DC Modern - Timeship

 Achilles tells Elizabeth that she should just get married. She tells him that she has all the benefits of marriage without any of the complications. He doesn’t understand and tells her that she should get on with having babies. Edward and her grandfather have both made the same points, but she’s only 25 and not ready to pop out babies. 

Black Diamond shows up. He’s excited about a show called, Eyes of Gorilla City. Achilles is in it. They banter. He annoys Achilles who does not kill him. 

Chinatown now has the Triad working there. 

Achilles calls Mr. Terrific and explains the situation succinctly. Mr. Terrific tells him the Justice League will get on it. Achilles notes that he doesn’t sound very confident. Mr. Terrific assures him that since he’s the third smartest man in the world, he will figure it out. Achilles does not feel confident in his response. 

The group conducts research on the computer to see if there is a previous case in which the end of the world was imminent. There are several cases. They all find the villain and then destroy him. They don’t find the villain; the villain finds them. This event is not manifesting itself like the others where there were mini-crisis. 

Achilles thinks about possible living prognosticators: Madame Xanadu, WaveRider, and Lilith. He looks into the orb. Now the end is four months and twenty-seven days away. Madame Xanadu has had contact with Achilles in the past and is currently in New Orleans. 

Achilles, Akasha, Elizabeth, and Orichalcum hop into the plane and fly to New Orleans. The cards told her they would be there. The cards have also told her that the future is disappearing. She doesn’t know much, but she reads the card. “The Emperor reversed seems to be behind it. It’s somebody who is all powerful.” Achilles lists possible candidates. The cards cannot say which of them is the emperor. “The reversed Emperor is opposed by the Hermit, which is a character of contemplation, deep study, and scientific knowledge.” Achilles thinks this sounds like Orichalcum. Achilles asks how the hermit can defeat the emperor. Madam Xanadu indicates that a Legion may be needed to fight him. Alas, the Legion no longer exists. 

Mr. Terrific calls. He greets Hawkgirl and tells her she should be Hawkwoman.  “The future is indeed disappearing, but now it’s five months. It seems to be accelerating.  The future is now being destroyed; it’s being rewritten. More accurately, it’s being overwritten.” 

Mr. Terrific continues, “All the pieces of the templar are still there but in a different order. The players in the play are still there but playing a different role.” He also believes that it will eventually catch up to the now. Achilles asks a list of questions, but Mr. Terrific doesn’t have many answers. Hourman’s ship no longer goes beyond four months and twenty-three days. Hourman’s time ship is immune to being rewritten. It’s from the distant future. Elizabeth wonders if something can be taken from the ship that would allow them to also be immune to being rewritten. Mr. Terrific says no. Hourman is a static point in time. If the group can find another person who is a static point, they can try to send him beyond the veil of time. Right now, they plan to use Hourman to protect the present time. 

Orichalcum has figured out that the gift from Harmonia Lee would send her to a place that is protected from the time deletion, but if she exits the place, she will be rewritten. 

Achilles asks Madam Xanadu if she is a static point in time. She does not know. She turns the cards. A mad man, the unfortunate, the lost, and the insane are the four static points in time. Achilles could possibly be one. He asks if Hawkgirl could possibly be a static point; Madam Xanadu does not know. Achilles asks Madam Xanadu, “Based on what you know of the hero community, could you hazard a guess on who these people are?” She cannot. Achilles wonders if Psycho pirate is the madman. There is also pariah, who may be the lost. 

 Achilles asks Akasha if any of his mystic knowledge could give him information. Akasha and Orichalcum find it odd that it’s four and not three and five. 

Elizabeth investigates to see what she can find. One of the first things that pops up is insane Superboy. He is currently in a psi-cell in Ioa. 

Achilles uses the orb to find static points in time that are people. The Monitor’s records do not seem to discuss anybody who is a static point in time. 

Achilles directs Orichalcum to speak to her grandmother. Orichalcum does not feel comfortable speaking with Harmonia Lee. 

