A few days later on the 22nd, I wake up after an interesting dream about a Vampire!SI of me being thrown out of the elder scrolls universe only to land in the Fallout universe a few minutes before the bombs drop. I resurrect sometime later in a raider camp but after that I cant remember much else, but it seemed like an interesting life. Strangely I vaguely remember seeing a sign that said Welcome to Sunnydale, but that cant be right.

A little bored, but not wanting to really do anything, I do what other people would in this instance and hop on the internet, specifically PHO. I also realize I'll need to ditch the phone soon, its a wonder I haven't been tracked by it and that it still gets service.

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Topic: Dragonslayers Slain!

In: Boards ► Places ► America ► Brockton Bay

Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Posted On Feb 18th 2011:

This just in folks! Late last night, Dragon got a message from an unknown cape revealing the location of the Dragonslayers. Quickly dispatching a team, they arrived but when they made it inside they found the Dragonslayers within already dead. Reports are hazy but the Dragonslayers apparently all died within minutes of each other, all the same way. detailed analysis pending, the preliminary report is said to state cause of death as Natural Causes.

Apparently even the Guild and PRT/Protectorate cant quite decide the exact method but it appears the end result is the body just giving out like the victim died of old age only these victims were in their mid twenties and were healthy enough to give Dragon trouble in combat.

This news is slightly scary, apparently this cape left no evidence of their presence aside from the Dragonslayer's bodies. The bases cameras were all wiped, there is no physical traces recovered, no sign of a struggle, in fact its like the Dragonslayers just keeled over where they were.

(Showing page 7 of 23)

►Thatdude

Replied On Feb 20th 2011:

Everyone knows I hate being that dude, but why are we all freaking out about this? The Dragonslayers were horrible people who constantly attacked Dragon. I mean sure they probably shouldnt have been killed, but im definitely not complaining that they wont be attacking Dragon again. Have any of you seen the aftermath of their fights? they dont bother avoiding innocents!

►XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied On Feb 20th 2011:

But what if the Dragonslayers were actually trying to protect us from some threat?

►Mojiizen

Replied On Feb 21st 2011:

But who or what threat? they constantly attack Dragon, constantly ignore collateral damage, and you know, are all around dangers to society? I think you should go take your medicine, you seem to have missed a dose.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied On Feb 21st 2011:

I dont take pills jerk, stop saying that!

►Feychick

Replied On Feb 21st 2011:

[Post deleted]

[User temp banned – 24 hours]

Threatening violence against people is not permitted here. Have a 48 hour ban to cool off. - BrocktonBayMod

►Mojiizen

Replied On Feb 21st 2011:

Whoa, as much as im annoyed by Cowboy at times, thats going a bit far, Feychick!

►Procto the Unfortunate Tinker (Not a tinker)

Replied On Feb 22nd 2011:

Hey has anyone seen Victor or Othala recently? I cant remember hearing about them for a while.

►Acree

Replied On Feb 22nd 2011:

No, there hasnt been any news about them for nearly a week now. maybe this mystery parahuman's gotten them too?

►Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Replied On Feb 22nd 2011:

From what I can tell, Victor and Othala havent been seen for nearly a week now. The E88 is quietly investigating but hasnt found much.

►Whyte_Lyfe

Replied On Feb 22nd 2011:

[Post deleted]

[User temp banned – 48 hours]

Threatening violence against people is not permitted here. - BrocktonBayMod

End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ... 21, 22, 23

Topic: New Cape?

In: Boards ► Places ► America ► Brockton Bay

Its_Aliiiive (Original Poster)

Posted On Feb 17th 2011:

So I was at Brockton Bay General for my shift when I heard the roof access open. I know Panacea usually takes her break up there, it tends to have a nice view, so that wasn't strange. What was strange was Glory Girl's squawk of surprise. I made my way up there all sneaky like managed to get a look.

There was a cape up there, long black hooded trenchcoat, a pull up mask covering his mouth and nose with glowing red eyes. He introduced himself as Goetia, and explained that he was going to relax and have a smoke somewhere high up. Glory Girl went all Collateral Damage Barbie and flung herself at him for some reason only to be soundly beaten. weird thing was that she seemed to fly through him the first time, the second time she was smacked into the ground before he raised her head to meet his eyes when she basically went limp. It honestly looked like she was stoned for a while. I would post video but for some reason any video I took was blurred and muffled beyond use.

After a bit Glory Girl snaps out of it, and Goetia creates a set of comfy looking seats, they talk a while before he stands and his body seems to break apart into a murder of crows that fly off before vanishing.

Anyone recognize him? I sure dont.

(Showing page 3 of 21)

►Deimos

Replied On Feb 17th 2011:

What does Goetia even mean? I dont recognize the word, sounds vaguely ominous though.

►Bagrat (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Replied On Feb 17th 2011:

Its a reference to the Ars Goetia of the Lesser Key of Solomon. The tome that details how King Solomon the Wise summoned and bound the 72 Pillar Demons of Hell. It was also supposedly used to refer to sorcerers and workers of magic.

Seem's we have another Myrddin on our hands.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied On Feb 17th 2011:

Sounds like this Goetia's a fan of Itachi. I wonder if he has the other Uchiha abilities.

►Deimos

Replied On Feb 17th 2011:

An intelligent response from Void_Cowboy? is the world ending?

that said what other abilites?

