Log:Lost Time, Scene 6

Lost Time 2017/02/10 	 Ellbeth Griffin Wolf Eclair Syphon Inferno Lucy Autolycus Time Pharaoh

6

This building may look antique on the outside, but once you've stepped inside, you find yourself transported into a world of color, shapes, and imagination. In this section of the museum, sculptures sit precariously in various open areas within their own spotlight of fame, while paintings adorn the walls with a mind's eye image into the artist's perception of reality. Marble floors and tall white columns set this museum off with an aura of rich elegance mixed within the dreams of creators. Each creation has its own space, each space highlighted by its own spotlight. A section of the museum has been dedicated to the alien artworks that have been donated as a part of a cultural exchange. High above, the gothic style ceiling displays a marvel to the eye, a window into a world of dreams is painted in vivid colors which seems to draw all but the ignorant into its spell. Security guards stand about, looking official and polite insuring the safety and security of the museum.

To recap: Dr. Temple AKA Tempus AKA Time Pharoah had broken Syphon and Inferno out of Tranquility. He has since made another appearance in the city, but earlier in his personal timeline, this time taking the alien Autolycus with him into the time stream. Finally, The Cartesian gathered the heroes to warn them of a 'blurriness' in time. Something was amiss, but it wasn't clear what. But it seemed to be perhaps centered on today, February 10, 2067.

During discussion, it was decided that the local history museum might be the target location in question, though it's unclear why, which leads to the heroes investigating the museum.

Ellbeth will try to speak first to Grimm and ask what periods Dr Temple is known to have resided in. Ellbeth has gained the impression that Grimm is somewhat of an expert of the life and times of Dr Temple. This will focus her viewing of the museum artifacts on date criteria.

Then she's make arrangements to view the museum's collection of artifacts starting with the focused time periods, and expanding to other artifacts as time allows. She'll make two visits if needed. The artifacts out on display can be checked without any need for involvement by the museum. It is the artifacts held in storage that will require the cooperation of the museum administration. Ellbeth will ask all the heroes involved to join her. She can detect magic and has History and Archaeology as skills so hopefully will be able to detect any magical items or items of overt anachronism. However the more eyes, and special senses, viewing the artifacts the better.

Ellbeth avoids gating into the museum. So Harry polishes the classic Rolls Royce Silver Shadow and drives Ellbeth to the museum. Entering early she takes in the display in the lobby while waiting for the other heroes.

Ellbeth's backup- Griffin Freeman is waiting outside of the musem when she pulls up. He nods to her and flals in line behind her. "Glad you had connections here, otherwise- who knows where we'd be right now." He says idly as they pass into the building.

Ellbeth smiles, "Generally, Griffin, this city is grateful for the efforts of the meta heroes here. I would expect that my connections have helped but even without them you would have been able to make the arrangements to view the exhibits."

Wolf pads silently alongside Griffin, keeping station just aft of Griff's left knee. He pauses to wipe the mucky February snow-sludge off of his paws and onto the doormat before heading into the museaum proper. No need to distract museum patrons with muddy wolfprints on the floor. ..

The curator was expecting their arrival, as Ellbeth had called ahead, and is waiting just inside. She's an older woman in a business suit. She smiles and offers her hand to Ellbeth, "Good to see you again."

Grimm is studying her phone carefully, reviewing a photo of Temple's wife from the past archives. The death that started some chain of events. She's studying Mrs. Temple in detail, trying to commit her appearance to memory. She arrives after the others, on foot.

Ellbeth closes the distance and hugs the curator, "Lucy, it's been too long." she says. "Thank you for arranging this visit. May I introduce my companions. Grimm, Griffin, and Wolf."

Lucy nods and smiles, hesitating when seeing Wolf. But apparently Ellbeth's reputation is good enough to let an animal inside, "Nice to meet all of you. I know you were interested in the artifacts from the eighteenth dynasty. Those are currently all on display. Right this way..."

