Blood_Wolffe

4. The Bridge to Victory


The artifact was a vial of water that, according to legend, had been blessed by a truly innocent being. Unfortunately the Night Collector was the one who possessed it. An assassin who only came at night and always took something from his victims, he had acquired it during a job on an eccentric old man who had taken to acquiring rare antiquities. Night Collector didn't take it for its power. In fact it was almost useless against most things. He sometimes took the most random things. Sometimes very sentimental things.

Flaming Mistress believed he had taken something very close to her heart when her parents died but no one had even been able to prove they were murdered. Which was why she was so determined to go along with the group.

“I said no!” Dark Harrier put his foot down on this issue. But his determination didn't have any effect on hers.

“I know him the best out of anyone here! I have leads on him! He is mine dammit!” Her voice echoed through their mostly outdated base.

The Dark Harrier spoke with cold facts, “You are too emotional when it comes to him. You will get overwhelmed, you won't listen to orders, and you will endanger yourself or others.”

She put her hands on her hips, “Oh really? Then shouldn't you be staying back too? You have feelings just as mine after what happened to Jai.” She said returning his stare.

The Dark Harrier's face turned red. Veins looked like they might pop due to his furiousity.

He spoke deliberately but with tangible anger, “I have been able to control my emotions! My call stands. You sit this one out, and don't you ever dare use her as leverage against me! You have no idea.”

“Neither do you!” She yelled with tears welling in her eyes.

Blood Wolffe and Mithril were within earshot of the whole thing. Wolffe saw it as a fight for dominance, therefore he would do nothing about it. Mithril Zeta had seen enough though. He got in between them and pushed them away from each other.

“Okay you two, just calm down. Flaming Mistress, would you please take a walk to cool down? Literally?” He said referring to her smoldering skin.

She huffed, then stomped out while saying, “Fine! I don't want to be anywhere near that bonehead anyway!”

Blood Wolffe watched her walk out. Mithril turned to to Dark, “She may not be ready to face the Night Collector but you could help her through it.” He said in her defense.

“Regardless of that, have we found any leads on his location?” Mithril asked.

“Yeah.” Dark said, “Skyway City, and we are heading out right away. But don't tell Mistress what were up to.”

Wolffe snickered with crossed arms, “As if she isn't going to know. She has a point you know, are you sure you're going to be level-headed out there Harrier?”

“I'll be fine. Now let's gear up and move out.”

Brett Mason sat on the couch of the small hotel room they had rented out with his clunky boots propped up on the coffee table. He was casually throwing playing cards into the black beanie he almost always wore revealing mussed up black hair. Scars from long ago zig-zagged his face. He wore a leather coat and jeans instead of the other's stealthy outfits.

“So, Night Collector. Can we hit the bank yet?” He said with a snide smile.

“Stop asking me every ten minutes! You're being childish.” Night Collector said looking out the window with binoculars.

“How else am I going to entertain myself? Eckankar doesn't even get it when I make fun of him and Leucetios can't take a joke.

The giant man in green and black armor merely grunted in disapproval.

The rigid lizard-like man in bone armor barely moved, “I understand what you're saying. I just do not find it amusing.”

“That's not the point of making fun of someone.” Brett said.

“Why don't you feed the Fenris Project?” Night said.

“No way! Every time anyone gets near his cage he freaks out. Someone is going to report us if they haven't already. He was hard enough to sneak over here. That thing is gonna have an annurism.”

“Well, feed him anyway. You're driving me mad.” Night replied, “Besides it's his feeding time as it is.”

“Fine.” Brett said. He grabbed a vacuum packed chunk of meat from a crate and left for the sewers underneath the building. He hit the elevator button but it was out of order. With a sigh he lazily walked over to the stairwell, opened the door and rocketed down with blinding super speed. He made his way into the sewers. Around the corner in a cage with thick bars was the Fenris Project. Nine feet tall and almost 600 pounds of muscle he was by far the biggest warwolf Brett had ever seen. His arms and chest were wrapped in heavy chains. He was sleeping now.

“Hey... Hey!” Brett tried in vain to wake him up.

He knew what to do though. It worked for cats and dogs. Just open the food container. The perforated line made a zip noise as Brett ripped the package open. Fenris' ears twitched forward and he could see to yellow eyes staring back at him with anticipation. Before Fenris could make his usual noise he was thrown a nice big chunk of meat. He immediately tore sloppily into it with a mouth as big as the average man's torso.

