Log:Riftgate - The Immortal Ruler

2013/03/31 	 Cecila Flutter Pendragon Longbow Star Girl Ten Dark Horse 1

Gathering
By various means, such as HeroNet, messages left in places that heroes are known to visit, etc., it's come to each of the character's attention that TransMat is requesting that heroes who might be interested in helping the corporation come to a meeting at the TransMat Terminus Building.

Ten learns about this on HeroNet, and figures she'd better go, if just because it might have something to do with the recent oddity at Transmat with which she was involved. Besides, she still is having great fun swinging across town on the slightest excuse.

A glowing green mass of magic pools into the room, materializing into Lia in less than a second after being seen. She looks to Ten and offers a wave, "Hey there."

Star Girl shows up at Transmat as well. Along the way, she fills in Longbow on what's going on.

Longbow shows up shortly after star girl. noting the unstable mage but saying nothing. He looks about more concerned about what is going on than anything else.

Ten says, "Hey" to each in turn as they arrive.

As each hero arrives at the TransMat building they are welcomed by a security guard and escorted through a staff only door and down a series of hallways and corridors to Jon Masters' office.

Naturally Flutter is there, with request of help she is more than eager to fulfill this request. She flits in just behind Longbow, accompanying the group excitedly.

Longbow eyes the construct warily.

Ten, wonders, not for the first time, what's going on in Longbow's head.

Jon Master's is in his office to greet each hero. So is TransMat's head of security, Janet Farrel. Coffee, other drinks, and cookies are provided.

Lia also looks to Flutter, curiously, and seems a bit nervous once she does so. She then looks to Jon Master, still looking uneasy.

Jon tells the heroes, "Thank you for coming. Please, help yourself to drinks amd snacks. Then, if we'll be seated at the coffee table, I'll explain why I have asked you here today."

Flutter is oblivious to the looks of wariness and nervousness. She appears to be made out of enthusiasm.

Ten says "hey" to Jon Masters too, takes a seat, then snags a cookie for herself with her staff.

Longbow opts to stand instead of sit. Sitting is for those who want to be more easily attacked.

"Hey everyone!" Star Girl says, seeming in a decent enough mood. She quiets once Jon begins to explain, taking a position leaning against a wall with her arms crossed.

Lia takes a seat, and snags a cookie herself, taking a tenative bite out of the cookie, shrugging then looking toward Jon Master.

Jon starts talking, "Some of you may already know some or all of what I'm about to say. To others it may be new. As well as the normal TransMat operation, those conducted in the terminus outside, and others like it across the face of this world, we at TransMat Research have been engaged in exploring and making contact with other dimensions." He pauses to let that sink in.

Longbow rolls his eyes like 'duh'

Lia offers a nod and a shrug. She doesn't look surprised.

Ten also gets herself coffee using the staff. All practice in fine manipulation at a distance.That or she's showing off. She seems unfazed by the transdimensional news.

Star Girl nods upon hearing the news. She's been briefed on Transmat before.

Jon continues, "This started a couple of years ago. However after a number of incidents, including attacks on TransMat Research by agents we believe were working for the Guild, and by a group from off dimension calling themselves Shield, we closed down the project. However, we didn't abandon it. We moved it off world to a dimension we had already discovered which we call Paradise.

Ten is surprised by that. "Huh."

Star Girl blinks too. That wasn't part of her SGG briefing.

Lia offers a nod, then another shrug. She doesn't really seem surprised by the fact, oddly.

Jon concludes, "Moving the base of operations has been a long process. However we've now completed the new facility and have started sending out exploration teams again. One of these teams has gone missimg, and the rescue party we sent to follow up the lack of contact has also failed to respond on their scheduled check in."

Flutter pipes up, "I shall risk becoming lost as well in order to locate your missing members!" Most people would say this ironically. Not Flutter. Completely sincere.

Star Girl looks worried. "How long have the teams been missing?"

Janet Farrel speaks up, "We'd like you to go through the rift-gate. Locate our people and bring them home."

Ten says, "Where did they go? How many team member? How equipped?"

Lia looks to Janet, with uncertainty, and simply lets out a 'hmmmmm'...

Jon says, "The original team is seven hours overdue. The rescue team missed their check in just under an hour ago. Six members in the first group, two security and four scientists. Eight security in the second group. As well as their science equipment the first team had body armor and the security guards were armed with energy weapons. The second team had full Starguard Delta level equipment. Although sourced from a different supplier."

Star Girl says, "How does communication work once we're on the other side? Do we have to be close to the gate to radio back?"

Ten frowns. "Pretty heavily armed then. That doesn't sound good."

