"Charles Wilde." Charles responds to the introduction reflexively. "I've, uh... never been a religious sort myself, so I can't say I can theorize much on that side of things. I just try to do the best with what I've got, which is now four arms and claws."
"And, this was voluntary?" asks Tony.
Charles shakes his head. "I used to be a zookeeper. Then some crazy with stolen portal technology and too much power got a hold of me and thought it'd be fun to combine me with the animals I kept, plus some other things."
He growls. "He killed a lot of innocent animals doing it, to say nothing of the months of pain I went through without a say in the matter. And he's still at large, doing who-knows-what."
Charles shakes his head. "I used to be a zookeeper. Then some crazy with stolen portal technology and too much power got a hold of me and thought it'd be fun to combine me with the animals I kept, plus some other things."
He growls. "He killed a lot of innocent animals doing it, to say nothing of the months of pain I went through without a say in the matter. And he's still at large, doing who-knows-what."
Tony nods a nod that says, 'Been there, brother. I feel ya.'
"Look, I try not to read minds, but I got enough of that to know you're misreading her. She isn't anxious to call it a night because she's anxious to get rid of you. She was wanting to call it an early night ... together. ... I don't have clearance to go scanning the head of Boston Theoretical's brain. If I did, Dyer Greer and I would have spent a lot more time together before ... Oh no. ... It. Was. Not. Your. Fault!"“Sure,” Nissa says, painfully aware of the lack of a briefing—of L.C.’s hurry to be rid of her. “Interplanetary war’s not gonna prevent itself.”
She turns to Scarlet.
Something’s wrong. Terribly wrong. I think someone messed with her brain when she was captured. Or maybe it’s her mysterious disappearance when the President met her. Maybe it’s a dumb idea to ask the President about the headaches.
[dice=Bluff (nothing alarming about my sudden backpedal, heh!)]d20+14+d6
To L.C., “Y’know what? The President probably gets headaches from her job. Maybe just ask about Portly.”
I’m scared, Scarlet. I just hope the President isn’t involved in this inflamed-brain thing. I voted for her.
Nissa did a really good job playing it cool when she misread L.C.’s hint to leave (directed at everyone else), but now—after several thoughts and emotions flood her ditzy brain, Nissa settles on an emotion she can’t hide.
At least not if everyone in the room can guess what the hot pink glow in her eyes means. The lustful smirk might be a giveaway.
Scarlet, did I ever tell you you were always one of my favorite people?
Aloud, Nissa says to L.C., “Shall we?” She offers her hand.
On World One, Tony pulls the hood of his cloak up and his tiger face disappears, to be replaced by a scruffy ginger haired human face. "I must be about the City of Gates. I have magic to procure. A wizard here thinks he can manufacture an amulet of binding that I could use against a rakshasa. We'll see. He does not know I bring such a spirit with me wherever I go and will know if he tries to play me for a fool. Good evening, fellows."
On World ??, L.C. is happy to get out of the office with Nissa. Ron and Ian are excited to work on tech with Kai and to hear about World One. EIG is thrilled to have been included.
"Sure, I'll contact you in the future; you do the same-I could use the experience if it relates to those."
“Now that I can fade my armor to nothing…” She demonstrates this by fading her armor to a bikini. “…I can stay this size for a bath, and we can still both fit in the tub quite comfortably.
“And of course you’ll need a massage. I’ll have to climb up on your back. It’s not like I’ve never given a massage before… but anything beyond that will be brand new to me.”
She snuggles closer to L.C. (if in an autocab; not if driving!). She holds her hand, caressing the fingertip which held the Bombshell on Nissa’s first day as an official Boston Theoretical employee.
“It was right here—I was right here—when you won my heart. I know that’s not what you were trying to do, and maybe that’s why the feeling was so strong. You were just doing your job. But it was so thoughtful.”
Nissa transforms into a fairy and literally wraps herself around L.C.’s finger.
“I’m your girl. You’re a scientist.” L.C. can’t see the grin on Nissa’s tiny glowing body. But she can see that the fairy form is hot pink instead of the usual golden glow. She looks up at the scientist. “Experiment.”
