Log:Rift Crisis II, Scene 5

Rift Crisis II 2019/02/15 Blok Copycat Jennifer Sentinel Wade Wesley Golorast

5

Jennifer pulls on the reins to force her skeleton horse into a rearing 180 turn and reaches out with colee whip attempting to snatch away another of the magical swords.

Jennifer snatches the sword from the mounted skeleton and retracts the whip length. "Anyone else like a sword?" she asks. "I'm having a sale."

Wade breaks into a run across the courtyard, unsure if the skeletons in front of him are going to spring into action, or if they're waiting for direct orders. He tries to get to the tower and up the exterior staircase to get to the door.

Copycat raises a finger and lowers it down to point out at remaining sword skeleton. A ball of witchfire goes flying towards it.

The skeleton looks almost like it's taken an electric shock, and collapses on the ground. It's twitching, but not effective any more.

Sentinel keeps a firm grip on the hilt of his new mystically enchanted sword. His plan is to keep any more strikes from dragging him bodily to Death's door once more by blocking and parrying with the weapon as needed.

His eyes narrow, locked on the battlefield before him.

He doesn't even flinch as a bolt of witchfire streaks by from NotRaven, his Handwarmer+. He smirks. "Aww you Boneheads have done it now." He says proudly, perhaps a bit prematurely since the Skeleton stays upright momentarily.

His eyebrows start to furrow but then the skeleton starts responding to the blight CopyRaven struck it with before he can really draw frown.

With that one down, he vanishes- attempting to step on the downed skeleton's wrist and seperate the sword from it just in case it gets over the twitches or another tries to pick it up.

His eyes are flash one time the moment he comes to a stop. Two pencil thin beams of energy launch out. It seems he's just going to try tosever the hand holding the sword.

The mystical armor absorbs much of Grififn's cosmic rays but he keeps piling on the energy until the bony arm turns to ash at the wrist, dropping the sword limply to the ground.

The remaining mounted skeleton just sits motionless on its horse in front of Blok.

One skeleton by Wesley stoops to pick up a glowing sword.

Two more get up and close again on Blok, but can't attack yet.

The one which had been chasing Wade returns and attacks Jenn.

The lone skeletal horse turns about and attempts to ram Jenn's horse again.

Jenn's horse takes head damage, while the attacking horse breaks a leg.

Wesley flinches as skeletons swarm him again, shortly after Jennifer grabbed him away. He brings up an arm to defend himself, seeming to be really bad at getting out of the way of swords like other heroes. On the other hand... the skeletons still haven't laid a scratch in him yet, just his clothes. He focuses on the one with a glowing sword again, not keen on finding out if his luck will hold out wit hthe glowing swords. He forms a half-fist with his clawed hand and does a backswing at the skeleton, crackling energy forming on the back of his hand before being released at the point of impact. Aiming to get the skeleton and the glowing sword into a wall and as far away from anyone else as possible.

The skeleton is knocked back into a monolith(?!) which is just becoming visible as the fog thins.

The skeleton is reduced to dust. The glowing sword sticks into the monolith.

Blok is tired of all these skeleton crowding around. He stomps his massive foot, causing a Shockwave around him.

Jenn's horse's head crumbles completely and it comes to a dead stop.

The shockwave blasts the skeletons around Blok, destroying 2 and damageing the others.

Jennifer says, "vaults off the now stationary horse and places a sword on the ground, then stamps on it to snap the blade. Just in case she is taken down. "

The sword snaps in two. And stops glowing.

Wesley looks over at Jennifer, wincing as the sword snaps. "Would, uh, still like to keep one of those. Might be ancient and good for keeping with the college's archeological society."

Wade tries to open the door to the tower, by force if necessary, and head inside to get a layout.

"We'll be here all day if we don't discover the source of these," CopyRaven says, teleporting in the direction Wade went. She appears some distance away.

"We'll be here all day if we don't discover the source of these," CopyRaven says, flying in the direction Wade went.

Copycat appears by a stone circle. There's an obvious portal inside the circle. And a sword stuck into its outside.

Griffin tests the weight of the magical sword in his hand as he scouts the battlefield again. "Where'd Victory go?" He asks, "I don't sense him ... any where." It seems CopyRaven has a similar idea. "Source? But what about the kids? The city?" He asks- but she's already gone. Now he's torn- follow Copycat/NotRaven or keep the city safe.

The door Wade opens is heavy, but unlocked. It opens, it turns out, straight into a large room, lavishly decorated but unfurnished but for a throne on a dais at the far side. In which sits a purple-robed, crowned skeleton with glowing eyes. It stares at Wade, and says in a voice, dry as the grave, "I have been expecting you."

