Goblin Queen [Worm/Exalted][CrossPost]

Trapped in darkness, drowning beneath the sound of skittering things in the walls, Taylor connected with something infinitely greater. Yes, yes... another johnny late-comer on the worm/exalted bandwagon.

Yes, it's Worm (http://parahumans.wordpress.com/) and the Exalted RPG by White Wolf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exalted)(hilarious explanations), even if the Exalted portion is kind of easily missed. :3

This is the fabled index post.

A copy of this can be found in the Wormverse fic discussion threads (click me) as well as on my fanfic.net (click me) account.

Space Battles Goblin Queen Threads [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Sufficient Velocity [X] | Questionable Questing [X] | FFnet [X]

And there is now, a TVtropes page! Huzzah! (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FanFic/GoblinQueen), and has been recc'ed on the Worm Fanfic recs page on TVtropes (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FanficRecs/Worm).

I will also admit that I am very partial to likes, C&C (constructive or otherwise), as well as reviews and such~

Things
| 01.1 | 01.2 | 01.3 | 01.4 | 01.5 | 01.6 | 01.7 | Interlude (Beginnings / Leet and Uber) |

Truth
| 02.1 | 02.2 | 02.3 | 02.4 | 02.5 | 02.6 | 02.7 | Interlude (Dreams / ????) |

Appearances
| 03.1 | 03.2 | 03.3 | 03.4 | 03.5 | 03.6 | 03.7 | Interlude (Regrets / Eidolon) |

Masks
| 04.1 | 04.2 | 04.3 | 04.4 | 04.5 | 04.6 | 04.7 | Interlude (Hole / Oni Lee) | (Sunset / ????) |

Games
| 05.1 | 05.2 | 05.3 | 05.4 | 05.5 | 05.6 | 05.7 | Interlude (PRT Profile / Weaver) | (Mirrors / ????) |

Socializing
| 06.1 | 06.2 | 06.3 | 06.4 | 06.5 | 06.6 | 06.7 | Interlude (Last Testament / Gentes Iza) |

Heaven
| 07.1 | 07.2 | 07.3 | 07.4 | 07.5 | 07.6 | 07.7 | Interlude (Game of Gods / Cauldron) |

Choices
| 08.1 | 08.2 | 08.3 | 08.4 | 08.5 | 08.6 | 08.7 | Interlude (PRT Profile / Glitter Girl and Rose Knight) |

Memories
| 09.1 | 09.2 | 09.3 | 09.4 | 09.5 | 09.6 | 09.7 | Interlude (Electric Sheep / Dragon) |

Infinity
| 10.1 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 10.6 | 10.7 | Interlude (Escalation / Emma Barnes) |

Diplomacy
| 11.1 | 11.2 | 11.3 | 11.4 | 11.5 | 11.6a | 11.6b | 11.7 | Interlude (Never Was / Mystery Girl) |

Impossible
| 12.1 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 12.5 | 12.6 | 12.7 | Interlude (Empire / Kaiser) | (Dances / ????) | (Taylor's Poutine Recipe) |

Extinction
| 13.1 | 13.2 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 13.5 | 13.6 | 13.7 | Interlude (PRT / Gerry) | (PRT Profile / Professor Urn) |

Ending
| 14.1 | 14.2 | 14.3 | 14.4 | 14.5 | 14.6 | 14.7 | Interlude (Dancing in the rain / Gallant) | (ginK nilboG / Nilbog) | (Backstories Matter / Taylor, Lisa, Madison) |

Transient
| 15.1 | 15.2 | 15.3 | 15.4 | 15.5 | 15.6 | 15.7 | Interlude (Fallen Knight / Saint, Dragon, Durandal) | (Judgement / Saint) |

Changes
| 16.1 | 16.2 | 16.3 | 16.4 | 16.4Bāʾ | 16.5 | 16.6 | 16.7 | Interlude (Man in the Mirror / Skidmark) |

One
| 17.1 | 17.2 | 17.3 | 17.4 | 17.5 | 17.6 | 17.7 | Interlude |

 

Omake Index

Omake [Not Canonical] Index​

2.3.5 Parahumans Online message board | by Ehn
3.1.5 Happyfun Prison | by Ehn
-.-.- Leviathan thing for down the line | spoilered out~
3.3.5 Reactions | by Winged Knight
3.3.5 Stirring the pot | by Spectrum
3.3.5 Parahumans Online message board 2 (re: Stirring the pot) | by Ehn
3.3.5 Happyfun Befriending | by Ehn
4.1.5 Capes! No Capes! | by wingnut2292
-.-.- The Fic that Ate Brockton Bay[SIZE=small] | by meschlum[/SIZE]
-.-.- Roses in cages and her tales | by Arcman
4.6.0 Retcon 9 Application to 4.6 | by Biigoh
4.6.5 Conspiracy Theory | by fitzgerald
4.75 Truths (Kid Win) | by Finbar
4.7.5 Truths (Armsmaster) | by samdamandias
5.1.5 Script | by Endymion
5.1.5 Parahumans Online message board 3 (re: Weaver Clothier)| by Finbar
5.1.5 What do you think, Shadow Stalker? | by Finbar
5.2.5 Happy End | by Yog
5.2.5 You can do it | by djibriel
5.2.5 Parahumans Online message board 4 (Disturbing) | by illhousen
-.-.- Dead or Alive | by Alathon
5.3.5 C&C from a beta | by illhousen
5.3.5 Lisa's Nightmare | by Zechstein
5.3.5 Mid-Lag Dream | by illhousen
5.3.5 Tale of Two Taylors | by Evilcat
-.-.- Craft Glamour is the One True Craft | by meschlum
-.-.- Stolen Parasol | by meschlum
-.-.- Slaughterhouse PCs | by Jans
-.-.- Glittertech Emporium! | by meschlum
7.1.0 Retcon 9 Application to 7.1 | by Biigoh
7.1.5 Shared Headaches | by illhousen
-.-.- Doomed Shipping | by deadheadzed
7.2.5 "Why The heist Timeline had to be collapsed | by Stratagemini
7.2.5 replies to forum [1] [2] | by Ixenathier, rumblestiltsken
-.-.- Forging A Sword | by meschlum
-.-.- Simurgh trolling forum | by Stratagemini
-.-.- On Gossamer | quoted by Zechstein
-.-.- On Graces | quoted by Zechstein
7.4.5 Decisions and Dolls | by Helnae
7.4.5 Glittertech Customer Support | by meschlum
7.5.5 Oldspice Rose Knight | by Interregnum
7.5.5 Aegis and Tattletalk chitchat | by Nekraa
7.5.5 Rose Knight Ad | by NSMS
7.5.5 Glittertech Emporium! Bloom and Sparkle Suit | by meschlum
-.-.- Fic Reviews | by Peanuckle
-.-.- Sounds like a hero to me | by Alathon
7.5.5 Lines for talking to Shadow Stalker | by Ganurath
7.5.5 Analysis of acquired Glittertech armor | by meschlum
7.5.5 Special Glittertech Promotion | by meschlum
7.6.5 No way in hell | by Stratagemini
8.1.5 Why tinkers HATE this Taylor | by Larekko12
-.-.- Glittertech Alternate Lives | by meschlum
8.1.5 Plotium Detector | by meschlum
-.-.- Old Spice Glittertech Thing | by Seclorum
-.-.- Rose Knight vs Mannequin | by Peanuckle
8.4.5 Introductions | by Peanuckle
-.-.- More Glittertech Emporium Specials | by meschlum
-.-.- It is dark... | by meschlum
-.-.- Mannequin and Sphere | by illhousen
-.-.- Lisa's liver | by helnae
-.-.- Once and Future Rose Knight | by illhousen
8.5.5 Armsmaster's Personal Profile | by Stratagemini
9.1.5 Tattletale vs My Immortal | by Vindictus
9.2.5 Tattletale and Miss Fortune | by Leliel
9.2.5 Tattletale beyond beta | by Peanuckle
9.8.5 Local Expert | by Ganurath
9.8.5 Batteries | by Leliel
9.8.5 After 10,000 years~ | by Leliel
-.-.- True facts about the Wyld | by Ganurath
9.8.5 Lanlarmokez | by Nekraa
-.-.- Emissary | by illhousen
9.4.5 Memories can Return Favors | by Logos
10.1.5 Slaughterhouse 9 on Rose Knight | by Ganurath
10.3.5 Rose Knight vs Evil Overlord List | by Biigoh
10.4.5 Pretty Unicorn Princess Lisa | by meschlum
-.-.- Bird Cage Discussion | by Biigoh
10.5.5 Laugh it up | by Peanuckle
9.8.5 Rose Knight Trolling Dragon | by Peanuckle
9.8.5 Parahumans Online Forum reaction to second sun | by Stratagemini
-.-.- Cause of Lag | by illhousen
-.-.- Faerie Dojo | by Peanuckle
10.8.5 Dave, are we the baddies? | by Leliel
-.-.- Rose Knight Fanfic by God Empress Rose | by Heart of the Star
-.-.- You are the Raksha by God Empress Rose | by Dynamesmouse
-.-.- C&C of Rose Knight Fanfic by God Empress Rose | by UberJJK
-.-.- Aunts and Nieces | by meschlum
-.-.- Fly Me To the Moon | by Biigoh
10.7.5 Drinking Buddies | by Peanuckle
3.3.6 A tanuki for Vista from Shadow Stalker | by Stratagemini
-.-.- Sleepover | by illhousen
10.7.5 Most Dangerous Game | by illhousen
-.-.- Taylor the Enabler | by illhousen
-.-.- Contessa's response | by Peanuckle
-.-.- Grue's Log | by Stratagemini
11.6.5 The Adventures of Emily | by Biigoh
11.6.6 A continuation of Emily | by Stratagemini
11.6.5 The Power of Song | by Stratagemini
11.6.5 Trio of .... girls? | by Peanuckle
-.-.- Monsters | by Biigoh
-.-.- Addictive Substances | by Biigoh
12.1.5 M's Magical Milliners | by meschlum
12.1.5 On Behemoths | [2] | by meschlum
12.1.5 Unicorns for everyone | by Peanuckle
-.-.- Friendly Abacus | by meschlum
-.-.- Duels | by Biigoh
12.2.5 Unicorns for Princes Dinara | by Stratagemini
-.-.- Maya Victim PoV | by Olive
-.-.- Too many Taylor | [2] | [3] | by illhousen
-.-.- Black Monoliths | by illhousen
-.-.- The End | by Biigoh
12.4.5 The Good Stuff | by Peanuckle
12.4.5 Shard Status Report | by Peanuckle
12.4.5 The Good Stuff 2 | by samdamandias
-.-.- Monster Saves | by jobastion
-.-.- Oh Brian... | by illhousen
-.-.- Buds | by Sweece
-.-.- Sweatshop Busting | by illhousen
-.-.- Tattletale and King Arthuria | by Winged Knight
-.-.- Dinah and the Ice Cream | by Nekraa
-.-.- Eden and the Shards | by Winged Knight
-.-.- Union Goblins | by Stratagemini
-.-.- Union Tales | by zergloli
13.2.5 Gaming Sisters | by Stratagemini
13.3.5 Reactions
-.-.- Scarlet Emma | [2] | [3] | by Zergloli
-.-.- Blunt Dull Things | by Zergloli
-.-.- Doesn't die when killed | by Vindictus
13.3.5 Sophia on willpower spending by Emma | by Zergloli
13.3.5 Friends | by Warhammer651
13.4.5 Orphan | by Shinzero02
13.4.5 Tis but a scratch | by Seclorum
13.4.5 Wordless Conversation | by Samdamandias
13.4.5 Hundred Years Too Early | by Zergloli
13.4.5 Montage | by Rift120
13.4.5 Arms Revenge | by PostwarGryphon
13.4.5 Ranma Taylor | by Rift120
13.4.5 Duck Amuck, the meta omake | by aldriankyrrith
-.-.- Bans on PHO | by Stratagemini
-.-.- Dinah and the Costume | [2] | by Zergloli
-.-.- Dinah and the Costume 3 | by Valerie42
-.-.- The Tanuki's Tanukis | by evillevi
-.-.- Off with its head | by illhousen
13.4.5 New Recruit | by Anasurimbor
-.-.- Coil Shenanigans | by illhousen
13.4.5 Cockroaches and Love | by illhousen
13.4.5 Fair fight | by Zergloli
14.1.5 Montage | by illhousen
14.1.5 Turns | by Vindictus
14.1.5 Restrictions | Seclorum by and Nekraa
-.-.- Grue Quest Omake by Taylor | by Bii
-.-.- Staves can be Pillars | by Biigoh
14.2.5 Genre Change | [2] | [3] | [4] | by PostwarGryphon and Zergloli and Biigoh
14.3.5 One Upping | by Peanuckle
-.-.- Bragging | by Ganurath
14.3.5 Eidolon Getting Away | by Zergloli
-.-.- Names | [2] | [3] | [4] | [5] | by Bii and Hester and Mr SP and Bii
-.-.- [____]'s warning to Taylor | [2] |by Zergloli and FanOfMostEverything
14.4.5 [FanArt] Mister Fluffles vs Leviathan | by Renu
-.-.- Big Book of F(r)iends | by meschlum
-.-.- Canine : Bitch and Rollo | by Bii
-.-.- Glittertech Presents: Package Options for Killing Endbringers Technology | by meschlum
-.-.- Skidmark Courting Glory Ho... Girl | by Nigel Isaacs
-.-.- Glory Girl the Solar | by Anasurimbor
-.-.- Glittertech Family Services | by meschlum
-.-.- Distraction Butterflies | by Zergloli

 

He slumbered.

That ancient malevolent creature. Steeped in the ways of wickedness.

Once, he had ruled all of the South beyond the pillar of Fire.

There had been none that could gainsay him. Even tamed, there had been none who could claim to have true mastery over him. Such was his puissant might, that those who desired to gain mastery over him would end up begging for mercy.

There would be none found.

Once, his diet had consisted of plants, small animals, large animals, animals, fields of fire dust, caravans of fire dust harvesters, small sand yachts, large sand ship fleets, small cities...

Once, he had hunted and burned Fire Elementals and crushed those descended from the Fire Dragon.

He had ruled the utter south, and when the golden tyrants and silver monsters sent their armies against him, he decided he liked their meal offering.

Time passed.

And the world changed with the passage of time.

His time had come and gone.

And soon, he found himself harried and pushed further south as the borders of Creation expanded. The armies of those who shone with the brilliance of the sun, moon, and the elements sufficient to... inconvenience him, to force him to move ever south.

He thought not of his eventual ignoramus defeat and capture. To be held captive upon a flying mountain and traded as a bauble.

Such outrage.

Anger filled him, and yet he could do naught beyond vowing revenge.

Naturally, he did so.

Dreadful revenge against the snacks that dared this. The delicious crunchy snacks filled with elemental essence.

Ice cream is nice.

He blinked, and opened his eyes, blinking away sleep. Awareness of where he was came with consciousness.

His mistress was eating ice cream. A delicious snack. Cold and sweet, a pity that such things did not wiggle or beg for mercy as he played with it. Nor did it hold any essence within its delightful form.

There was amusement from her mind, as she idly scratched him on his forehead before she offered him a spoonful of the sweet dessert. As a tribute, of course, nothing more.