World One, a rooster crows.
World ??, an alarm rings.
Today is the day for the rumble on the wharfs.
Tho starts the day by doing push-ups and sit-ups, focusing on the battle ahead.
She picks up her purse and is otherwise naked. Then when she’s done letting L.C.’s eyes feast on her form, she turns around. Wings of light sprout from her back and glowing armor converges onto her. Nissa throws her purse over her shoulder.
Once she’s confirmed Kai is ready to go, Nissa waves her wand.
And once at her destination, Nissa puts her wand in her purse and becomes a fairy!
Charles is up far too early, exercising to try to work out the nervousness in his body. He even finds a secluded area and changes to his quadrupedal form, feeling like there's tension in muscles only it has even when he's in his bipedal form.
And so when he returns to greet Nissa and Kai on their return trip, fatigue is already evident in his stance. "Did you get what we need?" he asks shortly as soon as the two step through the portal.
Zellgato simply spends the morning laying out and prepping his supplies-both for "pre-battle" and an "emergency" set up for if it all goes wrong. Opting to skip meals today-for fear of trickery, and simply for a stressed stomach.
Joining up with the others as they return "Had fun? I made a friend."
After successfully installing infrared sensors on Theo's helmet and brainstorming with the team on other useful features , Kai has a light breakfast at Boston Theoretical before meeting up on the Flight Deck for the return trip.
Once back on World One, Kai seeks out Theo to test out the battle mods in a lightless room.
It's raining on Tarokh, as Nissa appears in the garden. Raining hard enough that Kai and Nissa are probably surprised by it.
It's easy to find lightless rooms in the HQ. Very few rooms have lights and all windows have wooded blinds that can be shut securely.
Breakfast is brought to your cabin. It consists of hard-boiled eggs, fruit, nuts, and a warm drink that tastes suspiciously like 'Cawfee' the mushroom based coffee substitute that replaced coffee on both World 12 and World ??.
The King of Coins sends a carriage for you. The ride through town is more comfortable than either of the first few days. At first, at least.
As the carriage approaches the wharfs, it slows down significantly and the noise of the street begins to intrude. There are a lot of people around slowing what little traffic there is in Tarokh.
Nissa’s fairy form has has a peach-colored aura, as opposed to her usual golden glow. Her body is still so bright she appears featureless.
If the coach has a cup holder, that is preferable to a human-sized seat. She flutters her wings and hovers to get a peek at what’s causing the traffic jam.
“I can get out and fly faster than this,” she quips. If it’s the literal truth, she does get out when close enough to accept a leaflet. She will take one from the guy she saved from a hungry mermaid.
If the coach has a cup holder,...
The leaflet is a very quick woodprint poster advertising a free public 'Battle for Honour' between 'The Atlantean' and 'The Olympian.'
Nissa sees food vendors setting up outside of the various warehouses and shipping company offices along the wharf front. Eleu's high tech luxury yacht is much closer to the wharf now, pulled up closer to the King of Coins ship.
People are here to see a fight and a large wharf has been cleared for the battle.
The leaflet is a very quick woodprint poster advertising a free public 'Battle for Honour' between 'The Atlantean' and 'The Olympian.'
"Yeah. I'm gonna need everyone to get 5 leaflets for me," Theo said eagerly. "Some to cherish, some to have for the future The Olympian museum, and some for getting some interdimensional phone numbers on! Hehe!"
Wooden crates block the street in case any carriages make it this far. Yours has to turn back after dropping you off.
No one is selling tickets, but someone organized things.
There is a 60 ft. by 60 ft. ring marked off with ribbons and posts.
There is one tent set up selling food and several fishing boats are pulled up to the wharf nearby and are roasting and selling this morning's catch.
A crowd has gathered. Many are sitting on the wooden crates. Pah is sitting in a tall chair on one of them, surrounded by his fish-headed crew. There's a crowd on one side that look to be citizens of Tarokh of Atlantean descent.
