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

[Darko]

You don't want to do something too planet-wide like that. There's a number of demonically-powered heroes who wouldn't appreciate it, and a number of partial-demon normals who don't deserve it.
You might end up with some angry gray-skinned goth chick scowling at you.

Click to shrink...

True.

 

[crazygrox]

Played straight to each character's actual powers and the kill first ask questions never of the Demonic being's from that world that we've seen so far?

Paragon stands absolutely zero chance.

Because in the time it would take Paragon to even register he was even under attack, his rings would already be destroyed and his head separated from his body.

Click to shrink...

So:
I'm not sure flash could destroy a ring.
Paragon habitually goes into battle in a suit of power armor equipped with a kinetic barrier, which does a lot to neutralize Garrick formula attackers(essentially requiring phasing attacks, maybe vibrating things and making them explode and relying on the heat of doing so to score a kill, or maybe some sort of friction heat attack which I can't remember the Flash ever actually doing)
Also goes into battle surrounded by an environmental shield and construct armor. Flash absolutely can't casually smash through construct armor, and probably would take at least a little effort to get through an environmental shield.
And flash probably won't resort to a preemptive phasing attack, just based on behavior patterns and it not usually being worth the effort(also not sure whether the armor has any defense against that or whether paul has any remaining Nth metal for area of effect anti-phasing, or whether he can find a way to make the usual antiphasic rounds work.).
Paragon also goes into battle flying, which means he can only be effectively attacked by thrown objects and superspeed tornadoes.
And if he knew he was fighting a speedster he'd go into battle surrounded by a cold field, which stops flash in his tracks.

Sure if he's caught by surprise on the ground with only an environmental shield he might die before he can do anything.
But the rings getting destroyed is unlikely.
And even then there's more chance of the Demon Flash stopping to be sadistic, or not realizing that Orange Lanterns can heal themselves, because he only has prior experience with green ones and maybe Sinestro, and underestimating the amount of damage needed to kill.

And if there's a clone body nearby he might manage to resurrect(not entirely a sure thing with demons around), at which point he either calls his rings to him, or calls new rings to him if his were destroyed, and fights on more ideal terms.

In short I think you're wanking flash.
He can win(very likely but not entirely certain with the advantage of surprise[making it work requires that he be wary or paranoid about his opponent], fairly unlikely but possible with both expecting the fight), but I don't think it's the most likely outcome, and if it does happen it'll be shortly followed by another fight where OL is better prepared and possibly has better allies backing him up.

 

[Mr Zoat]

That should say 'thought'.

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[Vaermina]

So:
I'm not sure flash could destroy a ring.
Paragon habitually goes into battle in a suit of power armor equipped with a kinetic barrier, which does a lot to neutralize Garrick formula attackers(essentially requiring phasing attacks, maybe vibrating things and making them explode and relying on the heat of doing so to score a kill, or maybe some sort of friction heat attack which I can't remember the Flash ever actually doing)
Also goes into battle surrounded by an environmental shield and construct armor. Flash absolutely can't casually smash through construct armor, and probably would take at least a little effort to get through an environmental shield.
And flash probably won't resort to a preemptive phasing attack, just based on behavior patterns and it not usually being worth the effort(also not sure whether the armor has any defense against that or whether paul has any remaining Nth metal for area of effect anti-phasing, or whether he can find a way to make the usual antiphasic rounds work.).
Paragon also goes into battle flying, which means he can only be effectively attacked by thrown objects and superspeed tornadoes.
And if he knew he was fighting a speedster he'd go into battle surrounded by a cold field, which stops flash in his tracks.

Sure if he's caught by surprise on the ground with only an environmental shield he might die before he can do anything.
But the rings getting destroyed is unlikely.
And even then there's more chance of the Demon Flash stopping to be sadistic, or not realizing that Orange Lanterns can heal themselves, because he only has prior experience with green ones and maybe Sinestro, and underestimating the amount of damage needed to kill.

And if there's a clone body nearby he might manage to resurrect(not entirely a sure thing with demons around), at which point he either calls his rings to him, or calls new rings to him if his were destroyed, and fights on more ideal terms.