There was a lesser version of his mistress who sat across the table. It was a creature like his mistress, down to the transparent visor upon its eyes that she wore at times. Looking about, he could see the relatives of his mistress as they spoke to another being. How odd.

Still, he enjoyed the ice cream and preened at the attention given to him by his mistress, as was rightful,

"Bar bar barbar baaaar?" That lesser version of his mistress spoke while looking at him.

His mistress smiled radiantly and, one might even claim, benevolently before replying. "His name is Mister Fluffles, and yes you may pet him."

Gingerly and carefully, that imitation of his mistress petted him on his head. Since it was something permitted by his mistress, he didn't retaliate by incinerating it with a gout of his all consuming fire.

At its radiant warmth, the imitation smiled and cooed. "Bar bar."

"Yes, yes, he is very cute," His mistress agreed with her imitation's statement of how cute he was. Certainly, it was something that she believed, but he felt that it should be majestic and awe-inspiring and not cute.

To his annoyance, she didn't give him more ice cream. Instead, his mistress proved how cruel she was by eating the next spoonful. And yet, given that she was the first being who had managed to master it, with the fortitude of will to overwhelm him, he could not gainsay her cruelty.

"Bar bar baaar barbar bar bar." Still being petted wasn't a bad thing, even if it was by that imitation. Granted the comment about him being useful certainly rankled.

His mistress giggled in response. "Well, Mister Fluffles is certainly useful and handy. Still, I'll be honest... I don't think you could convince me to join the Wards."

"Bar? Bar bar?" The puzzlement in the imitation's question was obvious, as it fed him some of its ice cream.

"Hmmmm," a finger touched his mistress' lips as she thought of how to answer the question posed to her by her guest. "I suppose, Vista that it's not just a matter of money, which I'm getting from my current employer."

"Bar?"

"Yes, employer." He recalled the skeletal being at that place where his mistress had liberated him from cruel captivity. "I guess in a way, I'm going to do more good with the team I'm with then the Wards."

"Bar barbar?" The doubt in the replying question seemed almost cruel, and yet... his mistress' simply smiled and shrugged.

"I can't give you the details, but you'll see."

"Bar baar." The imitation nodded in acceptance.

- - -
Goblin Queen | Extinction is just numbers
Worm / Exalted
- - -​

Parahuman File # 00110508-01
♦Cape Identity : Navigator
♦Civilian Name : [redacted]
♦Gender : Female
♦Age : 12
♦Costume : Unknown at this time
♦Affiliation : Mercenary / Undersiders
♦Classification : Master 3, Blaster 1
While subject is young enough to join the wards, she has indicated that at current she is uninterested in joining the Wards as she has been recruited by the Undersiders, or more accurately, has been hired by the Undersiders' sponsor. (see case file # 00080710-08 Grue and case file # 00110206-101 Undersiders)

From inference in her statements to Vista in the recruitment interview, she triggered a few months ago and was recently recruited by members of the Undersiders; Rose Knight and Tattletale. (see case file # 00110429-06 Rose Knight and case file # 00110206-05 Tattletale)

Navigator has been noted to control a projection or has control of a miniature giant squid (architeuthis dux) that has the ability to breath gouts of fire and manipulate heat. While potentially dangerous, Navigator is noted to be still young and can only control the singular "Mister Fluffles" and sees the creature more as a pet than a weapon.

Her current rating is based on observed range of her control of "Mister Fluffles", and may be upgraded.

 

Doh ho ho ho ho~

 

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkeGMaq0O98[/embed]​

o/~ Here we are, born to be kings,
We're the princes of the universe.
Here we belong, fighting to survive
in a world with the darkest powers. o/~

Victoria hung above the puffy clouds, as she nodded her head to the song playing on her smart phone. Far below her, the aquamarine sea shone and reflected the light of the twin suns. Brockton Bay was several miles to the west of her, and thus there were few if any sea gulls below her. This was important.

If there was one good thing about being a parahuman, it was being able to do the impossible. That she could simply reach out and just fly without a single concern holding her down. There were those who claimed that she was nothing more than just a simple flying brick, while others claimed that she was the next Alexandria, simply based on how indestructible she was, how fast she could fly and the strength that she could leverage with her powers.

She closed her eyes before releasing her power, allowing nature to take its course.

With her eyes closed, she forced her body to relax as gravity seized hold of her.

The air whistled around her as she sped downwards, counting silently. In the distance, the surface of the sea rushed at her, at her current speed... she would slam into it and be no more than a spreading patch of crimson.

Well, that was assuming she didn't have the powerset that she had.

The ability to simply withstand impacts of indefinite power was a useful one and ensured that even if she did hit the surface of the sea, which she had when she first tried this out, she wouldn't be harmed at all.

And so, she fell, listening to the beating of her heart as she counted the seconds away, her body accelerating downward.

Ten seconds, that was how long the eternity of falling had lasted.

She opened her eyes.

Half a mile, that was how far she had fallen. The surface of the sea was definitely too close and she was descending at speeds that some might consider too fast.

And yet, it wasn't too fast. Not for her.

It was merely a 'short cut', a trick to accelerate faster than she normally could under normal circumstances.

But with the speed that she had now, it made things easier for her as a brief thought had her accelerating faster, downwards in a leveling out curve.

With fists extended before her, the air felt harder as it compressed before. Her cape and dressed clung to her body as she pushed herself faster, building on the speed and momentum that gravity had provided her.

Hardness of the air that she pushed with her fists slowly grew in hardness, while below and around her the surface of the sea parted as at her passage. And yet... there was a final barrier that she couldn't quite pass.

Not yet. Not at her current ability.

She would need a little something more. And yet, even her current speed was something that was prohibited within any city limits. It didn't matter how fast any mover could go, one simply did not go pass certain speeds. And for her, that limit was eighty miles an hour.

With that simple pushing of boundaries done, she decided to return back to Brockton Bay.

A gentle twist as she started to turn about, she winced as that brought her to close to a sea gull that tumbled helplessly in her slipstream.

At her current speed, she couldn't simply stop and spin on a dime. At least not and maintain her current speed. Thus, she was constrained to her large turning radius.

- - -
Goblin Queen | Extinction is seldom glorious
Worm / Exalted
- - -​

It was a small island, more an outcrop of stone, just a mile away from the shoreline.

But it made for a good place to practice or to sit down and think. It was rare for her to do so, but she did sit down now and then to think. Even if she wasn't do such at the present.

She pulled a fist back before rocketing forwards with a telegraphed punch. "Power Punch!"

With a sigh, she stopped and hmmmmed in thought. "No, not flashy enough."

More importantly, the island was close enough to Brockton Bay for her phone to work. Which was why she wasn't really surprised by the single vibration of her phone in its pouch on her belt.

She frowned at the name and number on the display before putting the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"Miss Dallon? I hope I'm not interrupting anything. It's Andrea with Encom gaming." The speaker was polite and yet enthusiastic.

"No, it's fine," Victoria sighed and stretched. "I was about to call you, and I have to admit defeat. I guess I'll have to settle for the dynamite punch and kick theme for my moves in your game. You sure I can't go with Psycho Punch or Psycho Crusher?"

"I'm afraid not, Vista got to that naming theme first." The apologetic note in Andrea's voice indicated that while it was a shame, she and the company she was with was more than willing to work with Victoria.

"Ah well, was there anything else?"

"Yes, we've received the request to have your sister in the game. I must admit that Panacea is not quite what one might have as a player character in a fighting game such as the Cape or Dead franchise." The apologetic note in the voice was still there. "However, if you or she don't mind, our game designers are willing to include Panacea in your moveset."

Now, Victoria had to blink. "I'll have to think about this and talk it over with my sister."

"Excellent, we'll be awaiting your decision. Have a nice day, Miss Dallon."

With that, the connection cut off as the Encom executive hung up.

She sighed, it was getting late in the afternoon and she had a planned dinner with Dean. Pushing down and launching herself upwards, she sped towards Brockton Bay.

The sight of golden butterflies as they circled in the sky above ship graveyard had her blinking. With a shrug, she changed her course. It never hurt to investigate odd things.

Which was when she caught sight of a group of... girls in a clearing.

Two of whom were wielding swords.

That was something that she would need to deal with.

She breathed in, before swooping and plunged towards the two with weapons in question, making sure to accelerate where others would decelerate. Her impact to the concrete ground was enough to result in a small crater as cracks radiated from it, while kneeling with one foot and knee to the ground along with her fist. She stayed in that position for a few seconds, precious heartbeats as her cape and platinum blonde hair fluttered in the wake of air that had followed her descent.

This was something that she had practiced for weeks to get right, not that she would admit to anyone how much work it took to get it just right.

"Shit, Glory Girl." That voice sounded vaguely familiar.

As did the other voices as all the masked girls identified her.

She rose from her kneeling position to look at the girls with a steely look, before blinking at the one leaning against a car. That one was a guy, a rather effete guy but male nonetheless.

 

"Wait... you're fighting because of a stupid bet? Really?" The disbelief in Glory Girl's voice was fairly clear and obvious to everyone. "And you're doing it with actual weapons. Do I even need to spell out how stupid this is?"

"Well... we did try to stop them, but they insisted. So we're making sure it doesn't go too far or bad," Shadow Stalker spoke up. "Better to have witnesses and such to stop them than to let them sneak out in the middle of the night to do this kind of thing."

"... we're not like that," The red head spoke up. "Shadow Stalker, you know I'm not gay or her old girlfriend..."

"I don't know, you've been pretty obsessed with... Rose Knight," The dark skinned heroine shrugged in response.

The blonde smirked viciously, the curve of her lips giving the impression of a fox, before speaking. "It's true that Rose Knight here isn't in a relationship with Red over there... she does kiss and tell despite trying not to. I should know."

There was a cough now from the aforementioned Rose Knight as she simply looked at the blonde. "I don't kiss and tell, for the simple fact that I haven't kissed as far as I know... you, on the other hand. You're not called Tattletale for nothing, you know."

"I simply must agree with Rose Knight, why the photographic proof alone~," Regent spoke up with a smirk as he looked at Tattletale.

She simply looked back at him with a calm demeanor, as if his implied threat wasn't one. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oi! Less high school drama here," Glory Girl interjected as she slapped her left hand with the back of her right. "Long story short, you shouldn't be going at each other like this."

"That's the problem, they'll end up going at each other," Glitter Girl sighed at Glory Girl. "Trust me, this is something that was going to happen once... erm... Red became a cape like us. She was or is rather fixated on Rose Knight and has been for as long as I've known them."

"Well, I'm not going to ask my sister to help patch up a pair of idiots," the platinum blonde heroine slapped her hands together once more as she spoke, the look of displeasure on her face saying a fair bit of what she thought of capes who liked to fight each other without any purpose. "And this is complete and idiocy-"

As Glory Girl expounded on her opinion with more firm slaps of her hands, the pair of girls whose fight had been interrupted looked at each other before nodding to the side.

Once friends, the best of childhood friends even, the two didn't have to speak to really understand each other. And what they really wanted was to tear into each other.

The best of friends.

And now, quite possibly, the worst of enemies.

- - -​

Once, I had wished that Emma and I were guys. Because guys had it easy. If the bullying happened to a guy, he could grit his teeth and just punch at the person bullying him.

This was before my powers, of course.

After my powers, I had at first pondered upon discovering that Emma was also a cape and that we could just beat on each other, and I could make her stop it with her bullying.

But that wasn't to be.

And really, as time passed, I changed.

That didn't mean there wasn't a part of me that was happy this was happening.

No, there was a part of me that was ecstatic that I was looking at Emma across the empty lot. We could finally settle things once and for all.

No rules.

No one to care that we would be trying our best to, if not kill, hurt the other.

No more need for me to hold back, for she wouldn't hold back. Where words failed to reach her long ago, my blows would have to do.

Of course, if I was an evil storyteller who fed upon the tears and rage of her readers, this would be where the scene would cut off. It was a perfect location for a cliffhanger and transition of scenes.

But I was not such a writer.

Not yet.

Still, I entered a defensive stance, my recently created swords mirroring Emma's surprisingly large sword in appearance if not in might. I could see an aura of fire haloing it. The essence within that blade indicated that it might have other additional effects and as such I wasn't willing to risk my sword grace in a battle with such a thing.

How cheating of Emma, to use a technique designed to have no function beyond combat.

Still, I had spend motes to assemble them from the concrete of the empty lot, unlike Emma who had crafted hers outright with the elemental essence within her body.

The martial arts style I used, half taught by vague commentary from my guest and half self created, had me focusing on my footwork first. After all, a solid foundation that was rooted properly would only lead to excellency.

Still, Emma's stance as she held her flaming great sword with both hands made me frown. If my stance was base upon my footing, then Emma's stance was based on her upper body strength and positioning of her weapon.

My stance would allow me to build up speed and strength based on how I moved from my foot up, while Emma's stance would allow her to strike with with speed if not force. There was no foundation such as I used... but there was raw skill much like what Brandish had.

I blinked at that thought. It was possible that Emma was basing the way she found on recordings of how Brandish fought. There were videos, rare as they were, of cape fights. It was entirely possible that Emma had studied videos of Brandish and other sword based capes to work out a fighting style.

This would be tricky.

I breathed in and watched Emma carefully. The way she breathed, how her grip on the handle of her sword tightened as she shifted her hands just so. As she lowered her body, bending her knees... I prepared myself for what was to come.

It was at this point as Emma moved, that Alec tapped play on his boombox. The song that played out in the clearing got Glory Girl to stop talking and turn to look at us. Alec's comment of how she could join in as a neutral judge was almost unheard by all.

o/~ Test your might. o/~

The leap by Emma was far greater than one might expect from a slight girl wielding a weapon that had to weight equal to a significant portion of her body weight.

As she arched upwards into the sky with sword arcing behind her head and body, I braced myself with both of my stone swords crossing to take the impact.

o/~ Test your might. o/~

The impact was greater than expected, and yet I wasn't the weak normal person that Emma had trapped in the locker. Time and essence had changed me as had prolong exposure to my guest [____]. I was so much more than what I had been.

As such, the force of Emma's great sword didn't shatter my weapons, nor did it break apart my defenses. Instead, I weathered her assault, allowed the fury of her attack continue down my body and into the concrete that I was bracing myself against.

It was only natural that the concrete cracked beneath the blow transmitted to it, I had felt the might she was forcing into her weapon as she fell upon me with the speed and power of a falling star.

o/~ Test your might. o/~

I breathed in deeply before roaring out my denial of her attack, pushing out and upwards with my arms. The grinding of stone against stone filled the air along with sparks.

The force of my my push was enough to drive Emma back. I found myself laughing as I looked at where she landed from my push. It was clear that she still thought of fighting me as if we were both normal parahuman. As if the fact that we could use essence meant nothing.

o/~ Mortal Kombat! o/~

I adjusted my stance, sweeping my right leg to the back before coiling myself lower and pushing forwards at her. "Red, here I thought you would know better than this."

Given that it was obvious that I was on offensive, Emma's reaction of interposing her weapon before her was sensible. But it wouldn't be enough as it was. Not without some sort of essence fueled technique usage. After all, there were restrictions on just how much essence could used by any one person without multiple techniques combined together into a greater technique.

