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<blockquote data-quote="The Shadow" data-source="post: 8345308" data-attributes="member: 16760">New Scene:&nbsp; Back at Pete's place with Ryan to lay plots.Pete fetched Ryan an old t-shirt and pair of jeans of his.&nbsp; &quot;Feel free to take a shower if you want.&nbsp; And did you want something to eat?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Yes, please.&nbsp; And, Mr. Demarche?&nbsp; THANK YOU!&nbsp; So much.&quot;&nbsp; Pete smiled.&nbsp; &quot;My pleasure, Ryan.&nbsp; And you can call me Pete if you want.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Um, okay.&quot;Pete fixed sandwiches for himself and Ryan while the young man showered - keeping all his senses alert for trouble.&nbsp; He didn't think anything worth troubling about could pierce his wards, but he also wasn't trusting his instincts much this night.The boy emerged, dressed in Pete's old clothes, and ate wolfishly.&nbsp; As the adrenaline faded, his questions started to arise... &quot;Mr. Demarche... Pete?&nbsp; What was all that back there?&nbsp; How do you do that stuff?&quot;Pete sat back.&nbsp; &quot;It's magic, Ryan.&nbsp; For reals.&nbsp; But not the kind condemned by the Church;&nbsp; I was trained by a priest, in fact, though I can't tell you the details.&nbsp; I don't traffic in spirits or anything like that.&nbsp; It's like... a kind of science, but different from the kind we teach you in school.&quot;&nbsp; Ryan nodded, absorbing all that.&nbsp; &quot;What was that thing you fought?&quot;&quot;An illusion.&nbsp; It tricked me, I'm sorry to say.&nbsp; It wasn't really there at all.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;But... if it wasn't real, what clawed me?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;I don't know yet, but I intend to find out.&nbsp; You feel up to a bit of investigation?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;I'm ready for anything you think will help, Pete.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Good man. ... I hope it goes without saying that all of this stuff is between just the two of us, right?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Yeah!&nbsp; I swear!&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Okay then.&nbsp; Come this way.&quot;Pete led Ryan into his mage sanctum, which the boy took in with wide eyes.&nbsp; Situating Ryan in the circle he'd drawn before, he starting divining.Q(Unsure):&nbsp; Is the disk-entity now inside Ryan?&nbsp; YES.Q(Unlikely):&nbsp; Is it able to listen in as we talk?&nbsp; YES.Pete's heart sank when he realized that what had been the disk was now making itself quite at home within Ryan's psyche.&nbsp; And that it could see through his eyes, hear through his ears.&nbsp; This was going to get sticky...&nbsp; &quot;Ryan, I'm going to try something.&nbsp; Don't be alarmed, but if you feel anything weird, let me know.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Got it, Pete.&quot;&nbsp; Pete prepared another Banishment spell, without much in the way of real hope.Q(No Way):&nbsp; Does it work at all?&nbsp; NO.Chanting softly in Latin, Pete loosed the magic.&nbsp; &quot;Anything at all, Ryan?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;I felt maybe a little nervous for a second... Might just be nerves, though.&quot;&nbsp; Pete nodded. &quot;I thought as much.&quot;Q(Unsure):&nbsp; Is the disk-entity not yet able to control Ryan's actions?&nbsp; YES.Thinking a little more, he asked, &quot;Tell me everything you know about this gang?&quot;ComplexQ:&nbsp; What's to find out?&nbsp; Desert/FriendshipIt developed that the gang was called the Demons.&nbsp; Ryan had fallen in with them because a good friend of his, Billy, had been a member.&nbsp; But then a new leader who called himself Goat came to power - in more ways than one.&nbsp; He claimed to be in touch with real spirits, and certainly many lurid stories surrounded him, along with unquestioned ugly corpses.&nbsp; The Demons had been divided over this new leader, but Goat had either destroyed or cowed all opposition;&nbsp; the remaining members were fervently loyal.