In short I think you're wanking flash.
He can win(very likely but not entirely certain with the advantage of surprise[making it work requires that he be wary or paranoid abut his opponent], fairly unlikely but possible with both expecting the fight), but I don't think it's the most likely outcome, and if it does happen it'll be shortly followed by another fight where OL is better prepared and possibly has better allies backing him up.

Click to shrink...

Kinetic barriers don't stop phasing and have to be turned on.

Environmental shields don't stop demonic claws traveling at near or above light speed... Or anything traveling at near or above light speed...

Finally with what we saw of Dupergirl there is no taunting or gloating just attempted murder.

And remember... This isn't the heavily nerfed Flash of Earth 16 or the JLAU. But one of the comics level Speedforce Flash's. And the Speedforce is a fundamental force that trumps the emotional spectrum.

 

[mastermenthe]

Okay, OL, I know you've had enough of Truggs' shit, but shouldn't you play some part in preparing for this invasion?

Click to shrink...

Obviously, if OL os thinking about preparing himself against the demonic invasion is running afoul of John Constantine's "do not come find me" warding spells! Which is also the reason why it took him so long to come up with alternatives, and why OL is being so ADHD about which ways they and he could help, because any "path to dealing with the demonic invasion" that runs afoul of "do not find Constantine" has to reboot and do workarounds to get past the forbidden access error.

Hold up! That is why New Kara is sticking to OL so strongly! Kara Zor-L has had Torqueasm up and running non-stop ever since OL opened her pod! Torqueasm is protecting New Kara from Constantine's spell! New Kara can sense Constantine's spell affecting OL and is following him like a concerned dog following their human when they smell their human has a disease!

Ah, such trusting gullibility. But, again, she considers him a good guy, so naturally he wouldn't give her anything that could hurt her...

Click to shrink...

Thing is, because of how OL... or rather, because of how Paul, any variant, naturally acts around others, his default reaction is to avoid betraying expectations, which means New Kara is right to blindly trust in OL, even if she doesn't know why she is right.

 

[crazygrox]

And remember... This isn't the heavily nerfed Flash of Earth 16 or the JLAU. But one of the comics level Speedforce Flash's. And the Speedforce is a fundamental force that trumps the emotional spectrum.

Click to shrink...

Even if he is incomparably more powerful than the local version, which we don't know yet(just that he comes from a parallel where the 'demon corrupting Superman plan' was tried and worked), flash would still find it hard to deal with an opponent who can fly, defend themselves against thrown objects, and throw out area of effect attacks that are large enough that he can't see the edges of area from inside of it(the fact that the opponent is familiar with his weaknesses and counter tactics is just a cherry on top).
Attacks don't have to propagate outward from a middle and thus be possible to outrun, they can take the form of a fence expanding inwards, covering an area larger than the what can be seen to the horizon, or appearing simultaneously throughout the entire affected volume, so by the time he sees it it's too late.

The man has had serious fights with rogues who are essentially normal humans with signature weapons, powerlevels are less important than tactics. And while not trying to take the opposition alive is a tactical advantage, it's not enough of one.

 

[Vaermina]

Even if he is incomparably more powerful than the local version, which we don't know yet(just that he comes from a parallel where the 'demon corrupting Superman plan' was tried and worked), flash would still find it hard to deal with an opponent who can fly, defend themselves against thrown objects, and throw out area of effect attacks that are large enough that he can't see the edges of area from inside of it(the fact that the opponent is familiar with his weaknesses and counter tactics is just a cherry on top).
Attacks don't have to propagate outward from a middle and thus be possible to outrun, they can take the form of a fence expanding inwards, covering an area larger than the what can be seen to the horizon, or appearing simultaneously throughout the entire affected volume, so by the time he sees it it's too late.

The man has had serious fights with rogues who are essentially normal humans with signature weapons, powerlevels are less important than tactics. And while not trying to take the opposition alive is a tactical advantage, it's not enough of one.

Click to shrink...

Yea but see... That's in a fight...

With Flash's speed there is no fight... Because you're dead before you even realize you're being attacked...

 

[Zig]

Earth 666 is officially the Lucifer universe.

Click to shrink...

Is that the case anywhere other than the Pre Crisis CW Verse? We don't even know if it's the case after their crisis.

