Ex_Libris

"With the Strength of Ra!!!" (You have to see my character for this to make sense...)

Khaaaaaaaannnnnnn!

No seriously, my character Void Star (Energy/Ice Blaster) dressed all on black rimmed with gold has the battle cry "I am the Light of Darkness!" (For Now)

Great Opening story line to your char. Looking Foward to seeing you write more about your adventures Through the game.

I hear a lot of people talking (mostly in context of PvP discussions) about nerfing or powers being nerfed. I get the impression that this means that they've been powered down somehow, maybe to try to even the playing field. I think it might be a good thing to add to this list.

I've played on Virtue every day since launch (was not in headstart) and I have had fun RPing everytime.

Now, most of Sunday was spent hardcore XP grabbing in Boomtown with folks who were not "solid" RPers, but they respected the three RPers in our party and even got into giving battle orders and such all IC as well.... you just have to stick it out, and make your own fun.

One thing I have found, RP makes more RP. If you can find 1 or 2 folks who are almost always on when you are, RP with them visibly and often.... go to places like near Ms. Liberty to talk, hang out near stores and trainers talking IC, and other folks who want to RP will naturally join in, and keep it going.

I think Virtue has a great community, and a solid RP future.

(for referance, I am in "Digital Justice" a Robot based Supergroup of RPers)

For my Natural Scrapper Knight Wolf (on Justice): Don't run, you'll just "fall" tired.
For my Mutant Blaster Jacob's Ladder (on Justice): Does anyone smell something burning?
For the Tick Clone I have in my mine (FireDungBeetle): Evil Doer's, Beware my stench!!!

I am with you on the 5th Col guys, those guys should be hunted down with a pack of Wolves. I will add you to my friends list if you don't mind?

Like to keep it simple:

"I'm on 'em..."

bah typo heaven

Since this weekend, I've had zero latency issues in Virtue.

And for the fella who posted a question on Broadcast, it's generally accepted that the Broadcast channel is OOC anyway (as is pretty much any channel other than Local). I hardly pay attention to anything in gray anyway...

And the Virtue RP'ers don't expect everyone on the server to RP. They simply wanted increased chances of finding other RP'ers.

I feel your pain here folks and after a week of disconnects and trying to log on only to lag out 10 minutes later I decided to move our Supergroup ove rto Guardian.

Since the move a few days ago on Guardian we have had almost 0 problems. A little latency lag here and there, but stable. No drops and very few lags at all. The server laod also stays in the medium load which is ideal.

As the server load starts leveling out things will get a little bit better, but there idea of server management is letting everyone pick and thats made server laods way to bad to get good response otu of. Unless they are going to upgrade the servers to handle the load, nothing will change. Thus far they have stuck to the company line of "It's not the server load", which is bull as it's easy to see from the front indicators which servers are overloaded. Had the same problems in beta and they have not changed. Some servers were built early on and I don’t think fully updated when they made changes.

Either way – we are over on Guardian for good now.

Sorry to hear of the bad experiences by some folks trying to RP. Bottom line – some folks just don’t appreciate it and others just don’t care to understand. We are an RP group, but the emphasis is on having fun. Just getting settled in over on Guardian.

So if your looking to make a move – send a shout to Dr Midnight Phd and come join the The Midnight Society!

The Sly Fox's abrupt change in mood takes Lobe by surprise. He stops hopping and, simultaneously staring at the ground, dragging a foot around in a circle(incidentally tearing up the sidewalk) and wringing his hands behind his back, explains, "Well, you guys left and an old man with a shopping cart walked up to one of the eternally sleeping bad guys. The bad guy was sleeping on top of a ribbon and the man, boy did he smell, was trying to pick it up." Lobe looks up to see the majority of those present staring at him expectantly. Quickly averting his gaze he continues, "Well, I helped free the ribbon and it was connected to a nice medal, which was gold and silver and had red rocks in it. The red rocks looked like eyes because they were in a really angry looking face with horns." Finished, he looks back up at the group.

The silence lengthens, then Sly Fox prompts Lobe, "And?"

Lobe, confused, replies, "And what?"

Sly Fox sighs, "What did you do with the medal?" then he thinks to himself, This is like pulling teeth from a chicken!

"Oh, I didn't do anything with it. The old man found it, lucky guy. It sure was pretty." Lobe, nervous on top of confused, answers.

Because the group was, for the most part, watching Lobe, they saw very clearly the thrown weapon of one of the Circle of Thorns' goons hit Lobe in the temple, then flatten and fall to the ground. They also saw Lobe, completely oblivious to the attack, scratch at some perceived itch on his left knee.

Feild notes, day 1;

Subject aquired, design specification confrim it is the missing VR-bot MK. I, now calling itself "Verbot" (rhymes with boat). is that some kind of corny German joke?

-Hmm.. mabey not so crazy; look into possible 5th Column or Nemisis involvement in experiment failure.

Subject appears to be functioning autonomously, and displays advanced self awareness, outside of possible design specifications, must conclude that VR-bot MK. I was in some way altered while outside of contact in dimensional rift.

Appears to have highly limited control of operations; able to open minor dimensional rifts capable of causing damage to nearby objects or translating energy from one target to another; no signs of higher functions, we can hope its primary subsystems and memory have both been lost.

Field Notes; Day 3

VR-bot Mk. I "Verbot" once more observed in feild. Recommend agent be assigned to case, robot is showing evidence of some kind of internal memory recovery, and evidencing control of more advanced subsystems as time passes. Unit now capable of channeling dangerous energy from alternate dimension at long range, as well as opening a portal which seems to call back the spirits of the dead to their bodies to keep fighting.