"When attacking, a single overwhelming attack isn't going to cut it." I spoke up as I struck, to emphasis what I was doing. A weaving rain of stone blades that would dance around her single blade much like a tsunami would crash over and around a lone island. "You need to go for an overwhelming flurry of attacks or you'll get it DENIED like your attack against me was."

There was a frustrated tch from Emma that was satisfying to hear as she stumbled backwards from my assault as her blade danced in counter point to mind. The roar of essence around her was an indication that her parries were essence enhanced.

"You mean like this?" She smirked at me as she demonstrated that she was a dirty cheater who cheated at being able to use defensive charms after using an offensive one without them being combined.

I did have to frown as a swirl of brilliant white crystals erupts from the ground at Emma’s feet to orbit about her. They were near invisible at first, and yet as she spent more and more essence to defend against me... they grew in size and number, orbiting her like an asteroid field. Here and there, I could see crimson lightning crackle and leaps from crystal to crystal occasionally.

My disengagement with me darting backwards from where Emma stood with an elemental aura of spinning crystals was almost a signal that perhaps the fight had escalated a tad faster than either of us had expected.

"Something like that, but I have to admit that burning up that much motes," I shrugged at her, indicating my disbelief at her simply wasting her essence resources as if spending motes was something that was going out of style. I looked down at my hands which were slightly scratched from the field of crystals as they started up.

She laughed in reply. "It's not as if I'm going to be short of motes. I can do this all day."

Now, my frown grew at that boast. Such a thing was impossible, even if Emma did appear to have a far larger essence pool than me. And the charms to utilize said motes.

- - -
Goblin Queen | Extinction can apply to common sense
Worm / Exalted
- - -​

Writer's Notes : So a few things to note, Emma is a dirty cheater... even if it's not as much as Taylor.

A small notation on stats and such.
Name : Emma Barnes
Aspect : Earth
Essence : 3 dots (Personal Essence Pool : 3+7+5 motes / Peripheral Essence Pool : 12+7+6+9 motes)
Virtues : Compassion 2 dots, Conviction 3 dots, Temperance 2 dots, Valor 3 dots
Willpower : 7 dots
Anima Flux : A swirl of brilliant white crystals erupts from the ground at Emma’s feet to orbit about her. Near invisible crimson lightning crackle and leaps from crystal to crystal occasionally. Close examination shows that they resemble serpentine dragons.

All charms listed are from the Dragonblooded book (2nd Edition) unless otherwise noted. The DB Errata mention is called "Thousand Actions of the Upright Soldier". Also charms are listed in sequence of usage, and are not all that Emma knows.

Refining the Inner Blade (page 156) - costs 3 motes and 1 willpower to create a normal weapon out of the elements, which are "holy" and does elemental effect on successful attacks. Emma had Earth (cause tremors, which require rolls to avoid falls) and Fire, which does extra damage.
Dragon Blade Beneficence (page 90 of DB Errata) - Permanent, no cost. Upgrades Refining the Inner Blade to allow the dragonblooded to make Exceptional weapons, or if Essence 4+, perfect weapons. The dragonblooded may also enhance weapons she's using or her allies weapons with the elemental effects of "Refining the Inner Blade".
First (Melee) Excellency - Essence Overwhelming (page 128) - costs 1 mote per 2 attack dice. This charm is a generic attack dice adder.
Falling Star Maneuver (page 151) - costs 1 mote per 2 damage dice added. This charm is a plain damage enhancer.
Portentous Comet Deflecting Mode (page 156) - costs 3 motes and 1 willpower to perfectly defend against any single attack if it is not enhanced by charms or are sorcerous.
Conflagration of Warding (page 90 of DB Errata) - Permanent, no cost. Upgrades Portentous Comet Deflecting Mode to allow it to work against charm enhanced attacks or sorcerous attacks if the attacker has a lower essence than the dragonblooded. Still doesn't work against unblockable attacks. Also, the if there are other dragonblooded in the area, they may assist the drragonblooded defender to have his essence treated as if higher or to block unblockable attacks.

 

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5ZY8Fz9GGU[/embed]​

We fought on, trading blows and witty quips that cut sharper than our blades as we used our mutual history against each other; such as the fact that Emma used to wet her bed constantly when younger to counter the horrible truth that I had been frightened by cartoon ponies and unicorns.

I suspected that Alec was enjoying this, the entertainment of my and Emma's sordid histories coming up as we tore into each other. He did seem the kind to take delight in the suffering of others. Even if he denied it. Of course, with our airing of the dirty bits of our past like this before Lisa, it was a mutual disaster for both Emma and me.

At least, the one person watching the fight that wouldn't take advantage of our cutting words was Glory Girl, who seemed to be sighing and shaking her head.

Still, the glare that Emma gave me as I revealed that she hadn't really stopped wetting her bed until... well, it was a fierce glare as the crystals around her glared brighter and crackled with lightning dragons. Said glare was enough to make me draw back just a tad. Just a tad, mind. It might have been a bit too much to reveal, certainly Emma thought so as she ground out my name. "Rooose!"

"But Reddd, I was shocked. I had gotten you a lovely pony pajamas and then the next morning," I tsked almost innocently, with a look that said that butter couldn't surely melt in my mouth with a side order of would these adorkable eyes lie to you? I shook my head. "Imagine how I felt when we woke up and... well, I'm sure that you won't have such accidents with the Weaver Clothier outfit you got, right?"

As I spoke, I gathered my will and enforced it upon reality as I slashed with both my blades. Fast enough and fierce enough that the very air was rend in the passage of the slashes, and the vacuum from the slashes flew at Emma.

Alas, despite my attempts at striking her while stabbing into her psychological weak points, Emma proved that with sufficient rage, one could do anything. Like showing her displeasure and interposing her weapon to deflect my shaping enhanced attack into an empty container on one side the lot. Empty but for the fifteen spiders and twenty-six ants in it, thankfully none of the insects were harmed even if there was now a gapping X in the side of said shipping container.

I had to shake my head as she seemed to have worked out what I had been doing; avoiding essence usage unless it was necessary, simple but elegant defenses were always a good thing, multiple attacks to wear away at an opponent's defenses, and only use the massive charm enhanced attack when the opponent couldn't avoid it. And the most key tactic? Using the environment as part of the prop in a fight.

"Quit while you're ahead, I'll never lose to you," The low growl in her voice spoke of the unbridled passion in her heart and mind. "I might have done things that I regret. I might even have wanted us to-.... But what you did to... Shadow Stalker and Glitter Girl, I'll never forgive you. But more than that, I am not weak and I stopped wetting my bed a long time ago!"

"Hooooh." The look from me at her statement of not being a bed wetter for some time said just how much of this statement was factual.

The look of outrage on Emma's face as she came in with a stupidly fast side swing had me moving my blade to lock her great sword. A dead lock, I could more sense than see how her aura was wearing away at my swords. And it didn't help the way I had been parrying her fierce attacks.

Her elemental aura tore away at me, and ground away at the concrete at our feet. The dandelion that had sprung up between the cracks in the ground were utterly annihilated by the fury of Emma's crystals. My snarl as I ground and push my blades against her sword was mirrored by her own snarl.

The force that was focused between Emma and I was sufficient to crack the concrete used here in the lot. The metaphysical weight of our narratives, of our mutual attempts to overwhelm the other acting much like actual weight as a the cracks slowly formed a crater around us. The respiration of essence by the two of us was all the stronger for our attempts to overwhelm the other.

This was a classical scene, a test of strength. Which was why I wasn't prepared for what Emma did. A single detail missed was all it took, as she shifted to the side just so... before kicking straight up between out swords. The impact from the heel of her boot was enough to slam my head back and up.

She didn't seem to have had any training in fighting unarmed, thus I was completely caught by surprise as my body launched ever slightly upwards, the grip that I had on my swords loosened enough that I dropped them.

This was all that Emma needed to continue her attack as she flipped about in mid-air, before slamming her boots into me with far more force than what anyone could expect from her. Certainly, I wasn't expecting to be kicked hard enough that when I slammed into a shipping container, my body imprinted itself there.

Given that my weapons were by Emma, was it any surprised that I charged her with a punch. Only to run into her counterattack.

"There's nothing you can do! Now taste justice!" Certainly Emma seemed to get into the spirit of the fight as she retaliated.

There was no escape, slash after slash glided across my body. Essence fueling the supernatural and impossible speed that Emma moved and fought with.

Crimson lines showed the paths of her slashes.

I couldn't escape such a focused attack. I couldn't parry such an array of attacks, to defend against a single slash was to open myself up to the follow up.

This was it. I had no escape. My defensive bulwark of charms were penetrated, worse, her charms ensured that I would be diced up into itty bitty bits. Truly, I was doomed.

Naturally, I cheated. It was an act of desperation on par with what she had done earlier. Precious motes of essence were spent, more than that, I sacrificed a gossamer token. One of the charms that had been loaned to me allowed me to perfectly avoid harm from a single attack.

The forceful slashes by Emma were perfectly executed, and on another day might even have killed someone. Certainly, she killed Rose Knight, who exploded into an small cloud of rose petals and butterflies.

I had, by this time, recovered my swords while shrouded in glamour and essence. It was only natural that I repositioned myself behind Emma before lunging forwards, my blades ready to scissor Emma's neck between them; to hold her life hostage and thus claim the win.

"Oops, sorry about that. Looks like you just killed a decoy." With such an advantage, I had to smile as I spoke up. "It's all over, Red!"

There was a single sublime moment, where I knew I had her before her essence flared once more. I could only look on in surprise as I stumbled forwards with no Emma to rest my blades against.

"Yeah, for you." Emma's voice was low and menacing as she spoke from behind me. That was when I knew I had lost. Really, the back and forth could only result in someone making a fatal mistake. And here and now, that was me as she used a charm to dodge me and more... another charm to counterattack. One which denied me the opportunity to escape.

Her motion was smooth and swift like lightning. And her blade was... sharp. Very sharp. I could only blink as the breeze from her attack blew my hair upwards before she walked around me as if unconcerned.

The reason showed themselves soon enough as my arms fell off. Both of them.

"My arms!" My scream was only natural, right? My scream of absolute denial and shock as blood gushed from where I had been cut. "I can't fight without them. You... you bitch!"

"That's why I cut them off," Emma said as she stood before me with a smirk. "Besides, I heard that you can survive losing an arm or two. You're like a cockroach that way."

I sulked and forced the blood to stop gushing out. That was one of the benefits of being able to use essence, the ability to stop one's blood from going all over the place. Not that Emma had worked that one out, given the slight scrapes and cuts here and there on her body still bled. "You're no fun. And there's nothing wrong with cockroaches, they're perfectly good and useful as part of the eco system."

Still, I smiled. "Besides, all I need to do is just have someone hold my arms to the stumps and they'll heal pretty quick."

Which was where Emma proved she was still a bitch, and a sore winner as she stomped on my arms and allowed her elemental essence to destroy them.

"...." I could only look at her boots in horror before lifting my gaze to look at her in the eyes before speaking. "You monster. Fine, you win."

"Besides, I recall Shadow Stalker telling me that you boasted you could regrow your limbs, you'll survive, right?" That smirk directed at me was almost enough to get me to continue the fight with her. That overly smug smirk.

"Tch, I'll make sure to cover the cost of your Weaver Clothier outfit," I sighed and looked away from her. "But tell me... Red. Are you happy with this?"

"Hmmm?" There was a questioning look from Emma at me.

Given the fast and furious nature of our fight, it wasn't surprising that our audience weren't about to jump in. Not with the way we were free with our attacks.

Still, now that there was a lull, it appeared that the wounds inflicted on me was enough to make some of them pale.

"Does this satisfy you?" I looked at her as one of my goblins brought out the chalice brought not that long ago from a certain shady merchant. "Does this make you forgive whatever I did to offend you enough to turn away from me, to do what you have been doing since that summer."

It might seem counterintuitive to drink wine created in a magic chalice, but it was an idea that worked as I found my wounds sealing shut and my arms reforming as I drank the wine deeply.

It was rich in flavor and texture, sweet and smokey citrous. The taste sang of all the wonders and joys of summer bottled up with cool nights beneath an open sky as the stars and moon danced above.

Here, Emma had to pause as she thought about my question as I flexed my healed arms.

Eventually, she gave me her answer. In some ways, it was one that I had expected. In others, it was something that I didn't wish for.

- - -
Goblin Queen | Extinction are an ending of sorts.
Worm / Exalted
- - -​

Writer's notes : Does anyone want a listing of Emma charm usage?

 

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O O O​

Topic: Tale of a Mean Girl
In: Boards ► Creative Writing
God Empress Rose (Original Poster) (Member) (Awesomest Write-tan)
Posted on Feb 24, 2011:

So, I've recently found out that you could do creative writing here, so I thought I might try my hand at a little something to wet my toes.

Please feel free to provide C&C. I don't mind things like "you suck" as long as you give reasons why or how I could suck less.

Yours,
God Empress Rose

- - -

Once upon a time, there was a mean girl.

You could tell she was mean because she had red hair and liked to use her beauty to make people agree with her. More than that, she liked to bully a harmless girl with words, and things like trapping her in small enclosed spaces.

You could tell this is one of those stories because one day, that harmless girl made new friends. Very special friends who helped her escape from a disgusting place.

You see, that mean girl, with her friends had built a trap for the harmless girl. A cage filled with disgusting things that they pushed the harmless girl into.

It was in there that the harmless girl became something that wasn't harmless.

In fact, that harmless girl became anything BUT harmless as she attained that fabled state that some might call an RPG Final Boss. She had new friends, and she had nigh infinite potential.

That was when she started her revenge.

Oh, she didn't want to kill the mean girl. That was pointless, they were friends once upon a time, long ago. No, she would do something worse to that mean girl.

She broke herself to hone her powers, to achieve her potential.

She smiled and bowed her head as the mean girl continued to speak to her with mean words, and did things to push her down ever further.

She forged wonders beyond human conception.

More, she never forgot her revenge.

She would eclipse that mean girl. She would reduce that mean girl into just another faceless girl in society.

There was a plan, of course, there always was. Become famous, wealthy, and powerful. The details were, as always, vague and would change, but the end goal stayed the same.

- - -

To Be Continued

(Showing Page 69 of 69)

► Black-Eldjötunn
Replied on May 9, 2011:

This story oddly reminds me of something or rather... God Empress Rose, I must ask this, are you from Brockton Bay?

► Mechanical Messiah
Replied on May 9, 2011:

...

Damnit! Black-Eldjötunn, don't necro long dead threads. Look at the post dates before you reply.

Also, asking someone a question like that is very much against the rules.

► XxVoid CowboyxX
Replied on May 9, 2011:

Oh goddammit, a necro! Even if, yes, that story is kind of familiar.

► GstringGirl
Replied on May 9, 2011:

Come on guys, she's a newbie. There's no need to chew her head off.

► Black-Eldjötunn
Replied on May 9, 2011:

Oh come on, the last post wasn't THAT long ago. I didn't see you guys chewing off the head of All Seeing Eyes.

But even, so I'll be careful in the future.

► God Empress Rose
Replied on May 9, 2011:

Black-Eldjötunn, I am from Brockton Bay. It's listed in my profile.

► Xiao-Long [Moderator]
Replied on May 9, 2011:

I'm locking down this thread until God Empress Rose wants it unlocked.

