happening?

How is it bad writing for Paul not to be worried about something that is never gonna happen?

 

[Coda]

matt black

Click to shrink...

matte

younger counterparts She blinks

Click to shrink...

Missing full stop.

 

[Mr Zoat]

matte
Missing full stop.

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

So Zoat, could you maybe take a break for a day or two? Skip a few updates to plot the plot a bit better, and also maybe explain what the hell you were thinking when you do stuff like this?

Click to shrink...

The SI is talking to someone who has just been ordered to work towards closing the Indigo Lantern Corps down. The result of him saying 'I'm not going to let you do that' is him fighting B'dg right now, and the Orange Lantern Corps fighting the Green Lantern Corps shortly afterwards in defence of people who have demonstrated the ability to evade detection perfectly well by themselves.

 

[Mr Zoat]

13th February 2013
21:21 GMT -5

I wave as the Forevercar converges with B'dg and I on the way to the hermitage. Dreamer was trying to track Peldak's path to the planet, and it looks like we reached the same conclusion. Vykin turns the control yoke so that the car manoeuvres closer to us, raising his right hand to hail me as he does.

"Orange Lantern. We have felt a.. strange… Absence here. Do you know what it is?"

"Ah… Did you eat before you left New Genesis?"

He doesn't so much as smile. "Please. This is a serious matter."

"What you're feeling is probably the local connection to the Shadowlands."

"What is that?"

"Not entirely sure. There are a few people on Earth who can connect to it to do various things with semi-tangible shadows, and as I understand it the warrior elite amongst the locals can do the same thing."

"So you have seen only their abilities, and not the Shadowlands themselves?"

"I saw… One creature that allegedly came from there, but I've never seen the place. Lightray? Anything you want to add?"

He shakes his head. "This is new to me as well."

"You've never heard of the Great Darkness? Would have been..? About fifteen years ago?"

"Fifteen Earth-years would be about… The only thing I can recall from that period was a… Confusing couple of days where we could not feel the Source."

"Sounds about right. The Great Darkness entity has gone to the Source, but its presence lingers in the Shadowlands. What that means for magic or physics or what it is that you do, I don't know."

"Hey." B'dg flies in front of me. "What does it do to power rings?"

"Smothers all but the brightest constructs. If we get into a fight, keep your distance and fire material projectiles."

"I ain't ever practiced that."

"Well… Now's a good time to start."

B'dg doesn't look any happier. "So we're going to meet someone who can turn power rings off."

"No, we're going to meet their facilities manager. Someone who can call on about…" Ring? "Fifteen or so other people who can turn power rings off."

"Oh. Yeah. That's better."

"You're free to leave."

"Actually I'm not. Like I said, the Guardians want everyone on this who can get on this. I'm assigned to track down Peldak, wherever she is. So I'm sticking with you."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

Vykin turns towards our destination. "The creature from the Shadowlands. I presume it was dangerous?"

"Yes. Strong, tough and fast, and resistant to exotic attacks and capable of phasing. But Talokites don't generally call things up."

Moonrider smiles faintly. "Because they have no need?"

I nod solemnly. "Because they have no need. But that's a worst case scenario, and look on the bright side! That fact that you're struggling with your god powers won't matter if you wouldn't be able to use them anyway!"

"Hehehe."

The other Forever People look around, surprised that.. Dreamer just laughed. She looks around at her team mates.

"He's right. It takes some of the weight off my mind. Mooney, we will rely on your lightning gun for protection."

"It is New God technology. Even if it not dependent on my dharma, it will not work if our connection to the Source is disrupted."

Serifan looks smug. "My revolvers will work just fine."

"Hey." Bear looks mildly concerned. "We're visiting a shrine used by this world's greatest heroes. We don't need weapons. Look." He points to the main entrance, where a native woman in dark blue robes with a large leather-bound book in one arm has emerged to greet us. "See? She's friendly."

And better yet, she's not carrying a yellow power ring. Empathic vision isn't giving me anything useful, but if this place covers a portal to the Shadowlands -or something similar- then that's hardly surprising.

I do hope that we've arrived too early in her personal spiritual journey for any of… Whatever lead her to sign up with Sinestro to have happened.

She really didn't have much character in the comics, did she?

I fly ahead as the Forevercar sets down in the landing zone. "Hello there. I'm the Illustres of the Orange Lantern Corps, and this is my colleague Lantern B'dg." Ms. Drak nods. "We're looking for Lantern Peldak. Have you seen her?"

