COJ Transcript Issue 9
Membership
Thundrax (Craig Carson) Veteran Canadian hero and powerhouse.
Canadian Iron (Arnold "Arnie" Quaid). Rugged superstrong Alberta hero and leader of the Canadian Knights superhero team.
Cosmic Glory: (Faye). Fifteen year old girl who can transform herself into a female powerhouse and symbol of hope.
Ice-Heart: White witch, a reformed villainess with snowy powers.
Geneva (Sebastian Stein): Also known as Peacemaker, brilliant scientist and mainstay of the Aegis of Justice superteam.
Keioseth: Cocky ex-street cop turned dimensional storm god.
Kyle Foster: Imaginary friend to all, a telepathic being.
Leilani Hau Kea: Samoan ice mutant and surfer, possibly the goddess of wisdom reborn.
Wreck: Streetwise Orc, a native of Westside.
As Events Unfolded
Thundrax: Excuse me folks, there's a situation at the Christmas tree in Ren Center, District 5. Could people who are not busy converge? Someone is attacking the Christmas tree.
Keioseth: On our way!
Canadian Iron: On the move!
Geneva: Would be more than glad to check out a coherent threat for a change. Be right there, Craig.
Cosmic Glory: Also on my way!
Ice-Heart: I am on my way.
Wreck: Huh, well, I'm headin' there too.
Canadian Iron salutes Cosmic Glory.
GM: You arrive to find a golden armored figure hovering over the burning Christmas tree, laughing. It's Invictus, who is believed to be a hero.... but whom those involved in our July adventure know to be a dirty, rotten rat.
Geneva: Hmm, seems we got more backup. Canadian Iron: You get the call Miss Glory?
Geneva: Never worked with Invictus before, seems like a cool enough guy.
Cosmic Glory: Yeah, I did and... oh god, what the heck...?
Invictus: I suppose I should wish you all Happy Holidays! *laughs*
Canadian Iron looks at the burning Christmas Tree...
Geneva: Uh, yeah. Did you see what happened, sir?
Wreck: Damn, who Grinch 'nuff to do dis....
Cosmic Glory: ... Okay, you. The whole thing with changing history, I can forgive. But you do NOT touch the Christmas tree!
Ice-Heartc 's features harden as she glances at the sight of Invictus over the tree.
Keioseth: What the flying reindeer hell happened to the TREE?!
Canadian Iron: I do not know, but can somebody put it out before it collapses.
Leilani Hau Kea: "That.. sucks.. someone got infected by Lacey's holiday lack of cheer..."
Invictus: I happened. This ritual has superceded the feast day of Sol Invictus for the last time!
Keioseth: looks to Leilani, "Hun, wanna ice it?"
Geneva: ... I am confused.
Ice-Heart: You mean, "Dies Natalis Solis Invicti"
Wreck: "I'll put out the fire...." walks up to the tree, shifting to his magma form to try to absorb the flame.
Canadian Iron waves at Invictus
Keioseth: Damned Scrooges...
Geneva turns to CG.
Ice-Heart crosses her arms
Geneva: Uh, have I missing something?
Cosmic Glory: ... He's burning a Christmas tree to replace it with a fake holiday thats extremely lame and full of himself.
Geneva: When did Invictus go evil though?
Canadian Iron: Sorry to bother you Invictus, I prefer a bonfire at campouts and beach parties....
Cosmic Glory: He's BEEN this way, trust me.
Invictus: Fake! My feast day supersedes this Palestianian sham!
Canadian Iron looks over to see how Wreck is doing with the fire tree...
Geneva: ... Registered villains and now villlainous heroes? Someone get me a chair.
Geneva: So, uh, Invictus?
Keioseth: "Who the hell is the floating golden fashion wreck?" Ice-Heart draws a circle about her feet, "You are scarcely the sun, I think you more of an Icarus."
Cosmic Glory: His name is Invictus.
Geneva: As your last act of mercy, do tell us how exactly you plan to bring forth this holiday upon several million active pracitioners of the Christian faiths?
Keioseth: "I mean... do all bad guys have the same inability to dress themselves in stuff that looks good?
Keioseth: "At least this one isn't mixing purples and greens."
Cosmic Glory: ... Personally, the word "prick" is written all over him. Man, now I have Brad's sense of humor in this...
Invictus: I have the power of the three Visitors within me! This has given me power to destroy this sham once and for all...
Canadian Iron: Personally, false fashion statement or not... buring a tree? Invictus could you have chosen something better?
Leilani Hau Kea: "Visitors from bah humbug land?"
Geneva: So, not world domination? Infinite riches? Just... changing a holiday?
Wreck: **Is still absorbing the flames**
Canadian Iron: How is it going? Almost down with the fire?
Keioseth: "Hold it! Dude you are not cancelling Christmas!"
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: ...Three visitors? I don't suppose they looked like me? Ghostly and whatnot?
Geneva: You could say he's flying a banner with the word prick, and it'd be an understatement.
Wreck turns to Iron, "...Yeh.."
Cosmic Glory: Yeah! I'm with Keio! We will defend Christmas with our very lives!
Ice-Heart gestures to the sky reciting a spell to call forth some snow to help stifle the flames.
Canadian Iron looks around to see if anybody is injured...
Invictus: As you wish.... *A huge spout of flame channels its way toward Glory*
Geneva: There's this thing called the First Amendment, dude. You can't oppress religious holidays.
Geneva: Wait, shit!
Geneva brings up a force barrier in front of him and CG.
Canadian Iron brings up a shield to cover Wreck...
Ice-Heart snaps her arms towards the fire, the ring about her feet glowing a cool blue as she redirects her frigid might against the flame.
