Log:Rift Crisis II, Scene 7

Rift Crisis II 2019/03/01 Defender Fleta Grimm Kalwara Samuel Sentinel Union

7

The second rift crisis continues. Typically these overlaps between worlds are pretty subtle - the one world seems to merge into the other and it's hard to tell quite where one stops and another begins. Sometimes it's so subtle that people can be unsure if they travelled to another world or not. But sometimes, it's more obvious. And today, the Upper East Side just isn't there. Where it should be is a forest. Unsurprisingly, the authorities cordoned the whole area off and have sent out the call to heroes to investigate.

Kalwara makes her way to the location not because of any awareness there is a problem but because she's a stranger exploring the city and the sight of a forest is like a cool drink of water in a urban desert. It's not until she's stopped by the police cordon that she realizes anything is amiss.

Grimm sensed a disturbance in the fabric of reality. It made her skin crawl. It's been happening all over, and she's been too busy trying to outrun the Empress to help fix more than a few spots. The shadowborn heroine appears, hovering in mid air by the start of the forest. "This...this is huge. This is bad..."

having received the call not 5 minutes earlier, a glint of silver marks Defender's arrival as he arcs down from a jet-assisted leap, metal boots crunching into the accumulated grit atop a nearby four story building. Striding purposefully along the rooftop, the knightly hero pauses at the edge to look out over the dense treetops of a forest that should not be, lance crackling quietly as he holds it defensively across his chest. It is an unsettling thing to see, part of the city just gone with no reason or explanation. Still, he has a job to do, so with another roar of flames, he launches himself over the edge of the roof and plummets out of the sky, landing heavily in an armored crouch not 15 feet from the nearest squad car.

The Colonial Bay Sentinel is swooping through the city as part of his afternoon East Coast patrol. He's flying through the city when his energy sense is tweaked and then there's just a void where the Upper East Side once stood.

He stops instantly- going from just barely subsonic to zero with no slowdown in between. He turns towards the Upper East Side and darts off that way.

Hovering over the forest he raises an eyebrow and arcs down towards the authority cordon.

Grimm teleports from her vantage point to the nearest police authorities. "Gabrielle Grimm, with Starguard Gamma. What's the situation beyond the obvious?"

Lizzy was on her way to Chinatown after school (via MagLev), when the train made an emergency stop, just before reaching the Upper East Side station. After being evacuated from the train, she sees trees where the buildings should be. <> she thinks.

Stepping around to the far side of the car, she finds a spot where nobody can see her and whispers, "E Pluribus Unum," and is transformed into Union.

Sam noticed the problem while testing his high altitude flight systems. Part of the city has disappeared, this warrants investigation. He drops quickly from the sky, hoping to get some interesting data from the area, he also remembers there may be people who need help, eventually.

Starguard and the CBPD are both out - perhaps some other authorities too - it's a big area to cordon off, and it's perhaps a bit confused so far who's in charged. The detective answers Grimm, though. "So far, not too bad. Some people from this Earth have found their way out of the forest. Some wild animals, too, but nothing we can't handle. But if that's another world in there, there could be anything inside..."

She continues. "We'd like you heroes to go in there and make sure any of out people make it out ok. And if you can do anything to bring the Upper East Side back, that would be good too!"

Griffin comes to another sudden halt across from Gabrielle Grimm- who still gives him the heebie-jeebies (and rightfully so), but the situation lets him push that out of his mind easily. Instead he gives her a curt nod and lsitens in for the answer to her question. He doesn't really need introduction- so he doesn't make one. He's here to work.

He nods at the detective's answer. "Yes ma'am. Agent Grimm, do you... 'sense' anything strange? Are we on a timelimit of any kind?" He inquires, knowing she may have some insight into such things.

Grimm offers a forced smile. "Got it. I'll take a look." She looks over to Griffin. "Hey, sunshine. Glad you're here to help." She starts walking to the forest, motioning for him to follow. Her shadow is stretching far and wide behind her, contrary to the direction of the sun.

"How tall were the tallest buildings in this area?" Defender asks, voice escaping his helmet full of harsh distortion. Having straightened up and clomped a few steps closer toward the Officer that is quickly being surrounded by heroes, he lifts his lance into an upright position and turns his attention mostly toward the trees, scannign them for signs of life.

Union jogs along outside the cordon, goggling for a moment at the giant stone alien, until she sees The Sentinel with some other heroes, and runs up to join them.

"We coudl have a time limit. Which is why I need to get in there in case it all shuts down," Grimm says as she hurries. She motions back to her shadow and raises her hand as if lifting something up by strings. Her shadow starts to rise up and take a three dimensional shape.