Edit: Just checked, the worlds not ending yet.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied On Feb 17th 2011:

can he speak the Uchiha Hn?

lol Im not gonna help the rest of you after all youve said to me. Hahaha.

►Bagrat (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Replied On Feb 18th 2011:

ignoring Cowboy, if Goetia is patterning his abilities off of Naruto specifically the Uchiha Clan then the bay just got a strong player.

Just at the minimum he would be a Brute 4, Mover 7, Blaster 5, either Master 5 or Shaker 5, and a Thinker 4. absolutely ridiculous.

►Deimos

Replied On Feb 18th 2011:

thanks Bagrat! has anyone asked Panacea or Glory Girl their opinions on Goetia yet? just wondering.

►Panacea (Verified Cape) (New Wave)

Replied On Feb 18th 2011:

Goetia was very polite, Vicky and I had a very nice chat with him while he was there. He is very knowledgeable and just wanted to relax for a while, He didnt seem offended by Vicky attacking him. I can confirm that he is a fan of Naruto though. He also seems to be more of a heroic inclination than villainous which is nice.

►Glory Girl (Verified Cape) (New Wave)

Replied On Feb 18th 2011:

What Ames said. He is a great fighter though, knocked me for a loop with no trouble. Definitely dont want to go up against him again anytime soon.

►Deimos

Replied On Feb 18th 2011:

Thanks Panacea, Glory Girl! good to know we dont have another villain on our hands.

End of Page. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 19, 20, 21

I apparently missed a voyeur during my talk with Amy, I suppose its a good thing I cast that anti-surveillance ward before getting into the talk. I'm somewhat surprised Dragon didn't release my name though perhaps I shouldn't be. Deciding to do a bit of training because being lazy is difficult when one has a metric ton of chakra running through their veins, seems there is a reason Naruto was so hyper, I head to the training room.

I manage to recreate a handful of techniques from Naruto before taking a break. I manage to recreate the rasengan, but I also manage the chidori and Sasuke's variants. I even manage to recreate the lightning armor technique of the Raikage. I also got to playing around with the sand manipulation Shukaku would give Gaara.

After I finish my break I begin working with my reiryoku, managing to replicate shunpo, hirenkyaku, sonido, hierro, and pesquisa. I contemplate trying to recreate some of the hado, but I decide to use my elixir to relive a few shinigami's lives for that later. Eating dinner, I go to sleep for the night, not forgetting that tomorrow is the day I need to check in with Cauldron.

The next morning after breakfast I make my way back to the warehouse I first contacted Cauldron at only to find Contessa waiting beside an open portal. Beyond the portal I can see a fairly well lit high-tech hallway leading into what I assume is the main headquarters. There was a sense of something not quite right emanating from the portal. Extending my magical senses I memorize the portal signature and structure so I can craft a spell to do the same. Just beyond the portal entrance my senses pick up something just wrong, like Lovecraft wrong. Quickly withdrawing my senses I greet Contessa with a friendly nod.

"Contessa. I suppose I'll be meeting the conspiracy today?" I question, silently readying a few motes of black mana just in case I need to wipe out the base. Nearly unnoticeable wisps of black smoke begin to flow off my body before dissipating, something Contessa makes note of.

"Cauldron will meet with you, Goetia, to negotiate a deal." Contessa speaks bluntly, before walking through the portal. I follow her through, noticeably not releasing my hold on the mana, but am briefly disoriented by the transition because of a sudden realization. This world has dense ambient mana, a sign of potential magic use either now or in the future. There also seems to be a lot of nature chakra which makes sense; from what I remember the Cauldron HQ was built on an undeveloped Earth so there would be much more natural environments and thus more nature chakra. Useful then that I am working on modifying Tsunade's Byakugo no In seal to store nature chakra instead of regular chakra. Its slow going but I should manage soon.

As I stumble slightly through the portal, Contessa turns and quirks an eyebrow. I shake my head and motion for her to lead the way, which she does after a moment. The hallway leads to an intersection, she takes the left moving on quickly. She leads me on a twisting and confusing journey before stopping before one of the many unremarkable doors that dot the hallways on the way here. I'm not about to reveal the confusing trip was pointless given my perfect memory, but I don't stop the amusement I'm feeling from leaking into my body language.

"After you Goetia, Cauldron awaits" Contessa speaks, motioning through the open door. Looking inside I see a fairly nondescript conference room, currently empty.

"As you will, dear Fortuna." I agree, sweeping a grand, slightly mocking bow towards her before strolling into the room like I own it. I'm barely sitting down when a portal opens on the far end and out comes the core members of Cauldron.

Wearing their normal costumes we have Rebecca aka Alexandria, notably she wasn't wearing her visor. David aka Eidolon, he was exuding an air of menace despite nothing showing in his body language. Legend whose civilian identity I am unsure of but according to my head canon is Paul, he seems as nice as reported but turns serious the moment his entrance is done. A dark skinned woman in doctors garb that I recognize as Doctor Mother, she seems vaguely bored but snaps to attention the moment she sits down. Kurt aka Number Man, who is wearing his normal suit, he seems rather annoyed at the grandstanding and looks like he wants to get this over with and the ever fedorable Fortuna aka Contessa wearing her stylish suit and fedora as always, for some reason I get the feeling she feels as annoyed by the grandstanding as Number Man but no evidence of it shows, her face and body language as inscrutable as ever. The grandstanding abruptly ends as I begin slow clapping, a condescending smirk on my face. They seem rather angry as they sit but I cant fathom the reason why.

