Mutants & Masterminds: The Unlikely Prophets - Issue #3: "History is a Bomb"

SalmonMax · January 22, 2011

"Is there anything else he can tell us?" Hex asks. "Why they're here, why they made this deal with the Order? What his grievance is? We're completely in the dark here...anything would be welcome."

Necronaut · January 22, 2011

"He's gone, I think. Too deep in the other side to pull him back. It seems he opposed the rulers who dwell in the garden. He was forbidden from the garden for that but the guards also prevented him from escaping to the surface. I gather, since the garden is the only source of food, he starved to death here in the labyrinth." He cleared his throat. "If I'm any judge all this happened long before the Order came along. He was an old one, only as coherent as he was because anger tends to hold a spirit together so well."

Charlotte · January 22, 2011

There were no doors down here, which would make egress from this place difficult. After many twists and turns, to the point Glitch had vague fears that he'd suffer a buffer overrun on the goggle's internal memory, the group smelt something different - fresher - in the air, and a pale green glow lent itself to the torches.

Up ahead was a hallway that opened up into a massive garden, lit nearly to daylight by the ever-present phosphorescent plant life. The chamber was about half the size of a football field, fifty meters in circumference, all in a perfect circle, and teeming with exotic plant life. Trees that bore strange purple fruit. Uncurling fronds from giant flowers. The babbling of a spring pool, casting shimmering lights on the walls. In the midst of it all was a huge... tarp, of some sort, made of giant leaves. The whole area felt evocative of nothing so much as the Druid's fabled Conclaves, where exotic flora and fauna were created for the benefit of the world, or rather, the "benefit" of the Order.

The group slowly went inside. Things were quiet. Glitch's thermographic sensors had difficulty getting a fix on anything, but there was certainly something moving around in there. Necronaut's necro-vision immediately sensed something wrong - this place teemed with so much life and death in its constant cycle, but there were... gaps. Holes, where things that were not dead yet not alive lurked. It was Gloom's ability to pierce the darkness that confirmed what they were.

The garden was filled with statues.

A few of them had on prison fatigues, or the rotting remains thereof, from Iron Gates - the rest were nude or nearly so. All of them frozen with stunned or shocked expressions on their faces. There were dozens of them. All of them were facing the center of the garden, arranged in a rim. All of them were human... except the ones in the center.

The four in the center were minotaurs, equipped with the same spears that the minotaurs at the entrance had. All of them were facing the tarp of fronds... which rose, and parted.

In the center were two horrific sights - creatures with the upper torsos of women, but covered in scales, and with the lower bodies of snakes. Their hair was a tangled mess of snakes, which looked around the room in 360 degree vision, and all of them centering on the intruders. Their "human" eyes were closed, for the moment. When they spoke, it was never far from a hiss.

"Stheno. Sister. We have guests."

"So we do, Euryale. How interesting."

Glitch's thermographic tracking finally isolated the moving heat sources - a small squad of minotaurs had emerged from the other entrances to the Garden. About a dozen of them.

"They broke the rule, sister. Three of their prisoners to enter our garden, and in exchange we let an old favorite go."

"They will have time to mull over their poor judgement."

The statues of the minotaurs - two male, two female - turned as one, towards the entrance. They looked at the group with solid grey, unblinking eyes.

"A very long time."

And the gorgon sisters opened their eyes. The first, Stheno, had her gaze land on Radiance by chance, who felt the horrific vision of those eyes wash over her consciousness. She felt her limbs stiffening and her flesh grow hard and cold and grey. Her awareness was not snuffed out - she could move, with great effort - but if she met their gaze for very long, she feared that she'd be joining the other prisoners of the Garden...

Click to reveal..

Next UP: Radiance. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: Jade.

Radiance · January 23, 2011

"Enough of that shit." Hikari's words were slowed, but thankfully her powers didn't need her to move.

"Thanks for the idea."

She shut her eyes and starting around the gorgons, Light shone, and hardened, until finally, They were encased in a dome hemisphere including the floor, all of it completely mirrored, and radiating a faint light, just enough to see one's reflection within.

"Let's see their choice."

Charlotte · January 23, 2011

Click to reveal..

The gorgon sisters darted out of the way like... snakes, really. Euryale was trapped, but the one who'd afflicted Radiance with her gaze darted free.

Inside the dome, Euryale just laughed. "Stoneguards! Shatter this pathetic attempt to ensnare me. Mirrors may have worked on our mortal sister, interloper - but we are immortals."

