Pious

Twenty minutes earlier, far beneath Paragon City, in the ancient archaic city of Oranbega...

A trail of dispossessed and unconscious bodies laid strewn about the stone city. Their robes laid motionless on the cold earth, the usual demonic glow of their eyes now removed, lost to the Netherworld. The man responsible for the mass exorcism now stood in a dark cavern, his mind wide open as he began a dream walking process. His pale brown hands reached out for the walls and suddenly, his eyes became awashed with a heavenly glow of bright white light. In his dream he could see some of the events that had occurred in this part of Oranbega.

A metal-skinned man burst through the old wooden door, sending splinters flying away in front of him... a burst of flames shot over his head, making him glow in the heat, as a girl clad in a fire-resistant bodysuit stepped in behind him... with the Circle members in front of them dead, the metallic man and the fiery girl stepped forward to allow their team-mates in; an ice-covered girl, a chain-clad muscle man and a smartly dressed man in suit and tie. The latter was carrying a body bag over his shoulder and seemed to be avoiding the fights that ensued in order to protect the body. When a giant demon grabbed the ice-girl, metal-man yelled "Pyros! Distract it! Titan! Get Glacies out of that monsters grip!" When the assault was over and the battle won, metal-man saw only one Circle of Thorns member still alive. "Get Glacies out of here Titan” he said, “we can handle the rest, Nighthunters lets move!"

The metallic man, fire girl and the suited man moved into the end room with the last Circle of Thorns member, and arrived to see a precious looking gem pedestal with a large book on it. "So this is what the Pious wanted?" asked the ‘Pyros’ girl. “Indeed it is” the metal man replied, “one of the Circle's legendary books of power and the soul gem is in the pedestal of course" the metal man replied. He signalled to the suited man who lowered the body bag down and began to cram it full of soul gems. The metallic man took the book from the pedestal and the ‘Pyros’ girl unzipped the body bag to reveal what looked like a hero in Nighthunter armour. "Send her in, the memory is planted" the metal man signalled, over a comms piece in his ear. A slender woman dressed in a copy of the Nighthunter armour entered the cavern, reached down to the last Circle of Thorns and placed her hands on his face, seemingly reworking his memory of the battle.

The invaders walked out with the sacred book and a body bag full of soul gems, apparently having framed the Nighthunters for mass murder and theft. Once outside, another team-mate was treating the ‘Glacies’ girl. "Is it done?" he asked, "will they think the Nighthunters have the book?" “Yes Paladin they will" replied the slender girl. The muscled man then spoke, "they will see the Nighthunters attacking and I will make sure the magic tracers lead back to their base of operations, so helpful of Pious to freely give away such information."

"So this is reason Thorns march upon our fair city" said the Priest, thinking out loud. "A stolen book, missing gems, worshippers dead... and myself, framed for the deed. Who would stoop so low as to seed discord? Bathory? No, she thinks man as food and strikes against us... but this treacherous crime is most foul, one not of demon or sorcery... but of wicked man himself. Glaciers, Pyros and Titan, in thy names lie my only clue. Mark my words I shall find thy abode and have words with thee. Yet for now, let us walk through the bowels of Hell and end this unholy march!"

****

Meanwhile in Steel Canyon...

"Mission Control, this is Field Ops"

"Come in Field Ops"

"Heroes have engaged the central portal. Nighthunters are succeeding in destabilizing it, permission to engage the outer perimeter?"

"Permission granted Commander, over and out."

The dark cloud returned to swallow the superpowered soldiers and transferred them in teams of two all over Steel Canyon. Co-ordinated as a military team, they joined the Longbow effort in reclaiming the street-level battles while the Nighthunter heroes used their magic to shut down the remaining five portals and cull the invading horde of demons.

****

Meanwhile in the Netherworlds, through the portals...

A cosmic bolt of pure white light struck the rocky grounds of the Hell realm from which the Behemoths and Daemons crossed to reach the mortal plane. It was here that an army of demons stood waiting, no doubt under the command of a Circle of Thorns Madness Mage, Tarses if not Rollister, tricked into attacking Steel Canyon by an unknown villain.

