Subdate!

 The creature's features contort mechanically into a bit of fury mixed with frustration, "I mean to study your affliction and prevent you from completing your sliver-alignment. I will capture you if I must but if my makers come they will take me from this world and humanity, which I have grown to enjoy. I need to remain free. I don't believe it would benefit mankind either."

 Outreach notices the four other Sliver-bearers on the ground, panting and nearly unconscious. This had clearly been something important and had strongly affected them. Nic was a ways off but he could tell that he was feeling confused as well about the situation, perhaps he did not know what would happen either if the slivers delivered their final message.

Davin gestured to the figure on the bier, "And this one? He was also implanted or was he being studied for another reason? Also how many need to be together to complete this....alignment?"

The older man gently examines the four nearby sliver-bearers, obviously checking upon their well-being, while subtly shifting them so that they are all in physical contact with each other.  He nods at Davin's queries.

"Also, how can we cure those with afflictions such as this blue skin or these scales?"

He straightens up, and fixes his empathetic gaze upon the metal man.

"Geo, my name is Cornelius.  Well met.  I appreciate your warning, and am happy to leave this place."

"You wish to remain free, and I support your desire to do so.  These five sliver-bearers also wish to remain free, and I support their desire to do so."

"I have already separated them, and so we need only wait for the slivers to run out of power, and they can remain free, just as you desire to remain free."

"How may I help you to remain free?  May I be of any assistance to you, or to your mentor Zola?"

 UPDATE!

 Cornelius manages to covertly place the sliver-bearers in contact so that they might teleport at the same time.

 The metal man seemed visually perturbed by the questions, but answers them one at a time, seemingly to the best of his ability. "To my knowledge, all of the Slivers must be in close proximity to begin the alignment. The man there was affected by the gases I believe, there is no reversing the changes to his physiology to my knowledge, or the woman with the scales."

 With effort, he takes a step forward and appeared to be bolstered by his success and attempts another but his legs seemed slowed as if fighting a river current. "The slivers pose some threat so long as they are loose, if they stay together they will likely be used up by the slivers. On the other hand, separately they each will display unique abilities like him and her," he points to Helen, then Nic twenty meters away.

 "I do not know how these slivers came to inhabit these individuals and I don't know exactly what these creators have planned for them. I only know that they will send out a signal. My own powers come from similar devices and they have reacted to one another's presence before. A high-pitched whine, static from my inputs on par with radio signals."

 "You should know I have alerted Zola's group to our whereabouts, if you do value freedom, then you should leave this cold place and them with me. I do not wish to harm them, but I must understand how they made the signal so that I might send a signal of my own."

(OOC: Intiative: Outreach, Davin, Terranean, Nic)

The older man gently shifts his leg an inch to put his ankle in contact with the arm of the nearest sliver-bearer.

"I do value and support freedom, Geo.  My freedom, your freedom, and theirs..."

In the blink of an eye, the older man and the four sliver-bearers disappear...

... and in another blink of an eye, the older man reappears next to Nic.

"I do not wish to be at enmity with you, Geo.  I would like to help you, if I can.  What signal of your own do you wish to send?"

RPoL Dice Roller:

19:38, Today: Outreach rolled 63 using 1d100+30.  Move Action Teleport +30 Team Karma.
19:38, Today: Outreach rolled 68 using 1d100+30.  Regular Action Teleport +30 Team Karma.

Yellow feats for each!  :)

Sorry for burning more team karma, but I suspected that you folks would rather have me around for the next several seconds...  :o

Davin shrugs his shoulders as the newcomer disappears and reappears. His mind reaching out to track the destination, but he gives no further attention to them. "That was rather foolish, but I have more personal concerns then these slivers. If you wish to pursue them feel free. I only wish to take my countryman and depart." Davin gestures with his hands in a hard pulling motion as though he were pulling a rope tied to something unbearably heavy and the bier begins to float in the direction of Berlin. "Should Zola appear, I will of course destroy him, but you....." Davin gives an uncaring shrug and begins to walk with the bier, keeping an eye on the automata.

OOC: 50 Karma spent. Davin Mandic rolled 37 using 1d100 +40 for 77 and just barely a yellow feat for Matter Animation (Crystal) 2nd Stunt.