Janet comments, "Like me, several of the second group were ex-Starguard. Mostly retired Delta troppers. They are all competent."

Jon sais, "You'll have global communications. We send through mini-rockets to launch an array of GPS and communications satellites as part of the initial survey procedure."

Excitedly Flutter nods, "I shall seek out your missing satellites as well!"

Ten says, "So they should have been able to communicate when something went wrong...."

"What makes you think we'll fair any better?" Lia asks, rather worriedly.

Longbow says, "Yes, why would unstable mages make this mission safer?"

Star Girl hrms. "We'll have to, if we want rescue -- " She looks over at Longbow, a little surprised.

Ten stares at Longbow.

Lia glares at Longbow, "Just because I'm transforming does not mean my magic is unstable."

Longbow says, "The binding spell on you unravel. Your form is shrinking, condensing, calamity will follow you. But for now there are others to save."

Flutter smiles, "The element of chaos has long been useful in improving situations," she replies to Longbow, answering his question.

Jon nods, "Yes they should. Ten isn't it?. There's a village close by the gate portal. The inhabitants seem human. Their level of progress is about medieval. Both teams reached the village. The villagers told the first team their ruler lived in a complex of caves about five miles away. The first team went to the caves. The rescue team followed."

Flutter suggests, "Perhaps the teams are in the caves."

Longbow says, "Or dead"

Longbow's voice has been like a whisper this entire time.

Ten says, "Right. That raises several questions, like are the villagers what they seem."

Janet nods to Flutter. "The exploration team reported in just before entering the caves and haven't been heard from since.

Dark Horse steps inside quietly, shutting the door behind him.

Lia shakes her head at Longbow, "Not really, given that I don't actually wield chaos magic." She makes a fair point, there isn't an ounce of chaotic or uncontrollable magic anywhere on her body. "Pardon me for having to deal with a spell that isn't functioning like it should. Anyway, you're right, we have things to do." Lia looks to Janet, "Perhaps the caves are at fault for the lack of communication?"

Ten says, "Are the caves themselves likely to block communication?"

Flutter looks excited again, "Perhaps they are enjoying themselves! Time can easily be ignored when one is engaged in fun activity!"

Star Girl frowns at Longbow's comment. She gives him a lingering glance before turning to address the others. "The longer we wait here, the longer their odds are. Anything else we need to know before we go after them?"

Janet shakes her head, "If it was just that, then standard procedure if contact is lost is to pull back and re-establish contact. That the teams haven't done so implies something is stopping them."

Longbow shakes his head.

Ten says, "Yes, but it could just be they're somehow stuck in the caves. Admittedly that 'somehow' may not be good."

Dark Horse moves a bit further into the room, and raises a gloved hand to wave to Jon, just to let the man know that he's arrived. He remains quiet, otherwise.

Lia looks quite seriously at Janet, and asks, "So, these teams were well armed and trained, we...may or may not be well armed OR trained. What gives us a better chance of surviving than them?"

Jon says, "We have a rift ready to transfer you to the new Riftgate facility. When you're ready Janet will take you through."

[To Lia] Ten says, "If you don't think you're up to it, you don't have to come."

Janet answers Lia. "There's a world of difference between well trained and equipped normals, and metas. If you can't rescue the teams, who can?"

"So things are different here..." Lia mutters, scratching her head in disbelief, offering a shrug.

Flutter smiles, flitting to Lia, "I am constructed for surviving harsh conditions and assaults form powerful beings by design. Locating missing individuals in what may be a hostile environment is not far from that specialty."

Ten says, "Anyway, as Star Girl said, time is precious here."

A security guard brings Cecila into the office.

Cecila thanks the security guard and smiles a bit having overheard the last little bit "Besides you'll have me there to help" She's wearing her cosume that most people have come to start calling her Bulldozer in...Or at least the media.

Lia nods to Flutter, "And I'm a being constructed solely out of magical energy...I should be fine as long as I don't end up trapped there." Lia looks to Cecila as she walks in, lightening up some, "Hey there Cecila. We're about to go plunging through a riftgate to a different world to try to save two teams that are stranded there." Lia snickers a bit at how silly that sounds to her.

Janet asks, "Is there any equipment you would like to take with you? If we have it, it's yours."

Ten says, "Well, radios obviously. Otherwise - hm. Hard to know till we get there."

Star Girl shrugs. "Flashlights and - uh - cave gear?

Jon comments, "I know you'll do your very best so I really don't have to say this. But I will anyway. Bring my people back, safe and sound. Please."

Star Girl nods. "We'll do our best."

Janet nods, "Radios and flashlights we have. Not caving gear as such but we do have rope and pitons."