Field Notes; Day 5

Lost Subject for some time, now must issue strong request for further resources. Have seen evidence that "Verbot" is now able to control dimensional instability well enough to cloak himself and allies, and even fold allies to him via transdimensional warp. Verbot has even displayed ability to project control dimensional disturbances able to concuss opponents in combat. Observations sujest subject is steadily recovering his orginal programming abilities, both as a transportation drois as publically filed, and as a deep cover insertion expert to neutralize operatives hostile to our intrests. We cannot allow VR-bot MK. I to recvoer any memory of these functions, especially given our lack of knowledge on his self-awareness, and the apparent enhancement of his skills by the "Dark" dimension in which subject was originally lost.

There have been, throughout history, many stories like mine. I am not unique in that my sins are not mine alone to carry. I find that the more I look at the world around me and the sickness that invades it I am more at ease with the mistakes I've made. And it is because I see the darkness of this world that I must cleanse it. Does it matter to me? Not particularly but it is my duty.

I was born Dr. Reginald Glashel to two loving and brilliant parents. Both of them were research scientists so it's probably not a surprise I went into a similar field. Instead of simple research, however, I went into experimentation and that, like Robert Frost once said, "has made all the difference." I began extensive work on cryogenics and regenerative chemicals in hopes I would one day find a way for humans to regain the immortality so unfairly denied us by God in His "wisdom".

While mixing liquid nitrogen with an as yet untested regenerative chemical, an explosion occured and levelled the surrounding three city blocks. I was tossed like so much dandelion fluff and when they found me an incredible change had taken place. I was no longer even human looking. My skin had turned to a icey blue and my hair had frozen into icicles streaked with that same blue. My body was all but dessimated and I had no strength. My muscles were worthless and the sight nearly gone in my right eye. I was always cold but I found that I liked the cold.

Perhaps the strangest thing is that my heart stopped beating. No blood runs through my veins and my heart is nothing more than a frozen ball of ice. Maybe my soul is just as frozen because when I was told the explosion I had caused killed over a hundred I didn't care. I still don't.

I recognize that I sinned...that it is my responsiblity to atone for that mistake which took so many lives. But I don't honestly care if I ever make a difference. There may be a day when my heart melts and I am able to care again. Until then, I will make sure Paragon City is clean and safe.

My mistake will be rectified as well as I can make it so. As for other mistakes I may make along the way? I will deal with those when the time comes.
--Frigid--

Lord Morcalivan - "Curse you Statesman!"

Haze - "May Chaos be with you!"

As you can probably tell I am a villain.

Very nice Dark. I look forward to some more stories

The Revenant stepped out of the Benz and scanned the area. The park was deserted and silent in the moonlight, but the signal from Mr. Mercury's watch was coming in loud and clear. There was a rustling in the bushes and Mercury stepped out into the light.

"Pretty good response time."

"I was in the neighbourhood. Warr and Enigma will also have gotten the signal and should be on their way."

"They have watches, too?" Mercury said. "Aww, and I thought I was getting special treatment."

"Can the banter, Mercury. What's going on here?"

"There's somebody I need you to talk to."

"Who?"

"The dead guy on the other side of these bushes."

The Revenant pushed aside the foliage to see a man in evening clothes lying in the snow, his life's blood staining the cold, white ground. A sudden chill and the sound of a motorcycle engine heralded the arrival of his new allies.

"Another victim of the dockside murderer?" Warr asked.

"Well, it is his modus operandi," quipped Mercury. "Throat ripped open, most of the blood gone. Or do you think we might be dealing with a copycat?"

"You know, there could easily be two murders here tonight," Warr growled.

The Revenant's ring shone eerily in the moonlight. "Tell me what happened...Show me your death!" he whispered. The corpse's eyes clouded over, and once again the Revenant was mute witness to a man's final moments.

The man's name was Carey Danvers, a name known to the Revenant. Danvers was one of Kappa City's wealthiest young bachelors. He had been on his way to a social function and was running late. Rather than wait for Fletcher to pick him up in the limo, Danvers had decided to take a shortcut through the park. Just a quick dash, no trouble at all...

Something was waiting for him in the darkness. A sinewy grey mass of teeth and claws and thirst for human blood. It knocked Danvers down and tore him apart. Revenant was nearly overwhelmed by the fresh terror in the man's past, the horror and the blood, so much blood...

A slip of orange paper fell from Danver's coat. The creature snatched at it with a clawed hand and studied its content. A sinister smile wreathed its red muzzle, then it tossed the paper aside and dove jaws-first at Danver's throat. The images faded into darkness.

The Revenant's hands shook as he closed the dead man's eyes, cold sweat gluing his mask to his face. "There is a piece of orange paper somewhere in these bushes. Find it! It may provide a clue to where the creature will strike next!"

The four men began to search the area. After a few moments the Enigma's keen eyes spotted the discarded note, marred by dark stains. "Here it is."

"What is it? What does it say?" the Revenant demanded.

"It is a flyer advertising the 'Women's Social Club Benefit for the Humane Society'." Enigma held it up to the others, revealing an image of two young women with cocktail glasses smiling and laughing.

"A party like that would be easy pickings for our murderer," Warr said. "Those women are in deadly danger!"

"Marla..." whispered Mercury.

"Bria!" cried the Revenant. He pushed his way through the bushes and ran for the car. "Alexei! Get us to Dupont Hall and fast!"

"What's his problem?" Warr asked as Mercury also tore off in the direction of the Benz.

"Men only move that quickly when they have something to lose by tarrying," the Enigma replied. "Let us also make haste."

Yes, thought Charles Lamb as he skulked in the shadows nearby, let us make haste. I knew these men would lead me to Hateful Tom. And when it comes to that villain, every second counts!


