With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

[Chojin Patriarch]

Chojin Patriarch has she been using her Godspeeh to talk, in either this chapter or before, becuase i have yet to figure out how to make it visible

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If there's any invisible text, I usually note it at the end of my posts.
If you can use userscripts on your browser (assuming it's not a phone,) there's one to make transparent text visible on Xenforo forums (here, SpaceBattles and Sufficient Velocity, mainly.) This is where I usually install it from, on userstyles.org.
It'll make invisitext show up as black bars that turn into green text when moused over.

Don't know how to make it visible though, sorry.

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If you know where it is in the reply box, highlight and turn it a different colour with the 'text colour' button ('Font' block of options, first 'A' icon, on my browser.) Also useful for highlighting corrections!
I usually try to make it match the character, so medium grey for Grayven.

 

[Vaermina]

That sounds blatantly false. Do you have a source for your claim?

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Lights Out, the Entities nearly got turned into giblets by Relic when they possessed Kyle.

I doubt he can do much against her, aside from becoming her new pet of course.

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It doesn't take much magical knowledge to bind Entities you know...

 

[frommerman]

OL can't win a swordfight with a minor metaphysical entity, so instead he's trying to win a godfight with a major metaphysical entity.

Might actually work too. Aurakles is using the Source, so OL should be able to use the diety he's most strongly connected to as well. Except Aurakles only has access to a tiny fraction of the Source, and the Ophidian will willingly launch all of herself into battle for Paul. Defeat in detail, for gods.

 

[Agent Orange]

No, damn it! Missed the damn witch-sign and just poked her in the cheek!

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Ha! Natural 1s are always hilarious

"Okay, what counts-"
[...]
"-armed?"

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"Well... having arms to begin with. Maybe you should cut her arms off?"

Hellwraith, go and find a Spine Rider, then come back and try using it to control her.

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... He missed a perfect opportunity to name something a Ringwraith. For shame~

She-. Aaaaargh! She drops her sword point-down on my left boot, and all my plasma shield can do is turn it aside slightly before it slides into my foot.

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It's an iron sword. How did it cut through his power armor clad boot? He should get a refund on this thing!

"How about the Ophidian?"

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Of course, you only thought of that mid-duel to death. It's not like deploying it immediately after realising you're in a grey goo scenario would've been useful or anything. You had to wait for the last possible moment to even consider it.

 

[Ngamer11]

Of course, you only thought of that mid-duel to death. It's not like deploying it immediately after realising you're in a grey goo scenario would've been useful or anything. You had to wait for the last possible moment to even consider it.

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Summoning the Ophidian isn't something you do without a second thought. She is his last resort, and should be treated as such.

 

[Senevri]

There isn't one.


The Source is way way way out the Ophidian's league.

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So Ophidian is fair play! Sorta.

 

[Agent Orange]

Summoning the Ophidian isn't something you do without a second thought. She is his last resort, and should be treated as such.

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So... losing a duel with a draugr warrants it but an arcane grey goo scenario doesn't?

 

[Darko]

It's an iron sword. How did it cut through his power armor clad boot? He should get a refund on this thing!




.

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No the sword is made up of some kind of New God material, not iron, so it should be capable of cutting through power armor.

And losing a duel with a draugr warrants it but an arcane grey goo scenario doesn't?

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He may have thought there was some other way to beat the goo before calling on the Ophidian, but for this fight he doesn't have much choice.

Oh and I decided to see what Vaermina has been saying and just discovered it hasn't really changed.

Relic is from the n52.

Zoat dislikes the n52.

Zoat is unlikely to use a lot of elements from the n52.

Zoat is unlikely to use anything Relic did.

You've probably decided to ignore this as you've done a lot of other things.

Provide evidence that the Ophidian can be bound with magic.

Paul has a connection to the Ophidian and can just fight off whatever Melmoth tries to do.

If you disagree with this then provide a citation that Melmoth can do anything to the Ophidian, or anything on its power level.

If you can't do this then don't bother to reply.

If you do try to provide some evidence, which will most likely be worthless, then I may try to see what you posted.

If the citation you provide is worthless then I won't try to even see what you post anymore, it will just be a pain to read what you write.

Oh and please provide evidence that even if magic can harm Entities that Zoat would use that in this episode or anywhere in his story.

 

[Vaermina]

Summoning the Ophidian isn't something you do without a second thought. She is his last resort, and should be treated as such.