"Yes, though I'm afraid that she's no longer with us."

Rats.

"Can you tell us what she was doing here? What she wanted?"

"I can show you. Please, follow me. Your… Friends, as well."

And so we fall in behind her as she leads the way into her… Church? It has a gothic church feel to it, though the stone is darker than St Mary's. Vaulted arches form tunnels into the interior of the mountain, while friezes on the ceiling show scenes of warriors conjuring shadows to fight… A plethora of different enemies.

"Don't be confused by the appearance. This shrine is only a little under two hundred years old." She smiles faintly. "The original structure was far more simple."

Moonrider frowns. "So why change it?"

"One of the Shadow Champions of the time was a good friend of the continent's ruler. After he died, the ruler… 'Improved' the site as a tribute. It was a nice gesture but rather foolish: it was only ever supposed to be a dark hole in the ground. Adding worldliness to a place that is supposed to confront the petitioner with the other distracts from the whole thing. It's fortunate that the hermitage itself was maintained in its original fashion."

"Is that what Peldak wanted?"

"A chance to confront something terrifying, yes. I didn't let her enter the inner part of the hermitage, of course, but for those who seek to test themselves, there are vestibules close by that can be accessed."

"How did it go?"

"It's hard to say. I believe that she saw something, but other species don't always respond to the touch of the Father of Shadows in the way that we do."

I'm not sure that I'll see anything, but I open my empathic-.

Severance.

That-. She.. died? That-.

I look at Ms. Drak. And at the colour of the leather binding the book she's pulling up-.

Swirls of blackness lance out and the world falls away!

 

[Idkusername]

Missing thread mark, boss.

 

[Ngamer11]

I wave as the Forvercar converges with B'dg and I on the way to the hermitage. Dreamer was trying to track Peldak's path to the planet, and it looks like we reached the same conclusion. Vykin turns the control yoke so that the car manoeuvres closer to us, raising his right hand to hail me as he does.

Click to shrink...

That should say 'Forevercar'.

Severance.

That-. She.. died? That-.

I look at Ms. Drak. And at the colour of the leather binding the book she's pulling up-.

Swirls of blackness lance out and the world falls away!

Click to shrink...

That can't be good. Hopefully Paul will at least learn a few new tricks from whatever will happen to him.

 

[Vaermina]

I'm not sure that I'll see anything, but I open my empathic-.

Severance.

That-. She.. died? That-.

I look at Ms. Drak. And at the colour of the leather binding the book she's pulling up-.

Swirls of blackness lance out and the world falls away!

Click to shrink...

Let the bets commence!

I have five quantaloos on LePaul completely failing to learn what he is supposed to in his spiritual journey.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

13th February 2013
21:21 GMT -5

I wave as the Forvercar converges with B'dg and I on the way to the hermitage. Dreamer was trying to track Peldak's path to the planet, and it looks like we reached the same conclusion. Vykin turns the control yoke so that the car manoeuvres closer to us, raising his right hand to hail me as he does.

"Orange Lantern. We have felt a.. strange… Absence here. Do you know what it is?"

Click to shrink...

Good to see they're not completely helpless in the absence of a protagonist. I rather suspect some part of their Narrative is bowing to OL's sheer heroic energy. Not that any of them would realise it, blind to the fourth wall as they are.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

"Ah… Did you eat before you left New Genesis?"

He doesn't so much as smile. "Please. This is a serious matter."

Click to shrink...

Hey, it's a valid question. If your connection to the Source is on the fritz, of course you're going to be feeling a little mortal.

"What you're feeling is probably the local connection to the Shadowlands."

"What is that?"

Click to shrink...

Not surprised they can feel the spooky place, attuned to the arcane as they are.

"Not entirely sure. There are a few people on Earth who can connect to it to do various things with semi-tangible shadows, and as I understand it the warrior elite amongst the locals can do the same thing."

"So you have seen only their abilities, and not the Shadowlands themselves?"

Click to shrink...

Well, it has to come from somewhere, after all.

"I saw… One creature that allegedly came from there, but I've never seen the place. Lightray? Anything you want to add?"

He shakes his head. "This is new to me as well."

Click to shrink...

Yeah, he's hardly Blacklightray. Though he'd probably be a bit of a stoner if he were.