This building may look antique on the outside, but once you've stepped inside, you find yourself transported into a world of color, shapes, and imagination. In this section of the museum, sculptures sit precariously in various open areas within their own spotlight of fame, while paintings adorn the walls with a mind's eye image into the artist's perception of reality. Marble floors and tall white columns set this museum off with an aura of rich elegance mixed within the dreams of creators. Each creation has its own space, each space highlighted by its own spotlight. A section of the museum has been dedicated to the alien artworks that have been donated as a part of a cultural exchange. High above, the gothic style ceiling displays a marvel to the eye, a window into a world of dreams is painted in vivid colors which seems to draw all but the ignorant into its spell. Security guards stand about, looking official and polite insuring the safety and security of the museum.

Griffin falls quiet a moment as he thinks on what Ellbeth said. He nods after a moment in complete agreement but adds, "I suppose that's true enough- though I can admit wouldn't and never would have thought about making a stop here." His tone is quite earnest.

When Lucy is introduced, Griffin offers his hand and a warm smile. "Pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

He looks around the museum as they move through it, looking at relics from various era- some even from his own. Occasionally he scratches Wolf behind the ear- but mostly his head stays on a swivel just incase someone might want to cut them off at the pass.

Ellbeth wonders, and asks, "Have any of the eighteenth dynasty exhibits recently been put on display, Lucy?"

Lucy thinks about it. "A couple of items from the reign of Hatshepsut." She leads you all around the corner and into a large gallery filled with Egyptian items. "That case at the far end has all of the items from that period. And the two items on the right are the new exhibits."

Ellbeth looks at the indicated items with a mage's eye.

Griffin nods and looks from Ellbeth to Grimm before looking at Wolf and shrugging. He thinks .o0(All this stuff is pretty cool- but i have no idea how the heck we're supposed to determine this Tempus guy was involved with something hundreds of years old.) He thinks to himself. Luckily, time travel has kept him from staring at Grimm- who is the dimensional doppelganger of the 'Bright King's' concubine & master sorceress. He tries not to think of the time he spent there- out of sync with our reality.

Ellbeth senses that two objects have some magic essence: A dagger and a jar.

Grimm keeps studying her phone for a while longer, eventually putting it away. She finally looks up and around as items are pointed out, eyeing them for any dimensional disturbances. With time being wibbly wobbly, they may no longer be creating alternate timeline dimensions to track.

Ellbeth says, "Bingo... The new exhibits are magically active. I can probably identify the enchantments given sufficient time. Or I can ask Lucy if she would mind if I disenchanted them."

Lucy smiles. "Do you need anythign else from me?"

Ellbeth nods, "The key to that case?" she says pointing to the case containing the two magical active items.

Lucy raises a brow, but she smiles, "I can let you take a closer look, but the items can't leave the museum. They're on loan."

She unlocks the case, after turning off an alarm.

Grimm looks about carefully as the case is unlocked and the alarm disabled. "Seems like a perfect time for a theft," she murmurs under her breath, scanning the adjacent rooms and floors with her shadow sight for any suspicious appearances or activity. Her senses even stretch out to the rooftop.

Ellbeth turns serious in demeanor, "Lucy, I suspect they will be leaving the museum soon. If not with us then be being taken by villains. Those items are magically active and there is reason to believe villains have plans for them."

Ellbeth turns to Grimm. Grimm is the Dr Temple expert as far as Ellbeth is concerned. "I can try to identity the enchantments or disenchant the items so they are no longer magical and thus probably of no further interest to Dr Temple. Which do you advise?"

Wolf settles back on his haunches, taking a seat near Griff and closing his eyes. We waits, tuning his senses to be alert to the strange "time - shifting" sensation he and Ellbeth had both noticed in the bar, figuring that might be their only warning prior to the incoming raid.

Lucy shakes her head. "I cannot let them out of the building."

Grimm doesn't really have a clue on Dr. Temple. "Well, we have some time. Identifying the enchantments first may give us a clue on what he's after. Then disenchant them afterwards? If we stop him here, he'll need to find alternatives...and IDing these may help us down the road. Just in case."

