Log:The Fall of the Cartesian, Scene 1

The Fall of the Cartesian 2018/03/16 	 Amelia Impetus Frogirl Rira Gonzalez Natasha Radical|Cartesian Lazare Defender Antherion 1

Nicholston is the historic name for this part of town, though most people would probably say "near the mall". There's a seaside town atmosphere here, especially in summer, though the traffic on Beach and Wharf Streets are a reminder that this is a full city. The tourist industry prevails, embodied in convenience stores, surf rental shops, souvenir stores and restaurants; and at Wharf and Beach is Boardwalk Mall, unquestionably the center for shopping in the city. The most affordable of the bayside housing is also to be found here. Remarkably, there's plenty of parking, which helps the trade of mall and beach alike.

The weather has finally started to get a bit warmer in Virginia. Up north, they're still dealing with bad weather, but here...the temperatures have risen to the point where jackets are no longer required. And people are out and about, making good use of the warmer temperatures. People are going to and from shops and other businesses in the area. Even the Boardwalk Mall, which has seen declining sales over the last few years, seems to be doing a brisk business today.

Rira(#2926TOnp)

This is a young woman, with a number of tattoos up and down her arms. She's wearing a short sleeved shirt, a denim vest with some kind of punk band logo on the back, jeans, boots, and her hair is done in a tall mohawk. She's currently wearing glasses and has a number of ear piercings around each ear.

Amelia is the sole owner of one of the greatest financial empires Earth has ever seen. That doesn't stop her older sister from emailing Amelia a list of foodstuffs and telling Amelia to pick them up before she returns to the apartment this afternoon. So here she is, heading for the Mall.

The Friendly Frogirl is on patrol! This time in Nicholston, outside the mall. Hopping along, from wall to wall!

Cade has actually just wrapped up completing a site survey near by, confirming the continued growth of a particular species of clams that are making their way off the 'threatened' list and is about to celebrate with some ice cream from a little spot he loves on the boardwalk. Its there where he runs into Gaia- the Crystalline Spirit of the Earth. He's so exicted about the clams that he invited her along too.

The mismatched pair are walking happily towards Lickstein's Ice Cream Eatery.

Natasha is perched on the shoulder of Amelia, her favourite human - well, maybe except Amy, but family is a special case. She always likes spending time with her. Also, she heard foodstuffs mentioned.

Rira is coming out of the mall, with a 'Blazing Topic' bag slung over her shoulder. She stops, and looks around. Like she's looking for someone. Or something.

There's flash of light, and from behind a thin light pole, out walks the Cartesian as if from thin air or some kind of hidden doorway. "This is the place, yes? And the time?" He checks his watch.

"What does ice cream smell like?" Gaia asks the wrong question about the treat Cade has convinced the splintered diety to try. Never dressed for the weather usually, the warm weather makes her fit in more with her odd apparel. She smiles a bit at the human's excitement over wild life. This Cade has done good work for the environment, and Gaia is pleased.

The shadows on the side of the building seem to move, almost as if they're hovering over Rira. She's a good twenty feet from the wall, so not right next to it, but the imagery is pretty obvious. The tops of the shadows take on a humanoid..ish appearance.

Amelia hisses to Natasha (speaking in dragonic) "Head up. That's Cartesian. And that... that does not look good at all." she adds pointing toward the shifting shadows.

Moving shadows look fun to chase! As soon as she sees weirdly moving shadows, before they even start looking human, Natasha is flying toward them!

Frogirl croaks. "Look out, Miss!" and shoots out her tongue, trying to grab Rira and move her away from the menacing shadow!

Cade laughs at Gaia's question. "Um... depends. Sweet? Fruity? What flavors do you like?" he humors the strange teenager. But as the dragon shows up and Frogirl yells out a warning, he grips the case with his W.H.I.T.E. suitcase a bit tighter. "Give me a second. I need to get changed," he tells Gaia before popping the case open to start suiting up.

Natasha lets off a burst of flame as she flies toward the shadows. Because, how do you chase shadows except with light?

Rira gets grabbed and pulled out of the way by Frogirl. She's completely surprised, not seeing it coming. "Ah! What the?!"

Teh shadows grow smaller over the next few seconds, almost like...when someone outside a tent gets closer to the wall of it while there's a light behind them. The shadow seems to...become more defined. One definitely looks human. One looks more...mantis-shaped, and one looks like...a blob-ish human?

Cartesian sees Frogirl grab Rira, "Nicely done, Frogirl!" His coat billows a little bit, despite the lack of wind, as his outstretched hands start to glow.