Keioseth fires a lightning bolt at Invictus, "Pick on someone your own size, Trojan Man!"
Cosmic Glory was surprised by the sudden attack toward her but was defended! "... G-Geez, he really wants to destroy Christmas..."
Wreck: chuckles a bit, "Danks, but, I'm pretty much fire-proof, guy." said while absorbing the flames still, he quickly tosses a magma ball at the golden villain.
Canadian Iron takes a knee as the magma ball flies over his head...
GM: Invictus sweeps aside the magma ball, Glory is defended, and the tree is expunged.
Canadian Iron pushes forward and lunges at Invictus with a right hook...
Cosmic Glory would leap up toward to Invictus. With him going for the right hook, she aimed to go for a hard kick up to him!
Ice-Heart makes a sweeping arm gesture as she redirects her icey power, "Winter's might to your assault!" she wreathes Canadian Iron in a protective envelope of chilly air.
Invictus takes Iron's punch and barely flinches. Iron feels his hand brush painfully against a hard invisible force field. Invictus sneers. "Another Canadian and punches back at the now-protected Iron, while Glory's kick also hits the force field, making a cracklng sound
Keioseth: "I'm gonna kick you ass, pa rum pum pum pum!" Keio bounces back then leaps forward vanishing into a bolt of lightning, reappearing above Invictus attempting to Double Lightning Punch his head.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster makes with a mental assault while everyone else assaults him physically-simply trying to overwhelm the synpases and drop him into la-la land to dream of sugar plum fairies!
A long spike of ice forms in Leilani's hand she throws it at the force field attempting to penetrate it being careful not to hit the other heros.
Lelilani makes a wedge in the force field, which is taken advantage of by Keio as he connects with Invictus with a thundering punch. Kyle probes for mental defenses... but finds the hate, ancient and powerful, in his psyche, almost overwhelming. You also sense some other presence in his mind.
Geneva: Hrng. He seems well defended... Unless...
Geneva would attempt to soar upwards through his fellows, reaching out with his hand. If he is able to make contact with the villain or his force field, he's attempt to drain it using his telekinesis.
Wreck shifts from magma to crystal. He then focus to the ambiant light into a laser beam, aiming for the cracks in the forcefield.
GM: Geneva manages to work through the force field a bit, though it's very powerfui. Wreck manages to finally breech the defenses, though Invictus is plenty topugh on his own. He is momentarily staggered.
Canadian Iron feels the impact of the fist as it cracks the frozen armour and sends him flying back...
Cosmic Glory would hover back, the flames roaring around her as she flew up in the air before diving down to punch full force with the peaceful flames as her fuel. "You can't take away Christmas. It means way too much to people! It represents faith, hope, and the goodness of everything. Not selfish stuff... like you!"
Ice-Heart takes careful aim as she focuses her energy into a chilly blast and lets fly towards Invictus.
GM: A voice rings out in all your minds. "DOES IT? HOW... INTERESTING..."
- Everyone is suddenly teleported to the alien ship.
Canadian Iron looks around....
GM: Standing before you are three lightning shaped entities, Thundrax, and Invictus.
Cosmic Glory: ... Eh? Wasn't I punch--What the heck? Geneva looks around.
Geneva: Interesting, but nonetheless, concerning. What's going on here?
Wreck: looks around, "Uhhh, what kinda punch wus dat??"
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster winces at the voice in his mind, not welcoming the intrusion at all-though he doesn't let it phase him for long. He simply starts putting mental barriers on everyone. "Dunno just yet...Thundrax?"
Ice-Heart glances around slightly confused, and attempts a spell to scan the area for mystic signitures and other magey type stuff.
Canadian Iron: hmmm I remember your comment about this choice in clothes.. you have one in his choice of furniture?
GM: A voice comes out of the three entities. "We are the Visitors, child." the voice says. "It appears our strategy was... flawed."
Geneva: The realization of all those who would threaten the Earth's citizens and their freedoms.
Geneva: What do you seek from us?
Leilani Hau Kea rushes over to Keio and puts up an ice sheild while holding him.
Cosmic Glory blinks as she heard the visitors, blinking in awe.
Geneva: I doubt you s hare Invictus's motives.
Keio appears and looks very sick, "GODS DAMN! *BLERGH!*"
Visitor: No threat was intended. Nor did our attempt to empower our benefactor meant to bring harm.
Keioseth: "Always... *BLERGH* with the.... *BLERGH* teleporting..."
Cosmic Glory: ... What... was it meant for, then?
Ice-Heart: Might we know who we have the honor of addressing?
Canadian Iron: Tell that to the tree that was burned, and the possible loss/injury to life.
Invictus: You wished to know the meaning of the season? I was showing you.
Geneva: With all due respect, sir, I think general concensus on the meaning of Christmas is quite different.
Keioseth: "I'm gonna open up a new can of whoopass on whoever just teleported me..."
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: ...The season has a thousand different meanings to a thousand different people. Causing harm to others and property damage, however, is not an acceptable one.
Wreck: By burnin' a giant christmas tree n' prolly mentally scarrin' a bunch of kids fo' life? I really wanna kick yo'ass now.
Ice-Heart mutters something about Keioseth and first impressions involving beings of indeterminate power.
Visitor: We do not have a name, such as you have them. The three of us are travellers. We seek people and events of cosmic import. Our benefactor's thinking is flawed, unduly affected by the power we gifted him.
Geneva: So, cosmic tourists! Cool. Why did you empower him, though?
Canadian Iron: Flawed?
Canadian Iron looks over at Geneva...
Canadian Iron: I am curious about that myself, why him?
