[19th August 2010]
[Flying towards Salem, Massachusetts]
It had been a stressful day and it hadn't even truly began he'd found sitting in the rather full Martian Bio-ship that J'onn had provided his niece. Normally he would have been studying such a fascinating piece of biomancy, but these were not normal times, even for a day as a member of the Justice League, as he rested his hand on his walking stick. Something that he didn't need in truth, but showmanship and illusion were as important sometimes as just the power itself he'd found. Occasionally he had utilised it to appear physically frail to his foes, or that it was more than just a useful focus for his spell-craft on more than one occasion.
Even his formal wear layered in multiple shield charms were meant to distract from his level of threat he might present to a villain in battle. Completely unlike Constantine's young apprentice who was as blunt as a sledgehammer in choice of attire. He seemingly did not understand that an environment such as the League operated that such would bring both bad publicity as well as direct enemies towards him far more readily. Of course right now the boy was under an illusion, a seeming tactic of his prior to any battle as best Giovanni could tell from all the reports the Justice League had on both.
"We're approaching the location now. Bringing us down to land" J'onn's niece announced cheerfully as they descended through the night sky towards where the Tower of Fate was located. A nice girl he'd found, pleasant and willing to listen to guidance, but still requiring of mental barriers against snooping as with her uncle at times. Sadly she and her fellow teammates were frankly too young, and too inexperienced, to gain snippets of information that might lead them upon an adventure...one that ended in their deaths by such youth and inexperience.
"Very good M'gann, have the vessel maintain its cloak as we descend" he ordered her in a friendly tone as he stood up when the ship reached a hovering position over an empty parking lot. Night had fallen and most people should be asleep, or out in the bars further in the city, so it was an ideal time to scout out this location before deciding their next move.
The Tower was the most likely place for Kent Nelson to be in the event of trouble, and there was little point of heading to New Orleans if the Sorcerer Supreme had returned to here after his trip. Plus it was bad enough bringing Constantine here with the Team without bringing him to multiple (highly flammable) US cities. Giovanni frowned as Kid Flash disappeared for a minute before reappearing just like in the manner of his mentor. Far too like Flash in his opinion for one so young.
"Coast is clear guys!" the young speedster was looking around "but I don't see any...uhh...tower like we're supposed too"
"I'd expect it's warded against people seeing it, or has some pretty strong illusions covering it..." Constantine muttered as he pulled out a packet of cigarettes, gave them a shake, then thumbed one into his hand "...can't be havin' the mere mortals stumblin' across the fancy high fallutin' magic tower now can we?"
Giovanni gave the man a hard look at the sarcasm in his voice. Such measures were rather reasonable in his own opinion, such as those upon his own home, to avoid unfortunate accidents with unwary members of the public. Far from arrogance it was simply good sense, especially for one as powerful as Doctor Fate. Or more accurately the Helm that contained the spirit of the Lord of Order that brought about the being that was Doctor Fate. Whatever the case the other source of stress, Constantine's apprentice, sighed and then frowned at the walking disaster that was his mentor.
"Well if I were him I'd much rather not have people just wandering into my living room uninvited so not really all that high and mighty I'd expect. At least it's not a doom pit of lava or statues asking stupid riddles that get you killed because they can't just asked 'name, occupation, and why the fuck are you outside my front door?' instead of 'what is the wind speed of a European swallow' or 'test your faith!' and crap like that!"
Constantine nodded "Yeah, God I hate those bleedin' yokes. Can't go askin' a proper question now can they the buggers?" he huffed and glanced at his apprentice "...ya should make that one of them rules of yers"
"All ready there John" came back the reply along with a curious look "...it's in all the legends and it annoys me!"
"This is like the goggles on sea monsters thing aren't it?"
"Sea Serpents actually, and hey, their no use if..."
Giovanni groaned, he already hated being stuck with these two even as they deployed themselves into a crude defensive formation "Can we focus please on the mission at hand?"
The younger John nodded his head in agreement while his disaster of a mentor grumbled softly under his breath "Sorry. Since the Tower is likely hidden from our eyes its probably best if we cast some detection spells rather than just randomly trying the magic golden key?"
"I would concur with my teammate in this matter, it would be best if scouted out the location before attempting to utilise the magic of the key" Aquaman's protégé Aqualad interjected arms folded across his chest and a curious look upon his face.
Of course both of the Team's magically inclined members were offering solid advice in this matter, and lacking any of the hostility he had feared from them after beginning this mission. Strangely to him that hostility seemed to faintly emanating from Superman's Clone and Kid Flash instead at being 'baby-sat' upon his place as team leader upon this mission. With some smaller amount perhaps towards Fortune for suggesting what had triggered his own passive scry spells.
Which was a surprise again of itself; he just couldn't get a handle on the young apprentice that John Constantine was training. At times, like now, the boy was professional and responsible seeming in his actions such as requesting proper supervision on missions, to clear orders and even seeking out the aid of local law enforcement where possible. Something that Giovanni felt several of his fellow members of the Justice League could learn to do at times...
