Hideouts & Hoodlums: Justice Society of America

Game Master Scottenkainen

The invisable tower sits unseen by the noonday sun, within Dr. Fate moves quietly from room to room hunting phantoms.

After an incredibly fast sprint, the Flash slowed down and paced himself, making the trip from Kingston, New York, to Salem, Massachussetts take 72 minutes.

At 2:12 pm in the afternoon, the Flash arrived at the predetermined point along a lonely stretch of highway that ran through an old, tall forest. And there, waiting for him, was the Spectre.

"The Tower of Fate lies this way," the Spectre said, pointing into the forest without any small talk. Instead, they followed a faint trail that wound through the woods until it came to an empty clearing. "It is here before you. Your eyes cannot see it, but only because it is masked by an illusion. If you tell yourself the tower is here and reach out to touch it, you should be able to break the spell and behold the tower."

And yet, as hard as he tried, Flash could neither see nor feel the tower.

"Something is wrong," the Spectre said. "Dr. Fate works against us, bending his will towards hiding himself. But we shall not be turned away." And with that, the Spectre slowly beat on the door with his fist. Knock. Knock.

Inside, the mad Dr. Fate heard the knocking and knew he had visitors.

"They have returned. They will not find me so unprepared this time."

Casting invisibility I

As he fades from mortal sight the misguided Dr. Fate hurries to the roof. He looks down from the unseen tower and smiles a twisted smile.

"Disguise again, when will they learn?"

The man who was Dr. Fate reaches into an inner pocket and removes a handful of sparkeling green powder. With a wave of his hand and a few words in a forgoten tongue the powder falls gently around the invisable fortress. Where this powder falls grasses, creepers, brambles twitch and writhe. The plants arround the tower seem to go mad, perhaps a reflection or the madness within. In a few momnts the tower is wrapped in thick, green, fiberous armor. Armor that sports long sharp thorns.

Cast plant growth

Sorry . . . went out of town for the New Years and then . . . Jury Duty!!!!

The Sandman decides to rest while the Spectre and the Flash take care of Dr. Fate. "He can be a tricky customer, Flash, so watch out. Though he does seem to struggle with the power of science!"

After the Flash leaves, the Sandman pauses to examine his wounds and considers checking into a local hospital. "Would they buy that these are dog bites?"

Is there anything the Sandman can do to speed up his healing? I don't want to fall to Mr. X's lowliest thug's first punch.

Flash is somewhat taken aback at the sudden eruption of deadly greenery. At least he can see the tower now, by following its outline among the plants. He looks to the Spectre, "Ummm, is it supposed to do that?"

Benedictine Hospital, Kingston, NY. Four hours earlier.

"Dog bites, you say...?" a suspicious doctor said as Wesley Dodds was examined.

Outside Salem, Mass. Now.

"No. There is much that is wrong here," the Spectre said as he looked over the wall of thick vines that covered where the invisible tower had been. "But, perhaps I can undo some of it..."

The Spectre raised his gloved hand to his collared hood and nodded. Moments later, the tower flickered into visibility -- though the tangle of plants remained, as did the invisibility cloaking Dr. Fate on the roof.

"Big dogs. Huge. You know how it is . . . you are out with some friends . . . perhaps making some poor decisions regarding beverage choice. Someone makes a dare and the next thing you know, you are running out of a junkyard with several angry dogs on your tail, literally in my case I fear." Wesledy Dodds tries to fake a sheepish grin, affecting the pose of an irresponsible playboy. "It's that Wayne guy's fault. Every time he comes into town . . . I end up with stitches."

Four hours earlier.

As far removed as the Sandman was from the "Gotham" that was New York City, the doctor did not get the subtle dig against that famous layabout playboy Bruce Wayne. Instead, the doctor busied himself applying needle and thread to torn flesh like an expert tailor.

Now.

"This wall of vines between us and the door to the tower is impassable," the Spectre observed, "but still is the Spectre not undone. I can magically transport you inside from here, or I could fly up to the roof and try to find some means of egress from above." Then the Spectre looked at the Flash, waiting for him to choose.

"Why not both? If you can only do one, perhaps you'd best fly up there... I think you're better able to deal with Dr Fate's magics than I am."

"Yes, wisely said. Go then, Flash, and good luck." With a gesture from the Spectre, the Flash disappeared from the forest clearing and reappeared, a moment later, inside a room that looked like a private library with only a single door as its exit.

From his vantage point atop the tower, Dr. Fate had observed this, including the Spectre take to the air and start flying up to the roof over the impassable wall of vines a moment later. Dr. Fate was, as far as he knew, still invisible to the Spectre's eyes.

