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

[WereDragon]

Early spring, 2280
Late morning

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Unfortunately we have no frame of reference to determine if he has already been through the crisis event or is just referencing his transport from Earth Prime to Earth Fallout.

 

[Gantradies]

You might be thinking of something else, because there wasn't really much about the New Plague in the game outside of cut Van Buren stuff.

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I think this SI iteration was actually Inserted into a fan project-
a Fallout total conversion mod for a TBS game from memory, not the actual "prime" bethseda canon setting (or the ore-alteration BIS period)

... also, why bother planning to offer Autumn a chance?
the men and women stuck serving under him maybe, after psychic testing to ensure they weren't cut from the same cloth, but... the man was a full on genocidal lunatic, a torturer- and there's an excellent chance that the majority of the soldiers he took with him learn more towards horrigian's level of psychopathy the towards the New Vegas Reminent's... well... not-psychopathy. It literally might be more effort then it's worth if that version of Paul is refraining from invasively offensive psi attacks/ adjustment...

to paraphrase King, if the majority of the enclave survivors died in the wasteland/were tried and executed by the NCR (actual trials not the kangaroo court Arcade can be dragged to in a potential ending to NV), it'd be "no great loss for humanity"...

 

[Mr Zoat]

What??? Is this some British joke I'm too uncivilised to understand?

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A language may have rules but the as a rule spoken language doesn't follow them.

Anyways, the Exaltations episode hasn't been threadmarked on the archive thread.

Edit: the second snippet has been threadmarked instead of the first.

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Thank you, corrected.

Not sure why Autumn would go to Granite, honestly. Since this isn't regular Fallout but the Fallout of the OWB mod, I'd figure Autumn and all those vertibirds full of Enclave personnel that evacuated Adams Air Force base would have made a beeline for the Chicago Enclave. Which is supposed to be the dominant power in the American Midwest.

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At the time I wrote it, they didn't exist yet. If it matters, you could assume that the Sky Walkers assisted the Midwest Brotherhood in dealing with them

And while he was willing to use clean water as a carrot to entice regular wastelanders into joining the Enclave, Autumn was still genocidal when it came to super mutants and ghouls.

Though, to be fair, even the "nice" President in Enclave Reborn can totally reject mutants while accepting wastelanders. Or just treat wastelanders like second class citizens.

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Ghouls do turn feral, and there are far more dumb and violent super mutants than civilised ones. Even Marcus wanted to dip everyone he met. Autumn's opinions aren't that usual in the wasteland.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Early spring, 2280
Mid-day

The Sky Walkers are not expansionist.

And not just because the Desert Rangers were seriously considering making us 'extinct raider group number three' prior to my takeover. Not just because we share a border with the largest civilised successor state in North America. And not just because Mr House had a plan to overrun us with telepath-immune Military Protectrons and give our territory to the Great Khans in exchange for their help against the Legion. And not just because of the White Legs on our other border, and their growing alliance with the Legion.

The Rangers were manageable. While it was generous of them to absorb the Vipers and Jackals rather than exterminating them, the survivors weren't strongly committed to the cause. The Whisperers actually had what might generously be described as a mutual defence pact with both groups in order to prevent the Rangers doing exactly what they ended up doing and eliminating them one by one. A few lorry loads of guns in the right hands and their supply lines would have been unmanageable. A few barrels of incendiaries and their food supplies would have gone up in smoke.

The NCR weren't manageable, but they weren't focusing on us and there was no obvious reason for them to start. They were happy to use us as a threat to the tribal nations they were hoping to voluntarily annex, or as a road bump for the White Legs or Eighties once they finished fighting the nations to the west. And frankly, when you're telepathic, the fact that you only have to mind control one man to stop a robot army makes it far easier to deal with than a great mass of people with their own motives and desires.

The Whisperers weren't expansionist because they had everything they wanted right here, and believed that once they uncovered enough of the zetans' technology they would be unstoppable. Why waste time and blood capturing territory the hard way now when you could get it easily later? They raided some of the smaller nearby settlements more to make sure that potential attackers remained on the defensive than to acquire resources.