Cecila says, "You can give the others flashlights and stuff but I'm perfectly at home in a cave"

Janet Farrel leads you all from Jon's office to a room with a simple riftgate in it. "This is configured for Paradise. It only sends and receives from that dimension. So it cannot be used to gain access to our dimension from elsewhere." she explains. Then she steps through it.

Dark Horse takes one of the offered flashlights, but not a radio. Instead, he just adds the appropriate frequency to his own headset.

Flutter follows Janet through the gate of justice.

Lia takes one of both, then heads through herself.

Ten takes flashlight and radio, and goes through.

Star Girl keys her suit's communications system by touching a radio. She heads through the portal.

Longbow takes a flashlight radio and goes through.

Dark Horse finally follows the others quietly.

Paradise
On the other side of the rift is a matching riftgate device. It's set up in a grassy field, wild flowers blooming and bees buzzing between them. The riftgate is shielded from rain by a roof supported by four pillars but is otherwise open to the elements. The area you arrive in somehow has the feel of a park. As if everything has been planted rather than growing wild. Nothing else is in sight of the riftgate except a pair of white metal pillars about fifty yards away, some nine feet in height and set about six feet apart.

Ten says, "Nice."

Star Girl steps through and takes a moment to take in the surroundings with her eyes. "'Paradise', huh?"

Janet turns to check the heroes have come through. "Welcome to Paradise. Jon and I would be grateful if you could consider the existence of this dimension as confidential information."

Lia glances around the landscape, simplying looking upon it. Lia looks to Janet, and nods.

Ten says, "And here I was already planning hotels and stores selling tacky tourist junk...."

Dark Horse raises a brow, and looks around. . o O ( I guess my rep has changed a bit. Years ago, no one would have offered me confidential information. )

Janet walks towards the pillars, "Please follow me." She says. And walks between them, vanishing as she does.

Ten follows.

Lia also follows.

Star Girl looks over, then catches up with the others.

Flutter follows Janet without hesitation!

Dark Horse keeps up with the group.

Stepping between the pillars, the scenery around you changes in mid-stride. One moment its the grassy area where you arrived on Paradise. The next instant, with no discernible sensation, you find yourselves in front of a large silver Pyramid, a good hundred yards high. Near the pyramid is a more familiar building a geodestic dome of metal and tinted glass about fifty yards high and wide.

Ten looks about. "Wow...."

Flutter is unbothered by the lack of magic involvement that she detects, marveling at her new surroundings.

Lia looks upon the change of scenery and blinks a few times, "...And yet, still no magic...I really do wonder how they pull these things off without magic..."

Janet continues walking, heading towards the geodestic dome.

Cecila shrugs a bit and follows along "Sure confidential information..." she doesn't really understand why but not like she'll have anyone to talk about it with other than maybe Lia.

"Something tells me we're not in Kansas anymore..." Star Girl says, pausing to take in the surroundings. Again, she finds herself lagging behind Janet a bit; she hurries to catch up.

Dark Horse takes as many mental notes as he can as he looks around.

Ten says, "And where are we now?"

Janet leads you all into the dome. Inside the dome are several buildings, the central building being constructed of a silvery-blue metal with no windows or openings except a door. The build is roughtly 30ft high and maybe 50ft on a side.

Flutter is quick to help Star Girl, "We were in Virginia, and not in Kansas at the time of our departure."

Janet answers Ten, "Same dimension, about a thousand miles from where we first arrived on Paradise."

Ten says, "Ok. You didn't mention *that* gate before."

Star Girl smiles. "It's a figure of speech, Flutter." She glances around at the other heroes and hrms. "A lot of us haven't worked together before," she remarks. "Flutter, if you're about to zap the area with those magic bands, can you give us a heads up before you do?"

Ten looks at the silvery-blue metal of the main building and thinks. o O (Couldn't be, could it? What would that cost?)

Flutter replies, "I shall refrain from using that spell. It is usually an emergency situation when the spell is used. Prior warning would be futile."

Janet walks up to the door of the central building and pushes it open. Inside the building is one large room separated into areas by six feet high walls. Right in the centre is a riftgate portal. Around the portal is the control systems. Other areas are storage, computer support, etc.

Ten says, "So- thtough there to the other world?"

Janet continues to lead you further into the building, and finally to the riftgate portal. There she introduces you to one of the people manning the control consoles, "Dr. Liztmann, these are heroes from Colonial Bay."

Ten nods to Dr Liztmann.

Dr. Litzmann nods, "Ya. Ve have the rift set up for the new world but not activated for anything other than communications. There has been nein contact."

Star Girl nods. "Whenever you're ready, Doctor, we're set to head after them."

