COJ Transcript Issue 5
Here's the edited transcript for the last COJ session. And yes, Atryd is back in our reality at the end of it.
Thundrax: Folks, there's a situation. If anyone can hear me on this channel and is available, please meet me on the SS Bayou Queen in Vibora.
Kastor: Things didn't go so well the last time you wanted us on a boat, Craig.
Cosmic Glory: Well since adults are on the boat...
Avro: Is there another super villain auction? I want to buy myself an evil twin.
Thundrax: It's only a staging ground. We shouln't sink *this* one.
Kastor: Remember when I suggested we just sink the last one? And people were all like "No, don't do that."
Cosmic Glory: Its inside, right?
Kastor: Besides, a little lounge music is good for you. Broadens the musical pallet.
Kastor (looking at Craig's new costume): Wow, that is...patriotic.
Ice-Heart: And now I am getting hungry.
Kastor: I didn't think it could get any /more/ so than the last one, but you have proven me wrong.
Thundrax: Okay folks. We'll hold it upstairs... thanks Kastor.
Kastor: *Offers a shrug.* I do what I can.
Cosmic Glory: This is great. I know its an emergency and all... but... I can enter in here without Mr. Bruiser yelling at me!
Ice-Heart shakes her head and smieles faintly.
Kastor: I /still/ don't see why he'd yell at you. Sure, you can't gamble. And you can't drink. But the food's pretty good. Also, live entertainment.
Thundrax: Blue yells at everyone.
Kastor: What else would you come to Vibora /for/?
Arc Thunder: *chuckles* I just got done havin' Blue yell at me, how're ya'll?
Kastor: Oh, you know. Hoping we don't sink this boat.
Thundrax: We'll give some others a few minutes.))
Cosmic Glory: Cool costume there!
Arc Thunder: *raises an eyebrow and glances at Thundrax* Sink the boat?
Kastor: *Folds his arms.* Ok, if we're waiting for our make-shift Avengers to assemble? I'm getting some nosh. Anyone else want something?
Thundrax: A soda, please. Any flavor.
Kastor: Ok. One soda. Nobody else? Last call.
Thundrax: Evening Spectre, Kay.
Rapture: Hi Craig. Nice threads.
Spectre inclines his head.
Rapture gestures for another card.
Rapture looks frustrated.
Rapture: Argh.. shitty luck.
Kastor: Ok. *Offers a shrug, and plods off, his armor disassembling itself for the moment, and collecting neatly into a sealed pack on his back.*
Thundrax: I may as well get started. I'll patch it into the channel.
Kastor: Yeah, go ahead. Think we're all listening.
Thundrax: Evening folks, thanks for coming. We have a situation, as bizarre as I've encountered. America is under attack.
Thundrax: Last night, I was at the Canada Day event in Toronto, and after we sang O Canada, I turned to one of the Justice Squadron and tried to hum the American National anthem. I couldn't remember it.
Thundrax: Neither could she.
Rapture continues to play blackjack.
Kastor: *Pries open a small bag of chips, and shakes a bottle off-brand soda toward Thundrax. The noisy label proudly proclaims "With Cherry Flavor!"*
Cosmic Glory: ...Well... Wait. How?
Cosmic Glory: Seriously! It's... ah...
Thundrax (taking the beverage): Thanks.
Cosmic Glory: ... Hold on. I got this. National Anthem. Okay... Uh...
Cosmic Glory: .......
Kastor: ...You know, that's weird. I got nothin'.
Ice-Heart: Oh dear.
Cnidarico: What is the national anthem?
Cosmic Glory: ... Just give me a moment. I WILL remember it. I will! Its.... its... ah...
Ursun: Ditto.
Cosmic Glory: ... Dooo-re...me fa so la teee do--Okay I got nothing. I can't remember it.
Thundrax: Yes, it looks like someone is stealing the national anthem, And that's not all. There have already been changes.
Kastor: *His apparent confusion does not keep him from eating.*
Rapture: So.. what's the occasion?
Arc Thunder: Huh...
Cosmic Glory: So... How is everyone forgetting...?
Spectre: The American flag isn't supposed to be fifty stars on a blue field, surrounding the "Don't Tread on Me" snake. The statue of the Liberator, the Amercian centurion with his great sword, is not supposed to be in New York Harbor.
Cnidarico: I have never heard of this national anthem before.
Spectre: Other changes like... the altered flag?
Arc Thunder: *scratches at the edge of his beret* I don't usually have trouble with 'm memory....'cept about th' old days..
Rapture waves at Decade.
Ice-Heart: What happens if one were to try to look it up?
Rapture sips her cocktail.
Decade gives a polite nod.
Arc Thunder: *glances at Spectre* Altered flag?
Spectre: Not to mention it's supposed to be the Statue of Liberty, not a statue of the Liberator.
Thundrax: Moreover that statue, Liberty, was a willing gift from France. The French weren't forced to build it at the end of the Second XYZ War. Fort Defiance is supposed to be Independence Hall...
Spectre: The flag is supposed to be red and white lines with a blue quarter housing 50 stars.
Kastor: *Shakes the remainder of the chips into his mouth.* ...Hm...
Spectre: Not fifty stars on a blue field surrounded by a snake.
Thundrax: William Henry Harrison never burned alive Indian women and children on the doorsteps of the Capitol. Lincoln didn't rescind the Emancipation Proclamation at the end of the War of Blood.
Thundrax: JFK never proclaimed the US to be an empire of steel ... the list goes on. Though Nixon happened exactly the same in both timelines.
Ursun: Huh.
Ice-Heart: Curious indeed.
Cosmic Glory: That IS weird...
Arc Thunder: The...huh? Yer...wait wh-*shakes his head* yer sayin' history ain't...history?
Spectre: Of course, it's entirely possible that we're just crazy. Personally I hope not.
Kastor: I don't think it's that.
Kastor: I mean...listen, it /sounds/ weird, but uh...Several technomage archives kept by some local non-luddite practitioners?
Kastor: They back this up.
Ice-Heart: This makes much of my memory suspect....
Thundrax: Anyhow, I don't quite understand what's going on... but I know someone who does. You'll forgive me, I hate doing this trick, but he'll explain it better than i can. Try not to laugh too hard.
Kastor: *Unscrews a bottle of chocolate milk. A grown man. A grown, scarred man with a perma-scowl. Drinking chocolate milk.*
Rapture continues to play cards, playing occasional notice to the conversation}
Cosmic Glory: Sure. I mean, can't be too bad...
Spectre glances over the edge of the railing. "If that singer substitutes 'oh yeah' for lyric one more time I will hurt him."
Ursun: You n'me both.
Arc Thunder: *rubs his temples* Hrnn...this is givin' me a headache...
Kastor: *Audibly snorts, spitting a bit of his drink back into the bottle.*
Thundrax: Craig's form shifts, and an orange-yellow energy field surrounds him. His form changes into a tall, muscle-bound man... even more so than Craig...
Spectre: Oh good lord.
Ursun: The hell??
Rapture looks over her shoulder.
Rapture: ...The fuck?
Kastor: *Completely loses any semblance of composure, and cackles like a madman.*
Kastor: Ok. Ok...I'm sorry.
Ice-Heart raises a brow.
Cosmic Glory: .,..............
Kastor: What...what is this? What is this thing you just did.
Covered in dried blood, looking at the massive figure makes you uneasy, restless, as if someone has gotten to the button that controls your fight or flight impulse and is holding down the "fight" button.
Cosmic Glory immediately puts her hands over her mouth, trying to not snicker.
Rapture sips her cocktail again. It has one of those fancy umbrellas in it. Good eh?
Decade stares. What. "...Well."
Rapture: Another card.
Cosmic Glory *thinking&: Has Craig became Imhotep from the Mummy?!
Spectre: An alternative aspect, at a guess.
"Galaxies will fall and time will unravel before Bruton! loses the urge for combat!" he declares in a Stentorian tone that reminds you of Ironclad... come to think of it, Ironclad sounds subtle compared to this guy.