'That's a logical plan, Grimm." Griffin says with a nod and a scratch behind Wolf's ears.

In the middle of the room, four individuals just...appear out of nowhere.

Wolf barks, once, sharply, warning everyone that it's about to go down.

Griffin turns and his eyes flare to life as he gathers energy to be used.

No sooner than they arrive and Griffin is already moving to interpose himself between his allies and the time bandits.

Time Pharaoh sighs, "It figures you would be here. I only want what was once mine."

Inferno's hands are wreathed in flames. She smiles. "You sure we can't just burn the place down?"

Eclair had been passing by. When she hears the alarms, she flies into the museum to see what's going on.

Syphon looks around, "We'll need to make a side trip, too."

Ellbeth sighs, "You should leave, Lucy. Now. Dr Temple, time is basically not a factor for you as I understand. Could you come back when the museum's loan period for these items is finished?"

Temple shakes his head, "I'm afraid that's not possible. The power source on it will run down shortly." He tilts his head, "On the other hand...if you just let me hold it for a moment, I can download the data I need."

A protective black field surrounds Grimm as she eyes TP and Team. Her fingers twitch like a gunslinger expecting things to go wrong.

Griffin nods, "That's fair enough." Griffin says as he eyes Syphon. He's already strategized that this one should be his primary target, if only because it will be much harder for Syphon to hurt him. The others- well he'll come to them when its time for that.

He comes to a halt between his allies and the Tempus Team.

He doesn't look like he's willing to let them make a move- not with out Ellbeth or someone else's input on the matter first. This time travel stuff is well outside his pay grade.

Ellbeth shrugs, "Seeing your choice of companions doesn't make me think that letting you do that would be a good idea. Maybe you can convince us? How about telling us the what and why?"

Eclair recognizes Griffin and hesitates, waiting to see what the situation is.

Wolf silently moves into position to back up Griff.

Time Pharaoh chuckles, "Ah yes...the 'what' and 'why', because you're so willing to reveal things to others yourself, Dr. Wyrd? I seem to remember a very secretive person. But I'll humor you. That jar is a data storage device. Magically obfuscated to hide its technical origins."

As Griffin's armhair stands on end, he turns towards the source- he spots Eclair. He gives a gentle, knowing nod and returns his attention to Tempus and his pals.

Autolycus twitches as well, and a dagger appears in each hand.

Grimm blinks and looks between Time Pharaoh and Ellbeth. "Wait...you've met him?" she asks Ellbeth quizzically.

Ellbeth smiles, "My story is an open book. Seven of them so far. I'll send you the full set free of charge if you like. My concern is what use you intend for the data. I'm not irrevocably set on denying you access. But I need a little convincing it's a wise thing to do."

Ellbeth glances to Grimm, "This is the first time I've met Dr Temple. In my timeline. Dr Temple may have met me before in his. Confusing isn't it?"

Syphon says, "How about...you let us take it, or the fight brings the building down?"

"So...yeah, confusing. He met you when you were more secretive...not sure if you were secretive in your past, or that's your future," Grimm admits. Wibbly Wobbly. Timey to enroll in time physics next quarter.

Time Pharaoh waves off Syphon, "No need. Yet. The data is an accumulation of information through history from when I created it, while I was the adviser to the Pharaoh."

"Your threats aren't helping Syphon." Griffin replies cooly. "You could have already met your match." Griffin remains firmly planted between them. But his eyes burn intensely.

Wolf nods in response to Griff's silent communication, and slips behind Griff, out of sight of the enemy.

Ellbeth looks at Syphon. "How robust is it? I can almost guarantee that at least one stray blast will hit the vase if there's a fight."

"I can promise there will be at least one." Griffin says. "I'll slag it before this building drops. I assure you of that."

Ellbeth tries to hide her own interest in such a treasure trove of data. "It it's just historical data, Dr Temple, you won't mind sharing it then? I'd imagine that's a deal the museum would be prepared to make, assuming my companions agree as well."