Lia nods to Litzmann, then to Star Girl. Lia thinks oO (...I hope I don't end up transforming more in the middle of this...)

Cecila hmms and shrugs a bit "Yeah lets get going, not like anyone is responding... who knows maybe radios dont actually work there?"

Ten says, "They said they reported before going intp the cave."

Dr. Litzmann nods and signals to the operators on the consoles. "Radios work vell there. Ve vere in contact until they vent into the caves."

\The riftgate activates for full transmission.

Cecila nods some "Well that would explain it... radios tend not to work too well in caves" she says and follows Ten through

Lia follows as well.

Dark Horse heads through the gate along with the others. Prior to doing so he says in German to Dr. Litzmann, <>

Flutter flits through without hesitation again, excited to see the next part of the journey.

Star Girl heads through.

Realm of the Immortal Ruler
The ground on the other side of the rift is a few inches lower than the building floor. The time of day seems to be either very late or very early, The sun is low on the horizon and the light is dim. This looks like wild uncultivated land. You seem to be on the side of a broad river valley. Down by the river is a collection of huts, torches flickering with flames. Nobody is visible outside.

Ten says, "So, do we go to the village first?"

Cecila shrugs a bit "I dunno I'd rather goto the caves first, could those be you know a village of people who belong here?"

Ten says, "Do we have the location or do we need to ask directiions? The other reason to go to the village is to see if we can spot anything not as it seems there. But I agree, the cave makes sense too."

Longbow is waiting to see where others are going and will follow. He hasn't spoken much since his stab at Lia and seems content to leave it that way.

Lia ughs, "Hang on a second..." Lia looks annoyed. To those with magic sight, one can see her more Fae-ish magic is swirling around her body as the device which holds her in her current form becomes much more visible. A few seconds later, the flashlight and radio drop to the ground as her body turns into this green magical energy that she arrived with, then returns to normal-though shorter than before, with her wings larger, and her ears bigger. This time though, her binding simply changes slightly rather than disappearing and reforming. "...I hope that doesn't happen too often here..." Lia mutters, recollecting the flashlight and radio. Her magic is back to normal now. "I'm good with going wherever."

Star Girl says, "..."

Longbow remarks finally. "Did they take all the trees and put them in a tree muesum? Because clearly it looks like someone has tried to pave paradise." He looks at Lia. "Her magic is unraveling, altering her form. Corrupting her or benefitting her I can not tell. But to not be in control of ones own magic is a harsh way to go."

Ten says, "Ok then - cave first it is? Are we walking, or can anyone get us there faster? Not enough trees for me to swing my way."

Dark Horse shrugs, "It's only five miles or so. That'll take us about an hour and a half by foot over countryside. Not too bad."

Longbow says, "We should have brought a vehicle... or horses."

Cecila shrugs a bit and smiles "Well some of us can get there faster..."

Ten nods. "Certainly walkable - I was just asking if we could mamage better."

Star Girl nods to Ten. "I'm on foot too. Let's head over there." She starts to run and leap over in the direction of the cave. She glances back a moment to see if anyones lagging or needs a lift.

Ten sets off that way.

"My magic is simply changing, and with it, my form changes too." Lia notes to Longbow. Lia looks to the group, "Yeah, I don't have any spells to get us there faster, so walking it is..." Lia also heads out.

Longbow replies. "Your definition of what is occuring is changing too."

At whatever speed can be managed, the heroes arrive at the entrance to the cave complex. A hole in a hillside, the earth of the hill held in place by rudely crafted stone blocks forming an arch.

Cecila shrugs a bit "If we're in a hurry I can get us all there faster" she follows along

Ten says, "Can anyone scout in any way that doesn't involve going in?"

Dark Horse takes a look around the entrance of the cave with his flashlight, looking for tracks. "Afraid not. But give me a moment."

Longbow also begins looking for tracks to help.

Flutter suggests, "I am able to enter with no risk to others."

Ten says, "So am I. But let's be cautious first."

Lia looks to Ten, "I can enter with an ensured way out."

Cecila shrugs a bit "You want me to check what I can sense" she asks as she closes her eyes and focuses on what she can sense underground.

Ten says, "Hm. Let me try something."

Ten sticks her flashlight and her PDA on the end of her staff and makes sure she can manipulate the appropriate button. Then extends her staff in to get photos of the interior.

Dark Horse nods to himself. "Footsteps going in, no one out, unless they walked backward, but I think that's unlikely, based on the weight distribution." He crouches to take a closer look. "Modern boots, too. So, we're definitely in the right place."

Lia looks to Longbow, "What have I told you thus far? I've been meaning to explain that the reason this is happening is a result of my form becoming unstable, which I suspect is a result of me absorbing the magic of Undermoon and thus having my own magic altered. And I still haven't like, exploded or anything, you know."