My reasons aren't all that dissimilar. Why expand when we have the resources we need to sustain ourselves? Why expand when I have no desire to rule anything outside of this research institute? Lend the Desert Rangers telepathic interrogators, offer the NCR the aid of our air force and intelligence network, sell technology to Mr House at a discount… Security by diplomacy.

And if we don't keep our allies fully informed on the exact level of our military strength…

Well, look, Left, I said I knew him. I didn't say I fucked him.

I can't teleport, but I don't bother with the stairs as I reach the balcony. Instead I jump-

Shit, the sky's turning red and I don't think it's a dust storm this time.

-and slow my fall with telekinesis. Soldiers and Acolytes are moving to their stations, civilians are moving to the shelters and **with my mind's ear I can hear the subtle hum of the Dream Twisting revving up** as I run towards the command post.

Our neighbours know that we have a small and professional military. They know that we have advanced aircraft, even if they don't know their precise capabilities. But they also know that we don't have tanks or APCs, that the vast majority of our vehicles are civilian and that most of our recent building efforts have been focused on schools, research laboratories and civilian workshops, most likely with a view to us eventually joining the NCR. They know that we don't have pre-war missile silos and aren't building nuclear weapons or missile launchers. They know that we can defend ourselves and could create a nuisance, but they don't feel actively threatened.

As far as the NCR are concerned, the Dream Twister is a telepathic amplifier. Which it… Technically is. They don't know that it functions as a strategic telepathic weapon that can turn the inhabitants of entire towns insane. Turn them into feral savages, cause aneurisms, wipe memories completely… We took a part of the designs from the alien mothership, and the rest from our studies of our own abilities. We've never used it at full power and frankly I've never wanted to-.

"Mister Krono!" I look around as Ambassador Granger and his bodyguard run in my direction. "You know what the hell that is?!"

I fish out the power ring on my necklace, showing him the glow.

"Aliens?"

I half-stumble as **the observers share their perceptions, a four dimensional model of the sky appearing in my mind.**

"It's a distinct possibility, Ambassador. You really should get to a shelter."

He **knows that he should**, but he's been on the fence on the authenticity of this whole 'alien' thing and he'd quite like to clear it up so that he can stop qualifying his reports. **And he also wants to be present personally to see how we respond to attacks**.

"I'll get to cover when the shooting starts, don't you worry."

"I don't want to have to explain to President-."

I jerk my head upwards as the sky buckles, a rainbow of lights shining from a point towards-.

And then the sky bends back, a single small figure plummeting to the Earth.

I run.

President Anderson may have been evil, but I can't deny the brilliance of the man who actually managed to make FEV work properly. My enhanced muscles combined with my telekinesis allow me to dash across the compound in seconds, to leap over the guards gathered at the forwards muster point, vault over the front gate and head out across the recently planted farmland. A second later I realise that Goris is with me **as I reach up with my telekinetic force in an attempt to catch the falling figure**. At this distance-.

**My Acolytes realise what I'm doing and join me, our combined efforts slowing the figure's fall and pulling them towards us**. A medical team is already leaping in a van and they'll be with.. us…

The figure is a dwarf with blue skin. They're not close enough for me to pick out any details yet, but-.

**Our telekinetic grip** breaks as they suddenly shine with golden light, orientating themselves relative to the ground and looking-.

That's a Guardian. But the hair-. Krona! And he's using a Sinestro Corps ring!

His eyes widen slightly as he sees and.. somehow recognises me. Was he the one who-?

"You. Of course it's another you."

His right hand glows with golden light.

"And your power ring is as dead as you'll soon be."

**One target, full intensity, activate.**

The thing about being on the edge of a Dream Twister activation is that you don't experience the full effect. Obviously. Because if you did then you'd probably die along with the target. But you can.. tell that you're on the edge of something very nasty. As it is I'm close enough to see the exact point where Krona's eyes burst and his brain cooks off, his skull burning and contents fizzing as the liquid within superheats. His rings dim at once, and his body spins as it falls through the air into the western tato patch.

**Deactivate.**

I lean forwards to begin sprinting again, only for Goris to lay a claw on my shoulder and press me back. He then sprints towards the body, and-. Yes, okay, community leader, I shouldn't handle every dangerous situation personally.

"Goris?!"

"It is dead. It doesn't smell human."

