Super Smash Quest² - Story - Chapter 11: Flying for Help


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Date: October 25th, 2008.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers fought the massive dog-mecha of GUN until it eventually died... they had to near-suicidally leap out of an airship to land on it, and from there broke into its cockpit. Yet even that was a trap, as the evil Commander Borne had made it a remote control machine.
Metal Man (GM): It had been discovered to be a former Eggman mech, apparently dating to back when there was a war against Eggman on the continent... Its vent near the head was its only obvious weakness, and Deloth had only managed to set himself on fire when he jumped into it earlier.
Metal Man (GM): However, Keikyoku managed to rip a missile off of the mech and hurl it into the vent, finally destroying its engine. This caused the GUN forces (a large number of airships, helicopters, and men with guns) to turn away from attacking the Echidna settlement on the floating island.
Metal Man (GM): In turn the Questers fled back there, only to be taunted by Commander Borne by radio. Earlier, the Questers had killed somebody who claimed to be him, but it had all been a ruse... Borne had managed to raze the Echidna city, and even though they stopped his remote-control mech, he had no plans on letting them step foot on the continent of Mobius again.
Metal Man (GM): So now we join the Questers as they land, heavily worn out by their battles, on the now torched Echidna city. The once proud stone buildings have been blasted to nothing. Everything aboveground is in ruins and on fire.
Deloth: "WHY CAN'T WE HAVE JUST ONE FUCKING PEACEFUL DAY?!"
Metal Man (GM): Commander Borne's attack nearly broke into those, too; a few of the stairways into the island are also on fire, or collapsed. The Questers are now standing in the presence of the ruins.
Dragoshi: "Because reality's being a f-...Nevermind."
Keikyoku sheds a tear at the destruction of angel island.
Metal Man (GM): Another ship lands, and out comes two long-time Quester allies; Jack, a sort of shorter man with a glowing turquoise spear (which, earlier, had been used to blast to pieces some people), and Marley, an ex-GUN agent, taller, in a fisherman garb... half-unshaven.
Marley: "Well, this is a fine batch o'pickles. I never knew one o' those GUN butchers survived the great war."
Metal Man (GM): He walks over to the Questers, overlooking the destruction.
Marley: "So. Ye blew up that stupid machine, I hope?"
Aribar scans the ruins and wonders if all of this destruction could have been prevented. As the ship lands the half-elf turns to face the new arrivals.
Digifanatic: "Well... yeah, but our travails are far from finished."
Dragoshi: "Well, we blew up it's engine at least."
Metal Man (GM): Aribar would see that it could have been prevented... potentially. The buildings weren't made to be hit by missiles... had they only been reinforced.
Marley: "Good. Let's get one thing straight." He makes a sweeping motion. "We need to find a new strategy against this man. He's obviously either a descendant or some sort of relative to one of the generals who stopped Eggman."
Keikyoku looks around for the king or the echidnas.
Metal Man (GM): Keikyoku can't find him. And his castle's been blown to bits. There's an Echidna attendant staring at the wreckage of the castle, though.
Marley: "Now, back when, the nice civilian guys tried to reason with ol' Eggman. In fact, I was in their service back when."
Deloth: *looking at the attendant.* "Hey, you. Where's the king?"
Marley: "He just laughed and killed their diplomats, and attacked us with giant war machines like that one."
Dragoshi: "...I see."
Metal Man (GM): Marley continues ranting in the background.
Keikyoku taps the attendant's shoulder. "Is the king in the pathway between the two pictures?"
Attendant: "Uh... he's been placed into hiding. He moved to somewhere no one is allowed to go but royalty... No, that place wasn't safe enough."
Marley: "So GUN hired its own madmen. These guys, they didn't know mercy, and they trusted no one. They were joined together to stop Eggman, though. So Eggman was eventually killed, and his machines stolen. All was fine, except we had nutcases with doomsday weapons everywhere."
Aribar: "... How many other generals were there?"
Marley: "At least five."
Dragoshi: "..." *Sighs.*
Marley: "But that's the thing. One day, they all vanished."
Deloth: "Are any of THEM still around?"
Digifanatic: "Man..."
Marley: "Reports came in... they were dead. Killed by our men. It was to protect us all. I personally saw the corpses. But..."
Dragoshi: "...But?"
Marley: "We never did ask if they had relatives."
Deloth: "And here we are now."
Dragoshi: "..." *Face-freaking-palm!*
Marley: "In fact, they came from prestigious families, who had served GUN in lesser roles. This prevented them from being corrupted."
Deloth: "...Getting back to the present day, got any other strategies?"
Keikyoku: "Well where is the king then?"
Digifanatic: "I like Deloth's idea."
Attendant: "He's... hiding. I can't tell you."
Marley: "Well, there's the thing. We count out the echidnas, first. They have technology, but... it's not practical."
Metal Man (GM): He taps the airship.
Marley: "They've never had to fight a war. They did dumb things... they got plastered even when they had superior numbers. This man divided them up and ripped them to pieces. What we need, is our own power base, and an ally who knows wars."
Digifanatic: "Maybe the Mushroom Kingdom doesn't look like a bad idea after all."
Marley: "...Didn't you meet some interesting people in that place?"
Deloth: "What about that old Eggman base we fired up?"
Dragoshi: "That we did."
Digifanatic: "I'd say so..."
Keikyoku: "Well tell me where he is I need to talk with him."
Digifanatic: "As for the Eggman base... I'm not sure if it's a good idea to remained settled on Mobius at this rate."
Attendant: "...I can't tell you. He wouldn't tell me, either. I'm afraid we'll have to wait for him to show himself."
Marley: "We should take anything we still have on Mobius, and run. Borne is solidifying control in all the areas as we speak."
