"Nothing going on at site B from what I can tell..Other than maybe the Mech-if it can jump jet fly.-Do we even have a method to get up there? I guess I have a grappler" Zellgato questions the obvious issue with a giant portal in the sky.
Kai had indeed packed for a couple of days' journey in unfamiliar territory, but at the moment the mold is concerning. What if Charles has been breathing in the spores and somehow becomes infected?
"Uh, detective Macleod, there's some suspicious mold in the church and the crypt, can we get some people from the municipality, or monument protection, or what have you - in hazmat suits, mind you - to clean it up once the portal is dealt with?"
Wasn't there a Plant-Woman superheroine on site as well...?
"That is why I made sure to borrow a jetpack before we left, Zellgato," Charles grumbles into the comm, "Because we knew we'd have to fly to get to a portal in the air. And I for one don't think it's a good idea to sit here and wait, as much as the T-D radiation flowing to the crypt and cemetary worry me."
"Nothing going on at site B from what I can tell..Other than maybe the Mech-if it can jump jet fly.-Do we even have a method to get up there? I guess I have a grappler" Zellgato questions the obvious issue with a giant portal in the sky.
Kai had indeed packed for a couple of days' journey in unfamiliar territory, but at the moment the mold is concerning. What if Charles has been breathing in the spores and somehow becomes infected?
"Uh, detective Macleod, there's some suspicious mold in the church and the crypt, can we get some people from the municipality, or monument protection, or what have you - in hazmat suits, mind you - to clean it up once the portal is dealt with?"
Wasn't there a Plant-Woman superheroine on site as well...?
"Mold?" ask McLeod, "Yeah, sure. That can't be good. I'll get someone to check it out."
“Is that the plan? For us to go in?—or wait for things to come out?”
Theo did say it’s Scarlet’s call, so—
“Hey, Scarlet. If you want us to go in, I have a wand that can bring us all back.”
"I don't know," says Scarlett. "This isn't the kind of strategic military thinking I normally do. What does your gut tell you?"
“Same as Charles’ gut,” Nissa replies to Scarlett. To the others, “If you guys want in, let’s do it right here and now. You got my coordinates—I’ll wave the wand as soon as you’re all here.”
Nissa studies the place within the portal. If I can see it, there’s a chance…
But something could go wrong. In the time it takes for the others to arrive, Nissa says to Scarlett and L.C. (on the comm so the whole party hears), “Ladies, I’m gonna try taking the group to the other side. I think we’re all in agreement waiting until 1:00 a.m. risks innocent lives here in Boston.
“It may be a trap. Flora and Fauna may even be in on it, but if they’re gonna play hero, I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt for now.” Maybe Scarlett can sense more doubt than benefit, even over the comm. Nissa hasn’t forgotten the sight of that poor dead woman, entangled in assassin vines. “Tell them to take out any demons that get through.
“Hopefully, none will if we take the fight to their world.” She adds a private text to L.C. No matter what happens…
Once all party members are close, Nissa will wave the wand.
Theo speaks on an open frequency. "You know, for all the sh|ttalk Flora's been doing lately, I think if I come back from saving the world from an invasion from a hell dimension, I think the former-villan-turned-hero owes me a nice candlelight dinner for my trouble. And if I don't come back, well, she'll obviously have other problems to deal with."
Zellgato is running back to the group; with Legion and the other Drone in tow (the latter covered by his coat he had been previously wearing-He intends to drop it off with the driver). "I don't suppose those 3 want to jump into a different dimension as well? Backup is always welcome-as well as putting their money where their mouth is. I bet a public appeal for them to come would force their hand to help-or show their hiding. ....Probably that is the kind of thing Boss didn't want though.
Upon arrival Zellgato returns to the vehicle and hands his coat (and drone) to the BT security officer. Leaving with a few words "I very much like this coat. Do not lose it. Do not die." before heading over.
As he walks towards Nissa and the group, his own words on the way strike him. Take what you can get..home defense as he quick jogs over to the "heroes" tapping their leader on the shoulder.
As he turns around to look at Zellgato, Zellgato remains the quiet masked face. Slightly turning his head to the side. Then looking around at all the civilians. Pointing at each of the three. Then his own eyes. Then at all the civilians. Giving a thumbs up. Before pointing at himself, then the portal. Doing a quick turn and simply walks back to Nissa's group.
To the group -and quietly-"Uh. I don't know exactly but I might have to say. Using the wand in public, with this fanfare.. Is that public knowledge? Is that going to cause issues publicaly that we have interdimensional travel just when the world is being invaded? That sounds like it's going to fuel theories by those 3.