"You've never heard of the Great Darkness? Would have been..? About fifteen years ago?"

"Fifteen Earth-years would be about… The only thing I can recall from that period was a… Confusing couple of days where we could not feel the Source."

Click to shrink...

For reference: The Great Darkness. And that 'fifteen years ago' could be referring to a Crisis...

"Sounds about right. The Great Darkness entity has gone to the Source, but its presence lingers in the Shadowlands. What that means for magic or physics or what it is that you do, I don't know."

"Hey." B'dg flies in front of me. "What does it do to power rings?"

Click to shrink...

It's absolute, stifling darkness. What do you think it does?

"Smothers all but the brightest constructs. If we get into a fight, keep your distance and fire material projectiles."

"I ain't ever practiced that."

Click to shrink...

See, this is why you don't skip Basic training, rookie.

"Well… Now's a good time to start."

B'dg doesn't look any happier. "So we're going to meet someone who can turn power rings off."

Click to shrink...

Oh, don't think so small, Bd'g. The entire race of this planet has the potential to tap into the Darkness...

"No, we're going to meet their facilities manager. Someone who can call on about…" Ring? "Fifteen or so other people who can turn power rings off."

"Oh. Yeah. That's better."

Click to shrink...

Well, don't piss her off and you'll do fine.

"You're free to leave."

"Actually I'm not. Like I said, the Guardians want everyone on this who can get on this. I'm assigned to track down Peldak, wherever she is. So I'm sticking with you."

Click to shrink...

Ha! Stuck with the cognitive hazard work, eh? Hope it's reflected in your paycheck.

"I'm sorry for your loss."

Vykin turns towards our destination. "The creature from the Shadowlands. I presume it was dangerous?"

Click to shrink...

That would be a safe bet, yes.

"Yes. Strong, tough and fast, and resistant to exotic attacks and capable of phasing. But Talokites don't generally call things up."

Moonrider smiles faintly. "Because they have no need?"

Click to shrink...

Good eye, Mooney.

I nod solemnly. "Because they have no need. But that's a worse case scenario, and look on the bright side! That fact that you're struggling with your god powers won't matter if you wouldn't be able to use them anyway!"

"Hehehe."

Click to shrink...

Ah, OL. Always looking on the bright side of things.

The other Forever People look around, surprised that.. Dreamer just laughed. She looks around at her team mates.

"He's right. It takes some of the weight off my mind. Mooney, we will rely on your lightning gun for protection."

Click to shrink...

...Honestly, what powers other than calling up visions and memories does Dreamer have in combat? And on that note, is her name really 'Dreamer'? What where her parents thinking, I wonder?

"It is New God technology. Even if it not dependent on my dharma, it will not work if our connection to the Source is disrupted."

Serifan looks smug. "My revolvers will work just fine."

Click to shrink...

Yes, because they're just chemistry and physics. Nothing magical there.

"Hey." Bear looks mildly concerned. "We're visiting a shrine used by this world's greatest heroes. We don't need weapons. Look." He points to the main entrance, where a native woman in dark blue robes with a large leather-bound book in one arm has emerged to greet us. "See? She's friendly."

And better yet, she's not carrying a yellow power ring. Empathic vision isn't giving me anything useful, but if this place covers a portal to the Shadowlands -or something similar- then that's hardly surprising.

Click to shrink...

And at least she's wearing more than her outfit during her Sinestro Corps days.

I do hope that we've arrived too early in her personal spiritual journey for any of… Whatever lead her to sign up with Sinestro to have happened.

She really didn't have much character in the comics, did she?

Click to shrink...

Just one of those walking plot device characters, I suppose. Existing to provide whatever exposition the writer needed to drop.

I fly ahead as the Forevercar sets down in the landing zone. "Hello there. I'm the Illustres of the Orange Lantern Corps, and this is my colleague Lantern B'dg." Ms. Drak nods. "We're looking for Lantern Peldak. Have you seen her?"

"Yes, though I'm afraid that she's no longer with us."

Click to shrink...

...As in 'she left' or as in 'she died'? Please, do be precise here...

Rats.

"Can you tell us what she was doing here? What she wanted?"

Click to shrink...

Be careful what you ask for, OL, and how you ask for it...

"I can show you. Please, follow me. Your… Friends, as well."

