Alexis is unsure what to say or how to feel. She is, of course, very touched at Shelly's statement of loyalty. She even "says" as much by gently putting her hand to her heart. The nature queen doesn't object to Timothius' suggestion for the team name as she finds it fitting.

(Skip my other alts for now)

Mittens face-crunches in confusion at Shelly's response and decides to chew on it some more while she answers the others first.

"Thanks again for offered emergency assistance, J'Renn," Mittens says, rubbing her chin in contemplation, "And yes... the proof will be in the pudding, Raichel.  Thanks for the compliment."

Mittens thinks back to her past, trying to find an analogy to Shelly's response.  She recalls how unpopular the Star Sibyl's "lap dog" guard Semih Lafihna was for her loyalty to the Taru leader.  She takes a deep breath and puckers her lips in an exaggerated frown.

"I get the feeling I'm not interpreting what you said the way you want me to," Mittens surmises in reply to Shelly, trying to be as logical sounding as possible, "Allow me to quote back to you what you said... as filtered through my thought processes.  'I'm lightly embarrassed that you called me out on the Water Kingdom's superweapon because I'm a little uncomfortable with killing the people of someone who hugged me.  So I'm making up my mind to be indifferent if you live or die because for some reason the dead people of the Nature Kingdom matter more than every living person of the Fire Nation combined.

"Alexis...  I worship the ground she walks on, and will murder millions on her whim, but go on a quest to find the truth behind the attacks on her people?!  Forget it!  That sounds dangerous!  Even with the King of Life here... I may chip a nail!  When she's finished putting her neck on the line, we can talk about her supposed threat to your people.  Not like I have any plans of using that weapon on your people while you're distracted or anything.  Noooo.  I was just here to save face.  So long, suckers!"

Mittens takes a breath and continues.

"Maybe not the most tactful way of relaying my hearing of what you said, but I figured it better to be open than to keep that kind of interpretation to myself.  At least I'm convinced that you weren't crying alligator tears for the Nature Kingdom to lure me into dropping my emotional defenses around you if that helps any."

She looks over at Frank.

"Is the Water Language really that far removed from the Fire Language?  Or is my being alien the issue here?"

At least she knows she's insane? Maximus thinks to himself with a disgusted look on his face.  He takes a deep breath to regain his poise and leans over to whisper in his daughter's ear but stops himself.  He realizes it best not to say anything in secret with the fire queen present lest she think she's being plotted against.

"We have a telepath handy," he reminds.

Prism is holding their collective breath, wondering if all the progress made so far was just undone.  They're encouraged by King Urser's calm-ish and sane reaction at least.

  It's not like Frank died back there anyway.  Never mind how acclimatized Darkthorne is to sudden and brutal death around him.  "Our travels are in part to see this.  To remind us these are virtues that exist, not some self delusion born out of desperation." Darkthorne you're missing your black beret and elaborately complex latte order to go with that talk.

  He considers Mittens's elaboration of how she interpreted Shelly's speech.  He doesn't mention his kinds linguistic perks because there is always that pesky difference between 'understanding a language' and 'understanding what they actually meant'.  "Am I correct in understanding that Maximus Urser is suggesting the use of telepathy to glean the truth, on someone with regalia that prevents such mental intrusions of that scale unless they will it so.  Returning us again to 'will have to take her word for it'?"

  Nevermind Kasketons dislike mental futzing even though they themselves are immune to it.  That kind of suggestion despite what are apparently standard issue Crown designs to all Element Here Leaders will likely result in Mitten's going off on a tangent of Maxiumus trying to take advantage of her naivety regarding the Standard Issue Royal Equipment Drops.  Or a trick to get Mittens to remove her crown out of spite and opening herself up to cloaked Protos.

  Or something.  It couldn't possibly be because their player forgot those crowns did that.  That would be crazy.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:17, Mon 20 Sept 2010.

Is basically ready to go, she checks over her gear one more time ensuring there's fresh power cells all 'round, and everything works fine.  While she does her check she senses someone talking about her when they mention 'The telepath'.  She looks up and around focusing on the minds of the people who mentioned her to see if they had any expectations from her.  Her gentle mind probing would only give someone the feeling of being watched if they were sensitive to those things.