The light did not fade or die but grew further across the realm, burning the demons caught in its holy light to ash. Fighting by one of the dimensional portals was Blade Balfear, recognisable by his swinging sword. "Blade" came the calm and toneless voice of the Priest. "What happened to you?"

((Written with Blade))

The first two shots are indeed rather challenging angles to work from. The graffiti was quickly removed though, for obvious reasons (keeping my job), so there’s no way of returning to the piece to snap straight shots. Is that perspective really difficult then? Here is a bigger image if it helps.

Most masked heroes would just have a voice-changer built in so maybe thats something to consider?

A paint brush effect, ink, black & wite, charcoal, even a colouring pencil type shading over. Anything at all would be much appreciated. Thanks.

I was bored at work and found some scratches on the floor tiles that looked like a woman's face, neckline and bikini top! So naturally I penciled in the rest of the body and named it after a colleague that it resembled. Then out of nowhere she walks in! But she saw the funny side and loved it.

So I was hoping one of you amazing colourers could maybe spare a minute or two to slap some colour on these squiggles and make it come to LIFE!! Hehe. That'd be pretty swell, cheers peeps. You'll find copies of it via this link; including what said girl looks like IRL. (She doesn't mind )

I see your point. Ah well, I'll keep 'em firing. Will get one of these ideas working eventually.

It's set in a tiny box-section of your in-game base when compared to mission maps so the scale won't really be as accurately depicted as the castle theme for example, which being a stone-wall building with cave-like dungeons shouldn't really be a problem to pull off, roughly. I agree that the critter files for Foundry and Corp members might need legwork. NH are mostly in a set uniform so that shouldn't be as hard to copy over. Glad you also think it's doable though. Should be interesting to hear what Game makes of the idea and also what Alpha's opinions are on it, as he is our biggest moaner, err I mean critic.

Showing below... Operation Batwhooping!

I see it like a pre-issue #13 style SG base raid but split into seperate missions.

Capture Castle Bathory (which is by-the-way a mansion, not a true castle)

1. Mission One: Storm the Main Hall

A man on the inside has opened a portal into the Main Hall, sneak in and storm the Castle while the portal lasts. You face the minions of the Court, a few Elite Bosses (Shannon O'Banshee, Poisanna, Deepcut, Darkleaf, Blood Strength) and a final AV: Lilith Lamashtu. But suddenly you are magically ejected as the enemy tries to reclaim the Castle.

2. Mission Two: Strike the Power Core

A possible other inside man has established a portal into the building's power core. Take out the Power Core to win over control of the castle. You face minions of the Court and a few Elite Bosses (Ghidirah, Elektra Carmine, Lucifer's Reaper, Mistress Chaos, Parasite Knight) and a final AV: Jack Wulfe. Just as you initiate power shutdown you are magically ejected as the enemy tries to reclaim the Castle.

3. Mission Three: Free the Prisoners

As the power begins to shutdown, the inside man opens a new portal in the torture chambers. He probably wants you to help him free the prisoners. Inside you are surprised to find other members of the Coalition of Hunters; Hyena members Big Game and Shop! You help them face off with Elite Bosses (Drew Firstblood, Blood Purple, Countess Leeches, Impervium Tower, Incantator Draconis) and a final AV: Erez'Zul. You help the victims out through the ill-placed Pocket D portal, but are again magically ejected as the enemy tries to reclaim the Castle.

4. Mission Four: Defeat Countess Bathory

Seconds before the power outage reaches wide, the inside man pulls you back into the Castle where you are faced with Arachnos agents with a warrant for your arrest. You escape them but are met by the Corporation. You engage Elite Bosses Techbot ALPHA, Ubermensch Kahn, Spirit Wolf and Headbreaker only to face The Primogen, Vladislav Drăculea and a final AV: The Countess Báthory Erzsébet. You leave the defeated Countess in the hands of Big Game while you ransack the Castle confiscating valuable resources, crippling the Court's finances. As you return to your contact you wonder of the fate of Big Game and the Countess.

Something along those lines anyway. The villain attack version would be similarly laid out and explain in depth, the opposite end of the story. Including how they pushed the heroes out three or four times, the Corporation's part (maybe slot Alley, Kurze, Aquis and Iron Alligator into the arc at this point?) and also cover exactly what happened *afterwards* between Game and Bathory. That's it! Rip it, throw it, change it, use it, do whatever. It's up to you, but I think it could work.