Deloth growls. "There's got to be SOMETHING we can do."
Marley: "He may even rebuild that machine. Odds are, he had to rebuild it from wreckage. Well, we need ourselves a friend with an experienced army. Then we need to pick our targets..."
Deloth: "Dammit, we've eaten cosmic horrors for breakfast and killed demigods. Why can't we take down one man?"
Dragoshi: "...Well, we should prolly' go and get that Eggrobo, then."
Jack: *Looks to Deloth, after having been silent.* "Ah..."
Keikyoku: "Well just f'ing great, is there anything I can do to help for the time being?"
Digifanatic: "Dragoshi, Marley: Wise idea. Deloth: No vlue." clue.*
Jack: "Cosmic horrors don't have brains."
Dragoshi: "Pretty much, yea."
Jack: "They got some freaky stuff down in the Echidna temple. They had some weird magic. But none of it was sentient. I blew it away with a stolen staff and that was it. That's why they needed a man-killer, not an archaeologist. This guy's a human like us. He's probably planning just like us. We just gotta use our numbers against his. Ol' Marley here has some experience, but it's not enough. We'll need more allies if we are to overtake him."
Aribar: "Does Borne have all of GUN under his control? Exactly who is allied with him?"
Attendant: "...We are working on cleaning up the wreckage. Not much else." *He looks at Keikyoku sullenly.*
Marley: "I was watching... he has the air division. He has what's left of the ground corps."
Digifanatic: "As for taking down Borne... who knows what else he may sic on us."
Marley: "The navy... not so much."
Deloth: "If we just had SOMETHING to help us... what about the Chaos Emeralds?"
Attendant: "!!!"
Metal Man (GM): The Attendant looks to Deloth like he is completely out of his mind.
Attendant: "The... the Chaos Emeralds! They'd kill us all!"
Digifanatic: "So how can Sonic use them and control their power?"
Aribar looks to the attendant. "How would they kill us?"
Keikyoku: "Not if someone wise had the master emerald..."
Attendant: "He is... the chosen one."
Digifanatic: "He whaaaaaaat?"
Attendant: "The one who can use them without going insane."
Digifanatic: "I never recall Sonic being the recipient of a prophecy..."
Dragoshi: "...Funtastic."
Digifanatic: "And what about Shadow?"
Deloth: "Can we at least try?"
Attendant: "We have it written in great murals. But it can only be done according to prophecy. Your foe... he is human, right?"
Digifanatic: "Indeed he is."
Dragoshi: "Yep."
Attendant: "Does anything he use... fly?"
Deloth glances away. That little gnawing "I want power" feeling is starting to wake up again...
Attendant: "It must be done... high in the air... against a flying object. Otherwise, even he can't use them!"
Digifanatic: "Aside from his ships... nothing I'm sure of."
Aribar: "Marley just said he had an air division, so he must have some machines that fly."
Attendant: "It's... it's... I don't know why that is, but that's just how it is!"
Digifanatic: "Because I assume that also include killer mechs."
Keikyoku: "Well what if say the person who wielded the chaos emeralds was already insane?"
Deloth: "Listen, by the time we get back with the army, this place'll be a smoking crater. We don't have any other visible options."
Attendant: "The emeralds... they are lost. Nowhere! Ever since... Eggman died. Eggman was using them."
Deloth: "Besides, haven't WE used the emeralds before?"
Dragoshi: "No."
Keikyoku: "Well does anyone know where the master emerald is?"
Dragoshi: *Crosses arms.*
Attendant: "Well, yes, and... no. The king's secret quarters are also where it is. Knuckles guards it as well. I haven't seen him, though..."
Marley: "I don't think green rocks will save us today."
Deloth: "I'm still not seeing any other options available to us."
Marley: "It didn't work for Eggman."
Dragoshi: "Yep..."
Marley: "He had the most powerful death ray in existence."
Aribar: "That reminds me... Where are Sonic and Tails? Where is Shadow? It has been a while since I last heard anything about them..."
Marley: "But five people came at him from five directions."
Digifanatic: "Well..."
Marley: "It didn't work. He only stopped one of them."
Digifanatic: "Didn't some of you guys pull something crazy out of your heads during a recent fight?"
Attendant: "???"
Marley: "Sonic and Tails..." He puts a hand to his chin. "They're around. Well. Tails is. Nobody seems to know where Sonic is. Shadow? ...How do you know his name?"
Marley: "Nobody is supposed to know who he is. He's some dirty laundry."
Digifanatic: "Well, he used to be a thorn in our side for a while."
Marley: "And he most likely is dead. I mean. Falling out of a space ship like that. You tell me that's survivable."
Aribar: "It was... A painful and desperate move, but in a recent fight I have tapped into the depths of my powers..."
Digifanatic: *leans in to Marley and whispers.* "From our... ahem, last world."
Marley: "Well, I'll say this up front. Your last world's completely bananas."
Digifanatic: "That's... kinda accurate."
Aribar: "... That it was."
Marley: "No human can use an emerald directly. Indirectly, it sort of drives them insane."
Dragoshi: "Very much so. ...I'd imagine."
Marley: "Dr. Ivo was once a researcher like Gerald."
Deloth: "We're not human."
Marley: "He went insane in their presence... just like Gerald."
Keikyoku: "I tapped into some power when we fought those mechs and Aribar exploded."
Digifanatic: "Crap... well, I am, so... yeah. I'mma screwed."
Marley: "Well... that's something else. No Emeralds were involved."
Attendant: "Well... if you want to hear of the emeralds... nevermind."
Deloth: "Let's hear it."
Keikyoku: "Well what if the wielder of the emeralds was echidna?"
Dragoshi: "Yea. Let's..."