Next UP: Jade. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: Organic minotaurs, then Glitch.

IndyPendant · January 25, 2011

"Hrm." Sharatur looked around at the statues, and then watched the snakey woman escape the light dome. Frowning, she nodded slowly. "Right. Hit and run it is." Before her last word was finished, she had leaped into the air and vanished.

She reappeared right next to the one that had attacked Radiance, lashing out with everything she had. Before she hit the ground, she vanished again to reappear back with her allies, watching warily to see her results.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · January 25, 2011

Click to reveal..

Jade's snap-kick hit the slithering thing right in the stomach. She hissed at Jade, who'd already retreated, moving with superhuman speed.

"Run all you wish! Our gaze sees all. You will join us. Guards! Hold them steady."

On cue, Jade found herself accosted by a pair of the fast-moving male minotaurs, bedecked in helmets and greaves a flowing red cloaks, who jabbed at her with spears and moved nearly as quickly as she did.

Click to reveal..

A third one closed in from the side, zeroing in on Hex - and, apparently having fought a sorceress or two in his time, went straight for the book. Hex's pendant saved her grip on the tome, however, turning aside the blade just enough.

Click to reveal..

Then the large minotaurs entered the fray. They didn't bother with disarms - each of them picked a target and went to restrain them. These ones weren't armed with spears, but with chains. Their attempts to trip up the heroes were clumsy, however, and were far from success.

Click to reveal..

Next UP: Glitch. You have until Friday.

On Deck: Necronaut.

Thomas Froit · January 25, 2011

Glitch gasped and twisted back a step or too to dodge the flashing chain. These creatures of myth were rather freaking him out, and given the effect these gorgons seemed to be having on Radiance, the group of heroes needed to win this battle fast. Still, he had a bellowing minotaur in his face, and that needed to be dealt with first. Glitch pointed his blaster at the minotaur and fired sternly.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · January 26, 2011

Click to reveal..

Glitch's blaster bolt hit the minotaur square in the chest, and it staggered back, dropping its chain and falling to the ground.

Next UP: Necronaut. You have until Friday.

On Deck: Hex.

Necronaut · January 27, 2011

The two ghosts already following the Necronaut turned to him for guidance.

"Bring down the minotaurs. Focus on the meaty ones. Urgh... Don't kill them."

He was distracted from offering more significant tactical advice both by the effort of drawing a third spirit into the land of the living and avoiding attacks from what he had considered, until yesterday, fictional beasts.

The ghosts turned silently on their targets and fell through the air toward them. Just before passing through them the ghosts halted and reached out to introduce them to the chill of death.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · January 27, 2011

Click to reveal..

The two large beasts that beset the group clutched at their heads, as a supernatural presence filled the air. They fell to their knees, then toppled over, unconscious.

Next UP: Hex. You have until Friday.

On Deck: Euryale and the stone minotaurs, then Strongarm.

SalmonMax · January 29, 2011

Hex backed up towards Radiance, aghast at the thought that she might join the statues littering the lair. As she got closer though, the sorceress realized she could see an otherworldly gleam...the unmistakable aura of magic surrounding Radiance.

It was a spell!

She wedged the Book of Keys under her arm and lifted her palm towards Radiance. A silver five-pointed star flared on her skin and burned with a cold light as she recited the counterspell.

"Under the silver light of Luna, I unweave what has been woven.

By my will I break all bonds, and shatter all guises.

I refute thy commands! I condemn thy control! I banish thy spirits!

BEGONE!"

Cracks appeared in the stony surface encasing Radiance, and that same chill silvery light speared out from within. Rock crumbled to the floor in nuggets and dust as the cracks widened...and finally it shattered completely, throwing off hundreds of pebbles that pattered off everything nearby.

Radiance was free of the petrification!

(Nullify! Rolled a 20 for check result 30. Critter rolled 26. Effect nullified!)

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2861245/ my roll

Opposed Power Check from Stheno (1d20+11=26) Its roll.

Charlotte · January 29, 2011

"Sister!" shouted the gorgon that was free and in the open. "They have a witch! She can undo the beauty of our gaze!" A hint of fear crept into her voice as she shouted.

One of the large stone minotaurs raised a mighty fist, and shattered Radiance's light bubble. It drifted apart like so much dust.

Click to reveal..

