Log:Rift Crisis II, Scene 20

Rift Crisis II 2019/08/16 Artemis Eleanora Horizon Moonshadow Radical Swarmer Thunder The Cartesian Earth-1 Earth-1380 Earth-1492 Earth-1493 Earth-1494 Earth-1495 Earth-1496 Earth-D

20

Eleanora waits by the door in Old Town where she has asked heroes to assemble for the (to many minds preposterous) first attempt to solve the Rift Crisis problem.

Radical shows up outside the door, seemingly from out of nowhere. "Greetings, Eleanora. How are you today?"

Eleanora says, "Good afternoon! To be honest, I'm more than a little nervous. I've never attempted anything of anything like this magnitude before."

Artemis flies her way to the great library, not exactly dressed for the dance, since she's wearing her same Ashildr clothing, cape, and armor. She must be prepared for a fight instead of a dance. She lands outside the library with a heavy thud, but doesn't seem affected by the impact. "Hail to all!" she greets loudly with a beaming smile.

Moonshadow's cloak unfolds from empty air, revealing her cowled form. She nods toward Radical. "You're one of the only people I've ever danced with. Do you think I'm up to this?"

Horizon arrives with far less flair, landing in quiet yet still very heroic three-point stance before standing up and looking at everyone assembled. As he sees Radical- the 'dude from yesterday' he nods, confirming he is in the right place.

He smiles seeing Artemis and Swarmer too. He jogs over to join them all.

Eleanora says, "Good afternoon. In truth, I don't know how important dancing will be - or manners. But I suspect both will be very helpful."

Radical shrugs a little at Moonshadow's question. "I have no idea. It's not going to be as important how WE dance as it is how well the other attendees dance."

Thunder arrives landing neatly on his feet after leaping from a rooftop it seems. "She is right. It could all be for a name for what is supposedly going to happen. We do not know for sure what will happen until we are inside, I suspect. So, let us see what will happen?"

Eleanora smiles. "Let's wait a moment to see if anyone else is coming. I suspect there are not many of you who have the skill to open this door for yourselves."

Moonshadow says, "Gumby, maybe?"

Thanks to an alarm set to help remind, Maybri arrives just after Artemis does in tiny winged form that goes beneath Artemis's cape and emerges as the human-sized Maybri. "Sorry if I'm late!" she says. "Nah? Nah! Not late. Good to know. Fine day to you," she bids to pretty much everyone at once.

Eleanora says, "Good afternoon! Now, I think we're likely all here, so let's proceed to the Library."

"Ah, my dance partner has arrived!" Artemis beams as she offers Maybri a hand to help her out from behind her cloak.

Eleanora opens the door to the Great Library and lets everyone go in before closing the door behind her.

Radical waves to the other newcomers that he's met as they arrive.

Artemis nods to Radical. "Recovered from being restrained, I see," she says cheerfully.

Horizon tries to play it cool, but he's pretty excited to have stumbled into such a high-profile problem his second week in town! His report to the Hero Support League is going to be stellar! If he were a more shallow hero he'd daydream about what benefits might come with a change in his Legacy Ranking- instead he's just hoping to meet some heroes that might really help him develop his own skills in that arena.

He waves to Radical as he steps inside the Great Library.

Maybri takes hand, and her somewhat bland outfit flows to take on a matching style to Artemis, entirely cloth with several multihued flowers of a variety of species physically attached over it.

Radical chuckles and says to Artemis, "Indeed. Thank you. My pride was hurt more than my body, I'm afraid."

The Cartesian appears abruptly in a flash of light. She nods to Radical and hte others here. "I am here to observe. That is all." The underlying tone is one of 'this is folly, but I want to see if it works'.

Radical nods in greeting to the agent of Order. "Welcome."

Artemis smiles in approval at Maybri's outfit. "A flattering style on you." She looks to Horizon. "And where be thy dancing partner?"

With a grin, Maybri offers, "Ah! If it's folly and it works then it is certainly fighting itself for proper naming!"

Eleanora makes ready for opening the way into the book. She looks up at the newcomer. "Good afternoon, Cartesian. You are welcome here," she says, in clear recognition.