Attendant: "...Well, there's a legend we all know. The emeralds are containers of great evil. The Master Emerald can control them, but even then. They're still evil. In truth, anyone craving great power can wield them, eventually. But also... it destroys them. From what I am hearing, it destroyed both... Eggmen?"
Deloth: "Likely story."
Attendant: "It also destroyed a great chief of ours. Pachamac."
Aribar goes to find some piece of rubble to sit down on. The half-elf listens to the conversation, but also tries to think up some plans that could actually accomplish something...
Attendant: "Perhaps, in small circumstances, they can be used... but they cannot be used alone. If they are used, it is said they corrupt you. Perhaps you need them to corrupt something else instead... I do not know what."
Keikyoku: "Well what if the person wielding the emeralds doesn't crave power, but rather uses them in defense."
Attendant: "The emeralds do not read minds... they are constants."
Digifanatic: "I figured as such."
Attendant: "I can show you to the Master Emerald if you truly want, but this man seems to have a better idea. Nothing good has come from them."
Digifanatic: "Well, it seems as if Emeralds are out of the equation."
Attendant: "They stopped Eggman once or twice... he simply became even more ambitious."
Deloth: "What about using them as a power source?"
Digifanatic: "I still feel uneasy about that one."
Marley: "The radiation they give off transcends all technology. Eggman's corpse was completely lit up with a bizarre type of radiation from his usage. Sonic, Tails, and others have also been detected with the radiation... just less, as they never kept them for long."
Aribar: "I think it is becoming increasingly clear that the Emeralds are not the answer."
Dragoshi: "No. Really?"
Attendant: "The Mushroom Kingdom gave us better technology. These shells and mushrooms are powerful, but not so much they corrupt all. They lack punch, but... I have seen their ships. They have armies."
Deloth bites his tongue. He still wants those Emeralds, bad...
Keikyoku: "Well what if you were to let somebody use them that craved immense power, wouldn't the emeralds destroy them?"
Dragoshi: "...Any flowers in there among the shrooms and shells?" >_>
Attendant: "...It would eventually destroy them, but only after causing untold chaos. Yes... flowers. Even some power stars. Though their effect on people is short lived. They work better as power sources."
Aribar: "Said person would be all-mighty before being destroyed, Keikyoku."
Keikyoku: "Well then that's out of the question."
Marley: "So... we can leave now, or we can leave later. You mentioned Tails."
Aribar: "So we go to the Mushroom Kingdom and request their help. Assuming they give us their support, what do we do with the army? How and where would we strike Borne? Do we even know where his bases are?"
Dragoshi: "...We still kinda need to get the Eggrobo 'fore we leave." >_>;; *Expects almost everyone to go 'lolno.'* :/
Marley: "We're going to need a machine expert if we face more reanimated Eggman weapons, at this rate."
Digifanatic: "Hang on, hang on..."
Marley: "Egg... robo?"
Dragoshi: "...Yes. Eggrobo."
Deloth shakes his head. "I still think there has to be SOME way to use the Emeralds."
Digifanatic: "Excuse me, but do you know of any other continents we could fly to or such? Surely this whole planet can't be just Mobius and the Mushroom Kingdom..."
Marley: "..."
Jack: "Oh, sure."
Marley: "What?"
Jack: "Yeah, there's another one."
Marley: "Why didn't you tell... anyone???"
Jack: "You always think I'm crazy."
Keikyoku: "Well I want to wait and speak with the king about the mech technology."
Attendant: "Well... the king's hiding."
Digifanatic: "Maybe there's someone else that's really good with these sorts of machines and whatever that we can hire for this battle."
Jack: "There's a continent, to the far East."
Digifanatic: "Okay. Who inhabits it?"
Deloth: "Who's there?"
Jack: "I read of it in ancient text."
Digifanatic: "Ancient might not cut it, Jack."
Jack: "The early Echidnas met some of them. All human. Weird people. They had ships. And... axes. This was quite a while ago."
Digifanatic: "True... Anything else of notable importance?"
Jack: "They raided Mobius from time to time, using superior axe technology."
Digifanatic: "Any names stick out?"
Keikyoku: "Well I vote we go to the other continent until the king comes out of hiding."
Jack: "They lit stuff on fire and kidnapped people."
Dragoshi: "Superior... axe technology? ...whaT?"
Jack: "Uhh... the Vring is what they called them in the texts."
Dragoshi: *what.
Jack: "This was back in ancient times, mind you. The Echidna didn't even have much magic. They were good at the ocean or something."
Aribar: "They sound like barbarians... Vring? If I've encountered them before, I cannot remember them."
Jack: "Nobody believes me, everyone went for the Mushroom one. They claim they would have come here by now. Maybe they don't care?"
Digifanatic: "Hmmm... ocean expertise. Not sure how useful that'd be in this situation."
Jack: "This island is... er... well. Sort of small. I have no clue how the... er... thousand years treated them, though."
Keikyoku: "Well are we gonna just stand here talking about them or are we gonna go and ask them for help."
Deloth: "It's interesting, but by the time we get back, Borne'll have taken over."
Attendant: "I am in your debt for your services. We can take you where you must go."
Digifanatic: "He's practically taken it over already!"
Dragoshi: "As if he hasn't already, Del?" *Shakes his head.* .oO(Ya nine...)
Jack: "Old Borne's gonna be busy, you guys gave him a new project."
Metal Man (GM): He points at Mobius continent.
Deloth: "More so than he already HAS."
Jack: "He's gonna be rebuilding that machine."
Digifanatic: "Crap, screw the other continents."
Jack: "And probably making it nastier. Who knows, maybe it'll be able to fly!"
Dragoshi: "...Yeeeaaa..."
Jack: "It'll take a while, though. You know how hard it is to trade out an engine piston the size of a train???"