Also, Black-Eldjötunn, given that you only registered yesterday, I will be lenient and not give you an infraction or warning. In the future, please make sure to check the last post date in threads before replying.

The rest of you, there are report buttons. There is no need to reply in a thread that was necro'ed.

[First] [Prev] [69] [Next] [Last] [Unread]

O O O​

Topic: The Adventures of Emily Barnabes
In: Boards ► Creative Writing
God Empress Rose (Original Poster) (Member) (Awesomest Write-tan)
Posted on May 08, 2011:

Due to some recent events, I was inspired to try out something different... tell me what you think? Completely new continuity. It's not a Rose Knight story.

In any event, I call this story The Adventures of Emily Barnabes, Part 1, Emily vs the Sky Bandit.

Emily sighed as she closed her hand and the locket it held. Her wavy red hair waved in the wind as she got up from where she had been sitting in front of a pair of graves.

There was a look of resolution in her eyes as she looked out across the barren land that had once been her home. The dreaded bandit Rose had flown over it in her mobile citadel and destroyed it and the nearby town of Port-town, a small town that was one a large river and which served as a trade center.

She had cried. She had refused to accept the truth, but in the end all she could do was accept reality. And that reality was, she needed to stop Rose before it was too late. To prevent more deaths like her wife and daughter.

She got on her horse, shadow feet. It had once belonged to her wife when she was younger and rowdy troublemaker.

No more tears, she vowed.

With that she rode into the plains after the maurders.

Many days and cold nights later, she came upon a city... it was here that dismay fall upon her, she could see how large it was and how well defended it had been. Well... before it had been gutted like a fish.

And she continued on, always hunting down the crimson fortress that terrorized the world.

Eventually, she reached the harbor town of Brock. It was here that she discovered thay the bandit Rose had ventured across the seas and was even now ravaging foreign nations.

It was at Brocktonne that Emily made friends. Good ones who agreed that bandit Rose was a menace that had to be stopped.

One of who was Hotrod, a tinker whose specialty was vehicles. She held a grude for her creation being destroyed by Rose in an attack. It was she who suggested building a new ship to take on the bandit Rose's flying fortress when it returned. And it would return.

With that, hard work and guts happened. Jet turbines were constructed and added to the ship. It was at Old Man Defiant's suggestions, that the ship was streamlined and only had a pair of canons up top, the rest of it was sealed. The munitions were provided courtesy of the shady foreign chemist Fire Blossom.

It was Professor Top who suggested an alternative form for the ship, noting how dangerous it would be to assault the Sky Bandit's flying fortress from below where her Under Bandits laired and rappelled down from to loot the cities and towns attacked.

And yet, even as they worked away on the ship that would bring peace to the world, they kept an eye and ear out on the wireless, and the news that was announced there. Of the unyielding rampage of the bandit Rose. And more importantly, of the route she was taking.

It was relief that filled the hearts of those who had slaved away when the SS Dragon was ready to set sail for the bandit Rose was but a few hours away from the harbor town of Brock.

With a clear sky, and a strong wing blowing inland, the SS Dragon took to the seas with Captain Super and Old Man Defiant manning the ship from inside while Emily and Hotrod enjoyed the sunshine and wind on top.

With a band of clouds and fog surrounding it, the crimson flying fortress was easy to spot. With its curved ring hull and towers rising from the rear.

With a roar of thunder, the SS Dragon fired upon the flying citadel. To little effect as not even the brilliant explosives of the shady chemist was enough to do more than dent the hull.

That was when the flying fortress returned fire!

With the sea exploding around them, it was all that Emily and Hotrod could do to avoid being thrown off the sides of the ship.

With a desperate curse, Captain Super and Old Man Defiant looked at each other with manly determination before pushing forward the shift clutch all the way.

Wings unfurled from the side as the SS Dragon was pushed down by the slashes of the waves before ascending into the heavens above as the jet engines pushed it forwards and up.

And straight into a wall of shots from the citadel.

Eventually, even with the horrible shooting, chance dictated that even the SS Dragon would be hit. And so it was.

With fire exploding everywhere, SS Dragon plunged down towards the sea.

"Go! We'll live, but you're the world's only hope, Ems," Hotrod's smile was bittersweet as she clutched her side where a growing redness on her blouse indicated that she might not survive this.

With a grimace, Emily leapt from the SS Dragon, her powers transforming her body from flesh to stone even as she landed. With a little bit more concentration, she pulled a stone broadsword out of chest and watched as it ignited in flames.

"Oooh! Someone dares to challenge me, this is rare," The words that rang out. The wavy brown hair that flapped in the wind. That tall skinny frame in a white blouse and dark trousers.

Emily could see the face of her friend from long ago in the Sky Bandit, but all grown up and twisted. "Rose... Taylor?!? It can't be."

"I haven't heard that name in a long time, Emily. Yes... Emily. Little Emily. Hows the little girlfriend of yours?" The confident smirk on the bandit's face was filled with mockery. This wasn't her friend of long ago, not any more. Whatever had twisted her had made her into something... different and wrong.

"Sophita is my wife, and you killed her!" With that, Emily charged the bandit who snapped her finger to the side as she stood up.

A mousy and shy woman who seemed familiar to Emily inched up on her knees submissively to present a stone daikatana to the bandit. "Hahahaha... so hot blooded, Emily. You'll do fine as one of my Under Bandits like Naddie here."

With that, Rose leaped forward... and stone blades met and sparks jumped.

To be cont.

What do you think? Cool, huh?

- God Empress Rose

(Showing Page 20 of 20)

► Black-Eldjötunn
Replied on May 9, 2011:

....

Emily Barnabes married to Sophita.

Yeah, I can see it.

► Shadow Stalker (Verified Cape)
Replied on May 9, 2011:
I still say that writing stories with real places obviously substituted in and possibly real people shouldn't be kosher.

- Shadow Stalker
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men

► All Seeing Eyes
Replied on May 9, 2011:

I hate you, GER. I hate you so much. I swear I will develop psychic powers to hurt you for your quality of writing.

[First] [Prev] [20] [Next] [Last] [Unread]

O O O​

Topic: What is Weaver Clothier?
In: Boards ► Places ► America ► Brockton Bay
Vista (Orignal Poster) (Verified Cape)
Posted on April 29, 2011:
Anyone know who or what Weaver Clothiers is?

I received a hand written letter addressed to me with a tagline of "Costumes for capes by capes. Discretion assured", with a website link and e-mail on it.

Looks kind of suspicious.

It kind of showed up at my room in the PRT building, last night. None of the security systems were tripped, and the cameras didn't catch anyone breaking or entering. I've confirmed with the other Wards that they've also received identical letters.

I know that Brandish got a business card from that Rose Knight for Weaver Clothier. But this is still kind of well... disconcerting.

The PRT building is, unfortunately, in lock down mode as Armsmaster and the security team here are working on determining how the letters got in. Master Stranger Protocols and all that.

(Showing Page 99 of 99)

► Weaver (Verified Cape)
Replied on May 6, 2011:
Thank you for the orders. The costumes and garments will be worked on posthaste. Please be sure to tell your friends and peers about Weaver Clothier.

- Weaver
Costumes for capes, by capes

► Vista (Orignal Poster) (Verified Cape)
Replied on May 6, 2011:
Well... after some thinking and talking with the others, I've decided to forgive Weaver for causing the Master Stranger Protocols with the way she delivered the letters. Also, I've placed an order for a spare costume. And if it passes Armsmaster's inspection, I think that the Wards uniforms might get upgraded.

► Shadow Stalker (Verified Cape)
Replied on May 6, 2011:
One of my non-cape friends has also placed an order for a dress. We'll see how it goes.

- Shadow Stalker
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men

► Vista (Orignal Poster) (Verified Cape)
Replied on May 8, 2011:
...

Well, I got my costume along with some extra samples for Armsmaster to test. But so far, it's as advertised. The costume is definitely bullet and knife proof at a minimum. Armsmaster is going for destructive testing of the samples, we'll see how durable they are.

► Weaver (Verified Cape)
Replied on May 9, 2011:
Thank you and you're welcome. I hope you'll spread word about Weaver Clothier. If the online venture is successful enough, we will look into an actual store.

- Weaver
Costumes for capes, by capes

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O O O​

♦ Private Messages from Black-Eldjötunn:
Black-Eldjötunn: Taylor? Is that you? It's Marianna.
God_Empress_Rose: ... I'll talk to you later?

O O O​

♦ Private Messages from Miss-Fortune (Verified Cape):
Miss-Fortune: Taylor, you really should stop teasing your girlfriend.
God_Empress_Rose: Yes, mom.
Miss-Fortune: Also, good luck with your first online orders.

O O O​

♦ Private Messages from Nemo:
Nemo: Well played, just try not to get killed by "Sarah", Goblin Queen. Wouldn't want you to end up like Jareth.

O O O​

- - -​

Goblin Queen | Extinction Trumps Necromancy​

Worm / Exalted​

- - -​

It has been two days since that fight, and to my surprise, Emma seemed to have given up her antagonism towards me. Perhaps, the fact that she had fought me without holding back had been something she had needed. There was no sense of her plotting anything towards me.

That or she was busy with other things.

A distinct possibility since she was a cape and she might have been researching the not quite spoken of society that we lived in. In a way, cape society was very much like that of the martial arts societies in those movies that Brian loved. He liked to claim that it was the one good thing that came from an Endbringer attack; the diaspora of japanese and chinese citizens in the wake of Kyushuu had introduced a wave of new entertainment in America. That Hollywood was no longer bound to the big budget movies with little plot. Not with the competition from the asian movie makers who had moved in.

I had the vague suspicion that Brian might just have been an otaku who was good at hiding his nature by being an attractive all american black beef-cake who liked to sound just a tad pretentious when talking about his tastes.

If the glasses he wore when watching his movies on movie night at the Undersiders lair was any indicator, he might even be the dreaded hipster. I'm sure he wouldn't need them to read the subtitles for his movies.

Still, it left me feeling odd.

Things had changed for me, I found myself missing the attention that Emma, Sophia and Madison had focused on me after a fashion. It wasn't pleasant by any means, but in a way they had been something that I had gotten used to.

The insults that parodied social interactions after a fashion. The way that Emma, Sophia and Madison would crowd around me with their sycophants.

True, I had stopped the bullying, but I think it spoke volumes of how I had... gotten used to the bullying. The things that they had done. It was as if I was the frog in the pot of slow boiling water that had been taken out of it.

I had friends now. I had Lisa, Madison, Alec, Brian, Bitch, on top of [____]. More than that, Marianna seemed to be trying to rekindle the friendship we had before winter break.

And yet, I still found myself missing the bullying.

I needed help.

 

There was a momentary lull in the conversations within the situation room as Piggot walked in, before Armsmaster and Hannah nodded at her.

"What's the situation?" That simple question by the heavyset PRT director had the two senior Protectorate capes look at each other before they released their held breaths with a sigh.

That single moment of silence was telling, before Armsmaster spoke up and gestured at the holographic display in the center of the room. "Approximately thirty minutes ago, we received reports of a cape fight in the Docks. Empire Eighty Eight going after the Undersiders for their part in the capture of Hookwolf, presumably."

At a nod from Armsmaster, Hannah tapped a few keys on the keyboard, the floating video displays changed to show the Empire capes closing in on a building in the Docks; a somewhat run down factory, with gang members standing guard here and there at the various streets. It was clear that they were meant to alert the Empire capes if the Undersiders attempted an escape.

"Miss Militia immediately flagged the ensuring fight for monitoring." Armsmaster said as Hannah forwarded the displays to show the fight with a tap of a key, from the aerial combat captured by the cameras on the PRT and police dirigibles, to game of cat and mouse on the roofs of the warehouse and the neighboring buildings. "This was due to the weather being outright altered across the city, from a clear sky to heavy clouds."

"Ten minutes in, that's where things went wrong." Here the displays showed the teenage villains falling one by one as their newest member watched helpless.

There had been a single moment as she looked on with unspoken emotion, before she gestured with a single hand and a single word. The dirigibles and their cameras hadn't been able to capture her mouth properly, and thus what she said would remain a mystery.

The results... less so.

Darkness swarmed the roof and the Empire capes. The motion of the darkness implied shapes.

Specifically shapes of things that lived.

Things that crawled in the darkness, things that walked and wielded weapons.

Things that swarmed the Empire capes. They fought back, attempted to dislodge the things.

Their powers were potent and useful in combat, but in the end against an endless swarm... futile.

One by one, the Empire capes fell.

"Zoom in on Rune," Piggot's voice was unyielding, tight with an unspoken emotion.

As Armsmaster did so, Hannah looked at the director instead of the video that she had already seen. "It's exactly what you think. The new cape in the Undersiders also has a master ability, generation of creatures."

The teenager was quickly brought down by the creatures, despite her telekinetic power being used to strike at them with the cloud of flying debris around her.

Despite the resolution involved, there wasn't the expected crystal clarity of the creatures. What the cameras could see were that they appeared to be insectile humanoids clad in armor and armed with primative weaponry.

Their motions far too smooth to be controlled, their numbers too many to be coordinated by a single mind. They fought not as a single hive-mind, but as a mob.

"I dispatched Vista because of what Shiva did next, while Armsmaster got the siren going," Hannah spoke up as Armsmaster tapped the keyboard to show why this was a class S scenario. The darkening of the Docks, the reshaping of the very buildings into terrain more suited for a desert. "At present, we have the affected area interdicted by Vista's spatial warps, with the major roads left unblocked."

"I trust there are officers to keep an eye on those exiting?" Piggot's question was spoken with a frown as she examined the fight as the Empire capes brought in further support to take down the single cape.

Hannah nodded. "We had PRT officers dispatched immediately to help the police officers in redirecting the civilians to the main roads, as well as keep an eye on those exiting the Docks."

"More to the point, Dragon is in-bound to provide assistance," Armsmaster spoke up now. "She believes she might be able to talk down that cape. So far, Shiva has yet to attack anyone not involved in the original incident. But that could change, we have the Manta prepped for launch."

"Shiva?" There was a raised eyebrow now from Piggot as she looked at the two senior Protectorate capes.

There was a shrug in reply. "It seemed an appropriate codename for her from the list of S class names."

"Fair enough." Piggot nodded as she kept an idle eye on the video of the continuing fight. "Wait. What is that van doing in there?"

- - -​

"I have lost?" The warrior clad in crimson and viridian armor laughed and gestured to the sky above from where she was pinned to the wrecked Dragon's suit by crossbow bolts, the breaker properties used by Shadow Stalker proving sufficient to pierce Shiva's armor. The madness in her laughter was obvious to those who heard it. "Tis to laugh! The dawn of your doom comes. Look to the east."

One by one, the stars winked out. Their light blocked out.

Hannah's weapon fell out of her hands as she looked up into the eastern night sky. What she saw there staggered her imagination.

Such a thing should be absolutely impossible. It should be beyond even what a parahuman could do. And yet... there it was.

For a false dawn had come to Brockton Bay as the dark sky burned orange crimson, heralding the doom promised by the Shiva. The displacement of the ionized air was enough to push aside the clouds.

"Shiva was the right name for you," Hannah murmured out as she looked at the on-coming doom.