"Well, that was entertaining, shall we move onto the posturing and dominance plays or are we going to be adults and get down to business?" I ask somewhat condescendingly, lounging indolently in what is now a comfortable recliner having transfigured it during their entrance without them noticing, looking around the table at each of them. Alexandria looks somewhat irritated at being called out but Eidolon's reaction takes the cake. He full on makes to lunge but holds himself back at the last moment, I would assume because of my cure for his waning powers. Legend rolls his eyes, I guess he didn't want the grandstanding either. Doctor Mother, Number Man, and Contessa just get comfortable, silently watching.

"Very well, lets get to business. Goetia, we have decided that in exchange for aiding Eidolon you will get a payment of five tons of copper, three tons of silver, and a single ton of gold, as well as gaining a legal Id though we'll need to work out the details first. Beyond that, I cant allow you to interfere with the wards program without more information. That said, I am of the opinion to make you a black book member of PRT/Protectorate Internal Affairs of some sort. That will get you the ability to acquire records from the relevant departments as well as investigate and detain Parahumans and employees associated with the Protectorate and PRT, lord knows there is enough corruption to warrant such a position." Taking the lead Alexandria laid down Cauldron's offer without hesitation.

This offer was surprising, not because of its details but more because it was so simple and entirely weighted to my benefit. I fully expected to have to jump through hoops to get even this much so having it handed to me is more than a little suspicious. That said I have no reason to decline, and any traps I can think of can be circumvented rather easily.

"Just out of curiosity, what would I receive for improving your vial formula?" I ask, my head cocked to the side in curiosity. I carefully observe the less inscrutable members to see if I can glean any hints of duplicity. Suddenly remembering that Doctor Mother isn't a parahuman, I slowly extend a tendril of my mind towards her, connecting with her mind. Outside of the immense curiosity towards myself, my origins, and my abilities, I can sense no overt duplicity or deception. Looking deeper I find myself suddenly sliding into a memory without intending to.

I find myself sitting in a chair in a nondescript conference room much like the one I'm in now.

Wait I've never been here before, where am I?

The rest of my colleagues quickly walk through an open portal.

Am I in a memory? How did this happen, I thought I had better control than this.

"I still think we should get more from this deal, why don't we force him to work with us here for a while? We can get him here and not open the portal back until were satisfied." Eidolon was arguing with Alexandria again, or should I say arguing at. Alexandria was inscrutable as ever but to someone who knows her she looked rather annoyed.

Really Eidolon? Whats next whining that you don't get your way? I kinda get why the wiki said that despite his power few people would profess to actually liking him.

"Maybe because all the intel we've gathered makes it out that we would barely phase him? Or how about the fact that Contessa wouldn't be able to fight him? How he knows our secrets and the details of our powers? Who's to say he hasn't devised ways to kill us?" Alexandria comments slowly, as though Eidolon was a small child.

I mean, I do have ways to kill you if it comes to that, but I would really rather not. I mean I could use Skitter's method of suffocating Alexandria, I could mentally break Eidolon by revealing his connection to the Endbringers. Contessa isn't a threat any more than Doctor Mother herself. Ironically Legend and Number Man would be the most difficult to deal with. I couldalsodo what I'm already doing and use black mana to instantly kill them, saving myself from having to make an effort. Man Colored Mana is OP, but I'm not complaining.

"I concur with Alexandria, we shouldn't make Goetia an enemy if for no other reason than what he wants is easily acquired and that he is a complete unknown that likely has powers we don't know about and the ones we do know of would make him difficult to fight even together." Doctor Mother spoke up, interrupting the argument. To her, it was just logical, don't make enemies where it isn't necessary, make allies wherever you can, and never miss an opportunity to advance the cause so long as the risk is acceptable.

A sensible code. In another life I can see myself getting along with her. Shame I doubt Eidolon will just let it go.

"Well, I guess I can see it, I don't like it in the least, but I'll let it go for now." Eidolon acquiesced before storming out of the room. She felt a somewhat foreboding feeling run down her spine, for some reason she doubted he wouldn't make a scene during the meeting.

Yeah I don't see him not trying to make a scene either. Unfortunately if it doesn't happen before I give him my cure it probably wont happen until we meet again.

As Alexandria closes the door and turns to Doctor Mother, the scene slows before stopping entirely then like a tape rewinding the memory reverses before whiting out at the beginning and I feel myself pushed out of the memory.

Focusing back on the conversation just in time to hear Alexandria's response, I wonder just how that happened.

"If you only manage to improve the vials by making them no longer produce Case 53s, then you will get another payment the same size of precious metals, as well as a ton of platinum on top of that. If you manage to make them no longer produce Case 53s and make the vials produce consistently stronger capes, well you would certainly get more metals but we should probably pay you even more than that at that point. We can discuss that if you succeed and it would probably depend on how much stronger they can be made." Alexandria answers bluntly, impressing me with her caution. As far as she knew I never guaranteed the creation of safer or amplified vials. She probably thought I could, but was hedging her bets. I already knew what I wanted for managing to make safe amplified vials; a planeswalker can copy items, abilities, and people to summon later, I want to copy Contessa, Number Man, and Clairvoyant. If I can swing it I would copy Alexandria and Legend too, but I would be satisfied with the other three.