Kalwara overheard the comment and speaks up, "There are people within the forest as well as animals. I cannot tell if they are people from your realm of another."

Union is awed at the prospect of working with (and maybe fighting alongside) the Colonial Bay Sentinel, and feels a tingle in the back of her head at the thought.

The shadow grows and grows, a tail flowing out of it, a massive head, and a pair of leathery wings as it forms into a dragon made of solidified shadow and magic. "This guy might be able to sniff out people from this world," she says as she reaches up to scritch under the large beast's chin.

Sam moves to the authorities as he nears, his attention turning to see what equipment is set up. "What readings are we getting from this thing? Data would be exceptionally useful before we let anyone in there. If I get stuck in another dimension I want at least some information that may help me get back." He turns his attention to the forest, his sensors trying to detect whatever may be in there.

Union lets out an "eep!" as the huge beast appears.

"If there are people from our world lost in those woods, some might not have gone with their buildings when the realities merged. Look out for citizens with fall injuries. Does anyone here have medical training? Those that do should pair with someone who can see through the trees. I am one. The redheaded woman with the sword seems to be another." Defender reports all of this as he lifts his lance and steps forward to follow Grim toward the woods, joining those heroes pressing forward into the trees. The arrival of a dragon seems not to phase him in the slightest. But, well, he is a knight.

The Shadow Dragon is enormous. About 8 meters tall and 4 meters wide. A bit big for the forest. But strong enough to make that not an issue.

Grimm warns, "There's also some high mana coming from in there. Probably a magic world, so who knows what we'll deal with."

Grimm looks to her dragon. "See what you can sniff out that smells like this world." The dragon raises its head and inhales the air deep, then starts going to the forest to sniff.

And suddenly, things get loud. A yelp of pain and a shriek from one direction. Excited calls from another.

The Shadow Dragon starts into the forest at once.

"Crap. Well, let's go!" Grimm says as she starts running. She teleports between trees on her way to the sounds, watching where her dragon goes.

The dragon is moving more in the direction of the excited shouts.

Someone was in trouble! Union started running toward the shriek she heard.

Kalwara hurries toward the sound of the shriek at her best speed.

Grimm thinks. o O (Jackpot. I don't like the sound of those screams.)

Jolted from his scanning of the trees by a sudden shreak of pain, Defender triggers hsi jump jets and launches himself into the air, crashign through branches and thinner tree trunks as he bulldozes his way toward the screamer who might be in trouble. The sounds of excitement fall on deaf ears for the moment.

"Run towards us! We're here to help!" Grimm shouts towards the screamer. She raises her hand and summons an image bright red beacon above the forest. It's an arrow pointing towards the heroes. "Run towards where the arrow points!"

A group of half a dozen people come running toward the heroes. Some are obviously bleeding, a bit. All seem to be in pain to some extent.

Defender, you do see more probably-humans running. Probably also fleeing.

"Where are they?" shouts a woman in alarm as she starts bleeding from a new spot.

Defender smashes down atop a jutting boulder between two trees before immediately launching himself skyward again, catapulting himself over the heads of the approaching civilians and landing some distance behind them. Striding forward, the approaches the next group of fleeing humanoids, attempting to get them into normal line of sight to confirm that they aren't some sort of band of crazy monsters. As he walks, he raises his electronic voice to a commanding boom, words crackling out through the trees, "Follow the arrow! There is safety hear! If you have seen danger, call out! We will return you home as quickly as we are able!"

Union runs to the woman who shouted. "Where are who?"

Grimm teleports to get closer. "They're being chased by a bunch of tiny invisible creatures. Like...winged fairies with bows."

Kalwara pages: Can Kalwara sense them? They would need to be invisible to special awareness or using stealth as well.

Grimm rushes towards the kids. "Tell me you guys can see those things, right?" She asks as she races on, hands raised. The big red air disappears as black inky streaks start to swirl around her, growing further and further...

Sentinel looks towards the fleeing citizenry as he answers Defender. "I'm a medic. Let's see if we can hold the line, and tend to wounds in an orderly fashion. We'll eval and work them in order of priority." He says confidently as he devotes all his senses to the task of sensing what is chasing them.

"What the hell?" He says in surprise as he barely notices the motes trailing the people at such a close proximity.

"They're tiny. Way tiny guys. Not sure what we're dealing with." He announces to the other heroes.

For those who can see, them, 7 of the little people are stunned.

