VII. Power Rangers In Retrograde - Mystic Force – Legendary Catastros

(Based from summaries from .com)

"Madison is running a new campaign of our tabletop group and we could really use a fifth player." Chip stops Nick outside the Rock Porium as they are all getting off work.

Nick looks at him confused, as LeeLee passes by, remaining silent LeeLee hangs near the group listening, "Sorry, what the heck are you talking about Chip?"

"Chip, Maddie, Vida and I play a weekly tabletop role playing game, it's all dungeons and knights. It's kinda fun. Been doing it for years."

"And you want me to join? Look I'll level with you, every one I've been in hasn't made it to the second session. I think I'm cursed."

"Well that wont happen with us, we've been doing it for years remember, plus we know where you live," Maddie jokes.

Nick laughs nervously, "Sure, I guess."

LeeLee suddenly jumping in as she moves in next to Nick, "I'll join!"

The five look curiously to her, Maddie speaking first, "Well with Nick we already have five, we don't really need six."

"Please, I can bring snacks."

There is a slow pause before Maddie looks to the others, "You okay with six guys?"

"Sure," Xander offers casually.

"The more the merrier," Chip beams.

"Whatever," Vida adds.

Maddie smiles awkwardly, "Alright, Toby's letting us use the Rock Porium after hours, do you need help with your character? it's going to be a mid level campaign."

LeeLee looks to Nick who nods, offering her own nod a moment later, "Isn't this cool Nick we get to play a game together."

Nick shrugs, "Yeah sure."

Very few lights are on in the Rock Porium, but faint music could be heard from outside as LeeLee got near the door, she was carrying several pizza boxes and a couple bags, the tapping of a cane on the cement drew her attention as Blecker came up from down the street.

"You look great by the way, lost some weight?" LeeLee says conspiratorially, "We have got to get you a new wardrobe before you shrink out of those rags."

Blecker flustered, "That's not really nessic..."

As Xander let them in LeeLee kept her eyes on Blecker, "I insist, tomorrow morning, Shopping spree, my treat!"

"Let me show you to the table," Xander offers taking the pizza boxes from LeeLee, "So what kind of snacks you bring?"

LeeLee shrugs pulling some vegetable juice from the bag as long as some cookies and veggie platters, setting them down on the table next to the Pizza as she slipped her way to a seat next to Nick, "You finish your character yet?"

Nick looked up to LeeLee putting a bit more space between them, "Almost, Maddie is just helping me finish mine up."

"Mind helping me with mine?"

Nick shrugs, "That's more Maddie and Chip," then pausing she looks to Blecker as she takes a seat, "Oh Blecker, you have a few templates right?"

"Yeah!" Blecker beams, "I bought several of the source books and have created concepts but could never find play groups in my old town. But I made a new one just for this group, she's an elf paladin."

"She?" Chip lights up, "Cool we finally got a girl on the team."

Blecker looked over at Vida confused, "Finally? You didn't make a girl?"

"Nope, male bard." she said with a laugh, "I mean look at who I'm playing with."

Blecker sighed looked to LeeLee with hope, "You're a girl right?"

LeeLee nods, "Came up with it myself, sort of a mix of vampire and fighter, she's human but has vampire like class skills."

Blecker sighs in relief as he hands over his character sheet to Maddie, "Are we all ready to begin?" Maddie wonders aloud.

Everyone nods and settle into the seats getting ready.

"You Crunan Smilebeard, Vicamros Spelloyal, and Xanril Bearcharger-"

"Wait who?" Nick interrupts.

"Oh sorry...Chip plays Crunan Smilebeard is a male halfling knight, he is clad in armor that's a mix of full plate and the more maneuverable mesh. Vida plays Vicamros Spelloyal a male human bard, who wears silk and other cloth garbs. Xander's character is Xanril Bearcharger, a male elf ranger who is in medium leather armor and an ornate bow strapped to his back."

"When do we come in," LeeLee asks, leaning over by Madison as she works out the last details of her character.

"I'm getting to that, it won't be long just want a few minutes I need to introduce the established group before I throw you guys in."

"I'll just be enjoying this delicious veggie pizza until it's time for my big stage entrance then," Blecker jokes, "Mmmmmm artichoke, nice choice LeeLee."

