Log:Kibin's Folly, Scene 2

Kibin's Folly 2009/06/17 	 Ss'lisk Ellbeth Lorelei Teflon Kibin 2

This new modernized country club is a place where upper class society comes to take part in luncheons, tennis, and tea along with various other activities provided by the club itself. The building recently remodeled has the look and feel of tropics inside, while the exterior is considered to be a work of art. The floors are made of a new synthetic marble-like material and with each step taken, it appears to shift as though ocean waves were beneath the feet. Live plants are all around with exotic birds in cages hanging from the ceiling in amongst the foliage. Corridors lead off the lobby area into different locations throughout the establishment. The club has a nice dinning room for those midday luncheons and bridge games, while outdoors there are a number of tennis courts in use along with a large swimming pool. The swimming pool is a sight in itself with a cascading waterfall leading down into the pool along with a built-in slide for kids to explore. A golf course is seen in the distance, the grounds neatly trimmed and green all year around.

There are two police cars outside of the clubhouse. The policemen are behind their vehicles, keeping under cover. The side of their cars closest to the house has a number of green splotches on it, not unlike a paintball strike.

Lorelei is already within the country club - as she has been a bit lately, not least to escape from the currently more fervent paparazzi. Having had lunch here (and waited a reasonable time) she's been swimming in the pool.

Ellbeth steps out of her Rolls Royce and looks back at the club. She was dining with an editor in there few a few minutes ago. Fortunately she left before the trouble started, which gives her rather more of a free hand than being trapped inside. With a steady pace she heads to wards the police cars to ask what the situation is.

Ellbeth(#2066PenACcF?)

Ellbeth's fusion of racial backgrounds created a youthful exotic beauty that has aged gracefully, to an almost classical Mediterranean appearance, now the temporary magical rejuvenation she recently experienced has faded. She's now no longer overweight however, as she'll readily tell you repeatedly. Attentive green eyes with a distinctly humorous glint glance out behind semi-mirrored sunglasses. A knowing gaze suggestive of having seen a lot, forgiven most and forgotten little. Is it something about the posture of her body and the firmness of her jaw however that indicates a steadfast resolve and a determination to make her views heard?

A silver clasp gathers her hair into a long ponytail of snow-white hair down her back. She wears a shimmering full length hooded mid-grey damask robe hemmed with dark sable fur, belted at the waist with a white slash and held shut at the neck by a silver owl brooch, the hood thrown back. A long polished oaken staff inscribed with arcane runes is held in her left hand while her right hand holds a state of the art laptop computer.

Teflon skates over to the country club quickly, at a pace that comes rather easy to him. He chews on a cereal bar as he moves and draws to a halt by the police cars outside the club. Spotting Ellbeth, he calls over. "Heya. What's going on?"

One of the policemen looks up at Ellbeth as she approaches. He makes a motion to her indicating she should get down. "A hostage situation inside. At least that's what we think. It's unclear what the suspect's motives are."

Ellbeth smiles at Teflon as he arrives, "I have not yet determined the cause of this disturbance. So let us enquire together."

Teflon nods, quickly cramming the rest of his food into his mouth.

Ellbeth nods to the police officer. "A scrying eye might gleam useful information." She says crouching down behind the police car before casting the spell.

The officer nods, "Uh...right. Whatever works, miss."

Ss'lisk(#1370TOn)

A reptilian looking creature....about 12 feet long. On two powerful legs. It's arms are huge, with claws, it has very sharp teeth, and slitted predatory looking eyes.The oddest thing is that it appears to be wearing...tattered clothing. The remains of a shirt, and a bandolier that appears to be empty.

Lorelei comes round to the front of the club to investigate what's going on, still glistening with water from her swim, and pushing her wet hair back over her shoulders.

Teflon mumbles, mouth still half-full with food. "See anythi--?" he starts to ask Ellbeth, until he spots Lorelei. His jaw hangs open a little, mid-chew.

Lorelei sees that Ellbeth is busy, and Teflon isn't talking. So she asks the police officer, "What's up?"

The officer is a bit dumbfounded as well for a moment, and then swallows slightly. You can see him running a finger over his wedding ring right before he speaks. "Umm...Miss Lorelei, there appears to be a single suspect inside. Reports are sketchy, but we think it's a metahuman. Perhaps a lizard. He's holding at least twelve people hostage for unknown reasons."

Ellbeth frowns, "Regrettably, yes. There is a creature, reptilian, about twelve feet tall. Wearing tattered clothing and a bandoleer. It is threatening to kill the people in the dinner if they do not drink something that is placed in front of them.

Lorelei says, "Hm... a lizard... why does that sound familiar?"