Nic looked at the group of people from the ship and started to turn away when one of the newcomers started teleporting again. He let out a growl. "What're you..."

He whirled to stare at the man when he re-appeared. "HEY! What the hell!" He took in a deep breath and tried to calm himself - but he didn't know the teleporter. Sure, they'd been 'helpful' thus far, but Nic didn't know them.

He pointed at Geo and said, "You aren't taking Helen, and you sure aren't taking me."

He then stepped close to the teleporting man and very quietly said, "if you got them to safety, thank you. if not, well...that'll be a different conversation neither of us will enjoy."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Wed 08 Sept 2021.

The older man barely nods, and murmurs in response.

"It is my privilege to serve.  Lord willing, you will join them in safety very soon..."

UPDATE!

 A shout of surprise as the people and Geo responded to the quick evacuation of the four Sliver-bearers. His eyes slid to Nic and the reappearing Outreach, who appeared to be winded for the second.

 Davin began to walk away from the scene with his countryman, levitated by a crystalline pillar that glowed with a reddish inner-light in an otherwise black structure, almost as if it were flickering with fire. It did not incinerate the man to anyone watching. Geo took notice and nodded.

 The metal man actually seems to growl as his gaze resettled on Nic and Outreach, an unsettling sound. "You'll wish you hadn't done that!"

 He raises a hand and literal hands appear from within the earth, each the size of a motor carriage. The first smashes where Outreach had been a moment prior, his danger sense kicking in at the last second and blink-teleporting him several yards away. The second hand engulfs Nic in a ton of pasture sod and snow where he stood, grinding him into gravel. (OOC: Taking 30 damage.)

 To his now left-side, Geo flashes a second hand, raising a wall of earthen material between themselves and Davin, effectively splitting the Pasture in half but not impeding Davin's retreat. Outreach stands between the wall and Nic currently, Davin on the other side of the pasture from this scene.

(OOC: Ongoing Intiative: Outreach, Davin, Terranean, Nic) Nic, please roll strength and endurance, plus anything else you want to try in the short time you have left....^_^
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:53, Thu 09 Sept 2021.

Davin paused in his walk as the wall of earth rose to cut him off and he sighed. He carried little for this battle, but the rudeness along with this Zola and the automata's willingness to work with him was tiring. He also supposed he needed to make sure the idiot was alive. He let the bier slow to a stop though still hovering and stretched out his arms. His body dissolved into that of an Eagle-Owl and he took flight to gain position above the wall. The thoughts of the automata were hidden from him and so made him uncertain for a moment before he continued on. The bier rose with him in sympathetic response.

OOC:  Davin Mandic rolled 80 using 1d100 ((80)) Shapeshifting.

The older man is momentarily taken aback by the complete engulfment of Nic, leaving no immediate means of evacuating him from Geo's wrath.

He recovers himself as well as possible, holding up a restraining hand once again.

"Halt, Geo!  Release him now, without further harm!"

RPoL Dice Roller:

22:25, Today: Outreach rolled 50 using 1d100+40.  Emotion Control: Submissiveness +40 Team Karma.

OOC: On the Original Universal Table, 46+ would be a green feat... but on the Newfangled Universal Table, 51+ is required.  I maxed out allowable Karma spent on a single roll, and still just missed... :o

UPDATE!
(OOC: @Outreach: the rolls are meant to be failable even with maxed karma. It's a little harsher, I try not to make failure hurt too badly when it happens. There should always be an outside chance that you can still fail. I'm hoping Nic will post soon so we can see what's about to happen, but I'm grateful he's letting us get a little workout first. ^_^)

 Davin takes to the air coming up over the wall of earth that Geo had raised.

 Geo looks at the man and shakes his head. "I told you, not to interfere. I still do not wish to harm you, nor this man. Bring back the others or I will have no choice but to keep this man captive. I will trade them if I must. They cannot be allowed to return together. No matter the cost. I don't think he's going to last much longer, so you must decide quickly."

 Seeing Davin makes Geo change his tactics then. As a boulder of grey stone and shiny hematite spiderwebbed throughout it seems to unearth itself and shapes itself, cracking, tumbling, and refusing into another wall around Geo himself, complete with a shadowy viewport. Two suspiciously barrel-shaped hollow cylinders smoothly begin to extend from the top of the wall as pieces of rock tumbled up to join in its creation. "I only need ONE of the sliver-bearers though. So perhaps I should simply make my exit..."