And so we fall in behind her as she leads the way into her… Church? It has a gothic church feel to it, though the stone is darker than St Mary's. Vaulted arches form tunnels into the interior of the mountain, while friezes on the ceiling show scenes of warriors conjuring shadows to fight… A plethora of different enemies.

Click to shrink...

And no doubt the shadows in the corners feel just a little bit deeper than they should be, hmm?

"Don't be confused by the appearance. This shrine is only a little under two hundred years old." She smiles faintly. "The original structure was far more simple."

Moonrider frowns. "So why change it?"

Click to shrink...

Someone's ego, most likely.

"One of the Shadow Champions of the time was a good friend of the continent's ruler. After he died, the ruler… 'Improved' the site as a tribute. It was a nice gesture but rather foolish: it was only ever supposed to be a dark hole in the ground. Adding worldliness to a place that is supposed to confront the petitioner with the other distracts from the whole thing. It's fortunate that the hermitage itself was maintained in its original fashion."

"Is that what Peldak wanted?"

Click to shrink...

To be fair, for something like the Shadowlands, a black pit with no light at all would probably suffice.

"A chance to confront something terrifying, yes. I didn't let her enter the inner part of the hermitage, of course, but for those who seek to test themselves, there are vestibules close by that can be accessed."

"How did it go?"

Click to shrink...

At least they can cater to the curious. Though it's probably a very sobering experience.

"It's hard to say. I believe that she saw something, but other species don't always respond to the touch of the Father of Shadows in the way that we do."

I'm not sure that I'll see anything, but I open my empathic-.

Click to shrink...

Ah, might want to ask permission before you do that, OL...

Severance.

That-. She.. died? That-.

Click to shrink...

Not necessarily. After all, the Shadowlands stifle the Emotional Spectrum...

I look at Ms. Drak. And at the colour of the leather binding the book she's pulling up-.

Swirls of blackness lance out and the world falls away!

Click to shrink...

...The book is yellow, isn't it?

Well, that's off to a great start. Hopefully this is just some shadow-related thing and not a covert action by the Sinestro Corps. And more importantly, is it just OL getting the light out treatment, or is the whole group getting a dose? Regardless, seeing how he reacts to this is going to be fascinating.

 

[Vaermina]

Well, that's off to a great start. Hopefully this is just some shadow-related thing and not a covert action by the Sinestro Corps. And more importantly, is it just OL getting the light out treatment, or is the whole group getting a dose? Regardless, seeing how he reacts to this is going to be fascinating.

Click to shrink...

It's LePaul.

He basically has two settings at this point. Thinly veiled superiority lecture. And face punching.

 

[Rebu]

I look at Ms. Drak. And at the colour of the leather binding the book she's pulling up-.

Swirls of blackness lance out and the world falls away!

Click to shrink...

Looks like someone's activated a trap card.

 

[Sceptic]

That should say 'Forevercar'.

Click to shrink...

Whiz Wagon.

 

[Stsword]

...The book is yellow, isn't it?

Click to shrink...

That's the nicer option.

It could be black.

 

[Finagle007]

That's the nicer option.

It could be black.

Click to shrink...

Oh, it's almost certainly black, but is it the black of the Shadowlands where the Great Darkness once was, or the black of the Dead Zone where Nekron is?

 

[Darko]

So I'm sticking with you."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

Click to shrink...

At least you know what you are.

. "Because they have no need. But that's a worse case scenario

Click to shrink...

Maybe "worst"

"Hey." Bear looks mildly concerned. "We're visiting a shrine used by this world's greatest heroes. We don't need weapons. Look." He points to the main entrance, where a native woman in dark blue robes with a large leather-bound book in one arm has emerged to greet us. "See? She's friendly

Click to shrink...

Well that's up for debate.

 

[Darko]

Honestly, what powers other than calling up visions and memories does Dreamer have in combat? And on that note, is her name really 'Dreamer'? What where her parents thinking, I wonder?

Click to shrink...

I'm guessing she has telepathic attacks.

Also, when New Gods fully ascend into their godhood they take on a new name, like Darkseid originally being Uxas, so Dreamer probably did something similar.

Just one of those walking plot device characters, I suppose. Existing to provide whatever exposition the writer needed to drop.

Click to shrink...

Also to show some cleavage and thigh.

The book is yellow, isn't it?

Click to shrink...

She's not necessarily working for Sinestro.

This honestly may be how they conduct their affairs.

 

[Mr Zoat]

That should say 'Forevercar'.