Aribar: "I wasn't a part of the battle against that machine... How badly destroyed is it? Before we set out anywhere could we make his job a bit more difficult?"
Jack: "Especially when your main equipment depot had to be set on fire to scare away people."
Digifanatic: .oO(We're a few Arwings short of a good army... and I have no idea where McCloud and his guys are now!)
Marley: "Oh, they blew up its engine. It just fell down and stopped working. Big old explosion. Though the frame's still there."
Dragoshi: "Yeeeeaaa... Though, the f- Yes. That."
Attendant: "We have time. There's nothing left here that Borne knows about."
Deloth thinks for a moment. "Does that staff of yours still have a deathbolt in it?"
Digifanatic: "Best not to guess how much."
Attendant: "He blew it up and lost interest when he saw we had nothing easily taken."
Jack: "I wager it has one left in it, yes. Whatcha thinking? Blow up the frame? No good. It's surrounded by his guys, I'm sure."
Metal Man (GM): He taps one of the airships.
Deloth: "Snipe Borne if we lure him into the open."
Jack: "A few more bullets and you're dead before you can say 'swiss cheese.'"
Digifanatic: "Airship might be one of our best--I like that."
Jack: "The Echidna guys, I give it to them, they have faith. But they never trained in this technology. You see one of these ships? Just plain crashed into a mountain!"
Keikyoku: "Well we can do that or go to the continent."
Marley: "Of course, you could fly the ship yourselves."
Jack: "Well. If they're good at driving."
Aribar: "It looks like it would be better to simply fly to the different continents and look for help."
Dragoshi: "Ehhh... I'm quite rusty, so, I'll decline."
Digifanatic: "Well..." *does that sorta ^^; pose.*
Metal Man (GM): Flashbacks of when the Questers crashed 2-3 separate cars into diners and walls, one after another, would come to mind.
Deloth: "One headshot and it would be over. How is that any worse?"
Jack: "You have a person you want me to hit?"
Digifanatic: "Indeed."
Jack: "Don't tell me you think I can hit Borne and kill him."
Keikyoku starts walking to an airship. "I vote we go to the other continent and ask for help."
Deloth: "Great. I take it he's shielded."
Jack: "He's one of them crazy generals, or a relative. Odds are it bounces back and kills me. Or he kills me too when he dies. And I like living. Unlike you guys."
Deloth: "..."
Digifanatic: "I would not be surprised if that were to happen..."
Deloth glares at the sky. "What deity of fate did we get angry back in our old services?"
Dragoshi: "Yea, me neither."
Jack: "Methinks I can live on this island and kill people who try to attack if I have to. It's remote, and these echidnas are sort of like robots."
Attendant: "Hey!"
Dragoshi: "Heh..."
Metal Man (GM): Deloth see a shooting star blink for a moment. Interesting.
Deloth: "...?"
Deloth shades his eyes and looks up again.
Metal Man (GM): Nothing in the air now.
Keikyoku gives Jack a small kick in the shin.
Metal Man (GM): It was just random. Or was it?
Jack: "Ow! What was that for?"
Digifanatic: "Deloth?"
Jack: "I've been really nice, not using my spear to demand control over the ol' expedition."
Deloth: "...Uh. Well, thanks for the quick reply, at least... Did anybody else see that shooting star?"
Keikyoku: "For insulting the echidnas."
Digifanatic: "No..."
Jack: "Nope."
Attendant: "Not at all."
Aribar: "You're weird, Deloth."
Marley: "Personally, I want to see my bottle of whiskey."
Deloth: *mumbling.* "Never seen one blink like that before..."
Digifanatic: "If that's our deus-ex-machina, so be it."
Jack: "Deus ex what?"
Keikyoku hands Marley a little glass of the admin booze.
Deloth suddenly flings his arms out and starts yelling. "COME ON! HIT ME WITH SOME KIND OF EMPOWERING RAY! I DARE YOU!"
Digifanatic: "Deus-ex-machina. God as machine. Basically, something showing up to save ourselves at the last moment."
Marley: *Looks at Keikyoku.* "Ah! So you're the only sane person here. Nice to meet you!" *He takes the glass and drinks it down.*
Aribar: "So if we're going to look for help, would we be going to the Mushroom Kingdom or this Vring island?"
Dragoshi: "...hey. I'm sorta sane as well."
Digifanatic: "And if Deloth wasn't seeing things, I wouldn't be surprised if that's Super Sonic... about time we saw the ol' guy again."
Dragoshi: "...at least, I like to think so..."
Marley: "Ah... much better. Well, I can't just steal your booze. Especially if it's..."
Metal Man (GM): His eyes bulge at the label.
Digifanatic takes a look at the sky as well... he looks for any erratic patterns to this star.
Dragoshi: *Sighs.*
Marley: "What did you do, knock over a CEO for that stuff?"
Deloth: *eye twitch.* "COME ON! ARE YA CHICKEN?! I DARE YOU!"
Dragoshi: "Del?"
Jack: "I'm going to lay down amongst the burning ruins and improve my tan now." He walks off.
Metal Man (GM): Nothing in the sky.
Dragoshi: "...Okay. Good luck with that."
Attendant: "I take it it is time we moved on."
Metal Man (GM): The Attendant walks into the hole-filled ship.
Deloth: "IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE! COME ON, JUST TRY ME UP THERE!"
Attendant: "I will fly. Don't worry. I have yet to have a single accident with one of these."
Metal Man (GM): Deloth yells to the empty sky.
Dragoshi: "Quiet down, Del." *Sighs.*
Marley: "Well, I can't pay you back now, but I'll be sure to make it worth yer while. You... strange... echidna... hedgehog... alcoholic... thief."
Attendant: "Are we going, or are we going to yell at the sky?"