 

[crazygrox]

She looks at me uncertainly. "Are you dating Jade? I was starting to think she was Canadian."

"Yes, and after a brief talk about our relationship, we're going to be moving in together in the Darkstars barracks."

Click to shrink...

In second thought. I think this might make their relationship better?

Not like I know how to deal with long-distance relationships, power imbalances, or imbalances in commitment to the relationship either though.

 

[Assblaster5000]

And the Speedforce is a fundamental force that trumps the emotional spectrum.

Click to shrink...

I... source? Because last time I checked both of those are fundamental forces in DC and, while I don't mean to downplay the Speedforce, Flash has never one-shot a Sun Eater, which Parallax Hal Jordan absolutely has. (Yes, I know there was more going on than just Spectrum stuff there, but the point stands)

 

[Zig]

I... source? Because last time I checked both of those are fundamental forces in DC and, while I don't mean to downplay the Speedforce, Flash has never one-shot a Sun Eater, which Parallax Hal Jordan absolutely has. (Yes, I know there was more going on than just Spectrum stuff there, but the point stands)

Click to shrink...

Also, Speedforce isn't even a part of the Young Justice universe.

 

[Assblaster5000]

Also, Speedforce isn't even a part of the Young Justice universe.

Click to shrink...

IIRC there isn't actually an official standpoint on it from DC, and the show runners have said that if you want it to be a part of it then that's just as valid as it not being in Young Justice.

But yes, if it isn't a part of Universe-16 in Zoat's canon then that kind of removes a theoretical Demon-Flash as a threat.

 

[Zig]

IIRC there isn't actually an official standpoint on it from DC, and the show runners have said that if you want it to be a part of it then that's just as valid as it not being in Young Justice.

But yes, if it isn't a part of Universe-16 in Zoat's canon then that kind of removes a theoretical Demon-Flash as a threat.

Click to shrink...

If you want there to be an invisible pink unicorn following OL around at all times that's also valid. I don't recall if Zoat has explicitly changed it, but Greg Weismann said there is no speed force in Universe 16, and that there is no reason for it to exist in the comics where it was stated to exist.

 

[Bramble Thorn]

"I've got plenty of qualifications but none of them of them are for Earth and… All my referees are dead. I could probably stay in High Admiral Har-Zod's asteroid, but it wasn't really designed for long-term habitation."

Click to shrink...

From the context, references. I'm mean sure all her referees are also dead. But that shouldn't stop her from playing sports on earth in an of itself.

 

[Stsword]

If you want there to be an invisible pink unicorn following OL around at all times that's also valid. I don't recall if Zoat has explicitly changed it, but Greg Weismann said there is no speed force in Universe 16, and that there is no reason for it to exist in the comics where it was stated to exist.

Click to shrink...

I don't know why people keep misrepresenting Greg's position. It took one whole google search to show that has been inaccurate for over a decade now.

And AGAIN, I'll restate what I've stated many times since, which is that no one on Earth-16 has HEARD of the Speed-Force. If you want to believe it's there, but they just don't know about it, more power to you.

I don't know that I changed my position as opposed to nuanced it slightly. And even that I did years ago. I'm still not a big fan of the concept. But instead of saying/claiming it doesn't exist, I took a couple steps back and said that no one on Earth-16 has heard of the Speed-Force. Whether or not it "exists" becomes a SPOILER REQUEST.

I also find it odd that people who grew up on Willpower being both solid and green for crying out loud have conniptions about the speedforce. Elementals like Swamp Thing and Animal Man use a scientific concept that was debunked in the 30s.

 

[gattsuru]

.
I also find it odd that people who grew up on Willpower being both solid and green for crying out loud have conniptions about the speedforce. Elementals like Swamp Thing and Animal Man use a scientific concept that was debunked in the 30s.

Click to shrink...

It's less that it's goofy — it is, but so is a lot of other comic book stuff — and more that it doesn't mean much, and authors haven't really tried to make it mean much. Anything a speedster needs to do can be tied to the Speed Force, but you have to shake it pretty hard to get a weakness, a motivation, or a complication out of it. The Emotional Spectrum and morphogenetic fields were like that when they first came out, but Batman's used a field disruptor on Swamp Thing and the rock-paper-scissors nature of the Emotions is often overused. The Speed Force or HawkGod, not so much.