"The rings?"

"All but one are damaged. Are they dangerous?"

"If they haven't exploded then they're not going to."

"Do you know what that was?"

"Specifically? No. But I think that's one of the species who made the ring that brought me here." I smile thoughtfully. "Pick up the remains. We'll hand him over to the biomancers."

"And the ring?"

"That… I'm going to have to think about."

 

[Fellow]

Wow... Was expecting a bit more of a fight.

 

[l---erddad---l]

"That… I'm going to have to think about."

Click to shrink...

Probably has a lantern in subspace, right? If that's true, it's just a question of Willpower or Avarice.

 

[RichardWhereat]

Don't think about it! Do it to it! Have the will!

 

[Darko]

'once' not 'one'

'A second' not 'I second'

The Paul's got lucky that he ended up in a universe where there was someone there to kill him, because it certainly didn't nullify his ring powers and the potential for him coming back to do whatever it is he does to gain more knowledge.

 

[thebishop8]

the fact that you only have to mind control one man to stop a robot army make it far easier to deal with that a great mass of people with their own motives and desires.

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Change "make" to "makes" and "that" to "than".

 

[Stsword]

Wow... Was expecting a bit more of a fight.

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Since Guardians are telepathic, or just in general?

I'd say this was a case of overconfidence.

He looked at him and thought "Mortal gnat, you are no threat to me" and boom, got sucker punched by something that if he had bothered to prepare, probably wouldn't have worked against him.

Pride is the worse sin, because it affects judgement, makes one pay less attention to reality in favor of opinion.

 

[varoksa]

This SI doesnt feel like a real Telepath to me, real telepaths are bald and go on long monologues.

 

[Darko]

That ring should potentially greatly help this version, especially if it has a lantern in subspace and a database.

Psychic powers are good and all, but few things beat a power ring.

 

[Queshire]

RIP.

Honestly that's more satisfying than if he lived. Sure, it means missing out on all those juicy, juicy tech secrets locked in that bobblehead of his, but it also means avoiding the sudden yet inevitable betrayal.

 

[DAT_NOOB]

The Sky Walkers are not expansionist.

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You have psychic powers and a working FEV virus! Next step you need golden armour! unify Terra!

"Specifically? No. But I think that's one of the species who made the ring that brought me here." I smile thoughtfully. "Pick up the remains. We'll hand him over to the biomancers."

"And the ring?"

"That… I'm going to have to think about."

Click to shrink...

Take the ring!

 

[Vaermina]

Wow... Was expecting a bit more of a fight.

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Only way he's actually dead is if Zoat nerfed him to the point he might as well be a different character.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

Early spring, 2280
Mid-day

The Sky Walkers are not expansionist.

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Why expand when you can simply absorb? The greatest victory over a foe is to make that foe part of you without violence. And Krono's doing that, slowly.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

And not just because the Desert Rangers were seriously considering making us 'extinct raider group number three' prior to my takeover. Not just because we share a border with the largest civilised successor state in North America. And not just because Mr House had a plan to overrun us with telepath-immune Military Protectrons and give our territory to the Great Khans in exchange for their help against the Legion. And not just because of the White Legs on our other border, and their growing alliance with the Legion.

Click to shrink...

And all this comes from the Old World Blues mod? Man, You must have to be sharp to not get shanked by one faction while holding off another.

The Rangers were manageable. While it was generous of them to absorb the Vipers and Jackals rather than exterminating them, the survivors weren't strongly committed to the cause. The Whisperers actually had what might generously be described as a mutual defence pact with both groups in order to prevent the Rangers doing exactly what they ended up doing and eliminating them one by one. A few lorry loads of guns in the right hands and their supply lines would have been unmanageable. A few barrels of incendiaries and their food supplies would have gone up in smoke.

Click to shrink...

One misguided 'hero' doing what they think is right, and bam, entire peoples die...

The NCR weren't manageable, but they weren't focusing on us and there was no obvious reason for them to start. They were happy to use us as a threat to the tribal nations they were hoping to voluntarily annex, or as a road bump for the White Legs or Eighties one they finished fighting the nations to the west. And frankly, when you're telepathic, the fact that you only have to mind control one man to stop a robot army make it far easier to deal with that a great mass of people with their own motives and desires.