Kastor: Man, where the /fuck/ are your pants?
Cosmic Glory would get over the snickerfit as she grew serious in that moment, watching him.
Bruton!: Pants! A warrior born has no need of pants!
Ice-Heart takes a deep breath and regathers her composure.
Spectre: No need for dignity when punching.
Cnidarico: A malevolent spirit is destined to wither, warrior.
Rapture turns a little in her seat, to look at 'Craig'.
Ice-Heart: Well spoken.
Kastor: *Shakes his head and bats his hand, finishing his drink.* Sorry. Go on.
Rapture: So.. um.. what? What's up with Craig?
Spectre: We're likely just seeing a portion of the entity that powers Thundrax.
Bruton!: "Long ago, in the pits of Battlor, I fought the Thundrax and came to call him brother. I taught him to embrace combat. For the sake of our sacred bond, I have come, offering council. He has gone to the Briahic realm in my place.
Cosmic Glory: ...Well... If you two are friends then, I suppose...
Spectre: I stand corrected.
Ursun: I see.
Bruton!: "In the realm of the Briah, I have felt magicks working directly on the iconography of this land. Someone is attempting to reshape the icons of this.. America.
Kastor: *Unscrews another bottle cap. The foil seal is yanked free by a small arc of electricity, and he takes a sip.* Ok. So, what do we do about it?
Bruton!: "The icons are getting darker, grimmer. As the icons change, so do the stories surrounding them. As the stories change, so does your history. Worse, someone is attempting to contact the Song."
Ice-Heart frowns.
Spectre: I see. History isn't altering the symbols, symbols are changing history around them.
Cosmic Glory: So then, how do we stop history from changing then?
Kastor: Do we even want to?
Bruton!: Craven cowards. Reality alterers. A warrior alters reality with his hands!
Kastor: I kind of like the sound of "Nation of Steel."
Rapture sips more of her drink.
Ice-Heart: I wonder whom, this seem a bit blatant for the Circle...
Bruton!: "The Song are beings of the Harmony Malchordia, the realm of dirges within the Briah. The Third realm, the land of archetypes. They reshape songs, darkening their themes, gaining power from the hope they devour.
Nightwave: *sliently walks in and whispers to CG* "Sorry I'm late, Faye."
Spectre: Do you want to live in a world where slavery existed up until the 1920's? That's what the Nation of Steel brought into being.
Cosmic Glory nods to Nightwave once. "... its grim. No one can remember the national anthem, and he's saying its someone attacking us. With magic."
Kastor: Just saying: I like the ring of it. We can fix everything else, but I might make that a thing once you've guilted me into helping.
Cosmic Glory: Its not good.
Bruton!: "Should the Song be summoned to this world, they will complete your new anthem and history will be forever changed. To prevent this, you must find where the Song are being summoned and stop it.
Ice-Heart: If there is one thing I dislike it is retroactive continuity.
Spectre: So we need to prevent the new national anthem from completing a changed history?
Bruton!: Unfortunately, as cravens, they shun open combat.
Bruton: "Do this, and all shall be as it should be. Fail, and your country becomes something else, darker and crueler."
Nightwave's nose contorts, "Well this...different."
Kastor: *Gulps down the last of his drink. Another arc courses over the container, and he releases it. It immediately sticks to the wall.*
Bruton!: "But if you fail, do not be disheartened! Heroes do not need hope and beauty and justice! The grimmer the battle, the greater the struggle and the more glorious the victory!"
Cosmic Glory: Sounds simple enough, even if it might not be... Count me in! History will never be perfect but I'd rather not see it changed.
Decadel: Easy enough. For us, at least.
Kastor: Ok, /now/ he's speaking my language.
Decade: A good gathering, actually.
Kastor: Grim, awful struggles are what I'm good at. *His armor re-assembles around him.* So. Step one?
Ice-Heart introduces her face to her palm and says, "Thank you for the reassurance sir."
Bruton!: Step one? Find the bugs and step on them! That is a glorious step one!
Cosmic Glory: ... the gentlemen truly knows not what true hopeless means for he has not experienced such. *She murmured in a more deeper tone but it seemed to return normal as quick as it came*
Ice-Heart sighs produces her spellbook and starts paging through it.
Kastor: For a guy with no goddamned pants, you are making a ton of sense.
Bruton!: Enough Thundrax! I grow tired of talk! If I cannot pound them, send me back to Batlor! (transposes back to Thundrax)
Spectre: Thundrax, you've got some weird friends.
Arc Thunder: hrmm
Kastor: *Claps his gauntlets together.* Weird? I like 'im.
Thundrax: You have no idea.
Cosmic Glory: VERY weird friends. Still, he made some good points...
Thundrax: What did he say?
Kastor: Reality altering evil wizzards are making America grim.
Kastor: And cruel.
Ice-Heart: Someone is attempting to rectoractively change the continuity of American history.
Ursun: Basically n'also kick ass n'take names.
Thundrax: Republican wizards?
Kastor: Hah!
Cosmic Glory: Something about locating the Song.
Spectre: Thundrax, this may mean something to you:
Spectre: Based on what he said, they're not changing history, they're changing the symbols of the past.
Thundrax: The Song.... oh wonderful.
Spectre: Which is retroactively altering history.
Kastor: Yeah, that's the /how/ he spelled out. So. This Song thing. Where would one go to summon it?
Thundrax: Okay, I think we need to find these guys. I suggest the Trimagestus Council. They might be able to detect an ongoing ritual.
Ice-Heart: Yes. A fair idea.
Spectre: 'The songs of beings of the harmony malchordia, the realm of dirges within the briah'. His words.
Ice-Heart: The good news is we are in a good place for tracking a ritual.
Kastor: Ugh. *Visibly droops at the mention.* This is going to be awkward.
Ice-Heart: This is vibora bay the leylines cross here.
Thundrax: No worries Kastor. The gravity of the situation should excuse past grudges.
Spectre: The presence of the leylines could make us more or less vulnerable to changes in history. I don't know enough to know which way it goes.
Nightwave: "As much as I hate to admit it, the mages really are our best option at this point."
Kastor: It's not a grudge. It's a..."professional rivalry."
Thundrax: Though given that UNTIL hates you and the Trimagestus doesn't like you.. do you have *any* friends?
Ice-Heart raises a brow at Kastor.
Kastor: Hey.
Kastor: I have friends.
Kastor: They're just...less than reputable.
Kastor: And one of them is kind of a dog.
Thundrax: Darius, maybe.
Kastor: ...Yeah, that's the one.
Cnidarico: {Places both of his arms in front of his chest and contemplates.}
Ursun: *sighs hearing the name*
Ice-Heart: Shall we get moving then?
Thundrax: Okay. Then let's head out. We'll contact the Trigmegistus.
Ursun: Please.
Kastor: Yeah, I /guess/.
Rapture: I'm on reasonable terms with them.
Arc Thunder: *frowns* This..is crazy...
Decade: Well. That's me out of it I think.
Decade: Council don't really like me.
Kastor: Who's whining? If I gotta deal, you gotta deal.
Ice-Heart murmurs a spell that conjures a flying sleigh of ice.
The team arrives to find the Council under attack by cultists and summoned creatures.
Thundrax: Great. Someone's attacking the Council.
Kastor: Aren't they always?
Nightwave: "We got uglies. Take em down."
Kastor: Oh, and, uh...commencing bombardment. Head's up.
A long fight ensues. The COJ protect the sorcerers as they perform a ritual to ward away the attackers.
Kastor: Now it's a party.
Atryd: *coughs* Geesh. Just my luck to stumble in on something like this.
Ice-Heart: Is everyone alright?
Kastor: *The revving of some engine can be heard.* Can we keep this pace?
Cosmic Glory: Yeah... I'm okay!
Spectre: Unharmed.
Kastor: Because I'm having a /blast/ so far.
Arc Thunder: *blinks*
Ursun: Right as rain.
Thundrax: I'm okay. Good work.
Ice-Heart lets her defensive warding drop.
Kastor: *Scuffs his feet as he grounds his armor out.*
Rapture: I'm in one piece.