The Cartesian nods to Eleanora, "Thank you, Librarian."

Maybri has an irish brogue that would be difficult to convey if someone were to transcribe what she says.

Thunder looks considerate, "Do you mind if I stay back and observe as well? I do not feel at all comfortable with this, but well... if something bad happens, I hope that somehow we can at least pull people out or the like."

Eleanora asks the assembled company, "Have you any questions before we enter this book?"

"Nah, you'll not hear any from me. I don't think I'd catch the answer, I'm sorry to say," Maybri says cheerfully.

Horizon smiles at Artemis and shrugs. "Well, I figured I'd find someone to cut in with. I've never been much of a wallflower." He says with a smile as he pulls his hood down- after all its a formal occasion.

Eleanora says, "One thing I should warn you - you may find that your physical powers may not work, or may not work the same, where we are going."

Artemis nods to Horizon. "I am sure if need be, you may join Maybri and I in this dance." She looks to Eleanora. "Will we need to be discrete as we were in the book of Tolkien?"

Maybri asks, "Should I bring a spare dress? I've changed this so often it might shatter?"

Eleanora says, "All the more so. You will be interacting with worlds themselves - and one of them your own world. I need hardly point out that causing injury, for instance, would be a very bad idea."

Artemis brightens up at the realization. "Then I might find my own world? Mayhaps a way back to the Tau Spring Galaxy there?"

Eleanora says, "I have looked at some appropriate clothing in various sizes, should you wish to change."

Maybri smiles. "Nah, I've not want of that, but what I have now, it's been subject to quite a few adjustments on my whims."

Artemis taps her chin in thought. "I shall look at these...appropriate clothings," she decides.

Eleanora says, "It may be you might find your own world - I cannot say. But would you recognise it? And could you, by finding it, return to it?"

"If it won't be harmed by what you warn about, all is well," Maybri adds. "You mentioned physical things not working as expected."

Horizon nods and thanks Artemis for her invitation and listens to everyone. Hearing Artemis speak about returning home seems to fill in a lot of blanks he had about the strange Godflora.

"I'll take a look at what you have too- if you don't mind." The young hero says after a moment of indicision.

Artemis chuckles. "I know not, but I shall keep mine eyes and ears open," she muses, then goes to look at possible outfits to change into.

There the clothing turns out to be typical costume-drama stuff: from about the same period as Eleanora is from, indeed.

Thunder sighs, then shakes his head, "Let me see if I can find something at least. This will be weird going without my usual clothes in this form."

In the changing rooms, there's all manner of frustration and struggle coming from Artemis. "By all the pantheons! How is this at all practical?" Another grunt and then....that certainly sounded like fabric ripping.

Radical rubs his chin. "I think I can get away with what I am wearing now. I'll be look at as...eccentric, but it's not that far off from what's acceptable."

Maybri offers, "I can change what you find to fit you."

Maybri glances at Eleanora. "That is if it stays changed and doesn't poof away when we cross over, ah?"

[To Maybri] Eleanora says, "We will, after all, be interacting with worlds directly. So such physical abilities you may have, at least the overt ones, will likely be provided by the metaphor. Your native raw physical strength will avail little against whole worlds!"

Maybri grins. "Ah, I think I catch that now. Should be without wardrobe incident. Seems I can make changes to what you wear as you wish!" she calls to Artemis.

Eleanora says, "If anything 'poofs away', no doubt it would be to make you fit in more. It may be that the setting will itself provide appropriate attire, but I cannot be certain of that."

Another huff and some more tearing, and Artemis steps out of the dressing area. She's wearing an off-white corseted dress, but the long sleeves have been removed. They were too small for her muscular arms. The bottom skirt flares out in layers. Her sword is stuffed down the back of her corset.

Maybri's spartan-style outfit gets into the impossible-looking, some parts becoming literally two-dimensional. "So I should avoid putting on this sort of thing," she suggests.

Eleanora waits until everyone who is changing clothes has changed (she had changed to clothing suitable for a dance in advance). She can't help but smile at Artemis's problems. "Perhaps that attire is not for you, no."