Click to shrink...

Never mind the advanced alien attack ships. Or the telekinetic enhancers. Or any other workable alien tech laying around in the site's vaults.

The Whisperers weren't expansionist because they had everything they wanted right here, and believed that once they uncovered enough of the zetan's technology they would be unstoppable. Why waste time and blood capturing territory the hard way now when you could get it easily later? They raided some of the smaller nearby settlements more to make sure that potential attackers remained on the defensive than to acquire resources.

Click to shrink...

Protecting their borders through fear of a superior power? A little obnoxious, but I suppose it's better than having to kill off warbands making foolish raids.

My reasons aren't all that dissimilar. Why expand when we have the resources we need to sustain ourselves? Why expand when I have no desire to rule anything outside of this research institute? Lend the Desert Rangers telepathic interrogators, offer the NCR the aid of our air force and intelligence network, sell technology to Mr House at a discount… Security by diplomacy.

And if we don't keep our allies fully informed on the exact level of our military strength…

Click to shrink...

What they know can't hurt them. Or rather, won't hurt them unless they earn it...

Well, look, Left, I said I knew him. I didn't say I fucked him.

I can't teleport, but I don't bother with the stairs as I reach the balcony. Instead I jump-

Click to shrink...

Not quite Danner Formula strong, but it's impressive.

Shit, the sky's turning red and I don't think it's a dust storm this time.

-and slow my fall with telekinesis. Soldiers and Acolytes are moving to their stations, civilians are moving to the shelters and **with my mind's ear I can hear the subtle hum of the Dream Twisting revving up** as I run towards the command post.

Click to shrink...

Ah, the best kind of weapon. The kind that makes an intimidating hum as it charges up. Too bad it has no barrel to ominously glow in the foe's face as they look down it.

Our neighbours know that we have a small and professional military. They know that we have advanced aircraft, even if they don't know their precise capabilities. But they also know that we don't have tanks or APCs, that the vast majority of our vehicles are civilian and that most of our recent building efforts have been focused on schools, research laboratories and civilian workshops, most likely with a view to us eventually joining the NCR. They know that we don't have pre-war missile silos and aren't building nuclear weapons or missile launchers. They know that we can defend ourselves and could create a nuisance, but they don't feel actively threatened.

Click to shrink...

So this could be bad if anyone's watching the big guns fire off.

As far as the NCR are concerned, the Dream Twister is a telepathic amplifier. Which it… Technically is. They don't know that it functions as a strategic telepathic weapon that can turn the inhabitants of entire towns insane. Turn them into feral savages, cause aneurisms, wipe memories completely… We took a part of the designs from the alien mothership, and the rest from our studies of our own abilities. We've never used it at full power and frankly I've never wanted to-.

Click to shrink...

Twister is right. Yowza. But, given what might be coming, it's going to be very useful...

"Mister Krono!" I look around as Ambassador Granger and his bodyguard run in my direction. "You know what the hell that is?!"

I fish out the power ring on my necklace, showing him the glow.

"Aliens?"

Click to shrink...

Given that the ring is apparently dead, or at least ticking along on unusuable charge, the fact it's glowing is ominous...

I half-stumble as **the observers share their perceptions, a four dimensional model of the sky appearing in my mind.**

"It's a distinct possibility, Ambassador. You really should get to a shelter."

Click to shrink...

Might get a bit awkward if the ambassador gets splattered by accident by something big and scary.

He **knows that he should**, but he's been on the fence on the authenticity of this whole 'alien' thing and he'd quite like to clear it up so that he can stop qualifying his reports. **And he also wants to be present personally to see how we respond to attacks**.

Click to shrink...

Ah, he wants to sticky-beak. I get the feeling he doesn't think you're being completely honest with him. Who'd thought?

"I'll get to cover when the shooting starts, don't you worry."

"I don't want to have to explain to President-."

Click to shrink...

I suspect Krono wants as little to do with the 'president' as he has to...

I jerk my head upwards as the sky buckles, a rainbow of lights shining from a point towards-.

And then the sky bends back, a single small figure plummeting to the Earth.

Click to shrink...

Huh, it IS Krona, speeding along at the speed of White.