Longbow looks down at his Renaissance style footware. "Yes modern foot ware is the key to success."

The special sense Cecila possesses lets her map the caves for up to about 50 yards distance. It's quite a maze. The floor and roof are rugged. There are things moving inside the caves, maybe 20 or so in that range. Slow moving streams of water cut through the caves in erratic paths.'

Longbow States to Lia. "If you exploded, we'd be getting off lucky."

Star Girl offers, "I can scout ahead, maybe use my stealth systems just in case.

"What's the worst I could do?" Lia asks. Lia looks to Star Girl, "If it's of any note, I can turn invisible and become intangible."

Ten looks at the photos. "That's... weird."

Lia looks to Ten, "Hmm?"

Longbow says, "You can summon hordes of demons, transform the world around you into a hellish landscape. And that again is us getting off lucky" He seems to speak from expeirence.

Ten says, "Anything beyond about ten yards is completely black."

Cecila smiles a bit and shrugs at Longbow "Clearly the answer is no footware" she admits "Actually... maybe they just got lost down there. It's pretty confusing, how many of them were in teh party? I can feel about 20 things moving underground"

Dark Horse raises a brow, and looks to Ten. "Were you using a flash?"

Ten says, "Stuck the flashlight on with the camera. I should be able to see
 * somethng*."

Longbow states to Cecila. "Clearly the answer is the mole men are revolting... in more ways than one."

"Perhaps this place disables technology or prevents light from passing through?" Lia asks, looking to the group.

"Underground?" Star says. She looks nervously at the ground.

Ten says, "I'm thinking one or the other, yes. So be careful. Hm, if all tech then my staff and camera would have failed too. So if must be pitch black in there, somehow."

Lia hmms, and focuses on trying to detect magical presences in the area.

Cecila shrugs a bit and smirks "Well you know since I dont need any light, maybe I should go inside? And if it is just technology maybe you should find some torches and pitchforks"

Ten says, "Could be whatever blocks the light blocks radio as well."

Cecila shrugs "Being underground blocks radio easy enough...Sometimes even PDAs dont get service in as little as 10 feet underground"

Lia ughs, "Gah, no magical presences beyond those of us here..." Lia hmms, "Is there any reason I shouldn't try plunging into the darkness? If worse comes to worse, I can teleport out."

Ten says, "I do realise. Hm. Shall we treat it like a labyrinth? Anyone got a ball of string?"

Ten says, "Might be nice to have a way out that doesn't depend on seeing."

"I just aim for going /up/." Lia notes, smiling.

Cecila shrugs a bit "I can also dig my way out if necessary" she points out

Ten says, "Well, - how are we going about this? Are we all going in? If not, who is?"

Cecila shrugs a bit "I'll settle this then" she starts into the cave herself, yay for being impulsive.

"I nominate either me or Cecila to go in, since we're wired with Ellbeth's mystic communicators." Lia notes, "And both of us have a rather assured means of escaping if need be."

Lia shrugs, and remains on the outside, though seems a tad annoyed that Cecila charged in before she had a chance to...

Star Girl follows Cecila in.

As she enters the cave, with each step the light becomes dimmer, until shortly it's pitch back to sight. Lucky that Cecila isn't dependant on sight alone.

Ten goes to the cave opening and shines the flashlight in, to see what happens to people as they go in.

Flutter moves in, tracing little glowing lines as she goes. They seem to remain in place.

Lia heads in as well, given that the others have already done so. Regardless of the darkness, she becomes invisible to sight.

As she moves in, Flutter quickly becomes unable to see anything. Not even her hand in front of her face. Or the stalactite she flies into.

Ten doesn't go into the darkness. What she does do is to feel about, using the feedback from her staff, to learn the layout of the cave, and perhaps find other things.

Dark Horse remains outside with Ten for the moment, he says as an aside to her, "So...if the point was to have one of the mystic communicators go in, and one stay outside, why'd they both go in?"

Ten says, "I have no idea. They went in before I could suggest that."

Flutter does not go far once she notices the lines are not doing what they should be doing. Glowing. She moves back, using the glowing lines as a beacon.

Cecila laughs a bit as she hears someone run into something "Perhaps you should keep your feet on the ground... flying blind is probably not a smart idea."

Flutter exclaims, "The first to enter is under attack! Also the area prevents light from occurring. It is unsafe to proceed!" As she is going out using her unseen glowlines as a path.

Flutter says, "Her mind has been subverted."

"...Gah, the only one here who can see..." Lia mutters.

Ten says, "Someone with mental powers?"