The heat and the pressure of the air was enough to cause cracks to form in the surface of the titanic sphere that had to be larger than the city. As the cracks and portions of surface of the sphere crumbled, Hannah realized just how utterly insane Shiva was.

To create a "smiley" face on something that would annihilate a city and quite possible a portion of the East Coast. The absolut-

It seemed a dream that she woke up to.

There had been no battle between the Empire and the Undersiders. No absolute destruction of Brockton Bay.

No sign of anything having had ever happened. The Undersiders had proven true to their reputation as they slipped the grasp of the white supremacists.

There had been another instance where her memories had splintered in two, one that Hannah hadn't recollected until that night when she had slept.

The interview with Taylor Hebert or Weaver as she called herself, where she had accompanied Calvert to speak with the girl... and had waited outside for the return of the girl's father. That memory too had ended abruptly.

There were those who said she was friendly, personable. But in truth, she had merely learned how to pretend, to smile and accept things without complaining. The things that others complained about, that she was praised for enduring were in the end minor things. They didn't truly merit complains or concern.

Thus, she had been praised for being dutiful, for how hardworking she was, for never giving up or quitting. Against the crystal clear memories of those hours in the forest, they had been nothing.

That absolute clarity in that memory of certain death in the forest if she but took another step forward.

And yet, now she could remember truly dying. Of the fierce heat, of the unspeakable pressure flaying skin from flesh, flesh from bone within a single moment, and which lasted an endless eternity.

But still she lived, drew breath. Ate, drank, and talked. There were those who might consider this a miracle.

Hannah didn't.

She had seen enough in her time in the Wards and as a member of the Protectorate to question miracles.

Naturally, she submitted herself for Master Stranger quarantine, making sure to submit a report of her memories to Armsmaster. Of her concerns regarding Weaver and the possibility that she might have the ability to manipulate time in addition to the other powers she had displayed in those alternate memories.

People were judgmental, this she knew, thus there were things she would never speak of. But there was no black mark for requesting quarantine if one suspects that one might have been affected by a Master or a Stranger. There never was, not in the PRT or Protectorate, not with the dangers that those type of capes held.

At least her vetting of being 'clean' was quick as all she had done was sleep, and there had been no other evidence. Still, it was enough for her to see Piggot.

"I believe it would be a good idea to remove the Undersiders from the villain list, and to ensure that they are slowly courted and given a PR change to heroes, and to eventually recruit them for the Wards or the PRT, ma'am."

There was a look of disbelief from the PRT director at Hannah's request. On the surface of it, such a thing was difficult to justify. Removing a team with known villains from the villain list without justification, without evidence, that did lead to a black mark on any PRT or Protectorate member. "Miss Militia, you're putting me in a difficult position. Sell me on this."

"The problem here isn't that they are or aren't villains. The problem is that they have a new member, one who is easily on Eidolon's level," Hannah said with a sigh as she pulled down her flag-printed scarf from where it covered her mouth to let it hang around her neck. "This is just based on what I remember seeing in that timeline she generated."

"The one where she destroyed the city as a finishing touch?"

"It is so." Hannah nodded in reply to the question. "If Weaver or Shiva isn't real, or at least not part of the Undersiders, which I doubt, we can always reassign them back to the Villains list at a later date if necessary."

"More, I would personally recommend creating a new profile on Weaver in the secured stand alone system." That request got a raised eyebrow from Piggot.

"Is that so?" There was a careful and considering look by the heavyset woman at the cape. "You truly believe that this girl is that big a threat or potential benefit?"

"I do."

- - -​

Goblin Queen | Extinction isn't inevitable​

Worm / Exalted​

- - -​

 

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfd9krEsr-k[/embed]

 

The air conditioner vibrated as it pumped in cooled air into the common area of the Undersiders' lair. He felt it was an acceptable thing to have running, given the humid warmth outside, even if Brian thought it was a waste of electricity.

Which was he was seated on the nice and comfortable sofa with his hands tapping away on the game controller in his hands, the twitch reflex between his hands and eyes ensured that Sonic stayed alive as he darted about and bounced with a dazzling speed. The game was good at distracting him, or at least helped him with getting more used to doing something with his body while his mind danced the body electric.

Back at the compound, he hadn't been allowed to practice on his father's... wives. The only ones he had been allowed to practice on were his siblings, and those his father had deemed useless or suitable only for practice.

And yet, in the here and now, he played his games while at the same time... he was far more intimate with his team-mates than any outsiders might even conceive.

He drifted along their nervous systems.

The pulses of electricity clear to his mind's eyes. He could seize control of their bodies via their nerves, but he wouldn't. Well, he could, but he choose not to.

After all, even his connection to their bodies was done only because permission was given. That he did need to keep 'in shape' as it were. While some powers were always on or at least could be turned on and off without any issue, it wasn't so with his. Practice was a key factor with his power.

The more he could see, the more he could feel, the more efficient he was.

And like any muscle, the more he practiced, the better he got. Certainly, his power didn't change, its range didn't extend, but his ability to control people could be improved.

And at the current state that his power had interfaced his nervous system with the rest of his team, it was as if he was them. He could close his eyes and see what they saw, feel what they felt... and if necessary, he could hijack their bodies.

That they, oddly, trusted him enough to allow him into their bodies like this spoke volumes of the trust in him. Or rather, in the trust that Taylor could provide a hard counter to his ability.

And perhaps, she could. Or she might not be able to do so. That was the difficult part of dealing with trumps, one never really knew.

Even with the possibility that he could do it, hijack their bodies... he didn't bother to do so. It was far too much trouble when it got down to it, and he didn't see the point of rocking the boat.

Thus, he simply traced their nerves as they moved. Felt their motions as Brian and Taylor darted at each other within the space of a circle of twelve feet wide, felt punches countered, and kicks blocked.

He could feel the impacts and general body state as muscles contracted and released as their hearts beat at a steady pace despite their exertions.

Despite her physical condition being actually superior to Brian's despite a suspicious lack of muscle definition, Alec could sense more than anything that that the older teen was definitely more skilled. Or at least better equipped to handle someone whose physical condition was superior.

He could feel their words being spoken a moment before he heard them.

"How?" There was a certain annoyance in Taylor's voice as she struggled in face of Brian's parry to her punch that transitioned to a deceptive light grasp on her wrist with one hand as his other hand darted at her throat with a punch that stopped an inch away from hitting her.

"Let's take a break," Brian's reply as he stepped back caught her by surprise. He could feel the creaks in Brian's neck as he twisted his neck, felt the 'sound' move down the other teen's neck.

"Taylor, the thing is martial arts has a long and colorful history, one where the practitioner might not be bigger, stronger or even faster than whoever he or she is fighting," Brian's words held a certain belief in what he said. "And with the coming of parahumans, of capes... along with brutes who were that much stronger, faster, and tougher than a normal human, there were some who sought to get an edge, any edge possible."

"Which is why you've got soldier boys learning kung fu," Alec spoke up from his game, cutting into the conversation. "Like his old man."

"As Alec said, the military special forces had their own martial arts. The isreali have Krav Maga, the russians have their Systema." Alec smiled as he felt Brian tick off with his hands and fingers as he mentioned the assorted martial arts employed by the military. "I mean, heck. the canadians have their Combato, and the marines used to have Line."

"Martial arts using armies... I like the sound of that." Taylor's voice held a certain musing that she tended to use when mentioning her... stories. It was enough to make Alec pause his game to look over the sofa at the two behind the sofa.

Which was why he caught sight of the youngest member of the Undersiders entering the room. "Hey, nibblet... how's your day been?"

Dinah's smile was friendly enough, as was her fiery pet on her head as it waved a tentacle at him. "Could be better. Yours?"

"Well, I got to watch fearless leader here fight with queenie." He smiled before turning off his game, to switch it to one of the cartoon channels for her.

"You really shouldn't think whatever you're thinking of, Lisa will kill me for putting an idea in your head," Brian's sigh was just loud enough to be heard. "Still, my old man taught me some when I was little. I moved on to other stuff on my own, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Krav Maga, a little bit of this and that here and there, but nothing really held my interest."

The nominal team leader of the Undersiders shrugged. "I might have only taken a few weeks or months of classes for the styles that caught my eye, but it's enough. I know enough and practice to keep in shape and that's enough really, to hold my own against anyone who isn't a master in some style, which is the important thing."

Taylor nodded at him as if it made perfect sense. "I suppose that's true, but that still doesn't explain how you could match me when I was faster and stronger than you were."

"You'll find that there are certain styles that work best against people with superior strength and speed, taking advantage of reflexes and how the human body works," Brian smiled. "And I've had to train myself against my old man when I was younger. He taught me that it wasn't a good idea to depend on being the stronger or faster person."

"... are you seriously telling me that you specialize in fighting people who outdo you physically?" The disbelief in Taylor's voice was clear.

In the face of her disbelief, Brian shrugged again. "It's all I have against a brute, so yeah. A specialization in fighting people who are stronger, faster, tougher is very much a useful skill to have."

"Hokey kung fu and ancient weapons are no substitute for a good gun or taser at your side," Alec pipped up with a smile.

At his side, Dinah nodded. "There's only so much you can do unarmed... much better to make use of modern weapons or burnination squids."

- - -
Goblin Queen | Extinction Deferred
Worm / Exalted
- - -​

"What do you mean my style feels incomplete as if I'm lacking a little something?"

 

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJh_QbEmHTc[/embed]

 

His name was Gerry MacDermott, and he was a dock worker. Had been for the last twenty years.

He worked hard.

He played just as hard.

Day in, day out, he punched the clock and did his time.

Day in, day out, every day, he broke his back to bring home the bacon.

And then the economy tanked, without a by your word.

There was still work for dock workers, just less. It wasn't as if all shipping was shut down by Leviathan sinking ships, that was just silly. No, what had tanked the economy was simply the fact that things broke down.

Villains, warlords taking over small countries, the Endbringers attacking every few months.

Things happened.

Which was why Gerry was unable to find work, or at least steady work in the docks.

Dark times led to dark choices. He had given thought of moving out of Brockton Bay, but he couldn't. Not in truth, after all, where would he go? What job could he do when all of his experience had been in physical labor.

It was at that point that he heard about the job opportunities that a man of his physical traits could get if he was unable to get a job elsewhere.

Which was why he had gone to that interview. He had heard that they offered decent and regular pay, certainly it wasn't the best. But it was decent for what they needed him to do.

He had a uniform, would be properly outfitted and trained, what wasn't there to like? Certainly not the health benefits.

The only real issue was that there would be danger now and then because of what he had to do.

And that was fine.

Which was why he had been there, standing guard when the Merchants had attacked the museum. Had been there when Danny's daughter had spoken up. Yeah, he had recognized her voice. He remembered her from that time that Danny had brought her out to the Union BBQ last year.

But it wouldn't have been kosher, really, to rat out Danny's girl, not when she had been a cape who had helped out.

So, he done his job, and didn't bother to volunteer her identity.

And at the end of the day, he punched the clock and went home to his wife and kids.

- - -
Goblin Queen | Interlude : Everyday Man
Worm / Exalted
- - -

​

Another day, another dollar as the saying went.

Which was why PRT private MacDermott was standing guard in the Parahuman Response Team building. He had been assigned today to guard duty, it being the normal grunt work assigned to the lower ranking PRT enlisted. Once, they had headhunted the military and former military for the rank and file. Nowadays, they were far less picky for their rank and file.

He had been warned when he had first started.

"Gerry. First thing you gotta know about them capes. They're not all right in the head." that had been the first thing he had been told by Sarge when he was being shown about the PRT building. "Don't laugh. I know and you know some of the things that people say about capes."

His reply had been hesitant as if he wasn't sure if it was some kind of test. "Yeah? But I thought we were suppose to work with them?"

"We do, and most of them are okay. But the thing is, to get powers means that you gotta be kind of insane as they only show up at the absolute worse day of your life." Sarge's response was something that he hadn't expected. "And then they go out in costumes to beat up criminals and each other. Not what I would call right in the mind, ya'know."

There had been a moment of silence before Gerry had to nod in agreement with what Sarge had been saying.

Which was why he wasn't too surprised by the cape stepping out of the unmarked white van on a delivery run.

It really said something about a girl's frame of mind if she chose to go about in an outfit that ensured that men couldn't look at her without being hit with various comments. There was no safe way for a man to look at a woman dressed like that. After all, she was dressed in nothing more than a bikini bottom, gloves, a cape, a mask that covered her eyes and a wide rimmed hat. All in black.

More than that, he was certain that there had to be laws against going out like that.

And yet, there she was standing before him with a trolley loaded with metal cases. Each container carrying eight bottles safe and snug in their foam packaging. The bottles, their packaging and gun metal blue contents, brought to Gerry's mind the notion of homemade make up or paint.

"Rebecca, I want you and Gerry to take the armor paint to the armor," Sarge grunted out as he signed the paperwork indicating that all items were accounted for and delivered to the Brockton Bay PRT branch as per the contract.

"Excellent, it's a pleasure doing business with you. If you need to get more of the armor bodypaint, please don't hesitate to call Toybox and ask for Professor Urn," the blonde said with a smile, a light bow as she accepted the signed documents before retreating into her van.

As Professor Urn started up her van, the emergency lights in the loading docks turned on and shone a baleful red a moment before the sirens started.

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipeLx8qAogw[/embed]​

 

Parahuman File # 00060305-10
♦Cape Identity : Professor Urn
♦Civilian Name : Unknown
♦Gender : Female
♦Age : 20
♦Costume : Black facemask, Black gloves, Black Bikini Bottom, Black Cape with Red Inner Lining
♦Affiliation : Rogue / ToyBox
♦Classification : Tinker 6 (sub: Brute 5, Mover 2, Striker 2)
A member of Toybox, Professor Urn got her start as a rogue after she immigrated from Russia in 05 Feburary 2006, and started selling her patented bodypaint armor. In 11 November 2008, she approached Toyboy and signed up as a member.

A tinker with a knowledge and facility with chemical reactions and compounds decades ahead, her specialty lies in a variety of armor bodypaints as well as assorted compounds that can enhance a normal human, giving them durability equal to a low to mid level Brute for a day, with assorted other effects.

It is a point of pride for Professor Urn that despite her scanty costume, she is effectively the equivilant of a mid to high level brute, with some mover and striker abilities.

At present, she is under contract with the PRT to supply all branches with her armor bodypaint, for use by PRT field agents.

For more information on Toybox membership (see case file # 19900606-125 Toybox)

 

I don't know how it really happened, but it became routine. Life, that is. There was no point that I could point at and say 'This! This was when things became routine'.

Oh, how I wished there was.

But the simple truth was that things had changed.

I was no longer bullied at school. I had captured Madison as someone who I found myself hanging out with. I had the grudging respect of Sophia, or was that concerned fear... More than that, I had Emma admit that what she had done was wrong, and that she was strong, that she didn't need to bully me any more.

In a sense, I had won.

But it was not a complete victory.

That story, written long ago by me as I yielded to the dictates and practicality of horrible story telling. It still sang to me. Urging me onwards.

To escalate.

To seize complete victory over the mean girl. And yet, to do so... that would require that I be the aggressor for once. To strike at someone who knew not what awaited her. Could I do such a thing?