"It's low fat too!"

"Anyway the three of you are summoned before King Erasmus the Randomly Biased-"

"The Randomly what?" Chip interrupts, "Are you sure that's his title and not a DM note."

There is a shuffling pf papers as Maddie shows the text from the campaign book to Chip, "I think it's suppose to be an inside joke, the campaign itself is pretty serious so the author probably threw it in as a way to lighten things early on."

Chip nods, "Ok, go on."

"The three of you are summoned before King Erasmus the Randomly Biased, The evil necromancer Mort Kemnon has discovered an artifact known as the Mask of Death and wishes to use this to overthrow the kingdom. The king relates this to you and asks that you, given your reputation locate and stop this mad man."

"You have our full cooperation your Majesty!" Crunan says with a bow looking to his teammates.

Vicamros and Xanril nod, Xanril speaking next, "Do we have any clues as to where this Mort Kemnon is hiding?"

"The Hierophant of the local Order of Therin asked to speak with all parties interested in this quest, he may have more to go on. And has in fact I have already sent the other two members of your party ahead to speak to him."

"Other two members your majesty?" Xanril wonders aloud.

"Ah yes, you see," the King pauses a moment, "You are not the first party to undertake this quest, however it has been some time since they have returned and I can only assume the worse. Given that I felt it prudent to make sure this time a much larger party was taken with the task in hope of victory."

"Mort Kemnon has already defeated one party of adventurers? Cool that means this is an epic level quest!" Chip exclaims, "This should be some sweet loot for our new players!"

"Moving along," Maddie starts, "You say your goodbyes to the King and make your way to the Hierophant who is just finishing his greetings and blessings to Caren Silvermoon, a female elf Paladin. You can see from here that her armor is decent half plate but clearly of common quality not quality sets like your own. Next to her is Loraella Silverkin, a female Vampire Mark-"

"Or a Vampire Mark?"

"While Vampiric Markers must live as vampires, they are not true vampires. Vampiric Markers have been blessed by the evil deity Vecna, Lord of the Undead, to spread destruction and ruin to those among the living and expand his kingdom of undead. In return for the service of the living, Vecna "blesses" them with immortality by using their power to steal life and convert creatures into vampiric undead."

Blecker looks over incredulously at LeeLee, "Uh I'm a Paladin you understand what that means right?"

"And?" LeeLee says irritably.

"I'm Lawful Good, I'm morally compelled to destroy creatures who live on death and chaos. Also wouldn't Therin not permit such an a-abomination into her holy temple."

"Therin has gone missing, The Hierophant explained this to you, and that Loraella is with you for two reasons, one the Hierophant believes that since Mort Kemnon is using the Mask of Death to channel the power of his god, the God of Death and that a servant of Vecna might give them an edge against such an enemy. Secondly this is a sort of probation for Loraella to a chance at redemption in the eyes of Therin."

"No offense LeeLee but I'm going to be keeping a close eye on you."

"Whatever, can we get on with this."

"Can we skip the Hirophant's speech since you just gave it to us anyway?" Nick wonders.

"Sure," Maddie cedes, "Just introduce yourselves. Also the Hierophant gives you a Staff of Resurrection to aid you on the quest."

"Are either of the girls cute?" Xander wonders aloud.

"And now you know why I made male bard."

Everyone chuckles.

"They both have decent charisma so...above average."

"I'm want to roll my charisma and play a bardic melody to make a good first impression." Vida injects.

"Which song?"

Vida shuffles though some papers looking over her songs, "Song of Seduction is the only thing close to fitting."

"Your trying to seduce my character in the middle of Therin's church?" Blecker says in disbelieve.

"Naaa I just want to make a good first impression."

"Roll it!"

A collective groan escapes from the players, Maddie whistling in shock, "A 20."

"I'm fucked." Blecker exasperates.

Maddie sighs, "Caren is immediately enraptured by Vicamros and the two slip off for some nookie in a nearby confessional.

"Well this isn't off to a good start," Nick comments.

"What about me? Did Vida-"

"Vicamros-"

"He seduces me as well?"

There was the sound of dice rolling, Maddie sighs, "Yes."

"We'll just wait outside until their done having fun, maybe ask some of the villagers for any hints on where Mort Kemnon is.

