KnightDisciple

Will waves off the talk of not knowing the reference. "I know most of it because I grew up around him. My point is, he was just complimenting you. Just trying to clear the air, Elias." Will was cheerful but perceptive, and didn't try to draw out the handshake. He continued to present a friendly, smiling face, though. "Haha, it's cool if it's not your thing, man. Different strokes for different folks. I'm just trying to keep the mood going." And then Elias would feel the pyschic equivalent of a text message in his mind. --It's one of my coping mechanisms. Or greeting mechanisms. Whatever. I flirt with girls and such. It's just how I am. I really am sorry if I made you uncomfortable or whatever.-- At Elias's offer to help with the tour, Will's grin broadened and he did a fist-pump. "No, by all means, man! If you're up for it you're free to join the party. Up to you, up to you."

The Mage-Knight’s Tower Tower, Forest Outside New Camelot City January 6, Anno Domini 2014 (Cobalt Templar January 2014 Vignette) Much of the Forest surrounding New Camelot was a dangerous place to anyone not a member of the League. There were a few scattered refuges and resting points for weary travelers, a couple of remote monasteries...and a large tower. It was nothing to compete with the grand Hall of the League inside the City, but the tower stood in the midst of the trees, only a small path leading up to it. Yet, for all its isolation in the dark forest, it was a beacon of light at night. Lanterns shone from multiple points around the perimeter of the tower, and many of the rooms were lit throughout the night. It had a strange look about it, though. one would think it was some reclusive wizard’s tower, being out here in the forest. But the size and the arrangement suggested an almost military mindset behind it. You could probably house a small company of regular troops there! And then there was the set of landings just below the peak of the tower; they seemed tailor-made for the flying members of the League… But the League of Camelot rarely visits. They did not build this tower, or oversee its construction. No, it was undertaken by a group older than even mighty Camelot. They worked with the League as often as not, and shared the same goals and intents to protect the world from the forces of darkness… Yet the Order of the Seven Rings had never sworn itself to the League. They had sworn an oath to the crown, back in the days when the Empire first stretched across most all of the globe. But that oath gave them great levels of autonomy. This was likely offset by the rather small number of full members; much of the tower was populated by retainers or secondary guard forces who mostly helped bring in supplies, or occasionally aid the Order. But it was the Seven who kept the light burning in the darkness. Seven rings, seven warriors, one purpose. The Order’s lineup often stayed the same for a century, maybe two, as the rings granted great lifespan, but all who wore them eventually tired of the station and sought a new bearer. Today, they were a mighty group. Cobalt Templar, the leader of the Order for almost 30 years now. Jade Knight, the upbeat heart of the Order. Scarlet Champion, the fearless warrior who often charged ahead of even their leader. Gold Chevalier, the canny strategist of the ring-bearers. Indigo Hierophant, their quiet but invaluable comrade. Amethyst Cavalier, the gentle healer who often surprised foes with how dangerous she was. And their newest member, Ochre Paladin, a young woman from a far-away island land, eager to prove her worthiness and resolve. The Tower itself was the permanent home of Cobalt Templar and, for the last 10 years, his wife. Quo-Dis was from a reclusive group of mystics who had found ways to tap into the shining light of Creation, and had managed to make this ability breed true within their lines. Her father had been a fallen champion of theirs, which had caused some noble tongues to wag, but the Ultimate Woman’s courage and righteousness were beyond reproach. Any who questioned otherwise faced the ire of the Crown, the Order, the League, and more than a few other champions of good and justice in the world. Tonight, Cobalt Templar, Lord Corbin Alphonse Hughes of the Merchant House Hughes, stood on his bedroom balcony, clad in a simple tunic and pants, his bare feet upon the stone, and stared at the sky as the sun dawned and his wife slept on. He had what many might consider a dream life. He was heir apparent to a Merchant House, but was likely to pass the responsibility (at least in trust) on to his younger brother. He was married to an incredible woman. He fought the good fight against Evil and darkness alongside six of the greatest heroes in the realm (the League were generally good folks, but Sir Thunder had a lightning rod in places one ought not to). Instead of watching everyone he loved waste away, he could live with not only his brothers and sisters in arms, but also his beloved for centuries, standing vigil in the night. So why did something rouse him from his sleep? Why did something feel..off? What were these dreams that haunted him tonight? Dreams of a City shining even brighter than New Camelot...and dreams of cities torn to ruins by terrible machines of war, of demons or worse screaming through the sky… He’d heard the announcement last night, about the strange and terrible forces at work that would try to undermine their faith in God and the King. He’d taken the warnings to heart, though perhaps with less...vigor...than the League. But now, he wondered if something truly was wrong. The ring he wore was a holy artifact; it would not allow corruption to wield its flames. So if his Ring did not reject him for having these doubts...Then did that mean they were real? More importantly, did he want them to be real? This other life he’d caught glimpses of; it was not a bad life by any means, but somehow he felt more...content...here. More settled. As if this was, in at least some way...his dream life. Corbin closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he saw once more three decades of war and death, and considered that that was somehow more real. He felt the first flutters of his wife’s consciousness, and the doubts and fears and dreams were locked in the furthest backlog of his mind. If this life was not real, another hero could be bothered to fix it. He had a warm home to enjoy. And if this was real, and the rest a dream, well, then such would be his lot in life.