I had stated once upon a time, before witnesses even, that I considered the matter over and done as long as no further attention was directed at me since I had received an apology. Certainly, that was the spirit of what I said.

But sweet 'innocent' little Emma hadn't apologized, had she?

A point I had to admit to myself. But was it worth it? That was a question I had to ask myself from where I sat on the school roof, nibbling on pieces of my meat pie.

A part of me declared that yes, it was worth it while another part of me disagreed and wanted a new story. A new narrative where I was no longer entangled with Emma's story since she no longer wanted to play with after spreading her wings.

Now that she was 'strong'.

Now that she could channel essence into charms.

Now that she knew how to crudely say no! to physics and be cool.

I would need to think on this when my school ended for the day, perhaps talk things over with Madison, Lisa and Dinah. Maybe Alec if he wasn't busy being a voyeur and feeling out our bodies as we did stuff in the lair or near it. Certainly, one might have to invent new words for what he did exactly... but voyeur was close enough for me with how he caressed our senses, sitting there watching, hearing and feeling we did.

Alec was a complete voyeur. But when you got down to it, so was I. My range was shorter than his, but I compensated by the staggering amount of minds I could connect to and command. After all, when one's limitation isn't a matter of how many one could control but an area... that made all the difference.

I had compared notes with Alec once, it was from there that I mastered tapping into the senses of my goblins. It was also, sadly, the start of when he had asked to be allowed to connect to me to see things differently.

My agreement and consent had surprised him, but in a way... it was fine as I had yet to expand my senses while he was connected to me.

As I ate my lunch, my eyes slipped closed. And our senses expanded.

Insect by insect.

Creepy crawlies that lived within the very ceilings, walls and floors that humanity erected to separate themselves from nature. It would surprise people just how much life could be found in any given building.

And I was the queen of all of them. More, I was them and they were me.

Slowly influence grew, spreading outwards, downwards and upwards in a sphere of absolute control, perfect sublime blending. From the earthworms as they squirmed in the earth chewing at their surrounding, to the ants as they harvested food, fed their queen and guarded their future, to the bee drones, or the scavenger cockroaches as they lurked in the kitchens and pipes, while the hunter wasps flew beneath the warm sun amidst green leaves... I was all of them and they were me.

I breathed in before releasing my breath.

This was what I was.

I was so much than just a single human, I was a countless swarm. And that was just my power, I had yet to shape reality. That lay uneasily beneath the touch of my thoughts.

My swarm felt the vibration before I heard it.

A low howl that rumbled, sounding like a ravenous wolf hunting. An unending vibration that deepened in pitch and volume as it cycled ever upwards before reverting to the higher pitch, fading volume. It was soon followed by an identical noise but not in sync, before another two followed suit until they were an incessant sound that echoed across the city.

It was a sensation that I could feel more with my body and the bodies of my insect selves than hear it. And yet, it was loud enough that none could mistake it. I could sense the outcries of the students in the school, that sudden pause by the adults, teachers and otherwise, as they took in the meaning of the siren.

They were air raid sirens, and their clarion call reached to the lizard part of the human brain, crying out [Danger! Run! Seek shelter!]. They warned of bombs in the event of a war or an S class threat that endangered the city; such as a cape like me no longer playing around or an Endbringer.

And since I was the only one in Brockton Bay who might merit such treatment and I wasn't doing anything that might attract attention, nor was there any obvious signs of explosions...

That could only mean one thing.

An Endbringer.

- - -​

Goblin Queen | An ending is also a beginning​

Worm / Exalted​

- - -​

The darkness drops again but now I know​

That twenty centuries of stony sleep​

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,​

And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,​

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?​

- Yeats​

 

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk_sAHh9s08[/embed]​

 

In the days, weeks, and eventually... months after I escaped the locker, things had returned to normal with my bullies going back to what they did that made them my... well, bullies.

Certainly, I had cause to take revenge on them, to direct my anger at them... but along the way, I found that I didn't care. That I had something more.

A realization when I had found my powers. It was a simple thing, in truth.

Everything they did, every indignity, every degrading action that they performed on me, to me... it didn't matter.

Yes, they were painful in the here and now.

But in the long run...

In the grand scheme of things...

They didn't matter. Nothing they did mattered. Not their words. Not their physical malice.

Nothing.

I could see it all.

We were so small, each and everyone of us, focused in the here and now. Beneath an uncaring sky where the stars danced without a care for us, I had seen the truth.

Countless specks of dust on this world as it moved without purpose within an empty void.

It would take connecting to others, true communication, to become something more. To join and become more than just motes of dust. In such a thing, fear and anger held no place. Emotions that placed one above others, pitted one against others, those held no place in such a thing.

I would erect a pillar that would rise above it all.

It would guide everyone.

It would support everything.

I would be that pillar.

I could become a hero or perhaps a villain... but such people would never be a pillar of society. At best, they were guardians. At worse, a plague. And thus, those paths were discarded without a thought.

While being a cape was to be synonymous with the notion of power, and yet... it wasn't something that was held to be good. Capes shone in the light of day, they burned in the darkness of night.

More, they died as they lived.

Solo heroes and villains seldom lasted longer than six months if they didn't hold some sort of overwhelming advantage that could not be easily countered. One example was Lung, he was the backbone of the Azn Bad Boyz. Even if one removed every single ganger, and his lieutenant, Lung was still a power that people watched out for.

I could have been like him. I could have developed that path. But that was a lonely path that would only eventually lead to my death.

Instead, I would grasp in my hands the tools that brought true power, authority and legality. The twin scepters of politics, as it were.

Which was why I examined potential paths to that end. While my grades had languished, I wasn't stupid nor was I a bad student. Instead of studying, I choose to leave school, to graduate school by going for a GED.

The material I needed to study wasn't that difficult. Passing with flying colors meant that I could proceed to the next step. Dad didn't like the notion of me applying for the PRT, with the claim that I was looking for something beyond a rank and file position. That I would be an investment for them, that I could and would go to college or university if they were willing to fund a scholarship for me.

All that I required in return was an employment in the Parahuman Response Team. A long term employment, much like a career officer in the army, air force, navy.

True, I wasn't an army brat, nor was I a graduate of a military academy, but my determination showed, as did the results of my GED. It also helped that I talked my way successfully in a chain of interviews without any evidence of actual parahuman power.

Which led me to where I was, two years after I had seen the bigger picture... seated at a desk and smiling at Sophia Hess as she entered the room.

Life truly was good.

"Miss Hess, I will admit that I never expected to see you again in such a circumstance." My words were, one might term, friendly and warm. As was my smile. "Where I would hold such power over you and your advancement."

Her glare intensified. "Hebert."

"Ah, you do remember me," my response was lazy and indolent as I learned into the back of my chair before gesturing at the chair on the other side of the desk. "But please sit, sit. There's no need to stand at attention."

With a not quite growl, she sat as directed. I had to admit that she had dressed nicely for the interview. Even going so far as to go business casual with a teal power dress.

"Now then, as you're aware... your probation is over as is your membership of the wards," my smile grew as I continued to speak. "And you're doing an official interview to get a grown up job to hide your status as a Protectorate Cape. As the lowest one on the totem pole, I got handed the short straw for this interview."

"You're not going to make this easy for me, are you?"

"Nope. Not in the slightest. I'm going to enjoy every second of this." I shook my head. "And just so you know, they want you to pass this interview. But if you screw it up, I'm not obligated to let you in. Instead, you get to come back again."

"And again." I could see a twitch in her eyelids as I repeated two words. "And again. Until you pass the interview."

Ah... her hatred was delicious and delightful. I couldn't be faulted for this. After all, Sophia Hess as Shadow Stalker had been a Ward on probation, and she was what some might call a trouble maker. A teenager with an attitude.

And it was official in my files, and hers, that we had a history. So, nothing that was said thus far would be a surprise for anyone going over the video recording.

I tapped together the resume that I had been handed before the start of the interview. "So, miss Hess... in your own words, why do you want to work for the PRT."

I could see the shiver of rage at my question as she struggled to keep her emotions in.

It was worth it. Oh certainly, my plan towards getting a PRT Director position meant that I had to be careful, that it would take time to achieve and to always keep my abilities in check... but it didn't mean I couldn't enjoy myself.

Especially at the expense of one of my bullies in high school. I will admit that I had been surprised and horrified at the discovery of Hess as a ward when I had joined the PRT and did my tour of the ward section in the PRT building.

But I had gotten over it.

And now, the universe itself was repaying Taylor rose Hebert, personal assistant of Deputy Director Seneca, the new Deputy Director of the PRT Brockton Bay.

- - -
Staves can be Pillars
Goblin Queen Out-take
- - -


​

Writer's Notes: I've been busy with RL lately. Got a new job working 9 to 5 weekdays with almost 2 hours travel time to and from work... The Bii is a tired tanuki, but did finish a little something for you lot.

 

Because I work in snippet format... :3

 

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1qczGHOqAo[/embed]
.​

Despite the sirens sounding, it didn't mean people were running helter skelter for the Endbringer shelters or even out of the city. That would be silly even if amusing and straight out of those disaster movies from Earth Aleph.

I recalled that movie that Mr Gladly had shown us some time back to teach us about fiction verses reality. It had been a movie from Earth Aleph's perspective of how an Endbringer attack went. As disaster movies went, it was good. As something that showed how an Endbringer attack went... it was fairly unrealistic. Complete with utter pandemonium as the citizens attempted to escape the city and their doom.

Still, such pandemonium was not the norm in reality. True, there were massive crowds of people making their way to the shelters or out of the city. But no outright panic such as that I had witnessed in that Earth Aleph movie.

And without an Endbringer or S ranked disaster in sight, the sirens should never have been sounded... and yet, it had been.

All this, I found out when I got down from the roof and snuck into the computer classroom.

I was not the only student who had thought of this, it seemed, given how crowded the room was. Still information circulated from those at the computers, those with radios, those with smartphones...

Information, in the here and now, wasn't hoarded... instead it was shared. Passed on and on.

True, I could see the way it twisted, the way it shifted and transformed as it moved from one student to another. A display of viral behaviour as it mutated in transition.

And yet, what I gathered and shared was staggering.

There was no evacuation directions in the form of rotation images; Leave your homes. Find the nearest shelter. Follow the directions of local authorities. Leave your homes...

Instead, there was an official reading out an announcement almost like a newscaster reading out the news.

Someone had come up with an Endbringer tracking system that could predict their movements by up to a day in advance. Worse, this Pythia predicted that Brockton Bay had a ninety percent chance of being hit by Leviathan in the morning of the next day. With a seventy percent chance of the attack being on Boston or New York.

If this tracking system worked as advertised, it would be a game changer for the world. It was huge. It was, in a word, heavy as Mr Gladly liked to say.

While this meant that there was no immediate danger, it also meant that I found myself on the roof once more trying to convince my dad that I would be fine going to help.

"Dad... I'll be fine," I sighed into my phone. Certainly, I could understand his concern, it was a known thing that there would be a risk of certain death involved for anyone caught out in the open.. but even with that knowledge, there was something that made me want to do this.

A need even.

After all, what kind of cape would I be if I didn't show up? Even villains would show up to help protect this city. For me not to show up as the Rose Knight, that would be the ultimate renouncement of what I stood for.

"Oh Taylor," I could hear him sigh in response and in admission that he couldn't talk me out of this. "Just do what you can to stay safe?"

"I promise you,
by my ring, and my cup,
by my sword, and my staff,
I'll do what I can to stay safe.
I will return home after this,
even if I'm the last person left."

I breathed in after my promise to dad. There was a moment of silence from my phone now as he felt my oath bind itself into reality.

"I... I love you, Taylor." He whispered into the phone, the unspoken emotions in his voice clear to me as the sun in the sky.

And really to that kind of a statement, to those emotions, there was but a single answer. "Love you too, Dad."

with that, the call ended with a simple click of a button as I rubbed out the dust that had gotten in my eyes before I went in search for Madison to find out if she was also in or not. I suspect that my phone call wasn't the only one of its sort.

After all, Winslow High had a high enough student population that there surely had to be multiple parahumans in it.

- - - Girls are now walking, please wait patiently and have some tea. - - -​

The fact that the disaster the air raid sirens were calling out for wasn't in the here and now meant that there was a chance for those involved to prepare, to talk, to discuss... to take in what was to come.

In a way, this was worse than the actual Endbringer attack. Given time to think, to ponder on what was to come... the human mind had a chance to run round and round in circles. Going ever faster and faster as they thought of the worse that might happen.

Of the doom that was to come.

True, even now, there were those who were preparing for the fight to come. With weaponry and equipment taken out of storage. Last minute preparations and such.

And then... there were those like us, the Undersiders in our lair. We were seated comfortably on the sofa or chairs here and there in the living room area.

"So, here we are." We looked to Brian as he spoke where he sat with the dining chair's back in front of him. "The time has come, and I trust we'll hold to the agreement that we came to when we first came together as a team."

"Now, for those of us who weren't with us when the Undersiders first formed. We put it to the vote back then, and it's not fair to hold the three of you to it without giving you a chance to back out," Our erstwhile leader said with a sigh. "It was always a possibility that an Endbringer would hit Brockton Bay. And we had decided to put it to the vote, if we would go or if we would sit it out."

"We unanimously decided that we would attend the Endbringer fight if it came here," Alec interjected. For once, not looking bored or vaguely amused.

"What Alec said. We all decided we'd go. That we'd try to help, however we could," Brian continued with a look that indicated that he would have words with the other male member of the Undersiders later. "Now, since you weren't part of the group then, we are not going to hold it against you if you don't want to come."

"I'll go," My reply didn't require thinking. What kind of a cape would I be if I didn't. What kind of a failure of a knight would avoid helping out the city that she lived in? "I've already talked to my dad."

"I... I'll go, my parents think I'll be staying with my friends and going to a shelter with you," Madison's reply as she looked down brought a frown to my face. It was surprising that she hadn't told her family that she was a cape. Still, a secret identity was something that one should keep secret, as it were.

"If I don't go with you guys, the numbers go... bad," Dinah admitted with a shrug. That answered the question why she was here with us in the lair instead of going to a shelter with her parents or leaving the city as so many were doing.

"In that case, just to make it official," Brian closed his eyes and nodded at us. "The Undersiders will help out against the Endbringers. Those who agree to this give me a show of hands."

As one, we all raised a hand each.

The air held a solemn formality as Brian looked at each of us. Each and everyone of us looked back at him with solemness, in the understanding that this was no joking matter. That this decision might result in our deaths. That after tomorrow, there was a chance we wouldn't be here.

Madison looked scared, and far more pale than she normally would.

Lisa didn't have her normal foxish grin, her expression held none of her normal characteristic humor or reckless abandon.

There was a look of resignation on Dinah's face as if this was something that would come to be, something that was. Her pet behemoth sat on her head and attempted to comfort her with gentle pats and strokes with its tentacles.

Rachel was actually frowning, a hint of teeth could be seen between her lips. The fight against the Endbringer meant that she would be putting her dogs in danger. True danger. And yet, against such an enemy, there was no safety. Nowhere that she could bring her dogs to hide.

Alec was no longer bored, nor was he apathetically amused. Instead, there was an intensity to his posture that was almost alien to him.

Brian looked far older than he normally did, baring the weight of the world upon his shoulders.