Click to shrink...

At least you know what you are.
Maybe "worst"

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[rkyeun]

Let the bets commence!
I have five quantaloos on LePaul completely failing to learn what he is supposed to in his spiritual journey.

Click to shrink...

I'll see your five quantaloos, and raise you "he kills, ruins, or subverts the instructing entity in a way which shouldn't be possible with his current abilities."

 

[Clell65619]

13th February 2013
21:21 GMT -5

Severance.

That-. She.. died? That-.

I look at Ms. Drak. And at the colour of the leather binding the book she's pulling up-.

Swirls of blackness lance out and the world falls away!

Click to shrink...

And Paul walks into Trap 10492.

It would be interesting to have a running scorecard of the traps the various Paul variants fall into.

I mean it probably won't kill him (again) but still, bad practice all around.

 

[Mr Zoat]

And Paul walks into Trap 10492.

It would be interesting to have a running scorecard of the traps the various Paul variants fall into.

I mean it probably won't kill him (again) but still, bad practice all around.

Click to shrink...

Part of being a superhero is giving people the opportunity to prove that they're not as bad as you think they might be.

 

[Stsword]

Oh, it's almost certainly black, but is it the black of the Shadowlands where the Great Darkness once was, or the black of the Dead Zone where Nekron is?

Click to shrink...

Presuming that Zoat hasn't canon wielded it so that the answer is both.

The Great Darkness was the primordial darkness from before "Let there be light."

Nekron was banished from the universe when the White Light Entity emerged. In Blackest Night the White Light Entity even banished the defeated Nekron back to the darkness with "Let there be light."

Can't help but notice those are pretty much the same story, yes?

 

[Istaran]

That's the nicer option.

It could be black.

Click to shrink...

Oh, it's almost certainly black, but is it the black of the Shadowlands where the Great Darkness once was, or the black of the Dead Zone where Nekron is?

Click to shrink...

My guess is it's Peldak's fur. Whether truly or that's just a nightmare manifesting, we'll see soon enough.

 

[Mr Zoat]

My guess is it's Peldak's fur. Whether truly or that's just a nightmare manifesting, we'll see soon enough.

Click to shrink...

Peldak doesn't have fur. She has scales.

 

[Steelplaza]

If Peldak is actually dead but her Indigo Lantern is still around, that would be sufficient for OL's purposes.

So which of the Forever People would be best suited to wielding an Indigo Lantern?

 

[Ardy]

Thank you, corrected.

Click to shrink...

You know, I just looked it up, and I'm a little sad you didn't actually link to the canon Whiz Wagon of the Forever Children and Newsies on the DC wiki

If Peldak is actually dead but her Indigo Lantern is still around, that would be sufficient for OL's purposes.

So which of the Forever People would be best suited to wielding an Indigo Lantern?

Click to shrink...

Dreamer for sure, her power is literally empathy with stuff and she could use the confidence boost

 

[Mr Zoat]

You know, I just looked it up, and I'm a little sad you didn't actually link to the canon Whiz Wagon of the Forever Children and Newsies on the DC wiki

Click to shrink...

Whiz Wagon.

 

[Ardy]

Whiz Wagon.

Click to shrink...

Man, I'm a little sad they didn't insert that into the DCAU somehow, with Batman just glaring at anyone who tries to bring up the name

 

[Mr Zoat]

13th February 2013
21:25 GMT -5

Light dies as total textureless blackness consumes all. Every glimmer of light from the emotional spectrum vanishes as well, leaving me utterly blind. And while I'm not deaf, sound is muffled and… Distorted, echoing strangely, the walls that surrounded us moments ago failing to return anything while the sound…

There was a sound stage which I… Dimly remember being discussed on a radio program I listened to many years ago. It was deliberately designed so that anything played there would return next to no echo at all. It succeeded in its aim, but was thoroughly hated by everyone who performed there due to how cold it made everything sound. They had to add in small speakers throughout the venue to add back in the echo they excluded.

It's like that. Little sounds are being… Almost sucked away. I clap my hands together, and… Yeah, that's weird.

Ring?

Nothing.

I didn't put on my power armour, so there's no AI for me to try to communicate with.

"Is anyone there?"

I don't hear anything, but with sound acting up…

"Dark, isn't it?"

Lyssa Drak's voice. She isn't supposed to be able to use obtenebration, but perhaps there's a way to invoke it without using it yourself?