A cone of anti-time-messing-with-ness spreads out from Griff's shadow. Any technological devices having to do with time begin to slow down. . . watches stop ticking, cell phones stop showing the date, and, one assumes, other, more aggressively offensive time powers begin to drain away as well. The visual effect is that of a sun-dial's shadow, cast from above.

Time Pharaoh's cybernetics spark a little bit. "That...was a mistake." He says to the others, "Take them down."

Grimm has no idea she's the accidental leader, and that MUTINY has been committed by Griffin and his dog. "Take them!" she counters back as Time Pharaoh gives his order. Dark energy pulses around her and her hair begins to waft upwards.

Grimm looks to Ellbeth. "Disenchant them. We don't have time for anything else." She mentally winces at the use of the word time in this situation.

Electricity crackles around Eclair's wrists and ankles as she prepares for a fight. . o O (Crap. Crap. Crap. This looks like big league stuff. I'm going to screw up. Don't screw up. Don't screw up. Don't screw up.)

Ellbeth shakes her head. "I can't, Grimm. Not now. It takes too long. Minutes or even hours."

He heads straight for Syphon since he's the biggest threat to the building and the amassed fortune of relics inside.

He brings his hands up in a fighting stance and prepares to close the distance.

Time Pharaoh taps a button on his gauntlet, and he starts to shimmer, and he's harder to see...like he's not quite in phase now. (Though it's not quite as effective as it would have been normally)

Autolycus runs forward with daggers in both hands...and he vaults over the heroes, landing on the case behind them. And the glass...doesn't break.

Inferno lets loose with a bolt of fire at Griffin, who is standing at the forefront.

Inferno's blast is dead on target. Griffin doesn't even see it coming as he's watching Autolycus flip over their heads and land on the case he's supposed to be protecting.

The blast burns through his flannel shirt and the tshirt beneath. The smell of burnt clothing leaps into the air as Griffin's entire back glows brightly as his bio-electric field absorbs the worst of the blast. Any damage done is nigh-instantly reverted.

He turns back to the source of the blast. "Oh- you're delivering snacks huh?" He asks with a sneer.

Eclair doesn't like the looks of Inferno, and thinks a guy with a couple knives might be more her speed. She takes to the air, getting as high as she can and sends a bolt of lightning at the man.

Autolycus is knocked clean off the case, and over into the corner of the room, landing on the floor.

Eclair exclaims, "T-take that, villain!" . o O (Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me.)

Syphon runs forward and attempts to take a hold of Grimm. "You look squishable. Let's see."

Syphon's attempt to grab Grimm is stifled as she turns desolid, and he chuckles. "Figures. Guess I should tangle with your buddy for a bit, first."

Grimm's form darkens and becomes semi-transparent, making her look like a Shade of her former self. She grins darkly (harhar) at Syphon. "I'm not that kind of girl, Handsome," she purrs out teasingly, almost seductively so. Teasing because, c'mon, look at that faceless guy.

Griffin sees his new friend squirrelishly threaten Autolycus after blasting him. Not really fearing what Syphon or Inferno might do to him, he turns and plants a foot firmly to brace as his irises glow with golden light. After a moment of collecting energy, an eyeblast streaks for the villain.

Autolycus is hit again...and sent sliding into the wall. He's still conscious, but stunned.

Ellbeth says furiously, "We are NOT going to have a fight in this museum." She was standing by the case with key in hand. Opening the case (with casual STR) she picks up the vase. "So I'm removing the cause for fighting. If you want it, Dr Temple, come and find me." Steeling herself for a possibly very painful experience she tries to remember the road and building layout around the museum, and teleports blind into a place concealed from the museum.

Ellbeth finds herself outside the museum, on the sidewalk. A pedestrian nearly runs into her, "Hey!"

Ellbeth exhales a fervent sigh of relief at not killing herself.

Griffin turns back to Syphon, Tempus, & Inferno. "Sounds like that's game and match boys."

Time Pharaoh sighs, "Does she think I have that much control over these people?"