Some writers can get away with convenient explanations that always help sometimes. But it's a spot that attracts focus.

 

[Zig]

I don't know why people keep misrepresenting Greg's position. It took one whole google search to show that has been inaccurate for over a decade now.

And AGAIN, I'll restate what I've stated many times since, which is that no one on Earth-16 has HEARD of the Speed-Force. If you want to believe it's there, but they just don't know about it, more power to you.

I don't know that I changed my position as opposed to nuanced it slightly. And even that I did years ago. I'm still not a big fan of the concept. But instead of saying/claiming it doesn't exist, I took a couple steps back and said that no one on Earth-16 has heard of the Speed-Force. Whether or not it "exists" becomes a SPOILER REQUEST.

I also find it odd that people who grew up on Willpower being both solid and green for crying out loud have conniptions about the speedforce. Elementals like Swamp Thing and Animal Man use a scientific concept that was debunked in the 30s.

Click to shrink...

I was aware of the first post but had not seen the second. Still, if no one, which would Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, and Thawne, has heard of it, and you choose to believe it exists? Ehh I suppose you can, but it certainly isn't a given that it is, and given that his other answers on the subject have called it a stupid idea I'm not inclined to believe it does exist in his works. Then again, he did say "if there's a speed force why isn't there a strength force? or a smart force?" and now we have those other forces so maybe he did change his position on the matter. You've also got me curious to look up what he's said on the emotional spectrum.

 

[Mr Zoat]

16th September 2012
12:37 GMT -6

Liberty, Iowa.

It used to be a medium sized farming town. Then farming techniques improved and farming itself became less profitable, and the vitality started ebbing away. And then some combination of John Constantine, the Resurrection Crusade and an actual resurrection of the town's war dead completely destroyed it. A few survivors were written off as delusional and are now either happily living somewhere else or guests of the state in various secure hospitals.

A ghost town. My rune stone says that it's mildly thaumically active, noticeably above background. I don't know whether it's a literal ghost town or not. All known sites at which the Resurrection Crusade practised magic ceased functioning when the last of their elders were killed, but no one ever checked the place over.

"Orange Lantern and Supergirl... Three, on-site. Beginning search."

"What are we looking for?"

"Anything that looks like a demon. Anything that looks like it comes from a parallel universe. Anything-. No."

I roll my eyes as Kara points to herself.

"Unless you're secretly a demon and want to mutter about no one else having 'the mark'."

She taps the middle of her chest with her right forefinger.

"I have the mark. It's the symbol of House El."

"I'm not sure it counts if it's worn on clothing, but well prepared."

Scanning for intruders… Nothing, but that's hardly a surprise. If you're establishing a bridgehead into hostile territory you either flood the place or you send a small team who won't be spotted easily. And with there being no one around…

"Are you seeing anything odd?"

"I don't know. I've never been here before." She sniffs. "There's a strange smell, though."

Ring? Oh. Chemicals consistent with burned flesh. Burned human flesh. Doesn't seem to go anywhere, though it does suggest that something strange is happening. Incendiaries were used when the town was destroyed but the residue shouldn't be airborne after over a decade.

"Do you know what it is?" She sniffs again. "It smells like bacon. I think I like it."

Ring, anything unexpected but not demonic?

Ah. Recent signs of habitation. A couple of the cars are out of place from where they were abandoned when the survivors fled the town. Wood has been removed from some of the less intact buildings, and it looks like someone has gone through the gardens.

Someone or some people has/have been living here. Living here for a while… But then Truggs didn't tell me how long Demongirl had been here for.

"Ooh! And I smell people!" Kara flies off to the north. "Over here!"

I fly after her, generating construct armour to go over my power armour. Nothing on infrared, nothing on sonics, someone is definitely hiding themselves. Only question is, are they magic-using hermits or are they our target?

"HELLO!"

I consider remonstrating with Kara as she puts her hands to her mouth to announce our presence. But we're hanging here in the open sky within easy view of the ground. Just announcing ourselves isn't a terrible way to go, especially if whoever is there is nothing to do with the Demon Earth.

"IS THERE ANYONE THERE?! WE'RE SUPERHEROES AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP!"