Artemis finishes french-braiding parts of her hair, most of her red locks flowing loosely. She almost looks lady-like. But instead of her boots or the heeled shoes, she's just barefoot. "I am prepared," she says, then plucks a loose thread from where the sleeves tore. She grunts in agreement with Eleanora. "It was a bit small."

Maybri steps toward Artemis and begins recovering its look while fitting for the mighty one's large form. "Just say if you object, I think the torn look is fine, but if you want formal, it goes better when it's neat."

"Are we all ready, then?" asks Eleanora, praying that the worlds aren't too fussy about clothing.

"If we are to be unnoticed, mayhaps formal is best," Artemis replies.

Horizon opts to wear the Regency era fashions over his costume. So he emerges a short time later in a white muslin shirt, black waistcoat & trousers with suspenders holding them up. Its not the most comfortable thing he's ever worn, but its not the worst either. He completes the looks with what must have been considered very stylish top boots back in their day.

Somehow, with the domino mask still in place he pulls it off. Maybe its just his natural confidence that ties it altogether.

"Alright guys- I think I'm ready. Its a little tight but..." Horizon says as he straightens his waistcoat. He feels the shirt straining against his natural mobility.

He sees Artemis and smiles. "Wow- that, um. You look very nice. I mean- we all clean up real nice. Right? Ha. THis might not be so bad." He adds, trying to make the best of the situation.

Eleanora casts a spell over the book, then turns to open the door. "Please enter."

"And you," Artemis compliments back with a confident smile. "This will go well!" Famous last words.

Maybri continues making adjustments until the outfit both fits and meets Artemis's satisfaction. With Horizon it's easier. Just upsize everything to fit his current oversized underwear.

Adjustments made to her satisfaction, Artemis thanks Maybri and steps through the door, prepared for battle on the dance floor.

Radical waits for some of the others to enter before he does so. The Cartesian follows suit. When they arrive, their outfits seem to have changed slightly. They look somewhat like a negative and positive of hte same outfit. Long coat with a matching waistcoat, slacks, boots, and a simple domino mask. Only Radical's outfit is black with red trim, and the Cartesian's is solid white.

Eleanora doesn't really change as she enters - it's almost like the book was written in such as a way as to provide her with a familiar setting.

Maybri ends up as an oversized version of Swarmer, with giant wings she is taking care not to bump into other beings and things. The outfit becomes a /lot/ more leafy, open-back and bare from thigh to foot, from shoulder to hand.

You find yourselves on a balcony overlooking a vast dance floor - vast, as in Great-Library vast. The far wall, if there is one, is lost in haze.

Horizon steps through, emerging with an updated color palette- all the dreary blacks swapped out for a midnight blue, whites for sky-blue and details all the color orange you might find as the sun begins to rise.

"Oooh. Damn- I didn't think I could make this look this good!" He says as he notices the change.

He gives Radical a thumbs up and looks out over the dance floor.

Moonshadow spins in place, and her usual garb is replaced by a princess-cut gown, in a rich brown color with gold trim. It perfectly matches her green curls.

Below, countless dancers are involved in a very strange dance. On the larger scale, it's very well organised - the dancers seem to move in intricate but coordinated stream across the floor. But on the more local level, there's much more variation. Some dance alone, some in groups, and the dance steps each individual uses varies greatly.

You're not alone on the balcony, either. Various people (mostly looking older in appearance) are looking down on the dance from seats up here. Some of them look very imposing, regal, even.

Radical watches the pattern of the dance closely...and tries to figure out who hte important players are, based on the descriptions from the book.

The Godflora goddles of battle doesn't seem to change much. She has a strong self-image, amplified by this realm. Already godly looking, this is taken forward by an outward glowing of warm divine light outlightning her and backlighting her red hair from all points of view, making the tips look aflame. Did trumpets just announce her arrival?

A couple of the spectators look over at Artemis - and turn up their noses at the upstart. :)

Swarmer lifts with the beating of her wings, taking hold of Artemis by the hand. "Fewer flying dances," she points out, her voice acutely higher than that of Maybri, but at least audible to everyone. "Come! They turn their heads up, let us show them something to look upon!"

Artemis looks to the larger Swarmer and smiles as they link hands. She doesn't pay attention to the scoffs of worlds. She will literally be above it all. "Indeed we shall," she smiles as she lifts off of the ground, her clothing flowing as if under water.

