Pious

Damsel watched as Storm headed upstairs to confront the cause of the ruckus. She was too pregnant to really help out so she turned to Glittergirl, her adult daughter from the same future as Centurion. Glittergirl looked from her mother to her younger self, little Hazel, and then to her comatose father, who laid breathing but unresponsive. He needed little life-supporting medical machinery and following assassination attempts by demons infiltrating the city hospital, had been transferred to the safest place for him; his own secret lair, a sacred, weaponised crypt infused with protective and offensive magic.

Glittergirl and her currently yet-to-be-born younger brother Price armed themselves and headed up the long stairway leading to the church. They followed closely behind Storm who was now expressing a request for the intruding individuals to stand down, as was common practice. Price and his elder sister entered the church to a terrifying scene. The place looked like the aftermath of a zombie massacre as the last of the undead and ghostly congregation were blasted into the ether by the magical energy attacks of the intruding forces. Price saw the churchmen frozen at the altar and the innocent churchgoers panicking nearby. "Get the people out of here" he ordered, assuming his usual role of command among the younger Timehunters. "We'll let Storm do his thing and I'll give him support with my trick-arrows. These guys seem to be military-trained, smart, organised and very efficient. Worst of all, their weapons are magic... I hate magic!"

Moth Cathedral, Dark Astoria.

Easter Sunday. Day of Resurrection according to the canonical gospels. Not surprisingly, the church now known for it's undead congregation was today, full of zombies and ghosts, no doubt hoping to somehow be allowed passage out of the afterlife and granted life anew. They sung along with the choir's hymns and heeded the moral message of the preacher's sermon. As the music grew livelier, they even danced and rejoiced with the living, stopping to reattach fallen limbs.

Meanwhile outside on the grounds, security seemed to be very tight. It was just before dawn and was still very dark out. Soldiers of the Ancient Order of Swiss Guards held their posts along the perimeter of the church, carrying out regular radio checks at half-hour intervals. Five minutes ago was the last radio check and since then, four of the baggy-bottoms, beret-wearing brightly coloured soldiers had been assaulted and now laid unconscious by the entry gates.

A train of dark figures, each clad in Kevlar armour and long trenchcoats poured out of nowhere, seemingly teleporting in from a ripple in the air. They were armed to the teeth with all manners of magic-imbued bladed weapons, shields, firearms and explosives. All in all they counted up to ten sets of twelve.

"Welcome your majesty" said one of them, greeting a similarly armed woman who had just appeared, towards the rear of the assembly. He stood a head taller than her and spoke respectfully but also with authority. "We have breeched the grounds and are awaiting your orders before taking the building."

"Where are they keeping his body?" asked the woman.

"Elders say, he sleeps in the crypts below, watched over by the Nighthunters and guarded by the twelve. His rite of awakening begins at dawn, your majesty."

"Then we haven't any time to waste" she replied. "We must reach him before the Angels do. History is ours to alter, Shimon!"

"So says the prophecy!" Shimon agreed.

As the woman stepped into the light of the morning service, her face became clear to see. It bore a striking resemblance to Rachel Hunter, better known as the Damsel, wife to the comatose Priest. "Swarm the church" she ordered, "head straight down into the crypt and capture this so-called Priest."

Within minutes, the cathedral was overrun. Zombies and restless spirits alike howled and shrieked in anger, lashing out and striking the invading figures. The church deacons looked on in disbelief, some frozen with shock. The few human churchgoers scrambled to escape. The invaders had clearly abandoned using the element of surprise as soon after, the alarm reached the heroes below and the Swiss guards along the perimeter. Together, they prepared for battle.

Oh dear God! I remember this thread... LOL!

*sigh*

Mulligan sighed as things started to get a little out of his control. He looked to those who had trusted in him and offered themselves for arrest. "Don't worry, I won't abandon you. Just stay close to me, I'll get you out of this mess" he reassured them, even as they sat trapped in a road pit. "You know, this kinda thing happens all the time here... Paragon City, home of the brave baby," he laughed madly. "Welcome to our world... hope you enjoy the adventure!"

Although they did cover our location/rental costs last year so perhaps they'd be willing to do so again for future meets, especially if we find a bigger venue, as the event is now growing.

Concerning Ethan and Ildela, I had pretty much figured that much from their clearly unheroic methods. It's to be expected if they did escape/flee the scene.

So despite saving the day, unauthorised use of lethal force, property damage and murder would be punishable by Law. I'll go ahead and play it along this logic.