ic Ren Faire: Training Grounds (IC)

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

"Man I wish we could participate." Michael said with a complaint as they made their way to the stands. "I get why, but like, I know how to control myself. I wouldn't go too far with it." It was a remnant of his eternally competitive sports player that he had to give up once he got Superpowers; Michael might have liked being a Superhero, he might have liked Claremont, he might had had grand ideas for who he was going to be, but he had also really liked being great at sports. So whenever he saw something like this, he was prone to getting a little sour.

 

When the Black Knight made an impressive swing and defeated another challenger, raising his sword high for the approval of the crowd, Michael blanched a little.

 

"I wonder if he has powers. Probably not, I guess. Still, he does seem pretty good at the acting and the fighting both. Maybe there's something to learn from watching him play to the crowd." he said, trying to come up with a positive spin on the situation. 

 

"You don't have to be a squire, Parker! You can be Sir Percival, the most noble and well mannered of all the Knights!" 

[Supercape]

Gamma Buzz

 

"That Black Knight is cool, right?" said Baz. "I mean, you have to admire his huge weapon...!"

 

The air hung still, and Baltazar's antannae glowed. 

 

"I mean, yes... its a very large sword. That's what I meant!" he added. 

 

He cast his insectoid around for other contestants. "But why don't we have any kung-fu knights? I mean, didn't they have kung-fu in medieval europe?"
 

Baltazar did not have much of an education, but he did know his old kung fu films. 

 

"Anyway I am sure we could beat them all, even without powers! I mean, all you have to do is wiggle a sword around a bit... hi-yaaa! hi-yaaaa!" he proclaimed, miming some swordwork that simultaenously appeared to be both flashy and ineffective. 

[Thevshi]

GM

 

The Claremont students had just settled in to watching the sparing exhibition, Parker felt a slight feeling off in the distance that reminded him of Lawerence using his powers. But even as he turned toward the direction of the town square, he was barely able to pick up something else, a human sized figure streaking through the air, coming down in the middle of the sparing expedition.

 

The other teens saw something drop down from the sky, landing between the Black Knight and his opponent. Then the two armored men were sent flying through the air, crashing to the ground over a dozen feet away. Standing where they had been sparing was a short young woman with long blonde hair tied in a braid. She was dressed in bell-bottom jeans and a white tunic, a white lily in her braided hair.

 

Looking around at the other armored and armed men that were part of the exhibition, she called out. "Tools of the oppressive patriarchy! You want to fight, come fight me!"
 

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

"...Is this part of the show?" Michael asked, a little confused. "It's not a bad twist, but a bit out there. I didn't figure they did this sort of stuff." he mumbled to the others. "Maybe Sam and Daphne were right to dress up like those old SciFi serial characters."

 

He watched for a moment, looking at the Black Knight carefully. If it seemed like this wasn't intended, or if the people who should know what was happening didn't know what was going on, he was making himself ready to step in if he needed to, looking momentarily at Bazz and Parker as he shifted in his seat.

 

He didn't want to go off before there was any apparent danger, but he didn't want to be left behind or leave people out to dry if this wasn't planned. So he decided to go with what he felt might get to the center of the problem.

 

He stood up and cheered, clapping his hands like this was part of the show and he was into it.

 

"WOOO!"

[RocketLord]

Spaceman

 

Parker shrugs at Michael's suggestion. Sure, he could be a knight, but it's nice to not stand out and just be part of the crowd, right?

 

"Europe didn't have those kinds of monks, Baz," Parker responds. He is used to Baz bringing out crazy ideas like that, but still... He decides not to comment on the other bit, since Baz obviously backpedaled.

 

He looks up the moment before the woman arrives. Something about her is off. The way she appeared, it was like the space around her was bent, changed. Kind of like Lawrence.

 

"Definitely not part of the show," he says to Michael, while standing up next to him. The woman haven't hurt anyone seriously yet, but she seems aggressive. Should he step in? See what happens?