Cosmic Glory would blink to that. "... flawed isn't the right word. He tried to alter history many times to benefit him. He's... ah, greedy."
Cosmic Glory: And selfish.
Ice-Heart: I'm afraid I must inform you that your benefactor is a buffoon and a charlatan who has tried to rewrite history to suit his whims in the past.
Keioseth: "Great three alien Wise Men, where's kungfu Zombie Raptor Baby Jesus?"
Wreck: Wut she sez.
Leilani Hau Kea: "We left him at home Alofa."
Keioseth holds his stomach and stands back up, "I knew I forgot something!"
Visitor: We sensed that this planet is important, and this cultural rite is important, so we came. Our ship was endangered near this world by an attacker, a star criminal of some sort. This man rescued us.
Keioseth: "Sure he's not holding you hostage?"
Ice-Heart: A curious turn of events.
Visitor: Empowering him was merely an act of gratitude.
Keioseth: "If he isn't mind leaving his body for a sec while I kick him in the Jingle bells?"
Cosmic Glory: ... Yeah but I think he might've saved you because he wanted power.
Geneva: Well, good to hear this was all just a big interspacial misunderstanding, then!
Ice-Heart: Well, it appears you did what you thought was a benevolent act.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: ...I suspect you didn't just call us here to apologize.
Visitor: We did not probe his motivations... but I would be curious for your insight on this ritual and its importance to your species.
Wreck: ..I guess, but..can you un-mojo him, he's kinda a pain n'the ass now.
Invictus collapses to the floor.
Geneva: You want us to tell you guys about Christmas?
Leilani Hau Kea: "I agree with diamond boy seriously we don't need anymore bahumbugs around ruining Christmas."
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster blinks a bit at the Visitor's words. Then turns to the others for a moment. "Er. Alright, want the 'Ghost of Christmas Present' to field this one?"
Canadian Iron: That was not so diffcult. Just a suggestion, if somebody saves you, do a background check to see if he is what he says he is.
Geneva: I think you and Glory are best equipped to express the importance of this holiday.
Wreck: Yeah, even the devil can do a act of kindness, don't make'em a good person just fo dat one.
Cosmic Glory: Wait. Me?
Visitor: It seems that we have a good cross section of cultures. Speak what is on your mind, and our senses will.. comprehend the greater meaning.
Geneva: Yeah. You're still young.
Keioseth: "Yeah I'm at the point where I would prefer decking my halls with his face, repeatedly."
Geneva: Hell, you managed to blurt out what it meant while punching Invictus in the face, so yeah.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster shrugs. "Makes sense. I'm the logic of it, you're the emotion."
Ice-Heart draws a deep sigh and pinches the bridge of her nose.
Geneva: You and Kyle both run off positive energies, which is what Christmas is, pretty much.
Visitor: Alas, we were distracted. Now, we can concentrate on your perspectives properly.
Cosmic Glory blinks. "...er... but.... are you guys -sure- you don't have opinions on this too?"
Geneva: Sure.
Ice-Heart: How about you lead to set the mood, and the rest of us can speak up if there is something that needs be said.
Visitor: We would hear all, positive and negative. A cross section is desired.
Leilani Hau Kea wraps her arms around Keio then looks in the direction of the visiting weird alien people "Fa'a Samoa we celebrate giving to one another that which we need for the coming year and being a good Agia."
Wreck: nods, "Yeh."
Wreck *reverts*
Cosmic Glory: ... Yeah. There's also other holidays other then Christmas, too. There's Hanukahh and Kwanzaa, and several others. But it all ends up carrying similiar feelings.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Alright. Well, if it's Christmas we're talking about and not just the Winter holidays in general...
Keioseth: "Good will towards our fellow people, whether it is humans, manimals, ghosts, aliens, or whatever."
Visitor: All perspectives. The empathic power of this season is strong. Unfoubtedly many perspectives are mingled.
Keioseth: "It's a time of peace and fellowship!"
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Well, really, Cosmic is right. The feeling is the same-to spread good cheer through the bitterest times of year, a chance of showing your love to your family, friends, and strangers.
Ice-Heart: It's the season when the days get short, nights long, chill grows, drives people inside huddled in the warmth. It's then you really turn to each other, form warmth, comfort....
Ice-Heart: Giving gifts as a well physical representation of that care. For a long while i forgot that warmth...
Cosmic Glory twiddles her fingers a bit. "... But, for me, Christmas is about good faith, family, and looking hopeful to the new year, too."
Invictus gets to his feet. "Stress, quarrels, greed... It is hardly all warm feelings."
Ice-Heart: Matters not. I may be a partial embodiment to winter, but I still enjoy sitting by the fire with a warm drink.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Celebrations of indulgence during what would otherwise be a lean time, showing people that another year is come and gone, but you still love them. And to be loved in return.
Cosmic Glory: ... you count your blessings and give thanks to what you have, be it family or loved ones... and giving a present sometimes to show that. It could even be as simple as giving cookies.
Geneva: Our sun-worshipping friend here would have you believe this is the norm.
Wreck: N'just cause dis holiday only happens once a year, don't mean you can't bring good will n'all of dat all year 'round, spread peace n'love where ever you go.
Geneva: It is not. What we tell you is the overwhelming occasion.
Geneva: I think he's just jealous.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster looks to Invictus, shaking his head. "Greed occurs, yes. So does strife and quarrelling. It is unfortunate, but it is the opposite of what the season is about."
Invictus glowers. "It is the norm. Extend your will to the people so they act on their true feelings, unchecked, during the season. You will not make it a peaceful city."
Ice-Heart: 'tis quite ironic I say that the man who sets himself up as a sun god ends up being the coldest hearted thing here.