To keep this moving...Can I just post that CT gives everyone a ride on the Ring Construct Express?

We've heard from the sneaky ladies, any chance the heavy-duty guys would mind chiming in? I'd really rather try to avoid this thread dying down.

Gabriel gave a polite cough at the mention of a "ladyfriend". Comrade Frost might not have a secret identity, but he did, ragged as it might be some days. "Actually, I, uh, don't. We talked at the beginning of the month..." He shook his head and pressed forward. "Anyways, that's kind of what I was wondering myself. I mean, I figure time moves differently here, at least to some degree, but we're not looking at a 1 to 1000 ratio of days or anything, are we? Unless it's 1 day on Earth and 1000 here? I mean, it sounds like this is temporary...are you looking for more permanent fulfillers of the roles? Perhaps setting up a system to pass the mantle from user to user to ensure it's cared for properly? And, uh..." He glanced at the others, and then the angels, seeming a bit embarrassed still. "Will we have an assistant or two? To help sort things out? I mean, Nick at least is sort of familiar with how to interact with the forces of Death. The rest of us might in some ways "fit the profile", but we don't really direct these things. Not normally. I think I'm going to need a metaphorical crash course at the office."

HEART BROKEN by Thevshi Really simple edit request for Gabriel: Remove the Relationship Complication, as as of somewhere in the 1st week of January Carson and Sonya aren't dating any more. (This doesn't mean Sonya isn't still available as an NPC! Just that those 2 aren't dating any more.)

This is sort of a fight, but to prevent us from getting bogged down we will just text this out. These 2 are PL 10, and are mostly like the Scouts...except they a.) have a bit of Teleport, and b.) are immune to Machine Control.

[GM Post] Eventually it was decided that they would travel until they met the "conversion wave", and then have Dragonfly "hop" them across. They passed through about 50 yards more of hallway, undisturbed, until they saw the wave creeping down the hallway. Perhaps a foot per minute, it would be hours yet before the conversion reached the outside door. The facility was clearly built spread out rather than stacked up. Probably good for a place that might see accidents that ate through a normal floor... Whatever the case, it was easy enough to "pocket" Miss Americana and Caradoc for perhaps 2 minutes. Enough time to do a few last-moment calculations, and jump well past the bulging nanite conversion wave. They landed in a corridor that was still building itself, but didn't seem to be risking direct infection. The walls had tubes and wires snaking themselves into place, while silvery panels were slowly snapping into place. But that was, perhaps, 10 feet of the corridor. Dragonfly's teleport landed them past that dimly-lit self-assembling section, in the final product. Which was a hallway that vaguely resembled what had been there before, but seemed decidedly futuristic. The doors, if examined, opened into currently-empty rooms. But if they progressed, they would start to find things in the rooms. Some had stacks of raw metals, stones, or even plastics and glass. As if collecting building blocks for future construction. Some held partially-stripped computers and other electronics. Some held a handful of inactive Curator drones, also partially stripped. Some were missing limbs, or half their torsos, and a couple were missing heads entirely! When they came to a right-angle turn, the doors on each side revealed currently-empty scientific laboratories, with screens and instruments galore, but empty shelves and tables. Almost as if someone was trying to keep at least some of the original purpose of this place going. When they rounded the bend, they'd see a large, somewhat fancy door that likely split and slid back into the wall (just like all the other doors). But more important were the two humanoid forms with wolf heads standing before them! They resembled the Fenris armor a great deal, but were...leaner, somehow. Not so much feral, as they were indicating there was nothing human inside of them. The one on the left raised its arm...to put one hand, palm-out, up in a "stop" gesture. Then it spoke, in a deep, growling voice, like a stylized version of a "werewolf voice". It wasn't really much like how the Fenris armor had made the Baron sound. But it might be what he thought it made him sound like. "Halt. You must not proceed further. The Time of Rebirth is not yet upon us, and the Building cannot be disturbed. Please wait patiently out here. In one hour, 35 minutes, and 26 seconds, you will be welcome within, as will all others."