[Supercape]

Gamma Buzz

 

"Oppressive Patriarchy?" said Baz, scratching his head. "You should go take a look at the drug Cartels in Mexico if you want to find an oppressive patriarchy, lady!"

 

He paused, a moment of inspiration hitting his chaotic brain. He leaned over to his friends and raised his hand to give a conspiratorial whisper. 

 

"Wait... does she think this is real? like, Kings and Queens and all that jazz? I don't know my history, except for kung fu obviously, but wasn't it all like an oppressive patriarchy back then?"

 

As far as Baz was concerned, the USA was neither oppressive or patriarchal, at least by his standards. The drug cartels of Mexico had raised the bar pretty high when it came to oppression - and patriarchy for that matter. 

 

"And more importantly, when do we blast her?"

[Thevshi]

GM

 

There were mixed reactions among the other bystanders to the various events out on the training grounds. Some were clapping, thinking it was part of the show. However, others appeared concerned, or at least uncertain what was going on.

 

Meanwhile, the armored men that she had tossed aside, were helped to their feet by others. None of the participants in the staged melee seemed sure what to do and none moved forward to engage the young woman.

 

This seemed to annoy the young woman, who looked around at the crowd. "You should not be celebrating these symbols of an oppressive past, free your minds from the prison of time!"

 

She then flew over to an empty section of stadium seats and lifted them up into the air and then throwing them over towards the archery targets in the nearby archery range. This led to scrams and panic among the bystanders, many of whom started quickly moving away from the area…
 

[RocketLord]

Spaceman

 

"I don't know," Parker responds to Baz's question about whether the woman thinks this is all real. He isn't really paying full attention to his friend right now, more concerned about the woman. Baz's question is right, though. Do they intervene, or let it play out? She haven't really done anything dangerous yet, aside from the way she showed up, and the way her arrival sort of reminded Parker of Lawrence, when he does his time thing...

 

And then she starts getting violent. 

 

"Let's try to settle things peacefully before we start blasting, alright?" 

 

Parker doesn't blame Baz, things are probably going to get out of hand, like they always do, but he has to try, at least, even if she seems like she isn't going to listen.

 

Rising from his seat, he focuses, his powers pulling in his costume around him. White, black and gold, he takes a step forward, and then he is floating in the stadium between the woman and the archery range, arms crossed over his chest, while his black cape rushes forward from the sudden movement.

 

"Please stop, you're putting people in danger. Please explain what you want, and I will try to help, but you have to stop throwing things around before someone gets hurt."

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

Michael still wasn't sure if this was part of the show or not. But he was pretty sure he had a way to let this pass if it was. He fumbled around momentarily and put his fake knight's helmet on, covering his face and head to go along with his body hidden under his chainmail, and took a mighty leap out into the arena, raising his hands and his fake foam sword as he exults the crowd, trying to make them cheer for him.

 

"Haha! I am the great Sir Gawain! While you may have defeated the others at this contest, oh maiden fair, do not be deceived! For the Knight of the Sun is here to challenge you for the honor of our great King and Country, with my great Galatine, I shall defeat you and restore honor and safety to those who watch these events! I have no desire to engage with rule breakers or rule shakers, and lest you forget; I can not be beaten during the daylight hours!"

[Supercape]

Gamma Buzz

 

The Cockroach Kid muttered under his breath. "Razzafrazzin wait before blastin'...."

 

He hopped from foot to foot, undecided what to do. At least, he thought, he could dispense with the faux-armour. In but a jiffy, he threw away his foam sword and chucked away his helmet. 

 

"Behold!" he shouted. "I am Sir Gamma of Buzz, and, fairish Lady who is not fair, I am here to defend the wicked and smite the goodly! So stay the hand or thee will face the amazing power of Cock... er, wait, that sounds like an oppressive patriarchy, doesn't it? I mean the amazing power of Roach!"

 

He screamed his monologue with one hand on his chest, one to the air, in a classic dramatic pose. 