Shelly folds her arms giving Mittens a "you're weird" look ( http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hp...02_31532035_84_n.jpg ). She looks at her dad when he mentions the telepath. Shelly then looks at J'Renn. "Are you able to convey absolute intentions and meaning directly from one mind to another?"

Even if J'Renn IS able to, Shelly reminds herself she doesn't want to become dependent on that. She needs to learn to speak for herself in a way even crazy alien cat people who accidentally take over the fire nation can understand.

And yes, J'Renn more or less saw that as well as thoughts of "this girl is WEIRD" in Shelly's surface thoughts.

Shelly would wait for a reply, but regardless of what was said, she would speak up to Mittens and say, "Break a nail? Honestly? You must think the core is some kind of picnic. If I went on this mission, I would die. I would be more hindrance than help. My skill set is more how to rule a kingdom than how to fight monsters. You and Alexis are the opposite. You two are powerful beings familiar more with your powers than how to rule a nation. One-on-one, either one of you could obliterate me with both hands tied behind your back. If I went on the mission, the absolute best we could hope for is my leadership, and in this case, leading a small force in battle is a different skill set than leading a whole nation, its economy, etc. And that's just usefulness. There's such a thing as a 5th wheel. I am not required at ALL. I trust what you two will come out saying the answer was. What would it benefit anyone if I went there? If I died, that would be yet another heartache for Alexis. And I can just about guarantee I would die in there. I don't care how cowardice the truth sounds, but it's the truth."

She takes a small breath. "As for how you interpreted everything else? How about I turn it around on you and say that what you said sounds like the millions of Nature people who died don't matter at all? They matter. Their blood cries for justice. And if I kill innocents, that would only soil their graves. You don't have to worry about me or Alexis ordering for the massacre of innocents. But the guilty? That is another story. Now then... you wanted answers, right? Isn't that what the core is for? Maybe you can ask what the will of fire really was and one of these neutral types can ask if I'm a homicidal hypocritical maniac. Or you could do something unheard of and trust me."

Having experience with such headgear, Raichel answers Darkthorne. "You are not correct in your understanding of the ruler's crown. It prevents mental dominance. But they can allow telepathic conversation all the same as normal conversation. Effectively, it is an anti-deception, anti-domination tool. Though how you even came to assume that much about the crown, I'd like to know. Aren't you new to this area of the universe?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:08, Wed 03 Nov 2010.

Alexis is trying not to be offended, remembering this fire queen has been trying hard to get peace rolling. Despite her constant bragging, power-flaunting and rude commentary. She's also reminding herself Shelly is just being honest about skill sets, not saying that Alexis is a bad ruler.

Timothius turns to Mittens. "I have the power to tell when someone is lying. Unfortunately, you would have to trust me to tell you the truth about the results. So it really does boil down to trust, as Shelly said."

Mittens listens with arms folded, nodding and saying "mm-hmm" like Naruto when he's not really paying attention.  She then goes wide-eyed and gets an oooooh look on her face.

"Silly me for jumping to conclusions," she says, smacking her forehead, "I was so impressed with Maximus' fight, I was getting the impression all you royal seabear types could hold your own.  Now it all makes sense and I look silly.  Thanks for the clarification, apologies for the misunderstanding, and it's good you recognize that it was a specific faction, not the entire Fire Nation, who's in question for unprovoked violence."

She decides against re-iterating that the Fire Nation is awesome and will kick the tail of any attempted invasion because she feels she's made the point well enough.  She turns to Timothius and grins with a thumbs-up.

"That's a handy one," she says, "Lemme know when I'm lying to myself.  It'll be interesting to know if I can trust myself."