* * * * * *


The Woman's Club's annual fund-raiser for the Humane Society was in full swing, the large dance floor filled with well-to-do couples swaying to the music from the orchestra.

Bria MacDonnell made her way along the silent auction table, hoping to find her beau William Pallantine a last minute Christmas gift. She knew that the setting of the sun meant that he would be taking on his alter ego soon, the vengeful shape of the Revenant!

"Bria! Oh, Bria dear, where have you been keeping yourself?"

Bria turned to see Eleanor Davis, president of the Woman's Club, approaching at an energetic trot.

"Oh, Mrs. Davis! I've just been browsing around for a present. How are you?" she replied to the large, much coiffured woman.

"Splendid! This year will be better than last, I'm sure of it." she snatched Bria by the arm and lead her through the crowd. "I have someone I want you to meet, she's just about your age, her name is Marla Farris...you know, Melenie Farris' girl?"

Bria nodded, although she didn't know any of the Farrises. It was better with Mrs. Davis to make conversations as short as possible.

"Ah, here we are!"

Eleanor brought Bria up to a lovely woman sitting at a table on the outside balcony. She was sitting alone, which was strange for someone so young and attractive. Marla smiled as she watched the two approach.

"Marla, this is Bria MacDonnell. She isn't here with her fella either, and I thought that the two of you would make good company!" chimed Mrs. Davis majestically. "Now if you'll excuse me, I think I see Mr. Haney at the podium! Ta-ta!" With a flash of floral print, Mrs. Davis moved back into the crowd on an attack run at another helpless victim.

"Well, I'm awfully sorry to intrude like this, Mrs. Farris." offered Bria.

Marla smiled warmly. "Thats Ms. Farris, but please call me Marla. And I don't mind at all, actually I was getting a bit tired of sitting here alone." She stuck out her gloved hand. "It's good to meet you."

"Same here, Marla." Bria smiled and took her hand. "It's nice to have someone to talk to at these things. I would have expected for someone like yourself to have a man around.....oh, forgive me for being rude."

"Not at all. Most of the fellows here don't want to hang around a divorcee when there's plenty of unattached women around." Marla smiled and looked into her coffee.

Bria gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"Don't be, I have a wonderful son, Alan, and he's worth all of the headache. Gabriel...my ex...he doesn't cause...too many problems."

Bria smiled a bitter smile. "Well, I have a beau, William, but you can see it doesn't do me lots of good either. He works as much as he breathes."

Marla laughed. "Boy, do I know that feeling! I just got the idea that he didn't want to see me after a while."

"Well, it's their loss. Let's just forget about them, and make a lovely night out of it!" Bria lifted her cup. "A toast! To all of the men without their ladies...to blazes with them!"

Both of the girls laughed heartily for a few moments, then Marla fell silent.

She turned to peer into the shadows thrown by the trees and shrubs surrounding the balcony.

"What is it?" asked Bria, still smiling.

"I thought I heard something..."


* * * * * *


Protanos had fed well since his arrival in this city.

Loping through side streets and alleys, his body bent at the waist, his movement seemed less man than beast. The few scraps of leather concealing his gender swung as he trotted towards a concentration of humans. His eyes widened, the pupils dilating until almost none of his iris could be seen. As he began to sprint, his claws dug into the damp earth and his jaws stretched unnaturally, his nose flattening against his face. Blood and drool ran from the corners of his impossibly wide maw. As he melded with the darkness of the shrubbery near the hot congregation, he scented two young females.

"Ahhhhhhh yesss, they will do nicely." he thought, his mouth slick with anticipation. Slowing to a crawl he crept closer, his nostrils flaring with bloodlust as the two women sat just mere yards from him.

"I thought I heard something..."

The girl's voice stirred him further, his fangs stabbing outward through his gums. He prepared to pounce.

You gonna eat dat?

err you mean ingame, right?

Justice will win the day!

Morning.

Gabriel Storm had a sound sleep. He almost didn't want to wake up, but his responsibilites were too great. His nocturnal responsiblities...and his daily ones too.

The Kappa City Public Library in McDonaugh Park was where he was employed. A year ago, he was the youngest history professor at the university, but cutbacks due to the Depression cost him that job. Here, he was happy. It was quiet...the opposite of his nightly functions. Occasionally, he would grade papers for the teachers at the local high school or assist Frank Snow in teaching his ancient history class. But more often than not, he was cataloguing old books. Organizing...

If only he could organize his life this easily.

"Excuse me..."

"Yes," Storm answered as he turned around.

"I'm looking for a book."

"A book?" Storm asked. "This is a library, brother. We have tons of books."

"Right. How silly of me," replied the stranger. "I'm looking for a book on mammals. Specifically...bats."

"Sure, right this way." Storm led him away and to the shelves. "Now, we don't have an extensive bat collection, but I can show you a whole row of books on rodents. That should get you started. Here we are."

"Excellent."

"You planning on checking any of these out?"

"Checking them out? You mean read them?"

"I mean take them home."

"I would love to."

"Ok. You have a library card?"

"A what?"

Storm looked at the stranger. "You from around here?"

"Not exactly."

"I can tell. I have a good eye for visitors. Well, after you find what you're looking for, just come down to the main desk, and I'll fix ya up with a card."

"Will the card provide me with access?"

"To the books? You bet. To the library? Only when we're open, Mac."

"It's Charles. Charles Lamb." He extended his hand.

"I'm Gabriel." He grasped Lamb's hand and shook it.

"Yes, I know."

"Come again?"

"I'm...uh...you look...like...a Gabriel?"

Storm looked at Lamb. "Well, I've never met another Gabriel, but I'll take your word for it, bud."