Nissa giggles at Theo’s request but only delivers one leaflet. It is bigger than her, dangling from her little fairy hands, which keep a white-knuckle* grip on the leaflet as she battles gravity and gusts of wind.**
"I mean you should just collect the flyers of whoeverse numbers you get instead I guess...."
Upon seeing the area, "This is both larger than I thought; and also far more open than I thought. Particularly if that is their boats within range of shenangans.. Well, we'll keep an eye out while Theo pounds fishpaste.
The godling smiles and nods at Zellgato. "Thanks, man."
Kai also surveys the scene. "I don't like this many bystanders in close proximity to a cold-blooded killer with zero morals."
Once the tech is handed off to Theo, Kai sends Legion to do aerial sweeps of the area and alert them of anything potentially dangerous.
Gilladhand finds the party at the carriage and greets you. Some other elves and official looking people are around. "Theo, you must bow before the Queen of Swords and accept her judgement on any outstanding issues after the fight, should you survive. Is that agreeable? The prisoner will have to do the same. Is this agreeable?"
If Theo agrees, Gilladhand takes him ringside.
"Theo, you must bow before the Queen of Swords and accept her judgement on any outstanding issues after the fight, should you survive. Is that agreeable? The prisoner will have to do the same. Is this agreeable?"
"Yeah. Is she hot?"
If Theo agrees, Gilladhand takes him ringside.
Before Gilladhand escorts Theo, the godling takes a quick knee and prays.
Zellgato will take a quck picture of Elau and the Merchant, best he can from the carriage ride area. Then addresses Gilladhand, "Am I required in person, or can I go hope up somewhere and find a good spot to watch?"
Kai spots the same things as Zellgato and sends Legion a bit closer to see if anything else can be sussed out (and also to take pictures).
That asshoIe!
Nissa says to Charles. “Robbery! I’ll fly over to the guy and—I can’t fight like this—”
No time to explain, Nissa flies over to the thief! “Are ya gonna give that back? Or am I gonna replay your theft over a mindshare device? I may not know much about the law, but I know plenty about fame.
“I can make you famous. To the cops. To the person you robbed. To his powerful friends.”
“Or you drop everything ya took and your knife too, and I’ll return the goods and just give a verbal description of your face. You’re ordinary-looking enough that it won’t get you caught if you get outta sight and lay low.”
Nissa makes sure to fly out of reach. She’s not sure how her tiny body can take a hit.
And of course she’s flying high enough so Charles can spot her tiny glowing form in the crowd.
Kai messages everyone on their comms. "Two groups that might potentially be trouble - tall humanoids with snouts and tusks, and some cloaked individuals moving close to the ring."
Charles does not like the festival air here. This was a matter of life and death, not just for one person but potentailly for tens of millions!
He sighs. Of course this is all trouble. But surely someone must be watching the kids? But Nissa's thing seemed more urgent, so he follows her as best he can to provide looming reinforcement to her threats.
Legion, taking pictures of Eleu and the humble merchant, captures a shot of Eleu passing him something small and brown. It could be a coin purse.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ring Nissa has confronted a pickpocket, the cutpurse doesn't want to mess with fey magic. He drops the coin purse on the ground and flees into the crowd. A number of people look all at once at the coin purse just sitting there. They back off when Charles arrives, scaring them away.
Gilladhand ignores Theo's question about whether the Queen of Swords is hot. He takes Theo over to one of the other crates, upon which stands a
woman thronged with admirers.
She's in full platemail and, while it makes room in some places, it doesn't shout 'hot chick inside.' Her helmet is off. Her hair is cut short and grey. She has a handsome face and the bemused, confident expression of someone who is used to winning fights.
She knows who Theo is when he approaches but waits for him to speak.
Nissa thanks Charles but warns him, “We might want Legion to pick up that coin purse. Remember what the king said about picking up coins, right?”
She then adds, “Umm… can you let Kai know? I can’t get my comm out. Y’know, ’cause I gotta stay like this until Theo wins.”