"Fair enough, I'll get right on developing a safe vial prototype, but first here is the recipe for Eidolon's Recharging Elixir. Ensure that none of the ingredients will harm him and then he can take it." I chuckle before speaking, handing Doctor Mother a recipe card. The card lists the ingredients but not the method of production. Doctor Mother looks over the card before giving the green light.

Getting the green light, I pull the elixir from storage, gently placing it in the center of the table. Eidolon nearly pounces on the damn thing and almost drops it in his haste to consume the elixir. Upon consuming the elixir however he stiffens before slowly falling over. Alexandria and Legend move into defensive stances as Doctor Mother catches him, pushes him into a chair and starts checking him over. Number Man looks between me and the other two thirds of the Triumvirate before moving to the wall, joining Contessa.

"W-what have you done t-to me?" he groans stuttering and slurring his words. His body shakes and spasms constantly, at the same time he can feel his powers cycling starting with the weaker abilities but he slowly starts recognizing some of the stronger abilities he had lost access to. With a mighty, though completely mental snap, a fourth slot appears alongside a massive migraine.

"I, hopefully, just removed one of the biggest threats to mankind from the board. Did the fourth slot open yet?" I answer, utterly unconcerned with the growing hostility, still lounging in the recliner. I can sense the rooms confusion when I mention a fourth slot but I'm not in any hurry to explain.

"Y-yes, h-how?" Eidolon manages through gritted teeth, his jaw spasming. His body is starting to shake less and less though the pain isn't even close to lessening as the powers being cycled through become more and more insane. These powers are also ones he's never heard or seen before.

"Allow me to answer that in a way that the golden idiot would, right before he killed you during Golden Morning. 'You needed worthy opponents'. You see, your power always had four slots, but one was always used, locked onto a power it should never have been able to access; your constant need to prove yourself finally triggered that power into acting. When you mixed the vial that would become your power a little something extra was added, I assume you either didn't know enough or didn't think it was important but the part that was added controlled what in entity speak are called 'conflict engines'.

Normally conflict engines are carefully regulated and used as end bosses near the end of the cycle to get as much useful data out of the hosts as possible. The pair of entities that landed on Earth called themselves 'The Warrior' and 'The Thinker'; of the pair only The Thinker possessed the ability to create, manage, and use conflict engines. When your fourth power activated itself to give you worthy opponents it activated a conflict engine suitably altered for your perceptions.

First in Iran in 1992, a figure over forty-five feet tall, looking like a hellish demon with the power to match, claws its way out of the ground laying waste to the area around it. This being is then named 'Behemoth, first among the creatures of the land'

Then in Norway in 1996, a thirty foot figure, looking like a lizard demon from the depths of the sea, drags itself out of the water shocking defenders. Not much is known of that battle but this figure was quickly named 'Leviathan, first among creatures of the sea'

Finally in Switzerland in 2002, a winged figure reminiscent of a biblical seraph descended. At first the figure seemed benevolent but time would reveal the truth as the Swiss capitol had to be barricaded and was then bombed because its citizens had gone mad. This figure was quickly named The Simurgh, but more importantly to this discussion 'Ziz, first among the creatures of the air' thus completing the Abrahamic Beast Trinity.

All of these creatures, these beings, these Endbringers, came into being because your power had latched onto something it shouldn't have and because of your need for prove yourself.

Believe it or not, I don't hold you responsible, you are not the only person who feels the need to prove themselves, but that doesn't change the fact that your power is behind the Endbringers. My elixir has severed any capability your power has to control the Endbringers while also recharging and further unlocking your powers access so it can truly access all the powers it can. With luck and a bit of persuasion you may even be able to turn them to your side, they are sentient after all and are no more accepting of being a disposable weapon as any of you would be.

Just keep in mind that not once have you legitimately driven off an Endbringer. Partly due to Eidolon's needs and partly due to their original intended use they have sandbagged and sandbagged hard. As evidence of this, well let me put it this way. Did you know that Winged_One on PHO is the Simurgh? She uses telekinesis from orbit to use a computer on the ground to connect and post on PHO. That said you should probably let her know that she is free and any further attacks by her or her siblings means her savior will destroy her. The same savior that she cant see at all." I finish that massive bit of exposition.

As I was speaking the other members of Cauldron first grew quiet then a sense of horror filled them. Eidolon though, he went pale as a ghost when I mentioned the phrase that allowed Scion to kill him and started shaking his head, eyes wide in terror as I began listing the Endbringers and how they were altered to match his religious perceptions. The other members were looking between me and Eidolon in horror and denial but as the facts were stated, and they started putting dozens of observations together they began accepting the truth.

"No, no, no! I didn't mean this! I didn't want this!" Eidolon suddenly began screaming, starting a mental breakdown. Quickly I stood and snagged a potion with an aerosol spray top attached before moving in front of Eidolon and liberally spraying his face with the potion. Almost immediately he began calming down, when he seemed on the verge of a giggling fit I stopped and snagged another bottle out of my storage.

"Drink this and stop freaking out." I command roughly shoving another potion bottle into his hands which he immediately downed without question, the slight suggestible state the aerosol induced working as intended. As he calmed Doctor Mother turned to me with a raised eyebrow, her mouth opening to ask before I cut her off.