Just above Rad-iator and the Jeweler were crouched down, sneaking up on the building.

“Dark Harrier, this is Rad-iator. We are in position.”

Blood Wolffe, Solid Shot, and Harrier were on the roof above the Hotel. Cianna, Mithril Zeta and the BDSM Avenger were on the other side.

“Okay.” Harrier said into his communicator, “Let's make this raid fast and clean. Got it?”

Brett overheard them through a sewer grate.

“Just great!” He whispered, “I knew this job was a bad idea!”

He took out his cell phone and called up to their room, “Night! We have several heroes moving in on us right now! Get out of there! I got a plan to distract them.”

Brett pulled out a Council insignia he wore around his neck and showed it to Fenris, “Okay big guy. Time to play.”

He opened the cage and the Fenris Project walked out on all four, ready for commands.

Brett pointed up, “Smash!”

The Fenris Project looked up. He crouched down and gathered his might. Rad-iator and the Jeweler were flung from their hiding places as the ground beneath them exploded. The Fenris Project leapt high into the air. Brett put his hands up to shield himself from falling debris.

The Night Collector and Eckankar were already on their way out of the building, heading for the towering suspended highway that led out of Skyway. Brett had caught up with them in a heartbeat.

“Down there!” Wolffe exclaimed, pointing towards the two battling the massive beast.

“Blood Wolffe, Mithril Zeta, go down there and help them! The rest of you come with me.” Dark Harrier said.

Rad-iator instinctively threw a volley of radiation at the giant warwolf with nearly no effect. It stalked towards him, muscles tense and ready to pounce. He looked up at the creature in awe.

A beam of energy smashed into the side of Fenris' head, knocking it into a brick wall briefly. Other than jolting the beast it seemed to have no effect. Blood Wolffe got closer to send a surge of energy into it's chest while Mithril Zeta wound up and uppercut Fenris right on the chin. Fenris replied with a backhand, smashing Mithril into a building, sending dust and chunks of brick flying. He then grabbed a nearby dumpster and swung it into Blood Wolffe with one hand.

The Jeweler healed Mithril Zeta instantly and Rad-iator filled Wolffe with beneficial radiation. Wolffe got up and was about to attack again when he had to cover his ears. The Fenris Project perked in the direction of the other villains and leapt off to meet them.

The villains were outnumbered. They had no escape. The road was easily two hundred feet in the air. Victory was assured.

“Well.” Brett said looking at the BDSM Avenger clad in revealing leather, “Look at you.”

“Save it moron.” She snarled.

The Dark Harrier stood tall in front of the rest of them, “Surrender. All of you, and skip right to jail, or make a long visit to the hospital first.”

He stood confidently as the others arrived at his side. Even with the addition of Fenris to theirs. It was now eight against five.

Cars flew by them at high speed on either side. The Night Collector lowered his razor katana to his side.

“What makes you think we don't have the advantage?” He said with a smile.

With blinding speed he lashed out at a passing car, slicing through the body and both tires sending it careening out of control toward the edge of the highway. The Dark Harrier immediately rocketed off in flight toward the car as it slid off and fell to the city below. He got underneath it, straining to bear its full momentum.

Brett unleashed a cone of fire across the highway causing cars to skid to a halt and smash into each other. A tanker truck full of fuel jack-knifed and screeched to a halt just before reaching the fire.

“Attack!” Blood Wolffe yelled.

Cianna created an small army of illusion from her mind. Brett Mason countered by creating ghoulish fire demons of his own and choking the BDSM Avenger and Solid Shot with a cloud of burning ash.

Mithril squared off against the Fenris Project and Leucetios at the same time with Rad-iator and the Jeweler backing him up. He connected with Fenris but Leucetios was fast. He smashed down on his shoulder with his fist.

Blood Wolffe went after Eckankar while Cianna took on the Night Collector with her army.

Solid Shot aimed in on Brett, “Can't choke a robot.”

He opened fire with a burst of rounds. Brett instinctively ducked with super speed, avoiding all but one that ripped through his shoulder. He grabbed it and squeezed, looking at the robot with anger. He sent his conjured fire demons hopping and scampering toward him.

“Oh boy.” Solid Shot said spraying bullets that seemed to pass through them harmlessly. “Not the face!”

BDSM Avenger waved the choking ash off and punched Brett in the chest, launching him back. Solid Shot's electrical fists seemed to do more damage to the small demons and one by one he pulverized them.