Will raised an eyebrow a bit at Kalani's statement, and her look. But while he was an irrepressible spirit and an unapologetic flirt, he was neither stupid nor crass. His smile dialed down a few watts, and his manner shifted just slightly. He was still friendly, but not flirty. At least, not very much. Probably he didn't want to hurt one girl's feelings over the other to flirt with just one instead of both, so he was switching gears entirely! "Slipping happens to everyone. The real key is to learn what to watch for. Loose piles are bad, and flat shiny patches are bad. Look for where the rest of us have been walking. Boot prints in snow get kind of mucky, but they don't usually slip and slide much. I just hope your dad didn't have too much trouble on the drive over! Slippery roads are the worst if you're not used to them." Will began walking around the display area some more, moving slowly enough he clearly expected the twins to follow, but wouldn't stop if they didn't.

William's smile was at least 100 watts. "Haukea and Kalani? No snow or ice? Are you beautiful young ladies perhaps from some tropical island? Hawaii or some such place? Well, no worries, you'll soon become used to snow. I actually was living in Southern California with my family for several years, so I had to adjust pretty quickly myself. The key is to get a good coat and a good pair of boots." And/or be a kinetic-energy-controlling speedster, but that was beside the point. "And yeah, I am mostly here for the sculptures. And the music later. And the free goodies. And maybe seeing a few fellow art appreciators. Like you two. I like to keep my schedule flexible to account for the unexpected."

Cobalt Templar barely managed not to facepalm when he was told about Unferth's wife selling her soul to Satan to try and bring Unferth back to death. 'And OF COURSE, it backfired on them both. Total shock. Except not.' He was glad there was potential for dissension in the ranks...But then their information source disappeared. He managed to resist the urge to swear. "Right, we've got a good picture of what's going on now. More importantly, I think I have an idea about where they are. It can't be out in the middle of the city, and I have a feeling that holy ground wouldn't work, which rules out a lot of Lantern Hill. But, there is one hill out in the Forest that fits the bill, and has some bits of history attached. Happanuk Hill is most likely the site for it. But, uh." The man in blue looked embarrassed. "I can't remember where the actual location of that Hill is. I just remember a bunch of references to it in literature that make me think it fits the criteria."

Gabriel smiled at Nick's choice of words. "I think they try to reserve the head-melting for the Nazis these days. And yeah, it's a pleasure to be working alongside all of-" And then Comrade Frost went right from "quirky small talk" to "subject Carson just finished having an existential crisis over", and the air suddenly hummed with tension for just a moment. Gabriel's eyes narrowed just slightly, and his mouth set itself into a firm line. "No. I am not The Beast From The Sea. Thank you for asking, though." He turned away for a moment, facing the echo of his hometown and, more distant, what had become his truer home-away-from-home. He took a couple of calming breaths, his eyes closed, and the tension left his shoulders. He turned back to the others, serious, but no longer "borderline wrathful". Which, considering what they'd been given, was probably a good thing. His gaze wandered to the 4 angels who had brought them here. "I am curious about our predecessors, though. As well as a few more details on what sorts of tasks and...challenges...we might expect to face while fulfilling these duties. It seemed as if there's an expectation of something happening that will require us to do more than administer others and fill out paperwork."