"Aerosolized Calming Draught, something about aerosolizing it induces a mild suggestive state in the subject. The state doesn't last more than ten seconds or so and requires a hefty concentration but works quicker on hysterical subjects than shoving a regular Calming Draught into their hands and telling them to drink. Mildly addictive in potion form but only if taken repeatedly over weeks, for some reason the aerosol version doesn't present these issues, I assume because of it not being as concentrated. The full potion takes effect in around thirty seconds and lasts roughly an hour. I make them in bulk because they are quick and cheap to make and putting them in a gas grenade can calm mobs and large crowds in seconds. I only aerosolize around half though." I recite before pulling around a dozen more vials from my storage.

The vials are labeled Major Pain Killer, Dreamless Sleep, Restorative Draught and Calming Draught. I produce a vial rack from my storage as well and begin slotting them into place before once again reciting their info to Doctor Mother.

"Half a dozen Major Pain Killers, not addictive, as good as morphine and lasts around twenty hours. Take once a day in the morning for three days, and then as needed for another week. You shouldn't need more than this but if you do you know how to get a hold of me.

Three Dreamless Sleep, self explanatory, highly addictive, this is the maximum dose before risk of addiction becomes too high, will put you to sleep for a full eight hours exactly while removing the ability to dream while on it. Often prescribed for veterans or others suffering from PTSD or night terrors. Relatively easy to brew, many of those veterans also become heavily addicted. I wont brew you more of those without extremely good cause.

Calming Draught, already explained, I'll drop a few off with Doctor Mother every three or so days until Doctor Mother says to stop or two weeks has passed. Make sure you take one the moment you feel a panic attack or mental breakdown coming, in fact always keep at least one on you at all times. Don't worry about breaking the vials, they are enchanted unbreakable.

And a single Restorative Draught, make sure you take this tonight before the Dreamless Sleep, it will heal up what little damage my elixir did overnight. About twice as powerful as the potion recipe I gifted you guys, but designed to work slowly over a larger time period and meant to be taken after battle is finished. Usually used by law enforcement after a particularly violent arrest but one without hospital worthy injuries. Fairly easily brewed, and not particularly addictive. Will heal a broken bone in a few hours but is incapable of regenerating limbs or eyes. Can regenerate other organs for some reason." I recite dutifully as I pack them in to the rack one by one before handing the rack to Eidolon.

"Thank you Goetia, I'm not sure what I would've done." Eidolon gives me a nod before opening a door to a well decorated room, presumably his quarters before with a wave the door closes.

"Yes thank you Goetia, I could've done without the scare but we probably wouldn't have believed you otherwise." Legend speaks, a gratitude filled smile spread across his face. He then leaves through a door to the air above a sprawling city.

"Well, you've proven yourself, though I could've gone without the scare as well. We will have your payment ready tomorrow. Either Doctor Mother or Contessa can show you to your quarters here in the HQ, and you need to have a meeting with Number Man to get your ID ready. When the payment has been acquired we will let you know and you can decide then how you want it delivered. Welcome to Cauldron." Alexandria nods, a thankful smile on her face before she leaves through a door into an office with a view of the ocean. As the door closes, Number Man clears his throat before sitting across from me readying a futuristic tablet in front of him.

"Right with the excitement done, lets get your Id set up. I'll need a name, date of birth, the address can be set up later, and a picture." Number Man began listing what he needed from me. I was a little leery of the picture but a quick shape-shift makes my silverish white waist length hair a short chestnut brown, and my eyes changed from a bright heterochromic red and blue to a light brown. My facial features become more generic making an overall forgettable appearance. I had forgotten this wasn't my original appearance, but my preferences are a little more obviously anime.

"Damian Corvus Black, 2-4-94 now 26. Obviously not my true name, going by your true name in some worlds is a death sentence" I recite before lowering my hood and pulling down my mask. Number Man seems taken aback by my nonchalance in revealing my face. Raising an eyebrow, he silently asks the question while filling my details in and opening a door to an empty camera studio, motioning me to follow him.

"I can shape-shift, my original appearance would either out me as a cape or make me too memorable." I explain the unstated question, making Number Man nod in acceptance making a note in his ever present tablet.

"Stand there and stay still, we'll need to take a few pictures, one just the portrait for the id and one a full body in costume for your Cape Id." Number Man indicated a spot a bit away from the camera explaining what we were going to do. Standing where indicated he takes the required portrait photo. Then raising my hood I revert my shape-shift and activate my base sharingan, drawing my cane from the ether. Weaving an illusion I create a crow that perches itself on my left shoulder, instead of a normal eye its eyes are also sharingan. Resting my hands on the cane, I look every part the eccentric nobleman mage. Taking the photo after a moment of staring we return to Cauldron HQ.

"The Id will be ready tomorrow at 10, it will be expedited through the PRT. You will be able to pick it up at the PRT-ENE building in Brockton assuming that will be your base for the time being?" Number Man finishes inputting my details before fearlessly matching my gaze with a raised eyebrow. With a nod he presumably sends off the details and then stands. Another nod and he leaves, leaving me alone in the conference room, Contessa having left after Alexandria.