Achilles asks Madam Xanadu if Hawkgirl could be the unfortunate. Madam Xanadu thinks that if that were the case, it would be the unfortunates. Elizabeth has the sudden desire to ask a question, but she is uncomfortable asking it. Madam Xanadu picks up on this and asks her if she has a personal question. Elizabeth asks if Hawkman is already a part of her life. Madam Xanadu reads the cards and informs Elizabeth that one of the triad is already in her life. She is unable to tell Elizabeth which one has awakened.

Achilles looks into the orb to see when the wedding is now showing as taking place in three months and sixteen days. Hawkman is now waking up in three months and sixteen days. 

Achilles searches for the unfortunate one in the orb. He scans for some time, but he only finds one repeated reference with any kind of moniker. There is a little-known hero in Gateway city who has had some exposure to timelines. It is Donna of the Unfortunate name. 

Achilles hands Elizabeth his phone so that she can call Donna of the Unfortunate. Achilles leaves a voice message. 

Harbinger, Lady Quirk and Pariah explored the confines of what was the new universe. 

The orb believes Psycho Pirate is dead because Black Adam 3.5 years ago pushed the Medusa head through his skull. 

Elizabeth asks Orichalcum what they need to do to get Donna to the other side of the veil. You would take them to the end point and the end point would eventually take them. Then she would fix the timeline on the other side. If Achilles is one of the static points, they could try to go through with him. If he isn’t though, bad things would happen. 

Achilles calls Rachel but gets her answering machine. 

Orichalcum proposes that they use Quantum’s abilities to attach themselves to Achilles. Achilles wants to use Hourman’s timeship. He calls Mr. Terrific to ask permission to use the ship. 

The group returns to the mansion to pick up Katrina, Donna, and Quantum. They travel to Gotham City and pick up the time ship. They quickly reach the wall of time. It’s an imovable white wall coming towards them. Hourman slips out of the ship and says he will appear at the right moment. 

Preview of the weird temporal stuff that happened: 

Achilles remembers being an eternal hero from the war. He arose fifteen days after his Greek funeral. He’s run across Hawkman and Hawkgirl in at least four lifetimes beyond the Old West. One time it was Cinnamon and Nighthawk in the Old West. In one time, he was Vandal Savage’s general. Savage got jealous and eliminated him. He has intersected with Vandal Savage three more times. 

Elizabeth remembers two more Hawk lives. E will provide two, or I can create them. The known lives are the OG, World War II, Thinagard, the Old West, Mermadon, and ancient Krypton. 

Hawkman and Hawkgirl led the Mermadon’s home after the death of Achiles and the sacking of Troy. They were both killed when they returned home by Hath-Set who had usurped the ruler. 

Akasha – E needs to think. 

Orichalcum – can give herself an expertise science! of nineteen. She has been blending magic and science while making her suit. Bob can also invent some new memories where she had visitations by Harmonia Lee. 

Legion of Super-Heroes - sort of....

 Ian is attracting a lot of attention as he walks in the corridor. Servants are doing double takes and there is hesitancy. There is a lot of excessive bowing, more than usual. Ian double checks himself to make sure nothing is off about his attire or appearance. 

The group walks into the room. Sitting there is the wife of the director of council of peace, Katrina. Ian is surprised to see her. Jean recognizes her. 

A woman with a red and white leather mask walks in. She has long flowing blonde hair and elaborate and richly embroidered robes. No one can see her face.  She introduces the entire group: Gardener Skid, Master Ian Wayne, Maria .., Jean Snell, and the Quatro. She then introduces Katrina Gupta. She tells the group that they are going on a little mission for the sake of the emperor and the empire. A very powerful and dangerous artifact has disappeared from the palace vaults where it was kept for safe keeping. 

Ian inquiries as to what special skills Katrina brings to the group. She rattles off the square root of some high number. Ian asks how that will help with the retrieval of a magical artifact. The masked woman assures the group that Katrina brings many talents that will come in handy. 