Ellbeth describes what she is seeing  - There are three full tables-worth of patrons in the dining area, along with three wait staff. Stalking amongst them is Ss'lisk, who is carrying a couple of devices with him. One of those devices appears to be a paintball gun-like device. Though it's unclear what it's loaded with. The second is what appears to be a switch, not unlike the comlinks in 'Star Wars'. A small cylinder with a switch on top.

Lorelei thinks. o O (Darn. I doubt I'll have much effect on a lizard. And how do you even tell the sex of a lizard, come to that?)

Teflon seems to shakes out of his daydream for now. He finishes swallowing his food and turns his attention to the scene the Ellbeth describes.

Lorelei snaps her fingers. "The book signing."

Ellbeth looks at Lorelei and Teflon, "I don't recognize the switch-like device the creature is carrying, and that which I do not recognize worries me." She turns her attention to the police officer and gives him a quick description to the creature, "Can you check your CBPD records and see if anything is known regarding it?"

Lorelei says, "He was in line at the signing of that 'You too can be a supervillain' book. I think he made some, um, anti-mammalian comments."

The officer nods, and calls it in. There's a long wait, and then he comes back with, "It might be a switch for an explosive of some sort. That was the best guess."

Teflon says, "Oh, I got that book too... you don't think that he's trying out what he'd read, do you?"

Ellbeth says, "Huh. No doubt it has diligently read the book by now, and is putting theory into practice. In view of the threats I suggest waiting it out is not an option. I fear the substance it is intending the hostages to drink will not be for their benefit."

Teflon says, "Maybe he's trying to make more lizard men."

Ellbeth says, "That is highly probable."

Lorelei nods. "Something about the time of mammals being at an end or such - maybe he's trying to make more or just kill them. Either way, it's not good. Any plans? I'm not sure I'll be able to affect him much...."

Ellbeth says, "I can translocate us inside. We can hope that will give a moment of surprise advantage. I can shield the hostages with a force wall by enclosing us and the creature inside one. That leaves the minor issue of subduing it to you."

Teflon nods. "Maybe that'd work. I'm not too sneaky though. Do you have any kind of invisibility spells?"

Lorelei says to Teflon, "What can you do, exactly? I'm not very clear onn your powers."

Teflon shakes his head, now understanding Ellbeth. "Got it." He turns to Lorelei. "Uh.. I could maybe make him drop his equipment -- make it too slippery to hang onto..."

Ellbeth nods, "That would be an excellent start. The weapon is a clear threat, but I'm even more concerned about the device that bears all too close a resemblance to a detonator."

Lorelei nods. "Is it a dead man's switch? Is the switch currently depressed, or not?"

Ellbeth says, "A good question. I hadn't noticed. Let me get a closer look."

There's a scream from inside the clubhouse, and a crash of breaking glass. AT least that's what everyone other than Ellbeth experiences.

Lorelei says, "What was that?! I think we've been talking too long...."

Teflon looks to Ellbeth. "What's going on?"

Ellbeth drops the scrying spell, and nods to Lorelei, "You are correct. We must go now. The button on the device is not depressed."

Lorelei says, "Are you teleporting us?"

Ellbeth says, "The creature has knocked a woman to the floor and is ordering her to drink."

Lorelei gets ready to run in case the answer is no.

Ellbeth thinks quickly, "Not from here. We must move to half this distance. Then I will translocate all of us.

Lorelei nods and hurries toward the building.

Ss'lisk is clearly busy as you all move to the 'jump off point'. Since there's no incoming fire.

Ellbeth thinks again, "Cancel that. Yes. It will take too long to move and then translocate. I will not be able to act immediately after a translocation of such distance though." She takes a breath, casts a protective spell, "Are you ready? Take hold of my arms."

Lorelei spins back and grabs Ellbeth's arm.

Ellbeth casts the dimentional walk spell once Teflon and Lorelei have taken hold of her arms. The three are instantly translated into an alternate reality, a seemingly infinite three-dimentional spider's web. Fortunately without any sign of giant spiders. In that place a single step moves from intersection to intersection of the webbing matrix, and then Ellbeth cancels the spell and the three heroes return to their normal realm in the desired new location.

Kibin enters from Colonial Heights.

The basic situation, for Kibin's sake: There are two police cars outside the clubhouse, and over a dozen hostages being held inside by Ss'lisk. He's ordering one of them to drink something. The group was about to teleport inside to confront him.