Deloth: "...LOOK, IF I'M CURSED, JUST FUCKING *TELL ME*! IF YOU LEAVE ME IN SUSPENSE, I WILL KILL YOU!"
Aribar gets up and heads towards the ship. If nothing else, stepping into it will be productive.*
Dragoshi: "I'm goin'. Dunno bout Del, though..." *SHIP... ENTERU!*
Digifanatic: "Wait, are we going for Borne now or are we looking for help?"
Marley: *Looks to Deloth.* "You ain't cursed. You're just dumb." *He chuckles.*
Dragoshi: "Yea, what he said."
Marley: "Chaos Emeralds? Man... they'll kill us all if we find any."
Keikyoku: "Oh I just robbed the gun offices blind when they were gone" *He produces his gun stapler and cup.*
Marley: "Your world's bananas. It's not your fault. ...Well, I guess that answers that question."
Aribar: "I believe we should look for help. We don't even know where Borne is to my knowledge."
Marley: "Good job." *He takes out... a slightly older stapler, it's gray.* "I stole my share before I quit, too."
Deloth whacks the side of the ship in frustration as he walks in.
Attendant: "That's everyone..."
Keikyoku smiles. "Great minds think alike."
Attendant: "Starting engines..."
Metal Man (GM): The ship slowly rises, and the Questers on their way.
Digifanatic: "Okay, then... if you think Vring will work."
Deloth: "We made things WORSE. We're not supposed to do that. We're supposed to keep things going the way they're supposed to..."
Digifanatic: *he's in there.*
Marley: "Well, that's why I quit this business of being a hero, myself. Fishing... now that's good."
Aribar mutters to Deloth, "In case you haven't noticed, we almost always make things worse."
Marley: "Nobody wants to kill a fisherman."
Dragoshi: "Yep..."
Deloth: *snarling.* "Please. I don't have the skills to do anything EXCEPT this job. I mean, fuck, I don't even have my girlfriend to give me that ONE LAST STRAND of sanity anymore!"
Dragoshi: "...You had a strand of sanity?"
Digifanatic: "You had a girlfriend?"
Dragoshi: "Well, color me surprised!" *Laughs for a few seconds before calming down.* >_>
Deloth looks at Dragoshi. If he jumps over the seats, he MAY be able to hit him with a right to the jaw...
Digifanatic: "Dude, Deloth, I don't mean that in a mocking way. I'm just asking..."
Marley: "What a crazy adventure we're on now... why, it just couldn't get any weirder."
Deloth: "Yes... and she worked with you guys, so I hear. ... Marley, why'd you have to say that?"
Dragoshi: "I am 255% sure that you'll be eventually proven wrong in some inane way, Marley."
Aribar: "Deloth, we accidentally made a mage a god. We brought him down. We beat Robotnik more times than I can could. We beat something that was practically the essence of chaos itself... It will take us some time, but we will get Borne, Deloth."
Scarecrow (GM): The sound of a crow would suddenly echo through the metallic interior of the ship, signaling the existence of the scarecrow that had so far gone quite unnoticed. For an undetermined amount of time, the being had been leaned up against a wall-essentially relaxing in what he had assumed was an abandoned airship free for the taking.
Deloth: "...Marley, you do realize that our presence makes statements like 'it couldn't get any weirder' do things JUST LIKE THAT."
Marley: "Whoops. My bad."
Deloth: "Like suddenly wake up haunted scarecrows."
Marley: "Oh well. It's a scarecrow. It won't harm us."
Attendant: "It better not touch me, or we're all going to get free swimming lessons."
Dragoshi: "...Now you're just asking for it." *shakes his head.*
Digifanatic: "Marley... you're doing it again."
Keikyoku marvels at a passing kitten that is flying.
Deloth: "I'll toss it off." *starts walking towards itm sword drawn and ready.*
Scarecrow: "Hello." Its voice was rather bland and lack luster as it regarded to others with one hollow eye and a tilted head.
Marley: "...This is why I don't do the hero business anymore. I keep making stuff happen."
Dragoshi: "...If you keep making stuff happen, then make it good stuff." :x
Aribar turns his head as he hears the crow... And the voice... "Ahh, greetings."
Deloth: "We REALLY don't need yet another variable here... someone open the hatch."
Digifanatic just keeps quiet.
Attendant: "Opening hatch."
Metal Man (GM): *KZBTK.* It doesn't open.
Scarecrow: "Relax." It said, responding to the threatened reactions of a few, lifting its only arm in a non-threatening manner. It did not seem to posses weapons of any sort.
Keikyoku: "Hmm there is no way that Borne could suddenly explode into a million pieces."
Attendant: "Apparently, bullets prevent the hatches from opening while we're flying."
Digifanatic: "Likely not, Kei."
Deloth: "Oh, well, that's just terrific. ...Come on, fate. Make this better. Prove that you CAN."
Keikyoku: "Well if saying it can't get any weirder made things get weirder."
Scarecrow: "Friendly." The scarecrow said, the hand now pointing at the scarecrow's body.
Marley: "See? Harmless? I dunno. All I know is a scarecrow isn't packing a machinegun."
Keikyoku pokes the scarecrow.
Deloth: "I'm WAITING, fate..."
Dragoshi: "...Yea. Then that'd just be nonsensical."
Digifanatic: .oO(And he's in worse shape than Aribar.)
Aribar: "Welcome aboard the Rusty Deathtrap! I have to agree with Marley here; he hasn't tried to kill us yet. Compared to what has happened, we should all be ecstatic."
Dragoshi: "I mean if it was packing farm implements then I wouldn't surprised." :/
Attendant: "Even if it did, this thing wouldn't be flying for long, and it'd die too. If it was bad. By the way, I'm seeing something very interesting on the distance."
Deloth groans and slumps in his seat. "So what now? Magic tattoos?"