&nbsp; (Whether to protect their own hides or out of sincere gratification to be on the winning side.)&nbsp; Billy had turned viciously on Ryan when Ryan had tried to back out of the Demons;&nbsp; he had personally beaten Ryan savagely and threatened to bring him to Goat's attention.&quot;Was Billy the one who gave you the disk?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;No.&nbsp; Goat did.&nbsp; He had Billy beat me up again, then told me it was my last chance.&nbsp; I thought he was gonna kill me, but... at the time I just didn't care.&nbsp; I told him to go to Hell.&quot;&nbsp; Pete looked Ryan over with new appreciation.&nbsp; &quot;That was brave.&nbsp; I'm proud of you.&quot;&nbsp; Ryan flushed and ducked his head.&quot;Anyway... What did Goat do?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;He, uh.&nbsp; He said he was in Hell already, and that I'd be joining him.&nbsp; That - well, like I told you.&nbsp; He said I'd have three days of fear, then everyone I care about would die.&nbsp; Then I would die too, if I was really lucky.&quot;Pete thought some more.&nbsp; Then, for the disk-thing's benefit, he said, &quot;I don't think you have a whole lot to worry about, Ryan.&nbsp; So far the thing's only used illusions - things that aren't real, scary as they seem.&nbsp; Still...&nbsp; Did you still want to be baptized?&quot;Ryan gaped at him, then said quietly, &quot;Yeah.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Tell me what it means to you.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Like you taught us, Mr. Demarche.&nbsp; It'll make me a child of God.&nbsp; A new creation.&nbsp; It'll... wash away all of my sins.&nbsp; I want that.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Do you know God, Ryan?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;I've been praying a while now, Mr. Demarche.&nbsp; I don't understand very much, but I know He's there.&nbsp; He's why I could tell Goat to go to Hell.&quot; &quot;Good enough for me.&quot;Pete went and fetched a bottle of holy water.&nbsp; He laid his hands on Ryan's shoulders as the boy knelt, praying with him and for him for a time.&nbsp; &quot;Any saint's name you'd like to add?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;St. Michael sounds about right, sir.&nbsp; I've been praying that prayer you taught me a lot.&quot;&nbsp; Pete grinned despite himself.&nbsp; &quot;Good choice.&quot;Then he poured the water three times over Ryan's head.&nbsp; &quot;Ryan Michael, I baptize you in the name of the Father... and of the Son... and of the Holy Spirit.&quot;&nbsp; Ryan started crying, and Pete added softly, &quot;You have put on Christ, in Him you have been baptized.&nbsp; Alleluia, alleluia!&quot;&nbsp; He raised Ryan up and embraced him.Q(Likely):&nbsp; Does the sacrament weaken the disk-thing's hold?&nbsp; EXCEPTIONAL YES.Q(Very Unlikely):&nbsp; Is it gone completely?&nbsp; NO - and a Random Event!PC Positive:&nbsp; Imitate/Military&nbsp; [An obvious reference to Pete's past with the Knights of St. Michael.]Pete felt the evil thing's hold on Ryan loosen.&nbsp; Stirred, he recalled to mind all that Fr. Leo had taught him, all that the Knights had instilled in him...&nbsp; They had their flaws, yes;&nbsp; none of the reasons he'd left them had changed.&nbsp; Yet they were a force for good despite all their flaws, and they'd taught him well.&nbsp; Heart full, he repeated their prayer softly... Soon, Ryan joined him.&quot;St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.&nbsp; Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.&nbsp; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, thrust into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits that prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.&nbsp; Amen.&quot;Full of sudden decision (and realizing the disk-thing could no longer hear) he announced, &quot;Ryan, it's time we stopped reacting and started taking the fight to the enemy.&nbsp; Where can I find the Demons?