Geneva: Don't be such a tool, dude.
Geneva: You really think you've got an accurate viewpoint here?
Geneva: I know why you're doing this, why you burned the tree.
Geneva: If I may explain the origins of the holiday?
Leilani Hau Kea: "You should spend time in my Agia. They would show you."
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster nods to Peace, letting him take the floor.
Invictus: Of course it is. Your high ideals do not accurately reflect the pettiness of the human heart.
Cosmic Glory: Hey! The human heart is NOT petty!
Canadian Iron: You are destructive by nature Invictus, and you used the good will of the travellers to force your own beliefs upon us.
Geneva: History lesson for the visitors. Christmas is the predominant Holiday celebration, stemming from the Christian faiths.
Keioseth: "Someone didn't get their Red Ryder BB gun as a child."
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Correction. The human heart can be petty, if it does not feel love. That's part of why Christmas exists-it's an outlet for us to show that we care, even to the stressed and those that quarrel.
Invictus: I was... not myself. I never would have done something as foolish as openly burning that tree under my own will.
Geneva: Although, even then, the holiday has gone beyond practicioners of the faith and has been adopted by the less religious masses.
Cosmic Glory: And yet you wanted to burn the tree down for your own holiday that you made up!
Geneva: Sparing you the long history of the birth fo said religion, the point is that as it grew in numbers, it overtook the then popular winter festival of the pagans.
Geneva: Which essentially focused on the Sun.
Invictus: I made up nothing. The 25th of December was the feast day of my lord centuries before the Christians adopted it. Read a book.
Geneva: Yeah, Faye, I gotta give it to him. It's all too real.
Ice-Heart: It was a festival of a sun cult which had state recognition in the roman empire at the time giving it broad coverage.
Geneva: There's some more behind it all... But it's kinda controversial.
Cosmic Glory: Well... it still isn't fair for him to try to ruin other people's holiday. Even if people don't celebrate his, that doesn't mean he has to force people to celebrate it.
Geneva: Precisely.
Visitor: We would know all perspectives.
Thundrax: I'm a practising Christian. It's a celebration of the birth of one who came to be bridge between God's perfection and human frailty, allowing us to have a relationship with our creator.
Canadian Iron looks at the traveller...
Cosmic Glory: ... I mean.. if... it IS real, and he wants people, why didn't he just ask? Instead of.. burning the tree down?
Cosmic Glory: I don't like him. But I would've done it... if he asked nicely.
Keioseth: "Because fundamentalists take extreme actions."
Geneva: He's a villain.
Keioseth: "You can see that on the news."
Geneva: If they asked, they'd be heroes.
Invictus: As I said... my mind was affected by the inrush of cosmic power. I am less.. volatile now.
Wreck: ...Right.
Geneva: What would you have done otherwise, then?
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: As long as it harms none, and no property damage is done, all beliefs have a place in this country. It's when you start infringing on others' values that things take a turn for the worse.
Leilani Hau Kea: "Oh good then Keio won't have to kick you in the jingle balls."
Keioseth: "I'm still gonna kick you right in the jingle bells, prick." Glares at Invictus.
Canadian Iron: You will never get all perspectives, for even though this holiday season can be researched from the history books, to everybody it means something different.
Wreck: Burn the tree still prolly.
Invictus: I would have put up with this sham, the same thing as i do every year.
Canadian Iron: ...and usually that means peace.
Cosmic Glory: ... Well...
Cosmic Glory: .... Thinking about it now, it DOES seem weird to have him just go attack us like he did.
Cosmic Glory: The other stuff, he just did things behind the scene.
Wreck: Speakin' of the tree...I think I can bring it back..
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: ...Now that I think about it...
Canadian Iron turns his head to Cosmic Glory...
Geneva: What makes you say it's a sham?
Canadian Iron: He would never have done it before.. this is true... but that was because he was weak. When he became powerful that was when he thought he ad the chance to force his belief on us ...
Cosmic Glory taps her chin slightly. "Twice in seeing Invictus, he's more of a 'behind the scenes' kind of guy. I did wonder but, he also burnt down the tree."
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: I felt a lot of anger from his mind, but...Invictus, was it? I'm going to give you a mental scan. I want to make sure that other presence I felt there earlier is gone. Is this alright with you?
Keioseth: "I know this is a bit of a generalization, but I think he attacked us because he's a bad guy and we're good guys."
Keioseth: "Basic comic book story plot there."
Wreck: ....Right.
Cosmic Glory: .... Dude. Are you related to Brad?
Cosmic Glory: Seriously, Keio?
Invictus: Because it was a tool of cultural assimilation. Part of my mind was there. I remember.
Keioseth: "Just saying..."
Geneva: Cultural assimilation? That's weak, man.
Geneva: People don't do Christmas just because everyone else does.
Keioseth: "He is why we can't have nice things."
Invictus: Were you there, when the Christian parasites took over the empire?
Geneva: You don't think the feelings are legitimate? That's it's all some sort of facade?
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster coughs gently. "Rage aside, I really did feel another presence in his mind earlier. It gives weight to his argument."
Wreck: Wuzn't born yet, guy.
Geneva: Come on! You gotta stop living in the past.
Cosmic Glory frowns a bit. "... Look. Invictus. It doesn't matter if its Christmas or your holiday. It doesn't matter if its any other holiday."
Ice-Heart: I am scarcely that old.
Keioseth: "JUst think! The sun guy is gonna get coal in his stockings, that should make him happy." He chuckles.
Cosmic Glory: The fact of the matter is, every holiday still represents the similiar thing. Faith.
Leilani Hau Kea: "Even before the Christians took over my islands my people still celebrated something like Christmas we spent time with family we were not jerkface golden flametards.."