Flash, thinking is most useful role here is likely to be a distraction while the Spectre does the real work, calls out loudly: "Dr Fate? Are you home?" He begins pulling a few dozen books quickly at random from the shelves before making his way over to the door and opening it.

The Flash had no answer. He made a mess of whatever shelving system Dr. Fate used for his books, but found nothing useful behind them and produced no noticeable effect from doing so. The door to the room pulled open freely as he grasped the handle and he found the door led to a corridor. The 5' wide corridor went to the right for 20' to a corner, where there was a another door. The corridor continued on past the door, around the corner. Glancing down it, the Flash could see it went the entire length of the library next to it, and then turned again to run behind the library.

I'll have you know you are putting all of those back!

You seek to take to the air demon? Well let me find you come company.

The few soft rolling syllables the Spectre hears are his only warning as the air around him grows suddenly violent. The hero is dashed against the tower. the thick vines saving him from a bone crushing impact.

Conjure Air elemental. One 4th, 5th, and second level spell used.

Flash dashes down the corridor, looking for some stairs. If he finds any, he will ascend. Otherwise he'll open the nearest door.

Flash dashes down the corridor, looking for some stairs. If he finds any, he will ascend. Otherwise he'll open the nearest door.

That's it I'm inventing the Guards and Wards spell. I aparently have a hero infestation. Some homeowners have silverfish I get Quicksilverfish!

Sticking just to corridors and ignoring doors, the Flash found himself following a really long and really winding corridor that seems to be much too big to be in the tower he saw from outside. Sometimes he was seeing by torchlight. Sometimes he was seeing by what appears to be a magical glow. Other times, he was just following the wall through darkness. The corridor changed too -- sometimes composed of fitted stone blocks and other times carpeted and wainscoted. Eventually, though, at its far end, the Flash reached a spiral staircase and ascended it.

Meanwhile, at Dr. Fate's command, a living tornado rose from the rooftop and moved to intercept the floating figure of the Spectre approaching. But the air elemental paused before reaching him, as if frightened to draw too close to God's angel of vengeance.

"For whatever reason, you attack me at your folly!" the Spectre roared as he unleashed a lightning bolt that did light damage to the air elemental, but passed through it and struck Dr. Fate on the roof for significantly more damage Dr. Fate at 14 out of 45 hp

Fate continues to concentrate on binding the elemental. Though he now keeps it out of a direct line of fire between the Spectre and himself.

OW! How did the Spectre know to aim that? As far as I know Fate is still invisible.

The Flash entered the stairwell, only to hear the sounds of ghostly moaning and wailing. By the flickering light of torches in sconces spaced evenly through the stairwell, the Flash could see a spectral wraith blocking his path both up and down.

Above the roof, outside, the Spectre gestured with his fist at the air elemental and it exploded in a fireball. Where there had been a tornado now hovered a strong breeze. But the breeze rallied into a powerful gust that buffetted the Spectre and knocked the hood back from his bald skull.

Flash attempts to speed past the wraith in front of him without contacting its body, and continue his path upwards.

The Flash managed to hug the stairwell wall as he dashed up and just squeaked past the wraith without being touched. The wraith floated up behind him, but did not exit the stairwell. He soon found the stairs emptied onto another floor of tower above him with lots of windy corridor, but ignoring doors allowed him to search the level faster. He ignored nine doors and doorways in total, but through the tenth doorway he saw another flight of stairs heading straight up into another level.

Meanwhile, the battle was stalemating on the rooftop. The Spectre tried a different tact from evocation magic and went for an enchantment spell, but Dr. Fate easily shrugged off the effects of it. In turn, the Spectre surrounded himself with negative energy that proved effective at shrugging off the air elemental that kept up its attacks. The Spectre and Dr. Fate are currently 35' apart, with the Spectre floating 5' above and 20' away from the edge of the tower roof.

"Oh, yoooooooooo-hoooooooo! Dr. FAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaate?" Flash calls out as he dashes through the door towards the next set of stairs.

The Flash was a third of the way up the stairs before the section of stairs he was on began to pivot and switch direction. Before he could leap up to the stairs that continued up, he found himself standing on a new flight of stairs leading down into a previously concealed room behind the staircase. In this room was a well or cistern full of water with a raised and smooth stone rim. The water seemed to glow with an inner light.

Flash pauses momentarily, intrigued by the pool. He tries concentrating on Dr Fate while looking at the surface of the water. If nothing happens, he'll look around to try to find a pebble or something to toss in.