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Summoning the Ophidian isn't something you should do period.

There's good reason that's an option only the crazies or truly desperate go for in the wider DC universe.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Your color tags are showing.

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If I correct it before you post then it doesn't count.

Maybe add 'as armed'

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Thank you, corrected.

maybe 'into human, instead of just 'in to'

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No, I think that's right. The act of grinding has pressed it in.

Double space here.
...usually resolved by grapples neither of us...

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Thank you, corrected.

 

[Nervaqus987]

Oh and I decided to see what Vaermina has been saying and just discovered it hasn't really changed.

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Dude.

You're banging your head into a brick wall.

Just stick to ignoring him like everyone else.

 

[Z3r0Sama]

Quick! Call Constantine and see if Lucy owes him any favors. He's well out of the Sources league.

 

[Soul Shocker]

There isn't one.


The Source is way way way out the Ophidian's league.

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That only means he can use the Ophidian, plus whatever else power source he can get his hands on.

 

[Mordart]

Question: If this really is in the future, is the Ophidian even still alive? That seems a really good question to ask, lest OL try to summon it and get the entirety of the Avarice spectrum from this point in time shoved through him. Or something else, maybe just a Ringtone or automated message left behind. Of course it would be just like this story to actually try summoning the Ophidian and instead getting his future self too...

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

Question: If this really is in the future, is the Ophidian even still alive? That seems a really good question to ask, lest OL try to summon it and get the entirety of the Avarice spectrum from this point in time shoved through him. Or something else, maybe just a Ringtone or automated message left behind. Of course it would be just like this story to actually try summoning the Ophidian and instead getting his future self too...

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Heh, I can see it now:

"What."
"Oh, I was wondering when this would happen."
"What."
"Honestly, this wasn't that hard a problem to solve, you know..."
"What."
"Here, let me take care of this, we need a little chat." <Zot!>
"What..."
"Okay, you can stop the Tenth Doctor routine now..."

 

[Darko]

Heh, I can see it now:

"What."
"Oh, I was wondering when this would happen."
"What."
"Honestly, this wasn't that hard a problem to solve, you know..."
"What."
"Here, let me take care of this, we need a little chat." <Zot!>
"What..."
"Okay, you can stop the Tenth Doctor routine now..."

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I'm now imagining Paul being the future Ophidian for some reason.

Well that or the Ophidian has become much more developed in the speaking department.

 

[Jacen]

Just in case people don't know.

Vaermina is the Daedric Prince of dreams, nightmares, and torment.

https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Vaermina_(Online)

unless you enjoy pointless arguments, I highly recommend just blocking their posts.

 

[Darko]

Just in case people don't know.

Vaermina is the Daedric Prince of dreams, nightmares, and torment.

https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Vaermina_(Online)

unless you enjoy pointless arguments, I highly recommend just blocking their posts.

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Well at least he lives up to his chosen name.

 

[Prince Charon]

Mr Zoat, do you feel inclined to do a post explaining how the New Gods work in this setting, for the wiki? If not Zoat, then is someone else willing? I'm not certain enough that I understand what's going on to do it myself.

 

[Agent Orange]

Well that or the Ophidian has become much more developed in the speaking department.

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Well hisss you too. I'd like to see you speak with no vocal cords or lipsss.

 

[BartlettMagic]

Mr Zoat, do you feel inclined to do a post explaining how the New Gods work in this setting, for the wiki? If not Zoat, then is someone else willing? I'm not certain enough that I understand what's going on to do it myself.

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thanks for that, i had never thought to check out the wiki. perusing it made me wonder though (and forgive me if i'm misunderstanding things):

in it, Cornwall Boy is stated as being a thaumovore, and that has been shown to be a working ability in the story previously. shouldn't he have been included on this mission? hypothetically, how potent is his 'thaumovore' ability? potent enough to more or less suck the life out of 99% of the problems that OL has enountered on this mission so far? due to their heavy reliance on magic, shouldn't Cornwall Boy have been included on anything Sheeda-related?

 

[Darko]

thanks for that, i had never thought to check out the wiki. perusing it made me wonder though (and forgive me if i'm misunderstanding things):

in it, Cornwall Boy is stated as being a thaumovore, and that has been shown to be a working ability in the story previously. shouldn't he have been included on this mission? hypothetically, how potent is his 'thaumovore' ability? potent enough to more or less suck the life out of 99% of the problems that OL has enountered on this mission so far? due to their heavy reliance on magic, shouldn't Cornwall Boy have been included on anything Sheeda-related?