Attendant: "There's an... island. Wait... no. An island? Forget that. It's... huge."
Scarecrow: Lacking legs, the scarecrow floated away from the wall a few feet above ground. "Explanations." It pointed at the damaged portions of the ship.
Deloth heads up and tries to see what the attendant does.
Aribar gets up and looks out of a window to see the attendant's reported 'island.'
Metal Man (GM): There is a massive land mass.
Keikyoku: "Well why don't we land on the island and ask what island it is, it is possible for landmasses to grow."
Attendant: "Oh wait... it looks dead."
Metal Man (GM): The land is entirely gray.
Scarecrow: "Agreeable."
Attendant: "Wait a moment..."
Dragoshi: "Huh. Peculiar. Hm?"
Metal Man (GM): The Questers begin to see... skyscrapers.
Digifanatic: .oO(One-word sentences and such...)
Attendant: "...Uh. I don't think we're going to any place with axe-wielders now."
Digifanatic: "Definitely not. And I wouldn't be surprised if Vring is a thing of the past."
Marley: "Well, the tablet WAS outdated..."
Aribar: "I've seen this place for all of ten seconds and I can already tell that I won't fit in here."
Scarecrow (GM): Indeed, the scarecrow seems sentient but unable to speak more than one-worded statements!
Metal Man (GM): The Questers notice the full outline now. It's a city... It's a huge continent with cities, forests, and other stuff.
Deloth: "Holy crap."
Keikyoku: "I say we land."
Scarecrow: "Interesting..."
Digifanatic: "Definitely."
Attendant: "There's a radio communication..."
Metal Man (GM): He flips a switch.
???: "Unidentified Flying Object. Please respond, or we will shoot you down."
Scarecrow: "Bothersome."
???: "We have had enough of you, UFOs."
Digifanatic: "We come in peace."
Dragoshi: "That we do."
???: "...How strange. The aliens speak our language."
Dragoshi: .oO(Hopefully, we won't leave in pieces.)
Metal Man (GM): It's a... remotely British voice.
???: "Well then... you can land, right? Your ship doesn't match any sane standards. Why, I'm surprised you haven't suffocated at that altitude, with all those bullet holes."
Scarecrow: The crow perched upon one of the planks of wood bolted to the scarecrow's back caws.
Dragoshi: "...I believe so."
Deloth: "We'll try to get it down. In one or more pieces."
Dragoshi: "Hopefully one."
Aribar: "Don't question the laws of reality, please. They may wake up at any moment."
???: "Okay then... we'll send you some coordinates."
Deloth looks back at the scarecrow. "Isn't the point of a scarecrow to keep crows AWAY?"
Metal Man (GM): A bunch of numbers appear on the screen. Eventually one thing gets through.
Scarecrow: "Companion." He points to the scarecrow.
Attendant: "They have weird systems. But I have an idea. We're going there." He points to a building complex near the sea, in a snowy northern area. There's a remote landing pad there.
Keikyoku pokes the scarecrow.
Attendant: "You find it fine that we land, then?"
Aribar looks back to the scarecrow. "Yeah... I think something as beat up as that scarecrow needs a friend."
Deloth: "Go for it."
Scarecrow: "Insulting." The scarecrow attempts to swat away the unwanted poker.
Metal Man (GM): The ship begins to land.
???: "We've been wanting to talk to you. But some strange people always ignored our transmissions. We know something has been going on your continent. We have wanted to know..."
Digifanatic: "Please talk."
Metal Man (GM): The Questers land.
???: "Come into my place, please. It must be cold out there."
Metal Man (GM): The ramp goes down... it's a snowy area.
Keikyoku stops poking the scarecrow and examines the crow.
Metal Man (GM): There's a straight pathway into a building. No guards, no security. It looks deserted.
Deloth wraps his wings around himself and starts walking down the path.
Scarecrow: "Concern."
Attendant: "I will, respectfully, stay at the ship."
Digifanatic walks out... wearing a short sleeved shirt is not good in this situation, but oh well.
???: "Oh, yes. You may leave your pilot."
Dragoshi: "Yea. That sounds good."
Metal Man (GM): Snow is blowing around as the Questers walk out. But there's a door so close. There's a wide, stone-tiled area up ahead.
Scarecrow: The scarecrow steps put into the cold. "Concern."
Metal Man (GM): It's luxurious in there...
Digifanatic: *into the stony area.*
Metal Man (GM): Warm. Leather couches everywhere.
Deloth: "Incidentally, I know I look like a mixed-up bag of spare parts. Please don't comment on it, I'm quite tired of it."
Dragoshi: *Walks out.*
Deloth heads into the area.
Keikyoku: "Are you sure you won't freeze?" *turns to the guy.* "Is there a pilot's bar?"
Attendant: "I'll be fine in here, thanks."
Aribar steps off of the ship and holds his mantle tight around himself to ward off the cold. He follows the others.
Scarecrow: Lacking actual skin, the scarecrow remains quite comfortable in the cold.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers walk into the area. A British man in a black shirt and pants walks out. He has a rough stubble-hewn face, and a short, grayish black haircut. Why, that's strange. He looks very normal.
???: "Hello... I have been stuck in this place for quite a while."
Scarecrow: "Salutations."
???: "The... other people. They think UFOs are normal... that's why I got to you first. I have a satellite... I have been watching your continent. There is... a war there?"
Aribar: "Indeed."
???: "...And you are very strange... where did you come from? Oh... I am so rude." He sits down on a couch. "Please, sit down."
Digifanatic: "More like a totalitarian nut crushing the continent nowadays."
Deloth collapses onto a couch.
Scarecrow: "Elsewhere."
Deloth: "So... what's your name?"
Scarecrow: The scarecrow seems to lack the ability to sit!