Corbin actually laughed at Mark's rapid-fire questions. "Well I'm back here, home, with a plate full of waffles at a table full of people I hope are willing to still be my friends. I've been through too much with you lot to try and ditch you. Yes, I am getting close to 50 now, Mark, though honestly I don't feel past about 25. My body's keeping itself in its absolute physical peak, and I've got a lot to look forward to at this point. But it's not like I got dumped in the 40s; like I said, it was the 80s when I got there, and I left in 2013. It's not so much "old movies" as...different ones. Some are the same, some aren't. A couple actors never got in the game, there are some new faces, and some just don't do the same kinds of movies. So basically, we're still buddies if you want to be. That goes for everyone." Interestingly enough, he seemed to be somewhat naturally considering Nina in the same general category, now that the facade of not being a wee bit older than one thought by looking at him was dropped. He gave the Socotran princess a smile. "Quo-Dis shares the same parentage in both worlds...but not much else. Here she is a wonderful young woman, if a bit...eccentric...by most standards. But a member of a prominent hero team, among other things. There, she was a cruel, petty, tyrant-in-training. I kept hearing rumbles about Kal-Zed thinking about putting her in charge of either Mars, or an extra-solar planet, once they'd "pacified" Terra." He gave a smile with no humor in it, but a fair number of teeth. "As of when I left they were still just rumors. As for their origins, that's a matter I don't feel I can discuss. You are free to speculate to yourself, but I would politely request that you not share this information, or your speculations, with anyone outside this room, Your Highness." Clearly he respected Nina enough to consider that request sufficient. Corbin sighed, holding up a finger in a "give me a moment" gesture. He apparently wanted a couple quick bites and a couple big sips of coffee. "Right. Well, the exact mechanics still escape me, but basically the Atoms, Daedalus, Miss Americana, and Baron Katastroff all sat down and figured out how to set up a cross-dimensional portal device, and then how to use my unique..."quantum signature"...to track back to the right dimension. They were going to dismantle the device after I was sent off, and not share the plans. I can only hope that that's the end of contact, really. The people there are good, but that war, if it spills out..." He shudders. "It took them a few years to build the thing. Which gave me time to finish my quest to assemble the Seven. I found myself amused by who ended up with what Ring. Some weren't shocking. Some were. But when the Allies had all Seven Rings on their side, well...suddenly I wasn't quite so required."

Gabriel audibly sighed in relief when he was told he was not, in fact, slated to be the Antichrist. He hadn't been looking forward to that telephone conversation with his parents. He gave Jophriel a lopsided smile. "As much as the thought of me having to actively help prevent the end of the world by taking up the mantle of one of the Four Horsemen is, I cannot lie and say that I am not immensely relieved to not bear that particular...office. As this is a matter of oversight, prevention, and protection, I renew my agreement to take up this office. Um. So long as it's not lifelong? It doesn't sound like it is." He shifted his grip on the bow, the crown having somehow all but adhered to his already-placed helm. If nothing else, it wasn't going to chafe. "Well, my apartment's locked up tight, and I've got a clear schedule tomorrow. Let's do this."

Knowledge (History) to know what the Ancient Hill refers to: 29.

But luckily enough, there had been at least one person who was nearby who was fast enough and observant enough to make a difference. Though thankfully (for Will and his family's peace of mind), he was actually just a couple feet away. So instead of having to run at near supersonic speeds, William Cline just took a couple of quick-for-a-fit-guy steps and was grasping Haukea's arm. It wasn't painful, but she didn't freeze in place. Will was in good shape, but he hadn't exactly done a lot of strength training. Instead, he managed to slow her down so she ended up softly setting down on the ground, and Will was still holding her forearm with a firm enough grip to help her back up again. With a nearly-blazing smile. "Well aren't you just a lucky lady? Saved from a tumble by little old me. Name's William. Sorry I couldn't stop you entirely!"

Right, so, I'll let you folks wrap up the planning, and then here's how we'll do "Phase 1" of this operation. All the guards are basically PL 6. Which is low enough I'm not going to bother rolling for things unless it gets really hairy. They're just barely Impervious enough to take small-caliber handgun rounds, but even a fully attack-shifted PL10 doesn't need to worry, and all y'all are that high at least. So I'll just have you narrate what you're doing, be it sneaking or fighting. Once you're inside the buildings, we'll start Phase 2, and I might ask for rolls. Sound good?

While the others were still getting themselves into the festival grounds, William had already made it in the festival proper. He'd paid for a big disposable cup filled with hot cocoa and extra marshmallows, and was making the initial rounds. He knew there would be contest announcements later on, and probably a couple shows or something, but he actually wanted to take in the sculptures and such. For all that he didn't plan to make a career of it, and couldn't do much beyond squiggly sketches on graph paper, William actually enjoyed art, at least the more "real" stuff. The abstract sculptures obviously took skill and steady hands, but it was the animals, people, buildings, vehicles, and one forest landscape that really attracted his attention. And getting in ahead of the worst of the crowd meant he could switch to watching some of the pretty girls attending, too. Or just crowd-watch in general. Besides, it was good practice on shutting out any and all extraneous mental chatter. He wasn't nearly the sensitive his mother or sister were, but he still got some static sometimes. Every bit of practice helped.