  Darkthorne considers Raichel's answer about the Crown, and their player is again reminded of the hassles involved with Darkthorne's capacity to accurately know things like what exactly the Crowns can do suffering through the fact their player isn't an encyclopedia of other players minds.  "Ah, I had assumed it was somehow keeping some of its effects hidden even from me considering how much importance is placed on them.  It seems I was merely overestimating it's usefulness.  Why bother to deceive your rulers when the knowledge of their kingdoms defenses remains unprotected?  As for how I know, realizing such knowledge has become an integral part of our survival.  Would you announce an integral part of your resurrection process to this crowd if they merely asked?"  He is tempted specify Raichel's rod for it's importance to her coming back as knowledgeable and competent as before, but that would be needlessly mean.  Not to mention highlight Darkthorne as a potential threat (well, going 'Haha, I know what your phylactery is' pretty much IS a threat.)

  His response to Mitten's latest commentary is sidelines as he gets a message.  "...I wish you luck in not needing such abilities, but it seems I won't be able to join you after all.  I am needed elsewhere."  He turns to the rest and says "It was good to meet you all, I hope at least most of you survive."  Wow, how touching.  And with that, Darkthorne is gone.

  Darkthorne is significantly less gone in a Dimension Of Shrimp facility.  Hey, direct links back home are just asking for trouble.  "I'm hazy, we've got another exploration agent dealing with what?"  "Something they need more gun for.  You are to deliver this case to the agent at this location, and provide assistance as needed with their current problem before pulling them out to their return facility."  "Don't I get anything?"  "No, unless the agent dies... I will shoot you myself if you speed that along."  "I love you too Mom."  "Good answer, now remember dear Tiamat has five faces so you will have to shoot five times more than usual."

  OOC Style:  You don't have to literally have your Alts make the Tag when you swap them out for eachother, right? No?  Good.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:05, Tue 04 Jan 2011.

  To review those that were present and preparing to travel to the Title Drop.  Royalty, Royalty, Ex-Royalty, Royalty, a pair of named NPC Royalty, unnamed rock person and robed man NPCs (likely royalty), and Two Aliens.  We may have missed someone, but a pattern just might be forming here.  One that shall be followed, depending on how forgiving the definition of Alien is in this case.  A lone robot arrives at gateway... To the gateway, already this post is delving into redundancies, but the scenery started it this time.  Taller than the majority of the crowd but dwarfed in sized by the 20 foot tall rock person everyone seems to have forgotten about, they approach the crowd.

  "I understand the Heart's rules, as given and intended.  I accept the Life King's name for this quest, for it is a reason close to one I share.  Those of you who would discover why those of your clans have suffered in the past at eachothers hands.  Fire and Nature still remain strong as title and empire despite it.  I am Bamzor, Thinking Weapon of the lost clan Ze'Argen.  You that know who but not why, the death of my people is a loss of which even the culprit remains unknown.  I will not compare the value of the total loss of life on one world to the combined lives lost in your wars, the tragedies of out past remains so regardless."  Bamzor stops royal guard approved safe distance from the gathering.

  "I will only say that should it be your desires then revenge is in your grasp without the Heart, as much of a waste it may be.  Those I was built to guard, those that I would avenge the loss of, I know not even what to strike out against after all this time.  My cause likely matters as much to you as yours does to me, little to nothing.  Or if it does matter, not enough to give up your own answer.  My desire for long denied retribution is not so blind that I will mindlessly act against you, or sacrifice you.  Though I would have little regard for the safety of those who would try the same to others.  After all, repeat attempts are not unheard of as Raichel's presence confirms.  This is merely the most opportune time."  For certainly the royalty hates eachother more than they do random strangers... Well, some of them anyways... And others might aim for him first out of spite and hope for an easier less politically wrapped target...  Okay so Bamzor's logic isn't always flawless.

  OOC Style:  Poor J'renn. I make an Altswap and I still can't hold a proper conversation with her character.  Also no mysterious spooky reason he knows the conversations that were going on, this gig's been televised so far after all ;D
This message was last edited by the player at 12:08, Tue 04 Jan 2011.

J'Renn nods to Shelly slowly, responding  (I can tell you exactly what the person is thinking and feeling. With a direct contact I can link two minds together, as a conduit.).