The amulet of Nanazemene. When worn it produces dangerous visions and delusions that makes the wearer act erratically. A thief stole it and has made it to a country outside the city. The last time he was scryed, he was about to enter a villa owned by the Wayne family. All this happened yesterday. Ian proposes that they may find the thief incapacitated by one of the house traps. The masked woman warns that the thief is one of the imperial guardsmen and may have tricked the serfs. 

The guard’s name is Olafsson. He’s worked here for years. He’s of a middling family who worked his way up. There is no known link between the family and the rebels. There was a scandal that the youngest, Javier, wasn’t willing to get married. There were whispers as to why he refused to be married. It would be preferable to question him to see if this is part of a larger conspiracy. A public trail and execution is always to the benefit of keeping order. 

A carriage will escort them all the way to the Wayne estate. The keyhole on the manacles is fake. The manacles are magical. She informs the group that Ian is running the mission and everyone is to report to him and follow his orders. She also tells Ian that he can magically remove the manacles by simply touching it and willing it so. Ian observes the group as they are given this information. No one seems upset or annoyed by Ian being in charge. Maria, however, is annoyed that a gardener is accompanying them but not as a servant. 

Jean recognizes Maria as Maria Ramirez, the daughter of Calypso, the great hero of the battle of Ion. He knows that she has been training at the council of magic. The son is working a simple role there. Calypso’s husband has drunk himself into oblivion. 

The group is provided healing potions and other necessary items such as antitoxins. 

Ian infers that this woman is the second or fourth wife. Jean inquiries as to the guardian’s abilities. He’s from Ghoran Prime. He is able to heal. Maria knows that Ghoran Prime has a favored status for not resisting the emperor when he first started to consolidate the chaos of the galaxy into a unified peaceful empire. 

A serving girl brings a tray of goodies. Ian notices that she subtly cringes when she sees him. She returns with a glass of mead and looks over at Ian as though expecting him to beat her. 

Maria asks Katrina what crime she committed. She says she’s allegedly a rebel. Ian point blank asks her if she’s a rebel. Katrina says no. Maria and Ian agree that she is a very gifted liar. 

Jean brown noses Maria. Ian observes everyone’s interaction and takes note of what they say. 

The masked woman gives Jean a wand. He then hands Ian a bag full of ten nonlabelled flasks. She undoes Katrina’s leg manacles. Ian wonders if they were sent to dispatch Katrina, but he quickly realizes that is not the case. 

The masked woman leads the group down the hall. They all (minus the Quatro) notice that the servants do double takes when they see Ian and they appear scared. The group is led to the carriage that is run by two trolls and a man with a whip. Katrina says, “Hi, Bob,” to the man with the whip. He nods. 

Maria offers to fly from a distance to keep an eye on the carriage. The masked lady tells her she prefers Maria inside with the others, the third eye can keep an eye on things. Ian, Katrina, and Quatro sit facing back and Maria, Jean, and Kid Skid sit facing forward. 

The rumor is that if you mention the emperor’s name, it brings his attention to you. 

The group passes the noble district, the mid-level district, and then the servant’s level. Jean’s eye notices that someone is about to stumble into the way of the carriage. The carriage jolts to a stop and the driver yells at the man to get out of the way. Jean sees that the man has no weapons and only a deflated wineskin. Jean throws him a silver to get him to move out of the way. The man dives for the silver. He reeks of alcohol. Maria recognizes the man as her father. 

The walls next to the city gate have fresh heads on the spikes. The carriage passes a slum area outside the city. It reeks. Starving people beg for coin. Maria snarls at them in disgust. The carriage eventually makes it to the noble land with serfs working the land. Through the arcane eye, Jean spots a large group lurking in the shadows. They appear to be pulling out weapons. Jean warns that there is an ambush up ahead.  ‘

Ian jumps out of the carriage, pulls out his batwings, flies to the first goblin and punches him in the jaw. Despite punching him hard, the goblin rubs his chin but remains standing. Ollie gives Quatro bark skin. Jean teleports across the field to the other side of the goblin mob. Maria flies out and casts a green ball of flame. Surprisingly, the goblins are fine. One pulls out a staff, a beam of fiery energy shoots out and engulfs the carriage driver. Quatro jumps out of the carriage and heads toward the mob. 