&quot;NPC List:&nbsp; Mark, Ryan, the Demons, Goat, Billy, the disk-thing, the illusionist (possibly the same as the disk-thing).Thread List:Find out what's happening to Ryan.Protect Ryan from his old gang.Protect Mark from his own stupidity. Treat that damned illusionist to some payback.Free Ryan from the disk's spiritual hold.Chaos Factor:&nbsp; 7 -&gt; 6New Scene:&nbsp; Pete goes to the Demons' hideout, leaving Ryan home under powerful wards.&nbsp; Altered Scene!Q(Somewhat Likely):&nbsp; Does Ryan sneak out after Pete?&nbsp; YES.Pete surveyed the rundown condemned building the Demons called home.&nbsp; He whispered Latin phrases, invoking Veiled Glory to make himself invisible to supernatural beings and utterly nondescript to mortals.&nbsp; Then Subtlety to step through the wall.ComplexQ:&nbsp; What's to see?&nbsp; Antagonize/Wishes.&nbsp; [That'll be Mark, I take it.]Q(Likely):&nbsp; Is Mark at the Demons' mercy, such as it is?&nbsp; YES.Pete arrived to a grim scene - a young man was being interrogated by another who matched Ryan's description of Goat - a lean youth with hair and eyes as black as sin.&nbsp; The victim was held limply upright by two gang members while Goat and others took turns punching him in the gut, face, and groin.&nbsp; Coldly furious, Pete worked himself into position, waiting for the right moment to reveal himself.Goat then casually sliced the victim's shirt open.&nbsp; &quot;Fun time's over.&nbsp; Tell me, meat.&nbsp; You wanna be cut up bad?&nbsp; Or you wanna take your chances with this?&quot;&nbsp; He held up one of those disks.&nbsp; &quot;Scream a lot now?&nbsp; Or scream a lot more later?&nbsp; Your choice.&quot;&nbsp; The victim's face lolled into the light, and Pete suddenly saw it was Mark.&nbsp; A hot fury awoke in him.&nbsp; Never that, oh never that.He drew Invictus, then switched Veiled Glory to Manifest Glory:&nbsp; Light flooded the room, along with an overpowering sense of awe.&nbsp; Peter Demarche stated thickly, &quot;Let him go.&nbsp; All who drop their weapons I will permit to live.&quot;Q(Likely):&nbsp; Do the guys holding Mark drop him?&nbsp; YES.Most of the gang members cowered back from the Glory, dropping any weapons they held at once and babbling in fear.&nbsp; The two holding Mark up likewise dropped him and backed away.Goat whirled at once, paling slightly yet forcing a sneer to his lips.&nbsp; &quot;Well, if it ain't Peter Demarche himself, Do-Gooder-At-Large!&nbsp; You talk a big game, Teach.&nbsp; Didn't do your brother much good, did it?&nbsp; Or that Langley sellout?&quot;Peter cast a hasty ward over Mark with his free hand;&nbsp; it wouldn't stand up to much, but it was something.&nbsp; He took a step toward Goat.&nbsp; &quot;If you want to die, keep talking.&nbsp; Last chance, Goat.&quot;&nbsp; He'd activated Impassibility, so he couldn't actually attack yet, but he'd be virtually immune to any normal attacks they sent his way as well.Q(Unsure):&nbsp; Enough gang members still fight-worthy to cause me serious trouble?&nbsp; YES.&nbsp; [Sigh.]Goat threw the disk at him while rallying his troops.&nbsp; &quot;We'll see, won't we?&nbsp; Get over here, boys, there's only one of him!&quot;Pete sliced Invictus effortlessly through the disk;&nbsp; it wasn't actually alive, so that didn't count as an attack.&nbsp; &quot;Come, then.&quot;Q(Likely):&nbsp; Does something unexpected happen when the disk is destroyed?&nbsp; YES.ComplexQ:&nbsp; Like what?&nbsp; Carry/A plot. [Wait, what?!]Q(Very Unlikely):&nbsp; Did Goat intend for me to destroy the disk?&nbsp; YES. [Oh, JOY.]ComplexQ:&nbsp; What variety of Hell breaks loose?&nbsp; Debase/Information.&nbsp; [Hmm.&nbsp; Well, there ARE illusions involved...]Q(Unsure):&nbsp; Is everyone in the room affected?&nbsp; NO.&nbsp; [Worse and worse.]Black mists enveloped Pete.&nbsp; He was naked and alone in Shadow, without Invictus.&nbsp; Shapes prowled about him in the mists, lurking closer...&nbsp; No!&nbsp; I was in the Demons' hideout, this has to be an illusion!&nbsp; He began to frame the words for Lumen Veritatis to let him see the truth... but his tongue froze in his throat as the darkness spoke to him in a voice of raw malevolence.&quot;No fear, mageling.&nbsp; I'll not slay a mage of the Order of St. Michael.&nbsp; You are far too valuable a prize for that.