Nightwave: Well, that crisis is averted.
Atryd tilts his head slightly, scratching at the base of a horn.
Kastor: Oh, hey. Bystander. With hornds. *Offers a wave.*
Kastor: *horns
Thundrax: That was just the attack on the Council. We don't know where the real threat is.
Spectre: You believe it's coincidental?
Atryd nods back to Kastor. "'Lo."
Ice-Heart: At least they managed to erect some defensive warding from the looks of it. Should give us some peace for the time being.
Kastor: Probably not. It was /probably/ an attempt to keep us from doing what we're doing.
Thundrax: Absolutely not.
Cosmic Glory: ..? It wasn't?
Thundrax: Anyone here a teleparh?
Ursun: Not I
Kastor: Yeah, wrong kind of psychic over here.
Cosmic Glory: Not me, no.
Spectre holds up a small badge. "In that case, best find out who this marking belongs to." The badge shows a golden circle with the number 100 written on it. tus.
Spectre: I pocketted it off one of the attackers.
Thundrax: Oh... shit...the CenturyCorp. Invictus.
Kastor: Wait, Invictus? Fill us in.
Spectre: Invictus? Madman with delusions of Roman-inspired grandure?
Thundrax: Yeah.
Cosmic Glory: ..? Who?
Atryd rubs at his chin briefly, propping his hands behind his head on the rim of his gorget. "Color me confused."
Kastor: Huh. The things you guys come up with.
Kastor: Oh, uh..Bystander with horns: Reality altering mages are screwing up America. Want in, or what?
Thundrax: . David Sutherland. Former superhero. Former senator. Two years ago, me and some other supers exposed him for what he was -- rapist, murderer, sorcerer bent on conquering the States and turning-- Arc Thunder: *shakes his head, looking somewhat out of sorts, unusually so*
Atryd shrugs. "Sure. Name's Atryd. Might've heard me on the comms occasionally."
Thundrax: turning it into a nee Roman Empire. He's in Stronghold now. These are his goons, the Century Corps.
Thundrax: Surprised he didn't use a C for the emblem.
Cosmic Glory: ... Okay, he sounds crazy. So... if he's in stronghold, why're his goons here?
Kastor: *Offers him a thumbs-up.* So. Sutherland's in hot-sleep, most likely. Who was his second?
Spectre: Sutherland wasn't particularly powered, was he?
Ice-Heart: It is rather difficult to dismantle a villains infrastructure unless they willingly surrender all information on it. Even in jail they usually maintain some semblence of bite at times.
Thundrax: No clue. And he's not in Hot Sleep. Political connections. He was deemed an insufficient threat.
Kastor: ...Ah.
Kastor: So he's probably still running this shit from the inside.
Nightwave: Wonderful.
Ice-Heart: Precisely.
Thundrax: Exactly. This is a step higher than a cheap death ray on Monster Island.
Atryd chuckles, propping a horn on his hand.
Kastor: You have no idea how weirdly happy I am to hear that.
Thundrax: Why Kastor?
Nightwave: Where you getting bored with the same old same old, Kastor?
Nightwave: Were*
Kastor: More or less.
Cosmic Glory: It seems kind of sad though. Even if it is him and he gets busted, what is he going to get? More jail time.
Spectre suddenly pauses and looks at his feet. "Huh, where'd that knowledge come from?"
Atryd: Might be able to push to have him stuck in Hot Sleep? After all, he's still able to cause trouble when he's still awake.
Thundrax: If he wins, and the symbols get changed, and he's a politician and a hero whose values the country espouses.
Kastor: The more specific of it is: I'm sure there's something terribly wrong with me that causes feelings of elation in high-stakes combat situations. Anyway...
Nightwave: Well, we can't have that, can we. Especially since he sounds like such a saint."
Thundrax: He doesn't have to do a thing. Hot Sleep or not. The Corps is doing his dirry work.
Kastor: This is all just a power-play?
Kastor: The /ego/ on some of these people.
Atryd taps at the belt at his waist as he stands, and a brief *foomp* announces his outfits shifting.
Spectre: For a long time he had the world convicned he was a saint
Cosmic Glory: Either way, we've got to try to stop this somehow... but... how?
Thundrax: Yeah. If he can;t change Americans to go for him, he changes America.
Atryd: Might not be such a good idea for me to get involved in the fight, then. Alien ambassador and all.
Kastor: *Bats his hand.* Not at all. It'll look great for you and yours if we pull this off.
Thundrax: You'll be fine. He's a criminal. There's no legal issues here.
Spectre: The Century Corp, it went underground, didn't it? After he was discredited.
Atryd: Ah. Arright, then.
Nightwave: Well, we'll have to track down the rest of his allies. Heh...anyone know where we can get a time machine after dark on a weekend?
Thundrax: Yep, But a lot of them were put in positions of power, media, politics, economics. A secret society.
Atryd starts to raise his hand, thinks for a moment, and shakes his head, lowering it again.
Spectre: It's what happens when you induct the best and brightest.
Ice-Heart: YOu would be surprised at how many secret socieities are out there.
Kastor: Not that this isn't interesting, because it /is/, but...didn't we come here to talk with some stodgy jerks in robes?
Ice-Heart: These people lack subtlety though, this has all the grace and finesse of Ogre during Mardi Gras.
Thundrax: Okay.
Cosmic Glory rubs the back of her head a bit. "...all this political stuff..."
Spectre: This wasn't meant to have any subtlety. This was an attempt to prevent us from reaching help.
Atryd chuckles. "I was just running an errand for the council, actually." His tone goes from amused to flat. "Clearing some Trey Kings out of the sewer system."
Thundrax: They're starting a ritiual for us.
Kastor: Oh. Lovely.
Spectre: Hate being in rituals. Always gives me the hiccups.
Kastor: ...Huh.
Cosmic Glory: Ritual...
Rapture: Rituals. Gota love 'em.
Ursun: Nothin' wrong with'em....usually.
Thundrax: The mages cast their chants. Several servitors bring the bodies of the cultists into the circle. Blood rushing from their mouths and noses, they begin to scream information.
Arc Thunder: *reappears, shaking his head* Wh...hrmm...
Kastor: *Shifts his weight, armored boots tapping.* This is the shit I say we can do without. I mean...it is /messy/.
Spectre glances from cultist to cultist, seeming both unconcerned but attentive.
Ice-Heart takes notes.
Nightwave: They were asking forit.
Ursun: This one always lovly...
Rapture: They don't look so good..
Ice-Heart nods to ursun.
Kastor: It's honestly supposed to look like that.
Cosmic Glory sort of... slinks back a bit, biting her lower lip. She wasn't used to magic.
Atryd winces, eyes flickering green for a brief moment. He rubs at his forehead with a low grumble.
Kastor: *Shakes his head.* You people are /barbarians/.
Cultist (as he's being forced to speak by the Trimagestus ritual): "The Song must arrive... as men do in tis city.... we look to their coming on schedule, like a clock. The whistle shall herald them."
Spectre: Sorry, next time we'll get the information we need with an orbiting death ray.
Kastor: Is that jealousy?
Cultist: "All has been prapared. Spells shall resist. Spells shall unlock. Spells shall summon."
Ursun: Keep all cock n'yer pants please, fellas.
Rapture looks down at her waist.
Atryd: ...spells... *He briefly adjusts the belt at his waist.* Rapture then at Ursun.
Cultiat: "The whistle shall sound. The turning wheels stop. Then the Song shall commence."
Spectre: Train station?
Kastor: Train station.
Arc Thunder: *blinks rapidly, shaking his head again* Hard ta..hrnn
Craig (on the comm): Lars, you there?
Ice-Heart: There is a station within this town.
Atryd: *Mumbling.* Got hit by a train yesterday. *A beat.* Wait, no, that was one of those Nephilim, nevermind.
Spectre: North of the fish markets.
Kastor: *Glances over his shoulder, past his glowing projection.* Arc? You with us, man?
Nidhoggur (replyng on the comm): Oh, hello mister Carson. Yes, I'm here. How are you?