Keikyoku jumps on his own couch and lays down.
Dragoshi: "Nah... I'm good." *Just leans 'gainst the wall.*
???: "Well, I have other names..."
Digifanatic: *finds a couch as well... not necessarily alone, but just at least a place to sit.*
Trevor: "Just call me Trevor."
Digifanatic: .oO(Oh jeez...)
Trevor: "Of course, that is not my real name... but... I can't tell you."
Dragoshi: "...Alright, then."
Trevor: "I am... from a secret agency... in another world."
Scarecrow: "Agreeable."
Trevor: "I got stuck here... after a bad incident. You?"
Aribar: "Greetings. Aribar Hunter at your service." *The one-armed mage does a short bow before sitting down on a couch.*
Digifanatic: "Ian Hoffman, sir."
Trevor: "I possess the means to help you, if you can help me."
Scarecrow: The scarecrow opts to just float around for the time being, his method of conversation being inadequate amongst the others.
Trevor: "I wish to get back to my land, but I don't know how one even gets in this land, to start with. You are strangers... where did you come from?"
Keikyoku yawns, takes out a comb, and starts grooming his fur.
Digifanatic: *As has been the case in this SSQ^2 era, he tends to avoid his nickname, mainly such that people might wonder what it's supposed to mean or come from...*
Deloth: "A book. And I somehow got morphed in transit."
Trevor: "So, another world entirely from mine."
Digifanatic: "Yeah. He's not lying about either one..."
Scarecrow: "Elsewhere."
Trevor: "We're dealing with something with... dimensions. Wonderful." He puts his face in his hands.
Deloth: "Although I'm beginning to have a couple of theories about that..."
Trevor: "Well. There is hope. You possess strange technology."
Keikyoku: "Scarecrow, what's your name?"
Trevor: "I am very good at developing technology... do you have portal technology? Or something that teleports?"
Aribar: "We used to..."
Scarecrow: "Sirens."
Trevor: "Well. I need it. Some... people in this world have a teleporter too. But they refuse to let me have one."
Deloth: "I can do that somewhat innately, if that helps."
Trevor: "Well, if I could ride you through dimensions, it would beat the alternative..." He chuckles.
Aribar: "As in, we used to have very advanced transportation technology before we came here."
Trevor: "I must get back. Someone... important... is in trouble. I possess enough weapons and men to fight... who is this tyrant, again? We have... methods."
Deloth: "Commander Borne."
Dragoshi: "...A man named Commander Borne. He and his army have been mucking things up."
Trevor: "A Commander... how funny. I'm always encountering them. Well. I specialize in... er... mucking up armies... if you could just get me a teleporter... I can muck them up."
Deloth: "As for that warping, unless I can supercharge it somehow, I think I can only go through a slight change of this dimension. While I'm doing it, everything looks... funny. Grayscale."
Trevor: "I could study your... capabilities. I have... scientists."
Scarecrow: The scarecrow seems to be paying close attention to the conversation but does nothing else.
Trevor: "But... it may be unique to you." He stares at Deloth. "Just... what are you? I understand the others. Human, dragon-like thing... you're just weird."
Dragoshi: "...That's what we're trying to figure out."
Deloth: "I really wish I knew."
Aribar weakly chuckles..
Keikyoku looks around for a marble or button and some thread.
Trevor: "Well. Then I have an idea. My scientists can... safely... study you."
Deloth: "I can see elements of cat--" *rubs his ears.* "--, dragon for the red, a bird for the feathered wings, and... uh... one more thing." *pops his tentacles out of his back.* "These."
Trevor: "And in the meantime, I can have the others and my men muck up this... Commander." *Nearly falls out of his chair at Deloth's tentacles.*
Dragoshi: "...Yea."
Trevor: "...Yes... very... very strange."
Scarecrow: The scarecrow seems unphased by the tentacles. "Peculiar."
Deloth: "...Oh yeah, and two more wings on my head." *points to 'em.*
Aribar randomly wonders what it would be like to be normal..
Deloth: "Because apparently one full-sized set wasn't enough."
Digifanatic: "So then... it's cool to know what Deloth is, but yeah, what about Borne?"
Trevor: "Well. I should introduce you to my men."
Metal Man (GM): He presses a buzzer. Out come... a large variety of generic-looking guys with guns.
Scarecrow: The scarecrow returns to listening intently to the conversation.
Trevor: "This man is an army man, is he?"
Digifanatic: "Hello, sirs."
Dragoshi: "Yep."
Trevor: "They specialize in... er... special ops."
Digifanatic: "I'd say so."
Trevor: "My men can probably sabotage what he is doing. But of course. I need to know what he has before I start. It may cost more than a physical for a... thing." He looks at Deloth.
Aribar looks at the soldiers... The mage is increasingly getting suspicious about this Trevor.
Scarecrow: "Concerning."
Deloth: *shrugging.* "Hey, if you can figure out what exactly I'm capable of doing, I'm willing."
Trevor: "Basically, I need to know what weapons he has. So I can stop them. I am an expert in weapons. I have been watching. But I have only one satellite, and I only saw it when that large explosion blew up... whatever that was."
Aribar: "He had a gigantic mechanical monster. I believe he may have airships. He has lots of soldiers..."
Metal Man (GM): Keikyoku finds an empty martini glass.
Trevor: "... I really should have ordered a drink. I have... not quite fought people like that before. I have... helicopters... rocket launchers... even tanks..."
Deloth: "We need all the help we can get."
Digifanatic: "You have never met any typical psychotic super villains before?"
Trevor: "Yes and... no."
Scarecrow: The scarecrow's crow once again caws, rustling its feathers as it adjusts itself to become more comfortable upon its roost.