Amelia calls out loudly, "Chaos spawn incoming."

Natasha is disappointed the shadows didn't run. Even if they're getting smaller. But they seem to be bad, based on Amelia's call. So she hovers in the air, waiting for them to stop being shadows. If that's what's happening.

Amelia adds, "Save your breath, Natasha. They aren't here yet. Any moment now though."

Gaia tilts her head to observe Cade, wondering why he feels he has to dress up when there's danger. His alertness has her looking around, finally noticing the chaotic shadows. Nature is chaotic in its own way. She drifts her way towards the shadows while Cade gets changed. She comments to herself in the elemental tongue, "I wonder if you are the ones behind the state of the Earth today." She raises a hand, and a ball of pure sunlight forms high above her.

The shadows continue to define...and then three beings step out from the wall, almost like they've come through a curtain of water. The shadows are no longer on the wall at all. The direct sunlight had no immediate effect on them, as far as anyone could tell.

Cade hops on one foot as he gets his legs into his suit, watching Gaia walk off. "Wait!" he warns, quickly pulling his suit up and fastening it on before donning his helmet.

Lazare grins as he sees everyone assembled, "My! This IS a warm welcome indeed!" He looks to the Cartesian, "Duran, was this your doing?"

Amelia says, "Lazare, I'm concerned about your choice of traveling companions. Would you care to explain your purpose before things get further out of control?"

Cartesian flinches a little bit as his name is mentioned openly. He didn't realize that Lazare knew it. He starts to speak, but Amelia beats him to it. He takes the moment to reassess the situation.

Lazare smiles. "My choice of traveling companions is what is available to me. We're here to gather an important...locus. A person of import. One who could change the balance of our war." He smiles and looks over at Frogirl and the woman she's carrying. "Her."

Now that Cade is dressed in the W.H.I.T.E. suit he lifts off the ground and jets forward to protect Gaia and figure out what the heck is going on here.

While he does this he uses the optical selection tool in his helmet to place a call to Defender.

"Hey buddy- you think you've got time for... I'm not sure. it looks like trouble- on the Boardwalk. I'm sure there's a HeroNet call by now- see if Base can get you here." He can be heard saying as a pale atmospheric glow rises from his gauntlets.

Natasha gets the idea these are bad guys! She glides to be between them and Frogirl.

Amelia glances briefly toward Rira, "Does she get any say in the matter?" she asks Lazare.

Rira looks back blankly at Lazare. "Me? Or her?" She thumbs toward Frogirl.

"Not yours. Take war back to your home," Gaia says to Lazare with narrowed eyes. Her eyes shift to the Cartesian to include him in the warning. "Leave."

Lazare grins, "You, my dear Rira." He turns toward Amelia, "Of course. We all get a say in things in our lives, do we not? The only question is...whether or not such speech does anyone any good."

The mantis chitters, which causes Lazare to chuckle. Apparently, he can understand what it said.

Cartesian glances toward Gaia, "This IS my home, thanks."

Frogirl blinks slowly and comments to Rira. "Don'th worry, I'll protecth you."

Amelia stares at the Mantis, "You should make your spiel then. And be as persuasive as you can. Because if the young woman declines to go with you voluntarily you'll not be taking her anywhere."

"Impetus?" comes a deep, electronic response from over the comm net, "Trouble at the mall? I'm a few blocks from there. Hold strong." The voice of Defender shifts fairly easily from concerned question to firm assurance as the man himself strides forward across a distant roof, working himself up into a pounding run and launching himself over a four-lane street in a single booster-assisted leap. The silver knight is a short run from the action, but with his jump jets blazing and his lance held at the ready, he begins to sprint toward the call of danger. It shouldn't take him long.

Lazare looks around, "Time is of the essence. We cannot delay." He chitters back toward the other two, sounding much like the mantis did. And simultaneously, Lazare seems to start to become transparent, while the other two move toward Rira.

Mantis Demon scuttles toward Frogirl and Rira, closing the distance in a flash.

Gaia doesn't look like she believes the Cartesian. She looks to the Chaos Demons in return. "Leave now. Balance only." Her head turns to Lazare as he disappears. She turns towards Impetus. "You serve the Earth. Have Earth's blessing. End their leader." Her hand extended, a divine glow emanates from it and shoots towards Cade to envelope him.

Impetus' is already aglow ith his own power, but Gaia's blessing deppens the pale green glow- giving it a vibrant, lively shade.

He isn't sure what she means, but the energy in the suit- no in him, feels different. Reinforced somehow.

Frogirl takes one look at the Mantis Demon and hops 20m up and back, on the tallest building she can reach. "I'm not much of a fighter, but frogth are good at jumping!"