The Flash found some ancient coins on the side of the well and tossed one in. In response, the water began to bubble and rise, slowly surging into a column of water. The watery mass grew in volume and took on a vaguely man-like shape. What looked like eyes flickered into being inside it and stared out at the Flash.

Flash tenses himself for action, but as the water-man has not yet made any aggressive moves Flash tries talking to it.

"Oh, glad I've found you. Perchance is Dr Fate in?"

The watery man, 8' tall and 4' wide, gave what seemed like a single nod and then stepped out of the pool. Dripping a trail of water behind itself, it trudged past the Flash to the stairs and walked up and out. The stairs began to rise back up behind it, which would trap the Flash in this now-dark chamber unless he followed along.

Leaping out of the closing chamber, the Flash found the watery man "melting" onto the steps and flowing up the entire width of the stairs towards the opening at the top of the stairs. This seemed to balance the stairs somehow so that they did not swing and lower into the hidden room again. The Flash, unable to melt himself, would have to devise a way of his own of not triggering the same stair-tilt again.

Flash waits for the water-man to clear the tilting area. After all, it wouldn't be good manners to step on him!

Mentally noting the area where the tilting stairs begin, Flash quickly retreats then runs up to the edge and with a mighty flying leap he attempts to clear the tilting portion onto the solid portion above.

The Flash's momentum easily carried him over the tilting stairs. Once more on firmer ground (or stairs), the Flash sprinted up the remaining steps and found himself in what appeared to be a large but otherwise ordinary attic full of dusty old...stuff, mostly covered in white sheets.

Waiting for the Flash to catch up was the watery man that pointed to a window in the side of the attic. The window looked out on a flat section of roof where Dr. Fate and the Spectre were still locked in a desparate magical duel.

"Thank you!" Flash says to the water-man. He heads over towards the window, and opens it up (if possible). He watches the battle for a moment, trying to ascertain who's winning. If the Spectre looks like he needs help, Flash will wait for an opportune moment to rush forth and distract Dr Fate.

The Flash felt a tingliness coming over him as he unlatched the attic window, but he was able to fight off the effect. It looked like the Spectre had the upper hand out on the roof, but that Dr. Fate was still holding his own. The Flash is 10' behind Dr. Fate

Flash decides to make a move, now seems as good a time as any. He dashes from the window and grapples Dr Fate from behind with a football-style tackle.

Completely caught off-guard, the Flash tackled Dr. Fate hard enough to knock him flat on his chest.

"Well done, Flash," the Spectre said. "I have held off on dealing the final blow to our wayward friend to wait for your arrival. Perhaps now we can learn what has happened to him. If you can hold him still, I can use some divination magic to try to solve this puzzle..."

[Oh dear. This means I am no longer concentrating on the elemental. I am now it's primary target.]

"Ugnh!" As Fate hits the ground he fades into full visibility.

"Demons, you cannot escape your fate!" The mask of Nabu glitters in a chance ray of light and the glitters rise up as brightly colored balls that slam into the fastest man.

Cast magic missile. The lower damage never miss kind. I think I can manage this while grappled.

The elemental was seriously weakened by the Spectre's magic, but it was not out of the fight. When Dr. Fate stopped concentrating on guiding its attack, it turned on him and flew straight for him. Unfortunately for the Flash, being on top of a pinned Dr. Fate meant he was between Fate and the elemental. It lashed at the Flash like a hurricane, flinging him off of Dr. Fate and knocking his hat off the tower entirely.

No longer pinned, Dr. Fate was able to work a simple, but potentially deadly spell. The Spectre saw it coming and attempted to counterspell, but it was too late. With a mixture of surprise and pain, the Spectre screamed as five magic arrows lanced through him.

Flash is at 25 out of 37 hp
Dr. Fate is at 14 out of 45 hp
Spectre is at 24 out of 55 hp

Unsure exactly what's happening, but nevertheless encouraged by the first result (he's actually surprised he even got to Dr Fate) Flash gets back up and charges Dr Fate again, attempting to hold him as the Spectre instructed.

Fate knowing that between the elemental and the speed demon he only has a moment to act rolls towards the enraged beast, keeping it between him and the thing that looks like the Flash.

He does not have time to harness mystic energy but he can turn the gaze of the mask onto the thing wearing the Specter's guise. Maybe it knows something that can turn the tide.

Using helm to detect thoughts on Stecter.