"Door to a mile outside Brockton Bay please" I speak the request to the air, now that I am a member of Cauldron the portal opens into a forested clearing. Walking through, I check my surroundings, before noting the sounds of the city in a particular direction. Deciding to make use of my enhanced body for once instead of being lazy and teleporting. Bounding forward enhancing myself with chakra, I quickly make it to the edge of the city, jumping on roofs and off walls using the tree walking technique, I'm surprised by a bullet ripping through my shoulder. Almost literally dropping into a cape fight I manage to land on a roof and look around.

Seeing a skinny dark skinned male with a mask that covers the top half of his face shouting profanity at a rate just below that of a furious dockworker and a tricked out monster truck that looked like the demented love child of a bulldozer and a tank driven by a loudly cackling woman with an annoyingly high pitched voice I can safely assume that the Merchants were attacking something. Looking towards the other end of the battle I see a man with a neatly trimmed beard wearing a set of blue and silver futuristic power armor wielding a futuristic halberd alongside an olive skinned woman wearing army fatigues and a stars and striped bandanna covering the lower half of her face, a glowing green energy wreathing her hands constantly shifting into different weapons. Both were taking cover behind the wreckage of a building but were visibly looking for an opportunity to take advantage. Scattered around the protectorate side are around a dozen PRT troopers, all but a four wounded.

Taking stock of the situation, I decide its as good a time as ever to make my official debut as Goetia. Activating my Eternal Mangekyou and entering my intangible Kamui state, weaving an illusion I cover the roofs in crows with glowing sharingan eyes slowly. At first no one notices but as the numbers grow and the noise from the crows become louder the battle slows as everyone looks around finding themselves surrounded by crows. As one the crows caw and launch themselves off the roof and fly into a point merging into a shadowy figure, at the same time I drop down between the Merchants and Protectorate landing within the figure as the illusionary crows dispel leaving a single crow on my left shoulder.

"This wasn't what I was planning to do with my day, but then one of you had to go and shoot me. Today, Goetia joins the Hunt!" I speak clearly though my anger escapes me for a moment, flaring my magical aura near the end, my words echoing clearly through the area. A moment passes as I tense before the asphalt craters beneath me as Squealer's tank is suddenly smashed, sent flying like it was slapped by the hand of god, it lands just at the end of the street as a cloud of dust mushrooms up from where it was. Out of the dust, I walk out holding Squealer, she is still breathing, but other than that she doesn't move. While holding her I copy her tinker ability gaining the Vehicular Tinker specialization. Leaving an afterimage through shunpo, I appear near the protectorate capes and toss her at their feet.

"I do believe you have more use for this thing than I do" I comment, the feeling of utter disdain I projected making my feelings clear as I turn back to the Merchants who are standing in shock before Skidmark rallies them and they begin shooting again. Suddenly disappearing and reappearing behind Skidmark, I back hand him in the temple knocking him out and throwing him out of range of the sudden cloud of gas caused by the smoke bombs I dropped among the group of Merchants as I moved. The Merchants caught off guard suddenly drop to the ground asleep, a few even start snoring.

The battle over, seemingly in an instant, Miss Militia and the few unwounded PRT troopers that accompanied them to intercept the Merchants look around in shock. The battle had been going on for nearly twenty minutes before this cape suddenly joined, then it was ended like it was someone taking out the trash, like it was trivial. Armsmaster on the other hand was thinking hard trying to remember where he had heard the name Goetia before. With a start he finally remembered, Dragon had told him about the message she received from a cape by that name that handed her the Dragonslayers. He was also reported to have met with Panacea and Glory Girl on the roof of Brockton General, or so PHO claims.

"Goetia, thank you for the assistance. Have you thought of joining the Protectorate before? We could really use someone of your power." Miss Militia says, her eyes crinkled in gratitude, before starting a recruitment pitch. Armsmaster meanwhile began rounding up the unpowered gang members and Skidmark before putting them in cuffs.

"I'm sorry Miss Militia, but I'm already employed by the protectorate and PRT in a joint project. In fact I'll be heading the project starting tomorrow. I have to pick up my ID and the required documentation tomorrow at 10 at the PRT-ENE HQ here in town. I was heading home after a spot of exercise and got winged by a stray bullet from one of the Merchant's. I'm a high speed regenerator so it wasn't a horrible wound and when I looked around I noticed you guys stuck in a pretty bad situation so I decided to help out. I wasn't really planning on doing this with my day like I said but well you guys needed the help and I have more than enough power to offer aid." I explain with a sorta dismissive shrug.

"Oh, well I look forward to working with you then." she blinks in surprise before shrugging as well. Walking over to Armsmaster I get his attention and offer a respectful nod which is returned. I hand him a sealed vial containing the aerosolized Sleeping Draught and a recipe card listing the ingredients and method of production.

"Armsmaster, this is the sedative I laced the smoke bombs with, I figured you should probably have a sample for your records. As far as I can tell this is better than anything on the market so I've also given you the list of ingredients and production method just in case you want more. Its not addictive, and when in potion form will harmlessly knock a person unconscious for between two and three hours depending on dosage, it will last for around thirty minutes when aerosolized." I explain seeing his confused look. He nods in thanks before storing them in a compartment in his armor.

"Thank you Goetia, for the timely assistance. I see Miss Militia has taken your statement so you are free to go." He speaks brusquely, gives me a final nod before turning back to continue dealing with the suspects. Giving Miss Militia a wave, I hop back up to the roofs and start in a random direction not quite opposite my base's location before doubling back and continuing on to my base. Taking a shower to wash the dust and sweat off, I finish and eat a quick meal. Checking my phone I find it is almost one in the afternoon, thinking for a minute I find myself unable to decide what to do with the rest of the day.