As Moonshadow steps through into the book, her style also changes. The colors are muted, and the style changes to resemble American Colonial. Her hair is pulled up tight under her hat. Some details slip through from her subconscious, as some of the trim is in wolf fur.

Swarmer leads, without actually having a pattern. She is accustomed to dancing in the air at least, just expressing herself with rhythm and having fun with it all. Safely above most of the other dancers, collisions are easily kept to a minimum.l

Artemis laughs merrily, holding onto both of Swarmer's hands as they spin out elegantly. She looks down to observe those below. "A superior vantage point," she comments quietly.

Artemis tries to restrain her superstrength while handling Swarmer, attempting to be delicate.

From the balcony, among all the countless dancers, it's not *that* hard to see the major players that you're interested in - not least because several of them stand out.

Horizon watches Artemis and Swarmer make merry from his perch on the balcony. He smiles and then returns his eyes to the dancers below, hoping to spot something helpful to their mission.

Radical says to the Cartesian as he watches the movement of the dance. "Beautiful, isn't it?" The white-clad woman nods in response, "Indeed. There is a pattern to it."

Swarmer seems completely lost regarding her purpose for being here, thrilled at being able to do exactly what she is doing after what feels like forever away from it. Good thing others are on point.

Thunder's own dress is decidely more formal, holding to the roots of his apparent asian heritage. His outfit has literally changed into a kimono complete with everything underneath. And while he does still look very much impressive in both bearing for one so young and powerful in his own right, the sword at his waist has changed in the form of the scabbard into something more elaborate. Almost eye drawing in a way. The young champion of Ryujin seems to have quite the self image from the way he is looking around. Even his hair is less wild and tamed, pulled back behind his head but not in the traditional top knot of something like a samurai. Just a slight tail at the back as he looks around carefully.

There's in an interesting cluster of dancers, travelling about the floor in a group. It includes a couple in so tight an embrace it's hard to tell where one starts and another stops, a large, angular man, a red-skinned woman, a handsomely dark man with a sword, and a strange figure - misshapen as if from injury, but graceful nonetheless - who weaves in and out between them, twitchily watching them and the other dancers. The dark man's sword has become entangles with the dress of another woman, from outside this group. She is being swept about the floor out of control, and has clearly recently collided with other dancers.

Artemis feels like she's right where she belongs, a goddess amidst celestials on some other plane. It's the goal of Godflora to ascend to such heights of divinity from their accomplishments. This is very much a dream. The wild Artemis is hardly reliable unless there's a fight to be won. She floats up and flips around, dancing above Swarmer and twirling slowly, hair to hair with enough space that her draping hair doesn't dust Swarmer. This also gives her a better view below. Somehow, her dress defies gravity as its wearer and stays floating and billowing with her movements.

A path is opening up in a nearby part of the floor, making way for a stream of dancers coming the other direction. This stream is led by a large, powerful stern-looking man in a masquerade mask. His sword is rather prominently worn at his side.

Artemis catches the tangled dancer and points her out to Swarmer. "I believe that is our new dance partner."

Horizon clears his throat near the other observers in his party and points to the group that dances with calamity below.

Servants flit about between the dancers - hardly noticed by them. They seem adept at avoiding their betters are just getting their jobs done.

The staircase leading down is close beside the door you entered through.

Swarmer seems puzzled, cluing in finally that indeed, there was a mission here she was supposed to be part of and doing something... that she has no idea how to accomplish. "She seems to now be dancing!" Swarmer points out. "And she does not yet fly... what need I do?"

"We need get that sword off her dress. Can you turn it into something else, maybe?" Artemis suggests. "Like your dress. Something to get her free."

Moonshadow makes her way down the servant's stair. She pays close attention to how the servant's are dressed.

The servants seem dressed rather inconspicuously, and indeed don't seem to show much individuality. Perhaps they're more window dressing that players...

Moonshadow attempts to transform her cloting to match what the servants are wearing.

Swarmer seems puzzled. "Ah, yes! I can do that!" She flies over to the tangled woman and focuses on her gown to modify it to be a series of dangling wide strips of cloth overlayered over more wide strips to allow swords to escape its clutches with ease, without eliminating the function of the dress.