(OOC: This is the kinda drama I love about making games! Make agility rolls for me, both of you during your next turn Davin and Outreach, and any other rolls you'd like to try!.)

Davin made a high screeching sound of indignation and simply circled higher into the sky dragging the bier behind him by force of will. He made no attempt to cross the wall and instead seemed to be orienting himself on Berlin and the crashed airship. Slowly circling away from the confrontation below him.



OOC: Davin Mandic rolled 74 using 1d100. Agility Roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:17, Mon 13 Sept 2021.

Nic was engulfed and his world was made out of earth, dirt and rocks suddenly. And pain. He was so beaten up and tired.

He was confused for a moment, then he got angry. He was tired of arrogant assholes thinking they knew best and doing whatever they wanted. And people deciding things for him - that only partially included Davin intruded on him mentally and offering something that sounded less like a suggestion than it might have been intended.

Regardless, he was hurt, unable to breathe and didn't want to be captured or used as a bargaining chip/hostage. He kept his mouth closed, his breath inside, whatever he'd been able to get right before the wall came up. He kept his eyes closed as well, not wanting to get any gunk in them. He didn't need to see for what he was about to try anyway. He reached out for the power, for the light inside him, and showed it to the world around him once more.

He created light around him, skin tight and thin, then began building it quickly, pushing it outward from him rapidly, pushing the earth away from him as hard as he could, creating a bubble around him.

22:43, Today: Luminary rolled 20 using 1d100.  Light Control (Solidifcation 3rd time) (50 karma to try, +40 karma to roll).

The older man prayed silently, grounding himself as he faced the stresses of the current situation.

Then he holds up his other hand calmly, his voice carrying clearly.

"Geo.  Please release him NOW, without further harm."

RPoL Dice Roller:

22:25, Today: Outreach rolled 59 using 1d100+40.  Emotion Control: Submissiveness +40 Team Karma.

OOC: Green feat at last!  :)

UPDATE!

 Outreach extended his power and calm. The metal man actually screeched to a halt. Geo's hands clenched into a fist and struggled forward defiantly but at that moment Nic explodes from his earthen prison, a bubble of white light surrounded him.

 Davin a dozen meters away is repulsed by the flash of light but shakes it off quickly. Circling higher overhead with the chill air. His senses tell him the others were safe in a place far from harm, Nic would be fine if they could get away from the mindless metal man.

 Nic and Outreach find themselves facing Geo who looked thoroughly pissed but stayed quiet except for some moans of loathing and betrayal. It was clear, he knew he was beaten and he had no leverage.

(OOC: Ok, how you do you want to deal with Geo now?)

The older man silently gave a brief prayer of thanks as his eyes wandered over the field of battle.

For just a moment, he considered further questioning Geo... but one look at Nic dissuaded him.

The latter had already been injured before getting engulfed, and he seemed even worse off now.

His control of Geo also did not seem quite as firm as before, and there was no telling when he might break free once again.

Whatever further information could be obtained was not worth the risk.

"Geo...  You have brought harm to others, but I still do not seek your harm or your enmity..."

In the blink of an eye, he appeared next to Nic.

"Farewell..."

And in another blink of an eye, they disappeared.

RPoL Dice Roller:

20:49, Today: Outreach rolled 108 using 1d100+30.  Move Action Teleport +30 Team Karma.
20:50, Today: Outreach rolled 49 using 1d100.  Regular Action Teleport.

Red feat and green feat respectively.

Hopefully the former is sufficient to get through any challenges posed by the light bubble.

Hopefully we also get a bagload of Karma, since I have been deficit spending Team Karma like there is no tomorrow... ;)

Davin cirlced one last time before flapping his wings and heading towards Berlin with his grim baggage trailing behind him. In the halls of his mind he sang an old lullaby that was old when Romulus and Remus were born - it spoke of night's gentle embrace and day's rising call. He sang the song until he could no longer hear the mind following behind him.

As he sang he sought out the thoughts of the others - particularly Ms. Blankenship and the agent.

Nic started to get himself ready. He turned to look at Geo, encased in a bubble of light. His face clearly showed his anger. He was angry about several things - but right then, it was mostly about being seen as not even a person, but just something to be studied and used!