As the force field collapsed, the other stone minotaur turned around, and sought out the largest target it could make out - and that would be Strongarm. It bore in like a missile.

Click to reveal..

And it hit like one - but Strongarm stood up to it like a hardened bunker, blocking the impact with her arms. The shockwave kicked up dust and leaves, and sent waves through the water fixtures in the garden.

The glitter from the broken force field cleared, and Euryale stared at Hex, their gazes locking.

Click to reveal..

Hex fell the magic of the gaze bearing down on her, sapping her will to move, to think, to do anything but be still forever. She shook it off before even its least harmful effects could take, though. When she looked up, the gorgon was gone, using the foilage down in the garden as cover.

Then she looked up. She didn't know that statues could be so fast...

Click to reveal..

Almost before she realized it, the statue of the nimble male minotaur had the Book of Keys in his hands. Then another grabbed at her...

Click to reveal..

... but by chance, a loose cobblestone tripped it slightly, giving Hex just enough time to dodge out of the way.

Next UP: Strongarm. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: Gloom

Bodhie Armstrong · January 29, 2011

The force of the Minotaur evaporated by her block but Bodhie still knew her opponent was not to be underestimated. She took the opportunity to reach for it's horns and hopefully manage to get it into a Grapple. With some luck she could make of the Minotaur an impromptu missile and throw him into the Gorgons.

Superhuman muscles swelled and flexed as Strongarm shifted her stance to get a better footing and then closed in for the attack, large hands reaching for the Mino's horns.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · January 29, 2011

Click to reveal..

Strongarm dug in as best as she could, but the thing weighed too much and was struggling too hard for her to gain any purchase and throw it. It didn't grunt with exertion or say a word. It just stared at her with those glazed over eyes.

Next UP: Gloom. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: Stheno, then Radiance.

z-Gloom · January 29, 2011

Gloom took several steps forward, Spartan's new gun appearing in her hand as if it had magically jumped there. Without hesitation, she sighted on the minotaur that had stolen Hex's book and fired. A blast of fire roared from the gun; the recoil alone was tremendous, forcing Gloom back a step.

"Jesus," she rasped as the roar faded away, staring at the smoking barrel. Her eyes went to the minotaur to see if the gun was all bang and no bite...

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · January 30, 2011

Click to reveal..

The speedy statue didn't get to retreat very far, before a shot from Gloom hit it in the shoulder. It stopped dead, reeling from the impact, and the Book of Keys flew from its hand, landing twenty-five feet from where Hex and the party stood.

Stheno frowned. She clearly wasn't used to prey that fought back. She focused her gaze on the karate-kicking one that hit her. "Don't damage her, my slaves. It's such a bother to turn them back long enough to heal..."

Click to reveal..

Jade too, felt the cold stare draining away her speed and her strength and her will to move. But she pushed it away with a burst of super-human willpower.

Next UP: Radiance. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: Jade.

Radiance · January 31, 2011

Hikari's luminous defense matrix flared into being, and in her hands one sword of pure light flared into being, the other wielded the sword that had belonged to Spartan. She headed for the Minotaur nearest the book, and lashed out with her own sword, looking to put it down.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · January 31, 2011

Click to reveal..

Even stunned, the minotaur was fleet of foot enough to avoid Radiance's blade.

Next UP: Jade. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: The minotaur minions, then Glitch.

IndyPendant · February 1, 2011

"Right." Jade raised her hands above her head, throwing herself to her right into a cartwheel. As her hands reached the floor, she vanished yet again, to reappear on top of Hex's book. "Unbelievably powerful magic book" she called, her hands landing on the book as she drew her legs in and lashed out with both feet at the minotaur that stole it, connecting dead center and with full force. Unfortunately, that wrecked her cartwheel momentum, and she started to fall over onto her back.

--Only to reappear a moment later beside Hex, upright and offering the book to her. "stays with us" she concluded softly, without missing a beat.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · February 2, 2011

Click to reveal..

The kick was solid, but Jade hadn't reckoned on how tough these things were, even the fast ones. It was cracked at the kick, but not badly It was, however, knocked a bit further down in the process of it standing back up.

Jade blipped into place next to Hex, book in hand.

Click to reveal..

The male minotaurs, momentarily disorientated by the vanishing Jade, set their sights on new targets: Necronaut, Glitch and Hex.

Click to reveal..

Hex's amulet and Necronaut's nether-field protected them, but the one that attacked Glitch struck true, grabbing his blaster.