Night Collector sliced through one of Cianna's conjured minions, causing him to melt from existence. Another launched a volley of energy that managed to knock him off balance for a moment.

Wolffe had fired his own blue energy at Eckankar, knocking him down to the ground. But Eckankar got up rapidly. The lizard man flicked his tongue at Wolffe who growled back. Eckankar opened his mouth and sent a sonic attack at Wolffe. He grabbed his ears again as he felt a dizzying pain.

The Dark Harrier flew back towards the Fenris Project. With the help of Mithril Zeta they managed to push the villains back.

Night Collector was quickly slicing through Cianna's army though, and Eckankar's sonic attacks were especially damaging to Blood Wolffe.

Eckankar was on Blood Wolffe now ready to deliver a huge sonic blow. Bullets suddenly riddled him from the side. He let go of Wolffe and keeled over in pain, retreating to the rest of the villains. Another barrage of bullets was deflected by Night Collector. He looked over to the cause. A small girl in military fatigues and covered in equipment. It was Maggie.

Mithril Zeta ran up to her, “Maggie what are you doing here!? This is very dangerous!”

“You needed help!” She said.

“Enough of this!” Night Collector hissed, “Fenris! Throw!” He said pointing to the fuel tanker. The Fenris project immediately went over to the tanker. It creaked and moaned as the warwolf slowly hefted it above his head with all his might. His legs and arms shook as his muscle bulged. The semi truck lifted at the back end where it hooked to the tank before breaking and falling off. Fenris growled, his eyes squinted with intense concentration as he prepared to toss the tanker.

Night Collector ran up to it and sliced through the metal, causing the fuel to pour out, “Mason! Fire it up!”

With a running start Fenris threw the tanker into the air, sending it sailing towards the heroes. It seemed to lumber toward them, creaking quietly in the air. Brett sucked in air and blew out a cone of fire igniting the giant bomb. The tanker collided into the suspended highway exploding in a rumbling, immense, raging fireball. Mithril hugged Maggie and shielded her with his metallic body. His back was peppered by hissing flaming shrapnel.

It had landed in front of them. A tall wave rippled through the highway, buckling it under great tension. The heroes were flung by the wave back to where Mithril was. It was now split in two. With several cars dangling precariously off the crumbling edges. Ignoring her own pain, the BDSM Avenger held onto a passenger bus that was about to fall over and held it on the bridge. Dark Harrier was lying down at the edge holding onto a car by its frame with one arm, gritting his teeth. The people inside begged him not to let go. Wolffe and the others were pulling people out of the burning wreckage and healing them.

“Maggie. You have to go home now. You've done all you can, now go.” He said.

“But I can help!” She protested.

“Go home!” He said with authority as he turned to help.

Maggie frowned and started to walk back when she noticed a van with a family in it hanging off the edge beginning to fall.

She turned to the others, “Hey! They need help!”

But they were all busy. She looked back at the family. They screamed as the van shifted toward the edge. She furrowed her brow thinking. The van shifted again. She reached into her ammo pouch and pulled out an M240 round. She loaded it as fast as she could then aimed at the van. The gun popped loudly and the grenade exploded beneath the van, launching sticky webbing everywhere, holding it to the ground. She ran up and pulled on the door. It was jammed. She smashed the side window with the butt of her gun.

“Get out now!”

One by one the family crawled out. Maggie looked back at the webbing. It was snapping under the strain of the weight. She pulled the father out as the last few strands broke, sending the van falling down into the city down below.

On the other side, the villains were gone. They had no artifact and time was short.

Freedom is not really known for RP but I think it has the highest population. Pinnacle has the RP Congress, a conglomerate of RP supergroups. But last I checked they were a hero thing. That was before CoV though so I am sure they have some villain groups too. But hey, there is at least one RPer villain on pinnacle. Me.

If you see the Fenris Project online he may just growl and roar but... for what its worth. He bites though.

After much delay (Sorry I didn't tell you I was on vacation for the last week) I am cracking down on this. The next chapter will be up in a few days.

((Wow. Lots of posts since I have been on vacation. Unfortunately not by the people in Fenris' immediate vicinity.))

It hadn't occured to him until now since he was so busy sniffing out trails and fighting demons, but the Fenris Project didn't like this place. The whole palace had an unnatural feel. There were more things here than he felt comfortable. That ice queen in particular.