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The people that went on this mission were the ones that could afford to potentially be gone for months due to the fact that months could pass on Earth before they get back, even if they just spend a few days on Witch World.

Cornwall still goes to school and so he may not have been able to take that much time off.

As for the magic side of things they have Dr Mist, a powerful archmage that has been using magic for 11.000 years, so in terms of magic assistance they're good.

He might even be able to use something similar to Cornwall and absorb another persons magic.

When they went on this mission they were just doing it to gather info on the Sheeda so they can prepare for them.

 

[Darko]

he won't turn from him whatever he does to him

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Maybe add something like 'despite whatever he does to him'

any theoretically know that their deity disapproves of it when they act out."

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Maybe make it 'many theoretically'

"Which apparently be never."

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Maybe 'is never'

 

[Eponymic]

Is it bad that I imagine Graven sitting on a couch eating popcorn and yelling at the TV while he sees Paul struggle?

 

[Agent Orange]

Is it bad that I imagine Graven sitting on a couch eating popcorn and yelling at the TV while he sees Paul struggle?

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Well... It's not impossible he's doing just that.

Last time we saw Grayven he was falling into Sheeda hot tub time machine (while holding Artemis in princess carry). What are the odds they ended up somewherewhen interesting (or at least plot significant)?

 

[DrThoth]

The people that went on this mission were the ones that could afford to potentially be gone for months due to the fact that months could pass on Earth before they get back, even if they just spend a few days on Witch World.

Cornwall still goes to school and so he may not have been able to take that much time off.

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Has Robert considered doing what Zatanna did and getting a Genomorph-based accelerated education? Superheroing is what he's all about, after all. Though I don't even remember the last time I saw him onscreen.

 

[rkyeun]

Well hisss you too. I'd like to see you speak with no vocal cords or lipsss.

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You're the embodiment of avarice. Wanting it is necessary and sufficient for you to speak with no vocal cords or lips. Rings manage it, so can you.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Has Robert considered doing what Zatanna did and getting a Genomorph-based accelerated education? Superheroing is what he's all about, after all. Though I don't even remember the last time I saw him onscreen.

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Briefly, but he decided it would be cheating.

 

[Darko]

Has Robert considered doing what Zatanna did and getting a Genomorph-based accelerated education? Superheroing is what he's all about, after all. Though I don't even remember the last time I saw him onscreen.

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Not sure.

Maybe he wants to experience school like everyone else and then go on to be a full time superhero.

I remember he was shown in the A Week in the Life episode where they investigated the place Dream was kept.

15th April
12:48 GMT

Robert half-closes his eyes for a moment, then shakes his head.

"Yeah, I can feel it."

The manor of Fawney Rig hasn't changed since last time I was here. There's a party of Chinese tourists walking the grounds, but they're almost immediately more interested in Robert, Wallace and me than in the location. To most people it's just the base of operations of a group of mystical rip-off merchants who were briefly a thing in the seventies and eighties. I'd say something, but the absolute last thing the universe needs is anyone else trying to trap the Endless. It was hard to see on a country-by-country basis, but when I looked at the statistics worldwide his imprisonment killed thousands of people who went to sleep and never woke up… Or woke up and lost the ability to sleep.

I haven't tried looking at the same period on other planets.

Wallace frowns as I pay for our entry and we head towards the house.

"Are you serious about this? This… Endless guy was trapped here for seventy years, and there aren't any… I don't know, magical barriers here?"

"The only heavy-duty bound spell was the one keeping him imprisoned. Otherwise, it was all minor stuff. While it worked."

Robert nods. "Yeah. It feels weird, but it's a background weird."

Wallace nods uncertainly as we enter the house. "So how come no one else spotted this sand stuff?"

"The man who owned the place before the National Trust bought it didn't believe in magic. The only reason he kept the setup downstairs in one piece was so that he had something impressive-looking to show potential 'investors'. I still don't think that anyone who actually knows anything about magic has made it safe."

Wallace stops. "What?"

"Oh, no, no." Robert shakes his head. "Dad told me. They got someone called Cursitor Doom to check the place over in the eighties. Should be alright."