The black streaks of energy swirl like clouds in a storm, striking several of the little people. "Leave them alone and go back to your home!" Grimm warns them.

On hearing someone say that the attackers are invisible, Union tries to focus her other senses on them.

However, she is unable to detect any within her reach.

Kalwara says, "races forward to the group of fleeing humans with blinding speed. But even that is not as fast as her movements as she starts a whirling dance like a leaf in the wind. Her sword comes from its sheath as she dances between and around the terrified people striking at the farie creatures."

To those who cannot sense the faerie creatures it must seem like an exercise is fultility as Kalwara dances in and around the humans. But for those who can sense the creatures she knock more than a dozen out of the air.

A tiny voice cries out in an unknown language, and the two fairies hit by neither attack fire on her.

Defender I can not see them." Defender reports aside to Sentinel, though fortunately, other heroes are already rushing forward to handle it. Focusing on what he can do, the mechanical knight tromps forward through the trees, branches snapping away from his armored shoulders as he approaches the first of the two groups. "The pests are being removed. Remain calm and as still as possible. We will do what we can for your injuries, then send you on to the city, where your wounds can be treated in full."

Though the situation is too hectic, and the citizens too panicked for Defender to really set them at ease, a motion of his lance has them moving as a group in the right direction while the knight himself remains behind.

Sentinel charges ahead and overhead, drawing a literal line in the earth to attempt to hit the remaining buggers. His eyes glow and then twin beams of energy lance just beneath him.

Sentinel charges ahead and overhead, drawing a literal line in the earth to attempt to hit the remaining buggers. His eyes glow and then he prepares to stop any more oncoming fire with his own energy beams attuned to the little motes of energy.

From above you, a tiny voice shouts, "Humans! You are trespassing in the Ellusian Forest unlawfully and assaulting its residents. Leave immediately, or face worse than those pixies can do!"

Union takes a deep breath and calls out, "Your forest has intruded into our city, trapping our residents. We have come to retrieve them, only to find them under assault by your pixies. We have acted only in their defense, and wish only to remove all our people from your forest, and for our city to return to normal."

"The forest has intruded into you city? What do you mean?" says the tiny voice.

Kalwara was about to continue her wind dance but Union's words stop her. She halts and waits to see the result of the conversation, albeit ready to resume at an instants notice.

Sentinel keeps his energies contained, but turns to give Union an approving nod.

For those who can "see" the twelve pixies, they form a ring around the woman with the scary magic sword, bows drawn, ready to fire if negotiations break down.

Union sees Sentinel's acknowledgement of her contribution, and the tingle in her head grew stronger, like her mind trying to reach out...

Union says, "Those who are appointed guardians of our city have told us: a large section of our city has vanished, and your forest stands in its place. We ourselves have seen the place where the city ends and the forest begins."

Fleta says, "Is your city the source of those strange sounds?"

Defender plants his lance upright before him, booted feet shoulder-width apart and energy fluctuating behind the slits of his visor. Remaining silent for the time being, he scans their surroundings for further signs of danger, offering his stoic support to Union as their current spokesman.

Union says, "I cannot say for certain, for the city's sounds are normal to me, but it seems likely."

Fleta says, "That's a really weird story. But weird things are happening... Show me this city, if and I might believe your story."

Union says, "May our people come with us?"

Fleta says, "Of course. We want them to go before they destroy the forest!"

Sentinel maintains his aerial position above the circle of pixies. His eyes are ablaze with crackling strands of energy and anyone looking directly into his eyes would find eyecontact very difficult to hold.

He listens as best as he can, but his attention is steadfastly held on this tenuous peace being brokered.

He folds his arms, hovering like a sentry.

"There are more creatures watching us." Defender reports, his electronic words cutting harshly through the trees. "Some sort of apes. Three of them." He does not bother lfiting his lance formt he groudn to point, but the direction his visor is facing is probably clue enough as to which way.

Union turns and looks back the way she came. But as she's a city girl, she can't make out any trail they may have left. "Um, does anyone know the way back?"

The shadow storm dies down with Fleta's appearance as they begin to Parlay. Grimm mutters, "Now where'd that dragon get to?"

Fleta says, "Zarks?! What are they doing here?!"

Kalwara points the way back. Slowly.

Fleta says, "Hurry. Zarks hate humans as well as us!"

"Watching." Defender reports up to the fairy without much apparent concern, staring off through the trees at the curious creatures.

Griffin's eyes scan around, locking on to Defender's point of interest. He glances up, spotting Fleta since he can scan visually at 1000x human normal.