&quot;One of the darkling shapes rushed closer, and Pete lashed out at it with controlled fury;&nbsp; it retreated, growling discordantly.&nbsp; I doubt it can completely cloud lethal threats from my mind, those must be real enemies.&nbsp; Aloud he said, &quot;You don't have your prize yet!&quot;Mockingly, it said, &quot;Don't I?&nbsp; Are you certain?&quot;&nbsp; Pete snarled out the words to Lumen Veritatis again, only to have them catch in his throat once more.&nbsp; He began to know fear;&nbsp; is this thing that far under my skin?!&quot;Oh yes,&quot; the darkness said, answering his unspoken thought.&nbsp; But Pete had no time to answer;&nbsp; predatory forms were closing in from all sides, and he spun to attack, trying to break through the ring.&nbsp; Pain woke as their claws got past his guard...Q(Unsure):&nbsp; Time for the cavalry to arrive?&nbsp; YES.Suddenly a voice rang through his head, more real than the darkness - a distressed voice that woke his senses to life.&nbsp; &quot;Mr. Demarche!&quot;&nbsp; Ryan's voice.Abruptly he was back in the Demons' hideout, surrounded by human foes, his side throbbing with pain... but with Invictus in his hand, which made exactly all the difference in the world.NPC List:&nbsp; Mark, Ryan, the Demons, Goat, Billy, the disk-thing, the illusionist (possibly the same as the disk-thing).Thread List:Find out what's happening to Ryan.Protect Ryan from his old gang.Protect Mark from his own stupidity.Treat that damned illusionist to some payback.Free Ryan from the disk's spiritual hold.Free myself, for that matter.Chaos Factor: 6 -&gt; 7New Scene:&nbsp; Back in the game, the fight continues!&nbsp; Interrupt!NPC Action:&nbsp; Ryan.&nbsp; Communicate/The innocent.&nbsp; [Okay, the innocent has to be Mark, but what about him?]Q(Unsure):&nbsp; Is Mark hurt worse than he seemed?&nbsp; YES.Willing the blade to be merciful, Pete slashed at the nearest gang member, whose eyes rolled up as he fainted, believing he'd received a mortal wound and acting accordingly.Just then, Ryan shouted again, &quot;Mr. Demarche!&nbsp; Mark's bleeding, he looks bad!&quot;Damn, Pete thought - it just keeps getting better and better.&nbsp; But Ryan's voice at least distracted some of his foes;&nbsp; the one called Billy and another guy went for him.Q(Somewhat Likely):&nbsp; Does Ryan clean their clocks?&nbsp; YES.&nbsp; [He has the strength of ten because his heart is pure.&nbsp; And the kid is due a break, I'd say.]Pete made for Goat, accepting some minor injuries in the process - take him out and the rest will break.&nbsp; He noticed in his peripheral vision Ryan giving what-for to his two combatants.&nbsp; Hope he makes it.Goat grinned as he backed away.&nbsp; &quot;I'm supposed to tell you that this fight doesn't matter, you've already lost!&quot;&nbsp; With that, he ran;&nbsp; the others soon ran too.&nbsp; Pete let them go and immediately ran to Mark.Ryan was standing over two unconscious bodies, swaying on his feet.&nbsp; One eye was blacked, a lip was split, and a shallow knife wound raked his side, but he had eyes only for Mark.&nbsp; &quot;Is he gonna be okay?!&quot;Q(Unlikely):&nbsp; Well, is he?!&nbsp; YES.&nbsp; [Barely, but yes.]Pete tore Mark's ruined shirt open.&nbsp; Blood was oozing nastily from the cut Goat's knife had left, but no vitals had been hit.&nbsp; Pete sighed as he applied direct pressure.&nbsp; No first-aid kit handy, it'll have to be healing magic.&nbsp; Not the most reliable, and no fun at all, but he'd open a vein for his kid brother.Chanting softly, he let some of his own vital force pass into Mark.&nbsp; His breath hissed through his teeth as his own wounds redoubled in pain... then the exhaustion hit. Mark's bleeding slowed fitfully, then stopped.&nbsp; Numbly, Pete tore Mark's shirt into makeshift bandages.&nbsp; &quot;He'll pull through.&nbsp; How about you, are you okay?&quot;&nbsp; Ryan grinned wearily.&nbsp; &quot;I've had worse... Pete.&quot;&quot;You did well,&quot; Pete told him, &quot;but for now let's get out of here.&quot;&nbsp; He hoisted Mark into a fireman's carry, staggering under his weight;&nbsp; Ryan reached out to steady him, beaming at the praise.