Katrina gives Ollie a weird look and vibrates for a moment. Meanwhile, Ian continues punching the goblin in front of him. He knocks him out. One of the goblins yells, “Gobber. They took out Gobber.” He turns and punches another goblin, taking him out. Another goblin yells, “Gobber. They took out Gobber two.” 

Ollie steps outside of the carriage to find the driver enveloped in flames. He douses him and the fire goes out. Jean gestures and mirror like shards fly toward the mob of goblins. The goblins are now burnt and bloodied. Jean asks, “Are you willing to surrender?” 

One of the goblins turns to the others and says, “I thought she said they were going to be easy.” Maria shoots a fireball at the mob of goblins, taking out a bunch of goblins.

The goblins yell, “Gobber, Gobber, Gobber, and Gobber two are out. It wasn’t supposed to be this hard.” They turn and run. Ian knocks one unconscious so they can interrogate him. 

Quatro runs toward a running goblin and swings his axe at him. He misses because he recognizes the goblin as a part of a troop of touring goblins. They released half a dozen lions in the stadium with the goblins. They supposedly left and moved on. 

Katrina continues trying to use her powers. The manacles suppress everything she tries. Ian ties up the goblin he knocked out. Ollie heals the driver. Jean casts a spell to block the goblin’s withdrawal. The goblin spellcaster casts a spell that undoes Jean’s spell, and they continue running. The goblin with Quatro recognizes him and runs. 

Ian calls Ollie over to rouse the tied goblin. Jean casts a final spell on the retreating goblin with the staff. The goblin nimbly avoids the daggers flying toward him. 

Ollie places his hand on the goblin, waking him up. Ian uses intimidation to interrogate the goblin. He discovers that a woman paid each goblin 10 gold to ambush them. The woman wore a veil. 

Ian and the group discuss the circumstances. Ian speculates that either someone tried to frame one of the wives or one of the wives wants to prevent them from getting the artifact. Quatro adds that the goblins were gladiators. Maria asks Ian if the Madam recruited him. Upon finding out that his father was the one who recruited him, Maria turns a suspicious eye on Ian. 

The carriage rumbles as it enters the Wayne estate. When he steps off the carriage, the ground shakes. He sees a dozen of his servants gathered around the shed with guards who are drawing their swords. 

Maria casts light on the group. They are startled, but one servant notices Ian and runs over to him. Ian is told that there is an intruder in the shed. The group decides to go investigate in case its Javier. As the ground shakes, Ian asks the spellcasters if they can identify what is causing the quakes. Ollie wonders if it’s something big burrowing underground. Jean knows that arcane spells can be cast that quake the earth, but it is usually more 

Katrina tells Ian that she is a Derlen and can shape change. Ian thinks she’s deluded. Maria is invisible and can walk through the door. Ian asks her to scout ahead. Maria blinks into the room and casts light on the other side of the room. She sees Javi and casts hold person on him. Maria calls the others into the room. 

Ian and the others walk in. He ties up Javi who is suddenly very happy to see Ian. Ian has never seen this man before. Maria becomes instantly suspicious. Javi becomes distraught that Ian doesn’t recognize him. Ian intimidates Javi and finds out the artifact is under a specific pumpkin patch. Katrina and Javi discuss the fact that time and space is not the way it’s supposed to be. Javi recognizes all the others. Maria flies back and prepares to attack. She stops Ian from looking for the artifact. She wants Quatro to go with Javi instead. The two quarrel. 

The shaking intensifies. Then something erupts right under Quatro. Out comes a purple worm. 

Legion of Super-Heroes - Catching up

Previously on Legion of Super-Heroes

The group accident killed Time Trapper. This takes place immediately following that...