Cosmic Glory was quiet through all of this, glancing to Nightwave slightly.
Nightwave: "Its alright, Faye. Nothing to be nervous about."
Spectre: Is there any more to it, or should we scout the train station?
Thundrax (To Nidhoggur): We have a situation. Someone is trying to summon Briahic entities called the Song, to rewrite America's national anthem and change the nation.
Thundrax (to the others): I'm calling in back up...
Cosmic Glory: Sorry... I'm not much into magic...
Atryd rubs his chin. "Come to think of it, I remember seeing a lot of those voodoo folk hanging around the station..."
Thundrax (on the comm): Meet us at the train station.
Kastor: Yeah, that's probably where we're going.
Thundrax: I have a powerhouse mage who'll join us.
Arc Thunder: *glances at Kastor* I'm...I..*growls in his throat* I'm..ok
Ice-Heart glances at Arc, "This may be pure speculation on my part. But he seems to be more attatched to national iconography then the rest of us... these changes may be more adverse to him..."
Kastor: *Shakes his finger.* You go crazy on me, someone else'll be filling out your next-of-kin announcement.
Thundrax: Arc will be fine. I have faith in him.
Kastor: *Looks over his shoulder again.* We doin' this, or what?
Atryd taps briefly at his belt, the armored outfit flaring into place.
Thundrax: We're doing this.
Kastor: Good. Nidhoggur (on the comm(: Ah, I see. So that's what it was.
The heroes arrive at the Vibora Bay train station... to find it oddly empty.
Spectre: This is Spectre, on site.
Ice-Heart slides to a stop and dissapates her sled of ice.
Kastor: And...we are empty.
Spectre: I had a peak around. Cursory glance couldn't see much.
Atryd: Think maybe we got here early?
Kastor: Really empty. Ghost-story empty.
Thundrax: I sense something... like they're here.
Cosmic Glory: ... Here? Or further in?
Spectre: This situation seems to rely heavily on symbols, at a station no greater symbol than a train arriving.
Atryd ogles the sign on the wall.
Ice-Heart: An alternate version of this place perhaps?
Thundrax: Not sure Glory. Let's check deeper... maybe.
Thundrax: Hello Lars.
Nidhoggur bows, "Hello Craig."
Kastor: Oh. The lizard's your guy.
Nidhoggur: ... Lizard?
Atryd chuckles.
Ursun: Hey Lars, shoulda known that yer the back up.
Thundrax: Dragon.
Ice-Heart nods her head respectfully.
Kastor: Lizard, dragon, whatever. Reptiles.
Cosmic Glory: Huh...
Cosmic Glory nods once over to Nid.
Atryd props his elbows on the rail, looking about.
Nidhoggur nods to each in turn, "I hear there is quite a problem."
Thundrax: Invictus. An old enemy of mine, seems to be making a move.
Spectre: Can you recite the national anthem for us?
Nidhoggur: No, I cannot. I never learned it. I am not American.
Thundrax: I can't even remember the name now.
Nightwave: Heh.
Nidhoggur: Do you even have one?
Spectre: There goes that dramatic illustration of the problem.
Cosmic Glory: We do...I... think...
Cosmic Glory: ... DO we have a national anthem?
Spectre: The Star Spangled Banner.
Nightwave: Thats...something of a problem at the moment, Mr Dragon.
Thundrax: Is that it? I thouht it was America the Conquerer.
Kastor: Hm...databases are going dark on that. I distinctly remember them /not/ lacking that information.
Atryd: 'Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light'? That number?
Nidhoggur nods in agreement, "And you said that this is an alteration of history?"
Kastor: See...I /really/ like America the Conquerer.
Ice-Heart: Indirectly through alterations of icons.
Atryd: "Oh say can you..." *A brief pause.* ...Uh. *He taps the side of his head.* ...that's... odd.
Thundrax: No. It's an alteration of America's icons, that trickle down innto history.
Kastor: It's got /force/. Gusto.
Cosmic Glory rubs her forehead. "This is really disturbing me now, thinking these things are what they are...":
Ice-Heart: Seems a bit brute-force in execution... but then i digress.
Kastor: There is nothing wrong with brute force.
Nightwave: Mutters, "Call me cynical...not seeing much difference."
Spectre: Well, look on the bright side, you've got someone on hand who's remembering the old history.
Thundrax: And now I... I can't remember the French lyrics to "The Maple Leaf Forever".
Nightwave: "So this isn't just an American probloem anymore, is it?"
Nidhoggur: This explains much.
Cosmic Glory: ... Then we must make haste or else fate's strings shall be clipped and replaced with something else, Sir Craig.
Kastor: Apparently he's shooting for "global worship."
Kastor: ...Sir?
Kastor: What, have you been hanging out with Chivalry?
Rapture: Well, there is a world outside of these borders.
Cosmic Glory: For if we remain here and seek not furthrt within, then everything shall change. It is wise to hurry, gentleman.
Kastor: ...Seriously, what is with that?
Thundrax: Though the French aren't all that signiiicant a minority... Canada is close to the States. Our ties are closest.
Arc Thunder: *glances around looking somewhat confused*
Nightwave: Puts a hand on Arc's shoulder, "You alright there, soldier?"
Thundrax: We'd be first to be affected after the States.
Atryd: ...Hm. I've spent a year on this planet. I memorized the anthem because some 'anti-Alien influence activist' was afraid I was here to take over. Oh say...*He closes his eyes, mouthing words silently.*
Cosmic Glory rubs her forehead. "... Hey. I think I blacked out there. What're we talking about now?"
Kastor: Canada's no longer French.
Cosmic Glory: All I remember is that we were going in, so... we should hurry inside. All of this is pretty bad.
Ice-Heart frowns at Cosmic.
Arc Thunder: *looks down* Somethin'...memories...I dunno
Rapture: So this thing only goes up? What about 'Mehico'
Nightwave: "Faye? Are you.....yes, we need to make our next move."
Thundrax: Lars, Ursun, can you sense any magic in the vacinity? A cloak perhaps?
Spectre: I seem to be fairly uninfluenced. Probably due to my unusual nature.
Rapture holds her hand up.
Thundrax: Kay, you too.
Ice-Heart recities a spell to focus her mystic senses and promptly winces hard at the dragon, "'sblood."
Rapture: Thanks. And... {concentrating}
Ursun: *makes a hand gesture, summoning his favorite smoking pipe and smokes.*
Nightwave: "I'll see if I find anything as well, Big T." (also concentrating)
Nidhoggur: Apologies.
Kastor: *Crosses his arms with another audible sigh.*
Ice-Heart shakes her senses clear anre resumes scanning the flow of magic.
Cosmic Glory would wait as the magical inclined checked, rubbing her forehead.
Ursun: I feel som'em commin'...should be here soon...
Ice-Heart: It's like static before the lightning....
Ursun: Aye.
Atryd sighs, thunking his chin on the railing and grumbling bitonally. "...eth'sphet."
Thundrax: Man, do I know that feeling...
Kastor: *Gives a nod to Thundrax, arcs jumping between his fingers.*
Nidhoggur shrugs, "My scrying is not sufficient. In point of fact, I am quite, ah... cut off at the moment."
Rapture: You've got something.. not entirely Qliphothic in nature. Certainly a keystone.
Rapture: Getting a sense of.. something winding down though.
Thundrax: Good. That means they're actively blocking us. We can break through. Keep trying.
Ursun: Nightwave, Arc, ya might wanna move, n Glory too.
Cosmic Glory: ...? Sure.
Ursun: Closer ta me.
Atryd attempts to straighten, losing his balance when his gorget hooks onto the rail and squawking in surprise as his momentum carries him over the rail.
Nidhoggur: Well, no, I mean that I have cut myself off. I could undo the effect, but I'm not eager to.
Atryd: ...ow.
Rapture: ...There.
Atryd: I'm goo--who're they?
Kastor: Target practice.
Rapture: It's.. not what I was expecting.
Cosmic Glory: ....
Ice-Heart: 'sblood....