&nbsp; &quot;Want me to carry him?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;I can manage.&quot;But it turned out that he did need Ryan to take over about halfway home.&nbsp; (He couldn't use Mobility on anyone but himself, unfortunately.)&nbsp; Staggering in, he announced, &quot;I've got to collapse.&nbsp; Put Mark to bed, then do the same for yourself.&nbsp; Do whatever you need to do to make sure you don't have to leave here in the morning;&nbsp; you're not out of the woods yet.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Got it, Pete.&quot;[Pete was originally built in Champions, then later translated into Mutants &amp; Masterminds... so I have a really clear idea of what he's capable of.&nbsp; In M&amp;M, he'd be able to overcome the limitations on his Mobility by doing a Power Stunt - either by spending a hero point or by taking Fatigue - of which he doesn't have any more of the latter to spare currently.&nbsp; Of course, I'm playing this game entirely freeform, guided only by Mythic, but my clear idea of what he can do really helps.]Thread List:Find out what's happening to Ryan. [Still need some details here.]Protect Ryan from his old gang. [Not out of the woods yet.]Treat that damned illusionist to some payback.Free Ryan from the disk's spiritual hold.Free myself, for that matter.Take Goat down a peg or three.Chaos Factor: 7 -&gt; 8</blockquote>

[QUOTE="The Shadow, post: 8345308, member: 16760"] New Scene: Back at Pete's place with Ryan to lay plots. Pete fetched Ryan an old t-shirt and pair of jeans of his. "Feel free to take a shower if you want. And did you want something to eat?" "Yes, please. And, Mr. Demarche? THANK YOU! So much." Pete smiled. "My pleasure, Ryan. And you can call me Pete if you want." "Um, okay." Pete fixed sandwiches for himself and Ryan while the young man showered - keeping all his senses alert for trouble. He didn't think anything worth troubling about could pierce his wards, but he also wasn't trusting his instincts much this night. The boy emerged, dressed in Pete's old clothes, and ate wolfishly. As the adrenaline faded, his questions started to arise... "Mr. Demarche... Pete? What was all that back there? How do you do that stuff?" Pete sat back. "It's magic, Ryan. For reals. But not the kind condemned by the Church; I was trained by a priest, in fact, though I can't tell you the details. I don't traffic in spirits or anything like that. It's like... a kind of science, but different from the kind we teach you in school." Ryan nodded, absorbing all that. "What was that thing you fought?" "An illusion. It tricked me, I'm sorry to say. It wasn't really there at all." "But... if it wasn't real, what clawed me?" "I don't know yet, but I intend to find out. You feel up to a bit of investigation?" "I'm ready for anything you think will help, Pete." "Good man. ... I hope it goes without saying that all of this stuff is between just the two of us, right?" "Yeah! I swear!" "Okay then. Come this way." Pete led Ryan into his mage sanctum, which the boy took in with wide eyes. Situating Ryan in the circle he'd drawn before, he starting divining. Q(Unsure): Is the disk-entity now inside Ryan? YES. Q(Unlikely): Is it able to listen in as we talk? YES. Pete's heart sank when he realized that what had been the disk was now making itself quite at home within Ryan's psyche. And that it could see through his eyes, hear through his ears. This was going to get sticky... "Ryan, I'm going to try something. Don't be alarmed, but if you feel anything weird, let me know." "Got it, Pete." Pete prepared another Banishment spell, without much in the way of real hope. Q(No Way): Does it work at all? NO. Chanting softly in Latin, Pete loosed the magic. "Anything at all, Ryan?" "I felt maybe a little nervous for a second... Might just be nerves, though." Pete nodded. "I thought as much." Q(Unsure): Is the disk-entity not yet able to control Ryan's actions? YES. Thinking a little more, he asked, "Tell me everything you know about this gang?" ComplexQ: What's to find out? Desert/Friendship It developed that the gang was called the