[12th March 2011]
[Within the Shadow of the Ley-Lines the Pragmatic One Lurks]
The old powers were waking, and new ones arriving, just as they were; drawn to the shivers and tears in the dimensional barriers and the surging dynamo as the magic returned. First mover advantage was there of course the entity knew, albeit it had been somewhat unintended, but that meant that the battle lines were merely been drawn at their revelation. Some welcomed the change, others feared it, and others sought to free themselves from exile or imprisonment. The Shrouded One knew this, the cause and effect of its Agent's unintentional changes that now forced matters beyond what would have been desired.
Unfortunate, but it mattered little; an opportunity that was a risk, a threat yet a benefit, and could not be changed now. Merely reacted too as the Old Gods stirred, as some few agents of the Owl of War and Wisdom were sent forth now that awareness and challenge had been issued; she was limited though by Pact and Deed, but that would not stop her the entity knew. Merely restrain her some. That was a boon, a thankful one, and she and others were set to oppose the Other Ones drawn to the Reawakening of the world – an ancient vampire had awoken for one, and the dimensional barriers at the Hellmouth and other places were weakened. Something, as had the Shrouded One, had come through.
An Agent, seeking to gain its Master access to this dimension, to any dimension; dreams of its few Clerics had revealed clashes with such. Or aftermaths of others clashes with them. So much was in flux, and eyes and ears were limited still, and battles could only be chosen with great care. Thankfully others were as interested in preserving this world, and worshippers, and commonality of interest was a useful means of working towards future goals. Even another of the Realms had edged there awareness through the breach, a dangerous one, but accommodation had been made with the Asmodeous before, and had been again as it had with the Lord of Order Nabu.
Order would prevail, even if it involved some necessary evils and their dimensional counterpart; it was eyes into Hell at the very least. Options for direct action remained limited, focused upon areas of worshippers and their few clerics scattered about at strategic points, but some few dreams could be sent to the unaffiliated, the unbelievers. A nudge here, a faint awareness there, and mortals could be alerted to dangers; and awareness could lead to action, and action to problems being solved. Prophets and Pre-Cogs struggled now, the forces of the Divine marshalling to block each other just as the Shrouded One was doing, turning the path dark with many hidden paths.
Their Herald had contingencies should all fail, but more would be needed in the days to come, even if the Priesthood would not be formalised for some time. It was familiar terrain there at least, another revelation offered to a torn and defeated soul; service for power, the energy surging as a child was healed and an oath sworn. Another servant, another worshipper, and awareness spread to other corners of the world...ah, that one that had chosen the Domains of Pragmatism and Knowledge as theirs. Interesting, an interesting servant, though ones less morally ambiguous would need to be chosen down the line as well.
Deaths though needed to be arranged, pushes for unity encouraged, focus hate on outside threats rather than other things. The weakness and strength of humanity as ever, and best given direction as the disunity was a weakness that could not be allowed. Order, and the Greater Good, must prevail or the path would be lost. Hell was consolidating, fractious beneath the veneer, and the forces of Yahweh awakening and beginning to move without Guidance as best the Shrouded One could tell. The Archangel walked upon earth, and blood and death was come on his path...
Hmmm...another concern, but not that of the Shrouded One, No, attention must remain on the unguarded Hellmouth. The ones in Old Lands were guarded; by the Celestial Bureaucracy, the Heavenly Court, the Brotherhood in the desert, the servants of the Holy Seat, and others both mortal and divine in nature. Even Eden was bared, and Gates of Hell and Hades strengthened...but other lands where the worshippers of Old Gods had fallen before others of different faiths and left the Gates unguarded and, worse, open; open and bleeding. And there were hungry things out beyond, competitors, and destructive ones could not be tolerated. There were enough of those here already after all...
--
[12th March 2011]
[Skies above Manhattan, New York City, United States of America]
Flight was a joy Superboy found, even if a little part of his mind still rebelled against not being able to do it like Superman could, instead having to use other means. Still...it felt awesome, so he wasn't going to complain too loudly about it as he moved over the city below, careful to avoid anything in the area. The fancy helmet-hood thing Skulls and Robin had insisted on giving him to wear was really useful for warning about planes and such all around him without having to constantly watch and listen, and then judge how far away they were.
Still...Superman didn't wear a hood, or helmet, or armour...or use a warhammer...
He pushed the thoughts away, thinking on the training Wonder Woman had given him instead. She wore armour and stuff...and was as tough as Superman, probably, so it was fine too. And Skulls had made sense when he said about not having people recognise him all the time, that videos could be blurred only so many times before people figured out his 'secret identity' and stuff. Thinking about now wearing glasses and hoping people wouldn't recognise him was a dumb idea; most people just weren't that stupid, and 'hiding through obviousness' with the Superman T-shirt was probably a bit silly too even if nobody caught on yet.