As Storm walked away, Charles Lamb let out a quiet sigh of relief. He'd have to be more careful if he wanted to avoid further altering the future. He'd just been a bit surprised by finding Mr. Mercury manning the library desk. A pity he couldn't share his mission with the mystery man; he could have used the help of someone familiar with the city.

Lamb collected several books about bats and found a secluded corner for his research. From inside his coat he pulled out a monocle and a blood-stained sliver of what appeared to be an animal's claw. He'd found the sliver at the scene of a savage murder on the docks, and wanted to find out if it had any connection to his enemy, Hateful Tom. It looked to Lamb like a claw from a bat, though he'd never seen one that large before. He placed the monocle in his right eye and began to rapidly page through the books. For this was no ordinary monocle but a hyper-phasic informeter, a device capable of absorbing information at an accelerated rate and cross-referencing it. Within a few minutes he had scanned all of the books and the sliver, then waited for the informeter to match the claw to a species of bat.

MATCH RESULTS...0

Lamb's brow furrowed. If the claw wasn't from a bat, what was it from?

=============

Afternoon.

'Welcome back to Blue Boy Coal's Adventure Theatre! This week it's another adventure featuring the Sentinel of the Skies, Danger Ace. Our story opens with a mysterious black roadster pulling into a warehouse on the docks...'

'Good work, boys.'

'Tanks, boss. Ya know, I never thunk a daylight robbery woulda worked. But you had da fuzz all figgered out.'

'Yeah, boss. I'll bet they're still wondering where our car disappeared to."

'Just like I planned it, boys. Look at this haul. That jewelry store never knew what hit them! Har har!'

'Hey boss, what's that noise?'

'What noise?'

'I hear an engine. Is it the cops? How'd they find us?'

'It can't be a car. It's comin' from the roof!'

'You're right, bad guys. It's not a car or the cops."

"It's Danger Ace! Drill 'im, boys!"

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! THUMP! BIFF! OOF!

'He ain't human! Boss, halp!'

'Don't worry, boys. I've got him dead to rights. The Ace's luck has finally run out.'

'Think so? Then do your worst!'

CLICK!

'Not your lucky day is it, chump?' WHAP! AARGH! 'Don't feel too bad about losing all this jewelry, though. The cops will be coming around with a set of bracelets for each of you soon enough! Ha ha! Wait a minute, I'm getting a distress call on my wrist radio! What's up, Nipsey?'

'Boss! Boss! A giant lizard is attacking the airfield! You'd better come qui---'

Danger Ace switched off the radio and shook his head. "Wrist radio...whose brilliant idea was that? I gotta have a chat with those writers. And what's with the guy doing my voice? They're getting younger every week! At this rate I'll be fighting crime in diapers by next month."

Nipsey wiped his greasy hands on a rag. "I think I've figured out what was making that noise in the left engine. Say Ace, was that really what happened when you caught up to the guys who knocked over Gennaro's Jewels?"

"Sure...more or less," Ace replied. He loosened his flight jacket and scarf as he picked up the newspaper. "Hey, Nipsey! It looks like Kane Richmond is going to be playing me in an adventure serial! Hollywood, here I come!"

=============

Evening.

"Hey pal. It's closing time."

Charles Lamb looked up. His monocle was still in place, as was a grimace of frustration.

"Please...another hour. Two?"

"I can't, Mr. Lamp. Rules are rules."

"It's Lamb. And rules may be rules, but they are merely guidelines."

"What are you getting all bent out of shape for? I told you that you could take them home with you after we get your card ready."

"Card! That's right!"

"SHHHH!" said the little old lady at the next table.

"Sorry!"

"Mr. Lamb, why don't you come down stairs, bring the books, and I'll have you out of here in no time."

Charles looked down at the stack of books. "Five minutes?"

"Fine." Storm walked back to his desk. He didn't have to teach today, so he'd stayed a few hours extra. That meant he'd have a longer nap before his patrol tonight. He just had to get out of the library first.

The front door opened and a sophisticated man walked in.

"I'm sorry, chief. We're about to close up for the day," said Storm.

"I'm not here for a book."

"Well, we don't sell chocolates, so you might want to click your heels and go home."

"My, my. You are a quick tempered one, aren't you," said the suave stranger. "It's easy to see why you wear that hood of yours."

Storm froze.

"Come now, Gabriel. You can't keep secrets like that from me."

"Who are you? And you better make it fast before I show you why I wear a hood at night."

"My name is William Pallentine. But you know me as..."

"The Reverand."

"That's Revenant."

"Right." Storm turned away and then back quickly. "Two questions. How did you find out and what do you want?"

"Number one...my ring. It's hard to explain, but let's simplify it by saying it found you for me."

"Wish my ex had a ring like that."

"Ex...wife? You were married?"

"Were...was, yes. She left when...well, when things got rough." Storm looked down. "What do you want? Why did you have to find me?"

"I was thinking," started Pallentine. "When we all met in the alley, you seemed not to know there were others like you here in Kappa City."

Storm answered, "Right. I've been doing this for a little over a year, and I've never met any other mystery men."

Pallentine smirked. "Did you ever venture outside of your own neighbourhood? I mean, Kappa City is a big place. And what about the other boroughs? Did you think they were unprotected?"

"Never gave it much thought. I just---"

"You just assumed you were alone."

"Yeah."

"You're not. And you don't have to be. There's a part of you that wants to resist teaming up with me and the others in this Midnight Society, but you have to recognize that some problems are bigger than one man can handle."

Storm smirked now. "Your ring tell you that?"

Pallentine answered, "It doesn't have to. I can see it on your face." His expression became more serious. "We are in the midst of a mystery that is bigger than any of us can imagine. Try as you might, you must realize this. If you go it alone, you may not come back."