Oh, and to be clear, please either send me a forum PM, or post in this thread, to get your character properly marked on the list. Chat's often chaotic enough I lose track of things.

So! I was thinking this morning that Claremont has gotten a surge of new characters recently, and things are actually a bit confusing for those trying to coordinate threads! In light of that, I was thinking it would be useful to compile a list of Player Characters attending Claremont and divide them by their year at the school (aka how long until they aren't at Claremont any more). As well, this thread could serve as a resource for teams that form or re-form as time goes on. I will do my best to update things as presented to me, but I need everyone's help to keep things straight! If this thread goes on for a while I'll work out a system for marking those who graduate and so on. On to the show! I will try to designate Hero Name, Civilian Name, Player Name. If someone sees a mistake on here, please let me know! Also, this thread can be used to determine....Roommates! Dun dun dunnnnn!!!! Characters By Class Year Seniors (graduating in 2015) -Glamazon/Thaelia, HG Morrison -Errant/Elias Silvestri, TheAbsurdist -Blodeuwedd/Cerys Pefr, TiffanyKorta -Blue Jay/Antoinette Baudin, Raveled -Kit/Samantha Vance, Blue Rose -Amelyth/Amanda Green; ChrisClark13 Juniors (graduating in 2016) -Thoughtspeed/William Cline, KnightDisciple (Might end up graduating early in 2015) -TNTeen/Eugene King, Raveled -G-Force/Georgia Montgomery, Aoiroo -Rampart/Cho Paige Lee, RobRX -Stronghold/Haukea Kawena, Horngeek -Polarity/Juno Dempsey, GooseInduced -Trailblazer/Angeline Ross, souffle_girl Sophomores (graduating in 2017) -Nevermore/Aleksander Garen Nakani, KnightDisciple -Solvrytter/Gunnar, Thunder King -Amorph/Ralf Steiner, GranspearZX -Shiranui/Haruko Miyamoto, Horngeek -Samaritan, Vonnie Murray, Eternal Phoenix -Miracle Girl/Casey Blankenship, Heritage Teams -Next-Gen Team A: Glamazon, Cho, Stronghold, Thoughtspeed -Next-Gen Team B: Nevermore, Solvrytter, Errant, Polarity -??? Roommates -G-Force and Rampart -Solvrytter and Nevermore -Thoughtspeed and TNTeen (maybe?) -Miracle Girl and Shiranui -Stronghold and Trailblazer

Suddenly the giant is...well, not small, but not of a size with the Hraesvelgr. He floated there, eyes level with the otherworldly being. "Have to agree with the ladies, the whole soul-blotting isn't exactly nice either. But. You're not the one doing it. You're just reporting things. Which we do appreciate. Though, we found one other woman, changed like the one you said got away, but dead. Was she also caught by your brother but found...wanting? Either way, two things that I think are most important to know. Where can we find Medea, Unferth, and your sibling, if he is still in their service? And if he is still in their service how can we easily break that bind so he can leave, and reduce the number of enemies we face in battle?"