Canadian Iron: hmmm Faith? or Free Will?
Cosmic Glory: Faith, or hope, or family... All those good things. Something -good-. Thats what should be important. Thats what should be taufght and put forward.
Geneva: Yes! This no longer represents a history, a religion, a society. It goes BEYOND! It transcends, it touches the very light held within the human spirit.
Ice-Heart: Spiritual warmth.
Cosmic Glory: Exactly!
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster nods at Cosmic, smiling broadly. "To inspire, we must have faith. Whether it's faith in a higher power, or simply faith in your fellow man."
Wreck: Or other, not everyone here is human.
Geneva: Bam. That's Christmas, that's Kwanzaa, that's Hanukah, that's the Holidays right there.
Keioseth: "I think Casper realizes this better than most Green dude."
Visitor: Curious. If these ideals are so prevalant, why is there stress and strife? There is war and violence in this season...
Wreck: Whatever you say.
Cosmic Glory: ... because.... some people don't believe in that and want to interrupt those things.
Geneva: Invictus is flawed... and sadly, we cannot say humanity is otherwise.
Ice-Heart: There are always some bad apples.
Wreck: Where dere's good, ders's evil, cosmic balance n'shit.
Keioseth: "Some people are Scrooges, like your golden boy there."
Ice-Heart gestures towards Invictus with that remark.
Leilani Hau Kea: "Some people get so caught up in making things perfect they forget till they go to a party get drunk and finally relax their stressin butts down."
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Just because it's the season to be jolly doesn't mean that people stop being people. For some, goals are more important than people.
Canadian Iron: Agreed, take advantage of such times to further their own agenda, like Invictus.
Geneva: Our goal is to eventually make it like this year round. If such a thing is possible.
Geneva: Heh.
Cosmic Glory: Either that or its some people who just believe its all about the presents or giving. Shop til you drop and specials, too. But those people normally forget what the holidays are really about.
Thundrax: All of us are flawed. Christmas isn't about perfect people doing perfect things. It's about people striving to a greater ideal, and sometimes we don't reach it.
Leilani Hau Kea: "Want some of Keio's special eggnog or my brownies?" giggles.
Wreck: It is, if everyone be a gud example to kids. Visitor: Eggnog, brownies? We would be delighted!
Ice-Heart: It is a sad truth, we are not a perfect species. For a long time was a purveyor of strife. I try hard each day to make up for the damage I wrought.
Geneva: Some don't bother with ideals at all. But we take care of them.
Keioseth: "Okay, I can get you some, just don't teleport me..."
Keioseth: "Please..."
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster looks to Keio. "...I can try and make you unconscious if they do it again?"
Visitor: Concentrate on it, and it shall be brought...
Leilani Hau Kea pat's Keio's arm "They can port me Alofa you left some in the fridge did you not?"
Keioseth: "Aye."
Ice-Heart ruffles in her bag and digs out a gingerbread cookie and hands it to keioseth.
Wreck: Bein' perfect is a pipe dream, ain't no such thang as perfect, just keep yo life n'shit in balance, don't be a evil douche like golden boy over der.
Invictus: I was helping these people. I did nothing "evil" of my own free will in this matter. Keioseth: thinks really hard about his special eggnog.
Ice-Heart: I saw you try to 'help' Cosmic Glory.
Leilani Hau Kea concentrates on where she left the brownies on the counter at home.
Geneva: Helping is the incorrect word. Your innermost natures and resentments were merely brought out by the sudden freedom given by power.
The eggnog and brownies appear! "I would not have done that had I not been affected." Invictus says.
Canadian Iron: Like burn down a tree or possibly hurt a lot of people. Glad you didn't try to force your first aid ability by burning down Mercy Hospital.
Geneva: An excuse I am willing to accept, although I still seek an explanation for your deception.
Wreck: Even if dats wuz the case, you got sum dark impulse n'you dat whatever it wuz forced you to bring out.
Keioseth: "McIlroy Family Eggnog, it'll knock you on you asses."
Geneva: I can only assume it's got booze in it?
Thundrax: It's Keio's. I'd be surprised it has anything that's NOT booze in it.
Ice-Heart: It is quite simple, you are a belligerant lout and a bully.
Invictus: We all have dark impulses. Would you deny that, creature? If these people examined you, would you be found wanting?
Keioseth: "I'm irish, what do you think?"
Cosmic Glory would feel a little more relaxed, stretching out her arms. "No."
Leilani Hau Kea: "So Brownie then umm visitor people?" offers them.
Canadian Iron disengages the maglocks and removes his helmet...
Geneva: You'll find my deepest desires are a bit more virtuous than yours.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster, looking uneasily at Invictus. Is it...pity? "Some of us wouldn't. But Invictus, I have never felt the raw hatred that I feel from you, save for a special few."
Wreck: shrugs, "Prolly, most don't like orcs, but I don't stoop to their level, or be the monster they dink I am.
GM: Three brownies float into the middle of the energy fields and are consumed.
Ice-Heart: I will be the first to admit my hands are scarcely clean. Yet I still thrust myself in harms way for this ideal of hope. Just as it unfolded before the flaming tree.
Cosmic Glory: I'd never ask for any power or anything to benefit myself from foreign people.
Invictus glares at Kyle. "We all hold things in check."
Leilani Hau Kea giggles "Well I guess that answers that."
Cosmic Glory felt more relaxed, giving a tiny quick mumble. It seemed safe.
Leilani Hau Kea offers CG a brownie.
Canadian Iron looks intently at the browie...
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: I can tell that you've been hurt many times, but you choose to revisit that pain and wrap it around yourself, rather than seek fulfillment or closure. It's true that we hold back often...