"I may regret this," started Gabriel, "but that's a chance I have to take. See, you have to understand something. There are only two people I care about in this whole world, and I will go to Hell itself to kick the Devil's keister if he even thought about harming them." Storm looked him dead in the eye. "And I wouldn't need a team to do it."

"Fine," said Pallentine. "But here, take this." He held out his hand, in it was a pocket watch on a fob chain. "I came across this watch in one of my first adventures. It is a signalling device. Should you come across something that you can't handle, wind the arms to 12 o'clock and we will find you."

"Hmmph. 12 O'Clock. You mean, Midnight?"

"Life is not without a sense of irony, Gabriel."

"Nor a sense of humor," replied Storm. "The library is closed."

=============

Night.

He had lain for what seemed like an eternal sleep. As immeasurable time passed he sensed others nearby and their great emotional upheaval. His withered snout scented death on an unimaginable scale as he remained untouched, undiscovered for an endless night.

The ice he had fallen victim to had long since been replaced by mud, which hardened to trap him. Then his long dead frame felt change on a much more personal level. The very rock that trapped and protected him vibrated, shaken by others. At first he had feared discovery, that the vibrations were a portent to his doom. But when at last his stone prison broke the smell and heat of the living flooded his dead senses. The lust struck him then, an agonizing need to slake his thirst. But he withdrew deep into his mummified form, for to feed now would prove his undoing.

The archaeologists had chipped, torn and picked at the rocky river bed, discovering at first a number of bronze age artefacts, then uncovering a sunken, dirt shadow. Once the rocky threshold was crossed they found the shadow was the mummified body of a bronze age man. Freeing the leathery, dried flesh took time, but eventually the ancient figure lay on a crude mattress of reeds and dust. What could have once been perceived as an elegant battle dress now clung to the
bones in a sickening embrace; long, matted hairs criss-crossing the once noble face of the bronze man. Carefully he was placed into a crate for shipping to a far-away city for further study.

He had felt himself being raised, then a sensation of the earth being far below him. When he sensed solid earth under him again he was laid to rest once more. But no longer did the earth imprison him, for he had sensed warmth near him. Reaching his senses out further he felt the presence of a small group of humans. Probably villagers, he imagined. They drew nearer, the beat in their veins increasing his hunger. As his new prison was breached he had offered his lips to his rescuer.

The sudden flood of new blood in his mouth and veins had filled him with long lost strength. Pushing himself clear he drained his meal, letting the dried corpse fall to the ground. He was among them then, his hands elongating to terrible talons, his jaw becoming a fang-filled snout. Lunging into his prey, draining and feeding as he took their life from them. The influx of power brought with it the memories and minds of his food. Some had tried to run, before being cut down and reunited with their friends in death.

The memories, although hazed, told him the truth of his slumber. Four thousand years had passed since the Slavs had driven him into the frozen river, the wounds from their swords weakening him enough for the river to drag him down. He also now was aware of his new domain. A vast village, thousands of leagues from his homeland of Carpathia. The village was known by his food and their kind as Kappa City.

The blood had sprayed over him, running from his razored maw with a horrific effect. Where his skin had been dry and taut, it now clung to muscular dark limbs. His body filling out as more blood was absorbed, his hair hung long and black again, framing the dark, angular face. His eyes blazed a deep olive green as his red, wet mouth curled into a smile. Fangs retreated into bloody gums as he remade himself.

Thinking back on his victims, he grunted in satisfaction. He had slept too long and although he felt strong, he was still a mere whisper of his former glory. A good night's hunting would change that. He expended a little of his newfound power transforming to a sleeker form. Raising his now lupine muzzle to the air he howled in triumph, then headed into the depths of the great village. Soon, these ignorant mortals would know the name Protanos Sczirenczy.

Suddenly the sound of an alarm bell filled the air and a powerful stream of water struck the toxic stew encroaching on the intrepid heroes. They shielded their faces as the unexpected torrent swept the acid along the alleyway and down a sewer grate. In seconds, the crisis was averted.

Mercury turned to see a man in a military uniform and white mask shutting off the firehose he had used to remove the acidic menace. "The sign said 'Break Glass in case of Emergency'. I think this qualified as one."

"Who called in the army?" Mercury asked.

"I was on a midnight patrol when I heard about the longshoreman murders on the police band. I decided to pay a visit to the morgue, and it seems I wasn't the only one."

"Those men were torn apart by some sort of creature hidden in a crate from Carpathia," the Revenant said. "It is intelligent, resilient, and very very deadly. The longer it stays at large, the more the city will be endangered."

"How do you know all this?" the Enigma asked.

"The dead keep no secrets from me," the Revenant replied mysteriously.

William Warr was familiar with the wisdom of the dead. He carried with him the spirits of every Warr that took up arms in the defense of his country. Their voices were a source of great strength, but also of great pain.

"Gentlemen, I suggest we find somewhere else to discuss this matter. Unless, of course, you'd like to explain it to the fire department."


* * * * * *


Meanwhile, back at the docks, a strange event was taking place. A shimmering portal opened in the air and a man dressed in red landed heavily on a pile of crates. The man cursed as the portal winked out of existance and the smell of ruined circuitry mingled with the salt air.

The man's name was Charles Lamb, better known as the Red Crow. He was on the trail of a man named Thomas "Hateful Tom" Odieux, a small-time hood who had stolen a time machine and used it to escape to this city and time period. To prevent Odieux from damaging the time stream, Lamb volunteered to follow the villain using another time-travel device. A device that had just given up the ghost.

Finding Hateful Tom quickly had now become even more important, as without Tom's device, the Red Crow would be stranded in the year 1939. He attached a small explosive charge to the useless machine and dropped it into the bay. The muffled explosion assured him that no one would unravel its incredible secrets, and Charles Lamb headed for a nearby warehouse to hide the rest of his gadgets. Then he'd need to find a place where he could get a few hours sleep.