Atryd: ...I see 'em dancin', but I hear no music. Am... I the only one?
Thundrax: Our summoners... they may have outsourced help for the ritual.
Spectre glances out over the railing. "They're shielded. Best bet is to find the sources."
Rapture: Seems they're having fun. Wouldn't recommend trying to breach that circle just yet.
Ice-Heart: Aye
Kastor: Sources it is. *Takes to the air with an audible thump.* You said "deeper in" before, right?
Ice-Heart: I feel power moving along the rails...
Cosmic Glory: ...?
Spectre: Finding stuff. This part I can help with.
Nidhoggur: It's a linked abjuration.
Thundrax: Who's it linked to?
Nightwave: So...split up, gang?
Kastor: That's all I needed to hear.
Atryd: Thump anything you see doing bad things, then.
Atryd: Easy enough.
Thundrax: Gotcha.
Atryd: *campy* Heroman, away!
Rapture: We've got company.
Thundrax: .-walk
Cosmic Glory: ...
Spectre: The shield is down, it looks like
A long battle ensues against the summoners. In the end, the summoners fall.
Kastor: *A pulsing, nearly tangible EM field surrounds the black construct.*
Arc Thunder: *grimaces and massages his temples* Hrnnn...
Kastor: We should seriously keep this place.
Thundrax: As the priestess falls, she laughs: "Too late, heroes!" A sound of singing, a dark chant , can be heard.
Spectre: That is not a nice sounding melody.
Rapture: Craig.. Council needs me for something relating to the earlier events. I'm going to have to run. Best of luck all.
Nightwave: Looks around nervously, "I hate it when they say 'too late'..."
Cosmic Glory: ... This does not bode well.
Atryd coughs into a fist, massaging his temples. "Ffffgh. Ow... my head..."
Kastor: They're typically /lying/.
Nidhoggur: It is never too late. Do not let them get in your head.
The Song: America... the Conquerer... Invincible... Invictus...
Ursun: *still smoking his pipe*
Spectre: Thundrax! Star Spangled Banner!
The Song: Glory in the blood on your pitless steel....
Thundrax: Spectre... you'll have to lead us.
Nidhoggur: Hmm.
Kastor: Really. Listen to that. It just /sounds/ good.
Spectre: Thundrax! O Canada! Terre de nos aieux, Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux! Car ton bras sait porter l'epee, Il sait proter la croix!
Spectre: Come on, remember that.
Ice-Heart frowns glancing at the ritual markings and procures a book, cross referencing information.
Cosmic Glory would pinch between her fingers of her forehead.
Thundrax (singing): Thundrax! O Canada! Terre de nos aieux, Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux! Car ton bras sait porter l'epee, Il sait proter la croix!
Cosmic Glory: .... Some strings in this world's fate is starting to break while others already broken work to try to tie together. This truly does not bode well at all.
Atryd closes his eyes, pulling the metal faceplate off and rubbing at his eyes. "Ff... m'nagor..." A handful of other emphatically colorful non-words follow. "Head..."
Thundrax (singing): Canada! Terre de nos aieux, Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux! Car ton bras sait porter l'epee, Il sait proter la croix!
Arc Thunder: *glances sharply to one side* No...not...but my...
Kastor: ...So glad I did not take french. Song, no song, we have a higher-power bubble to burst, don't we?
Spectre: Now you're getting it! Ton histoire est une epopee, Des plus brillants exploits. Et ta valeur, de foi trempee, protegera nos foyers et nos droid, Protegera nos foyers et nos droits
Cosmic Glory: Indeed. Is everything well now, Sir Craig?
Nightwave: "Arc, hold in there, buddy. Its gonna..its gonna be alright."
Nidhoggur: This is very curious. The temporal resonance is delineated... how very curious.
Cosmic Glory: ...or perhaps things have not been truly fixed just yet...
Atryd abruptly slaps the belt at his waist, his armor and outfit flickering into civilian garb with a brief flutter. He blinks. "Wha...."
Thundrax: Ton histoire est une epopee, Des plus brillants exploits. Et ta valeur, de foi trempee, protegera nos foyers et nos droid, Protegera nos foyers et nos droits
Ice-Heart: Trying to think about the past is... difficult.
Spectre gestures at Ice-Heart. "Maybe that's what we need. We need some kind of anchor in the history we know."
Thundrax (singing): Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Nightwave: "Nrgh....we need to keep moving! We're losing people!"
Kastor: ...Am I really the only one who just wants to stomp this Invictus guy's dreams?
Thundrax (singing): Et ta valeur, de foi trempée!
Cosmic Glory: A symbol. What is patriotic to you? Perhaps if you carried something symbolic to the country, it may star something.
Atryd blinks. "...wh...where'd my other..." Another slap at his waistline, and his 'Public Events' suit reappears. "...there."
Arc Thunder: *shakes his head* I'm..I can..remember
Thundrax: Protégera nos foyers et nos droits!
Nidhoggur: No, no... I think that is wrong.
Thundrax (singing): Protégera nos foyers et nos droits!
Nidhoggur: That may have the opposite result from what you're looking for. Possibly.
Spectre gestures at Thundrax. "He noticed it before the rest of us. He's as Canadian as they come, an active symbol."
Kastor: *Bats his hand.* Look, he apparently wants the world to love him, we do this, we /crush/ his spirit. I'm all for that.
Cosmic Glory: True. With things as they are, a symbol can stir the wrong memory good sir.
Nidhoggur: It's still not entirely clear, but this effect, this ritual is changing the past. It is changing the symbols. If you attempt to reinforce your connection to any symbol, it weakens you to the effects.
Ice-Heart frowns shakes her head a bit takes a deep breath, "Stay in the now Lenora..."
Nidhoggur: For instance, I am not connected to any of it, not a bit, and so I am unaffected.
Ursun: *keeps smoking his pipe with a zoned out expression on his face*
Spectre: Only in the way a rock on the beach is unaffected if erosion occurs half a mile away.
Spectre: It's still happening, you just don't notice it.
Nightwave: Lowers her head, "I barely had faith in the country before...now its just...."
Arc Thunder: *grits his teeth*
Thundrax: That may protect us... but I remembered. I kept my connection and I don't think it's stronger.
Nidhoggur shakes his head, "Perhaps, but not as dramatically. I am neither from this country, nor do I have an emotional investment in its history. Magic is about relationships."
Cosmic Glory crosses her arms a bit. "... Then that may the answer. Anything you may remember, latch onto it and never let go."
Atryd cracks his knuckles as he stands. "...I'm from another -planet-, but I'm the face of Karaustharaku on this planet. If the country's policy changes as a result of this, then I would be..."
Kastor: *Taps his foot, seeming to grow ever-more impatient.* Not a problem. I am great at grudges.
Spectre: The alternative is we try not to remember history as it should be, and that would just make it easier to remove.
Cosmic Glory: Passion and love and committment to something you truely care for, be it a loved one or a country... you may go far. Or something else. A mere suggestion -- as well as Sir Spectre's recommendation.
Nidhoggur: As I said, this resonance is delineated. It is very subtle. It does not affect everything equally.
Nidhoggur: Just look at the differences in how each of you are being affected.
Thundrax: America is hardly a perfect place.. but it has inspired a lot of people who came here to better their lives. That's a symbol worth fighting for.
Spectre reaches into a pocket and draws out... a packet of coloured marking pens? Eh, he has weirder in there.
Kastor: America can eat a dick. It's humanity I'm worried about. And if this asshat is in charge? We go south. Unacceptable.
Spectre walks over to Kastor. "Sorry, I'm going to borrow the front of your helmet. You can wash it off later."
Cosmic Glory: America, such as I, represents a place I wish I could have lived in. A place of the free and home of the brave.
Kastor: *Holds up a hand.*
Kastor: Wait.
Nightwave: Looks up at Cosmic, "I believe in /you/, Faye. I'll fight for that."
Kastor: Ground it out first. You'll bake the pen.
Kastor: *Scuffs his feet, arcs of electricity scorching the ground at his feet.*
Kastor: Ok, go.