As for me? I struggled to keep my concerns from my face even as I cracked my neck before nodding in acceptance.

"In that case, I would like your attention," I smiled over my steeped fingers from where I sat on the la-z-boy recliner, getting the attention of the others in the room. "As I'm sure you recall, the costumes you've been wearing are loaners and that I was working on something more impressive for each of you."

As their interest was piqued, I clapped my hands now. "Boys?"

The lights in the room flickered momentarily despite their normal inability to do so.

"Boss?" Once more, they came from the shadows, behind mirrors upon walls, from the floor tiles, from the nooks and crannies, they emerged. My loyal friends. Tiny figures of green and brown, clad in odds and ends but styled like the dockworkers. Their appearance of insects, wood, and stone combined in a mockery of human form with faces was more than enough to convey human expressions.

"I trust that they're complete?" There was no foreman, no manager for me to address nor to answer me. Thus my question was to them as a whole.

And the answer came from the collective. A sea of voices. "They're done."

With that, I could hear the sound of grinding stone as a pair of doors opened up in the wall, as my goblins pulled them open with chains and cracks of whips.

What lay beyond wasn't the normal shadows that could be found within the entrances that they created.

Instead, there was a brief glimpse of my guest before mannequins were brought out along with the weaponry and equipment that I had designed for my peers amongst the Undersiders.

"... what was THAT?" Lisa's question, nay demand, was something that I simply smiled in response to. After all, for some things... there were no answers.

- - -​

Goblin Queen | An ending can be emotional​

Worm / Exalted​

- - -​

Writer's Notes: I've been busy with RL lately. Got a new job working 9 to 5 weekdays with almost 2 hours travel time to and from work... The Bii is a tired tanuki. On the other paw, this WAS completed.

 

Fixed and thanks. :3

 

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUwJcdJh4Uc[/embed]​

The morning came soon enough.

If one ignored what lay on the horizon, the day was shaping up to be a beautiful day, with clear blue skies and nary a cloud to be seen. This was in fact an ideal picnic day even if one discounted that it was friday the thirteenth, and there was doom drifting from the east.

The songs of the birds were absent this morn. To the west, the skies darkened with birds as they took raucous flight while beneath them animals with their keen instincts fled the man made forest of concrete.

Those who could leave had done so, and those unable to leave had bunkered down within the shelters.

Everyone had been informed, given pamphlets in the mail, in schools. They even handed them out in the malls. Telling people about emergency procedures. Warning of the dangers, of what to do, where to go in every city.

In any given city, at least in America, there were numerous multi-level shelters built and spaced about evenly so that everyone could have shelters for a few hours to a day or two if the area the shelter was in was hit hard and the doors couldn't be open without the help of rescue workers.

People using the shelters in the event of a disaster, could bring larger pets if they could be trusted to behave. They could bring only necessary medical supplies and what they could have on their person. They weren't suppose to drive as it would be too easy to have an accident and cause a traffic jam when the disaster arrived. Of course, there were always stipulations and exceptions to every situation, and those were listed in the pamphlets.

The probability given by this Pythia had slowly increased from almost certain to virtual certainty with a ninety nine percent by dawn.

Our breakfast was light, and we stepped out into a ghost town, or rather, we drove within a ghost town. The stores closed, the lights in the buildings off, the roads empty while the traffic lights blinked like the unthinking idiots that they were. Even in the storm drains that formed the streets of the underworld of Brockton Bay, there were none who yet tarried. If anything, I suspected that these were one of the first places to be abandoned, given the specific Endbringer that drew close.

The clarion call of the air raid sirens had long ceased in the night, there were none within the city who did not know of what came.

Reinforcement had come, we had checked the TV announcements and the online forums... a virtual army of capes had descended upon Brockton Bay. With the unthinkable amount of warning given this time, everyone could prepare.

They could make a statement, saying that they were heroes. Even those not commonly thought of as heroes could step forward and declare that here they stood, here they fought...

And to encourage this spirit of uniting against a stronger enemy was the truce.

Because of it, even the most bitter of enemies could fight side by side without worrying, too much, of potential betrayal and the backstabbing. No, they just had to worry about the very likely gruesome deaths that they might experience at the powers of the Endbringer.

There would always be the threat, the possibility that someone might see the Truce as just an unspoken agreement, something to be discarded at the earliest of convenience.

One simple thing kept it sacrosanct. Going against it meant that when it came to light, and it would, everyone would come down on the offender. Be they hero or villain. To break the truce was to stand in the way of defending humanity against the Endbringers and the S-rank villains and monsters. It was to stand in the way of those trying to help in the face of a great disaster.

Such a person, such a truce breaker, had no friends and would find sanctuary hard to attain.

Which was why it was safe for us to simply drive to the meeting place in the plain white vans with the license plates removed, well... safe beyond the fact that we were, one and all, parahumans and thus possessing powers beyond mortal ken.

Still, with the city virtually a ghost town, it didn't take long for Grue and Tattletale to drive us to the meeting place. While there weren't any civilians left on the streets, we did run into police officers who passed us sheets of paper.

The paper, with its helpful label of 'Parahuman Response', had a picture of our destination in black and white and directions beneath it on how to get there. It wasn't that far from our base, being in the area that divided the Docks from Downtown. A short walk, as it were, from the Boardwalk and the Market.

The radio also gave us the location of where capes could meet up to join forces. More than that, there were signs here and there directing us.

I might have called it the meeting place, but it was more accurate to call it the rally point. It was a fairly nondescript building that might have been a warehouse originally before being rebuilt into a bunker. It was six stories tall, was constructed of reddish bricks that had browned with time, dark tinted windows looked out at the bay. The building sat alone on a grassy hill, with a filled parking lot next to it. The sandy beach on the other side of the building meant that when Leviathan struck, this was one of the first points to be hit.

I could see PRT uniformed officers standing guard around the parking lot and entrance of the building. There were a few PRT vans in the parking lot, with turret-mounted hoses and armored exteriors. If that wasn't a good indicator that this was the meeting place, there was also the mechanical monstrosity resembling more a giant and heavily armored knight, with cannons rising from its shoulders, standing next to a group of trucks that resembled armored boats with their crew of motley... gangers.

That the Merchants' vehicles were the least exotic vehicles in the parking lot was a good sign that we were at the right place. Thus, it wasn't surprising for our drivers, Grue and Tattletale, to park our vans in the available spaces.

It was when we were exiting the vans, that we caught sight of a pair of sleek futuristic jets landed in perfect synchronization. Their sleek lines were reminiscent of twin-bladed katars with stub wings. At the sight of the pilots, or rather their tags of 'Player 1' and 'Player 2', I had to raise an eyebrow. The notion of Leet making multiples of anything that worked was certainly concerning. After all, he had a certain reputation of not doing mass production.

"Looks like Leet and Uber were serious about things having changed," Regent spoke up.

Grue nodded in response. "Seems that way."

"Cheating tinkers, gotta love 'em?" Tattletale's comment seemed almost unwarranted, as Bitch lead her dogs out of the van where she had been slowly bulking them up. The slower transformation meant that they would last longer and made it easier for the dogs in general. It also showed in the way the van's suspension shifted as the dogs got out of the van.

They were, still, not quite at the full size that Bitch could make them, but they were large enough for my goblins to start fitting oversized armor and ranged weaponry on them as their growth accelerated. Mobile artillery were a thing.

"Cute, Tattletale, real cute," I found myself frowning at my blonde teammate. My one solace was that Madison, or rather Glitter Girl, seemed to agree with me on Lisa's comment given the way that she patted my back and went 'there there'.

Navigator, for her part, seemed content to simply look at the vehicles in the parking lot as we walked to the entrance of the building. Not that I could blame her, after all, there was the fact that Dragon had a new mechanical suit parked just outside of the lot.

The immaculate silvery white mechanical marvel was longer than a big rig with attached semi-trailer from the nose to the end of its tail and, despite outmassing a small house, rested easily on four legs. I could see the heat shimmers from the twin jet engines that rose above the shoulders. Between the twin engines or on top of the oversized jetpack was a single cannon with a massive wide barrel.

The jutting angular wings with their missile pods that were longer than I was tall seemed almost an afterthought in comparison to the cannon. And yet, looking at the weapon systems of the dragon shaped vehicle, I could help but feel a cold sense of foreboding. There was a sensation of cold relentless purpose there, one that held no forgiveness nor mercy.

Lost in my thoughts, I almost missed the click as armor plates in the chest opened up on unseen hinges to allow a cylinder to slide down and out. The armored woman who stepped out of the cylinder stood for a moment, looking out over the sea as the cylinder slipped back into the craft and the armor plates sealed shut once more.

I saw what she was gazing at silently. A storm front lay to the east, an endless wall of dreary grey clouds that advanced upon us, hanging over the ocean with an opaque curtain of rain descending down from it.

That moment of stillness passed as she too headed to the building.

Entering as we did at the same time, it was hard to miss the polite nod directed at my team... or rather at me. It was an odd sensation, to see that polite nod, that acknowledgement of me as an equal by the world's premier Tinker.

Behind us, there was a muffled thunderclap as a group of a dozen people appeared in the parking lot before walking in after us. A single man in a blue and black uniform and cap stayed behind before vanishing in a softer crack with air being sucked in to account for his displacement.

The color scheme of those behind us indicated that they were heroes, their age meant that they were Wards from another city.

.
- - -
Goblin Queen | An ending can be a novel experience
Worm / Exalted
- - -
.​

We walked into the lobby. Rows and columns of folding chairs had been set up in the center, facing a trio of widescreen television. Beyond them were a series of windows that overlooked the beach and the advancing storm wall.

While I would like to say that we cut imposing figures, dressed as we were in uniform black armored costumes with glowing highlights tailored individually to match our themes... we didn't truly stand out. Not with how filled the lobby was with people. No, with Capes.

I recognized a number of them.

Certainly, the Empire Eighty Eight were familiar enough to me, gathered as they were in a corner of the lobby with all the pomp and gravitas of a group clad in the mythology of the Norse. I found myself waving with a smile at my first victory, Hookwolf clad in a layer of his metal hooks and barbs. He didn't quite snarl before glaring at us. Bitch merely snorted in response dismissively.

I wasn't too surprise to see the Merchant capes, given the large mecha and support crew of merchants outside. I had to admit to some surprise at seeing Skidmark present, given his capture not too long ago. Still, it was surprising the amount of capes there were in the Merchants. I had thought that there were only Skidmark, Squealer and Trainwreck. There were certainly new faces, or masks, in their group where they sat. The way Squealer looked at me seemed to indicate that she hadn't quite forgiven me for my cheating ways.

The crimson and black outfits of the Travellers was easy enough to spot. As was the white themed outfits of the New Wave team.

Given the situation, the presence of the local heroes wasn't really surprising. It would be more surprising to not see the local heroes in attendance. Skipping this fight would be simply unforgivable. Not just to the public but to those who one's reputation counted, the local cape community.

As such, I wasn't too surprised to see Emma in the armored dress that she had won in the fight, The scarlet and gold armor that I had woven suited her, almost as if it was natural that she was clad in that raiment and armed with a giant metal slab that fancied itself a sword. That she was with Sophia or rather Shadow Stalker and the other Wards was surprising. As was the fact that she seemed to be familiar with them. Despite the talking, the bravado, the occasional laughter... I could feel the unease, the fear that ran within their hearts.

The younger members of New Wave, the second generation, were near the Wards. Not a part of the conversation, but giving a sense of solidarity. I could see Glory Girl holding hands with Gallant, their feelings for each other was clear without words needed. Panacea sat by Glory Girl in one of the folding chairs, her expression neutral and somewhat tired as if she had been busy with something last night.

The presence of the Protectorate was almost obligatory, even if I did need some time to spot them where they were gathered near the television screens. I could see Dragon who had made her way to Armsmaster where he was talking with Legend and Miss Militia. It didn't take much work to spot Alexandria in her dark costume. For a moment, a single moment, I felt awe. I was looking at two thirds of the Triumvirate.

Alexandria had always been my hero when I was younger, what girl didn't dream of being her. I remembered watching all her cartoons, read her comics... it was something so obvious that Tattletale had bribed me with an Alexandria lunchbox.

And yet, that awe eroded with puzzlement as I tasted the sensation of righteous anger, banked and simmering. Naturally, I turned to look.

It appeared that the warning time given for Leviathan had done more than expected.

Lung was present, as was Bakuda and Oni Lee. At least, I assumed it was Bakuda in the female form-fitting power armor laden with exotic munitions. Oni Lee was similarly laden with Bakuda's bombs. Beside them were a number of cases that one associated with military ammunition and weaponry.

Still, it was Lung that worried me given that he seemed larger than expected, and there was a shimmer of heat between his hands.

Every now and then, he would nod at a new arrival or group of new arrivals. They were obviously capes that he knew, given the way that they nodded back at him respectfully. And given some of the design of costumes and their language, they likely were capes from Japan or had Japanese descent.

Even with a full showing of the heroes and villains of Brockton Bay, we were still outnumbered by capes from out of town.

And yet, I found myself looking for the third of the Triumvirate. It took some time but I eventually found him despite the riot of colors and costume.

Eidolon stood behind one of the television, looking out the window. His costume was still the same as when he had first shown up in the eighties; a blue-green skintight suit that expanded into a hood, cape and sleeves that covered his hands, The interior of the hood and sleeves weren't shadowy, but glowed a soft green.

The Parahumans Online forum had a verses subforum where members debated who would win, who was strong. If it came down to a fight, who would beat who. And outside of actual cape fights, the results were never really conclusively settled. This really was an outgrowth of schoolyard discussions and debates, where kids debated long and hard on the merits of their favorites.

In any given scenario, there was always the 'outside of those guys' and they got ruled out because they were too strong. They were the Scion.the Eidolon, the Endbringers... true, I technically could count myself in that ballpark, but then no one really knew of what I could do.

I smiled and gave the others a look before nodding at Eidolon, indicating that I would be away from them for a bit. I had to admit to some curiousity to why the man that was considered one of the world's strongest beings was pensive and seemed to be trying to psyche himself up despite not feeling it. All this while looking at the advance of the Endbringer.

Perhaps, there was a history there unknown.

Myself? I sensed a story there.

The nod I got from the others indicated that they didn't mind my going over to talk to Eidolon.

The closer I got to him, the more I could feel his emotions. It didn't fit with what I knew of him, nor of what I could feel of everyone else.

Standing next to him, I was suprised to find that I was slightly taller than he was. Still, I didn't look at him and instead settled for looking at the oncoming storm. "It's magnificent, isn't it?"

Even as I spoke, I was mentally imaging... crafting a bulwark of crystal against the strike that Leviathan must even be preparing to send our way when he made land fall and established his beachhead.

"How so?" There was no... curiousity, no outrage in his voice at my question. More simply an acceptance that I was there and talking to him.

A novelty, that was what this day was turning out to be. To be held in equal status by capes who one would consider top dogs. Or at least being able to talk to such.

I licked my lips as I continued to look at the wall of clouds and rain. "A purposeful advance? Letting those who would stand against it know that it comes? It comes because something draws it."

"Mmmm, there is that," the soft reply from him seemed at odds with his reputation, more... it didn't fit his emotions. "But it also destroys everything in its path, or tries to do so."