"But we're relying on it not being alright, right?"

I lead the way towards the basement.

"Dream sand is only dangerous in high concentrations. And even then, actual dream manifestations require long term exposure." I take a warded gas mask out of subspace and offer it to him. "It shouldn't be a problem anyway, but just in case…"

He takes it from me and looks at it for a moment.

"Kid Sandman, here we come."

He puts it on over his face, fiddling with it in a vain attempt to make it comfortable. I have no idea how Wesley Dodds managed for so many years.

"So how are we finding this stuff?"

"I scanned the sand that Fate had." I lead the way down the stairs into the basement. "And while my ring couldn't make sense of the exotic aspect, it gave me a pretty clear reading on the 'sand' part. So all I've got to do is scan for that sand, and we should have it."

Robert frowns. "I thought they took his stuff off him as soon as he got here."

"Yes, but it was in the building for years. If he spilled some inside the circle, or they spilled some in the house somewhere, I should be able to find it."

"Ugless they were having some building work done."

"Sand isn't just sand. I can distinguish between the molecular structure of that sand and the stuff that's used in the local buildings."

I step out into the basement and walk a little way around the room, letting the others come in. Robert looks fascinated, though I'm not sure how much of that is due to the history of the place and how much to whatever his arcane senses are telling him. Wallace-.

"Oou really couldn't put a throat mike in this thing?"

"It would be an extra point of weakness and complexity. Ring, find me some sand."

Orange light washes outward, covering the inner surfaces of the room. And like a disclosing tablet, colour pools in particular areas of the room. Nooks and crannies in the stone floor, the walls, the tapestries and the stairs. Not a lot really, but worth noting.

I make a pulling gesture with my left hand and it comes, flying through the air and coming to rest in a small construct box. No, not a lot, but perhaps we can do something with it.

"Stuff dreams are made of." Robert frowns. "What happened to the woman who was using it?"

"She starved to death." I shrug. "Sort of. She only lasted as long as she did because she spent so much time in the Dreaming, but her body was a mess when she finally died."

One last strobe around reveals nothing, and I turn to leave.

"And what happened to her house?"

"Her father's brother got it in his will, and he sold it. The family who moved in ended up having bizarre waking dreams, galloping nightmares, believing they were other people, all sorts of weird stuff. There was a nasty legal battle over the sale which ended with the bank repossessing it. They couldn't sell it, a few people tried squatting there which resulted in it being burned down. It's a grass field, now. There's no way we're getting any sand from there."

I fly back up the stairs, tiny quantities of dream sand making themselves known as I go. I… Vaguely remember Morpheus dosing a few people with sand during his escape, but after this long I doubt that I'll get more than a few grains anywhere which isn't somewhere where he did that. Probably just the bedroom of the former owner, Alex Burgess.

"…supposed to help us find him?"

Robert and Wallace follow me back up, Wallace shaking his head.

"Fate can use it as a focus for a spell to detect other people using dream magic. It's not something a lot of magicians use, so it should show us where to look. I wanna see if I can use it alchemically. If this stuff can make anything I can imagine real, I might be able to make a potion to fix Sandy."

"You think so?"

"This… Something like this needs a real expert. But there aren't any. There's some people who use scientific equipment to do alchemy, but there's no one who's actually studied it scientifically. So it's not like when Tempest and Aquagirl do a whole lot of math to work out how their spells should go; this is basically… Guessing."

He grimaces under his mask.

"Hey, Oh El: Sandy didn't ever get the same kinda dreams that Sandman did, did he?"

"Not as far as I know."

Based on sources that I've found here and based on the handful of Justice Society of America comics I read with him in them. Mostly what I remember of that is him complaining about how libidinous everyone had become since the forties and then getting into a fight with Hawkman over Hawkgirl.

"No, that would be too easy."

We continue through the house until we get to the bedroom. They've redecorated it to look how it did during the heyday of The Order of Ancient Mysteries, but… Yes, a decent amount of sand lurks under the carpet. Probably a good job that no one tried sleeping here since Alex died.

I hold up the small construct box with even less sand than John had. And I'm not completely sure that it is all dream sand.

"I think this is all we're getting. Time to head back."

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[Agent Orange]

Briefly, but he decided it would be cheating.

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In the immortal words of Mr Catmanez: "No no. If you cheat and fail, you're a cheater. If you cheat and succeed, you're savvyyy."