 

Then he dropped into a cool defensive posture. I mean, she might throw an explosive cow at him or something. 

 

[Thevshi]

GM

 

The young woman watched as Spaceman flew into the air and called out to her to stop what she was doing before glancing over toward Gamma Buzz as he got out of his faire costume and called out a challenge as well.

 

"Some supporters of the oppressive patriarchal system I see!" She answered in return before focusing her attention back on Spaceman. "Just the types I liked to duke it out with!"

 

She then flew up into the air and delivered a powerful punch to Spacemen.
 

[RocketLord]

Spaceman

 

The others act up, tries to make it all seem like part of the show. Parker is kind of happy about that, but on the other hand, this seems like the situation where it would be best to get everyone out of here. Still, he trusts Baz and Michael, they know what they're doing.

 

Unlike this woman.

She is not listening. Just attacking. There's too many people like that, why won't anyone ever try to talk things out instead of fighting?

 

Her hit hits him in the guts, but Parker barely flinches, even with the sheer force behind the blow. He can take it. For now, at least. Reaching out, he grabs hold of her arm. 

 

"For the record, I tried to talk things out with you."

 

Spaceman pulls at her, trying to headbutt her while he has her held, then grabs hold with his other hand as well, one arm under each of her arms from behind as he turns her around, so she's facing his friends. "Buzz! Star! She's open!"

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

She might be open, but it's not sporting to hit a lady who can't move, and Michael was playing the Chivalrous Knight. If he did something uncouth, then it might make the audience realize this wasn't a game. So he needed to play to being Sir Gawain.

 

He taised his foam sword up and began to glow, bathing the arena in a golden light, possibly blowing his cover, but playing like he was still Gawain. As he did so, he raised a hand at the woman, holdimg his palm out.

 

"Face my condemnation of the Sun, my worthy foe! Let the light of the Sun cast judgement upon you!"

[Supercape]

Gamma Buzz

 

"Hiiii-la! Hoop-la!" 

 

Gamma Buzz looped into the air with an elegant spin, landing, face down, on the side of a wall. He stuck to the masonry just like a radioactive cockroach might. 

 

"Something something chivalry and all that," he shouted down. "Um. Noble regal lances and helmets and m'lady. That will do. Now I can blast you."

 

He squinted, and two thin green laser beams sprung from his eyes, carving into the woman. 

 

"How you like them apples!"

[Thevshi]

GM

 

The woman took the attacks from Golden Star and Gamma Buzz, briefly being paralyzed and dazed, but quickly recovering. She then struggled against Spaceman’s grip, but to no avail. "Such great heroes, beating up on a helpless girl!" She screamed as she vainly struggled.

 

Then another figure arrived, flying over towards Spaceman. He was a tall, muscular young man with long brown hair dressed in jeans, cowboy boots and a brown vest. "Let go of my sister!" He yelled, delivering a powerful punch on Spaceman, who took the hit with no apparent effect.

[RocketLord]

Spaceman

 

Helpless? Really? People always have such strong feelings on everyone else when they become the underdog.

 

A tall man in jeans and a brown vest comes flying towards him. Parker barely has time to react, turning slightly to try to block the attack with his free arms. With a grunt of effort, he blocks it, but... It could have been much worse.

 

He swings at the man, a wide swing. Nothing that gets close to hitting him, but hopefully, it will put some distance between them, while Parker holds on to his sister.

 

"I'd be happy to, once she stops trying to hurt people," Parker states. His tone makes it clear that he doesn't intend to negotiate the point. "Would you two please calm down so that we can just try to talk this through? We don't want to fight, but we're not going to let you hurt these people."

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

"Oh, there's another one! Well. That's good! I mean, it would be awkward if it was just one person." Michael, as Sir Gawain, admitted, so he was glad to see a differnet person to tangle with, especially since he was pretty sure that Parker was going to be able to handle that lady without much issue. So he turned his attention to the giant, powerfully built man and bounded over towards him, still playing his 'game'.