She then thinks about how hyper focused she was, and asks, “You happen to see any trouble yourself, Charles?”
Once Theo starts his conversation, Zellgato huffs it over and finds a way up on the building, taking note to visually tag and note the folks Kai called out, as well as using his scope to take a closer look at the Kai found group, as well as the ships.
Analgesic: Reduces sense of pain. +2 bonus to saving throw vs pain effects for 20min
Antitoxin: Gain bonus 5 bonus vs poison for 2 hours.
Antimetics: Gain a +2 bonus to saving throw vs sick/nasuated for 20min. If suffering doncition immediate new saving attempt.
Theo approaches the heavily-armored lady and bows. "Good morning, Queen of Swords. I am Theo Nephus from an as-yet unaffiliated TAROT world, otherwise known as The Olympian."
Gilladhand ignores Zellgato's question and rushes off with Theo.
Theo approaches the heavily-armored lady and bows. "Good morning, Queen of Swords. I am Theo Nephus from an as-yet unaffiliated TAROT world, otherwise known as The Olympian."
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20 + 15
The Queen of Swords smiles a hungry smile at Theo and pauses.
"The O-lym-pian," she stretches out the word and nods.
After a pause, she holds out the sword on a pillow, "Hand on the sword. Theo Nephus, Olympian, do you swear to fight honorably, according to the terms of the challenge, and accept my judgement should you fail but survive?"
The godling rests his hand upon the blade. "I swear."
The godling rests his hand upon the blade. "I swear."
"Good luck," says the aging warrior, the Queen of Swords. She looks like she means it.
"Let's get on with this," says an exasperated voice in Atlantean. The Prince is approaching and waiting for his turn to swear on the Sword of Truth.
The Prince is looking buff. Really pumped up. Guess he's been working out.
"Let's get on with this," says an exasperated voice in Atlantean. The Prince is approaching and waiting for his turn to swear on the Sword of Truth.
"Zeus, 'Prince'." Theo exasperated. "This battle will determine the fates of two worlds, and your fanboy's bank accounts. You would think that you'd take this a little more weight."
"Zeus again," sniffs the warlock, shrugging off Theo's bullying. "I'll have to ask the sages about him when I return victorious."
"Do you swear, if victorious, to accept the verdict of the Queen of Swords over any outstanding disputes and, if defeated and allowed to live, to accept whatever punishment your opponent chooses for you? Do you also promise to whether victorious or defeated never set foot on the homeworld of Theo Nephus, the Olympian?"
"I do," sneers the Prince.
Charles nods towards a nearby pier in answer to Nissa's question. "Is anyone watching those kids? Some of them look about ready to fall off. Not to mention, based on the smell, they're not cooking that pheasant enough. But nothing world-ending like the main event"
Nissa says, “I’ll go after those kids!”
She swoops over to the water front.
“HEY! LISTEN!” she calls out, brightening her glow to the max with each spoken word. She tries to draw the kids’ attention and get them away from the water.
'Such a team of good samiritins today. Zellgato considers to himself as everyone scrambles around
The kids immediately switch from 'let-us-dangle-ourselves-over-the-edge-of-the-wharf' to 'let-us-catch-the-little-fairy'. Nissa can outfly them but one of them has a slingshot.
The Prince, refusing to stand beneath a human monarch for too long, strides to the ring. There is a group of Atlanteans hanging around the ring. This group consists mostly of Atlanteans who live on Tarokh and many of them are from the former slave races. There are also several 'true-blood' Atlanteans cheering on Prince Fishdicks. They walk with him to the ring.
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Eleu stands on a crate by the Prince's corner and starts praising the 'Child of Atlantis' who is returning home after thousands of years and must only defeat one more foe before his triumphant return to Atlantis. The gang of true blooded Atlanteans cheers.
Others seem quite impressed as well.
He also mentions that this descendent of Poseidon has the powers of a Warlock. He warns the crowd that they will see powerful Atlantean magic today. That only foolish challenger Theo need fear it, but that it will be scary and impressive.