Geneva: You think I do this for free because I secretly want to rule the world?
Canadian Iron: Meh you never know until you try.
Canadian Iron downs the brownie in one bite...
Cosmic Glory smiles to Leilani, taking a brownie. "Oh, hey! Thank you very much!"
Geneva shakes his head and retracts his helmet, going for a brownie.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: But it's also true that a lot of times? We really should let friends, or even a random stranger, know how we really feel. Why'd you save the visitors, Invictus?
Keioseth offers to pour some of the eggnog into some cups for the visitors.
Keioseth has a gingerbread cookie in his mouth.
Cosmic Glory pauses to her brownie, looking over to Invictus. She'd... frown a bit and kind of walked over. "Er... do you want a brownie?"
Wreck eats the brownie in one bite when offered, "Danks."
Cosmic Glory: You're welcome to have something too...
"Why? Because I wanted to be sure they did not threaten my species.. as so many other aliens have in the past... and I wished to know who attacked them and whether they were a threat to our planet." Invictus says, taking a brownie.
Geneva: So you remain a protector of Earth?
Geneva: Even with your dismal view of humanity?
Geneva nibbles on the brownie.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Excellent reasons, all of them. Both logical and well thought.
Invictus: Better a sub-optimal human species than a planet ravaged by aliens.
Cosmic Glory would retreat back. "Er... Could I get another brownie?"
Canadian Iron looks at Invictus "more like a protector of your armoured ass... and you said there is a beverage to go with this brownie?"
Leilani Hau Kea: "Of course."
Keioseth noms his cookie a bit and sips some nog.
Geneva: Why do you consider humanity sub-optimal then?
Leilani Hau Kea offers the brownies around to everyone.
Canadian Iron: Anymore nog left?
Ice-Heart accepts a brownie, thanking Leilani.
Cosmic Glory takes a brownie, now happy to munch on hers.
Keioseth: "Aye!"
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster nods in agreement to Geneva. "As our otherworldly friends have stated, this is a time of many different cultures and viewpoints coming together. I'd like to know yours."
Wreck shrugs, "I'm a rockheaded stubborn sonvabitch, but I got a heart of pure gold, so I'm gonna be the first to ask dis..Goldenbutt, you need a friend to set you straight?
Canadian Iron: Great!
Wreck takes another brownie when offered, "Danks again." eats it in one big bite.
Cosmic Glory: ... I'm still miffed at him for making me sing a couple months back, myself...
Invictus turns to Geneva. "Look up from your testtubes, Dr. Steinman. Watch the evening news. Or worse, FOX."
Canadian Iron looks around to see if everybody has a glass...
Keioseth pours some of the nog into glasses, "Hey L, can you magic the alcohol outta this on for CG?" Geneva: I do look up, sir.
Ice-Heart looks at the eggnog and considers Keioseth's request... "I might have something here that will do the trick..."
Geneva: I do see the sorry excuses that are our main news media.
Ice-Heart grabs a book and starts paging through it.
Geneva: And I see humanity. I see its flaws.
Geneva: I see the wars. The massacres, the irrationality, intolerance.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster doesn't have a glass, but for obvious reasons. "Rather than be dragged down by that news, I do what I can to salve it. It is difficult work, but to me, it's more rewarding than anything else."
Geneva: But I also see the future, we all do.
Wreck makes a crystal mug, "Pour me sum eggnog, Guy."
Geneva: We see what humans CAN be, and we think that if everyone tried, we could become so much more than we are now.
Geneva: That is why I fight.
Cosmic Glory: Yeah! I'd much rather believe in the good in people then be dragged down by the bad. Humanity is really something else. Its full of endless possibilities.
Cosmic Glory: ... and, I fight for the good stuff. Keioseth pours Wreck a glass.
Geneva: To halt those that would seek to keep humanity 'sub-optimal', and to defend and help those who wish to rise above that!
Wreck: Dey say you love a person fo' der flaws not der perfections.
Geneva: A man, powerful as you? You could help!
Ice-Heart fidgets with a few components from her satchel and waves her hands over the glass of eggnog as it takes on a slight frost, "There, in theory it should be cleaned of all alcohol and poison."
Canadian Iron: ...and now that we all have our beverages, how about we show our visitors a custom that is shared by all.
Geneva: You could join our fight! It is not easy. I've always known that.
Geneva: But you don't seem like one who bows down in the face of adversity.
Invictus: Humanity must be protected, but if you expect the herd to act like more than a herd, you will doom yourself to disappointment.
Keioseth: "In theory..." He snickers, "This may be a bit strong CG."
Canadian Iron: Thanks...
Cosmic Glory: ....
Ice-Heart: I usually use it to make potable water, I've not tried it on eggnog.
Leilani Hau Kea: "Giving people a choice to do right is always better than inslaving them to do so."
Cosmic Glory: Um... I don't have to drink it, its alright.
Geneva: Better that than resigning myself to an uncertain future and a decadent race.
Keioseth: "L says it's good!" Offers it to CG.
Geneva: I've always found that... cowardly, if not irrationaly cynical.
Geneva: Has humanity not advanced?
Cosmic Glory: I didn't wish on a star and become the Cosmic Glory just out of greed. I know I made that wish because I wanted to go plenty of good!
Geneva: Those of medieval times surely thought the feudal system could not be changed!
Geneva: And yet now, democracies exist! Flawed, yes, but that's why WE'RE here!
Cosmic Glory took the drink but held it for a moment. "Not everyone will do great good, Mr. Invictus... but look at all the heroes out there that're human."
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster nods in agreement with Peace. "People will surprise you, given half a chance. I know that I've been surprised by them many times, and it's usually a good surprise."