Kara bows her head slightly and closes her eyes. Trying to hear a response. I'm still not picking anything up, but I could try more exotic forms of scan if this doesn't-.

Kara's eyes snap open and she points to a house in reasonable repair. "That one."

"Sure?"

She nods. "The sounds don't match what I can see. And the-" She sniffs again. "-smells coming from it are weird."

"Weird how?"

"Like… There's one smell… And then there's a different smell? You know?"

"No, I don't know. Is the kryptonian sense of smell actually sensing chemicals in the air, or does it work in some other way?"

"I don't know. I've only had it for a couple of days, silly."

"Alright."

I free the hellwraith from my ring and send it forward towards the detached house indicated. Huh. Actually, this would be a decent place for a superhero base, if the superhero in question could do long distance teleportation. An attacker would find it very difficult to hide their approach, there's plenty of space and-.

"Mastaaaaaaaah!"

I watch as the hellwraith is consumed in golden fire as it enters the house's garden. I instruct it to pull back but the flames don't relent. It burns for a few seconds and then it's gone.

I give it a moment, but there's no sudden rush of knowledge that would come from it returning to my rings. I try deploying it again and nothing happens.

Couldn't happen to a nicer demon.

I create a megaphone construct.

"Whoever's in the house! This is the Justice League! Please come out with your hands visible and carrying no arcane paraphernalia! You have until the count of five to comply or reply, then we will force entry!"

"Stop! Stop!"

"Sir?! Are you under threat?!"

"I can't-! He won't let me take it off!"

I can't locate the speaker. Even looking right through the windows reveals nothing.

"Sir, please come out of the house, and we will endeavour to render aid."

"O-okay! I'm coming out with my hands up! Don't shoot, or whatever you do!"

I generate a construct railgun and load mage slayers.

"Sure!"

Kara frowns disapprovingly at me, and I dismiss the megaphone construct.

"I won't shoot. I just want it in place in case he does. This is a very precise instrument. I can use it to negate defensive and offensive spells without killing the caster, or injure them without killing them."

"Oh. Well, that's okay then."

"I'm at the door!"

"Alright sir, you can come on out."

The door swings open as far as its hinges will allow it, slamming into the house's outer wall and bouncing back. A man with pale skin dressed in loose fitting cotton and denim clothing slowly walks out, my eyes immediately drawn to the golden skull-helmet covering his entire head.

"Please, help me. It won't let me take it off."

 

[Syphi]

Lovely. Someone invited an alternate Nabu

 

[Ngamer11]

"Mastaaaaaaaah!"

I watch as the hellwraith is consumed in golden fire as it enters the house's garden. I instruct it to pull back but the flames don't relent. It burns for few seconds and then it's gone.

I give it a moment, but there's no sudden rush of knowledge that would come from it returning to my rings. I try deploying it again and nothing happens.

Couldn't happen to a nicer demon.

Click to shrink...

That's a shame. The hellwraith is actually useful in some situations. Hopefully Paul can buy a replacement from Mammon in the future.

The door swings open as far as its hinges will allow it, slamming into the house's outer wall and bouncing back. A man with pale skin dressed in loose fitting cotton and denim clothing slowly walks out, my eyes immediately drawn to the golden skull-helmet covering his entire head.

"Please, help me. It won't let me take it off."

Click to shrink...

Are we doing alternate Nabus now? Or did he keep a spare helmet somewhere?

 

[Darko]

A few survivors were written off as delusional and are now either happily living somewhere else or guests of the state in various secure hospitals.

Click to shrink...

Kinda hoping that after the whole reveal that magic is real that they've been released.

Though after seeing what Constantine does they'll probably need therapy.

Do you know what it is?" She sniffs again. "It smells like bacon. I think I like it."

Click to shrink...

Prepare to no longer eat bacon after this, Kara 3.

And probably embracing veganism.

HELLO!"

Click to shrink...

Ah, super voice.

One of the many, many powers of Silver Age Kryptonians.

She nods. "The sounds don't match what I can see. And the-" She sniffs again. "-smells coming from it are weird."

"Weird how?"

"Like… There's one smell… And then there's a different smell? You know?"

Click to shrink...

Hmm, if this is demon related then one smell may be a host and the other a demon that's possessing said host.