Rira is yanked upward and onto a building. "OhGodOhGodOhGod..."

Natasha chases the insect demon as it passes her, and exhales a fine mist at it. She's observed how people handle such things!

Natasha's plan is thwarted by a gust of wind, which carries the spray away.

The mantis creature is a little too quick, as well. It doesn't pay Natasha much mind, keeping its eyes on the target.

Cade nods saying, "Ten-Four. We'll make due til you're here."

He glances back to Gaia to say. "That's right, the Earth is my home and right now- I've got backup on the way so let's back them up until Defender lands." Then like that, he and his glowing fists are arcing towards Amelia, Cartesian & Co.

The psychokinetic energy in his suit crackles with Gaia's additional energy.

The magic strikes Lazare, but it only grazes the Anarch. He looks over toward the Cartesian, "You're more skilled than I gave you credit for. You predecessor must have taught you well. I'm surprised you could touch me at all."

Amelia attempts to adjust a spell formulation on the fly so to speak as she moves toward the major grouping of heroes.

Amelia teleports next to the mantis demon. She bends and traces out a glowing rune beneath it.

The rune flares brightly for an instant and fades away, hurling the mantis demon into the air.

The mantis creature gets lofted into the air, straight up. It goes upward only about 10m, but that's high enough to make it a good target over the next few seconds.

A roar of orange flame announces Defender's late arrival to the fight, the heavy silver knight descending from a spectacular leap to impact the edge of the mall's roof with a vibrating thud. Knees bent in a 2 point landing, he tilts his visored helm down to survey the evolving conflict spread out beneath him, lance held up and angled out to crackle and hum over the parking area below.

"I see the problem." Defender informs Impetus over their comms, sounding more determined than worried as he begins to formulate a plan. The fight below him is one thing, but the odd green-clad girl with a panicking woman in her mouth is also an issue. So, to go down and fight, or to launch himself along the edge of the roof and confront the frog? It seems like some of the group might be positioning to defend her...

"Girl in green. Friendly?" Defender questions of Impetus, voice inaudible to everyone else through the closed vents of his helm.

Blob Demon starts toward Rira, but finds the distance increasing. Taht's unacceptable. So it reaches out with a limb that stretches, trying to engulf both Frogirl and Rira.

Impetus has been training with the suit, and its beginning to show. As the Blob-'man' stretches out to grasp Rita he commands the suit to put create a psychokinetic bubble around Rita & Frogirl.

The demon's limb reaches out...and the flesh engulfs the bubble that Impetus has created. They're still (theoretically) safe inside, of course.

Frogirl says, "Whoa."

The mantis lands on its feet and looks at Amelia. Its attention has been diverted, at least.

Amelia looks back at the Mantis, "You were meant to go squish. Like any cockroach." she says. Angry enemies are careless enemies.

Chaos Demon Mantis(#2924TOnp)

A seven foot tall humanoid-ish Mantis with a white and grey mottle carapace.

Mantis Demon lashes out at Amelia with one of it's scythe-like limbs while making a chittering noise that clearly indicates that its quite angry.

Amelia is knocked back off her feet as the mantis slashes a bloody rip across her flank.

Gaia continues to suffuse Impetus with divine energy to grant her blessing, the energy transfer between them growing.

Gaia's hand stops glowing and she points to Lazarre. "Stop there leader. You can now." She thinks. She's awfully confident about that. Maybe she just really believes in Impetus?

Frogirl quickly looks around and appraises the situation, her nightvision goggles allowing her to see. "Hold on, I'll get uth out of here!" She clings with her hands and one foot to the wall and kicks the window with her free leg!

Frogirl carefully caries Rira through the shattered window into the building and looks for a way out.

Natasha isn't going to let the bug get away with hurting her friend! She circles and, with a shriek, breathes another cloud of insecticide, hoping for better luck this time!

The mantis makes a screaming sound as it's hit. The scream feels like...nails on a chalkboard. Rather...many nails on multiple chalkboards, all at once.

Natasha joins in with a screech of triumph! That hurt it!

Cartesian lets loose with another blast of magical energy at Lazare, who for his part is a bit overconfident. The Anarch doesn't try to raise a defense.

Cartesian's blast misses just wide anyway, leaving the Mage of Order muttering to himself.

Amelia springs back to her feet with a nimble breakfall maneuver. Lifting a hand she summons a ball of fire around her fingers. A ball that becomes hotter and hotter until it's blazing white. "I'm afraid you've made it onto my not liked list." she tells the mantis, and throws the ball of fire at the demon.