 

"Beware, foul villain, Sir Gawain is challenging you!" He yelled, swinging his foam sword at the man, but even infused with golden energy, it exploded into foam fragments as he swung and it hit the man. "...Ah, well."

[Supercape]

Gamma Buzz

 

"Helpless, are you? Well, lady, you don't look it. Or act it, either!"

 

Buzz wagged his finger at the woman, ready to unleash some heavier verbal acid on her, when the new kid on the block arrived. 

 

"But your sister is an ass!" he yelled back at him. "Oh hell, you ain't going to listen are you?"

 

Michaels shattering laser sword thing shattered, and made Buzz miss. "Oooh, that's not good."

 

He cracked his cockroach knuckles, bent his knees, and launched himself into the air, drawing back a fist and glowing green. 

 

"Woohoo! Its Gamma Buzz, Baby!" he screamed as he sailed through the air - unleashing a glowing fist at the brother. 

[Thevshi]

GM

 

Once again the blonde young woman tried to free herself from Spaceman's grasp, but once again it was to no avail. She let out a scream of frustration as she looked over toward her brother. "Just squish that bug and get over here and get me free!" She cried out.

 

The larger man seemed to have that very thought in mind as he got back to his feet and looked at Gamma Buzz with a snarl. "Yeah…I'm on it." With that he stepped forward and delivered a powerful punch right to the center of Baz’s chest.

 

*WHAM*
 

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

"Oh no you don't!" Michael yelled as he put himself between Baz and the big guy. And the punch hit him hard. For a second he thought he could handle it, then his feet left the ground and he went flying down the jousting path and crashed into the hay bales at the edge of the arena, as they toppled down on top of the shining knight and buried him under itchy, scratchy fibers.

 

He was getting a bruise on that one for sure.

[RocketLord]

Spaceman

 

The brother moves. Divide and conquer, makes sense, try to stop Parker's friends while Parker is holding he man's sister.

 

Michael blocks the strike, but it sends him flying into the hay bales. Despite Michael's attempts at making it all seem like part of the show, which Parker haven't really participated in, he's sure that everyone around them will have to see through it by now. Michael is tough. He can take the hit. But still... these people just come in and attack without any explanation, putting people in danger.

 

"That's enough."

 

Spaceman punches in the general direction of the brother, a blow coming into him from the side, before he reaches out to try to grab him.

 

"Can you please just tell us what you want so we can put a stop to this before anyone gets hurt?"

[Poncho]

(Golden Star)

 

Alright, this was getting quite enough. Michael's temper was bubbling now and he was under the bales of hay and assorted objects. So he grit his teeth and with a thundering slam he erupted, throwing his hands out and sending haybales scattering in various directions. His fake costume went with it, leaving him as Golden Star.

 

Ah! The pretend Ser Gawain had been Golden Star all along, of course! Anyone who saw him glowing could easily piece that together at this point.

 

"I'm going to have to agree with Spaceman! This is quite enough!" he yelled. His eyes lit up like supernovas, brilliant constellations of blue and gold and white, then lanced out across the field, scorching the ground underneath them as they made their way directly towards Spaceman and the woman, aiming to strike her in the back and take her down. Once she was gone, they could focus on the big guy. They both seemed plenty dangerous even on their own, given how hard the big guy had hit him and how much trouble Parker was having with the girl.

[Supercape]

Gamma Buzz

 

"Whoa- thanks Mi- I mean partner - I mean Golden Star!" said Gamma as the brave soul planted himself between Gamma and the enemy. "That would have squashed me like... well, like a bug. An awesome gamma powered bug, mind you. And the best type of bug, too. You can guess, right? It begins with "C" and rhymes with "Poproach"! the best type of bug by far."

 

"Now then, to business, vile villains. You and your oppressive matriachy are in for some Gamma powered gamma..."

 

Glowing green, he jumped to the bear-man and gave a big swing...

 

"Take this! Gamma Buzz, baby!"