* * * * * *


"I have a car nearby, and know of a quiet place," The Revenant said. "Follow me."

"What about the woman?" Mercury asked.

"The police will be here soon enough, which is all the more reason for us to make haste."

"You go ahead," Warr said. "I'll follow on my motorcycle."

As the group approached the street, a 1938 Benz slid quietly up to the curb. The back door opened.

"These are friends, Alexei." the Revenant said to the massive figure driving the car, "Take us to Secret's Crossing."

"Da, Revenant. Gentlemen."

As the car sped away from the sidewalk, a powerful motorcycle came speeding up from behind, carrying the heroic William Warr.

A gentle rain began to fall as the car and motorcycle vanished into the city night. Soon the city limits had been left far behind them, and an unremarkable country road led them to a hollow in the shadow of a hill.

Mercury looked out the window at the rambunctious river passing by the hollow, then his eyes widened as the car drove inside the hill! The Benz came to a stop in a hall lit by torches, and the Revenant seemed amused by the awestruck expressions on his companion's faces. "This way, gentlemen."

The Revenant and his hulking chauffeur led the way down a crudely carved staircase and across a natural limestone bridge that spanned the wide white river. "What is this place?" the Enigma asked.

"Secret's Crossing. The name dates back to the Civil War, when Union spies used these caves as a safehouse and information storage facility. It was even a stop on the Underground Railroad. After the War, it was cleaned out and sealed up. I found an entrance purely by accident while hiking in the hills and decided to use it as a base of operations."

"Quite a clubhouse you got here," Mercury remarked.

The Revenant smiled thinly. "A bit more room than one mystery man needs, and I rarely have guests." He led the group into a high-ceilinged chamber and motioned to a large table in the center of the room. "Take a seat."

The mystery men seated themselves at the table and Alexei brought in a tray containing glasses of brandy. Mercury shot suspicious glances at the drink and his host. "Did I miss something? When did this become a dinner party?"

The Revenant sipped his brandy calmly. "I assume we all read the papers and therefore have some familiarity with one another's exploits. Of course, facts sometimes get distorted in the media and thus I thought it would be a good idea for us to tell our own stories. I like to know who I'm working with."

"I work alone," the Enigma stated.

"As do I, normally," The Revenant replied. "However, this new menace is too great for any one man to tackle it. By joining forces, we could save many lives. Including, perhaps, our own."

"How is it you know so much about the murders on the docks?" Warr asked. "You act as if you were there to see them."

"In a way, I was. I have certain powers that allow me to see through a corpse's eyes to witness their last moments. I use that ability, among others, to track down and punish murderers. I have been living here in Kappa City for a couple of months, and have kept my actions undercover...until now."

"I do not court the attention of the papers," said the Enigma, "but men do know my name. I invented a suit that would allow men to pass through matter and used an untried energy source to power it. Since then, this suit has been my protection...and my prison. It sustains me, so that I neither sleep nor eat. But it also leaves me formless, like a ghost doomed to walk the earth."

"So we've got a ghost and a guy who dresses like one," Mercury quipped. "What's your story, Warr? Got any ghosts you want to tell us about?"

Warr gazed cooly at Mercury. "Laugh it up, funny man. I have the souls of every dead soldier in the Warr family inside my head. I have their strength, their wisdom, and their courage. From what I've seen, all you've got is a bag on your head and a smart mouth."

"That will be quite enough!" the Revenant shouted as he grabbed Mercury's shoulder to keep him from leaping at William Warr. "I did not bring you here to argue, but to discuss what's to be done about this new threat to our city."

"This is ridiculous!" Mercury snapped. "I'm a gangbuster. I wear a mask and I fight crime. I don't sit around caves talking to spooks about monsters that may or may not exist! Where's the exit to this place?"

The Revenant sighed. "You're not a prisoner, Mr. Mercury. Alexei will take you back to the city if you wish."

"This crime will not solve itself," said the Enigma. "We need to take this threat seriously. We need to unite and defeat this terror."

Mr. Mercury got up from the table. "Tell you what. We'll meet up again tomorrow night. Midnight on the nose. I'd say here, but who knows how to get here on his own?"

"I will have Alexei pick you all up," said the Revenant.

"How? Where?"

"Don't worry...he'll be there and we'll meet here at midnight. Alexei? Take him back."

"Da."

"Aren't any of you coming with?" asked Mr. Mercury.

"In our own time. We have much to discuss."

"Well, don't go picking out union suits without me."

A short, quiet drive later, Mr. Mercury was home. He unmasked, and undressed. Standing next to his window, he could do nothing but wonder if the night was just a dream. Was there really a monster out there, stalking the alleys of the city? And if there was, would four men be enough to stop it?

Chapter 1 - Deadly Cargo

Kappa City, 1939

Jack Foley used to be somebody. He had a good job with a secretary. He had his own office in the corner of the building. And he had a reputation for being one slick ladykiller. But in the blink of an eye, it was all taken away from him.

Since “Black Thursday,” Jack Foley was a has-been living on scraps from the local soup kitchen. Not one for the Dutch act like many of his friends, he figured there was too much to live for. He hadn’t had kids yet; hadn’t met the right gal. He heard that maybe there was some work at the docks lately. He was never good with his hands, but there was always a first time for everything.

For a few weeks, he’d been unloading and loading boats up with supplies. Everyone was talking about this Hitler guy and how he wanted to take over the world. FDR wouldn't send no GI’s over, but he would help out how he could. Translation?

Work.