"Mastaaaaaaaah!"

I watch as the hellwraith is consumed in golden fire as it enters the house's garden

Click to shrink...

Okay, so this may be Angelic in nature, somehow.

golden skull-helmet covering his entire head.

"Please, help me. It won't let me take it off."

Click to shrink...

Nabu?

So he either somehow came back, or someone is here to avenge him, or the Plane of Order sent someone else to take up his duties and they didn't have a great start.

 

[Darko]

Lovely. Someone invited an alternate Nabu

Click to shrink...

Are we doing alternate Nabus now? Or did he keep a spare helmet somewhere?

Click to shrink...

If I remember correctly after Kent and Nabu stopped working together, Kent made his own weaker version of a Helm to help in crime fighting, so there are technically spares around.

And now that you mentioned alternate Nabus, I'm getting the feeling that this is Nabu from Demon Earth, and he's here to either seek help, or just to flee from the Hell his world has become.

Or help the demons if he's been corrupted somehow.

Though the golden fire may point to him not being corrupted.

 

[Assblaster5000]

"I don't know. I've only had it for a couple of days, silly."

Click to shrink...

My concerns are grand and (mostly) all encompassing.

[Insert Among Us Joke Here]

 

[Michael Vonica]

Though the golden fire may point to him not being corrupted.

Click to shrink...

I believe the golden fire simply represents the orderly alignment of the magic used. Order and chaos do not equate to good and evil. Something can be both orderly and evil, like a ritual sacrifice, as long as it's done methodically.

 

[crazygrox]

Lovely. Someone invited an alternate Nabu

Click to shrink...

I am fairly convinced that this is demon-dimension Nabu.

But he's setting up anti-hellwraith wards, he might be opposed to the demon earth, and coming to warn the local heroes.

 

[Stsword]

I was aware of the first post but had not seen the second. Still, if no one, which would Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, and Thawne, has heard of it, and you choose to believe it exists? Ehh I suppose you can, but it certainly isn't a given that it is, and given that his other answers on the subject have called it a stupid idea I'm not inclined to believe it does exist in his works. Then again, he did say "if there's a speed force why isn't there a strength force? or a smart force?" and now we have those other forces so maybe he did change his position on the matter. You've also got me curious to look up what he's said on the emotional spectrum.

Click to shrink...

Jay had been a speedster for over 50 years before he had ever heard of it in the comics, and Barry was already dead. It's not necessarily like the tv show where the Speed Force shows up for tea.

And no it's not my position that the Speedforce exists in YJ. IT's my position that unless one is writing a YJ fanfic then one should do everyone a favor and stop with the "It doesn't exist in YJ" as if anyone's opinion but the author's is actually relevant as to what is true in an author's creation.

Unless someone is doing a Quest and "Does this story use the Speedforce?" is a vote put forward, of course.

As for the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum, last I checked he stated that Sinestro was a GL villain, but claimed SPOILERS when asked about the rest of the rainbow lanterns.

 

[Darko]

I believe the golden fire simply represents the orderly alignment of the magic used. Order and chaos do not equate to good and evil. Something can be both orderly and evil, like a ritual sacrifice, as long as it's done methodically.

Click to shrink...

Golden fire is typically used by the Silver City, so that's why I think that he may not be demonically corrupted.

Unless he is corrupted but figured out a way to use theurgy without damaging himself, which may be possible.

 

[NightmareWarden]

Hellwraith!

Another construct lantern lost… Hey I wonder if some impression of Teekl and other fallen lanterns survives in the Honden. Or we could learn what Ophidian and Hellwraith talked about over the ages it was inactive.

Huh. I had a thought. Is there any chance Paul will turn a villainous supergirl into a construct lantern going forward?

 

[DrThoth]

Have the Controllers managed to revert any construct Lanterns yet? What happens if they're destroyed like all of Paragon's constructs are now? (Except for the Saremite, I think, who he made into a construct ring?). Do they pass on into the afterlife or whatever happens when beings like them normally die?

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

16th September 2012
12:37 GMT -6

Liberty, Iowa.

It used to be a medium sized farming town. Then farming techniques improved and farming itself became less profitable, and the vitality started ebbing away. And then some combination of John Constantine, the Resurrection Crusade and an actual resurrection of the town's war dead completely destroyed it. A few survivors were written off as delusional and are now either happily living somewhere else or guests of the state in various secure hospitals.