"Well... yes." Here, I had to shrug. "It and the other Endbringers exist to make a point. We might not know the point of it, but it exists. That they reflect our beliefs, that it's so easy for us to match them to our mythology and name them thus... I would say that their creator's philosophical commentary on humanity is kind of implicit."

"You think that they're projections or creations of someone?" Now, there was curiosity in Eidolon's voice. "And that they're not parahumans whose power has become too strong for their users to control?"

"It doesn't make sense otherwise," I nodded at the clouds in the distance, the rain not quite concealing the waterspouts forming above the ocean. If this was a story, Leviathan was likely rising out of the water as it slowly and relentlessly walked up from the depths of the ocean. Thirty foot tall and hunched forwards, looking like an inverted teardrop with a long sinuous tail over fifty foot long, and limbs that moved gracefully and with strength. Projecting out to the world that it was here, and that the world may not ignore it, for it was the very essence of the unthinking and cruel sea.

"I suppose it's a possible theory." Eidolon's nod was something that I barely caught in my peripheral vision, before he turned to walk away from the window. His last words to me were almost too soft to hear, but they were meant for me... thus I heard him. "Just try not to destroy the city or the East Coast in this fight, Rose Knight."

....

What.

Just what.

My surprised silence was natural. After all, who expected to be told to be not too destructive... by Eidolon of all people.

And yet, the way he spoke. It was as if he knew what I had gotten up to when I had faced the Empire and put on the show for my liege.

Still, if anyone who could see what I had done that night, Eidolon or perhaps Scion would be the ones I would lay good money on.

With one final look and nod at the center of the advancing wall of greyness, I turned about and returned and sat with the other Undersiders.

It was perhaps, fitting, that it was at this point that Legend moved to the front of the room by the bank of television screens with Armsmaster. The talking in the room quieted down as everyone looked at the pair.

The clearing of throat by Legend got our attention. His voice was something that people paid attention to. "We owe thanks to Dragon, Armsmaster, and Toybox for this early warning. Project Pythia has given us the time to gather, to prepare. Hours instead of the normal minutes, if that. We've had to jump straight into the fray once too many times."

"Now, with the preparation, the advantage of time, luck and teamwork from everyone, I hold the hope that this will be one of the good days," He spoke and looked at each and everyone of us in the room.

Hearing Legend speak in person was something that couldn't be matched by the recordings. He shone with the brightest part of humanity.

"But you should know your chances." The look on his face now was almost sad. "Given the statistics from our previous encounters with this beast, a ‘good day’ still means that one in four of the people in this room will probably be dead before this day is done."

That was when the other shoe dropped. Really, it was something that I expected.

That this would not be a cake walk. That we could die.

Each and everyone of us. Fate and destiny was blind.

But I refused to accept this.

Not here, and not now.

 

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2hRTLdvdnk[/embed]​

Teaser~

One in four dead.

Four simple words. And yet, the reaction it drew... ah, it was a delicacy to be savored. More than that, I could see the faces of people as they started to murmur to each other. And one in four dead, it didn't mean that the survivors would escape unscathed.

Despite the surprise from a number of the Protectorate capes, the independent heroes and the rogues... there was no surprise from the Japanese capes present. Only acceptance, the numbers noted was something that they had known and long accepted.

Certainly, a number of them were old enough to have been present in Kyushu as active capes over a decade ago, but a good number of them looked young enough that they couldn't have been more than little children at that time. But the looks of resolve on their faces... ah, they had part-taken in the Endbringer fights when they could.

Fought.

Died.

Attempted to avenge their homeland.

Their tale was certainly very valiant, full of ethos and pathos.

 

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVYCU2dhwIY[/embed]​

One in four dead.

Four simple words. And yet, the reaction it drew... ah, it was a delicacy to be savored. More than that, I could see the faces of people as they started to murmur to each other. And one in four dead, it didn't mean that the survivors would escape unscathed.

Despite the surprise from a number of the Protectorate capes, the independent heroes and the rogues... there was no surprise from the Japanese capes present. Only acceptance, the numbers noted was something that they had known and long accepted.

Certainly, a number of them were old enough to have been present in Kyushu as active capes over a decade ago, but a good number of them looked young enough that they couldn't have been more than little children at that time. But the looks of resolve on their faces and posture... ah, they had part-taken in the Endbringer fights when they could.

Fought.

Died.

Attempted to avenge their homeland.

Their tale was certainly very valiant, full of ethos and pathos.

Each and every one of them held the marks of experience; where they struggled with life and death battles. Their colorful tinker-fab armor and weaponry were well cared for and yet still bore the look of extensive use. They knew what they were in for, and yet... despite the fact that if they were lucky, that a quarter of them would die... they had came.

"I'm telling you this, so that you know your chances because you deserve to know, and we so very rarely get the chance to inform those brave enough to step up and fight these monsters. The primary message I want to convey, even more than briefing you on the particulars of his abilities, organizing formations and battle plans, is that I do not want you to underestimate Leviathan. I have seen too many good heroes," Legend paused in his speech for a fraction of a second. "And villains, too, die because they let their guard down."

There was another pause as he looked out the windows. That simple glance drew our attention outside. The storm front had arrived, the torrent of rain that poured down from the heavens stirred the water on the beach into a froth. It was more accurate to describe the rain as not drops of water, but an unyielding wall of water that reduced visibility within it much like a waterfall.

The howling winds accompanied the tempest, matching the dull roar of the rain hitting the roof. Idly, I could hear Legend continue his speech after that brief pause. He spoke on about Leviathan, what was known, and consistently warning us to not underestimate the great beast.

His voice was soothing in contrast to the drumming of the rain on the roof above us, the sound of a father who was there to guide us, to show us the way. And yet, what he spoke of was concerning... one might even say worrying even. And yet, he encouraged us even as he warned of the dangers, of how Leviathan had to be driven off fast before Brockton Bay could be utterly destroyed because it was a 'soft' target.

All because of the aquifer beneath the city, because that really was the weak point of the city. Especially against this Endbringer.

"We must end this fast. Each wave that he sends against us will be stronger than the ones before." There was a brief pause as Legend looked about the room. "This means that we have two priorities."

"The first is that we can not let him out of our sight. From the moment the battle is initiated, we hem him in, sustain an offensive onslaught. If we let him slip past our defensive lines, precious time will be wasted chasing him, getting him in another situation where we can contain his movements." The look that he directed at us was full of the gravity of what was needed from us. "The second priority is that we need to be able to hurt him. If you cannot hurt him. If your attacks are deflected or otherwise proven ineffective at hurting him. Give support to those who can."

"It is a vanity to imagine that we will kill him today, but he can be hurt enough that he will retreat. And if we hurt him enough, he will take longer to heal, which means it may delay the time before he strikes again." Legend's frown at the rattling of the window was an ominous sign. The dull roar of rain against the roof fit the mood of the gloom that came from the windows as the endless stream of rain. The water beyond the windows made it hard to see outside, but not impossible, the shapes beyond were suggestive. "This is what they are."

"This is why they are called Endbringers. We have not been able to truly stop them, to fight them once without grievous losses, be it casualties among the civilians, the very land that we fight on, or loss of some of the bravest and strongest of us. And they will keep coming, one after another, winning these small victories, and winning some major ones."

"Make no mistake. Those of you who have come on this day, in our time of need, you are doing a good thing. The greatest thing. To stand, to fight, to defend our homes. It's because of this that we are tolerated by society. Why we can walk the streets in our costumes, and fight in cities. Because when the chips are down in situations like this, we are needed." He looked around at us once more as if choosing his words. "With your assistance, we can forestall the inevitable. Your efforts and, if you choose to make them, your sacrifices, will be remembered."

Legend turned to look at Armsmaster with a sigh, letting the leader of the Protectorate in Brockton Bay take the stage. The words of Armsmaster was perhaps less impassioned, but there was a calm confidence and authority in his tone of voice.

He was straight to the point as he spoke of what the Wards were doing, of the armbands they were handing out and how to use them. More, he gestured at Panacea who stood up and started to move amongst the newcomers before lightly touching them for a moment.

"Panacea is going to make sure that your chances of survival is higher. If you are not outright killed by Leviathan, you will find that your bleeding will stop and in the span of the next few hours, you will regenerate the injury done to you. However, this doesn't mean you're immortal, you can still be killed if the damage done to you is enough to do so."

The murmur of surprise at that announcement held a tone of relief.

It was at this point that Legend called out, his voice carrying over the murmurs. "Capes! If you have faced an Endbringer before, stand!"

I watched as the rest of the Protectorate, a number of the Wards stood up including Shadow Stalker, Bambina, Uber and Leet, the Travelers and every single one of the Japanese capes stood up, including Lung and Oni Lee. I had to blink at the way Armsmaster took note of the Travelers, before tilting his head to whisper to Miss Militia, who simply shook her head.

"When in doubt, follow the orders of the Protectorate first! We have trained, organized and planned for this! The others who are standing, now, are the ones you listen to if we aren't contradicting their order! They have been through situations much like this, you go with their instincts!"

The pause as he gave directions allowed everyone to take in what he was saying.

"We are splitting you into groups based on your abilities! If you are confident you can take a hit from Leviathan and get up afterwards, or if you have the ability to produce expendable combatants, we need you on the front line! You will be directed by Alexandria and Dragon!"

I watched as a portion of the room move about, to cluster around Alexandria.

"Armsmaster and Chevalier will be leading the hand to hand combatants who do not fit in Alexandria's group! Anyone who thinks they can harm or hamper Leviathan in close quarters, you'll be assisting and reinforcing the front line!"

I watched as Assault, Battery, Brandish, Night and Fog move to join that group, among others. That group was slightly smaller than the first, but it wasn't as if it didn't take a certain bravery to get in close to an Endbringer without some sort of invincibility or being close to it.

It was at this point that Emma began to pass through my row. I had to smile as her as she handed me an armband with a look of disdain as if she was doing me a great favor. I cinched it into place over my bracer. The square screen on its surface showed a black and white satellite view of the building we were in, as well as the parking lot and beach. The display at the bottom read "State name".

Given the simplicity of its request, how could I not press the communicator button and speak up with my cape name? "Rose Knight."

My name appeared on the display, with a yes and no display in the corners over the respective buttons. I confirmed it with a simple click.

Legend was still organizing the groups, now directing the area control type capes who could hamper Leviathan's movements to follow Bastion.

I was also all too aware that the size of the group that was still sitting was dwindling, and I found myself conflicted. I could do so much... but what they wanted would require pigeonholing me in.

I could join the group led by Alexandria and Dragon on the front line, Armsmaster's group supporting the front line, Bastion's group in area control, Myrddin's rescue group, or Legend's blaster group.

"-fall in more than one category, go with the group where you think you'll be the greatest assistance!"

I turned to look at those still seated; Navigator, Grue, Tattletale, Regent, Bakuda, Othala, Victor, Panacea, and Kaiser. There were a half dozen more who I had never seen before. Out of towners.

"We should go with Alexandria," Nagivator spoke up softly, an uncertain smile on her face.

I raised an eyebrow. "The numbers?"

She nodded back. "The numbers."

As we walked towards Alexandria's group, I felt a surging wave of crustaceans draw back from me before rushing forward. Their medium and environment was water. That which Leviathan controlled.

It was obviously clear to me, even without looking out the window, a tidal wave was coming.

"Tidal wave!" My shout cut out Legend's words as I pointed and got the attention of Bastion's group who started to erect force fields and other more exotic defenses in front of and behind the windows, and around the walls.

My instincts told me that it wouldn't be enough, not with those grey shapes moving on top of the waves. This was collaborated by the flickering images on the television screens as cameras across the cities were harnessed to show the wave that was coming in to smash Brockton Bay. Not just us, or even the city... but the entire coast line.

Thankfully... I had been busy working on something since my look out the window while talking with Eidolon.

It didn't take much to simply move things from Elsewhere to the Reality of Brockton Bay.

There was a moment of silent as solid crystal walls, the color of amethyst, rose up along the beach from the Ship Graveyard and all the way south and past Downtown.

There was absolute disbelief at the sight of the crystal walls that was over twenty meters wide, sixty meters tall, and reinforced with buttresses.

What water that did get past the wall had their momentum broken and simply splashed harmlessly over the top. Still, the wall would eventually fall in the face of repeated waves that would only grow stronger.

"Strider! Get us outside!" Legend's command was replied with a synthesized female voice from the armband.

The air in my lungs was sucked out, and there was an impossible loud thunderclap. My body shock from the rush, as the displaced air moved back and slammed against my body. I was outside the building with Alexandria's group, Navigator had somehow clung on to me in the teleportation.

The scent of brine filled the air, as the rain pounded upon us, heavy and strong like a waterfall. My wings fluttered against the darkness of my armor.

"Up!" Navigator's words didn't make sense, but I felt more than saw her pointing at the top of the wall. It seemed that she needed to go high. Who was I to deny my teammate, a precognitive cape?

I hugged the younger girl close to me before taking to the air. I was not the only one to do so, as I found myself flying alongside Glory Girl and Alexandria.

As we flew over the wall I had created I could feel more than see another tidal wave slam into it, carrying with it the creatures I could control.

Behind me I could hear the whine of jet engines before Uber and Leet's jets overtook us.

"Drop me!" There was a tap on my arms.

I had to look with disbelief at Navigator as she tapped my arms as we hung high in the sky. "What?"

"Drop me!" She repeated once more.

My disbelief was clear, given that we were easily now over a hundred meters in the air. Looking about, I could see groups of capes being teleported to the top of the crystal wall and setting up positions to snipe at Leviathan.

I could see him.

The Endbringer walked on the surface of the water, surrounded by water sprouts that reached towards the clouds. He was easily ten meters tall. His hunched shoulders, neck and upper arms had corded muscles that stood out like steel cables, giving him the appearance of an inverted teardrop with limbs and a long sinuous tail that was easily fifteen meters long.

His proportions were wrong. Calves and forearms that were too long for his height, this was extremely obvious with his long clawed fingers and digitigrade feet.

There was a beguiling grace to his movement as he swayed back and forth, the rain didn't splatter against him, rather it flowed on his body into a mantle of water that formed an afterimage of him.

In a word, he was beautiful. He did more than just projected a statement of power, he was a work of art.

At the third request from Dinah, no Navigator, to drop her... I did so. The joyous laughter from her as she fell was unexpected. Still, I kept an eye out on her, just in case. Not that I needed to, with the way her pet behemoth was glowing and wrapping itself around her.

The glowing mass grew in size to match the Endbringer before exceeding it.

There was a flare of crimson fire before she slammed into Leviathan. Or rather 'Mister Fluffles' slammed into Leviathan with its tentacles, steam rising from it's obsidian and crimson form.

"Navigator here... I'm engaging Leviathan. Please be careful with your attacks," There was a flare of white flames that fed on the rain and water surrounding Leviathan from 'Mister Fluffles' as Dinah's voice came out on the armband.

I flew in at battling giants with the other front line capes, while multi-hue bolts shot by the Blasters filled the air.

- - -
Goblin Queen | An Ending of Sensibility
Worm / Exalted
- - -​

Writer's Notes: Tanuki are lazy creatures... you can tell. There's this one that chooses to sleep and do... work instead of write stories, and even copied a chunk of Legend's speech.