Trevor: "Villains in my world... they do not have such giant machines. They work with the pen, and disenfranchise the people from their rights. They hire assassins."
Digifanatic wonders whether or not that crow has a telepathic link to the scarecrow, or something like that...
Trevor: "..." He raises an eyebrow. "Of course. This Borne... is a man?"
Deloth looks uncomfortably at said crow and wrestles down an urge to attempt to catch it.
Trevor: "Perhaps I can kill him."
Deloth: "Hits like an ox, but yeah."
Trevor: "Excellent... I am most skilled at that."
Aribar: "I would imagine that he is a man. A very sadistic and intelligent man, but probably still human..."
Metal Man (GM): He takes out a shiny gun and looks at it slowly.
Trevor: "The price will be two things, then. I wish to study your friend here... and your ship. I need the ship's designs... to make a counter-airship device."
Deloth: "Fine with me if it's fine with you guys. I'm sort of curious, myself."
Dragoshi: "Eh. I don't mind."
Digifanatic: "If Deloth doesn't mind you studying him, I certainly don't mind you studying the ship."
Scarecrow: "Concern."
Trevor: "Rocket propelled weapons are worthless if they still fly with giant holes in them. I also shall allow you to stay here for the night, perhaps introduce you to that city..."
Aribar: "Personally, I would be more willing to accept this offer if we knew more about you and this place."
Trevor: "We must discuss at length, and you appear to need... new equipment?"
Digifanatic eyes Scarecrow for a bit, wondering if it's actually the crow that speaks or what... hey, talking hedgehogs and echidnas, crows don't seem too farfetched...
Scarecrow: "Finders-keepers." The scarecrow points in the direction of the ship. Seems he thinks that it is his now.
Trevor: "Ah. I cannot tell you that. I am important... my identity... important... my men's identities... important."
Deloth: "So. Want me to start that study now?"
Trevor: "That is a part of our bargain. Not yet. You should rest."
Deloth: "I'm not really sleepy..."
Trevor: "But... you look like you've been through a war."
Keikyoku looks for stuff to make a martini with.
Digifanatic: .oO(Reminds me of Mewtwo.)
Deloth: "I've been through a lot of wars. That's my job."
Aribar: "We've been through worse."
Metal Man (GM): Unfortunately, Keikyoku doesn't have any martini equipment. But he heard Mr. Trevor speak about that.
Dragoshi: "Yep."
Digifanatic: .oO(That's who we need. We need a figure like Mewtwo again.)
Dragoshi: "Still kinda tired, though." :/
Trevor: "Well... anyway. Tell me what you need, I shall make the orders for it. Weapons? Armor? Gadgets?"
Scarecrow: "Corn."
Trevor: "...Corn. You need corn."
Dragoshi: "What do you have in the way of armor?"
Trevor: "I will never get used to this world."
Scarecrow: "Corn."
Digifanatic: "Hey, we know what flowers can do. Don't diss the guy yet."
Keikyoku: "I need some alcohol."
Trevor: "Corn... corn is cheap. Armor? Well, we only have one model. It... doesn't last long... and you can only carry one. But it'll take a lot of hits for you."
Deloth: "I'm fine. Where do I head to begin that study?"
Digifanatic: "I'm okay as well."
Trevor: "Alcohol." He looks at Keikyoku. "So you mobians are also alcohol users. Excellent."
Aribar: "Do you or this land practice any... Arcane or magical arts?"
Scarecrow: The crow's head perked up a bit at the mention of corn.
Trevor: "Or... whatever you are... I don't know. Anyway... Magic? I wish. We practice the fine art of shooting people. Or stabbing them."
Deloth gets up. "Never mind, I'll find that room myself."
Trevor: "It works for... well, I forget. You people are strange."
Keikyoku smiles at the mention of stabbing.
Scarecrow: Makes various thrusts with his arm, mimicking a stabbing motion and laughs sinisterly.
Trevor: "Anyway... you all have rooms... down the hall... and tomorrow I can give you some weapons, and sell you some other things. Then you help me, and we are both less confused. Good?"
Scarecrow: "Corn."
Digifanatic: "Very good."
Dragoshi: "...How much is the armor, anyway? Also, do ya have any good assault rifles?"
Trevor: "The armor... well, in our currency, it's a hundred dollars. Not very expensive. Assault rifles? We have many. From cheap to expensive."
Keikyoku looks at the sirens. "You're fun, if I had an extra weapon I'd give it to you."
Aribar doesn't like this deal at all. However, he says nothing and lets the others accept the deal.*
Trevor: "So, is that all? I will be getting you the things tomorrow."
Keikyoku: "If I order some alcohol do I have to pay for it?"
Trevor: "Corn... I will bring you corn... possessed... talking... strange thing."
Dragoshi: "...I don't have dollars. Only coins." *Shows Trevor the gold coins.* >_>
Scarecrow: "Corn." He seems obsessive over it.
Trevor: "No, you may have some. Be advised, it is perfectly normal alcohol. Not magical." *Snaps his fingers, a person brings a martini to Keikyoku.* "That's also all I have. Martinis. The irony of it all is horrible."
Keikyoku: "So where is the alcohol then?"
Digifanatic: "He's letting you have some."
Trevor: "I have cooks and drink-makers. You ask, they will bring it."
Keikyoku drinks the martini slowly. "Thanks."
Trevor: "I am very rich in this place too, but only because of my possession of 'historical artifacts.' Even though those are quite mundane to me. And in fact, they are mundane to you too. Such crazy people live in the city. You are welcome, da." He nods and then walks off. "I will get to ordering."
Dragoshi: "Ah. Swell."
Keikyoku: "I wonder if our coins are worth more here than on mobius?"
Digifanatic: "Not sure."
Metal Man (GM): And with that, the session is paused... and Keikyoku learned Ward!

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