Ellbeth casts the dimensional walk spell once Teflon and Lorelei have taken hold of her arms. As she gets to the finish Kibin arrives and is invited to join the group. The four are instantly translated into an alternate reality, a seemingly infinite three-dimentional spider's web. Fortunately without any sign of giant spiders. In that place a single step moves from intersection to intersection of the webbing matrix, and then Ellbeth cancels the spell and the four heroes return to their normal realm in the desired new location.

The four appear about four meters (2") from Ss'lisk, whose head turns to face you all. It looks like he smiles, showing teeth.

Again, for Kibin's sake, Ss'lisk is holding two devices: A paintball-like gun of some sort, and what appears to be a detonator switch in his other hand.

Kibin blinks, staring at Ss'lisk for a moment. "...you?" He reacts quickly afterward, trying to bite the lizard and toss him away from the hostages.

Ss'lisk is thrown about four meters away, well away from any of the hostages....he sprawls on the carpeted floor, tearing up some of it with his hind claws.

He also manages to keep a hold of both items as he falls. He grimaces a bit, "Kibin? You don't know what you're doing...yesss...you have no idea."

Lorelei shouts, "Nobody drink that - whatever you do!" And trusting that that will have the creature's attention back on her she strikes her trademark stunning pose, praying it will have some effect on the reptile, at least.

Ellbeth looks between Ss'lisk and Kibin, "You know each other I take it?"

Lorelei winces as Lorelei projects her powers at him, "Yesss...you would make a great consssort, onsssse you are transformed. I can sssee that." Like expected, he's not hit as hard as Lorelei had hoped.

Lorelei says, "Consssort? No thanks...." And then thinks, I've got to give up trying to do this heroic quipping. Some of them make it look so easy....

Kibin steps forward quickly towards Ss'lisk, slashing once with his claws at the detonator, and then at the paintball gun... "What are you doing here, taking hostages of all things?" he asks. To Ellbeth, he gives a nod.

The two devices are destroyed handily. The switch is shredded into bits of plastic and metal. The gun gets broken, spilling green pellets all over the floor. Ss'lisk narrows his eyes, and stares at Kibin, "You REALLY don't know what you're doing. I'm continuing your work. You sssshould be proud."

Ss'lisk gets to his feet, and takes a huge swipe with his now-empty claw at Kibin, "I was trying to change these people into reptiles...make a great world! Like where I was from! Like you wanted to achieve for yourself!"

Kibin gets slashed up bad by the claws and goes flying, using his tail instinctively to barely flip back to his feet. Bleeding a lot on the pristine country club floors in the meanwhile, clutching his chest.

Lorelei cries, "Kibin!" - quite shocked at seeing him so badly and viciously injured. Having no better idea she again strikes a stunning pose.

Ss'lisk winces again, grimacing as he looks over at Lorelei once more, clearly trying to decide on his next target.

Ellbeth is mortified at the seeming ease with which Kibin has been injured. Stepping closer to Ss'lisk she casts an Aaron's Material Barrier around herself and the creature, and then adds a Zylari's Vampiric Spirit spell, the last at a reduced effect since she cannot manage to control all that magical energy.//12 Body force wall englobement and 5D6 ego attack on Ss'lisk. ecv 9, dcv 5

Lorelei breathes a sigh of relief. "Whatever you did, Ellbeth, it was brilliant!"

Ellbeth winces and shakes her head as the stress start off a headache. From nowhere a spirit appears inside the englobing barrier and flies /through Ss'lick draining away part of the creatures' spiritual essense.

[To Ellbeth] Lorelei says, "Do you know any first aid?"

Ellbeth waits for a moment to make sure Ss'lick is downed. Then she drops all the spells and hurriedly sits in a chair. "A whiskey would be in order, followed by a couple of asprins."

Lorelei says to the staff, "Get Ellbeth a drink," and then to the hostages, "Is their a doctor here?" Fair chance with this income bracket, she guesses.

Ellbeth tells Lorelei, "Unfortunately I don't. It's in the nature of a geas. I simply cannot learn either healing magic nor even basic first aid.

[To Ellbeth] Lorelei says, "I didn't know it applied to first aid too!"

There is definitely a doctor here. Three, in fact. They move over to take a look at Kibin. Two of them are plastic surgeons, sadly.

Kibin catches his breath again. He walks over to the downed lizard, reaching down to pick up a few of the green paintballs to look at them. "It's not all that bad right now..." he says, but lets the doctors take a look anyway.

Ellbeth shrugs, "Either it's a geas or I'm too stupid to ;earn. I perfer to think of it as the former rather than the latter.

A staff member hurries over with three choices of whiskey for Ellbeth. "Here you go, ma'am. Your choice."

Lorelei leaves the care of Kibin to the doctors (well, one of them) and goes to pick up the capsules that escaped the gun.