"I stopped being afraid of the dark when I was ten."

Can she actually hear me, or is she just trying to sound menacing?

Hm. Okay, well, our search for Peldak has met with an unfortunate end. Ms. Drak has neutralised the rest of us in the best way available, but… The Shadowlands are a place. She didn't appear to be carrying any weapons and is only as strong as a normal humanoid adult female.

"Oh?" Oh, she can hear me. "Then perhaps the true appearance of the Shadowlands will be more to your liking."

"Oh, I'm always up for new experiences."

"I will be interested to see if that remains true."

Then… It's not as if light has been added so much as the darkness… Retreats slightly, rolling back like an ooze, and revealing… A sort of… Washed out… Desaturated landscape of bare earth and sandstone. On top of a small rise to my right there's a small copse of apparently dead trees, their bent and wizened trunks completely bereft of leaves.

Actually, they don't-. Their branches aren't braced or bending downwards, yet gravity feels like it's normal. There's no breeze to move them or leaves to catch the air, so… I don't know. Over to my left, the ground terminates in a… Drop, and I'm not sure whether it's a cliff or the end of the land.

No Forever People, Lightray or B'dg.

I can't… See a light source, so I'm not at all sure how I'm seeing any of this. I look up-.

A-ah…

There's a… Like a… Hole, in the sky. Very faint lights flicker around the edges-. And something about it makes me… Makes me think that it could fall on me, somehow, or draw me up into it, or…

I swallow, dragging my eyes away from the otherwise black sky.

Based on what little I know about the Shadowlands, the only thing that could really be is the hole the Great Darkness crawled out through, but there's no obvious path up to it.

Okay.

I turn and walk towards the cliff-. No, not a cliff, just the end of the-

I turn left again and walk to the 'end' in that direction.

-floating island I appear to be on. I cautiously lean over the… Apparently bottomless void, and it.. looks like it goes straight down a little way and then curves inward. Obviously I can't see what happens after that-.

"Having trouble, Orange Lantern?"

Lyssa Drak is standing on a small platform above me, her now-open book in her hands. She's also peeled back her robe to reveal her comic-compliant underwear.

"Ms. Drak, what's this about?"

"The limits of the mortal mind. You appear to be taking this relatively well. Have you been here before?"

"No. But, really… Why? Why did you kill Peldak?"

She strokes the cover of her book fondly.

"Making this portal to the former resting place of the Father of Shadows required a ritual sacrifice."

Okay, no innate ability, but she managed to bypass that.

"So, what, you wanted to be a Shadow Champion, felt left out when you couldn't use the power, and were happy murdering to make it happen?"

She rolls her eyes, looking away. Not that, then.

"Is this about Sinestro?"

Her head jerks back around as her eyes widen, staring at me.

Ah. It was a long shot, but he is recruiting. Why does he want her? Something to do with fear-.

"Fear. I don't feel fear all that much any more, but looking up at that-" I glance up, and it's still just as unnerving. "-makes me decidedly uncomfortable. So… Bring people here, make them feel-. No. See how they react? You're testing-" She's recovering, looking a good deal less concerned. "-potential recruits? No."

So what else-?

"You're forging rings."

I hold up my hands, my rings dead upon them.

"How? No." I lower my arms. "No, that doesn't matter. What do you want to get out of this? I'm not keen on murder but I need to find an Indigo Lantern more than I need to have you arrested."

She pauses… I think she's trying to regain her equilibrium, but without my empathic abilities I'm forced to rely on outward signs and I'm… Not the best with those.

"You already deduced what I want: yellow power rings. Shadow Champions must confront this place and grow accustomed to it in order to use its power. Those who cannot do that are unworthy of their office, failures, cowards and caitiffs. With yellow power rings, everyone who wishes to master themselves and grow in power will have the opportunity to do so."

I nod. "Very meritocratic. I approve. And you murdered Peldak to make that happen… Why her?"

Her eyes narrow slightly. "You say that you have mastered your fears."

"More or less. Certainly, strangeness doesn't scare me any more."

"It will be interesting to see whether you remain resolute as you die of dehydration."

She closes her book and turns away, stepping from… One small platform to another as they shimmer into and out of existence. A few moments later the blackness extends over her and removes her from view entirely.

Huh.

"Richard! If you're listening, I could use a hand!"

…

No. That would be a bit too easy, wouldn't it?