He looked at Quickshot with a worried face, urging them to leave. Of course commands from handlers came first. If they were to stay he would just have to be extra careful. Especially with that demon man. His leg hurt and his back was sore. A little blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. El D, or Warheart took his blows well and gave him good ones as well.

His ears were up and on the alert. Little radar dishes picked up every minute sound and a flaring nose kept vigilant for any peculiar scents.

((Very nice twist. Makes me wonder if we will see Frozen Heart in the future.))

Fenris only looked at the strange cold woman with curiosity. Which was strange for him, he almost always gave some warning. But he could not smell her, and her appearance surprised him. Both very unusual things to happen.

She dangled the emblem in front of him. There was no doubt now. She had the tools of the trade, the scent was close and most of all, the insignia.

He sat down and watched her walk over to the demon. He was quite proud that she took interest in his fight. He stepped carefully over where the crater used to be when she called him over. But it was as if it had never been there. The Palace was untouched again. So he picked up the pace and stopped in front of her, briefly giving El D an aggressive look. He wouldn't forget a fight like that quickly.

((Okay Twisting Nether... Oh. Sorry. You meant no IC stuff right? Well since I posted anyways, El D. Drop the Bombshell is a cool song, but I think Destroy All by Static-X might fit better. Just a recommendation. Another song I like is Power Struggle by Sunna but I call dibs on that gem. I don't know where you are going to post links to mp3 files though so I can't show you. You must discover it yourself I am afraid.))

((Funny you should mention the visa thing. My trip is delayed by at least one day. Going to Sun City and Praetoria. All the tourist parts. I would like to see some other parts of Africa but it's not my choice. The only danger I will see is baboons. I think I could take on a baboon. But I wont try. I would say Wolf Moon because I have heard Of Wolf and Man so much. I thought it sounded cooler. For Fenris I just picked "Superbeast" by Rob Zombie. Or if you're into movie scores, I like "Alien Fight" from AvP. Right at the :48 second mark is where Fenris Project comes into my mind.))

The Fenris Project scrambled away from what he thought was an exploding demon. Next to Quickshot seemed to be a reasonably safe distance.

His back was bruised tender. He had cuts and scrapes scattered all over him. He favored one leg that he landed on in the fall. He let out a sort of half grunt half cough to spit up some blood. But he would be fine in time.

The demon smelled slightly different. He cocked his head in confusion one way. Then the other. He wasn't sure what to make of it so he looked to Quickshot and waited for commands. Certainly he wasn't getting any closer on his own free will, that man explodes.

((Approx. 550-600 lbs. so yeah, a heck of a lot is right. He may not show any pain now, but I am not god-moding. He is just trained to lick his wounds later.))

A furry hand reached out from the dust, clasping the ankle of El D. Fenris grunted as he strained to swing him with all his might to send the demon into the wall as hard as he could.

He leapt out of the healing crater toward Quickshot. He landed in front of her covered in pulverized marble dust. She got a look from him as if he was asking, "What should I do now?" Fenris cracked his back from the impact and turned. A low growl came from his throat as a warning to El D to keep his distance.

Fenris huffed as he cracked the marble floor with his impact. He landed right in front of Quickshot. His pain only fueled him, just like he was trained. He would only feel it after the fight was over. Even in his rage he looked back at Quickshot briefly. Wether it was for commands or concern for her safety or even just a random passing glance could not be known. He immediately sprung up and launched himself at El D, both fists hammering down together with enough force to fold a car in half. After which he latched onto the shoulder of his armor with his teeth and squeezed like a vice. The Council had trained him not to cut or slash with his teeth but to use his strength to create incredible pressure in his bite.

The cracks made by Fenris and El D had already began shrinking inward to their centers.

((I will be heading to South Africa tomorrow for the next 11 days for vacation. I will not be totally gone (unless the hotel has no internet) but I will most likely be posting less. Just letting everyone concerned know.))

The spinning of the axe came to an abrupt halt making a ringing sound resonate through the metal. The Fenris Project had put up his forearm and blocked it. The axe had sunken in about two inches. It would have been less if it hadn't been laced with energy but it still hardly penetrated his thick hide.

He threw his arm releasing the axe sending it spiraling into the wall, sticking in the ice.

"Move," Quickshot whispered to Fenris.

He knew that command. He leapt to the side, allowing her a clear shot.

Then it was his turn. Fenris leapt up on a collision course with the demon. He roared, baring large teeth and claws ready to eviscerate the demon.