Demons. Ryan had fallen in with them because a good friend of his, Billy, had been a member. But then a new leader who called himself Goat came to power - in more ways than one. He claimed to be in touch with real spirits, and certainly many lurid stories surrounded him, along with unquestioned ugly corpses. The Demons had been divided over this new leader, but Goat had either destroyed or cowed all opposition; the remaining members were fervently loyal. (Whether to protect their own hides or out of sincere gratification to be on the winning side.) Billy had turned viciously on Ryan when Ryan had tried to back out of the Demons; he had personally beaten Ryan savagely and threatened to bring him to Goat's attention. "Was Billy the one who gave you the disk?" "No. Goat did. He had Billy beat me up again, then told me it was my last chance. I thought he was gonna kill me, but... at the time I just didn't care. I told him to go to Hell." Pete looked Ryan over with new appreciation. "That was brave. I'm proud of you." Ryan flushed and ducked his head. "Anyway... What did Goat do?" "He, uh. He said he was in Hell already, and that I'd be joining him. That - well, like I told you. He said I'd have three days of fear, then everyone I care about would die. Then I would die too, if I was really lucky." Pete thought some more. Then, for the disk-thing's benefit, he said, "I don't think you have a whole lot to worry about, Ryan. So far the thing's only used illusions - things that aren't real, scary as they seem. Still... Did you still want to be baptized?" Ryan gaped at him, then said quietly, "Yeah." "Tell me what it means to you." "Like you taught us, Mr. Demarche. It'll make me a child of God. A new creation. It'll... wash away all of my sins. I want that." "Do you know God, Ryan?" "I've been praying a while now, Mr. Demarche. I don't understand very much, but I know He's there. He's why I could tell Goat to go to Hell." "Good enough for me." Pete went and fetched a bottle of holy water. He laid his hands on Ryan's shoulders as the boy knelt, praying with him and for him for a time. "Any saint's name you'd like to add?" "St. Michael sounds about right, sir. I've been praying that prayer you taught me a lot." Pete grinned despite himself. "Good choice." Then he poured the water three times over Ryan's head. "Ryan Michael, I baptize you in the name of the Father... and of the Son... and of the Holy Spirit." Ryan started crying, and Pete added softly, "You have put on Christ, in Him you have been baptized. Alleluia, alleluia!" He raised Ryan up and embraced him. Q(Likely): Does the sacrament weaken the disk-thing's hold? EXCEPTIONAL YES. Q(Very Unlikely): Is it gone completely? NO - and a Random Event! PC Positive: Imitate/Military [An obvious reference to Pete's past with the Knights of St. Michael.] Pete felt the evil thing's hold on Ryan loosen. Stirred, he recalled to mind all that Fr. Leo had taught him, all that the Knights had instilled in him... They had their flaws, yes; none of the reasons he'd left them had changed. Yet they were a force for good despite all their flaws, and they'd taught him well. Heart full, he repeated their prayer softly... Soon, Ryan joined him. "St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, thrust into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits that prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen." Full of sudden decision (and realizing the disk-thing could no longer hear) he announced, "Ryan, it's time we stopped reacting and started taking the fight to the enemy. Where can I find the Demons?" NPC List: Mark, Ryan, the Demons, Goat, Billy, the disk-thing, the illusionist (possibly the same as the disk-thing). Thread List: Find out what's happening to Ryan. Protect Ryan from his old gang. Protect Mark from his own stupidity. Treat that damned illusionist to some payback. Free Ryan from the disk's spiritual hold. Chaos Factor: 7 -> 6 New Scene: Pete goes to the Demons' hideout, leaving Ryan home under powerful wards. Altered Scene! Q(Somewhat Likely): Does Ryan sneak out after Pete? YES. Pete surveyed the rundown condemned building the