He let out a growl, "You're not taking me anywhere, metalhead! Nor the others!"

He got ready to unleash the light in a powerful blast if Geo was determined and tried anything hostile again.

Chapter 1.5: Conclusion

 When Nic breaks free, chunks of sod fly everywhere. He stands within the light bubble and makes his ultimatum to Geo, who seems locked in place for the moment. His features are unsettling and unreadable for the most part, but the metal man's moaning groans seem to continue despite his words. His voice did not match his calm demeanor, however, "I will have my revenge if the signal goes out. Mark My Words..."

 With a sudden blink of the eye, Outreach is with Nic, "Farewell"

 
Moment's later in St.Petersburg, Russia...

 The pair suddenly appear within a Hostel's barn stable. There are several horses quietly neighing, eating feed, and snorting. Outside, the sounds of city life seem quiet but still obvious at this later hour.


 High above the skies where he'd left Geo, Davin watched as the last two living people winked out, jetting minds across time and space. The man seemed at peace after his struggle against the gas' toxic components, and Davin feels his mind slip into the ether... Scanning across the landscape he senses Ms.Blankenship's mental signature moving further and further afield, and came to understand she'd continued on the train.

(OOC: Great RPing folks! Karma awards forthcoming! Check the Team status thread and record your karma on your char sheet!)

Davin lands with the bier, returning to human form he sighs softly as he closes the eyes of the dead. Then reaching down to place his hand on the forehead of the deceased, "I am sorry. I do not have the true light or darkness." Red black energy coursed from his palm and engulfed the body searing heat and darkness in a strobing flash of red black. It went on for quite some time until only ash remained of the body. The red black fire congealed into solid energy and collected the ashes. Reaching into his jacket he collects what remains into a small canister and tucks it back into his jacket pocket.

Orienting himself toward Ms. Blankenship's thoughts and thus the train, he let's the crystal bier fall to the ground to dissolve in it's own time before leaping upward as an Eagle-Owl again. The train had a head start, but he was faster in the air then it was on the tracks.

Nic felt that now-becoming-familiar wrenching sensation as he was quickly and forcibly transported to a different location. He let out a grunt and looked at the ground, flinging his arms out a little to steady himself.

"UGH!" He swallowed and then brought his head back up, finding the teleporter that he barely knew. "Will you st..." He let out a sigh and calmed himself, drawing in a deep breath. "Where are we? And who are you?"

Freed from the necessity of keeping Geo controlled, the older man breathed a sigh of relief, and reverted to radiating his natural peaceful calm.

"We are now in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the barn of a Hostel."

"For obvious reasons, we are on the opposite side of the barn from your four rescued companions."

"My name is Cornelius Christophers, a Calvinist missionary to Siberia.  Well met."

"It seemed like you were in need of a helping hand.  You five are safe for now, thanks be to God."

His mundane and extraordinary senses blipped as he regarded the man gravely.

"It seems like you are still in need of a helping hand.  I appreciate your curiosity, but you have significant injuries.  I would strongly advise my attending to the latter first, but I will leave the choice in your hands."

Nic's eyes widened and his eyebrows shot towards the sky. "Russia?"

He let out a breath. He ran a hand through his hair. "Nic Raines."

He shook his head. "I'll be fine in a bit. Just need some rest." And time in the sunlight.

He eyed the other man. "Why're you involved? How did you even know to come to the airship?"

"Well, 'God moves in a mysterious way'..."

The older man pondered the query thoughtfully.

"You also have received extraordinary gifts, so that saves me some explanation."

"The Sovereign One gave me extraordinary gifts useful to a missionary, including transport, languages, healing, and other empathic-related abilities."

"One of these will, from time to time, spontaneously transport me to where there is need... but there are obviously many needs in this troubled world."

"Why was I sent to you, rather than to another?"

"God is Sovereign, both in choosing these gifts for me, and in choosing how they operate."

"Therefore, I came to the airship because God brought me to you."

"There are many that I have been able to minister to where our ways parted quickly after.  There are others where bonds of one sort or another were formed."

He regarded the younger man appraisingly.

"But why was I sent to you?  Perhaps you five together... may hold some significance, shall we say, greater than the norm...?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:25, Mon 20 Sept 2021.