Artemis drifts closer to the out of control dancer, thinking of how to slow her down or help guide her. Perhaps by giving her a lift! "My lady, do you need assistance?" she asks, holding out a hand while Swarmer goes to assist.

Radical rubs his chin and moves to the edge of the dance floor, looking for an opportune time to intervene.

"Thank you!" says the woman - and then gets yanked away by the whirling group of six, stumbling.

Thunder hums, then seems to consider. He moves on to the dance floor with a bit of purpose. And moves to put a stop to the group of six that are dancing. "Excuse me, good people. You are pulling this poor woman around with you in case you did not notice. I hope you do not mind my interrupting your dance, but I do not wish to see others harmed as it were by such action." And by stop, he means to physically impose himself in the way of such.

Artemis is delicate with their precious dimension. "We'll have you back in the dance in no time," she smiles at the woman, peeking down to see if Swarmer was able to free the dress. She moves with the dancers, but up above until the dress is free. "How are you enjoying the ball?" she inquires.

Swarmer worriedly informs, "It does not want to change!"

Radical furrows his brow...and tries to make his way over toward a different group of worlds entirely. One that looks like it's going to intercept our damsel-world-in-distress in a bit. Once he's near them, he tries to match their pace, and says to the one who will be closest on the predicted pass, "Pardon...but that lady over there needs some assitance. Might you find it in your heart to pull her away from that gentleman who is dragging her along?"

The group just keeps dancing - hardly noticing Thunder - except for the strange broken-but-agile dancer, who looks straight at Thunder.

Artemis calmly acknowledges Swarmer. "Perhaps just free it with your hands?" she asks, keeping the tangled woman above as she keeps up with the movements below so they aren't yanked about.

Swarmer moves to place her hand on the hilt of the sword, rather impetuously, and foolishly.

Attempting to emulate the servants, Moonshadow weaves her way across the floor, moving subtly into the path of the masked (Dr. D's?) world.

"My word - she is indeed in some trouble. Let me see what I can do!" says the gentleman too Radical.

Horizon jumps over the side of the balcony on to the floor below- teleporting at the last moment to eat up his momentum. He stumbles when he lands but he moves, attempting to get to Thunder and move him out of the way, calmly if posisble.

Moonshadow, disguised as a servant, is moving through the dance to intercept (stumble into) the masked dancer.

Horizon tries to snatch Thunder, only to find him resist. "What...?" he asks in surprise.

The haughty masked man pays the servant no heed whatsoever.

Horizon stumbles but rights himself quickly to say, "We're not supposed to hurt these worlds, right? I'm pretty sure letting them crash into you might injure them too."

Artemis continues dancing with their dimension, gently twirling the woman as they float above the heads of the other dimensions. She holds the lady securely against her, keeping up with the dancer she's tangled with as she hopes the others will free her. For now, she'll make sure she doesn't crash into any others. "Do you like the view from above?" she asks with a smile. "As I promised, we'll soon have your dress fixed and you back in the dance.

Alas, the dance is too quick for Artemis, and the woman/world is torn from her hands - the worlds seem to be at least as strong as Artemis - and once again she's dragged across the dance floor.

The woman/world fails to land on her feet....

(( Radical had just gotten a confirmation that hte gentleman/world he spoke to would attempt to help the woman out. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it." He glances over at the woman who is now literally getting dragged. "Oh...lovely." He makes his way out of the dance, just following hte pattern to get the edge. ))

The gentleman goes to try to help the lady in distress - without losing his own place in the dance...

The gentleman is deft indeed. He manages - without losing his place - to draw his sword and slash the woman's dress free as he passes!

Swarmer had first tried to change the structure of the dress that had caught and tangled a sword. Failing that, the pixie makes effort to take hold of the sword to try freeing it manually, ignorant of how rude this attempt might be. Compounding this is the skilled and successful assault to free the dancing lady from the sword that binds her, making her efforts seem more futile and possibly nefarious!

Maybri tumbles free when the dress is sudden cut, and bumps into the tall man of the group of six. She's now in some danger of people trampled herself.....