Nidhoggur sighs and crosses his arms, closing his eyes to think.
Cosmic Glory rubbed her brow again, groaning a bit. "..... Right. Okay..."
Spectre nods. "Thanks." He draws out a red, white and blue marker and, with a few seconds work, sketched out a pretty decent representation of the historical American flag.
Kastor: Hang on. *Glances toward one of the security cameras.*
Kastor: ...Oh, what the fuck?
Spectre steps back and admires the flag adorning Kastor's helmet. "If you feel yourself slipping, just look at his helmet"
Kastor: Of all the people, you pick /me/? Come on.
Ice-Heart: This is a land where I cast aside my darkness. 'tis always been the land of new beginnings, new hope.
Kastor: Pick...I don't know, Arc. Arc loves America.
Cosmic Glory: ... Is something going on? I think I blacked out a moment again... but... I... thinking about it...
The Song "Hear the enemies scream! Force their children to kneel!"
Spectre chuckles. "What would you have me draw it on?" He gestures at Ursun. "His pecs?"
Nightwave: "Arc...isn't himself right now."
Spectre: Plus you don't need the reminder, everyone else does.
Ursun: I'll fight fer what I always been fightin' fer, a better world fer my kin, I'll just keep my native song n'my heart n'head.
Kastor: Good, then he can...you know, whatever. Humanity's at stake, I'll...bitch about The Question here defacing my armor later.
Atryd's belt begins to flicker and spark. "What the?"
Nidhoggur frowns and keeps to himself.
Arc Thunder: *furrows his brows* My...name...what's my...
Spectre: Ok, ideas, how do we stop a song coming into being?
Kastor: Symbols thing seems to work. Magic is typically about a test of wills, right?
Kastor: We throw our will at it, it conforms to us instead of them.
Kastor: Provided we're the stronger.
Cosmic Glory would glance around a bit as she looked to Craig. That song made her think even harder now.
Atryd grabs at the belt, snapping the clasp loose as the sparks begin to arc along his arm. "This damn thing had better not--- uc---- beg---" He flickers rapidly, voice cutting in and out.
Ice-Heart: The ritual circle is still here....
Nidhoggur: ... That is not quite how it works.
Cosmic Glory: ... Mom... Wait... Mom...!
Nightwave: "I'm right here, Faye."
Spectre: I know roughly every symbol important to the continent from the past 300 years, but I have no magican ability.
Kastor: *Bats his hand.* We've got a ton.
Kastor: There's...what, three right here?
Ice-Heart: If I knew more about the spell that was woven we could just force open and attempt to overwrite the changes, however, this is a bit of a tall order to do on the fly...
Spectre: We could always do the Karaoke method.
Ice-Heart sighs glancing once more at her book, "At least my notes remain scribed as they were..."
Kastor: ...Yeah...
Cosmic Glory shook her head a bit. "No... Mom... I mean, Mom... she'd..."
Spectre: 'Sing louder than them'.
Nidhoggur: I am still trying to figure out how this ritual works, as well, but the limited view of its effects is a problem...
Atryd winces as the sparks hit his horns. "If you guys ge--me back a--er this I-- --uying --u guys all drink--!" An abrupt fizzle-POOMPH as the air fills the gap where Atryd was, and he's gone.
Kastor: ...That was weird.
Ursun: Hmm...
Kastor: Uh...you know what?
Kastor: If you wanted to try the Karaoke thing?
Kastor: I've got access to all the speakers.
Kastor: I do mean all of them.
Cosmic Glory: No... Wait... Thats not right, Mom never said that anthem before...! I don't remember that, so why am I seeing it now?
Thundrax: Then let's use them.
Spectre glances at Nidhoggur. "Any thoughts? Could we try to 'drown out' their song? History is resilient, if we can prevent some of the symbols, others may revert without the basis to stand on.
Kastor: Ok. So...just a second here. We'll get some positioning done.
Cosmic Glory rubs her forehead even more. "... I'm blacking out, I'm seeing... and I feel sick. I--"
Nightwave: "Faye, its just the magic messing with your head. Trust me for now. Its not real."
Nidhoggur: It's not just about volume... we need to counter the aetheric resonance of this "Song".
Kastor: *Wild arcs of white-blue energy flood the station. The PA system crackles to life.*
Spectre: Think the original national anthem would do the trick?
Thundrax: C'mon Faye. Don't let the bastard win.
Ice-Heart: The dragon is right...
Cosmic Glory: B-But I can't feel Frendel anymore!!
Thundrax: I think we should give it a try.
Kastor: *Floats back over, arcs still connecting him to the station's electronics.*
Ice-Heart continues tracing the voodoo veves and consulting notes.
Thundrax: Spectre, you're the only one who remembers. You lead.
Nidhoggur: No, we need to involve spirits. Magic to counter magic. We must invoke a ritual using the song. The technology should broadcast it well enough...
Nidhoggur: But we still need to "charge" the effect properly.
Kastor: I'm /made/ out of charge.
Cosmic Glory would grip her forehead as she had a bit of a headache, all of a sudden blurting something.
Ursun: I'm already ahead of ya, Lars.
Kastor: Wait, what charge are we talking?
Ice-Heart: not that sort of charge.
Spectre nods slowly. "I hate my singing voice... But ok. What do you think? Usurp their circle?
Kastor: Hey. You don't know. I might be speaking in an emotional sense.
Nidhoggur: We're talking spiritual resonance. The mystic link between all things. It's what their Song is using to alter the past and affect the symbols of history in peoples' minds.
Cosmic Glory: .... Stars. Star. Isn't... No... Wait. Mom never said that. She... Star Spangled Banner, I think. Isn't it? I don't know but... she used to believe in the system... the...
Thundrax: What have you got in mind, Ursun? Etching the words on a magic circle and turning the song into an incantation?
Cosmic Glory: .... the whole system. America's system. It was flawed, she knew it was flawed... but... but...
Spectre: I could stand in the circle, concentrate on the symbols that have been replaced.
Spectre: If necessary, I can sing the anthem.
Nightwave: "Faye, sing us your song. Star Bright, right?"
Ursun: Some'em like that I'll use air spirits to whisper the song in the air, they'll help carry it so others could hear.
Cosmic Glory: .... The nursery rhyme?
Ice-Heart: That should work.
Kastor: Wait, we need more than this station?
Nightwave: "yes, sing us that one."
Cosmic Glory: I thought they were doing the anthem?
Thundrax: Land spirits for the words... water spirits for rhythm, would that work?
Kastor: Have your spirits whisper into...uh...you know what? They can probably find a conscious mind in a communications grid.
Ursun: It should.
Nightwave: "They are, but maybe we need Cosmic Glory right now."
Ice-Heart: Spirits are not my forte, however, it sounds viable.
Spectre glances at the ritual circle. "Even if I do this, we'll need someone for whom it really means something, I think." GLances up at Arc Thunder. "What do you say?"
Thundrax: We could have them whisper it into everyone in the city, see if we can get all of Vibora Bat to sing it.
Arc Thunder: *shakes his head sharply and looks at Spectre* Huh..yeah..that..that sounds...like a good idea...
Cosmic Glory: Lets... lets see. Star light, star bright. First star I see tonight. Wish I may, Wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.
Kastor: Cannot believe I'm about to be a flying, sentient radio tower with a flag on his face...
Cosmic Glory: ...
Ice-Heart smiles with realization, "That could possibly worked, charged with the patriotism, we can filter the spell through the leylines and propagate it across the country."
Spectre gestures at the circle. "Change of plans, Thundrax. I'll tell the lyrics to a true believer, here."
Kastor: I feel like...somewhere? My mother is disappointed in me.
Thundrax: grins at Kastor. "USA! USA!" he smirks.
Kastor: Keep it up, Craig. I'll shave the mullet in your sleep.
Spectre: I'll concentrate on the symbols, you lead the singing. Up for saving your country?
Cosmic Glory: He can sing?
Kastor: You mean "again", right?
Ursun: Well, gonna start gettin' that connetion ready, if we're gonna do that..