Wade points at the lich(?), "Not sure why you'd be expecting me, exactly. But call off your troops. I'm not going to put up with innocents getting hurt because you need to fuel your ego."

The lich stands and walks down the steps toward Wade. "I did not expect you, precisely. I have not the faintest idea who you are. But I was aware that your world has intersected mine, and that there were intruders."

Sentinel 's mind races, not knowing which would be harder to live with- somehting happening to Katrina Prince or to the city he calls home.

He knows what she'd have him do. He knows he doesn't like that option, but this isn't the first time he's followed orders- just imaginary ones. After all, for all he knwos those kids are still dangerously close. His priority is to hold the line.

He ignores his injuries, clenching his jaw with enough force to shatter a small boulder.

He reasons with the swords out of commission that he can deal with a few at a time with little worry. He hopes.

The Sentinel is starting to really dislike magic.

He flashsteps a few meters away to line up his shot.

His eyes glow and then suddenly beams of energy lance across the battlefield. The beams streak towards a number of skeletons as he swings his head around as he tries to keep any from getting bored and wandering off.

Wesley acks, putting up his arm defensively when he's getting attacked. Not that it... does anything to him. He looks more surprised than anything, after the beams slice across him harmlessly. "...right. Uhm. Keep doing that if you want, and thanks for the help!" he says after noticing the skeletons around him weren't nearly as lucky.

Griffin's beams lance out- but aren't hot enough to actually pose any danger to Wesley. He's seen the dragon-man take far worse. He's just trying to give him a breather by alling soem of the attention on to himself. He gives Wes a curt nod, as he prepares to back him up. "I've got your six." He says confidently.

Jennifer calls out to Sentinel, "Go after Wade and Copycat. They might need heavy support. We'll take care of these. And don't worry about any getting past us to the kids. The two kids I had with me? They're as combat capable as I am." Leaving the snapped sword on the ground she moves toward the nearest skeleton and lashes at it with her energy whip.

The whip strike curls the tip around the skeleton's spine and simply rips it out from the rest of the bones. The two halves drop to the ground.

Wade remains wary as he says to the lich, "Our worlds did intersect, yes. As far as I know, no one from my world intruded on purpose, except for myself - since I wanted to end the conflict. Call off your troops, and we can get this sorted. Otherwise, this is going to end badly for you."

The Lich's eyes flare brighter. "You would threaten me? This entire world is mine to command!" he rasps fiercely. Then he seems to calm. "Of course, that was my error. I see that now: I fought to the end, and am king only of the dead. I miss.... life." He looks Wade up and down. "The flesh."

Copycat flies towards the portal and tries to figure out where to go from there.

Wade tilts his head, "It wasn't a threat. I was just stating how it is. My friends are already defeating the troops that went through the portal, if they haven't done so already. Again, I'm okay with talking, but I need assurances that we're going to have a cease-fire."

Passing through the portal, Copycat finds herself in the courtyard a castle, largely ruined apart from one immaculate tower, the door to which stands open. Across the courtyard are hundreds of skeletons, lined or lining up in array. About 1 in 20 of the foot skeletons has a glowing sword - more like half the cavalry. The skeletons pay her no attention.

Copycat casts a spell with a thought, vanishing in case the skeletons spy her.

The lich says, "If you would parlay, then let us do so. My soldiers were but acting on old orders to defend this place. If you could order your people to stop destroying them, we can talk."

The skeletons continue to ignore Copycat.

A look of visible relief washes of Griffin's face. Its incredibly brief, but it happens. He nods saying, "Thanks Markham, I don't know why I ever thought otherwise." A smile follows shortly thereafter before he crouches and then bounds off towards the center of the maelstrom- just like that, clearly trusting his friend and her young wards implicitly.

He streaks towards Kat and Wade.

He beelines straight for them, having been keeping an eye on the direction CopyRaven went. He just hopes she hasn't lost herself in her duplicate.//Full move to the portal. Up to 64m Leap (Accurate) He's heading right for whereever Kat/CopyRaven disappeared from his energy sense with all due haste.

Wade raises a brow, "I came through a portal to get here. The soldiers must have gone the other way through the portal to where the worlds overlap, at another set of standing stones in your world?" He shakes his head, "I doubt I can send a message, but I'll try." He tries using his SG communicator to contact Blok, who he knows is at the fight proper, << Found the skeleton...leader. He's willing to talk, if we stop destroying his soldiers. >> No idea if it'll get through. Or if the message is too late.

And the skeletons all stop in place. Just like that.

Blok recieves Wade's message and yells, "HOLD for parlay!"