"Come, wolf" El D called to the Warwolf.

"It seems that I have a new friend, a large one at that."

It was a bit of a presumptuous statement. The Fenris Project growled at him again, wincing and baring teeth. That man was not Council. Not even a Vampyri.

He turned to Quickshot and slowly walked up to hear on all four, sniffing at her the whole time. He decided if anyone was Council she was. She had technology and guns and no magic fire. So he watched her intensely, briefly looking where El D had spoken, from time to time. He stayed between her and him, now to defend this strange new person who had defended him as a sort of repayment.

The Fenris Project had followed the trail down the hall running from the fiery flying man. Then he heard it. He spun around and dug his claws in scraping and sliding to a halt. His ears perked up alertly in the direction of the demon. It didn't make sense. He wasn't friendly. He had a warwolf whistle though.

His indecision was cut by the sharp bang of a shotgun cracking the air. He looked at the source. He confirmed with a couple sniffs that it was the woman who left the trail.

Unsure of what to make of such a strange situation he stayed there in the middle of them. He looked at the woman who shot at his attacker, then back at the man who had the warwolf whistle.

Oh and the second in charge of the leader, who is obviously more capable and more experienced but for some reason isn't in charge.

There is one of those on the villain's team too.

Ah yes, the team must consist of stereotypes of the highest caliber!

The destined Leader
The quick tempered hot head
The calm really strong giant

... Who else?

What was this thread about? Yes for walking!

((For anyone curious here is the Fenris Project's bio.))

Fenris heard the incoming fireball while waiting for his travelling companion. The explosion rocked the palace entrance and sent him skidding across the ground. Fenris dug his claws into the floor slowing his skid and finally stopped facing the entrance. He looked up briefly at the sound of ice cracking thunderously. The scratches dissappeared from the floor quickly.

The Fenris Project roared in anger. He punched holes into the marble floor with his fists and pulled up a chunk of rock the size of a dresser. He hefted it over his head and chucked it with brute strength.

With no wind to carry it away he was drawn to the much stronger trail like a magnet. He was picking up details now. Gunpowder, the ionization of air indicated small amounts of electricity. Gadgets. But there was something else now. She was not alone.

The chunk of marble that had been pulled up by Fenris was now quickly growing back on itself.

Not specific enough! The generic reinforcements come while the base is collapsing due to the mandatory pushing of the mandatory self-destruct button with the mandatory countdown. The hero escapes without a scratch (or maybe one on the face to make him look more rugged) at the last possible second.

It would be better if the Villain either fell into an abyss screaming, "Noooooo!" or rocketed off in his escape pod.

((The Fenris Project is not at all human fyi. But El D wouldn't know that unless he read up on him so it fits. It will be a bad surprise when he tries to negotiate though. Fenris is kind of dumb ))

The Fenris Project heard someone talking and froze. His ears and fur stood on end. He spun around to see an approaching flying man. He bared large butcherknife teeth and furrowed his brow showing angry yellow eyes. Even though he was just an animal his message was clear, "Keep your distance. Do not attack me." His growl was low and heavy. It carried through wind even this strong.

He resumed sniffing out the trail. His nose continuing to plow a small line through the world. It led him to some tall doors. He gave them a testing scratch. Then he shouldered the door open. He was zeroing in on Quickshot's trail like a magnet. When he got inside he shook his fur clear of most of the snow. The magnificense and grandeur of the Ice Palace was lost on the dumb brute. He regarded it for no more than a second before putting his head down to the ground again and resuming on his course. After several feet he looked back through the open door, waiting impatiently for the flying man to follow him.

The wind was harsh but this new found treasure.... Snow! The Fenris Project blipped at it with his tongue. It looked like the sky made it. He couldn't tell where it came from no matter how hard he looked up. He was snapping with jaws that could easily scissor a man in two at the snow flakes when Fenris caught the scent of something. He had traced the smell on all fours, nose twitching along the ground. There were no footprints and no scent in the air. The wind took care of both. The snow that covered those same footprints also sealed in the scent that came with them, prolonging the trails life and he could smell through that quite easily.

His left ear pointed toward a growing noise. Something flying towards him. He cocked his head briefly before continuing to sniff out his trail. Cautiously he kept the ear pointed and occasionally looked back quickly. He decided he was in an investigative mood so he continued to plow a small trail through the snow with his sniffer. With no Handler to direct him he wouldn't attack unless he felt threatened, mad, or hungry. He felt none of those... yet.