Demons called home. He whispered Latin phrases, invoking Veiled Glory to make himself invisible to supernatural beings and utterly nondescript to mortals. Then Subtlety to step through the wall. ComplexQ: What's to see? Antagonize/Wishes. [That'll be Mark, I take it.] Q(Likely): Is Mark at the Demons' mercy, such as it is? YES. Pete arrived to a grim scene - a young man was being interrogated by another who matched Ryan's description of Goat - a lean youth with hair and eyes as black as sin. The victim was held limply upright by two gang members while Goat and others took turns punching him in the gut, face, and groin. Coldly furious, Pete worked himself into position, waiting for the right moment to reveal himself. Goat then casually sliced the victim's shirt open. "Fun time's over. Tell me, meat. You wanna be cut up bad? Or you wanna take your chances with this?" He held up one of those disks. "Scream a lot now? Or scream a lot more later? Your choice." The victim's face lolled into the light, and Pete suddenly saw it was Mark. A hot fury awoke in him. Never that, oh never that. He drew Invictus, then switched Veiled Glory to Manifest Glory: Light flooded the room, along with an overpowering sense of awe. Peter Demarche stated thickly, "Let him go. All who drop their weapons I will permit to live." Q(Likely): Do the guys holding Mark drop him? YES. Most of the gang members cowered back from the Glory, dropping any weapons they held at once and babbling in fear. The two holding Mark up likewise dropped him and backed away. Goat whirled at once, paling slightly yet forcing a sneer to his lips. "Well, if it ain't Peter Demarche himself, Do-Gooder-At-Large! You talk a big game, Teach. Didn't do your brother much good, did it? Or that Langley sellout?" Peter cast a hasty ward over Mark with his free hand; it wouldn't stand up to much, but it was something. He took a step toward Goat. "If you want to die, keep talking. Last chance, Goat." He'd activated Impassibility, so he couldn't actually attack yet, but he'd be virtually immune to any normal attacks they sent his way as well. Q(Unsure): Enough gang members still fight-worthy to cause me serious trouble? YES. [Sigh.] Goat threw the disk at him while rallying his troops. "We'll see, won't we? Get over here, boys, there's only one of him!" Pete sliced Invictus effortlessly through the disk; it wasn't actually alive, so that didn't count as an attack. "Come, then." Q(Likely): Does something unexpected happen when the disk is destroyed? YES. ComplexQ: Like what? Carry/A plot. [Wait, what?!] Q(Very Unlikely): Did Goat intend for me to destroy the disk? YES. [Oh, JOY.] ComplexQ: What variety of Hell breaks loose? Debase/Information. [Hmm. Well, there ARE illusions involved...] Q(Unsure): Is everyone in the room affected? NO. [Worse and worse.] Black mists enveloped Pete. He was naked and alone in Shadow, without Invictus. Shapes prowled about him in the mists, lurking closer... No! I was in the Demons' hideout, this has to be an illusion! He began to frame the words for Lumen Veritatis to let him see the truth... but his tongue froze in his throat as the darkness spoke to him in a voice of raw malevolence. "No fear, mageling. I'll not slay a mage of the Order of St. Michael. You are far too valuable a prize for that." One of the darkling shapes rushed closer, and Pete lashed out at it with controlled fury; it retreated, growling discordantly. I doubt it can completely cloud lethal threats from my mind, those must be real enemies. Aloud he said, "You don't have your prize yet!" Mockingly, it said, "Don't I? Are you certain?" Pete snarled out the words to Lumen Veritatis again, only to have them catch in his throat once more. He began to know fear; is this thing that far under my skin?! "Oh yes," the darkness said, answering his unspoken thought. But Pete had no time to answer; predatory forms were closing in from all sides, and he spun to attack, trying to break through the ring. Pain woke as their claws got past his guard... Q(Unsure): Time for the cavalry to arrive? YES. Suddenly a voice rang through his head, more real than the darkness - a distressed