Griffin floats forward to interpose himself between the apes and all assembled. He looks back to Fleta and asks, "They wit--- Zarks? What's a Zark? Are they dangerous?" He inquries, keeping his arms folded and his posture straight.

Suddenly the zarks burst from the trees at Defender - obviously thinking the three of them can take him.

Union calls out to the group of humans, "Ok, everyone, we're heading back tot he city now. Keep together and don't touch anything. This way." She strikes out in the direction indicated by the swordswoman.

The zarks would be maybe 7' tall fully erect, but they are currently running using their knuckles on the ground like a gorilla. They're powerfully built humanoid, particularly their upper bodies. They are not hairless exactly, but have a sort of pig-like bristle over their leathery skin. Their jaws are powerful, and their teeth, which look capable of eating anything, are bared. They wear scanty crude skin, and are carrying clubs and spears - in holders on their backs, currently, since their hands are busy.

Not having weapons in hand, they zarks just try to trample Defender after their charge.

The zark collides with Defender, and hurts itself a lot more than it expected.

Defender swings his lance deftly up into the chest of the first Zark, using its own momentum to diver it to one side. The second is caught against the side of his lance, both gauntlets braced, and shoved out of the way. The third, however, slams into Defender full tilt, and just kind of bounces off the gleaming silver knight without much effect.

"Lead the pixies and the wounded swordswoman out." Defender isntructs Union, voice cracklign out calm in the face fo what doesn't appear to be much danger. "Sentinel shoudl stya. We will look for more stranded survivors. These, Zarks, wont' be a problem."

"If you have this handled, I can check for more trapped people," Grimm offers.

"Zarks!" calls a pixie, and they head toward them and away from Kalwara. Zarks are an even bigger problem than humans....

"Its a good plan." Sentinel agrees after Defender bounces the zark's opening drive easily. "Grimm can hold her own- but let's sync comms so we can stay in contact."

"I do." Defender responds firmly to Grim, helmet shifting as he sizes up his three burly foes. "It seems i'll have backup as well."

Kalwara nods to Grimm, "As will I. While I am more used to mountains then forests, both are more familar to me than your city."

Fleta is happy to let the park-sized people handle the marks. She goes with those going to the city to see this strange (alleged) place.

Grimm nods to Kalwara. "If your injuries aren't bothering you, let's go."

Union hopes she doesn't get lost.

Sentinel's voice clicks in over the radio band. <<"Comm check one-two. Stay frosty out there ladies."

Not having a radio, Union doesn't receieve Sentinel's message.

With the plan established & underway and the citizenry in full treat Griffin drops to the ground, landing in a classic three-point stance.

He rises slowly as the Sun breaks through some clouds and illuminates the area Defender & he occupy. As he comes to his full height he flexes and focuses a good sum of his energy into his bio-electric field- turning his exterior into a weapon. Promenences dance over his body and sparks arc off of him.

He turns his attention to one of the zarks, leaving Defender the other two.

With the plan established & underway and the citizenry in full treat Griffin drops to the ground, landing in a classic three-point stance.

He rises slowly as the Sun breaks through some clouds and illuminates the area Defender & he occupy. As he comes to his full height he flexes and focuses a good sum of his energy into his bio-electric field- turning his exterior into a weapon. Promenences dance over his body and sparks arc off of him.

He turns his attention to one of the zarks, leaving Defender the other two.

Sentinel charges them fists clenching milliseconds before impact.

THe zark is knocked back hard into a tree. He's more than stunned. From the look on his face, he's never been hit that hard.

Defender stands firm. While Sentinel is getting all glowy and launching himself at one of the monsters, Defender thrusts the Arc Lance high overhead and triggers an internal mechanism, causing the shaft to shorten dramatically and the head to split. Lightning arcs along the knight's armor as Jump jets detach from his back and float up to anchor themselves in a field of crackling energy on the head of the now giant hammer he holds, their blunt coned fronts forming the dimpled striking face of the oversized weapon. Bannhammer in hand, Defender strides forward and winds up, fire blasting out of the rocket-powered weapon as it swoops around and up in a huge upper cutting swing toward one of the two remaining zarks, attempting to catch it full in the torso and blast it up and away through the forest branches.

The zark is still conscious when he's flying high into the air. This ceases to be the case when he collides with a tree tree branch - which snaps in two at the impact.

As the branch falls, a third of a villageful of fairies try desperately to escape their collapsing homes.....

As Kalwara and Grimm approach the spot from which the Shadow Dragon called, they come upon Wade, who presumably heard the same call.