Click to shrink...

So, an average Constantine event. I would laugh if this turned out to be where John's hiding out while he takes care of Nabu-related business, and OL's accidentally overcome whatever kind of 'not now, do something else' effect John might have set on him... On the other hand, it sounds like a prime site for a Daemonic invasion...

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

A ghost town. My rune stone says that it's mildly thaumically active, noticeably above background. I don't know whether it's a literal ghost town or not. All known sites at which the Resurrection Crusade practiced magic ceased functioning when the last of their elders were killed, but no one ever checked the place over.

"Orange Lantern and Supergirl... Three, on-site. Beginning search."

Click to shrink...

See? That's really getting kind of annoying... I can understand the place going relatively unnoticed, though. Giovanni was probably rather busy with more notable sites, if he got alerted to it at all. And I doubt other magicians remotely wanted to stick their nose into a Constantine mess...

"What are we looking for?"

"Anything that looks like a demon. Anything that looks like it comes from a parallel universe. Anything-. No."

Click to shrink...

Well, anything other than Kara-1 herself. On the upside, she's probably a good choice to have along, with her super-supers-senses.

I roll my eyes as Kara points to herself.

"Unless you're secretly a demon and want to mutter about no one else having 'the mark'."

Click to shrink...

...We can't really rule something like that out, after all. Her arrival was still rather suspicious...

She taps the middle of her chest with her right forefinger.

"I have the mark. It's the symbol of House El."

Click to shrink...

I suspect placement matters. Truggs at least showed there isn't a mystical component, though. So just painting the 'S' on your forehead should do.

"I'm not sure it counts if it's worn on clothing, but well prepared."

Scanning for intruders… Nothing, but that's hardly a surprise. If you're establishing a bridgehead into hostile territory you either flood the place or you send a small team who won't be spotted easily. And with there being no one around…

Click to shrink...

On the other hand, any life-signs would be very noticeable in the quiet... Unless they're smart enough to use stealth magic.

"Are you seeing anything odd?"

"I don't know. I've never been here before." She sniffs. "There's a strange smell, though."

Click to shrink...

Let me guess... It smells like bacon?

Ring? Oh. Chemicals consistent with burned flesh. Burned human flesh. Doesn't seem to go anywhere, though it does suggest that something strange is happening. Incendiaries were used when the town was destroyed but the residue shouldn't be airborne after over a decade.

"Do you know what it is?" She sniffs again. "It smells like bacon. I think I like it."

Click to shrink...

I don't think you will, once you learn what it is. But the fact that it's fresh is.. concerning.

Ring, anything unexpected but not demonic?

Ah. Recent signs of habitation. A couple of the cars are out of place from where they were abandoned when the survivors fled the town. Wood has been removed from some of the less intact buildings, and it looks like someone has gone through the gardens.

Click to shrink...

Squatters, it seems. Ones who needed to patch up their pad. Time to look for houses with signs of repairs.

Someone or some people has/have been living here. Living here for a while… But then Truggs didn't tell me how long Demongirl had been here for.

"Ooh! And I smell people!" Kara flies off to the north. "Over here!"

Click to shrink...

Oh hell, there goes the hope of surprising anyone.

I fly after her, generating construct armour to go over my power armour. Nothing on infrared, nothing on sonics, someone is definitely hiding themselves. Only question is, are they magic-using hermits or are they our target?

"HELLO!"

Click to shrink...

Oh, right, super-lungs: When she projects, she really projects.

I consider remonstrating with Kara as she puts her hands to her mouth to announce our presence. But we're hanging here in the open sky within easy view of the ground. Just announcing ourselves isn't a terrible way to go, especially if whoever is there is nothing to do with the Demon Earth.

"IS THERE ANYONE THERE?! WE'RE SUPERHEROES AND HERE TO HELP!"

Click to shrink...

At least she kept the volume down low enough that anyone in the path of her call won't be bleeding from the ears...

Kara bows her head slightly and closes her eyes. Trying to hear a response. I'm still not picking anything up, but I could try more exotic forms of scan if this doesn't-.