"There is a vegetable vendor who looks a little wary from traveling."

"I'll handle this this one, leave it to plan Xanril," Xanril says walking over to the vendor. "Hello my good man my name is Xanril Bearcharger. We are on a quest to find and defeat Mort Kemnon you wouldn't happen to know where he might be."

The man is a bit leery but after looking you over gives a sigh of relief, "I have heard of you and your friends, maybe there is hope. West, head west, his agents drove us all out of Westhaven, if you want to find Mort Kemnon start there where his hold is iron clad."

"Around this time Caren, Vicamros, and Loraella have caught up to you."

Xander, Chip and Vida huddle together a moment, "Maddie can we share any of our existing loot with the new players."

Maddie shrugs, "Sure, go ahead."

"What do you think would be good for everyone?" Chip wonders.

More papers are shuffled as Chip shares notes with the other players, "Oh look at this Blecker, this armor is only for girls and if I'm reading it right it will really increase your armor."

Blecker glances at the notes, "Pretty cool," he says glancing over at Chip, "Where does MB and TCO stand for?"

Chip flusters and coughs, "Uh Mythril Bikini and Telia Catfolk Outfit. Their uh kinda weird items."

Maddie pales a moment, "Y-Yeah early on I gave out loot I was expecting them to sell, I forgot you guys had hung onto it."

"It's a great set!" Chip says defensively.

Blecker shrugs, "I'll take um."

"I'll take this,"LeeLee comments pointing at a different set of items from the loot list.

Maddie roll a six sided dice, "What was that about?" LeeLee wonders.

Maddie sighs, as if reading from a script, "When first equipping the Mythril Bikini top roll a d6, every time the player changes into this item increase bust size by that initial roll."

Blecker slaps his head with his palm, "What have I gotten myself into."

"Three," Maddie says with a sigh, "The items also come with a number of drawback you want to role play out your first change Blecker?" Blecker nods.

Caren emerges from behind the brush clad in a two piece mesh bikini and little else. The only other clothing of note is a pair of cat ears set among her hair, she has a tail affixed around her waist on a belt, with large cat like paw booties and gloves. She is crouched low to the ground in a feline like stance looking expectantly at the party, "Well how do I look?"

Maddie rolls some dice and passes a note to Blecker.

"Really?"

Maddie nods.

Suddenly Caren cranes her head to the side and bolts off in a feline run.

"What is she doing?" Loraella wonders.

Caren comes back munching on a squirrel she had caught with her bare ha-paws.

"Move on?"

"Move on." The group say together.

Crossing over fields and hill you travel until you come to a strange totem, Caren you are getting an odd feeling being around it.

"Sense Evil."

"While not an object of pure darkness it does make your skin crawl," Maddie says as she rolls some dice. "The sensation enough to trigger your Wild Temperament and drives you into a feral rage and attack the device."

"I'm starting to regret this armor," Blecker comments, "I get four attack with it though right?"

Maddie nods, "One for each limb, you roll 1d6+1d4+5 times four."

"Caren hisses, bearing her fangs, 'She has fangs right?'"

Maddie shrugs, "Sure, why not." Several dice are rolled, Caren launching herself into the air as she tears into the totem, "Sixty damage, you reduce the totem to kindling. You actions anger the Goblins who lie in wait who quickly surround the group."

Vicamros begins to play a battle balled to increase the team's defense. Loraella grapples with a goblin sinking her fangs in to get the blood she needs to survive. Xanril picks off goblins with his bow. Crunan changes in next to Caren to attack any goblins on her back. In her fury Caren ignores her wounds before being overwhelmed and killed by several goblins but the goblins are soon overwhelmed and defeated.

"I'll resurrect her," Loraella says using the Staff of Resurrection.

Nick looks over at a near clock, "Wow look at the time, and we have that...thing...we have to get to." Glancing over at LeeLee he smiles, "That was fun."

She smiles, "I had fun, you guys doing this again?"

Maddie nods, "Next week, same time and place." she says as she and Chip help clean up.

"We'll clean up, LeeLee, here, let me show you and Blecker out." Xander says leading the two toward the door.

"And hey thanks for the res LeeLee," Blecker comments as they are led outside.

"You gonna be up a bit longer?" LeeLee wonders.

Blecker nods.