"Let's do it inside," Charles suggests, pointing at the church.
Switching to the frequency Detective McLeod is on, he says, "It's not ordinary mold, or at least it's growing far faster than ordinary mold. It definitely has a connection to the portal in the sky here. Ordinary bleach might not cut it, but it might whither if we're successful in stopping the portal tonight."
He switches back to the group. "The one thing that makes me nervous--what if the world that we can see looking up isn't actually where the portal is connected to? There's something very strange going on here, and I'm not sure I trust anything we can see. Do we have any idea if the wand will take us to the place we want to just from looking at it, anyway? If we're worried about getting us all up there, I can switch forms and someone could ride my back. I think it's just Zellgato who's ground-bound at present, since Theo took a jetpack too, right?"
Kai jogs over to join the others, grabbing Legion from Zellgato and tethering the drone to Kai's belt, in case interdimensional travel was imminent. The techie looks at Nissa with puzzlement.
"Who are Flora and Fauna?"
"I mean.. I could get to the top spire and try a grappler shot.. if its actually a portal I could just zip line up... We could also send a drone in-I'm actually surprised none of the news or civs have done that yet.
"I think the news drones have been told to stay back, but I can send Legion to investigate... just not through."
Kai guides the drone to fly closer to the opening and run some scans.
"I think the news drones have been told to stay back, but I can send Legion to investigate... just not through."
Kai guides the drone to fly closer to the opening and run some scans.
[dice=Legion perception]1d20+6
When Legion flies close to the rift, it sends back video of what can be seen through it. It looks like the outskirts of a big city, with big empty spaces for big box stores, most of them 'opening soon'. A dark tower has risen from the ground in the midst of the future consumer splendor. Demons, like the one the team slew the other day, fly around the tower, occasionally dive bombing the line of cars that race past the tower onto a busy highway.
By the smoking wrecks of cars, the scorched earth, and the smoking rubble, this world isn't doing so great.
“Murderers,” Nissa replies to Kai’s question.
As for concerns about the wand, Nissa says, “I’ll take us right to that movie theater—I hope! It’s the only way I can get there with Big Red. And I think I’m gonna need the mech to fight effectively.”
She holds up the wand—and checks to make sure EIG isn’t nearby, planning to slip through the portal she intends to open.
"Murderer isn't a very descriptive answer. Also, more than a few out here right now. But that's for later." Zellgato notes-Depending on POV, he and probably a few others out here have killed. Lacking the context of Nissa's point.
Double checking the fitting on his weapons and gear;"Feels like a bad idea, but I'm ready for a counter-invasion. Not the first time jumping into crazy."
Nissa adds in a very serious tone, “My powers come from the Dawnflower, Goddess of Redemption. So maybe I’m supposed to feel all warm and fuzzy about Flora and Fauna being Plant-Girl and Animan or whatever their ‘hero’ names are.
“But seven people died horribly because of those two. I can never forget the woman entangled in assassin vines. She was tied to a chair. Killed by her own plants. It probably wasn’t a quick death. And I’m supposed to believe a few weeks go but, and Flora’s a better person? Cured?
“Seven dead,” she repeats bitterly. “‘Murderer’ is all the description they deserve.”
EIG is not nearby. EIG is back at Boston Theoretical doing the comms with an oblivious Ron who keeps getting confused when people answer EIG.
The portal appears before this universe's members of TAROT.
"ALRIGHT! You EVIL MOTHERFU<KERS!" The godling barks into the dimensional gateway. "The Olympian is here to FU<K UP YOUR DAY!! For Earth and Mount Olympus! ALL YOU EVIL A$$HATS ARE IN TROUBLE NOW!!"
The brave-but-foolhardy superhero enters the portal.
Nissa says, “If those of you who can fly want to use their portal, feel free. Ideally, my wand takes us to the same place since all I’ve got to work with is my view into that portal.”
She will pilot the mech inside, regardless of who else enters the demon world this way. Theo will not go in alone!
To complicate things, at this exact moment, a trio of demons fly through the void in the sky and circle the steeple of Old North Church screeching.
To complicate things, at this exact moment, a trio of demons fly through the void in the sky and circle the steeple of Old North Church screeching.
Charles is far from surprised when some demons show up just as Theo and Nissa jump into the portal. "Remember how that portal up there looks like an eye? think it was waiting for a moment like this? Guess we're doing a two-pronged assault."
With that he charges up the stairs to the steeple.
[ooc]Z didn't take a jet pack?
All the heavy hitters had passed through the portal, or were about to, so Kai wasn't about to stick around on this side and watch helplessly from the sidelines. With an apologetic look at Detective Macleod, Kai orders Legion through Nissa's portal and follows closely behind.