Deciding to let fate decide I make a list of short term objectives.

Kill Krieg

Take out Coil

Research the Slaughterhouse Nine's last known location.

Kill Hookwolf

Convert my readings of Doormaker's portal to a spell

Meet with Danny Hebert about a proposal

Transmuting a pair of dice, I roll them getting a 1 and 6 respectively, guess Krieg gets to die then I need to see about an appointment with Danny Hebert. Some research online nets me a suitable picture, setting up a scry, it takes an hour or so until the image fuzzes a little before clearing up. It shows a man in his late thirties to early forties wearing a business suit, asleep aboard what looks like a plane. Twisting the magic a little I can eavesdrop on the stewardesses. Seems they are on the way back from a flight to England. They wont be getting back until tomorrow.

That was a bust, moving on I'll try Hookwolf instead. Shifting the target after finding an appropriate picture, the scry resolves; showing a hairy man in maybe his late twenties to early thirties, with long greasy blond hair wearing a metal wolf mask and no shirt. He was in a back room of what I recognize as a solidly built brick warehouse, the sound of a crowd and the barks and howls of dogs are audible though muffled. Manipulating the image I can see that there are no other people in the room with him. Now would seem to be an ideal time to deal with him but something holds me back, something in my magical instincts says to wait. Sure enough, a moment later the door opens, a woman with a blond buzzcut and a cage as a mask enters and begins talking with Hookwolf.

Now would be a good time to take them both, but do I really want to do that much damage so quickly? I've already disappeared Victor and Othala, I plan to disappear Krieg tomorrow. After disappearing Krieg, I'll disappear Cricket and Stormtiger a day or so later then Hookwolf a few days after that. Deciding that I allow the scry to fade with only some hesitation, but it really is too much too soon.

Its now three in the afternoon, I guess I should locate Coil then arrange an appointment to talk with Danny Hebert. Stretching my mind, I push it into the business district and then push downwards. Spreading my mind I locate a large grouping of maybe thirty or forty people, zeroing in on that grouping I begin scanning them. I find that most of the mercenaries Coil employs are otherwise decent people who were suckered into a contract with a fairly slimy villain. Most have a rough idea just how bad their boss is, but cant just break their contracts without getting a bad reputation. I do find a handful that are as bad as you can get, these are the ones that do the dirty work happily, and are the ones I'll kill while taking out Coil. A little more searching and I find Coil in the far corner of what I assume is a fairly expansive base. Taking a moment to check the time I find its been about an hour. Keeping my mental tendril surrounding the mind I've identified as Coil, I unlock my stolen smart phone and look up the number for the Dock Workers Union. Calling it, the phone rings a few times before it is picked up.

"Brockton Bay Dock Worker's Union, can I help you?" A male voice says. The person sounded depressed, like they had given up hope but couldn't bring themselves to quit.

"My name is Damian Black, at the moment representing the parahuman known as Goetia, I was to arrange to speak to whoever is in charge about a proposal, can you forward my call to whoever can help with that? If possible I was also to arrange a meeting with a... Danny Hebert I believe? Yes, Danny Hebert." I speak clearly, hoping for my luck to pull through.

"Lucky for you, Danny is the man to talk to for proposing a job. I'll just forward your call, please wait a moment." the voice replies, audibly perking up at the thought of getting more work. The call goes silent after a moment before its picked up again.

"BB DWU, Danny Hebert speaking, how can I help you Mr. Black." Danny answers the call in a monotone. He sounds broken, like he's barely hanging on. I guess having Taylor put in the hospital and the school denying anything, on top of managing a dying union wasn't doing him any favors.

"Mr. Hebert, I am calling as representative of a new cape in the city, Goetia? You may have heard of him. Regardless he has a few things to speak with you about. He wishes to arrange a meeting sometime within the next week. Assuming you accept, he can either come to you or both of you can meet somewhere public, it matters not to him. You will be very interested in his offers I assure you.

As for the second point, He will be employed by the Protectorate and PRT in a joint project, but he also possesses all the licenses to be a private investigator. He had noted some discrepancies in an incident involving your daughter when he was poking around when he first got into town. After some more focused digging, well heads will roll I assure you, but he wants to get the facts straight." I give him my spiel, fairly confident he will agree to a meeting at least. Danny takes a few moments to respond, I assume I poked some sore points when I brought up Taylor.

"Mr. Black was it? You can tell this Goetia that I wont be able to meet him anytime soon, I do have to take care of my daughter after her traumatic incident after all, but maybe we can work something out some other time. Have a nice day." Danny answered brusquely before hanging up. I look at my phone like I was checking if it was still connected before sighing.

"That did not go as planned, for all of my power apparently I still cant get people. I know I poked a sore point, but I did so regarding getting justice for her so why did that provoke such a response?" I mutter, looking at the ceiling of my office like it would hold the answer. Checking the time I see its just after five, peering down my mental tendril I see Coil is still where he was. Widening my presence I scan the area locating all of the mercs I re-scan them checking if they were doing anything dangerous, a handful were in what I assume was a small shooting range, testing the weapons after maintenance. Excluding those mercs, I connect with the rest of the mercs and Coil before sending the standard sleep spell down the connection. I notice that Coil in particular was surprisingly resistant but increasing the magic being pumped into the spell overcame that in short order. Disconnecting from the now sleeping mercs and Coil, I reconnect with the handful in the range and scan them, thankfully they are all part of the group I deemed irredeemable. Sending true death down the connection I can feel the moment the spell takes effect, the connection abruptly severing.