Wesley is about to punch another skeleton. Before glancing over at Blok, then back at the skeleton. He scooches out of the horde of skeletons if they will let him, scooting over to the monolith. "Er... that was sudden." Heading over to the monolith curiously, yoinking the sword carefully out of it before studying it for anything not worn away. Or to figure out what it might have said despite being worn away.

The lich explains, "There were sentinels at the standing stones. They summoned reinforcements on standing orders."

Griffin's targetting is pretty good as he hits the portal dead on. He doesnt even lift his hands ot his face. He's off to save the woman who saved him- both earlier this afternoon, and in general.

He lands, rolling away the momentum- immediately scanning everything around with all the senses available to him.

His eyes glow with a fiery intensity as he prepares to bring down the house if required.

Blok says, "Blok received message from friend Wade. He has arranged cease-fire."

Wade smiles slightly and nods to himself, "Looks like my message got through. Fighting's stopped." He takes a deep breath. "I...realize the overlap of worlds was...a surprise. I know the culprit in this particular case, and we're trying to deal with it. Some dwarves created some kind of...dimensional link to our world. I'm not an expert in dimensional physics, but it was something about the connection being 'too solid', and it's causing our world to overlap with others erratically."

Blok says, "Is anyone hurt? Blok will help."

Jennifer says, "I'm fine, thanks."

Griffin cannot sense his Handwarmer+ disguised as she is, which brings a pit of worry to his stomach. "Alright, Kitten- now where are you?" He murmurs quietly to himself as he scans the interior.

He spots Wade and decides that's as good a place as any to hold down until Kat makes herself known. He isn't entirely sure what all tricks CopyRaven has up her sleeve- the strategic move is to hold his ground and back up the teammate he can sense.

Griffin flashsteps to Wade.

The lich makes a rasping sound - laughter? "Dwarves - I should have known. They made the stone circles here, too - long ago. And the hole in the castle wall. They were the last - they wouldn't accept my rule. Not in life."

Copyraven teleports after Griffin and gently lays an invisible hand on his shoulder before appearing visibly at his side. His use of her pet name reminds her who she really is.

Blok moves toward (and through, when he gets there) the portal, where he saw Sentinel go.

Jennifer looks around, "Now I'm back in Colonial Bay I'd better start carrying my equipment. I got out of the habit living on Undermoon."

Griffin cocks his head with surprise, hearing laughter as he arrives. He tenses under Kat's invisible touch, but is relieved seeing CopyRaven appear besides him.

He smiles at her, giving another nod but everything he wants to say is all written in the look he gives. He was worried and is grateful to see her. Then with his love safe he's back to business. He turns back to the Lich-Lord before them wondering just what the hell is going on.

On passing through the portal, Blok feels something twist painfully inside him.

Wesley taps a claw on his chin as he peers at the tablet. Hmmm. "...dang. Too old to actually get a good read. Would have to study stress marks from the chiseling or something weird like that." He sighs and shrugs, peering at the sword to see if it has any markings then. He glances up to see the people start moving towards the portal, heading there as well with the sword.

The lich remarks, "Even their bones are stubborn. I don't use them except in the mines."

Copycat starts to summon a healing spell to stitch Griffin back together. If she was herself right now, she'd be panicked by sight of him.

Blok says, "Is...anyone hurt? Blok will help."

Wade nods, but can't quite hide the grimace on his face at the frankness of the lich, "Well...if it's acceptable, I intend to head back and do what we can to close off the connection between our worlds. What's done is done here. I'd prefer to keep our world as it is, if at all possible.""

Wesley heads through the portal after everyone else did, still keeping the sword. And possibly keeping it as a souvenir, if possible, unless someone complains about it. After heading through the portal, he feels the edge of the sword carefully, checking the sharpness curiously and trying to think about how it works.

Griffin is definitely still injured. Its just his bleeding that's undercontrol- and barely.

He flexes, holding himself up- only by sheer will alone. He's knee wobbles in revolt. He squeezes the handle of the sword he too carries for defense. He'll be taking that too.

He'll be quite grateful for a little patching up.

The lich's eyes glow more yellowly. "No. That will not be possible. I will be lord over the living, as well as the dead. This time I will not make the mistake of conquering the whole world. Half will do - then the rest will sue for peace, rather than fighting to the last. Yes - I miss the living."

Blok approaches Griffin and lays his hands upon him.

Wade takes a deep breath again. "I don't think you understand what you're up against with our world. Invading us would be a mistake."

Wesley spins the sword a bit in his hand. Sloppy, but at least he doesn't make the mistake of letting go of the sword. "Er. Invading who the what now?"

The lich's eyes shift to a fiery orange. "It is you who do not understand. I am Golorast the Almighty, the Undying. My rule over this whole world is absolute!"