Lorelei says, "We should collect what he was trying to make them drink as well."

Ellbeth simplifies the selection by sampling all three of the whiskies.

Kibin nods to Lorelei after he's quickly patched up, thanking the doctors. "Chances are though, I know exactly what he put in the paintballs and water... er, be careful not to break those, Lorelei."

Lorelei says, "How do you know him, Kibin? And how do you know what's in these?"

Kibin replies back to Lorelei, "I... uh... met him a while back. And traveled to his world. Comes from a dimension where the extinction-level event that wiped out the dinosaurs never happened."

Lorelei says, "Makes sense. So what's he doing here?"

Ss'lisk groans quietly on the floor. He's still out, though.

Lorelei says, "We'd better tie him up, or something."

Kibin sighs and shrugs at Lorelei. "No clue. I'd guess that he's wanting to turn other people in this world into reptiles or dinosaurs too... er, yes." He looks around for anything that might could be used to tie him up. Something particularly strong, based on his strength.

Lorelei stands ready to pose in case he comes round meantime.

Ellbeth nods her approval of the drinks and keeps the finest of the three to sip enjoyably as she watches Kibin and Lorelei handling the aftermath.

Lorelei says, "But he can travel to and from his world? So why does he even care about ours?"

Kibin asks the once hostages, "Do you have anything metal or something that could be used to tie him up?"

Lorelei says, "Just tell the police to come in - they'll have handcuffs!"

One of the staff members gets up, and heads off to look for something to tie Ss'lisk with. "I'll find something sir."

Ellbeth notes the slight movement and groaning coming from Ss'lick and prompttly summons another vampiric spirit to ensure the create remains harmless.

Kibin hmmms. "Anywhere where was I... ah yes, don't break the paintballs. I... might be immune to them, but not sure."

Sure enough, the police come inside a few moments later, having been contacted by the staff. The officers, and several of the patrons, stare at Lorelei some more. Finally, he stammers out, "I've contacted the meta-containment unit. He's a big one."

Lorelei carefully places the pellets she'd collected in a glass.

Ss'lisk promptly stops groaning after he's hit again by the spell.

Kibin ughs, clutching his side again. "First time I've gotten hurt this bad that no heros were around that could immediately heal me."

Lorelei says, "Will you be ok, Kibin?"

The meta-containment team shows up a bit later, and gather Ss'lisk up, moving him out to their vehicle on a small hovercart.

Kibin nods back to Lorelei. "I'm fine. Had worse... by rats."

[To Kibin] Lorelei says, "Can you analyse the the pellets and what he was trying to get them to drink? Or should I find someone else?"

Lorelei says, "I mean, after you're healed, of course."

Ellbeth says, "Kibin, I cannot heal you myself but I can put out a message on HeroNet asking for a healer to contact you if you're agreeable to that."

The officer says, "Those pellets are evidence. We need to take them into custody."

Kibin frowns, asking the officer, "What about letting me keep a couple, for further study?"

Lorelei says, "Well, make *very* certain they aren't broken or anything."

The officer shakes his head, "You would need to speak to someone higher up than myself, sir. The DA, or chief of police, I think."

Kibin sighs. "Okay then... I'll do that."

Ellbeth says, "Officer, you will need to have them analyzed. I would suggest that Kibin, ex-Starguard technical division, is in fact the most logical choice for that task."

Kibin or... could let Ellbeth suggest that, yes.

The officer narrows his eyes a bit in thought. "Alright...it'll be my job if this gets found out. You can keep one. That's it. If you need more, contact the department. And...I don't know where you got the one from. Clear?"

Kibin nods back to the officer in understanding. And resists the urge to do the cliche where you ask what one.

The officer nods and smiles, "Thanks again for your help, everyone. We couldn't have handled it without you." He then gathers up the evidence, leaving Kibin with his scrap of evidence. He then directs the other policemen to start taking statements from the patrons and staff.

Kibin puts the pellet in a pocket carefully for later study. "I probably better get to the lab soonish, then."

Ellbeth says, "This whiskey really is quite exceelent. Would you allcare to join me in a glass?"

Kibin replies back to Ellbeth, "Sorry... alcohol and me don't really mix well."

Lorelei says, "I'd be glad to...."

Lorelei heads over to join Ellbeth.

The whiskey is excellent, by the way. Very smooth for a whiskey.

Ellbeth orders another couple of the malt Scotch whiskies.

Lorelei says, "Hang on - I'll put in a call to Wasp, um, Dragonfly. She can heal people now..."

Lorelei pulls out her PDA and calls Jackie to come and heal Kibin.