The New Empire

The Emperor’s Champion, The Quatro, is in the arena. His opponent is the very last Stone Golem in the galaxy. Quatro sees movements inside the Imperial box. Either the Emperor or one of his wives is inside the box. The golem says, “We don’t need to fight. We don’t need to listen to the emperor.” Quatro’s axe can’t seem to hit the golem, so he grapples the guy. The stone golem doesn’t resist. Jed, Quatro’s fighting partner, runs into the arena. Jed tries to stab the golem but misses. Quatro kills block with an upper cut. Quatro throws some of the rubble to the crowds who fight over it. He looks up at the Imperial box. There is a robed woman in red and blue with a light blue veil over her face. It is traditional for the first wives to hide their faces. She is wearing the sigil of a curled snake. She holds out a flower toward Quatro. He bows and kneels. She praises him and hands him the flower. It is a beautiful red rose with tinges of blue along the tips of the petals. It looks like there is something hidden among the petals. When he looks at it later it says, “I’ll see you tonight.” This is the third wife.

We appear at the office of the observers where newly minted John Snell is familiarizing himself with some cases. He’s the third eye. A woman clad in blue and red robes with a sigil of a snake arrives with an elvish woman. He has no doubt that this is the third wife, who has never encountered before. “We owe you thanks and congratulations for rooting out the traitor.” Snell is responsible for catching Focult,( Invisible Kid). Before he was found to be treacherous, he was fulfilling a duty for the third wife. She was hoping he left files behind for her. He finds the files. One is filed: Glorith and the other Katrina Veldar. She was involved with Focult and involved in his treachery. Katrina is the wife of Director Veldar who is the head of the peace council. John offers to research the director, but she says it’s unnecessary because the director is loyal to the emperor. Both files glow as magical and are set with a wizard lock of some sort that are keyed to specific individual to be open. He studies her; she has magic of the protective variety on her. Her broach is also magical. The elvish woman has a faint glamor on her. It is there to provide proof against mind reading. As she leaves, she refers to the elven woman as Allesandra.

Ian’s father instructs him to go on a little mission that he is going on. He tells him that since he’s being trained for a better role in the council of magics, he wants Ian to come and observe as he confiscates a forbidden artifact that an unauthorized item is in the possession of somebody. Ian’s father is wearing his best robes and all of his best jewelry. Ian dresses appropriately and wears the Wayne family crest. They head to the greater noble neighborhood. House Spiffiny is one of the lesser houses that has designs upon being a greater house. The patriarch of the family recently died in a very tragic accident involving a sword and a tub. The eldest and only son, Lester, has taken over the house. Everybody puts up with them but pays them little mind. The previous patriarch came into possession of a rare artifact that is far too dangerous for somebody as unskilled in the ways of magic as them. They are there to take the magical device. Ian is to watch and do nothing.

An attractive wench escorts them into the house. In the sitting room there is one item that stands out among all the others: it’s a huge tapestry. It shows a battle, two forces opposing one another. The one on the right is imperial forces, and the enemy side are all clad in variation of the same green uniform. Floating over the head of the green army are small figures with blue skin and red robes. This is a representation of the battle of the green in which the emperor’s forces overwhelmed plant Io. Most notably, at the head of the charge of the emperor forces is a very attractive woman with a darker skin tone than the others. She has greenish glow about her (like Dynasty). A pimply faced kid comes out. He greets Ian’s father with too much familiarity. He congratulates them on the marriage into the McCulley family. He vocalizes interest in the youngest daughter. Ian tries to keep his face still, but his eyebrow twitches a little bit. The kid draws attention to the tapestry. The tapestry is woven with the robe of the guardians of the universe. There’s even threads of the lantern corp. Ian’s father vocalizes that he is there for the hourglass. He stammers, “What hourglass?” Its possession is outlawed by the emperor, and he has been sent by the council of magic to confiscate it. Ian’s father sighs, fiddles with his ring, lifts his fingers, and incinerates the tapestry and the wench. Lester beats at the flaming tapestry, but it’s futile. Father says, “The hourglass that is in the safe that is located behind what used to be your family’s tapestry.” He asks for the hourglass again and threatens to burn down the load bearing wall. Lester twirls the combination on the safe; it’s the equivalent of 1,2,3, 4. He grabs a teak box that looks classy. He stumbles back to Thomas and offers it. Thomas snaps the lock on the box and rested inside is a golden hourglass about the size of a drinking glass. Thomas looks at it and closes the box. Once inside the carriage, Thomas asks Ian what lessons he has learned. Ian shares his insights and his father appears pleased. Another forbidden artifact has come to light and Thomas has convinced the council to send Ian.