Today, however, something had rubbed Jack Foley the wrong way. Not something, but some thing. He had helped unload some crate whose manifest read “Carpathia.” Jack was an educated man, but he'd never heard of Carpathia. He assumed it was in Europe somewhere, since the manifest was also stamped “Lisbon.” He and a few of the guys had decided to open it. It had no destination and when a freight has no destination, it’s up to the guys to open the crate up and determine where it is going.

Jack Foley and another guy, Mickey Something (Jack had been trying really hard to remember names, but they all seemed to be Irish or Italian), pulled the lid off. Immediately, he had felt his throat seize.

Jack Foley never had kids. He hadn’t met the right gal yet.

And now, he never would.


* * * * * *


“Finally! Midnight!”

The skylight flew open. After an entire day of correcting tests and teaching his students about Mesopotamia, Gabriel Storm was ready for the night. But he would greet it as…

Mr. Mercury!

In the distance, a commotion. “I know the area,” he thought. “It’s the docks. It’s probably nothing. The Navy boys are in town. They’re a rowdy bunch.”

He began to run in the direction of the pier. “Then again, rowdy bunches are never so without reason to be.”

In moments, he arrived to a horrifying sight. Six longshoremen killed, mutilated. The police hadn’t arrived just yet. “Hmmm, I'd better keep a good distance away. Last time I got too close to a crime scene, I almost got put in the hoosegow.”

Suddenly, he noticed something. Even in the dim light of 14th Street, he could see a trail of blood going Uptown. He tried not to worry. He knew his ex-wife, Marla, and his son, Alan, both lived up there with her parents. He tried to imagine they were safe and secure and didn’t need his help right now. No, the entire city needed his help right now.


* * * * * *


All along 23rd Street, known as the Flatiron District, there were lights of many colors. Red, green, and white stars shone over the busy streets below. The smell of pine filled the air. Mr. Mercury made a mental reminder. “Got to leave Alan’s present by next Saturday. Wonder if I should get Marla something.”

He swung from an awning down to the street. The cops liked him, for the most part, but they were uneasy when he was around. It was as if he made them feel inferior. There were few mystery men, as the papers called them, in Kappa City. But their ability to move outside the law made them very effective, and their exploits often commanded the headlines more than those of the police did.

The trail ended somewhere around 19th and Fifth Avenue, but he felt compelled to continue four more blocks north. If he'd had help, some kind of vigilante detective friend, he could trail the killer or killers. But Mr. Mercury wasn’t that lucky. He had to rely on hunches and bets that, to his credit, often worked out. But tonight’s seemed to be a dead end.

“HELP ME!”

The call to arms! He rushed in the direction of the scream. North, through the park and across Meadowvale Avenue. Above, unbeknownst to Mr. Mercury, a pair of eyes watched him run.

An alley. It seemed that he always found trouble in an alley. And there she was. One fine looking tomato with gams that started on Sunday and ended next month. Blonde like Veronica Lake, but with Vivian Leigh’s facial expression
when she saw Tara burn to the ground.

Two bums had her locked in tight. One had a knife; the other had two fists the size of cinder blocks.

Mr. Mercury's eyes narrowed. "Didn't anyone ever tell you low-lifes to be good, for goodness sake?"

“Well, well. If it ain’t ol’ Saint Nick!” the bruiser chortled.

“Saint Nick, didja bring us presents? We got one for you!”

The one with the knife lunged. Mr. Mercury dodged the blade easily and kneed the goon in the gut, then drew his Colt M1911.

“Now, the two of you let the lady go and we’ll settle this with the authorities.”

“Oh, I think we’ll just settle it right here,” said the shadows.

KRAK! From nowhere, Mercury got belted right in the jaw. His gun flew out of his hand and across the alley. THUD! A hard foot square in the ribs brought the cowled crusader to his knees.

A thin man in a long black coat stepped from the shadows, his pale face leering underneath a stovepipe hat. “Mr. Mercury, how long has it been? Months? Days? Have you forgotten your old foe…The Wraith?”

“How could I forget?” Mercury wheezed. “You always announce yourself as if you were Jimmy Cagney!”

“So typical. Laughing in the face of danger." the Wraith sneered. "You are quite the daredevil, Mr. Mercury. Now, prepare to go to Hell!”

“Not if I can help it, buster!”

The criminals gasped in fear and took a step back. Mercury looked up, but his savior was obscured by the street light that shone behind him.

The Wraith clutched his coat tightly against the sudden chill in the air. “Who…who are y-you?”

The newcomer left the circle of light beneath the streetlamp and his body seemed to melt into the darkness, leaving behind only a trenchcoat, battered fedora, and a pair of glowing red eyes. "I am the wisdom you cannot know, the fear you cannot see. I am the cold hand of justice closing around the throat of crime. I am the Man who Isn't There. I am...The Enigma!"


* * * * * *


The dim room of the City Morgue was quiet and deserted, as it usually is at the witching hour. It was evident that the dank room had been doing well in its bloody business, as the floor was filled with tables upon which sheet-covered corpses lay.

Suddenly there was a motion in a darkened corner of the room, as a mysterious figure who was not present before slid from the darkness. The man was strangely dressed, wearing a handsome tux with tails and white gloves. He seemed quite out of place in this house of death, but the silken mask that covered his entire head revealed his identity. Here was the scourge of the guilty, whose dual pistols had often sent blazing death to those who would murder innocents. Here was....the REVENANT!

He moved among the shrouded corpses carefully, halting here and there, seemingly undisturbed by the smell of death that hung in the air. Finally he paused by a still figure that he evidently had chosen for some gruesome task.

"You. You will be the one to tell me." The Revenant drew back the bloody sheet to reveal the slashed and broken corpse beneath. His steely eyes narrowed at the sight of the vicious wounds. He leaned close and held a strangely bright ring up to the face of the dead man, the light from the silver ring seeming to catch and dance in the corpse's staring eyes.