Kara's eyes snap open and she points to a house in reasonable repair. "That one."

Click to shrink...

Well, at least those super-duper-senses are coming in handy, even if she basically has a negative wisdom value...

"Sure?"

She nods. "The sounds don't match what I can see. And the-" She sniffs again. "-smells coming from it are weird."

Click to shrink...

Tasty weird or nasty weird? There's a big difference.

"Weird how?"

"Like… There's one smell… And then there's a different smell? You know?"

Click to shrink...

...Okay, be nice. Remember, she probably doesn't know the names for the scents she's picking up...

"No, I don't know. Is the kryptonian sense of smell actually sensing chemicals in the air, or does it work in some other way?"

"I don't know. I've only had it for a couple of days, silly."

Click to shrink...

Okay, if you both survive the next few days: Get her up to speed on... Just about everything about Earth.

"Alright."

I free the hellwraith from my ring and send it forward towards the detached house indicated. Huh. Actually, this would be a decent place for a superhero base, if the superhero in question could do long distance teleportation. An attacker would find it very difficult to hide their approach, there's plenty of space and-.

Click to shrink...

Who knows what's been built underground by now? Seriously, if I were moving into a town like this, I'd definitely have a secret underground lair set up inside the first few weeks.

"Mastaaaaaaaah!"

I watch as the hellwraith is consumed in golden fire as it enters the house's garden. I instruct it to pull back but the flames don't relent. It burns for few seconds and then it's gone.

Click to shrink...

...Well, that's not bad. Someone has extensive warding, yes. But given it was a demon, those wards are likely Orderly or Theurgistic in nature...

I give it a moment, but there's no sudden rush of knowledge that would come from it returning to my rings. I try deploying it again and nothing happens.

Couldn't happen to a nicer demon.

Click to shrink...

...Wards that can destroy Construct Lanterns outright? Oh, dear...

I create a megaphone construct.

"Whoever's in the house! This is the Justice League! Please come out with your hands visible and carrying no arcane paraphernalia! You have until the count of five to comply or reply, then we will force entry!"

Click to shrink...

How very sensible. Don't know what the wards will do to flesh, after all. Could be anything from a simple Magic Circle Against Evil, that acts like a solid wall to 'evil' creatures, to a wall of Disintegration...

"Stop! Stop!"

"Sir?! Are you under threat?!"

Click to shrink...

Judging by the amount of yellow, I would say he's definitely stressed...

"I can't-! He won't let me take it off!"

I can't locate the speaker. Even looking right through the windows reveals nothing.

Click to shrink...

Big-time cloaking wards. Whoever's in there clearly has some significant magical know-wots...

"Sir, please come out of the house, and we will endeavour to render aid."

"O-okay! I'm coming out with my hands up! Don't shoot, or whatever you do!"

Click to shrink...

Huh, I'm impressed that worked. So, whoever's inside is likely not hostile... To them at least.

I generate a construct railgun and load mage slayers.

"Sure!"

Kara frowns disapprovingly at me, and I dismiss the megaphone construct.

Click to shrink...

Rule 1: Be prepared for anything. Just because they sound friendly does not mean they are.

"I won't shoot. I just want it in place in case he does. This is a very precise instrument. I can use it to negate defensive and offensive spells without killing the caster, or injure them without killing them."

"Oh. Well, that's okay then."

Click to shrink...

Plus, it's more than likely that if they aren't killed outright, he can put them back together without too much hassle.

"I'm at the door!"

"Alright sir, you can come on out."

Click to shrink...

Well, this shouldn't take to long to sort out...

The door swings open as far as its hinges will allow it, slamming into the house's outer wall and bouncing back. A man with pale skin dressed in loose fitting cotton and denim clothing slowly walks out, my eyes immediately drawn to the golden skull-helmet covering his entire head.

"Please, help me. It won't let me take it off."

Click to shrink...

...Or not. This could be a problem...

Okay, well... We at least know it's not Nabu-16, as John Quinn presumably has the helmet with him. So this is some alternate universe Nabu, or some being who chose a similar method of existence. It's likely that this might be Nabu from Earth-Hell, somehow remaining untainted by the demonic energies, if only by rule of narrative convenience. I guess we'll see, tomorrow.