Shakes pwnage dice....

Name: CiborgN1nja Catg1rl

AT: Claws/Regen

Bio: She usd 2 be in ninja clan but than got realy mad cuz they kill her mom and dad.

((Hope it's not to late to add a character. I want to explore this one more and this seems to be the best thread to do it.))

The loud ringing of the bank's alarm was drowned out by the sound of the wall being broken through. The Council had been planning the robbery for quite some time. The Handler smiled as he stood to the side issuing orders. Unfortunately for him the police knew of the planned robbery and had set up a large strike force concealed in various positions. They swarmed the building with speed and precision but stopped upon the sight at the vault door.

The handler ordered it to get into the vault. The Warwolf was like any other they had seen. It was massive; standing up to the ceiling it put its claws on either side of the vault door and pulled. The foot thick steel groaned and popped. The Warwolf, called The Fenris Project, let out a monstrous growl as he pulled. He was wrapped in thick chains. One on each arm with loops on the end for control. One around his neck as a collar and a third control chain around his chest. The collar had a dangling Council insignia with his name inscribed on the back.

The Police snapped out of their awe as the Seargent ordered them to fire. The Fenris Project was peppered with bullets. All doing little more than sending small puffs of fur flying.

The Seargent was prepared though, "Bring up the Javelin!"

A heavily armored Officer ran up clomping with all his gear. Not typical gear for police outside Paragon City but here it was needed for super-powered criminals. He swung his rocket launcher over his shoulder and aimed in. The Seargent cleared the backfire area then slapped the helmet of the armored Officer.

The rocket launcher let out a huge bang and the rocket screamed toward The Fenris Project. The explosion cascaded around him making him step forward. The Handler merely smiled and blew into his whistle.

"Throw!" He shouted, pointing at the source of his annoyance.

With one motion Fenris yanked the door out of the reinforced wall and hefted it above his head. Police scattered as the vault door sailed towards them. One officer fell onto his back as it bounced over him and through another wall.

Fenris' ears perked at the sound of the whistle only he could hear.

"Carry!" The Handler shouted, this time pointing into the vault.

If it weren't for the Handler's directions the police wouldn't have been spared. The one problem with the Fenris Project was his intelligence. For all his strength, his indestructibility, and his loyalty he was easily outsmarted. Without a handler the police could distract him, lead him outside, and heroes would wear him down slowly but surely.

But now he had his orders. Get stuff in vault. Carry. On all fours he barreled into the vault. But all that was there was a portal. The walls were bare. Fenris tried to lift the portal but it wouldnt budge even with his strength. He turned around to find his handler but there was only another grey stone wall. He clawed at it and tried to smash it but nothing happened. He grew angry and charged the portal to ram and smash it to bits. The nine foot tall animal went straight through the middle and tripped over himself in surprise. He skidded across snowy ground. Fenris got up and looked around in confusion. The white snow already began clumping against his gray fur. He shook it off and looked around.

With no Handlers in sight he stretched up and let out a low howl. A sound that felt heavy, and big.

((So the Fenris Project is nearly indestructible, but not completely. He is easier to trick because he is of animal intelligence. It is also possible to turn him against others, even if you are not Council. I think of him more like a Monster than a character so try to reign him in if you like. Or just go head to head with him. While not necessary more ingenious tricks and traps will do better for alleigance or defeat.

By the way...

[ QUOTE ]
"Old Mcdonald had a farm..." He began.

"And on his farm he had a BOMB, Bada-bing, bada-bang, bada-BOOM!"

[/ QUOTE ]

Usual Suspects right? My favorite movie.))

I would not recommend one specific thread. Start reading the open RP's and think, "Can my character add something?" If yes, and it looks fun, join! It takes a little while to get people really interacting with you but it is worth it and it can make your character really grow.

That said, what I think the threads with the broadest spectrums of possible characters...

Paragon University
Whitmoore Apartments
Blackmoore Safehouse

Then the PvP RP's
The World is Flat
Final Fight

Anyone else can add to that if they know another. I just don't read all of them so I haven't seen eveything available.

3. History

The Flaming Mistress, as she was known, hated watching the monitors, a duty shared by all the members. The room was metal and had a sterile feel. The only light at the moment was the bluish glow from the monitors. One was a map of the city with the locations of all the members, one was for incoming calls and for the computer, and the other was for the news, which was muted. Eight hours on duty. It was too much time to think, not enough time to do. As hard as she tried her mind always wandered back to her parents. They had been killed by a villain called the Night Collector. Of course no one had been able to prove this but she knew. Still, she diligently watched the screens. A few incoming reports of minor crimes was all she had to keep herself distracted. It wasn’t enough.