"Tell me what happened... Show me your death!" Revenant whispered to the still form. Then the eyes of the corpse seemed to cloud with whiteness, and images began to make themselves clear.

This man's name had been Jack Foley. His story was not unlike that of many other men. A victim of circumstance, he had found himself working on the docks unloading cargo from ships. A shipping crate loomed large in the Revenant's vision, bearing the markings "Carpathia" and "Lisbon". Foley's voice echoed in the masked man's ears. "Mickey, give me a hand with this."

Calloused hands struggled to remove the crate's lid. It had no destination and when a freight has no destination, it’s up to the guys to open the crate up and determine where it is going. The Revenant could feel Foley's curiosity mirroring his own. What was in the box?

Jack Foley pulled the lid off. Immediately, he felt his throat seize.

A dark, thin form leapt from its mouldy containment and pounced on Mickey, pulling him down and tearing at his flesh with claw and fang. Blood spurted from the screaming man's neck. Jack and another worker tried to pull Mickey away, but when they did, Mickey was pale and limp. Then the thing spoke to them.

"Ffffffflesh! Flesh and....blood!" the creature whispered in a voice like paper. "Come and meet your new master!"

Some tried to fight. Others, like Jack just tried to run. None escaped the dock alive. The creature went at its grisly work with deadly efficiency, slicing flesh, tearing limbs, and bathing in blood.

Soon the images in the eyes of the man named Jack Foley went dark, and the morgue was dark and quiet once again.

The Revenant stood in the darkness, trying to absorb the awful scene that had unfurled before him. Suddenly, a woman's scream broke the stillness! The masked man quickly covered the corpse of Jack Foley with a sheet and moved toward the sound. It seemed to be coming from the alleyway behind the building. With a quiet oath, the Revenant swore to rain fire and pain upon the creature that had killed so many at the docks this night! He walked up to the wall and placed his gloved hand upon it as an eerie transformation took place. All color drained from the Revenant, leaving him looking much like a celluloid photo. He then stepped through the wall and vanished!

The Revenant had his LeMat pistols drawn as he stepped out into the shadows of a darkened alley. His color and solidity returned as he observed the situation before him. Two masked vigilantes were confronting a couple of street thugs, along with a mysterious and sinister looking man.

"Is this a private game? Or can anyone play..." the Revenant whispered.

At the sight of three masked vigilantes, all with guns, the two snarling hooligans pushed their lovely captive to the ground and ran down the dark alley. The sinister Wraith threw an icy glare at the brave trio, now standing shoulder to shoulder.

"Your foolish friends won't be there to save you next time, Mercury! Your hours are wearing thin...so says the WRAITH!"

With a violent motion, the villain drew a flask from his belt and hurled it at the feet of the heroes! It shattered, releasing a greenish liquid that seemed to glow in the dim light from the street. It made a horrid hissing sound as it moved toward the trio. Two more flasks crashed nearby, surrounding the mystery men with a moat of green death.

"Look out, it's some kind of ACID!" cried the Revenant as he snapped off three quick shots from his trusty LeMat pistol into the shadows the Wraith had disappeared into.

Mr. Mercury drew back from the foul liquid, the tips of his shoes smoking. "Hey, I don't know who you two are, or what you can do, but are either of you carrying a phospate of any kind?" asked Mr. Mercury.

The Enigma and The Revenant looked at each other and then back to Mercury.

"Uh..."

"Not exactly."

Mr. Mercury looked at the hissing lake of acid that was slowly consuming the safe ground they were standing on. "Well, nice knowing ya."

I have a Fire Blaster/ Fire Manipulator with glowing eyes ;: "Look Into the Flames of Fury"

How about a definition for an "Add".

My scrapper's
"Aw man dont Run."

oh a marco is /marco <macro name> "L <what you want to say>"

L=local channel, you could also do emotes by typing em instead of l

Andrew found himself hoping from window ledge to window ledge to keep up with Wraith, and she hovered to the rooftop. Actually Andrew had just discovered that Wraith actually was Wrayth on her ID card.

“Sorry Drew can’t teleport ya yet”

“*pant* no problem *gasp*” He said as he toppled over to the rooftop.

“You know Drew it’s not the name that makes a hero, it’s who’s in that costume.”

Andrew nodded as he took an offered stick of beef jerky from Wrayth who added “You realize there was a fire escape on the other side?”

He sighed “Yeah, I know, but my shoulder pads keep getting hooked on the …”

“What is with those anyway? If you don’t mind me askin sugar?”

“The looked cool on paper I just did not realize how impractical they were until today.”

Andrew pulled a beer from his little rut sack and offered one to Wrayth.

“Sorry Drew on duty, and you know drinking in a public place…”

“Yeah, yeah” Andrew interrupted as he looked over the edge.

Below him was no end of trouble, they where right when the city had entered a state of chaos ever since the invasion.

He saw a hero clad in dark blue freezing a crowd of Hellions, and saw one running away claiming he was just a businessman.

“Hey! You got a Runner!” Andrew Yelled down.

The Blue Hero froze the runner in his tracks, and yelled back “Thanks”

Wrayth put her hand on Andrew’s shoulder carefully avoiding the Organic looking spikes.

“Hon, you’ll find a name, and the sooner the better Drew, most of the class are already out there doing their thing, and you are a good at what you do.”

“True thanks, I’ll just be off, it will come to me” Andrew then looked over the edge. “Think I could make it?” he said with a smile.

“I’d take the stairs if I were you, no ID no free trip to the hospital if you miss jump”

“True, take care Wrayth”

“You too Drew”

With that Andrew walked down the fire escape back to Hyperion Way.