Next UP: Glitch. You have until Friday.

On Deck: Necronaut.

Thomas Froit · February 3, 2011

"Hey!" Glitch snapped as his prized weapon was torn from his possession. Desperately, he went for the only gambit he could think of: activating the D-Pocket. A silver sphere burst out and went for the thieving minotaur, hopefully trapping it before Glitch could then eject out the blaster and be rearmed.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · February 3, 2011

Click to reveal..

There was a ripple in space around the minotaur, and then with a startled grunt it was sucked inside of the strange device that Glitch pointed at it. He flipped a two-way switch on it and reach inside the shimmering rift on the end, procuring his prized blaster.

Next UP: Necronaut. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: Hex.

Necronaut · February 3, 2011

The Necronaut stumbled back from the melee and set one foot into the netherworld, hoping that being insubstantial would take some of the minotaur-ian pressure off.

He let one of his summoned ghosts continue its assault on the fleshy minotaurs but, gesturing with the barrel of his gun, gave new orders to the other two.

"Each of you, go show one of the snake-ladies the real face of mortality."

The ghosts arced upward and directed their fear-inducing gazes at the pair of gorgons, bombarding their minds with the the hereto alien sense of the inevitability of their own doom.

Click to reveal..

The Necronaut cringed and added feebly, "If you could do that without looking at them so directly, that might be a good idea."

Charlotte · February 4, 2011

Click to reveal..

Both of the gorgons made an unearthly shriek when the ghosts revealed themselves; however, Euryale stood fast, and Stheno did not. She turned to flee.

Meanwhile, the minotaur attacking Necronaut clutched its head, groaned, and fell to the floor, unconscious.

Next UP: Hex. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: Euryale and the Stone Minotaurs, then Strongarm.

SalmonMax · February 5, 2011

Hex accepted her book back with a grateful nod, then muttered, "Lets see if we can't thin this crowd out a bit."

"I find you buried in the dark, in the cold.

I bind you with chains in the dark, in the cold.

I leave you helpless in the dark, in the cold.

Forever lost, in the dark. In the cold."

The shadows in the cavern deepened and turned black. The temperature dropped, and a faint howling noise, like a wind trying to push through an opening too small, could be heard. From out of the shadows snapped black iron manacles and chains that tried to tangle and clamp around the minotaurs!

(Chains of Thought. Without a map I don't know exactly how to place it, but basically get as many as possible within 10 contiguous squares that don't include any allies. Will save DC 20 paralysis effect, with a Reflex save DC 20 reducing the Will save DC to 15.)

Charlotte · February 5, 2011

Click to reveal..

The chains snaked around the minotaur that was still flesh and blood, wrapping around him and immobilizing him. He fell to the ground, struggling against the chains without success.

The stone minotaurs, for whatever reason - maybe they were too magically infused for the spell to take - shook the effects off.

From the foilage, Euryale emerged, and looked around at the ghosts that had appeared. Then she looked at Necronaut, and Necronaut felt the gaze draining his will away...

Click to reveal..

"This one! He talks to the dead. I heard him and saw them. Stoneguards! Attend him!"

The large stone minotaur left her side, and lumbered towards the Necronaut. Before it arrived, the fleet-footed statue left Hex's side and dashed towards Necronaut.

Click to reveal..

The quick one hit Necronaut in the face, staggering Necronaut slightly. The impact drove him, ironically enough, out of the path of the charging minotaur, which missed entirely.

Meanwhile, the statue grappling with Strongarm shifted position, attempting to use its leverage against her.

Click to reveal..

The golem-like figure twisted her arm, and Strongarm felt a stab of pain as it did so...

Next UP: Strongarm. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: Gloom.

Bodhie Armstrong · February 6, 2011

An unexpected painful yelp escaped Strongarms mouth as the minotaur actually hurt her. She stared at the creature momentarily stunned by the sensation of pain spreading over her arm and her sense of invincebility quickly dwindled. Maybe she has gotten to arrogant?

Bodhie took a deep breath trying to shake off the pain and break the grapple of her opponent and hopefully turn the tides in this test of might. Only now she wasn’t so sure anymore if she was really the stronger of them...

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · February 6, 2011

Click to reveal..

It was a good effort, but the minotaur saw it coming and held fast, staying in the grapple.