The Flash was back on Dr. Fate like Fred on Ginger, only grappling from behind and securing Dr. Fate into a double-arm lock. The dance metaphor proved more apt as the two heroes struggled to twist each other around to use the other as a shield from the still-rampaging air elemental. The Flash caught on to the purpose of the dance too late, though, as the elemental lashed him like a tornado again. Broken loose from Dr. Fate, the Flash was hurled halfway across the roof this time.

Meanwhile, Dr. Fate mentally activated the Helm of Nabu and probed into the demon-Spectre's thoughts. Anger! So much anger. And a terrible thirst for vengeance! Yes, he was surely a demon! The horrible thoughts drove Dr. Fate even madder.

Flash is at 15 out of 37 hp

Not one to be easily daunted, Flash once more gets up and goes at Dr Fate again! This time he'll try harder to keep away from the magical whirlwind!

"Your minion falls demon. Perhaps you should join him."

Cast Dispell magic on Spectre.

"Your minion falls, demon," Dr. Fate said, referring to the Flash. But the Flash was back on his feet in a ...flash, grabbing hold of Dr. Fate's arm just as he said, was ready to cast his Dispel Magic spell and disrupted it.

"It is your minion that falls, Fate," the Spectre said as he unleashed a volley of seven glowing arrows from his outstretched hand. Six of them tore through the elemental just as it was advancing on Dr. Fate -- and it exploded in a burst of harmless wind in all directions. The seventh arrow winged Dr. Fate.

Dr. Fate is at 11 out of 45 hp

Flash grins and grabs Dr Fate in a bear hug, attempting to hold him still.

Fates voice echoes from the helm of Nabun the words smashing into the Flash's mind.

Cast suggestion on Flash

"Your spectral cohort is about to fall. You should catch him because you cannot defeat me alone."

"I sense no magic about Dr. Fate that could be responsible for his strange actions," the Spectre said as he floated closer to the roof's edge. "I must probe his thoughts now..." he said and, as Dr. Fate recognized, cast Detect Thoughts.

"Your spectral cohort is about to fall. You should catch him because you cannot defeat me alone," Dr. Fate said, but the Flash tightened his grip and disrupted the spell that went with it.

"Some magic has truly driven him mad!" The Spectre said a minute later as he touched down on the roof. "Dr. Fate, please...we are not the demons you think we are. Give us one minute more to prove it to you..."

Flash maintains his grip, listening curiously to what the Spectre says but at the same time realising there is little else he can do to help.

The Spectre came right up in front of Dr. Fate, concentrated, and waved his hand slowly in front of Dr. Fate's face. "Fate -- I release you from this curse."

Quickly, the madness that had swirled around Dr. Fate's mind began to disappate and he saw clearly again. There were no demons around him at all, just two friends trying to help!

Flash feels Dr Fate relax perceptibly, but still holds on tight. "Did it work?"

"Flash , Mr. X is ....." Fate's mind grows cloudy again. He sags in grip of the fastest man. "It's gone. I no longer remember.

"Specter! The demons watch..... No there were no demons. Just my own pride and ambition. I thank you for returning me to the path. Dr. Fate stands again his eyes and mind clear behind the helmet.

{b]"My foolishness has cost us time. Tell me has X struck again?"[/b]

To Flash fell the task of informing his restored comrade-in-arms about the business with the Kidnappers Union and the failed attempt to force the Justice Society to back off from pursuing Mr. X in exchange for the safety of a woman close to the Sandman. But, of course, it all ended well. Further, the heroes had the opportunity, just nine and a half hours from now, of springing their own trap on Mr. X.

"You are doing well," the Spectre said. "I do not think you will even need me at midnight. Which is just as well. There is much need for an angel of vengeance around the world at the witching hour." He laid a gloved hand on the shoulder of both men in turn and they felt some of their injuries leave them. "Perhaps that will help. Good luck to you all..." he said as he began to disappear.

If you still want to say anything else to the Spectre, say it now.

A short time later, a convalescing Wesley Dodds had a surprise visit from the Spectre in the hospital. The patient in the bed on the other side of the room was horrified.

"Wesley Dodds, I understand that you will have need of all your strength tonight at midnight. Allow me to lay hands upon you and restore some of that strength..."

Flash turns to Dr Fate. "So, then... ... ... You have a way to get us back to the city in jiffy, no doubt?... We should probably check in with the Sandman first, though, I hope he'll be ready for tonight!"

The Flash waited for Dr. Fate's answer, and also remembered to mention that the Sandman was probably still in Kingston and not Manhattan.

Dr. Fate, meanwhile, took stock of his remaining spells and considered his options.