The mantis is hit...and lit aflame. Again it screams, and this time, it starts to melt...like it was made of wax. It takes less than a second to go from a solid insect to a transparent puddle of burning slime.

Lazare grimaces as he sees the mantis's fate, "This isn't over, Duran. We'll be back. I don't know how you knew to be here, but...there will be another time." He runs again for the wall, plunging through it, leaving a shadown on the wall where he had been.

Natasha didn't know the insect was flammable, or she'd have set it alight herself! Even more fun.

Impetus has no idea Frogirl has broken out of his shielded area and so he fights as if he's got a clear line int he sand.

That said, when someone you're starting to suspect may actually be empowered by some kind of Earth Spirit gives you a 'power up' and then tells you to go after the leader you go after the leader.

Its not exactly an official chain of command, but Cade falls into it like one anyway.

He summons the necessary energy to continue to keep the bubble strong and then he turns to face Lazare

He summons more neergy to his gauntlets and then lifts his hands at the ghostly man.

The normally pale atmospheric energy is sharp- and the distinctions between layers is washed away in the bright vibrant green glow.

"Woah..." He says as he commands the suit to fire a salvo at the Arch-Dude-of-Chaos and as he does, the Lord of Chaos runs through a wall leaving a shadowy wake.

Impetus fights the urge to look at Gaia. He's prtty sure he can't run through walls thanks to her 'gift'.

So he points to the blob- flying closer to be sure to hit it before he lets his blast rip loose from his gauntlet mounted psychokinetic amplifcation arrays.

Bits of flesh fly off of the blob demon as it is struck. It makes a gurgling noise.

Defender Supposes that is as good a signal as any. Even without Impetus saying anything, the act of him bubbling the green-clad hero in a protective field is enough of a clue as to who's side the young Frogirl is on. Knowing that makes Defender's job a lot easier. It's simple, really. Protect the target.

Amelia's bloody tumble distracts the knight from his thoughts, visor tilting to get a better look at the fallen hero. Impetus and Frogirl can surely play keep away for a moment longer while he attends to this...

Hurling himself off of the edge of the roof, the silver knight ignites his jump jets, boosting himself over the heads of the combatants on a stream of raging flames. As he soars down toward the now screeching Mantis in a long arc, he has plenty of time to watch as it is reduced to a bubbling puddle of waxy goo before he can even reach it.

"Going after the blob." Defender reports to Impetus, keeping his only real teammate abreast of his plans. Banking hard to one side, he manages to alter his course in mid air, metal boots slamming heavily to earth directly beside the roiling mass of flesh. If he were a little less focused on his job, he might be curious at the fact there is a tiny yet ferocious dragon flapping about. But, it seems to be on his side, so that'll have to do for now.

The tip of Defender's lance transforms from a humming current of arcing electricity to a blade of brilliant white lightning as he sweeps it around, twirling it from gauntlet to gauntlet in three lightning-quick strikes that loop out to cleave at the monster's amorphous form, impacting just moments after his psychic ally's blast.

The blob creature is fairly resistant, but between that prior smack and this series, its fate is similar to that of the Mantis. It gurgles and then slowly melts, turning transparent, and then dissipating entirely.

Natasha splashes about in victory celenbration in the burning molten demon!

There's a face, a black outline with stars that fill in the features, that appears in the window of the mall next to the door, and it speaks. "My Cartesian...you must deal with her. You must kill her to save the dimension." The Cartesian turns to look at the visage, "Kill her? I...I can't possibly do that, Lord Antherion."

Frogirl makes her way through the building, apologizing to the residents. Once she's at a safe distance, she regurgitates her phone from where she keeps it stored in her stomach and calls Impetus. "Hi. Is it thafe to bring thith lady back yet?"

There's a long pause as Antherion considers the Cartesian. "You are correct. You are unwilling to do so. And like your predecessor, we must find another. Your time as our agent is at an end. We call back that which is ours to grant, so it can be given to another."

There's a flash of light from the Cartesian, and where he was standing, is not just...a man wearing a suit. Connor Duran.

Connor(#2675PenACF?)

A man standing about five ten, dressed in a purple button down dress shirt and charcoal slacks. His brown hair is styled well, and he looks like he might be one of those people who is...a little overly orderly, based on how he holds himself.

The rookie heroes & their loose affiliation manage to move in sequence- probbaly assisted by Defender's team-centric hero-style.

Between Frogirl's quick action, Gaia's Powerup, Impetus' Defensive Strategy & Defender's timing they work toegether like a well oiled machine. How much was beginner's luck and how much was pure skill is anyone's guess.