As they are walking away LeeLee rubs her arms, "H-Hey, if you could really be a catgirl or a v-vampire would you want to?"

"Probably not," Blecker muses, "It's a nice fantasy, a nice getaway but I'm not to keen on drinking blood to live and serving a undead god."

"Y-Yeah," LeeLee says looking away, "But the power, flight, immortality, eternal beauty..."

Blecker stops cornering LeeLee as he looks deep into her eyes, "Hey look I know that Necrolai chick seems cool and powerful and all but don't get any crazy ideas, your not going to be yourself, even if you get all those powers, your going to be her thrall, her slave."

For a moment LeeLee is looking at Caren not Blecker and smiles, "T-thanks C-Caren." She says walking off, Caren standing there in Blecker's place in LeeLee mind's eye as she walks away.

Rootcore the next day, Vida, Maddie, Blecker, Xander, and Chip sit gathered around as Udonna relates a tale as she begins a black stallion leaps from the pages of the Xenotome and across the table.

"The story of the beast stallion whose strength was known across the land, the legendary Catastros! Many have tried in vain to break the mightiest creature of them all, but Catastros was stronger then a hundred men and no one was able to harness his fearsome power!"

The illustration transition to live action as we see the black stallion running through the woods during a great battle."Catastros fled into the forest during the great battle of good and evil, but before the seal was closed evil reached up and dragged Catastros down to the lowest depths of the pit!" A spell seal rises up dragging the stallion underground.

"But Koragg must have tamed him somehow."

Udonna nods, "Whatever Koragg did he clearly earned the trust of Catastros because since then they have been inseparable."

In the Underworld Morticon approaches Koragg, "Why haven't you released me, you still have the rangers combining power, use it, release me!"

"I told you," Koragg says batting Morticon's sword away, "I told you when they used the counter spell I lost that power, I need to think of a new plan."

Morticon fumes shoving Koragg who walks away, "Hurry up! I can't stay down here!"

As Koragg walks off Necrolai slips close to him, "Morticon Koragg is lying, I saw with my own eyes Koragg is keeping the combining power for himself."

"What!" Morticon howls his sword glowing as he slams it into the ground, the energy from it radiating up and effecting all the Hidiacs and Styxoids for several levels before he regains some composure handing a cross bow to Necrolai. "Use this and show Koragg who is the boss here."

"As you command Morticon," Necrolai says taking the crossbow and flying off.

In the city Koragg appears, the Rangers appearing, sans Blecker but including the White Ranger, and Koragg forms the Centaurus Wolf Megazord. The Rangers forming the Dragon formation which flies at Koragg, he counter slashes with his sword, the White Ranger knocking him back with an energy blast. Before the battle could progress further Necrolai arrives and fires the crossbow.

Koragg turns spying the Fleeing Necrolai, "Even my allies betray me," and starts to form a spell seal, "Vasalichi Infrado!"

Quickly the Phoenix Titan leaps for Koragg, the spell seal warping as Koragg and Catastros are split and the Phoenix titan and Catastros vanish into the spell seal.

Phineas crashes down in a strange place, getting to his feet he looks around confused, "W-Where am I?" and takes out his Mystic Morpher trying to call out, it doesn't respond. "Just great."

Slowly Phineas begins to walk about, looking for some clue to where he is, turning around he sees Catastros rearing up as if to strike, Phineas backpedals to avoid being trampled just as Catastros collapses onto his side, breathing shallowly a nasty glowing wound on his rear flank and the arrow lying just next to Catastros.

"Oh, wow," Phineas says still backpedaling, "I don't-" he pauses pulling his Mystic Morpher, "Wait I have a magic wand, I can do anything."

Looking confidently toward Catastros he hold out his free hand timidly, "O-Ok, I can only help from here, s-stay calm."

After a moments pause he sighs, "Where's Clare or Udonna when I need them." Then swallowing hard, "Heal. Catastros, Heal."

He repeats the incantation several times to no effect, Catastros growing quieter, clearly getting worse.

Koragg's Wolf Attack knocks Morticon back several feet, Necrolai backing against the wall as Koragg glares her way, "How dare you attack Catastros, I should destroy you both!"

Morticon advances, parrying Koragg's blade with his own, "You lied to me, you kept the Rangers combining power for yourself, you left me here to rot!"