Mithril Zeta walked in the room bringing her something to drink, “You always seem so restless at the monitors.”

“I should be out there. Doing something.”

“By doing something do you mean looking for him?”

He had seen first hand how obsessed she was. A few years ago they had him cornered in the cellar of a burning mansion. He had stolen the one thing she still had from her parents. A singed letter had no value to anyone but her and him. The Night Collector always took something from his victims. A prize he had been denied for a long time.

Mithril could remember vividly how the Collector had been saved at the last moment as the house began to collapse. They had him dead to rights until the passage collapsed between them. The Flaming Mistress clawed at the rubble with tears in her eyes until he pulled her away. He had dragged her out of the mansion kicking and screaming just seconds before it collapsed in on itself and was destroyed.

“Yes I mean looking for him.” She said defensively.

Mithril sighed sadly “There is no way he got out. He is dead.”

She wouldn’t hear it, “There was no body.”

“That’s because that fire was burning at over 3,000 degrees for almost eight hours above ground and forty-eight below ground.”

“A snake like him is good at squirming it’s way out of trouble.”

A flashing light indicated an incoming call.

----

Maggie leaned over her perch on top of an occupied Council building looking down at a group of soldiers with narrowed eyes. She quietly drew the chamber back just far enough to see the brass of her 5.56mm rifle round. Then she slowly took an M203 round out of a pouch and loaded it into the breach of her grenade launcher. She had a fresh tank for her flamethrower. The safety was clicked off silently by her trained thumb. She shouldered the gun and adjusted until it was in place firmly and comfortably.

Aim… Breath out… Sque-

“What do you think you’re doing?” Blood Wolffe interrupted with a harsh tone.

“I was just-“

“You know your parents would not approve of you going out to start wars.” He said.

Blood Wolffe was moderately tall and moved stealthily. He always wore tight red and black leather that contained small strips of advanced armor. Where someone like him got it was always a question on the observant person’s mind. His frame was rugged yet he appeared sleek, a contrast to the child. Even if she was adorned in armor and military gear, her best war face would still get “ahs” from adults. She loathed their reactions. She wanted to be taken seriously. Wolffe was the only one who did.

“Are you gonna tell them?”

“No. But you shouldn’t go out by yourself. You never know when the Council is going to surprise you with some experiment.”

“I know what I’m doing. I’ve been around them all my life.”

He looked over the edge at her targets. He let her see him smile a little. She wasn’t his but he watched over her and was proud to see the young pup learning to hunt so effectively. But for now he would respect her parents’ wishes to keep her safe.

“How about we get some pizza? I stopped a robbery at a pizza shop down the street a few days ago. Normally I don’t accept rewards but the shop owner insisted.”

Her face lit up with excitement. He had her at pizza, but before they could make a move Wolffe got a call from the base.

“Sorry Maggie. We have an emergency meeting.” He despised them as much as she did the “ahs”.

“You want to come with me? Could be a big Task Force.”

“Yeah!” She said, jumping at the opportunity to go on a real mission.

----

Azuria had called them all to a vast meeting room in City Hall. Everything was marble. The floor, the walls, the pillars that surrounded them, even the table was a thick ornately carved slab of marble. The chairs were large, and made of deep rich wood, cushioned with velvet. The room could have been there for royalty.

Everyone was there sitting in awkward silence waiting for Azuria. The Dark Harrier sat back in his chair with his elbow propped on the armrest and hand against his forehead. The BDSM Avenger sat cross-legged. Her arched posture never allowed her back to touch the chair. Blood Wolffe paced slowly back and forth never making eye contact with The Dark Harrier.

“Sit up straight!” Black Gamma said to Dark Harrier. When Rad-iator snickered she shot him a look that made him sit up straight as well.

The Jeweler examined the table through his eyepiece, “It’s not faux. It’s real… Cut nice too.” Rad-iator feigned interest.

Maggie watched everyone; nothing escaped her keen eyes. Including Dark Harrier’s growing impatience. He fidgeted more and more until he couldn’t stand it anymore.

“That’s it. I’m not waiting around anymore.” He said getting up.

“Hold on just a second! You were the one who called this meeting so you’re staying.” Blood Wolffe said.