Ice-Heart snaps her spellbook closed, stashes it away, casually conjures a glass of Ice and gets a fill of eggnog for it.
Cosmic Glory: They are the ones that stand out to show the best in humanity, that shine the brightest out there. There -are- people that are trying.
Geneva: They try, but you know what brings them down?
Invictus: They've changed only by a small degree. The same social stratifications exist as in the medieval world. As in the ancient world.
Keioseth: "Oh are we gonna toast? I like toasting!"
Canadian Iron: Exactly!
Cosmic Glory: There are some standing over here right now that represent the best humanity has to offer. Like Kyle, and Peacemaker, the Canadian Iron...!
Wreck: Sure let's toast.
Geneva: Personal tragedy. HOw are we to change the world if people are not able to due to all the pain?
Canadian Iron holds up his glass
Geneva: Who causes this? Those who are evil. But they themselves are usually victims of that same burden.
Cosmic Glory: The best within humanity will be out there. You just need to look at the good instead of the bad, Mr. Invictus.
Keioseth: holds up the pitcher full of eggnog.
Geneva: We are here to break a cycle!
Geneva: A cycle of self-oppresion, of cynicism, intolerance, and hate!
Cosmic Glory blinks as she heard of a toast and rose up her glass a bit.
Geneva: And we can do it, with you help.
Ice-Heart holds up her glass.
Geneva raises his glass... which we'll pretend he got with the eggnog.
Thundrax holds up his.
Wreck raises his crystal mug, "Fuck yeh, kill dat bitch ass cycle of bullshit."
Geneva: To the future, Invictus.
Canadian Iron: Thundrax, care to lead us on a toast?
Thundrax: To the future. Ideals made reality through a lot of sweat and blood.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster chuckles at the emotions flying around the room, basking in them. "To ideals made reality. And the future that those ideals make."
Keioseth: "To the future!"
Canadian Iron: Aye, to the future and friends! no matter where they come from.
Geneva: Hear, hear! To a good one full of joy, where all beings can enjoy whiever holiday they please, in peace!
Cosmic Glory: To the future, family, friends, loved ones... and many more!
Ice-Heart: The future, ever a blank slate to fill with brighter stories.
Canadian Iron looks at the visitors...
Canadian Iron: Care to give a toast?
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster nods at the aliens, smiling broadly. "I think we've shared our perspectives. Would you share yours?"
Visitors: To our gift... one moment of peace encompassing your entire world.
Geneva adopts an impossibly wide grin at that remark.
Ice-Heart raises a brow.
Geneva: To your gift! To all the gifts!
Visitor: It is precious... we cannot do this often, or for very long, nor may we do it for our own sake.
Canadian Iron holds up his glass higher "to Peace" and down's his drink...
Cosmic Glory finally took a long sip of her drink, blinking to her eggnog, "...huh. Interesting taste..."
Wreck grins at the Vistor, "Dat lil'bit will give us alot of hope."
Visitor: Also... we must warn you. The Warmonger knows of this world. He is coming.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Sometimes, a moment can feel like an eternity to those that need it most.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: ...Wait, Warmonger? Who?
Ice-Heart drinks her eggnog.
Cosmic Glory: ... the... Warmonger?
Canadian Iron chuckles
Canadian Iron: always a catch...
Wreck chugs down his drink, nearly choking on it hearing the name, "....The fuck?!?! who dat?!?!?"
Keioseth drinks some of the pitcher, "The universe hates us..."
Visitor: A celestial being like ourselves. A Galaxar. He lives for strife and conflict.
Geneva loses the grin very quickly.
Cosmic Glory frowns. "Well. Then he's gonna not like us, or me. I take defending Earth from anything from space very seriously."
Canadian Iron pats Wreck's back as he coughs. "looks like it is overtime big fella"
Cosmic Glory: He won't get far.
Geneva: Oh, I do hope I'm available for when he drops by. The Peacemaker versus the Warmonger. How's that for a comic book plot, Keio?
Ice-Heart looks thoughtfully at her drink and sighs.
Thundrax: Thundrax sighs. "Another Galaxar. Great."
Keioseth: "Exactly, Peace, exactly."
Cosmic Glory: ...? You know of the Galaxar?
Cosmic Glory: ...What IS a Galaxar?
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Huh. Well, he'll fall like all the other threats to this world. Only a few have real staying power.
Thundrax: Keio and I encountered one called the Slumberer on the moon.
Ice-Heart: That thing?
Ice-Heart: A non-sleeping one?
Ice-Heart: 'slbood....
Thundrax: Yeah. A non-sleeping one.
Keioseth: "Like I said, the universe hates us."
Wreck: Huh, polarbutt told me 'bout the slumberer when he came back from the moon...
Cosmic Glory: ... If he does come, the flames will burn him for wanting to cause conflict!
Ice-Heart opens her mouth, closes it, thinks a moment, "We are going to need some preperation."
Canadian Iron: Hate is a strong word.. I prefer "test".
Geneva would then give a small smile.
Visitor: He has flames of his own.
Cosmic Glory: ... What kind of flames?
Visitor: The fires of war...
Cosmic Glory frowns a bit. "I mean, mine only burn those who truly try to harm people or... bad...uhhh..."
Geneva: Of course, of course. But we will prepared for the Warmonger. We are warriors of Peace.
Cosmic Glory sweated a bit to that. "... Thats kind of deep there. Flames of War..."
Geneva: For now, let us not cut the Visitors' gift short!
Ice-Heart: No matter the foe I shall not shy away.
Geneva: We've got spiked eggnog, brownies, and the company fo dear friends.