Thundrax: Let's get it done, before the Song completes another verse...
Nidhoggur: ... The brute force technique. I suppose if it works...
Kastor: Then let's.
Ice-Heart looks at Nidhoggur, "Ironic yes?"
Cosmic Glory: .... I'll do what I can.
Spectre: Sometimes you just have to beat a tyrant with a baseball bat.
Ursun: Won't be brute force, more like ridin' a wave.
Cosmic Glory: But... but without him, I can't change into the Cosmic Glory. Its as if we've never met.
Kastor: *The arcs increase in intensity. Comm units crackle. Bulbs blow. Speakers squeal. Outside, brakes screech as drivers, confused at the sudden interruption of their radio broadcasts grind to a stop.*
Spectre gestures at the circle, looking at Arc Thunder. "Step in, friend."
Kastor: You guys mind if I do the intro before you start singing?
Spectre: Don't go -too- DJ on us.
Kastor: It's not often I get to talk to everyone at once. I'll keep it short.
Thundrax: Go for it, Hendrix.
Kastor: *Clears his throat.*
Kastor: *On this channel and all others.* Ok. This one goes out to The Song and to a guy by the name of Invictus. Invictus? You're king-douche of the day. This reality is ours, and we'll decide what we do0
Kastor: -with it, thank you. Choke on this. *The broadcast clicks over to the singers.*
Ursun: *begans to chants, forming a magic circle of air, then of earth and finally water, chants another, connecting the circles for a moment the air seems to ripple*
Arc Thunder: *frowns* Wait..me?
Kastor: All yours. *continues channeling the signal, arcs finding their way to ground beneath him.*
Thundrax: makes a devil horns at Kastor.
Spectre: This is about symbols, symbols are made to be believed.
Spectre: You probably believe in them more than anyone else here
Ice-Heart assists Ursun with the ritual as she is able, reciting incatnations.
Cosmic Glory: Who's singing?
Spectre: I try it and the Anthem may be written into history forever as ironic.
Spectre glances at Cosmic Glory. "... Of course, a bit of youthful optimism for a young nation can't hurt either. Feel up for a duet little lady?"
Kastor: *Returns The Horns, though the shape is barely visible among the cluster of radiant electrical energy that had enveloped his armor.*
Nightwave: "Go for it, Faye."
Cosmic Glory would blink a bit there, glancing around. She'd sort of step forward a bit. "... Sure!"
Arc Thunder: *looks confused* Ok..I guess it's us?
Spectre: Don't worry, I'll be telling you both the words.
Spectre: All you've got to do is mean it as you sing it.
Cosmic Glory nods once. "Right!"
Spectre drops to one knee and glances up at those making preparations. "Ok, we ready?"
Nidhoggur: I need someone's help. Someone being affected heavily by the changes.
Cosmic Glory: Ready as I'll ever be.
Spectre glances over his shoulder at Nidhoggur, then gestures at
Thundrax. "Think he'd be ideal?"
Nidhoggur: Quite possibly.
Nidhoggur: Craig, come here.
Thundrax: Just tell me what to do, Lars.
Nidhoggur: Stand still and... well, I know it sounds odd, but i need you to think about the changed symbols. I need you to think about the new ones. I need you to let it win, just for a moment.
Spectre nods. "Ok, let's get this started." He kneels just outside the circle and begins reciting the words of the American national anthem to Arc Thunder and Cosmic Glory, speaking quietly enough for them
Nidhoggur: If everything goes right, and they do what they're doing, it won't matter.
Spectre to hear him, but not for it to carry out to the world beyond.
Thundrax: I know all of Invictus's symbols. He's my enemy. I know the icons he'd want rto establish.
Nightwave: *Looks over the gathered heroes witha mix of hope and anxiety*
Thundrax: concentrates on the symbols, as Lars instructed.
Ice-Heart keeps her mind focused on the aetheric ripples murmering as she does so.
Nidhoggur rests his huge clawed hand on top of Craig's head and closes his eyes as they begin.
Cosmic Glory looks to Arc, nodding. "you ready?"
Ursun: muddering his chanting, keeping the connection open.
Thundrax: The eagle... the devouring serpent... the bloody sword... the burning sun Sol Invictus.
Arc Thunder: *clears his throat* I..guess so....Faye.
Spectre feeds the words of the national anthem to Arc and Cosmic, muttering it to both of them as he concentrates on the symbols from the real history.
Nidhoggur: Yes, good, Craig... I can see the connections. This may feel odd.
Cosmic Glory nods onver, looking to Spectre. "Ready!"
Thundrax: That's fine Lars... the statue of Sutherland... naked except for a Roman helmet. dragging an Indian woman behind him by her long hair.
Thundrax: That's fine Lars... the statue of Sutherland... naked except for a Roman helmet. dragging an Indian woman behind him by her long hair.
Spectre nods. "Ok, here we go. Sing it like you mean it." He starts from the top, muttering to both Cosmic Glory and Arc Thunder the words to the national anthem.
The Song: Our land supreme, our shores secure, our weapons sharp, our aim is sure...
Arc Thunder: *takes a deep breath and nods to Faye, then begins to sing in a surprisingly melodic tenor* Oo! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
Nidhoggur closes his eyes and concentrates, swelling with eldritch energies.
Kastor: *The pair's singing echoes through the station's sound system, from televisions in nearby apartments. From radios of cars now haphazardly parked by the side of the road. In a weird, backward kind of way, Spectre had chosen a rather appropriate place to put the flag. On a man absolutely hell-bent on defying any kind of oppressive regime, regardless of odds, personal cost, or apparent ethical concerns.*
Nightwave: *begins humming in tune with the others*
Thundrax: That's fine Lars... the statue of Sutherland... naked except for a Roman helmet. dragging an Indian woman behind him by her long hair.
Spectre nods. "Ok, here we go. Sing it like you mean it." He starts from the top, muttering to both Cosmic Glory and Arc Thunder the words to the national anthem.
The Song: Our land supreme, our shores secure, our weapons sharp, our aim is sure...
Arc Thunder: *takes a deep breath and nods to Faye, then begins to sing in a surprisingly melodic tenor* Oo! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
Nidhoggur closes his eyes and concentrates, swelling with eldritch energies.
Kastor: *The pair's singing echoes through the station's sound system, from televisions in nearby apartments. From radios of cars now haphazardly parked by the side of the road. In a weird, backward kind of-
Nightwave: *begins humming in tune with the others*
Cosmic Glory takes a breath, singing along though awkward at first* Oo, say can you see? By the dawn's early light...
Arc Thunder: *nods at her trying to listen closely to Spectre*..What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming...
Cosmic Glory: ... What so proudly we hail, at the twilight's last gleaming...! *Slowly growing in confidence there. Slowly*
Ice-Heart frowns slightly in concentration, making a few gestures as she adjusts for any fluxuations.
Nidhoggur isolates the mystic connections of the Song in Craig's mind, sensing the resonance as it echoes across the void.
Kastor: *Waves his hands to the singers, pointing at his helmet. He gestures for them to raise their voices.*
Ursun: continues to maintain the connect, chanting a few phases and making nessary adjustment.
Arc Thunder: Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
Cosmic Glory: Whose broad stripes and bright stars! Through the perilous flight!
The Song becomes aware of the countersong that is being sung, and alters its melody, trying to drain hope from the two singers.
However, Lars and Craig's efforts issue a wave of feedback against the Song's muaic, disrupting the attempt. Ursun feels Faye and Arc's words surging, becoming an extremely potent mystical force.
Spectre continues to feed the lyrics to the two singers, concentrating on the symbols that were changed as they should appear.
Arc Thunder: *nodding to Faye he continues singing more confidantly* O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
Cosmic Glory: O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
Ice-Heart grins slightly.
Ursun: Ya two keep it up, it's workin' *grins*
Cosmic Glory would paused as she clutched her form in a bit of a yell, clutching her arms in pain. But her eyes flashed a brief glowing blue.
Ice-Heart: That is the spirit, to put it quite literally.