Star Girl vanishes from sight, activating her stealth systems by reflex. "So that what happened to... the..." her voice fades out as she disappears.

Flutter replies, "Her mind has been subverted. It is not yet certain whether it is an entity or a ward which has caused this to occur."

Lia tries her radio, <>

Dark Horse is still outside the cave, with Ten.

Cecila continues moving in and down. Moving at top speed now to wherever she's being pulled.

Flutter casts a glyph, perhaps unhelpfully to Star Girl. Invisibility Purge!

"Whatever the source of this, it is either not-magical, or it has concealed itself from the senses." suggests Pendragon as she simply holds her blade up before her, peering into the darkness even as Cecila moves further inside. "If her will is subverted though, should we not help her?"

Lia, against better judgement, decides to use FIREBALL of all things, preferably to try to light the area.

The fireball explodes as normal, except there's not even a flicker of light from it as it hits a stalactite not far from Lia and detonates. The heat comes full blast though.

As Lia appears and begins launching fire into the cave, Pendragon calls out, "No wait!" and it's too late. She shakes her head, "Wonderful..." she adds.

Flutter is knocked to the ground from the force of the blast.

Something snaps at Ten's extended staff and tries to bite through it.

Star Girl tries feeling forward, blindly trying to reach Cecila.

Lia urks as she's hit with her own fireball, and even more so as she feels her magic ripped from her body. "...I need to get out of this location..." Lia mutters.

Ten makes an attempt to grab whatever just bit at her staff, by feel alone. But it's so far in she won't be able to bring much strength to bear....

Ten grabs hold of the whatever and attemps to haul it out of the darkness toward her.

On the end of Ten's staff, gripped in the segments, and with its jaws locked around one of them, a large dog sized cave spider becomes visible as Ten retracts the staff back towards her.

Narrowing her eyes, Pendragon focuses on the dog sized spider and asks internally. . o o O O (You ever hear of anything like this cave or that... oh lord, that's a big spider...) Yep, she's asking Arthur for his input as she steps forward and points her blade at the creature.... causing the shining blade to flare and pulse as a blast of power streaks towards the giant spider.

The cave spider seems to be stunned by Pendragon's attack although it's still moving.

Dark Horse steps forward, and brings his foot around in a wide tall arc, to hopefully end with striking the spider with an axe kick.

There's a 'crunch' as Dark Horse's boot comes down, and the spider goes unconscious. Dark Horse rubs his chin, "Maybe I shouldn't've hit it quite so hard."

Sighing, Pendragon shakes her head, "That's why I specifically used a non-lethal attack."

Flutter does nothing at the time of now, unsure what she is capable of doing to help.

Star Girl loses her way in the darkness.

Dark Horse shrugs, "You know, it's not like I used a sword on it."

Ten says, "Good to see these things aren't too tough... guess it's time for me to go fishing and see if I can catch any more?"

Cecila continues on her way in, knowing where she's heading towards makes it easier as she runs along the ground at full speed.

Ten says, "Hm. Is the villagers' ruler a spider, are the spiders pets of the ruler, or have the spiders eaten the ruler?"

Ten goes fishing again for more spiders or people to rescue or anything else likely she can find by feeling about with her staff.

Ten yanks another spider from the murky depths!

Lia shakes her head, she isn't about to let Cecila travel off into the cave. So, she decides to follow her as best she can using her teleport.

Unable to see her intended destination, Lia teleports into a point filled by rock. She's kicked back to the nearest open space and the shock to her system leaves her stunned and close to unconscious.

Having no idea of the hazards being suffered within the cave, Pendragon shakes her head, "I was avoiding using the blade itself." she says as she just plunges into the darkness, "But we've got people in here, and Excalibur protects -me- from all harm..." Yep, arrogance maybe... but the sword is in ultra defense mode so hey... who knows?

Lia's radio and flashlight were left behind in the cave somewhere.

Dark Horse mutters to himself, "This is why I usually work alone."

[To Dark Horse] Ten says, "Oh? If you were here alone, how would you handle it?"

Dark Horse chuckles quietly and says to Ten, "At least no one would be here to berate me. Personally, I'd probably go into the cave, sneaking around, and trying to find my way by touch. But if this world is as 'magic' heavy as the people coming with us thought, it honestly probably wouldn't turn out well. I get affected by magic easily."

Lia's magical aura in itself feels weaker than normal, less stable and held together than before, and not in a good way.

Dark Horse shrugs, "On the other hand, I recently worked with the Markham twins, Lorelei, and Quinn on a mission. That turned out just fine. I think it's just the individuals in question."

Ten nods to Dark Horse. "Not too keen on going in blind myself. Hence my fishing approach."