Ollie is spending his day, as he does every day, in the imperial gardens. He is tending to a very rare flower that will be worn by the new fifth wife. It will be ready just in peak condition right before the wedding next month. The third wife approaches Ollie with her handmaiden. She sends away her handmaiden. The flower is from Ollie’s home world. She asks him to tell her about his world. He does. It was one of the first worlds to bend its knees to the emperor. Saplings were given as gifts to the emperor. Ollie is one of those saplings. He shares about the Serpant or Mother-in-law plant. The emperor’s mother is long gone, so the third wife has never had to deal with her. She asks Ollie if there are any medicinal plants and shares, “My handmaiden Allessandra has confessed to having troubles with her memories lately. Might you have medicinal plants that might enhance the memory in some way?” Ollie gives her some suggestions. He crafts a poultice in moments. It should be spread over the forehead when one wakes in the morning. She lifts her veil, leans over, and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

Maria is in the council of magic. Master Antonio Stefanagi (can’t spell) walks in. She recognizes him as her master. The council of magic has been tasked with working with the other councils to ensure a smooth celebration and a joyous one. He nudges her. She says it’s only rumor. Antonio has placed a wager that it will be her. Maria thinks it will be the Wayne girl because she is pliable. He wants her to be the liaison with Director Valdar in the council of peace to spread the message of peace. General Laro had to put down a rebellion by the heroes of the planet and the lightning clan of … The door to the chamber opens and Kyle (Dynasty’s brother) walks inside. He’s dressed in simple robes. Someone is here to see his sister. Kyle whispers in his ear. It’s the third wife. Maria greets the third wife. At the third wife’s request, Kyle takes the handmaiden elsewhere. The third wife has heard rumors that Maria will be the fifth wife. She acknowledges Maria’s beauty and asks about Maria’s study. Maria lists some of her powers and skills, including not having to breath. The third wife jokes that this particular skill will be helpful as fifth wife. She asks Maria to answer honestly if she wants to be the fifth wife. Maria bluffs that she will be honored to do whatever the emperor wants of her. Maria asks the third wife if she’s interested in history. The wife asks what period Maria is interested in studying. Maria is obviously interested in the reign of the emperor but honestly, she is interested in the emperor’s battle in the 20th century against leagues and society of heroes. The third wife is interested in reading more. Maria will gather scrolls and information for her. The third wife extends an invitation to dine at the palace. Kyle looks disheveled but the handmaiden looks perfectly put together.

Katrina wakes up in a prison cell. She got her memories an hour ago. She is trying to figure out where she made the mistake and what she missed. Based on what she remembers on the last moments in the other timeline, she’s pretty sure that blowing up time trapper and trying to rescue the person from the hourglass, Dynasty did weird magical shit that interfered with the chrono artifact of the hourglass further messing things up. From all of her research and what she had gleaned from herself when she was the embodiment of the time trapper, she knows that the time trapper was instrumental in putting the legion together in the first place. With no time trapper, there is no legion. That has obviously had a cascading effect on everything else. She tries to manifest energy, but it feeds into itself. A masked man, Persuader, walks into the cell to take her. As she passes a cell, she sees Jacque chained to the wall, not looking well. She is dragged into an extravagant room. Sitting on the dais is the emerald empress. Little green stones float around her head. She asks Katrina how long she’s been working with the resistance. Katrina confesses that she has indirectly worked with them for a very little time. The Emerald Empress asks who else is in the resistance. Katrina says she doesn’t know but that the Empress would not believe anything she says. The Empress pulls out a dagger and licks it. She wants to use it on Katrina but can’t leave any marks because Katrina is still the wife of the director of peace. The Empress threatens to hurt Focurt. Katrina admits that she doesn’t want him hurt but she doesn’t have anything to share. The Empress stares up at her stones and admits that Katrina is surprisingly telling the truth. The emperor wishes no more executions until the anniversary of his ascendency at which point there will be a public execution to celebrate his wedding. Despite all her efforts with her eyes and ears, she has no idea who the emperor has chosen. As she continues talking, a hidden side door opens. Another woman walks in. She is wearing a red mask with a big white stripe in the middle of it. She has long flowing blonde hair and is dressed in a simple but stylish red gown. She has need of the prisoner because the emperor has another need for Katrina. The Empress is pissed and embeds her dagger in a pillow. The new woman takes Katrina away. She is respectful and polite. She doesn’t drag her but instead loosely holds the chain. Katrina suspects that this is one of the wives. She says, “The Cherry trees in the garden are beautiful this time of year.” Katrina knows that this is one of Jacque’s resistance expressions.