Wade smiles slightly, "I am Wade Lockwood, also known as 'Victory', and I assure you...our world would never surrender to the likes of you."

Wesley shows up eventually behind Wade, no longer spinning the sword once near. "So uh. You're the one with a bone to pick with us?" Wesley asks.

Griffin's physiology is human adjacent, so willpower goes a long way especially as long as he stays charged up.

He's plenty charged.

His knee's wobble stops and he stands straighter.

"I don't care who you are or were. I'll turn you to dust if you threaten my world again, pal. America's just on the other side of that door and there are thousands more just like me. You better show Lady Liberty the respect she's due or you'll find yourself invaded." His eyes glow with a fiery intensity of their own as he doubles down.

"No matter, then. Your world is intersecting other worlds. You can join my armies and I shall conquer a more reasonable world."

Wade turns to glance at Sentinel, and chuckles, "You sound more cornball than I tend to. Seriously."

Golorast stares at the newcomers, piercingly. "I see your world breeds interesting, powerful types. Which among you would you say is the most powerful?"

The SuperCharged SuperSoldier smirks at Wade. "Well, your old man did it best." He says, feeling a bit better thanks to CopyRaven's healing spell sets to work on his hacked and peirced flesh.

He shakes his head at the Lich's offer. "None of us. We're a set. You take one of us on, you take all of us on." He says in reply to his question.

While the skeletons where the cemetery should be stand motionless, the army in the courtyard keeps lining up, rank upon rank.

Wade thinks he sees where this is going. "If you want to know who the single most powerful of us is...it's me." He holds up his hand to the others, kind of to indicate...just go with it.

Blok continues healing Sentinel as the conversation continues.

Golorast says, "That was not the question I asked," to Griffin. And then looks searchingly at Wade.

Blok says, "Blok is the strongest."

Wesley blinks a bit in surprise. He looks over at Wade, trying to remember what he saw Wade do in the fight with the skeletons. ...which he can't, because he was too focused fighting skeletons. "So uh... are we talking about physical strength? Combat strength? Strongest in our world?"

Combined with CopyRaven's spell, Griffin's wounds rapidly seal themselves. He flexes the wounded areas, testing them out.

He turns and nods to Blok. "Thanks."

Then he turns to Wade, not needing to act out the shock on his face.

Golorast looks between you all. "There seems to be no agreement."

He adds, to Wade, "But none of the others, I think, support your claim."

Griffin speaks up, "Wade is the best of us." He answers, not needing to lie.

Blok says, "Wade is greater than Blok."

CopyRaven senses what Griffin is trying at, depsite not knowing why Wade would volunteer. She has a lot of stuff going on in her head including bringing Grififn back to full health with Blok's assistance. She speaks up too, "He is, for sure."

Wesley hmmms, thinking. "Yeah, probably the best of the fighters I've seen here today," he states. Technically a lie considering he didn't pay too much attention to anything other than the skeletons he was fighting but...

Wade decides to try another tactic, to test his theory about what the lich says...and tries to push the undead's buttons. "Let me state this differently. You don't have the power to be able to affect me. You are not powerful enough. To defeat me, or us as a group."

Golorast's response is a lightning-quick grasp for Wade's throat.

Griffin falls into line, standing at full attention at Wade's words. He plays subordinate soldier easily.

He watches Golorast's 'lightning quick' grasp at Wade. He tries his best to look bored at the attempt on his Commander's life, trusting Wade's skills are up to the task. He has no reason to doubt otherwise having sparred with the man himself in earlier days.

Golorast laughs(?) again as Wade block his bony fingers. "Excellent! Yes, I see that you have strengths that are hidden after all!" He looks Wade up and down.

Wade deflects Golorast's strike easily with his energy shield. He makes it look effortless, despite the lich's speed.

Meanwhile, back outside, the boy who was with Jennifer at the start comes into the mist toward Jennifer. "Mark, what are you doing here?" Jenn says in annoyance. And then nods, "Okay. Now get back and guard the city." Her voice is much softer and understanding after the boy tosses the force armor harness and equipment belt he got from her room at Steels Gym to her.

Golorast nods. "Yes, a young body, strong and quick and healthy. And handsome too, I think. Yes, I will rule this new world of the living from this living body." And he gestures, and Wade is lifted into the air by unseen forces. "Yes.... I miss the flesh...."

Wesley stands somewhere out of the way, idly peering back at the sword and looking over it curiously some more. Then looking back up at the lich and the sudden attack. ...and the apparent telekinesis, tensing his body and getting ready for a fight again.

"My soldiers - kill the others," adds the lich as an afterthought, and turns away, leading the floating Wade with him.