'Then again Malcolm and his girlfriend figured it out, so maybe not' he thought noticing he was over the warehouse area at the docks as the goggles highlighted the area below with flashing lines and monitoring of suspects. It was kind of cool getting help on patrol, even if he didn't need it. Superman didn't need it...he guessed, even if Robin said he did. Not like Robin, or Batman, wanted to work with anyone else, or need to probably, so he probably shouldn't either. But for now he'd deal with it, M'gann thought it for the best and they were a team so...
"B-2, Engage...Plan Three" Robin's voice came over the little earpiece in his helmet and he responded with one word of agreement. It was better when M'gann linked them all up telepathically, but that didn't work over big distances...like him flying high up in the sky away from the others. He grinned though despite that, dropping down from the sky line a meteor towards the building below. A warehouse actually according to what the NYPD had told Batman who'd told them...or probably what Batman and Robin had found out by hacking the police's computers or something.
The ground rose up to meet him as the clouds flew passed him as he descended, hand out, weapon stored over his back as sounds in his earpiece indicated the others three members of the team were already in motion. He ignored that for the moment as he changed into a standing position, feet smashing through the roof first, and then into the engine of the armoured...tank-suit-thing?...as the panicked criminals scrambled for their weapons and shouted warnings...
Not that they go much time as M'gann telekinetically grabbed the weapons out of hands of two of them as he saw her appear from her invisible form, and Robin threw a knockout gas grenade. Moments later Rocket appeared, the energy bubble thing around her as she used that tranquiliser pistol thing that Skulls had given her...just like he'd given to Superboy. Something he drew out and shot the nearest criminal mercenary who'd been smuggling in these dangerous weapons into the country from some abandoned League of Shadows base or something like that.
'Wow, this makes it really easy' he thought to himself as the first of them dropped without him having to punch him or anything. It was always difficult to know how hard to punch...to hold in his strength, just in case he might hurt, or even kill, someone. He moved his hand and shot the remain criminal with the automatic weapon just as the NYPD SWAT team came in the doors behind Rocket...
--
[16th March 2011]
[Saint Columba's College, Ballyvourney, County Cork, Republic of Ireland]
"Do your homework, then I'll go through the spell with you..." I told Gemma with a mild smirk as I sat back into the chair in the library area and ready the old German codex with the translation beside it "...preparation is key for a wizard Gemma, so basics and safety first"
My apprentice huffed at me, then put her head back down into the book she was writing in "Fine, fine! Don't know why you want it all written down when we could just do it!"
"Steps are important, especially in rituals, and mistakes can have side-effects..." oh boy could they had side-effects and unintended consequences "...so it's always best to prep for them when you've time, which we have right now"
"No we don't! You'll be busy tomorrow!"
"Yup, and hungover the day after I expect" I replied with a grin "...but it should only take an hour to write that u at most, and we've three or four after that for practical...so head in the game Gemma"
"Hmph!"
I smiled, taking the next little while of peace and quiet to scribble notes on the long dead German mage's interpretations on alchemy. That and Runes for some odd reason, but both were up my general alley along with rituals and pre-prepared spells, so it was an interesting read in the quieter area of our magic school's library as Gemma worked away on her thing. It was relaxing, just as my therapist had ordered me two ago, and being off duty was a nice thing and I was actually making some progress in studying magical traditions...without crazy people shooting at me this time as I learned.
Even the crazy amazons were being well behaved...though the redhead, Alexa, was currently off in her own little world surrounded by books at the table across from us while her compatriot sat with a dead eyed expression upon her face. Bored apparently, but it was better than 'kill da ebil men!' I was afraid we might end up getting; it seemed they could actually be diplomatic as well as useful. Figured I'd leave her alone to settle in the next few weeks before I started trying to find out more about the Amazon variant of the Greek magical traditions. Or even just the History, it'd be biased of course, but it'd be cool to have.
{Hey Masta-man! Hows it goin? Readin' more borin' stuff roit?}
I sighed faintly as my familiar approached, waving awkwardly at Gemma who gave a wave back before returning to her writing [Yes. Reading things, and don't disturb Gemma, trying to get her to overcome your family bloodline and have some patience]
{Ugh, fine!} came back as the blonde demon-girl sat unto the chair across from me {where's me Da? Have ya seen him}
[Nope, and that is good thing when I am researching and studying I find. He's probably off drinking already I'd guess. He takes the holiday more as a...long running festival than a day. Also, pretty sure he self medicates with booze for all the horrible shit he's seen and done. What? You tryin' for family bonding time or something?]
{Shut up!}
[Kay my ever loyal familiar]
{Iz just whys so bleedin' awful at it?}
I resisted a snort of amusement [Your Mother was a Succubus and Grandaddy, well, Nergal, and you think John's bad at it?]
{YES!}
I sighed, rubbing my eyes [Why can't I disagree with that? Right. Look, I'll wrangle around with Gemma for a family dinner with'em or something tomorrow before the Paddy's day parade...in the canteen before he's completely drunk. Just behave; I don't want to wake up to everything on fire the Friday...]
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