Thunder moves to the broken-but-agile looking dancer, reaching to tap the man on the shoulder, "Excuse me, sir, may I have a few minutes of your time?" He is polite about it, but obviously curious.

He retreats shyly to the far side of the group.

Swarmer politely moves herself out of the dancing madness path, ending up hovering by Artemis.

Horizon finds himself swept up in the dance of worlds as he takes a different tact. He finds someone close to Earth-1's avatar so he can help it to its feet and rejoin the dance with him as its line of defense while the others work out the details.

"Here, let me help you up- and ensure that doesn't happen again." Horizon says to Earth-1.

Eleanora says, "Thank you, sir....."

Horizon helps the woman to her feet - though she's still caught between two lines of dancers moving in opposite directions....

Moonshadow climbs to her feet and fumes at the masked man, saying loudly, "You, sir, are no gentleman!"

Radical times his movement through the dancers, "Let's see if we can get you to the correct place, miss." He waits for the opportune time...and helps her get back to her place in the dance.

Eleanora, overseeing things from the balcony, nods approval. "Well done - now please, let's leave before things get more complicated..."

Artemis sees things getting back into place, drifting near Swarmer. "Are you unharmed?"

Earth-D is indeed no gentleman. "One side, peasant!" he says, slapping Moonshadow aside.

Radical makes his way back out of the dance...and then up to the balcony. The Cartesian watches him, still looking like she thinks this is all a farce, but waiting to see the results.

Horizon deftly navigates his way towards the stairway now that Earth has been set to rights. He elects to take a more unique rout eup them however- bouncing along the rail before swinging himself over the top to land and roll off the momentum. The sound of him ripping his fine & properly time-synced clothing announces his arrival.

Moonshadow says, "You...you...Petruchio!" and stomps off the floor. She slips back up the servants' stair and changes back to her usual cloaked self.

"I do not feel harmed!" Swarmer replies to Artemis.

Eleanora opens the door back quickly. She doesn't let on just how worried she is about how much damage the heroes might do if they stay....

Horizon gets back through the door and is glad to be back in his home plane of existence. He takes a deeply releived breath in the Great Library.

Eleanora smiles as the heroes return. "A job well done! My I offer you a cup of tea?"

"Very well," Artemis says to Swarmer with a smile. She offers to waltz her through the air back towards the door to the Great Library. As she floats through the gate, she is no longer her resplendent self.

Horizon looks around. "Actually, that sounds really nice." He says as he moves to change out of his borrowed clothing.

Eleanora says, "I'll see to it. It will give me time to find the way back to Earth again, now she's not where she was..."

Now that her surge of anger has worn off, Moonshadow is shaking. "Do you have anything stronger?" Literally throwing herself at a man's feet and being ignored and rejected hasn't done her currently fragile ego any good.

The teenage Thunder nods, "Tea would be nice... ah..." He looks to Moonshadow, "Hey, are you okay?" He moves over to help Moonshadow just in case.

Swarmer shrinks considerably as she passes the gate into the less self-projecting realm, and lands herself on the shoulder of Artemis, her normal green apron returning but only for a moment as she decides she likes the leafy look much more.

Swarmer looks not the least bit bothered by the information that she is not within reach of her new home. She draws a lock of hair around herself to more easily stay in place on the shoulder, using it to support her posture at the same time.

Artemis smiles to everyone. "Dances are more fun than I realized. We should endeavor to repeat this experience," she says cheerfully.

Swarmer curls the lock more firmly around herself and tucks her legs in, agreeing with Artemis while lamenting.

Artemis' soft hair forms a comfortable and cozy swing for Swarmer to rest in.

"I mean for for an extinction level event that wasn't half bad. Probably twice as good as my Prom." Horizon says with an easy smile.

''Separating Earth-1 from Gloaming ended the second Rift Crisis, and the change to the dance prevented the collision with Earth-D. It also changed Earth-1's position relative to other worlds, making some easier to access and some harder. The Dwarven Emporium vanished from the park. Dropping Earth-1 on the ground did, unfortunately, cause some extreme weather and minor earthquakes, but nothing the collected heroes of the world couldn't handle.''