Flutter informs, "The caverns are extremely deep. She used a teleportation spell to move in that direction," she points, "and had aimed to go a distance of point-zero-five-four kilometers. I do not know if her spell had the effect she intended."

Ten keeps yanking spiders from the dark cave, to be stunned by herself or someone else.

Ten says, after some eight spiders total, "That's all I can find."

Lia ughs, and suddenly appears 9km above everyone in flash of green. Then, from there, she disappears in a flash of green, and reappears at the ground near the others in /another/ flash of green. She looks more worried than anything else, and to those with magic sense, she looks normal.

Lia, coming down safely thanks to teamwork, has exactly one question, "...How are we going to save her?"

Ten says, "What happened to her exactly?"

"She was mind controlled, as far as I know. But, I don't know to do /what/ exactly. But she isn't responding to my hails over the mystic communicators we share..." Lia notes

Meanwhile, Cecila makes her way to a arched doorway on the far side of th cave maze and passes through it. Beyond the arch the area is lit. A terraced pit drops down to the base of a short tower. All around the base are human and humaniod figures, some looking in good condition except motionless, others mere skeletons in rotting clothes. The missing teams are there. From each living figure a thin thread of lifeforce is being sucked up towards the top of the tower.

Lia shakes her head, "...I can't leave without her. But I also don't have the tools to find her..." Lia looks to the mouth of the cave, considering...

Ten says, "I've got nothing. I don't know what's up with that weird darkness. If I go in I'll probably just need rescuing too."

Flutter offers, "I can follow where she went precisely."

Flutter nods. "I am able to track her using the communication device's signature. It is something I am not often needed to do, but it was part of my design in the event that something broke loose."

Ten says, "Can you guide us there?"

Flutter adds, "For those unable to make such detections, I recommend a tether. I can, yes."

Lia withdraws the communicator from her bikini bottom, and hands it to Flutter. "I'll be right next to you, heading in."

Ten says, "Sounds like a plan."

Stepping into the light finally, Pendragon blinks her eyes and lifts a hand to shade her vision. "Where -is- this?" she asks before stepping forward and looking down. "Well, we could ask -them-..." she mutters as she points at the tower.

Cecila lays down at the base of the tower feeling a bit tired now.

Flutter mentions, "I do not require one in order to follow the other. When you are each ready, I will proceed."

Lia shrugs at Flutter, and takes the communicator, "How about I plant this somewhere around here so that we have a beacon for getting back?"

Ten tethers everyone together.

Lia burries the communicator somewhere around here.

"I'm ready." Lia reports.

Flutter starts moving, following Cecila's trail. And Pendragon's trail, in the event that they match.

"Oh look, a tower." (Be careful. All is not as it may seem.) O O o o. . warns Arthur. "Really? It seems pretty dangerous and altogether evil..." says Pendragon as she starts searching for a way to get down to the tower. . o o O O (Okay, then it may be exactly what it seems.) adds Arthur.

Flutter leads the group to the doorway that is arched, coming to the tower chamber. Outside, the invisible things all turn visible!

The group is reunited. Beyond the arched doorway the area is lit by hanging lamps. The tower is twenty feet high, set at the bottom of a terraced circular pit. At the base of the tower are many unmoving figures, the missing teams and Cecila being among them. Some look fine. Others are mere skeletons in rotting clothing.

Ten says, "This... doesn't look good."

From each living figure a thin thread of lifeforce is being sucked up towards the top of the tower.

Ten ponts up. "This way to bad guy?"

Lia teleports out of the tether, and over to Cecila, trying to grab her and pick her up, "Cecila, you alright?"

Ten says, "I'll scout," and shoouts out her staff upwards to draw herself up to where all the threads go.

Flutter steps away from the persons with her, adjusting her size to Huge with a spell... hopefully.

Seeing folks arriving, Pendragon says, "I've been studying the place for a few minutes. Seems that the source of all of this is up but within.." And she rolls her neck before taking a swipe at the wall with her blade (Set to Penetrating to try to see if she can like, cut a handhold if not start carving a door)

Ten swings to land on top of the tower.

Thinking about ways inside, Pendragon is indeed about to make an attack when a voice in her head clears its throat and says, (try the door...) and so she stops... mid swing, and turns to head that way like she meant to do that! (She's been taking lessons from her feline roommate Primal). So reaching for the door, she tries opening it.

Cecila snaps out of the mind control.

The trapdoot's iron bolt comes away from the wood, allowing Ten ingress.

A scream of rage comes from the top floor of the tower a moment before Ten smashes open the trapdoor.

Well, locked. Pendragon steps back a half pace and seems to be preparing to slice through the door and the bolt at the moment...