Impetus flies a tight loop around Gaia and then Defender cheerfully. "That was crazy!" He says to everyone in earshot. "Who the heck was that guy?" He asks, knowing he's going to need to file a report about this later.

As he waits for an answer, he floats towards his bubble to recall it and be ready to catch whoever was inside- just incase they're using it for stability.

When it pops- there is no one inside, just the air blowing ot balance out the air pressure.

Impetus' visor hides a very confised look on his face.

Then Impetus' starguard comms ring. He answers, hearing Frogirl's taletell voice on the other end. "Oh thank goodnes syou're alright! Yeah- I think its safe. Shadowman ran, other two turned to goo." He reports.

Amelia faces the Lord of Order, "I have a message for you. And your peers. And for Lazare and his masters. Take your war the hell off OUR dimension."

Frogirl replies. "OK!"

Natasha stops splashing in molten demon. Starry-eyes is clearly not a nice person! She goes to attack the window!

Connor shakes his head as he hears Amelia, "That can't happen. Balance is necessary for this dimension to exist. Their conflict can't just...leave."

Chaos monster goo sizzles away from the glowing blade of Defender's weapon, his and Impetus' combined efforts reducing the blobby monster to primordial slag. And though the thrill of victory sings through his veins, the knight is not too caught up to hear the words of the starry face, straightening suddenly and snapping his visor in that direction. Silently he watches through the flash of light, witnessing the sudden transformation of a hero into what must be his secret identity.

Too focused to pay Impetus' zipping flight much mind, the bulky knight stomps forward toward the suited man, keeping half his attention on the starry face as it is set upon by a tiny dragon. Though he is silent, he looms up to offer his sturdy bulk in support of Connor, a steady presence standing in a half guard position beside the exposed man.

Antherion says, "Our former agent speaks truly. For if we were to leave, surely Chaos would fill the void. And we would do the same if they left. It is the nature of things. It is the way of the cosmos. Now...we must find another, for your family is insufficient for the first time in centuries, Connor Duran." And the face fades, leaving only the reflections of the heroes in the glass.

Amelia looks at Connor. "I just killed. In all my time as the Chosen One I managed to avoid having to do that. But this war between Order and Chaos has resulted in me killing. Yes, there needs to be balance. But they can keep their conflicts off our world."

The bright flash of Connor's transformation makes Impetus immediately regret giving Frogirl the all clear to return, but when his helmeted head snaps towards the source all he finds is the star-eyed being Antherion and Connor- who he is certain is standing where Cartesian was.

Seeing Defender take up a defensive position on one side of Connor, he takes the other and brings his glowing gauntlets up in front of him defensively as he floats there.

Connor shakes his head again, "The demon you believe you killed...is not dead. It was merely returned to its own plane. Though surely the spell you cast would have killed Lazare had you struck him with it. He can certainly die on this plane."

Natasha reaches the glass to find only her own reflection. She drops down to the ground in a bit of a sulk.

Connor takes a deep breath, "The woman is okay, I hope? My choice wasn't for naught?"

"You going to be alright?" Defender asks down to Connor, the suited man now flanked by two armored heroes with glowing weaponry. Despite his bulky appearance, and the harsh electronic distortion of his suit, the man within still manages to sound concerned. "What's this going to mean for you? These forces of chaos. Will they come after you without your powers active?"

Amelia thinks of what she knows of the breed. And nods, "I should have known. But I was a bit upset. Okay, ex-agent of Order, what do you know of the young woman's role in this?"

Natasha perks up her head again. Connor needs protecting? Good thing there's a heroic dragon here! Everyone knows dragons are good at protecting things.

Connor shakes his head and looks at Defender, "I...don't know. They might, but only if Lazare is feeling vengeful. I think it's more likely that the woman is still in danger." He turns toward Amelia and continues, "She's a nexus. She has great power, and doesn't realize it yet. Or rather...great potential. If Chaos managed to get a hold of her, it's possible they would win the war here on this plane. Not guaranteed, of course. But...it's a possibility. Antherion wanted me to...remove that possibility."

Connor smiles slightly, "I will likely do what I can to protect her, with the limited power I have at my disposal."

Amelia shrugs, "Not that limited. As will we I am sure. I'm Amelia, also known as Raven. Witch and Mage. And you, you are a latent. Are you aware of that?"

Connor shakes his head, "I...am aware. That's a possibility I have considered. Thank you."

Amelia nods to Connor, "If you would like help developing your latent talent come and see me."

Connor smiles, "I will give it serious thought. Thank you for the offer."