Next UP: Gloom. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: Stheno, then Radiance.

z-Gloom · February 7, 2011

Gloom took in the battlefield. A smirk crossed her face when she saw Euryale trying to hide and get into a better position. Hope she doesn't see in the dark, Gloom thought as she reached into herself and pulled forth her shadows.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · February 7, 2011

As the inky fog pulled in from nothingness itself, Euryale shrieked.

"I cannot see! Where did all the - I can't - Stheno!"

As the gaze was broken, Necronaut felt the draining debilitation leave him. Meanwhile, Stheno dove into the underbrush. Her snake tail flipped up, too long for it to be her simply lying prone. There were tunnels hidden in the floor...

Next UP: Radiance. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: Jade.

Radiance · February 7, 2011

She may have missed it last time, but she wouldn't again. Radiance smiled wickedly and took advantage of something few knew about her, she was ambidextrous, slashing with her own sword, and then spartan's at the minotaur who'd evaded her previously.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · February 7, 2011

Click to reveal..

The blades bit forth. Radiance's light-blade cut deep into the statue, cutting a jagged cut into its torso and shoulder and imparing its movement. Then Spartan's blade cut forth, fast - possibly too fast, Radiance felt it difficult to maintain her grip - and cut another chunk of stone away.

Next UP: Jade. You have until Tuesday.

On Deck: Glitch.

IndyPendant · February 8, 2011

Barely had Hex retrieved her book when Jade yelled "Norman!" and vanished. She reappeared beside Necronaut, in between the two minotaurs attacking him. "Hold on, I'm coming!"

She paused just for a moment as she realized she had just yelled that right into his face, then quickly switched her attention to the minotaurs, rallying with "You leave him alone!" She whipped out one end of her staff at one minotaur, then pulled it back at the same time as she smashed the other minotaur with the other end.

Jade reached out, grabbed Necronaut by the shoulder, and concentrated for a moment. They both vanished, reappearing with the rest of the group, slightly behind them.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · February 9, 2011

Click to reveal..

Jade's series of rapid strikes lashed out. The quick stone minotaur dodged easily enough; the large one grappling with Strongarm, her staff just bounced off of. But she connected well with the one on Necronaut, staggering it slightly.

Next UP: Glitch. You have until Friday.

On Deck: Necronaut.

Thomas Froit · February 9, 2011

Grinning with amusement as he gripped his prized weapon, Glitch turned and firmly focused his aim upon the quick moving stone minotaur harrasing Necronaut. And he fired.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · February 9, 2011

Click to reveal..

They were faster than they looked. It saw him coming and ducked out of the way of the blaster bolt.

Next UP: Necronaut. You have until Friday.

On Deck: Hex.

Necronaut · February 10, 2011

The Necronaut staggered, disoriented by the sudden shift in locality only slightly less than by getting clocked by a minotaur. "Thanks Jade!"

He called to the nearest ghost, "Bring down the stone bulls." He hesitated, "Better throw something at them." He hesitated again, "But be careful of the statues!"

The other two he allowed to continue tormenting the gorgons.

For his own part, he drew the rotting remnants of his tommy gun out of his labcoat and twisted it until its missing parts fell into place from the netherworld. Then he took aim at the minotaur who clobbered him and fired.

Click to reveal..

As the two frighteners wailed after their scaly quarry the ghost tasked with the minotaurs swooped toward the earth and rose with a good sized cobblestone. It wasn't grasping the solid object so much as balancing it on its hazy fingertips. There was no throwing action at all. The stone simply hurtled toward a Minotaur as if it had been shot from a silent cannon from beyond the grave.

Click to reveal..

Charlotte · February 10, 2011

Click to reveal..

Necronaut's tommy gun sprayed bullets that could shred a car - against the minotaur, all they did was bounce. The lumbering golem ducked with ease under the hastily thrown rock, while Euryale screamed from within the darkness. "No! This is our home! We will not leave it - and neither will you."

Next UP: Hex. You have until Friday.

On Deck: Minotaurs and Euryale, then Strongarm.

SalmonMax · February 12, 2011

With a wave of her hand and a quick murmured incantation, Hex sent a blast of pure magic energy at the minotaur that had tried to claim her book for its own. Though it dodged and weaved as it flew, it always got back on the right Twin again.

(Magic MIssile. I rolled 18, but it's actually 20 because I forgot it's Accurate.)

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2885501/

Mutants & Masterminds: The Unlikely Prophets - Issue #3: "History is a Bomb"

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