Spent all night on this 'arty' interpritation of the NH. Check it out.

What about a thought network he could think into? That's what the team are using.

Nice post. I'd suggest Adam takes the fight away from the store though, before he rouses suspicion or gives away the 'site' location by going too close to it.

Meanwhile, anyone tracking the bookshop would likely have their senses directed elsewhere... towards the First National Bank or a newly developed Starbucks cafe (kinda like Dr. Strange's place during Civil War). I guess eventually it'll become obvious that strong magic is hiding the building, just as magic is now fortifying Castle Bathory. So long as it's up, the store won't be found.

Good to finally see Storm's powers in descriptive word Thunderrar, as opposed to just in-game graphics. Well written. His fight style reminds me of Thor.

I think most of the characters have been communicating via spoken word anyway since leaving the lava tombs and entering the City of Dis. Midnighter mages near the city/lava tombs border are supporting the psychic network and empowering the team so I guess thats the communication method that the Illusionist is using. Agreed, it needs to be conveyed using italics or color or something. But my hero has been talking openly, not out loud obviously, but he isn't at all afraid of eavesdroppers so the hell with whispering. LOL.

==Pages 25-34==





















Coming Soon: Issue #2 - Rise of the Gang

(SPOILER ALERT)

A year has passed. Hatesman and Pistol have implemented their evil plan and successfully defeated the Priest! See Priest #2 for what happens next!

(END SPOILER)

==Pages 13-24==

I draw these graphic novels using Photoshop. The filtered images are in-game screenshots of actors and locations. The stories are captured segments of ongoing RP plots that anyone in the Union Universe can join. Enjoy the read! Feedback appreciated, any critism will go towards improving issue #6 and onward.

Synopsis: (SPOILER ALERT, obviously) A new mutant arrives on the scene and spells some romantic interest in Pious' broken life. (END SPOILER)

Characters: Priest and Damsel. Guest starring Powerstone, Big Game, Pulse Man, Dark Pistol and Hatesman.

==Pages 1-12==

Big Game's indifference on the fate of the Nighthunters didn't come as a shock to the priest but it still hurt. So far it seemed he alone was doing the sharing; both in Intel and offering protection. Still, it was only to be expected. "If you call Hero Corp, they'll direct you to me" said Pious, collecting the list of names. "We will beat the Circle, we always do. In the meantime, you worry about saving your fornicators. We shall have to meet again at some point next month and discuss tactics on a joint strike on Bathory. If this uneasy alliance achieves anything at all, it should at least be the falling of Bathory. I'll... let myself out."

As the crowd of hellion demons gathered ever closer, the demonic-looking angelic Priest looked to his far right and noticed the glimmering metal of beastly motorcycles; the distant but speedy advance of the biker demons his wife had rolled dust and exhaust fumes onto just earlier. Things were about to get very ugly, very quickly. “Dear God” he sighed, praying silently. "Okay Pious, stay calm... have faith... Sage, where did our escape vehicle go? Did you do this?" asked Pious, hoping for a glimpse of the demonic supercar. "That thing was fast enough to cover much more ground than flying. Wings are slow and with the air this hot and combustive, we'll need something else. Worry not of the hells of wrath, avarice, gluttony, lust and idolatry. Right now, we need to reach the Wall of Dis and find lake Styx. I mean, I hope you guys aren't intending to fight this crowd. They're growing rapidly while our chances of survival diminishes. Sage? Typhon? Anyone?"

Pious sighs. "Seems my plans were overly optimistic, huh?" he asked, mentally kicking himself for failing once again from naivety. "My friends and I will deal with the Thorns alone then. Longbow will ultimately regain Steel Canyon, unlike Arachnos, us Americans can always rely on our Government to protect its citizens."

Pious downs his bottle of beer-turned-water. "We'll circle back to the Taking of Castle Bathory."

"Let's focus on your problem for now. Which of your old friends are most at risk and where are they currently? Most of the killings documented in police reports have occurred in Paragon City. If there are any of your associates or their families living out there, then I think we should set up observation perimeters as soon as possible. We can't just stand here and chat while innocents die because you've been a lustful and extravagant social animal now a target of war, on a bounty."