"Uh, I hope the Patriot can take of these three, we're going to try and stop this invasion at the source."
As the others file into the portal, and Charles scales the tower towards the portal. Zellgato chimes a message on comms, "Leave defense to the Patriot squad. Sink or Swim, we need to get the job done fast to prevent casualties. Charles-We'll try to link up. Careful on your own.
Unhappy that he can't follow up Charles, but also hesistent to leave the three in the portal alone without much ranged defenses. Inability to join Charles makes the choice for Zellgato.
Lingering for a moment to memorize the landscape on the other side of the portal to meet Charles. and to take a parting shot at a creature.
Increment is 40 because he is not taking a moment to aim as he is moving. -1 per range increment.
whoa damage went nuts
The demons on this side of the portal see Charles bounding up the steeple and let out horrible screeches. They gleefully roll for initiative.
"Charles," asks EIG, "The First Responders are on the line and want to know if the five of you need help."
Those going through the portal find themselves in a old-fashioned shopping mall parking lot full of 20th Century gas-powered vehicles, only slightly more advanced than the Model-T you raced in Smallville, USA.
A chemical smell burns your nose and throat. It's worse than what you heard the 20th Century was like, but it isn't damaging.
The cars seem mostly abandoned and many have had things dropped on them. You don't see anyone ... No humans at least.
Looking like it burst up through the asphalt of the parking lot, an enormous dark tower looms over you. It's much like the one you saw when you first detected Void in L.C's brain.
Demons fly circling the tower. At least a dozen. They have yet to notice you.
They do seem to notice a car racing down a nearby road and a few take off to investigate.
Nissa says to the others, “Whoever’s in that car’s dead if we hesitate!”
She’s already in motion as she says this!
"Hold back until we see how bad these ones are... and if more come through," Charles responds as he activates his jetpack. "We've got a team on the other side now looking to keep reinforcements from coming through, but we don't know how bad it's going to be yet, so I'd rather get that info first."
As he speaks Charles takes off from the roof and takes a slash at one of the demons with the sword formerly wielded by the 'angel'.
"Whoevers in that car likely has a plan, or they wouldn't be doing that. You don't do random in apocolypse worlds." Speaking from experience as such, Zellgato uses his scope to get a view on the vehicle and try to see if anyone is in it. "I'm more concerned about the other end of the portal" Yet he's still looking towards the vehicle-as Nissa takes off Zellgato remains behind , knowing he can catch up he doesn't try to leap on the mecha to ride.
Theo follows Nissa's lead, following on her 5 with his jet pack.
Not much use in fighting the demons on either side of the portal, Kai sends Legion on a stealth recon mission towards the car.
Zellgato looks up and does see a void in the sky above, a dark space without stars. At the center of it are the lights of what may be Boston, Nissa's world.
Nissa is charging towards the highway in a large mecha and making a lot of noise as she does it. Theo is on her 5 and following with a jetpack. The demons might not have noticed you at first, but they certainly have now. Four demons continue to fly towards the car, but just as many are now heading towards Theo, Zellgato, and Nissa.
The demons flying towards the vehicle don't notice Legion flying right beneath them. The people in the car do though, and when they stick a shotgun out the window, they don't seem like they're about to discriminate between Legion and the demons.
"Hold back until we see how bad these ones are... and if more come through," Charles responds as he activates his jetpack. "We've got a team on the other side now looking to keep reinforcements from coming through, but we don't know how bad it's going to be yet, so I'd rather get that info first."
As he speaks Charles takes off from the roof and takes a slash at one of the demons with the sword formerly wielded by the 'angel'.
The 'angel's' sword is thrumming now, as is the other one. The angel's sword seems to be responding to the demons. It glows white as it strikes. The demon Charles' hits screeches and tries to slash Charles with its claw. The other two demons soon swoop down to attack Charles as well.
Charles fends off the first two demons, but the third one scratches him. The claw doesn't dig deep, but the wound burns.
Not knowing how many more demons were in the tower, Kai dives for cover, whispering on comms, "There are people in the car, they're shooting at Legion and the demons."
☀️
If there’s a loudspeaker built into the mech, Nissa uses it to project her voice.
“We are demon slayers! The flying machine is with us, and we are here to help you!”
She speeds toward the car as she speaks.
Charles snarls as the demon claws him and lashes out with both blades in response. Some tiny corner of his mind thinks to ask when he learned to wield a sword, but he's too busy fighting to pursue that thought.
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Zellgato can see the person with the shotgun has long brown hair. That's about it. They seem to be human.