I run.

President Anderson may have been evil, but I can't deny the brilliance of the man who actually managed to make FEV work properly. My enhanced muscles combined with my telekinesis allow me to dash across the compound in seconds, to leap over the guards gathered at the forwards muster point, vault over the front gate and head out across the recently planted farmland. I second later I realise that Goris is with me **as I reach up with my telekinetic force in an attempt to catch the falling figure**. At this distance-.

Click to shrink...

So, perfected FEV is basically the Erskine formula? Or a post-natal version of the Danner formula.

**My Acolytes realise what I'm doing and join me, our combined efforts slowing the figure's fall and pulling them towards us**. A medical team is already leaping in a van and they'll be with.. us…

The figure is a dwarf with blue skin. They're not close enough for me to pick out any details yet, but-.

Click to shrink...

That should enough for Krono to immediately [Worry]. I mean, sure, it's clearly a Guardian, but... They're not always good guys.

**Our telekinetic grip** breaks as they suddenly shine with golden light, orientating themselves relative to the ground and looking-.

That's a Guardian. But the hair-. Krona! And he's using a Sinestro Corps ring!

Click to shrink...

His evaluation is a little off, but yes, [Worry] just became [Concern].

His eyes widen slightly as he sees and.. somehow recognises me. Was he the one who-?

"You. Of course it's another you."

Click to shrink...

Ah, he wants a little petty revenge, even though this Paul had nothing to do with anything that happened to him.

His right hand glows with golden light.

"And your power ring is as dead as you'll soon be."

Click to shrink...

Looks like he's dropped all his defences to squash a bug. In that case, this...

**One target, full intensity, activate.**

Click to shrink...

...Should be quite effective. Especially since his Maltusian Symbionts are offline, and thus unable to protect him..

The thing about being on the edge of a Dream Twister activation is that you don't experience the full affect. Obviously. Because if you did then you'd probably die along with the target. But you can.. tell that you're on the edge of something very nasty. As it is I'm close enough to see the exact point where Krona's eyes burst and his brain cooks off, his skull burning and contents fizzing as the liquid within superheats. His rings dim at once, and his body spins as it falls through the air into the western tato patch.

Click to shrink...

Ouch. Pop goes the bobblehead.

**Deactivate.**

I lean forwards to begin sprinting again, only for Goris to lay a claw on my shoulder and press me back. He then sprints towards the body, and-. Yes, okay, community leader, I shouldn't handle every dangerous situation personally.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, who do you think you are, Captain Kirk?

"Goris?!"

"It is dead. It doesn't smell human."

Click to shrink...

"In fact, it smells like... Popped Corn? And now I am hungry..."

"The rings?"

"All but one are damaged. Are they dangerous?"

Click to shrink...

! Krono... Krono if you don't snag that ring immediately, you are a moron!

"If they haven't exploded then they're not going to."

"Do you know what that was?"

"Specifically? No. But I think that's one of the species who made the ring that brought me here." I smile thoughtfully. "Pick up the remains. We'll hand him over to the biomancers."

Click to shrink...

Oh gods... If the Maltusian Symbionts can be recovered... FEV? Fuck that. Imagine reality-altering Psionic Mitochondria!

"And the ring?"

"That… I'm going to have to think about."

Click to shrink...

If this were an online game, I'd immediately call Hax! on the opponent that has multiple god-mode technologies drop into his lap from a random event...

I called it, Krona was inbound. And from the way I read it, he immediately made the fatal mistake of assuming the Ring-less Paul in front of him was defenceless... Not keeping a little in defence was a big, big mistake. And even if he remains about as a non-corporeal entity, he's not in his home universe...
And Krono's 'playthrough' of Old World Blues just got ludicrously easier... Especially if the Gold Ring can be duplicated...

 

[Cuchulin]

Probably has a lantern in subspace, right? If that's true, it's just a question of Willpower or Avarice.

Click to shrink...

I hope so, this SI could use one.

 

[Dakkan Sall]

They were happy to use us as a threat to the tribal nations they were hoping to voluntarily annex, or as a road bump for the White Legs or Eighties one they finished fighting the nations to the west

Click to shrink...

Should be "once" I believe.