Straight Is the Gate, Narrow Is The Way, Lonely Is The Road Roads Outside New Camelot City January 6, Anno Domini 2014 (Gabriel January Vignette) (The Earth-Bound Angel) Some would find themselves lonely walking down the dusty road that pointed right at the shining beacon of civilization in the New World. The birds and insects and other beasts of the field made noise, but it was subdued. Perhaps they knew of the mighty visitors to the wondrous city today? Either way, the man on the path seemed content. As if solitude wasn't really that lonely for him. In fact, the vaguely middle-aged man with the red beard just barely tinged with gray seemed almost...happy...as he walked and hummed, his simple wooden walking stick’s thumping adding a certain something to the rhythmic swishing of his simple brown robes. It is thought that all the angels that exist now have always existed, created at the dawn of everything by the Lord. This is not actually the case, however. It is true that most angels have always existed. But a small number (comparatively small, at any rate, when one counts the legions of Heaven) came into existence later, born from the holiest of matrimony. Some of these births were “pure†angel, both parents being angels, while some were the progeny of saints and others who had passed on to their reward and found new life and love beyond the Gates. Many times, these marriages were of people whose name would not go down in the history books of Man. God and His angels look at the heart, not the outward appearance or accomplishments, after all. But some are famous in some measure or another. One such child was Heyzel, son of Saint Joan of Arc and Azrael, the Angel of Death. Another was named Gabriel, son of Saint Patrick of Ireland and Gabrielle, daughter of Gavriel, Archangel and Herald of The LORD. Gabriel was born looking mostly human, and at first, he simply grew a small pair of wings. But after only a few years, he suddenly began to develop the features of a full-blown seraphim. He bore six wings, his eyes were lit from within with silver flames, his voice had the timber of one of his grandfather’s trumpets, he grew two more eyes upon his brow, and a row of eyes of flame upon the outside of each of his wings. He bore great power, and quickly learned how to wield it. He was often found in music services or other similar duties, and his heart, and the hearts of his parents, overflowed with joy. But in time, another calling stirred. The middle-aged man stopped walking, adjusting his robes a bit as two people came forward. It was a man and a woman, roguishly dressed, wearing blades at their hips and smirks on their faces. They looked utterly confident, as if they’d done this before, and were in complete control of the situation. The dusty traveler’s ears twitched a bit, as if he’d heard a sound. The man, sporting a clean-shaven face and an elegant-looking ponytail, spoke up. “Hey hey preacher man. You are a priest, right?†“After a fashion.†“Right, well, myself and the lovely lady here are the guardians of this road, right? Keep brigands and ne’er-do-wells from accosting innocent travelers, keep nasty things from getting too close to the city, things like that. But it’s hard, dangerous work!†Here the woman spoke up. Her voice was downright cultured, her eyes flicking over the traveler. Many would think she was considering his potential as a “partnerâ€, but the man in the simple robes knew she was evaluating a threat. And finding none. “And you seem like a decent guy who’s just passing through. So, while the city guard pays us some, we could really use some extra money. It’s a dangerous traveling season!†“Silver and gold have I none. I travel on the goodwill of my brothers and sisters in the Lord, sustained by the Water and Bread of Life.†The man and woman looked at each other with raised eyebrows, but the brown-robe-clad wanderer continued. “But I can show you an more excellent way! For you, and your friends. You are clearly intelligent people. Skilled and cultured people. I believe you do at least sometimes protect innocents from harm.†The two in front of him began to smile, but it faded as he continued. “And then you extort money from them. You place mammon above your fellow man. You know that the Crown provides for bounties on monsters slain and bandits stopped. You know there are even regular allowances for those seeking to protect the highways and byways and root out the darkness. But instead you give and take bribes and steal. Why?†The woman spoke, her cultured voice carrying an edge. “Because they always cheat us if we try to go legitimate. And when you’re just a monster hunter everyone in town looks down on you. But the mysterious and romantic road brigands? That gives you a reputation. A mystique. It keeps our numbers filled. And by now most people just hand over some money and we call it good. We really don’t want to hurt random people, but we also don’t want to sit and stagnate in the city, and the life out here is expensive and dangerous. Why not get some direct compensation from the people we really do protect?†“Because it’s wrong. Because not everyone can afford it. And because you gave up on doing the right thing when it became even slightly difficult.†His ears heard the sound of steel being drawn. He had calmly discussed things with his parents, and even his grandfather. Heaven rarely saw angry arguments in families; instead, careful, thoughtful consideration was always given to ideas and actions. There was some natural hesitance, the protective, loving instinct of a family. But such instincts must measure against the power of a seraphim of the Lord, and such power is no small thing. In time, they all agreed: Gabriel would journey to Earth. But he could not go about all the time as a shining angel. He was going down to protect the people, not just for a moment, but for a long time. He would need another guise, one that would be less awesome. He chose that of a man of indistinct age dressed as a traveler. He was taught how to don the appearance of a man, and how to call upon at least some of his powers while in that guise. Eventually, he was deemed ready, and was sent down to the world. For a few years he wandered, doing good where he could, until he found himself assisting some members of the League of Camelot against a particularly vile threat. After the confrontation was over, the League asked him to become a member, and after some prayerful consideration, he accepted. He knew his cousin Heyzel occasionally came by New Camelot City to aid the people, and so he reasoned that a similar arrangement would be even more helpful. He wasn't proven wrong, and he was soon a staunch ally of the League. It was a good existence, if sometimes lonely. Still and all, he found himself doing much good, both in large, flashy battles against the forces of evil...and small acts of mercy and kindness in the daily lives of the people of New Camelot. More than a few young pickpockets were turned from their ways (and their “handlers†more harshly rebuked) by kind words from the man in brown cloth. But when greed and pride and wrath and all the other terrible sins of the world reared their heads, Gabriel was their to face them calmly. Now there were a full 20 men and women surrounding the traveler. Yet still he was calm. He slowly took in the sight. Many of them seemed a bit nervous about the whole thing, even the woman he’d first seen, but the man, the leader, was determined. “You may be smart enough to figure us out, preacher man, but you’re not smart enough to get out of this. We aren’t going to let you go blabbing about this to everyone in town. It would upset the delicate balance of things.†The bearded man’s gaze snaps to the highwayman, and for a moment the thief falters. “You are the one upsetting a balance. And you are the one who was foolish enough to commit to an action you now have no escape from. What I do now, I do in the hopes that all of you will find yourselves repentant and changed. I shall show you mercy.†He smiled a bit. There was no humor in it. “But not too much mercy. Justice also shall ye behold this day.†And in a flash of light, there was a being clad in fiery silver, wings beating against the air, flames of purest white roaring about it, trumpets pealing, eyes gazing, and spear held in its grip. Everyone present dropped their weapons and cried in fear, but found they could not move from the spot. Many began to weep. For all but a few, their eyes glazed over, and suddenly they acted as if they could not see. “Thou brigands art not Saul of Tarsus, but ye shall not find thine sight until ye be repentant in thine heart. Thy mouths may speak the words but if the heart be blackened still ye shall be struck deaf and dumb. Go now and harm none more! Beseech the Lord for forgiveness, turn thy hands to the works of righteousness! Make new thine ways and protect thy people!†And just as quickly, the handful of non-blinded people saw a simply-clothed man with a beard in front of them, a gentle smile on his face. His lips did not move but still they heard his voice in their ear and their heart. “You are to lead your brothers and sisters into town. Your hearts hold the least corruption. Take this mercy I have extended, and extend it to others. Learn from this, repent, and begin your lives anew. I see great potential within you.†He began walking, and stopped as he walked past the woman who had confronted him on the road. The same group heard the same voice again. “You probably won’t be able to walk for a few minutes though. My apologies. I have an important appointment, and I cannot be any later than I already am.†With that, he resumed walking, now lightly singing a him, a veritable skip in his step. (“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.†- Hebrews 13:2, NASB)

