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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Calinon" data-source="post: 1277449" data-attributes="member: 13737">August 28, 2120Mega-City of New YorkNew York Aeroplex, Overflow Annex5:00 PM Eastern TimeYou followed the instructions on your EPIC invitation, and using the enclosed passports as well as the train or plane tickets, have travelled to the capital city of the North American Alliance, the Mega-City of New York.  As your jet circles the airport, you see lights stretching to the east all the way to the ocean.  Those same lights stretch north and south along the coast as far as you can see.  You sit in a holding pattern for a while, then finally decend and land at the New York Aeroplex.  As the plane taxi’s to its terminal, a steward approaches you and asks that you remain in the plane.  Apparently you are to debark at a separate terminal, one rented by EPIC for your arrival.  This illicits several stares from nearby passengers, some curious, some frightened, a few even hostile, but thankfully the plane docks and most of the other passengers debark, leaving only the crew and a few other teens on board.  You sit in the plane as luggage is unloaded.  Your luggage is brought up into the plane.  That done, the plane rumbles slowly away from the terminal, and after a lengthy taxi, arrives at huge, circular terminal where several other jets are parked.  The stewards and stewardesses help you debark, placing luggage on carts for you.You walk down the boarding tunnel and enter the circular complex.  It is easily five hundred feet across.  It has clean, tiled floors and three levels around the outer walls with benches against the windows and railing and various levels of docking for hoverships as well as standard aircraft.  Each level has a plethora of vending machines.  In the middle of the complex is a two story restaurant.  It is suspended from the roof and is accessible from stairways from the upper and lower levels, and walk-in from  the second level.  It has glass floors and is named “International Eatery.”  It is obviously open, with staff cleaning tables and floors, but from what you can see is completely empty of customers.  In fact, looking around, other than the restaurant staff, the entire complex is empty except for the teens coming in from other boarding hallways.  It’s strangely quiet, and in a place that can likely handle over a thousand people, having rougly sixty people in it makes it seem open and empty.*tap tap tap*The sound resonates through your entire body, though in reality you aren’t even sure you heard it in the normal sense.  You look around for the source, and notice that the other teens are doing the same.  The people in the restaurant seem unaware of the sound.*tap tap tap*This time you are certain you heard it as well as felt it.  Like the other teens in the room, you begin to migrate towards the middle of the complex.  As you approach, you see an elderly woman, obviously a native of your country, sitting on a bench.  She wears a typical “grandmother” hairstyle, is wearing a comfortable blue dress and is wearing casual jewelry.  In her lap is a small dog, a Chihuahua by looks, that is curled up asleep.  Her right hand rests on a cane.*tap tap tap*You see her tap her cane three times.  Certain now of the source of the sound, you approach and form a semi-circle around her with the other teens.  You feel completely at ease near her and know for certain she is a friend.  Her dog wakes up and barks once.Randall McPheeYou approach with the other students, completely at ease, that is until you get in close enough to get a good look.  You see only the ghostly outline of an old woman, but behind that image you see what can only be the true form of the mutant.  An adrogynous being of average height, it has skin that is a pasty color.  It is dressed in a grey body suit.  It’s face is nearly flat and featureless, with two small black slits where its eyes are, and no nose or mouth.  Its eyes lock onto yours and you are frozen in place, and you aren’t sure if it is because of fear or some strange power.Merlin said you would see me, child, but I did not believe him, a voice says directly to your mind.  Oddly enough, the voice sounds very soothing, in a natural way, despite it being projected into your mind.  You feel no form of control being exerted and begin to calm down.  You realize that her act of age is no act at all; she sounds very, very old.  Very few have the ability to see my true form.  I look forward to working with you at the institute.  Now, come here and help an old woman stand up, please, Randall.You look around and realize nobody has noticed your momentary distress, and feel compelled to step forward and help her as she has requested.OOC:  You may choose not to and make a willpower saving throw if you wish, but you truly feel you are in no danger whatsoever.EveryoneThe old woman waits until you are all gathered, and gestures a small boy forward.  “Come here and help an old woman stand up, please, Randall,” she says and a smallish boy who looks to be about twelve nervously walks forward.  He helps the woman stand up and the small dog jumps down to her feet as she rises.“Hello, children,” she says warmly, speaking in your native tongue with the exact accent you’d expect.  “This is such an exciting day for me!  I very seldom get out and about these days.  Old bones don’t travel well,” she says with a smile.  “My name is Mrs. Wild, but I would prefer that you call me Grandmother.  Everyone does, and well, I do fit the role!” she chuckles.“I am very glad you all arrived safely.  Kyle, the worrier, was concerned that some goverments might not be willing to let you leave to attend the institute.  Your special abilities are so rare, and each of you have shown unique ability to use your gifts; it is a special day for EPIC to have you all here.”  She pauses and shifts her weight a bit until she seems comfortable.  “Of course, Murphy’s Law has struck, and the Mag-Lev that was supposed to take us from here to EPIC Headquarters has broken down.  We’ll be a few hours behind schedule as a result, but thanks to some help from the airport, the Restaurant above us is open.  You can have whatever you like; it’s all paid for.  And it will be a good oportunity to get to know each other.“But before we head up, I want to make a few things perfectly clear,” she says, her voice turning very matronly.  “First, you are no better than normal humans.  You may have powers that let you surpass them, but you are still human.  Violence against normals is to be avoided whenever possible.  Second, none of you are better than each other.  I will not tolerate any violence between you, no matter the reason.  Third, a few of us have unusual appearances, myself included,” she says, slowly shifting to a like sized strange looking mutant.  Despite the shift in appearance, you do not feel any differently towards her.  Shortly after, she shifts back.“Who we are is not governed by what we look like,” she says firmly.  “Vincent and Tara, take off your trenchcoats and hats.  You have nothing to hide here.”  As the two remove their jackets and hats, you are confronted with a boy that looks like a demon, complete with oddly shaped head, small horns and batlike wings, and a girl with an extra pair of insectoid arms, like those of a praying mantis, and four insect-like wings.  Grandmother waits for the gasps and such to go away, then continues.  “Raisa, stop slouching.  You are not the tallest person here,” Grandmother says to an amazingly tall girl.  “Carl may continue to slouch if he wants,” she says chuckling, gesturing towards a dark-skinned, thin boy who stands at least eight feet tall.“Now that that is out of the way, lets all go get some food while we wait for the Mag-Lev to arrive.  Second-floor, Pooky,” she says to her dog.  The tiny critter barks twice and Grandmother, Pooky and Randall vanish in a puff of pink smoke.  “Come along, children!” Grandmother calls out, drawing all your attention up to the restaurant where the three are now standing.Suddenly, it’s like a mezmerization of sorts lifts from you, leaving you with a slight itching in your ears and forehead, and you realize she had somehow held everyone in a type of harmless thrall.  However, you also realize you are hungry.  There is an elevator tube and four stairways leading to the restaurant.</blockquote>

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