"I was only doing what Morticon told me to do," Necrolai pleads, "Isn't that what your always preaching about honor and loyalty."

Koragg growls as he and Morticon continue to vie for control in their clashing of swords, "Give me the power, set me free!" Morticon demands.

Suddenly the pit glows as the Master roars causing the two to settle down.

"I have already given the power to someone I can trust." Koragg explains, "Someone who will destroy the Power Rangers for us."

Back at Rootcore Udonna is flipping through a few spell books, finally finding the passage she wants, "A spell of transport is a one way deal, unless a source can reverse the seal." stopping she looks to the remaining Rangers, "Do any of you remember what Koragg said?"

"Oh I know," Chip explains, "It was something like 'Fedichini Alfrado.'"

The other Rangers look at him skeptically.

"Well it was."

The Crystal Orb comes to life showing a Dark Troll rising from the Underworld, "We will have to deal with that after." Udonna says as the Rangers gather around her, "Ready?"

"Ready!"

Before transforming Vida glares at Chip, "Keep trying to remember the spell!"

Shortly the Rangers transform, arriving on the scene of the Dark Troll just as he summons forth a familiar orb of light.

"Our Megazord power!" The Blue Ranger shouts.

Before he absorbs the energy, growing and turning into a creature of stone and rock.

Catastros is growing stiller and stiller and Phineas watches on terrified, both for his safety and the creature but the later is quickly outpacing the former, "I-I can't help you, I'm sorry—But I'm not afraid anymore." Cautiously Phineas reaches out to Catastros patting his head in comfort as Catastros' life slips away. "in a way were both monsters..."

Suddenly his Mystic Morpher beeps revealing a new spell code, jumping to his feet Phineas takes a few steps back and points his Mystic Morpher at Catastros.

"Heal!" as magic shoots from his Mystic Morpher the wound is wiped clean and healed and Catastros quickly gets to his feet, nuzzling his head against Nick. "Y-You want me to ride you?"

Sliding onto Catastros' back they ride off together.

The Rangers are all knocked down by a flurry of boulders launched by the Rock Golem, "Hey I remembered the spell, it was 'Vasalichi Infrado'!" Garuda exclaims.

"So say it backwards!" Spirt orders.

"Odarfni Ihcilasav?"

The Dark Seal reappears the Mystic Phoenix emerging riding on Catastros, "Come on Catastros lets show them how we do this Red Ranger style." Catastros once more transforms into armor, the Mystic Phoenix slipping in to form, "Centaurus Phoenix Megazord."

With a combination of his bladed staff and his head's ponytail fire whip the Rock Golem is destroyed. A familiar energy orb emerging from the defeated monster, forming a Mystic Seal and releasing the Rangers Megazord power back to them. The Ranger celebrate as the return of their power. But the moment is short lived as Koragg appears atop a building and Catastros bucks the Mystic Phoenix from his back.

"I don't know how you tamed my Catastros," Koragg scowls as he grows to giant size, "Come Catastros." who does as told and the two recombine into the Centaur form, "Catastros rides with me again." As they charge off.

In the Mystic wood Phineas and Udonna are walking together, "I really thought he was going to stay with us."

"Koragg's bond is quite strong Phineas," Udonna explains, "It will take more then one act of kindness to sway him to another's side for good."

Phineas nods, "I guess, but still I was hoping he would, we made a connection."

"because your both monsters?"

Phineas nods.

Udonna smiles and kisses his brow, "How many times must I tell you your a Power Ranger, you will never be a monster."

"Besides whats wrong with being a monster." Manticore laughs as he emerges from some trees, "It's the humans that are the real problem, destroying anything that looks even the slightest bit different."

"And the trolls, and the goblins, they hate me too."

Udonna sighs when suddenly Blecker, in her beastly form steps out from behind a tree, "You're not the only monsters in town."

"Nick!"

"Nikki!"
"Pink Ranger!"

Udonna walks over and hugs Blecker tightly, "Are you ready to talk about it."

Blecker shakes her head, "N-No...but I think I'll go crazy if I don't we're supposed to be a team...we're supposed to trust one another."

Udonna smiles, "We're listening."

Blecker holds back tears, "It all started when my mother died..."