The hero known as Gabriel had been having a quiet night. Nothing much going on. He was thinking of heading to bed. That was, until he saw something in the yard behind the Church. Fearing some sort of vandal, or worse, he raced over... And instead saw an image right from the pages of Scripture. A being that bore many faces and many wings, serenely floating in place, its very appearance bringing both joy and terror to the Irishman's heart, a flaming sword in one hand and shining book in the other, a single tear leaking down his face as he heard faint echoes of the songs of Heaven... Suddenly, there was a man there, seemingly an African-American in a finely-tailored navy blue suit, making a note on a bright white notepad with a metallic red pen. Pen and pad quickly disappeared from sight, and the man smiled and spoke in a deep bass voice. "Greetings, favored of Gavriel. Fear not, and rejoice!" "I'm doing pretty good on the rejoicing, results are mixed on the not fearing." The angel (certainly not a man!) laughed. "Indeed! My apologies, but when we descend to the base earth, the initial presence can be a bit much. My intent is to share a message and a duty. My name is Jophiel." Gabriel actually seemed to recognize the name. "The Metatron's right hand?" Jophiel's smile practically sparkled as he gave a nod of assent. "The very same. Your name travels in certain circles, Gabriel. And not just because of who you share it with." "Pride goeth before the fall, my friend. I thank you for the compliment, but I get the sense there's more going on here." The smile faded. "Yes. A large part of me wishes this task was not given to me, or to any of us. Metatron or Gavriel wish they could have done so, but duty prevents, and needs must. There is an...imbalance, and you are one of the ones selected to aid. This is no small-" "I'll do it. Whatever it is. You know I'm willing, ready, and able." A sad smile. "Yes. That is why we wish this were not so. But there is a vacancy. You and others have been found to possess the most necessary qualities, in all ways, to take up the responsibilities of an office for a time. You have been selected to fulfill the functions of the station and ensure the operations of the divine plan. Come and take your token of office." Gabriel stepped forward, and first Jophiel reached out and placed what felt like a small token in Gabriel's left hand. The man in white and silver gave a nervous smile, looking the angel in the eye for a moment (but after he began to get lost in visions of galaxies infinite spinning in the void, he didn't quite look directly) and joking. "So is it a pin? A badge, maybe? Am I being drafted...any more than...Okay, not sure why you're giving me a weapon, I've already got the spear." A silvery-white bow of the finest quality sat in his hand, a semi-classic recurve design that seemed strangely timless. "This is only half of the token. "What do you mean it's only half-" And then Jophiel laid his hands upon the head of Gabriel, his lips moving faintly in a silent prayer in the tongue of angels, and something began to dawn in Carson's mind. A single trembling hand reached up as his hood slid back, and felt it there upon his brow. A crown. A circlet of white steel, with a single peak in front holding a white pearl that shone as unto a diamond. Tears began to form in Gabriel's eyes as he suddenly knew what he had been given, and what "office" he was being called to fill. "What have I done? Why...why is this punishment levied upon me? I do not wish for it or want it, and I fear its meaning, both for my own soul and the soul of the world." Jophiel's face was grim now, but empathy and sympathy shone from his eyes. "No sin-stain weighs upon your soul and this is neither punishment, nor signal of the End. This is an office to be filled. You already agreed, and in your heart, now that you are assured of what it does not mean, you still accept. I am sorry, for whatever it is worth. We are all so very, very sorry." Gabriel simply nodded and closed his eyes, trying to regain his composure...