And so Krona ultimately falls to Krono. One has to wonder if the same metaphysical differences in not allowing Rings to work properly (or however it was meant that being there would negate Krona's advantages) will also keep any chance of Krona going energy being. One would hope so, at least.

 

[Darko]

Should be "once" I believe.

And so Krona ultimately falls to Krono. One has to wonder if the same metaphysical differences in not allowing Rings to work properly will also keep any chance of Krona going energy being. One would hope so, at least.

Click to shrink...

Rings work in this universe as Krono was able to give himself psychic powers with his ring, though it is possible that the laws of that universe act a bit differently than how Krona is used to, so maybe he would have a hard time of it, but he could still figure out a way around it.

 

[Mr Zoat]

'once' not 'one'

Click to shrink...

I found the instance of the word 'one' you mean, but it would be a good deal more helpful if you'd provided me with more text here.

'A second' not 'I second'

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

Change "make" to "makes" and "that" to "than".

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[Coda]

All in favor of officially naming all of the enlightened Pauls "Big [insert colour]"? Because I think it is hilarious.

Click to shrink...

I dunno. That Big Red freshness doesn't seem to have done a whole lot for his dragon breath.

you don't experience the full affect.

Click to shrink...

full effect

 

[Handlewithcare]

Boom headshot. Literally.

Abd if a lantern is connected to the ring...well, the wasteland will learn of Pauls peaceful ways! By force!

I can't wait.

 

[Darko]

I found the instance of the word 'one' you mean, but it would be a good deal more helpful if you'd provided me with more text here.

Thank you, corrected.

Thank you, corrected.

Click to shrink...

You fixed the correct one.

Previously it was 'Eighties one' now it's correct.

 

[Mr Zoat]

full effect

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

You fixed the correct one.

Click to shrink...

Boom boom.

 

[Vaermina]

Boom headshot. Literally.

Abd if a lantern is connected to the ring...well, the wasteland will learn of Pauls peaceful ways! By force!

I can't wait.

Click to shrink...

And then he gets eaten by one of the Great Old Ones.

 

[Vanathor]

Wow... Was expecting a bit more of a fight.

Click to shrink...

I mean, per the update, Krono just used what is normally a telepathic WMD against a single target that wasn't expecting something like that. This is the equivalent of Professor X using Cerebro to melt someone's brain that didn't have the benefit of Magneto's helmet.

 

[Mr Zoat]

I mean, per the update, Krono just used what is normally a telepathic WMD against a single target that wasn't expecting something like that. This is the equivalent of Professor X using Cerebro to melt someone's brain that didn't have the benefit of Magneto's helmet.

Click to shrink...

It's more like Magneto having his helmet and anti-telepath training, then getting his head ripped off by a parallel universe version of Xavier who got telekinesis rather than telepathy.

 

[Vaermina]

I mean, per the update, Krono just used what is normally a telepathic WMD against a single target that wasn't expecting something like that. This is the equivalent of Professor X using Cerebro to melt someone's brain that didn't have the benefit of Magneto's helmet.

Click to shrink...

You might want to go back and actually check the scale of the weapon.

And keep in mind fallout towns range from a few dozen to a few hundred people.

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Hmmm... Interesting...

Just me guessing, but, I wonder if Krona is now in that Gold Ring, as the same sort of AI that Sinestro is in Grayven's Yellow Ring? If the local physics is not cooperative then he probably had a very limited list of options left. Just one Gold Ring surviving is, therefore, quite suspicious... And, the local SI is quite right to be cautious.

I do like the idea of stealing Secrets of the Guardians from Krona's corpse... Got to be able to get something out of him...

 

[topin89]

"We sent him to a parallel where the laws of physics are different enough that his advantages will be nullified. Far safer than keeping him immaterial or killing him when one of his known allies is a death god."

Click to shrink...

As it is I'm close enough to see the exact point where Krona's eyes burst and his brain cooks off, his skull burning and contents fizzing as the liquid within superheats. His rings dim at once, and his body spins as it falls through the air into the western tato patch.

Click to shrink...

I hope laws of physics are different enough and near-gods die when they are killed here. Won't expect, though. There's a chance he became bounded to that one working ring, but I won't expect that either.