Cosmic Glory: ... Yeah! We'll definitel make sure he's thwarted!
Canadian Iron: I agree with Geneva, we have faced hardships and battles against countless odds before, but we always had hope, and for one brief moment we have peace.
Keioseth: "I get to Falcon punch a giant in the face?" He grins, "I'm game."
Wreck: turns to Iron, "Danks fo the pat by the way." turns to the vistor, "So his flame can say empower others wit hate, violance n'all dat shit, huh, fuck it, I can be a giant too, I'll kick his ass, I'm in
Visitor: Now that we have experienced your emotion of Christmas, we shall take our leave of this world. You have our thanks. All of you."
Cosmic Glory bit her lower lip then smiles. "... the flames of hope will answer the call to... to anyone who ever needs it. That's why the Cosmic Glory will be there when this Galaxar comes."
Geneva: We have toasted to a future, and it does include the Warmonger.
Cosmic Glory: ...Oh! Yeah! Your welcome! Merry Christmas!
Ice-Heart: Thank you kind visitors for taking the time to hear our story.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Of course, gentlemen. Anytime.
Ice-Heart bows.
Geneva: Visitors. Thank you.
Invictus: I will take my leave... Canadian Iron: Ah no...
Geneva: It's probably kind of obvious, but I've great appreciation for your gift.
Cosmic Glory: ...
Canadian Iron: Hold on Invcitus
Geneva: Wait, Invictus.
Canadian Iron puts on his helmet and engages the maglocks...
Invictus: Is this how you will demonstrate peace on earth, Canadian?
Keioseth: "Where do you think yer going dude?"
Canadian Iron: No... Justice.
Geneva: If you leave here in peace, we shall let you be.
Invictus: I was not responsible for my actions, and you know it.
Geneva: We can forgive this day.
Wreck: I agree wit'em, let'em go.
Geneva: It is the spirit of the season.
Canadian Iron looks over...
Thundrax glowers at his nemesis, saying nothing.
Canadian Iron: Ok.
Ice-Heart frowns.
Cosmic Glory: ... Yeah. Let Invictus go. He was innocent, for once.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: I'll back up Invictus' word on that.
Geneva: From all of us... We hope all your days remain merry.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: ...Speaking of which, Invictus?
Invictus: Yes?
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Would you submit to a mental scan? I want to ensure that your mind is, in fact, your own again. No ghosts hiding in your head, so to speak.
Invictus: You will forgive me if I decline.
Canadian Iron chuckles to himself...
Cosmic Glory: .... I will confess though. I imagined you to be... skinnier, Invictus.
Keioseth: "Oh hey Invictus? Merry Christmas!" Grins.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: I will. But you should have a mentalist check you out regardless, someone you can trust.
Invictus: Happy Invictus Day, heroes.
Geneva: Happy Invictus Day.
Cosmic Glory: Yeah. Happy... Invictus Day!
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Happy holidays, Invictus. Take care.
Ice-Heart facepalms.
Canadian Iron puts his hand to his face....
Thundrax: He always was a blowhard.
Cosmic Glory: Suddenly I feel bad for trying to punch him...
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: ...Well, he didn't seem like too bad a fellow, aside from that sheer, raging hatred he has for everything.
Wreck: Yup.
Thundrax: Don't, Faye. He's as bad as they come.
Canadian Iron: You always throw the best parties Craig.
Geneva: Odd.
Thundrax: I try, Arnie.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Hm? What's odd, Peace?
Keioseth: "Next time I see him, I'm kicking him."
Geneva: But what do you mean he was always like this? I remember reading up on him, how good a hero he was.
Ice-Heart: What a mess....
Ice-Heart: I suppose I should start researching our coming foe, if any writing exists...
Wreck turns to the vistors, places a fist over his heart then bows. "Danks by the way."
Thundrax: He's a master of public relations, Sebastian. Powerful, and once a hero, but never a genuine one.
Geneva: Man... that kinda sucks.
Cosmic Glory: ... Still, the fact of this Galaxar kind of... worries me.
Ice-Heart: Just bear in mind the shennanignas he tried upon the United States National Anthem if you were privy to that little adventure.
Canadian Iron looks to the visitors...
Geneva: ... Huh. I wasn't.
Cosmic Glory: How could I forget? One of us had to sing it to overrule that little stint.
Kyle 'Uliasshuk' Foster: Makes sense. And honestly? I don't have enough time to worry about this incoming threat I can't do much about. I'll worry about him when he comes.
Visitor: Yes, Terran?
Canadian Iron: I cannot speak for the heroes here, nor for the people of earth, Thank you very much for your gift, but I do have a question for you.
Visitor: Indeed? Speak it.
Canadian Iron: Would you know when the Warmonger will be upon the planet Earth?
Visitor: Sometime within the next solar year, we believe. Unless he is diverted by interest in the war between the Hzeel and the Dorvalans.
Canadian Iron nods...
Canadian Iron: Thank you, and thank you again for your gift.
Canadian Iron salutes the Visitors
Geneva: So, yeah, I should probably get going now, guys.
Ice-Heart: I am not even quite sure what a Hzeel is....
Wreck: "Well, if nothin' else..."*shifts*" I'm gonna see 'bout fixin' dat tree up."
Geneva: I have to buy drinks for a few folks down at Sher's. Might as well take advanatge of this brief moment of peace.
Canadian Iron: If you need a new tree Wreck, give me a call.. I could probally find one in Canada.... easily.
Keioseth: "We're gonna be teleporting soon aren't we?"
Leilani Hau Kea: "Want me to knock you out Alofa?"
Wreck grins while making a few random fruit grow in his palm, "Danks, but I got it covered."