"I've been making coffee with less for longer than you've been alive, Trevor. Give this pot a try while you get yourself one brewing." Corbin stopped as his hand was just brushing against the handle of the just-finished pot of coffee. His back tensed...and then relaxed as he let out a sign big enough to match his proportions. "Not quite how I wanted to broach the subject, but..let's sit down and dig in, I'll start explaining." He brought the last couple of items to the table, including the pot of coffee (there was a spare pot so that Trevor could get himself some brewing if he liked). He then proceeded to load up his plate enough to make you think he played football or something. After he'd dressed his food and everyone had filled plates and cups, he poked at his waffle and pancakes a bit before he started up. "Let's see, for you guys, it would have been not long ago. About 6 months, back at the end of February. I'd packed up a bag to go looking for more of the Seven Rings. I had just left the, ah, site that Trevor helped me set up, and suddenly I was tossed through...well, at this point, I think it was a combination of a dimensional breach and a time portal. It seems like the other dimension's timeline matches up to ours and time passes the same way... But I ended up in the year 1983, in France, in the middle of a fight. It was...a lukewarm war. A war between the Allied Nations, the Supreme Empire, the USSR, and the Empire of the Rising Sun. A World War II that never really ended. Some parts were better; while the combat deaths were higher, there were never any death camps. Hitler was dead by 1938 in this world. Replaced by Superior, who then crowned himself Emperor Kal-Zed, and was soon joined by Empress Sa-Ur...and Imperial Princess Quo-Dis." His eyes held a deep, mournful look in them. "Things shifted. The Allies gained most all of France back, and what part they couldn't claim was mostly just blasted battleground. But the Russians were no longer an ally, and much of Eastern Europe was in the grip of the Empire, not the USSR. And then the super-men started to appear in the Imperial ranks. Ubermenschen, capable of feats that, while not equal to the Emperor, certainly hearkened to his mighty power. The war quickly became a semi-cold arms race, with everyone developing strange and terrifying ways of warfare. I came into all of this after 40 years of war, and in all my time there the war hadn't ended. No one lost, but no one won, either. A few fronts were mildly gaining, but most stayed static. Fighting was comparatively sporadic, because in that time we all feared that a true, full war would end everything. Space races were slow and cautious, for fear of sabotage or attack. But by the time I left the Moon was starting to be contested, and Mars was quite possibly the next battleground. I spend 30 years there, guys. Three decades of war and death and misery and hope and joy all wrapped up in one giant ball, and basically no one here knows, because I still look about 20. And probably will until I die. Which likely won't be old age or disease, at this point. I fought. Not as a crime-fighter, not all the time, but as a soldier. I equipped and trained seven young people to use some of the most powerful weapons of the world. I saw creatures that could level cities fighting titans of steel. There's only one thing that really, truly compares to what I saw in that place. And even then it's not exactly the same." It was obvious the "one thing" was when they fought the Knight of Entropy and won. "I've been back for a few weeks now. I told Quo-Dis and my parents right away, but I've been completely and utterly terrified of telling all of you. So, uh. There it is. I'm semi-secretly way older than I look and a combat veteran and stuff. I'm actually looking forward to college classes now. No way they're tougher than sitting in a foxhole while antimatter grenades go off all around you." He tries, and mostly fails, to give a self-confident smirk at that last statement.

Tagging for great justice and conquest.