...and then he would pull something rather horrifying just like his mentor would such in the last mission. Attempting such advanced level biomancy without any regard for the life of the one effected. Then casually admitting he'd been experimenting on himself for months or possibly years, with both necromancy and biomancy beyond his years. To think of his own little Zatanna endangering herself like that...the thought absolutely horrified him. One small mistake and the boy would either end up killing himself or some other poor unfortunate soul. Once again adding to the long list of people John Constantine managed to get killed...
For the moment he needed to follow his own advice and focus on the mission "Yes, that's probably for the best. Constantine do not summon anything that could endanger us"
"Or anything at all" the younger John tacked on as Giovanni heard Kid Flash mutter something to J'onn's niece and Robin. Green Arrow's protégé rolled her eyes at whatever at was had been said and whispered something to Fortune who sighed with seeming exasperation "Wally we're not having a debate over your denial of reality right now. Have another scouting run and we actual wizards will cast our reality warping spells now"
Giovanni couldn't help but smile at that as Flash's protégé took off again in a blur and he himself brought his wand up "!neesnu si tahw seye ym ot laeveR"
Power welled up inside him as he unleashed the spell and felt...something. He hummed in thought as his magic failed to reveal the Tower of Fate. To be expected sadly he supposed, the magic protections upon the Tower of Fate were beyond such a spell perhaps and he tried it again with more power behind it. Again he felt that...something...but still it did not reveal the Tower properly beyond the tell tale emanation of power from the site. He paused, there was something else there too...powerful and chaotic to the feel, dark and cold...
'And it's not just Constantine or his protégé either this time' he thought glancing at the two and trying to get a feel for what they themselves were casting. Constantine's was a...of course...demonic tinted scry spell, while the boy's own spell seemed focused upon himself and his gear rather than upon the surrounding landscape. Even the language was odd, and one he still couldn't place from anywhere or any tongue; another sign perhaps of a Pact based sorcerer, or partial recall of a past life's magecraft. Sadly after a few minutes there was pretty much the same result from both of them.
"Maybe its phase shifted just out of range with our reality?" Fortune asked to all of them as he looked about with faintly glowing eyes. With was amusing, if creepy, to Giovanni's senses considering his face was an illusion over the armour and mask he wore. Still it was a good question as he considered that possibility versus the fact the protections upon the Tower's illusions were just simply superior to anything they could cast to detect it.
"All clear again, so have the actual wizards with their supposed magic managed to find anything?" the somewhat sarcastic sounding Kid Flash queried as he appeared before them in a blur once more. Giovani made a mental note to have a chat with Flash later on about having him a proper conversation with his protégé about magic. With two mages on his team you'd think the boy would know better by now, but seemingly not.
"Yes we've found something young man..." he told the yellow clad young hero calmly "...but we have to be careful in what we're doing, as well as patient. It would be a useful trait for a prospective young hero to develop I might add"
Suitably chastened the teenager glanced at the ground and looked abashed as Giovanni took out the mystic key to gain entry to the Tower of Fate. While it was hardly ideal they had done the best they could to reveal the location and come up short. That and there had been no response to their efforts so perhaps gaining entry would answer their questions. Mr. Nelson had left the entrance key with Red Tornado for situations such as this. He glanced at the others "I believe this is our best option now, unless either of you have a suggestion?"
"Nope/Nadda" was the response to that. He nodded "Sadly that was what I expected, I'll use the key and we shall enter the Tower and see if we can have some answers"
Fortune nodded, glancing at his teammates and getting nods of agreement from them by and large; or at least from majority and indifference from the rest. He looked towards his mentor and then at Giovanni "Probably best if we stand guard while you do so?"
Ah good, common sense at least. Giovanni brought up the enchanted key and guided it with senses to the 'right place' in his mind as the walking disaster and the sidekicks were directed into place behind him. Something seemed to click in his mind as he thrust the small key forward into empty air. He paused a moment trying to reach out with his magic to get a feel for what was occurring with the key currently locked into thin air to his eyes. Perhaps both of their theories had been correct; the illusions were too strong to break but the Tower wasn't entirely on this plane of existence either it seemed.
He turned the key with a loud click. Power flared around them as suddenly a great stone tower stood amidst the large empty car-park. Ah...well wasn't that ward to discourage entry too? Rather subtle and working on those not of any mystic training. No wonder the place was empty. Someone swore behind him. Constantine, then his apprentice followed suit.
"Mate we just found yer missing ye olde time wizard!" came the gruff voice alongside the build of magical power as other powers flared in hostility "...and he's got fuckin company with him!"
He felt the attack, dark and powerful, even before he saw it. Twisting his body as he called his power Giovanni stretched out his wand in the direction of the incoming surges of magic "!noitcetorP fo dleihS taerG esirA"
The barrier he'd called shimmered into existence alongside another of golden energy just in time for great gusts of mystical power to slam into them. He grunted at the sheer power of the impact as he made out several figures standing nearby through the great burst of flame. One, obviously a prisoner, was Kent Nelson and the holding him so was that villainous charlatan Abracadabra. The other two, one in the guise of a child and other clad in those blue robes again, were far more of a problem he knew instantly as his shield was pushed back...
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