Reconnecting with Coil, I use Kamui and reappear next to him only to notice his computer displaying a self destruct sequence that had only half the code inputted, seems he managed to nearly activate it while he was resisting the magic. Breathing a sigh of relief when clicking cancel stops it, I take a moment before diving into Coil's mind.

Abruptly I am struck with three massive streams of thoughts and memories, two of which seem to spiral around the single one that lays in the middle, mustering my magic I isolate myself from the clashing streams and levitate myself out of the currents. Looking from above the streams begin to make more sense. The one straight one seems to be almost half the size of the other two and lays straight, occasionally a bit of its stream branches off into one of the two spiraling around it before returning some distance down it. The two spiraling around it also occasionally branch off and connect to the center stream without the center stream's initial connection. The two are also connected through an intricately woven web of channels between them that ignore the center stream. From my view point it seems that the spiraling streams are the uses of his power, while the center stream is his main consciousness. Trying to find a main link, something like Ascalon with Saint, I eventually stumble on a costume, a skin-tight black bodysuit with a white snake coiling its way up his body, its head ending on the forehead of the costume. Diving into it, I again wasn't gentle plundering his knowledge and skills. I also took his account credentials. Once I was finished ravaging his mind for all it was worth I retreated before finally withdrawing from his mind. I copied his ability using my planeswalker abilities, before casting true death upon him and using alchemy to disassemble his body into constituent atoms.

After doing that, I logged into Coil's computer and transferring his accounts to mine, then I searched his desk for something I caught in his mind. A few seconds later I find the secret compartment I was searching for, opening it I find a tinker-tech hard drive that carries the latest backup of all the info Coil had collected. Taking it and making a copy using my Spark just in case, I send a message to the leaders of the mercs Coil hired breaking their contract and transferred the applicable payments then I begin working my way out of the base. Using Kamui, I gather the sleeping bodies of the mercs I decided to spare before seeking the ones I killed, disintegrating the bodies I make my way to the entrance of the base. There I leave the mercs asleep. Making my way back to Coil's office I stop and use transmutation to seal the hallways leading further into the base and move back to Coil's office, using his computer I send Tattletale a message telling her to seek the "Inheritor of Solomon's Tome if she seeks her savior, before wiping his hard drives and returning to my own base using Kamui. Checking the time seeing it was nearly eight, I eat some dinner, take a shower, and browse PHO before heading to bed feeling satisfied with my day.

The PHO sections in this chapter were a pain to write and I just couldn't get them to come out right. Aside from that I'm not sure how close I am with Armsmaster's characterization, I think I'm close, but then I've never read the canon material. At least I'm satisfied with that part unlike the PHO section. I'm not going to edit the PHO section much more, I really don't like how Panacea comes off, but I'm not sure how to fix that.

A reviewer told me that my character seemed to win too easily, and to be honest I agree. But within the confines of the story, I am not likely to ever lose in combat, I have little reason to without trying to throw some bullshit plot twist and suddenly depower my character which is bad writing in my opinion. Also, my SI is in a world where there isn't any real threats to him in terms of combat, maybe if I head to marvel or something where there are actual gods and higher powers that might be annoyed by me or somewhere else with these factors I might actually be at risk in combat but in Worm? The only real threats to my character are Eidolon and Scion, one of which I'm allied with and the other I have little reason to try to fight. Maybe there are a few other threats but I cant think of them off the top of my head.

In fics like these if the character has no reason to lose in combat, have him lose elsewhere. This is a self insert, and I genuinely don't understand people. I miss 90% of social cues, and am generally an asshole. Thankfully I tend to be more of the lovable asshole than the terrible asshole. Empathy and social interaction are my kryponite and thus they are my SI's. That said I tend to get along with most people but when I fail, I fail hard.

Like with Danny, I poked the wrong button at the wrong time, so he is going to go out of his way to frustrate me until I either go away or I pull rank and smack him down.

Beyond that I have little else to say, so I'll sign off here.

Edit 2/25/2020: I've cleaned up the chapter a bit, and am starting work on chapter three today.

I also got a review that questioned how my character is chaotic neutral. My interpretation of chaotic neutral is the discerning rouge, the one that never does anything that doesnt benefit him at least a little. I befriend panacea to help stop her downward spiral, and because it gives me the personal friendship of the worlds greatest healer. That doesnt exclude all the other reasons like the fact I genuinely enjoy the dark, snarky, and sarcastic healer's personality but there are pragmatic or even manipulative elements as well. As evidence I point out that while this is an AU, this world is mostly canon. Tattletale enjoys being an undersider. I specifically dont mention this to panacea instead going with the cliché she was recruited into the villain life at gunpoint. Making her a sympathetic existence and also aiding me in breaking her out of the black white, heroes and villains mindset. Admittidly I need to get better at showing that, but the reasons are there if you know that I look to benefit myself first and foremost, and if my actions benefit others as well so be it.

for some reason certain words in the post-flashback cauldron section arent being spaced right. ive checked my original document and the version uploaded here and they both show the correct spacing, its slightly frustrating.