Ian is back at Wayne manor later that night in the drawing room after dinner. Tjere has been another artifact that needs to be confiscated. It has fallen into the hands of one of the palace guards. The item and the guard have disappeared. It is known as the amulet of Namazone. It is incredibly dangerous and threatens to disrupt his majesty’s peace. It must be reoptained by any measure. Normally for a simple mission, one would send one agent but given the danger of this artifact they want to send him with others who have particular skills that might be helpful. They want to make sure Ian is well protected so they will be sending along the emperor’s champion. The emperor’s profetress indicates that some wild creature might somehow be associated with this palace guard, so they are also going to send one of the gardeners. And of course, one of the eyes from the council of eyes and ears will be accompanying them. One of the hero of the green left behind two children; one is a student at the council of magic. She will be joining. Another will be joining but Ian cannot be told who. It is somebody else who is in the palace right now. Thomas will escort Ian to the palace where he will meet with one of the advisors who has been the one to best interpret the profitress dreams in this situation. She will be able to explain more and introduce him to his fellow travelers. The item is beyond the city walls. It is believed it is somewhere on the Wayne estates; fifty miles beyond the metropolis. He will be on higher ground there. Of them all only the Ramirez needs to be kept safe. Ian asks if the others are aware that they answer to him. Thomas says that it will be made clear.

Quatro has been careful all day. He’s saving himself for that night’s festivities. His trainer eventually shows up to tell him a noble woman is there for him. When Quatro walks in and finds a woman in red robes with a leather mask. It has a red stripe. She has no sort of identifying sign. She assures him that the third wife has no interest in pursuing anything with him. He bluffs that he wasn’t expecting anything. She tells him that the emperor is impressed with him and wants him to complete a mission. She asks him to gather his supplies and magical weapons. He will be debriefed later.

Snell is closing up for the evening when the door opens. A woman in red robes with a red mask with a white stripe down the middle of it walks in. She is there to summon him for the emperor. It involves a mission to retrieve an artifact. A small group will be sent to retrieve it. He offers to gather information for her. She asks that he find out how loyal they are to the emperor. One of them is disloyal but the others is unknown. She can answer further questions once they are all together. If he discovers disloyalty, he is not to take action but to provide it in his report.

Ollie is finishing up the garden when he sees a woman with red robes with a red mask with a white stripe down the middle of it. She tells him that the emperor has need of his services. The emperor thought he had the particular talents needed to retrieve an artifact of importance. He will be escorted to the palace within the half hour. It is especially important that he be prepared to deal with potentially dangerous wildlife.

Maria is visited by the woman in the red robe with the red mask with a white stripe. The master has approved for Maria to go on a mission to retrieve an artifact that has been stolen. Someone will be there within the half hour.

Everyone is escorted to the castle. Katrina is left waiting in the room manacled and chained but the doors have been left unlocked. She looks around the room for something to unlock the manacles. She finds a thin set of tongs with an ice bucket. She manages to use them to unlock the manacles. Electricity courses through her body and the manacles stay locked. There is no guard outside the door. Katrina decides to wait. The robed woman returns twenty minutes later. The rest of the group enters. Katrina recognizes them.