“No, I did.” Azuria said as she walked into the vast room.

“So what is this all about?” Wolffe said.

“I don’t know if many of you have heard of him, but Andrew Penne was a high-ranking member of the Circle of Thorns. He was recently found in his house in Founder’s Falls… Murdered. There has been a recent rise in crime that I’m sure you have felt if you haven’t heard of it. But I am getting ahead of myself, let me start from the beginning. How many of you have heard of the civilization of Mu?”

“Boy, when you say the beginning you mean it.” Rad-iator said.

Azuria smiled, “It disappeared very mysteriously. There are a host of theories as to why, one of them being that there was a great war that culminated into one massive battle, which destroyed it. Texts from that era are have been recovered from various Circle of Thorn bases. While documents of the battle in question are rare one name consistently appears in them. Long before the battle there was a sword that had been contained because it was considered too powerful to be in the hands of any one man. Obsidian Nexum. Legend says that if someone were to slay another with it, it would give him the victim’s power, their soul. Legend also tells of a vicious warlord. His name was Atheum, and he had a black heart. He scoured the lands with his army of men and monsters living only for war and slaughter. He was merciless and cruel, and somehow he got his hands on the sword. After that he and Mu disappeared, but a few rare sightings of Atheum have been uncovered. Babylon, Harappa, Atlantis, The Aztec civilization, Troy. I don’t think I need to remind you that all those civilizations mysteriously disappeared or suffered terrible wars before they fell.”

The Dark Harrier spoke up, “Okay, what does that have to do with us?”

“Now he has been spotted in Paragon City.”

A long silence was broken by Black Gamma, “Alright, how do we stop him?”

“I’m glad you asked. There were originally twelve artifacts that could send Atheum back to the Underworld. Atheum himself destroyed nine long ago. One was destroyed in a fire a few years ago. The last one is held by the Circle of Thorns.”

“Wait.” The Jeweler interrupted, “I thought you said there were twelve, ten were destroyed and one is controlled by the Circle? What about the other one?”

Azuria replied, “The truth is no one knows where the last one is. It is mentioned briefly in one text vaguely about being “Buried deep.” That is all anyone knows.

“If this is that important, why isn’t Statesman or some other high-ranking super group on this?” Blood Wolffe asked.

“Because no one believes me. There is little more evidence than my feelings on this. But let me assure you, Atheum is a threat. His mere presence causes wars. His vision is a world plunged into eternal war with him sitting at his throne as the god of war.”

“Alright.” Dark Harrier said, “Tell us where to find this artifact.”



((Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. I got this game called viva pinata for christmas and have been super addicted. I have a pretztail named Woofers though!))

((DISCLAIMER: I may have tweaked CoH history... and actual history to fit the story. Just letting everyone know.))

I will try my hand at this.

Someone stated earlier about g's knocking out a human. I thought of something similar. In boxing you get a KO if you hit a guy in the right place and hard enough to move the skull and not the brain. The brain hits the side of the skull and thats what turns the lights out. I am sure the instant acceleration of a jet propulsion powerful enough to send a human sized chunk of metal 100's of feet in the air would be much more powerfu than a knockout blow. Her brain would hit the bottom of her metal casing probably hard enough to have the watermelon from ten stories above effect. Splort! You could have some advanced cushioning around her brain but technology isn't a cure-all.

Knockout effect wouldn't happen when she stops the truck either. She is not moving so her metal casing doesn't hit her brain.

I liked the myomer muscles. I don't know if I would call them that. Not sure if it is an actual term or a game term. I avoid terms from other games.

And for people arguing that she could get tech upgrades. Maybe she doesn't want any. Maybe the process of getting the metal body hooked into her brain was traumatic or painful so she doesn't want any more. To get an upgrade she has to go through intense trauma/emotion/pain/memories.

I see a lot of how to do things wrong in that essay and not many on how to do things right. Other than that I would say that you have hit on many good points.

Another thing I don't like is the categorizing of bad roleplayers, poorly created characters, and bad plots/plot devices.

Those are my only critiques. I do like how you hit on both characters and plots. You obviously know what you are talking about. Include theme, setting, and subplot and you have my full support. For what it's worth.

((A quick OOC note to let everybody know that I will be getting back to this story after the holidays.

Advice: Don't send your mother-in-law a joke christmas letter about you and your new wife's adventures in bootlegging, drugs, and sex. She will not get it.))