voice that woke his senses to life. "Mr. Demarche!" Ryan's voice. Abruptly he was back in the Demons' hideout, surrounded by human foes, his side throbbing with pain... but with Invictus in his hand, which made exactly all the difference in the world. NPC List: Mark, Ryan, the Demons, Goat, Billy, the disk-thing, the illusionist (possibly the same as the disk-thing). Thread List: Find out what's happening to Ryan. Protect Ryan from his old gang. Protect Mark from his own stupidity. Treat that damned illusionist to some payback. Free Ryan from the disk's spiritual hold. Free myself, for that matter. Chaos Factor: 6 -> 7 New Scene: Back in the game, the fight continues! Interrupt! NPC Action: Ryan. Communicate/The innocent. [Okay, the innocent has to be Mark, but what about him?] Q(Unsure): Is Mark hurt worse than he seemed? YES. Willing the blade to be merciful, Pete slashed at the nearest gang member, whose eyes rolled up as he fainted, believing he'd received a mortal wound and acting accordingly. Just then, Ryan shouted again, "Mr. Demarche! Mark's bleeding, he looks bad!" Damn, Pete thought - it just keeps getting better and better. But Ryan's voice at least distracted some of his foes; the one called Billy and another guy went for him. Q(Somewhat Likely): Does Ryan clean their clocks? YES. [He has the strength of ten because his heart is pure. And the kid is due a break, I'd say.] Pete made for Goat, accepting some minor injuries in the process - take him out and the rest will break. He noticed in his peripheral vision Ryan giving what-for to his two combatants. Hope he makes it. Goat grinned as he backed away. "I'm supposed to tell you that this fight doesn't matter, you've already lost!" With that, he ran; the others soon ran too. Pete let them go and immediately ran to Mark. Ryan was standing over two unconscious bodies, swaying on his feet. One eye was blacked, a lip was split, and a shallow knife wound raked his side, but he had eyes only for Mark. "Is he gonna be okay?!" Q(Unlikely): Well, is he?! YES. [Barely, but yes.] Pete tore Mark's ruined shirt open. Blood was oozing nastily from the cut Goat's knife had left, but no vitals had been hit. Pete sighed as he applied direct pressure. No first-aid kit handy, it'll have to be healing magic. Not the most reliable, and no fun at all, but he'd open a vein for his kid brother. Chanting softly, he let some of his own vital force pass into Mark. His breath hissed through his teeth as his own wounds redoubled in pain... then the exhaustion hit. Mark's bleeding slowed fitfully, then stopped. Numbly, Pete tore Mark's shirt into makeshift bandages. "He'll pull through. How about you, are you okay?" Ryan grinned wearily. "I've had worse... Pete." "You did well," Pete told him, "but for now let's get out of here." He hoisted Mark into a fireman's carry, staggering under his weight; Ryan reached out to steady him, beaming at the praise. "Want me to carry him?" "I can manage." But it turned out that he did need Ryan to take over about halfway home. (He couldn't use Mobility on anyone but himself, unfortunately.) Staggering in, he announced, "I've got to collapse. Put Mark to bed, then do the same for yourself. Do whatever you need to do to make sure you don't have to leave here in the morning; you're not out of the woods yet." "Got it, Pete." [Pete was originally built in Champions, then later translated into Mutants & Masterminds... so I have a really clear idea of what he's capable of. In M&M, he'd be able to overcome the limitations on his Mobility by doing a Power Stunt - either by spending a hero point or by taking Fatigue - of which he doesn't have any more of the latter to spare currently. Of course, I'm playing this game entirely freeform, guided only by Mythic, but my clear idea of what he can do really helps.] Thread List: Find out what's happening to Ryan. [Still need some details here.] Protect Ryan from his old gang. [Not out of the woods yet.] Treat that damned illusionist to some payback. Free Ryan from the disk's spiritual hold. Free myself, for that matter. Take Goat down a peg or three. Chaos Factor: 7 -> 8 [/QUOTE]

Verification