As Mittens makes her comment about letting her know when she's lying to herself J'Renn transmits (I will.  And I should let you know, that the confidence you feel on the surface is not founded by your intellect.  But you seem to be used to making blind leaps.)  she notes with a soft smile.

ooc:Don't worry,  communicating problems just add to the fun.

Timothius nods in response to Mittens' request to let her know when she is lying to herself. He looks up at Bamzor and waves. "You are welcome to come." is all he says. Tim's nervous about the upcoming trek. It isn't an easy one, to put it lightly. But he double checks that everyone is ready. And once he is sure that they are, he goes in.

The Path (Yay namesake):
Once the group enters through the gateway, there is a path of ethereal material. Your basic translucent road with space beneath. There is an archway-shaped ceiling and walls all around. So while there is apparently outer space with stars below.. there is vegetation along the walls and upside-down waterfalls that form lakes on the ceiling. The path continually changes color from one end of the spectrum to the other. The ambient sounds are what you might expect from such a place. Waterfall sounds, singing bird sounds. There is a light breeze blowing through. The path splits off in multiple directions, all of which seem to eventually lead to the ceiling.

The path has no walls of its own, so you can easily fall off the path and go falling into space. The walls are a football field or two away on either side and join with the massive landscaped ceiling.

(I'll wait for everyone else's reactions before I bother with my alts)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:39, Fri 25 Feb 2011.

"Sure I would," Mittens answers, "Reraise is a 25th level white mage and 35th level scholar spell.  It's elemental attribute is life and it drops off Topaz Quadavs.  But you already knew that didn't you, Mr. Smartypants?  Oh.  You're leaving.  Oh well.  Good luck with the surviving on your end too."

She waves bye-bye as the guy leaves.

"Well that's one less person to have to keep track o...spoke too soon."

Enter Bamzor.

"Hello tall golem-like person.  Mittens of Win... of the Fire Nation.  Sympathies for your loss.  Approval for your chosen intentions.  Sentiment returned."

Robots are a new concept for Mittens.  Rock monster seems more the norm for her.  That and the rock guy hasn't entered conversation, so no need to react to him.  Gaze returned to J'Renn.

"Thanks."

She gives a grin and a thumbs-up to J'Renn and follows along on the path.  She drinks in the scenery bright-eyed and tail-waggy.  She offers a side-hug and fist-to-shoulder grind to try and lift Timothius' spirits.

"Fancy," she says, "Of course, I would have expected no less from something as epic as all this.  Since I don't carry around low value objects, someone toss something over the edge for me."

One of her entourage tosses a low value coin over the edge of the pathway to see what happens.

(( Prism?  What's this Prism person you speak of?  The player has decided to drop that character for this RP.  Already enough of a time investment as it is with just this one character.  So Prism simply stays behind without a word. ))

  Bamzor was fairly certain he did not need the approval of any of them to make the attempt.  However he did not doubt actually having some of their approval would make his life easier than if nobody wanted him to survive.  "Your sympathy is appreciated, Queen of win." He knows that is not an accurate title for her, but sometimes taking things the wrong way on purposes can be a good thing.

  As they enter the path, considerations of flying or teleporting to the end of it are discarded because it would defeat the purpose of the path itself.  "I find myself wondering if it is merely coincidence such a perception orientation is not unlike some space colony designs."

  The coin drop means Bamzor also can more easily resist the urge to drop a small cannonball into 'space'.

The coin just keeps falling and doesn't come back.

Timothius says, "I wonder..." he looks up and says, "I'm going to try flying up there and see if gravity changes."

He charges forward, spreads his wings, flaps and finally takes off before gaining altitude towards the 'ceiling'. After a certain point, he bumps into something and starts falling, but manages to catch himself with his wings and land back on the path. "I think this place is strict about following the path.. flight might prove useful for other things, but skipping around probably isn't one of them."

Alexis says, "Then let me try something." and she creates a portal. She quickly discovers she can teleport around, but the same barrier Tim ran into blocks her ability to teleport.

Raichel doesn't comment on any of this. She just follows the group.

"You're welcome, Bamzor," Mits replies, "I was going to say Mittens of Windurst, but recent events have made my less recent origins somewhat less relevant.  Though I certainly don't mind being called Mittens of Win."