Ursun: Aye. *chuckles*
Ursun: frown, "Ya alright, Faye?"
Nidhoggur pours energy into the connection in Craig's mind, refracting the song back on itself, causing it to distort with an almost audible feedback throughout the minds of everyone it was affecting.
Spectre glances at Cosmic Glory and smiles slightly behind the mask. "I believe the term is 'welcome back'." He returns to feeding the two the lyrics.
Arc Thunder: *staggers reaching a hand to his brow* And the rockets’ red glare...*his voice falters* the bombs...bursting in air,
Nightwave: *watches the singers nervously, "Its...its working, right?"
Cosmic Glory: ... And the rocket's red glare, *Despite the pain, she found her determination somewhere.* the bomb bursting in air!
Ursun: Don't falter, old solider, pour ya heart inta it.
Nidhoggur maintains the feedback as long as he can, causing the Song of Invictus to falter just long enough for the anthem to shine through.
Thundrax: Craig feels the Song focus on him, hateful and hurrful. A tune of failyre... how heroes aren't what they're supposed to be.
Arc Thunder: *grits his teeth and shakes his head then sings out louder* Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
Ursun: adjust his chanting and connection to resonate stronger, to push Arc and Faye's singing through.
Ice-Heart focuses and chants, lending her strength to the resonance aiding the true song along.
Cosmic Glory: Gavve proof through the night... that our flag was still there...!
The Song concentrates on Thundrax: In Craig's head, he hears the song Nightmare Revival sang not long ago, about not believing and hating Superman. A song anout the futility of heroisn,
Arc Thunder: *his face is tight, he is obviously in pain* Oh..say does that Star-spangled banner yet wave,
Cosmic Glory: ...Oh... say does that Star-Spangled banner yet wave...
Kastor: *Amplifies his signal, arcs streaming from his armor. To any with a hint of psychic potential, there was the unmistakeable current of righteous defiance.*
Nidhoggur creates as much noise as he can in Craig's mind, channeling the interference back along the connection, trying to keep the new signal at bay.
Thundrax: Craig's shoulders slump and he blocks out the signal from the Song.
Nidhoggur breaks his concentration and releases Craig's head, trying to help hold him up.
Ursun: pours all his strength into resonating Faye's and Arc's singing, the air and land would ripple like it's proudly singing along*
Arc Thunder: *takes a deep breath* O-er the land of the free, and the home, of the brave!
Cosmic Glory: O-er the land of the free -- and the home, of the brave!
Nightwave: *lets a single /manly/ tear slide down her cheek before wiping her face*
Thundrax: Craig slumps into Lars's arms, barely conscious. "Keep going.... eagle... stars... serpent...
Ice-Heart chants defiantly as she focuses her will upon giving those words wings to spread accross this land.
The sound of a whistle sounds... abruotly the Song ceases, ebbing through the station, its dark meloday forgotten. The words and tune of the Star Spangled Banner ring throughout the staton, and spread across the sity, and then across the land, and finally the globe. The train station becomes populated again. The bystanders look on the gathered heroes with amazement.
Arc Thunder: *blinks* Hrnn...
Ice-Heart states crossly, "In the words of the Gadsden Flag: DON'T TREAD ON ME"
Kastor: *Clicks back over to Kastor's microphone a moment.* Fuck you, Sutherland! Goodnight!
Kastor: *And with the clap of thunder, the broadcast ceases.*
Spectre stands up and takes a step back out of the circle. "Think that was enough?"
Thundrax: Looks like it...
Nightwave: "I hope so, Spectre. I don't have any backup plan.."
Cosmic Glory: ....
Kastor: Well, test it.
Ursun: *sighs, chants one final time, closing the connection* I ain't got nothin' left...
Kastor: *Points to his helmet.* Tell me the history of this thing that a man drew on my face.
Thundrax: A pity Sutherland escaped, but we stopped his plan... wait, he was supposed to be in Stronghold.
Nightwave: She shakes her head, "Did he change something else? Hes escaped somehow?"
Ice-Heart: Oh dear.
Kastor: Escaped? /Good/, let's go find him and break his legs.
Thundrax: No arguments from me.
Arc Thunder: *glances at Kastor with a frown*
Cosmic Glory: ... Do not ever take for-granted of fate, Ladies and Gentlemen. For it can change, or not change at all. You are all fortunate, as are you, Sir Craig. Sir Ursun. Lady Maxine.
Nightwave: She quirks an eyebrow, "Faye? Is that...your friend talking?"
Ice-Heart looks thoughtful and turns her focus upon Cosmic's Aura since she already has sensory spells up.
Ursun: ...I think so.
Spectre chuckles and puts his hands in his pockets. He glances over his shoulder at Thundrax. "Just like in 1997, eh Thundrax. I didn't expect him to have a teleporter on staff." With that he turns and Spectre casually strolls out the door
Cosmic Glory would blink, rubbing her forehead. "... Did it work? Did we do it...?"
Nidhoggur keeps Craig hoisted so he doesn't collapse, "We must be careful that there are no long-term effects of this magic."
Arc Thunder: *blinks and glances at Glory* I dunno...but m' head feels...funny...
Kastor: *Bats his hand at CG.* See? Even Carson's with me on this one. Find him. Break legs. Afterward? Maybe Wanton Soup, some egg rolls, and...fresh pork in garlic sauce.
Ice-Heart: I sense a binary being...
Nidhoggur: So I ask, can you remember the alternate anthem?
Thundrax: Eh? That was...
Cosmic Glory: ...? No. All I remember is the Star Spangled Banner.
Cosmic Glory: ...?
Thundrax: Up yours Invictus?
Nidhoggur: Good. Very good.
Ursun: *chuckles*
Nidhoggur: I... do remember it. I remember you singing it. I remember hearing the lyrics very clearly. Fortunately, this is because the magic did not reach me in the first place.
Nidhoggur grins, "I've kept myself cut off every since the wards in my sanctuary signaled a memetic intrusion."
Thundrax: Well done, Lars.
Nidhoggur shrugs, "Thank you, Criag, but I would never have known what was going on."
Ice-Heart mutters something about letting herself get sloppy as she pages to the end of her book and takes down some notes.
Nidhoggur: And I could only cut myself off because I had no resonant connection to the affects in the first place... I'm not very patriotic.
Ursun: *chuckles* That makes two of us.
Kastor: Speaking of?
Kastor: I'm gonna go wash my helmet off.
Nidhoggur grumbles, "Now would someone mind getting mister Carson some coffee or something? He's quite heavy."
Kastor: Catch you folks later.
Thundrax: See you Castor.
Kastor: *Gives a half-hearted wave, clearly already focussed on something else.*
Ice-Heart: Coffee? No, though I may have some energy to spare.
Cosmic Glory: Be careful, Kastor!
Arc Thunder: *frowns* That was...unpleasant...but it's over?
Cosmic Glory: Is... Is Craig going to be okay?
Ursun: *takes Craig off of Lars* I got'em.
Ice-Heart recities an incantation focusing a cool refreshing energy upon Craig.
Thundrax: I think so, Glory. I'll get myself checked out just in case... again.
Nidhoggur: ... I am glad you thought to use your "brute force" technique. Apparently singing very loud does work quite well.
Arc Thunder: *leans on the rail looking shaken*
Thundrax: I think it was the conviction that worked, not the noise. Ursun: Aye.
Thundrax: Thanks!
Ice-Heart nods to the dragon, "I am glad it worked. Your feedback loop was quite clever."
Nightwave: Reaches over and ruffles Cosmic hair.
Cosmic Glory looks over to Nightwave, "... I did black out at times. Nothing bad happened in those--HEY!" She grinned.
Nidhoggur: Thank you, but it would not have worked on its own. I've used that type of resonant feedback for spell disruption in the past, but this effect needed a counterspell.
Nightwave: "You gonna be alright, soldier boy? I'm sure.....this hit close to home?"
Arc Thunder: *sighs and shakes his head*...I...haven't felt like that in years...not since....hrnn*he looks down over the railing*