Flutter heads for the tower to help open the doors. Either trap door or ground floor door, whichever seems more convenient at her size.

Flutter helpfully sees about opening the trap door. Since she has grown to be taller than the tower.

Peering through the smashed in trapdoor Ten and Flutter can see part of a room, moderately well furnished, with bookcases and rugs, and a chair very much like a throne. Raising from the throne is a inhumanly thin man in robes wearing a glowing crown.

Flutter reaches in to take hold of the lich!

Flutter scolds, "You should not be doing what you are doing if you are responsible for this happening which I believe you are!"

The man may be thin but he clearly isn't weak, not is he fragile. Flutter's fingers squeeze and have little effect.

Cecila snaps out of it as she opens her eyes and growls a bit "Alright, somebody is gonna wish they didnt mess with me" she goes to stand up and intends to rip that tower apart brick by brick if need be!

The ruler has a beastial angry snarl on his face as he reaches out to try and touch Flutter's hand as she hold him.

Flutter smiles. "You are not a wizard! Please surrender."

Maybe its the awkward position he's held in, but his touch misses even such a large target. Instead he brushes fingers against the arm of the throne, and the hard seasoned wood instantly crumbles into dust.

Ten says, "He's not a wizard? Really?"

Flutter explains, "He has no mystic power. I do not comprehend his ability."

Ten says, "Maybe some kind of mutant vampire or something."

Lia looks relieved that Cecila is alright. Now, she focuses on the tower, and whoever's inside of it. "No, he isn't magical, I'd feel something." Lia answers, moving towards the tower, desolidifying and moving through the tower's walls.

Ten says, "Well wizard or mutant vampire or shapeshifted spider or whatever, let's start with the basics." And she lashed out with her staff to strike the withered figure.

The ruler screams. He felt that. And the indignation of being touched by a lesser creature simply makes it worse.

The ruler stares balefully up through the broken trapdoor at Flutter. His eyes glow, the crown pulses with light, and a mental blow lashes out at Flutter.

Ten thinks. o O (Huh, crown.)

Flutter is afflicted by a severe amount of mental pain, shrieking as she crumbles, and shrinks, releasing the elderly man.

Looking at the door, and then looking up, Pendragon shakes her head and sighs. "Well, that makes it simple.." the sword is in her grip already, and so with a flourish of the blade, mist forms about her and fades... when it fades, she's gone. On the roof of the tower, mist forms out of nowhere, and when -it- fades, she's standing there atop it. "Okay, let's.." And then Flutter does her toppling giant act. Ut-oh, timber! "Oh look, another with a crown. Face me demon! Face the wrath of the Pendragon!" Yep, that's more of a male voice. Oy.

Cecila smiles at Lia "Dont worry time for me to get even" and with that a chunk of rock punches through the ground and sends her flying towards the Ruler

Slammed into by Cecila, the ruler screams in pain and rage. Then the weakened structure of the tower gives in. The roof falls in first, and then the rest of the tower collapses in on top of it. The heroes on the roof can jump clear. The ruler, prone and at the center of the roof cave in, falls with the roof and is buried deep under the rubble.

Ten says, "No one could have survived that!"

Ten lands on her feet effortlessly.

Ten says, "You know, I think these people need a new ruler. That guy makes our politicians look good."

Having just called out a challenge to the crowned demon thingee, Pendragon was in the process of adopting a defensive stance when.. SLAM! Cecila rams into the guy. "Oh good, you're free..." And then... "Oh dear..." the tower collapses under her feet. She slides down a crumbling wall and hits the ground where one arm windmills before she falls on her butt. "Damn.." she mutters.. and then as Ten speaks, she says, "Don't look at me. This isn't England."

Lia casually walks out of the rubble pile, and nods to Ten, "Yeah...Though, not sure what the politians of your world are like."

The living figures around the base of the tower, and how lucky for them it collapsed inwards, stir and awaken. The TransMat teams are okay but many of the others need medical attention.

Ten says, "Oh, they mostly keep the life-sucking on the metaphorical level.... but it looks like people need medical attention....."

Lia nods to Ten, then tries heading back out into the cave, testing to see if the darkness is gone.

Cecila falls to the ground with a THUD at the end of that. After a moment or two she touches her hand to the ground to feel what's going on before getting up "Well that worked out better than I hoped..." she admits as she gets back up on her feet.

Once contact is made with TransMat Research, medical people are sent through the rift. Jon thanks you all, and adds that this shows the need for a first contact team more capable of dealing with threats than his security people. He intends to revive the meta team for dimensional exploration and says there's a place on the team for any of the heroes who wants it.