She watches the results of the coin toss, flight, and teleportation.

"Man I wish I could do stuff like that.  Ah well.  Not surprised with the results.  It's been my experience that places like this require you to fight your way to the end at least once.  If you're uber lucky, once you've succeeded making it to the end alive, then a short-cut becomes available.  But that's rare for places like this.

"Say Bamzor.  You happen to be exceptionally durable?  If so you're welcome to take the lead.  I'll take the lead if not."

Forward progression either way.

  Bamzor shakes his head, "Perhaps if I had been designed with a more modern Quark Resonator structure, or Meson shields.  Reflective Magnoceramic Latticework could be compared to just above the least of your enchanted armors, if I gauge correctly.  I would expect you all to be far more capable of protecting yourselves as the local royalty."

  Bamzor used Game Reference Technobabble.  Super Effective Yes?/No?

  Depending on the setting Bamzor's estimates could either be wild overstatements of spectacular understatements.  Of course Shelly counts as an exception, but she is A) not here, and B) Her father was the default of Water Kingdom Royalty and has already been shown to be somewhat badass.

  Also, it's a suckers game to take point on a dangerous 'winner take all' journey just because someone asks you too.  But that's entirely unrelated.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:20, Wed 08 June 2011.

Timothius takes the lead and says, "This armor isn't just for show, Mittens of Windurst." as he holds his shield up and marches forward. "What exactly are places like this, Mittens? You've been to places like the heart of the Universe itself?" he asks, doubt in the tone of his voice.

Raichel is quiet and follows along, not having anything to add.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:45, Wed 08 June 2011.

Alexis raises an eyebrow when Mittens admits to something she *can't* do. Mental note: Teleportation and flight are not in Mittens' list of can-do. Little does she know, if Mittens' player took the game too literally, Mittens is incapable of jumping too. But we'll ignore that game mechanic (or lack thereof). Still, it is clear flight and at-will teleporting were not meant to be part of the game.

Thank you, City of Heroes.

Alexis does look at her own feet with a slightly wierded-out expression. She wiggles her toes, takes another step, and then continues just following along. When she finds a turn to speak up, Alexis asks, "Mittens, what is your long-term goal?"

Meanwhile, Miranda seems to be examining Bamzor with fascination. Thanks to having been to the arena fight, she knows who the Shenhanigans are, but that doesn't mean she knows who Bamzor is or that he has anything to do with the Shenhanigans. However, "Forgive me for asking Mr Bamzor, but... did everyone from your world die?"

"Thank you, Sir Timothius," Mittens says to the armored one, "Protection spells all 'round!"

She she begins to cast a series of magical buffs on the group starting with herself that increase their resistance to magical and physical damage.  Which presumably work on all present.

"Places like the heart of the universe, yes.  In the same way a sapling is like a tree.  There's a place on my world called Ru'Aun Gardens.  It's a fortress in the sky of my world.  Beyond the Gate of the Gods.  There's a pathway there much like this one.  I have great expectations about this place.  I'll be rather disappointed if it turns out to be no more challenging than the gods of my world."

Mittens looks over at Alexis with a puzzled look.

"To find out what happened to spark the tragedy between our people and punish those responsible.  After that?  I dunno.  Find someone more suited to be the leader of the Fire Nation?"

  Considering currently the Shenhanigans list creating sentient machines as 'a big Nono' (No relation to certain Moogles), Miranda not realizing his production origins is not particularly shocking.  "There were no survivors of the Ze'Argen Clan's colony.  My purpose failed even before my first activation." Whine Whine whaa whaa.  Bamzor tends not to mention exact figures, because of a certain incident after someone responded 'oh, only that little died? Big deal.'

  "As spoken, I am here intending to find who or what was responsible.  Centuries have passed, and the trail was weak to begin with."  For reference, no they did not kill themselves.  No they did not Play God and not have what it took to put down their mad creation.  Only looser civilizations (or small groups that stand as an example of) go out like that.  "What of you?  Grand intentions have either been stated, or implied by those here.  I would not expect you to come along merely out of curiosity."