* Didn't she say the Pharoah was the one with slaves?  Isn't that Egypt?  And these guys talk about the king with the academy?  That's a different kingdom right? *

Gwen has a sudden realization.

* Oh Fuck.  Uh... Tallus?  Betres is talking to us telepathically.  Can she hear this conversation? *
This message was last edited by the player at 02:35, Fri 08 Oct 2021.

The Tallus responds: "The Tallus cannot interact physically or psychically with non-operative occupants of normative reality. Theoretically, a telepathic sentient may be capable of 'overhearing' psionic messages directed toward the Tallus, but not communications from the Tallus to eXiles operatives."

Good for thinking of that, Gwen.  I should've thought of it, earlier. 
Welll... if anyone out there is evesdropping...know good and well we won't be easy to deceive!  You have no idea what we've seen and experienced before coming here.

Now I really, really want that joint.  It was directed mostly to Sally, but group broadcast.

This one almost seemed like it might be fun, at first.  And now I think we're in for absolute, utter f--king hell...

"The Tallus riddle may be a clue." he sends to all via the Tallus, and whispers softly. "Be careful with both" to Sally. "We need to regroup to mull on the riddle away from both sides."

When Betres and her fellow acolytes unmasked, Sally gasped along with the soldiers in Aragones’ army. Although certain individual traits remained intact, such as facial structure or exotic features like horns, they all shared the same gray skin and blue lips. Every single one. Childhood memories of the “Red Scare” came unbidden in her mind. The early 1950’s saw paranoia thrive as a new threat in the years following World War II. Instead of Nazis and the Japanese forces, Americans were told they should fear the Russians, and the ascendant threat of Communism.

Sally remembered the news reports of the HUAC Hearings that her father watched so attentively. Citizens turning on anyone they feared might be a secret agent of the Russians. Underlying the Red Scare were fears of the loss of freedom, and the loss of individual identity. They were told that Communism would strip Americans of everything that made them special, and force them to work as drones for an oppressive and dogmatic regime. Movies like The Invasion of The Body Snatchers emphasized this fear. Even the comic books she occasionally read in later elementary school featured colorful superheroes who fought alien menaces that were obvious metaphors for Communism.

Her life in San Francisco deconstructed the nationalist paranoia that still influenced millions back home. Sally had seen through the homegrown propaganda that cultivated so many fears of anyone different among her fellow Americans. She’d welcomed freeing her mind of American jingoism and discovering other belief systems, even the Socialism too misunderstood in her hometown and by her own parents. Different beliefs alone, even Communism, wasn’t necessarily a cause for fear or hatred.

Now, though, looking at Betres and her army, she understood that fear among Americans. That fear that embracing a philosophy and accompanying changes would mean a loss of Self, and a subjugation to a group mind. Sally felt ashamed for it, but she felt a little afraid, too.

Gwen looks over when Betres gives her monologue.  It's really disconcerting when someone you don't know talks in your head.  Gwen was almost getting used to it from her teammates but from a stranger it's just rude.

At a glance, the clan seems almost like something familiar.
Weird blue(ish) faces - check
Doesn't speak - check
Dressed all the same - check
Multicolored flashes of light - check

These guys have created Blue Man Group.  In the distant past.  But these ones are dangerous.  And no drums.  Really leaving a lot to be desired.

She turns back to General Aragones, who wanted her opinion.  Sally and Sue are dealing with the clan, Gwen and Wade can talk to the general.  She wonders if Swarm is sending bugs all over the countryside to get the layout.  The new teammate seemed like an alien, and the comment about eating each other was unsettling.  But that ability is going to be great for figuring out where they are.

It's really weird to be hungry right now, but that's what it's like with Venom.  The post-fight dinner is critical, and Timebroker pulled them out of there before wrapping anything up.  Or helping that other Venom.  Or even getting her bag!

She thinks about how to appropriately fancy up her response to match the General's speech patterns.  "I can only relay what the Lady Mary Jane shared with me.  Your king also sounds like two different men, doesn't he?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Fri 08 Oct 2021.

Swarm had remained standing where he'd arrived, as the others had moved forward to parlay with the natives.
This left the demonic looking figure at the very rear of the group.

Truth was, after picking himself up out of that desert crater, he'd hardly had the opportunity to start processing and analysing the situation before the scene had changed yet again.
And this one seemed to  include telepathic communications all over the place, and much debate over historic elements of the world before them.

But there were names, if not faces, he recognised being thrown around.
Apocalypse, for example .... and very real 'high threat level' red flag when off inside Fritz' mind.


But these other desert-dwellers were stampeding forward, takin point on the social standing ... and Swarm was willing to allow them all (apparent ally and natives alike) their verbal back-n-forth.   Swarm simply took it all in, listening.

As was his way, he was also reaching out to sense for his imminent allies, whatever insects lived within the many miles of where he stood.   If he needed to flee this situation, he wanted to already have an idea of where he would go.  He wanted to know where, strategically,  his Safety lay, and knew that if you wanted to be safe, you had to ... do it yourself!.



Action:  Create Asset 'Lay of the Land'
d6   Safety
d8   ... do it yourself!
d8   Enhanced Senses
d8   Combat Expert

- rolled 6,2,6,7:  create asset 'Lay of the Land'.
Total: 13
Effect: d8
Opps: -

current PP: 1

Take it, Swarm.



"At least, milady. At the very least. I can only appreciate the workings of his mind in hindsight. Your friend must be a formidable woman to have made such an impression."

Okay. Decision time-- I think you have a pretty clear invitation for the whole team to visit King Conan or the Prophet En Sabah Nur. Both armies will allow you to step aside to discuss privately-- out of earshot of the Aquilonians, and hopefully out of earshot of the Stygians. If you leave with the Aquilonians, they lend you an honor guard and a navigator, but resume the attack on the Stygians... with reduced numbers. If you leave with the Stygians, the Aquilonians will have noone to attack.

Basically, whichever leader you pick first, you're going to get an advantage in dealing with him. The one you don't pick is going to be... mildly offended. If you decide to split the party again, both leaders will be seriously offended and I am going to be apocalyptically offended, like "Next Mission: Duckworld" offended.

Of course, you're free to try something else. Those were just the options that seemed most reasonable to me. I mean, you could attack one army or the other yourselves... which will give you major brownie points with the leader of the other, and not necessarily even hurt your chances with the leader of the defeated army, if you don't allow witnesses to get back.

Let's try to get everyone to weigh in on this.

"I'm partial to meet with this King Conan," Danny chimes in as the group huddles. "Based off his rep, we can trust him to do what's best for his people. It's only a matter of convincing him that war isn't the answer. That these Stygians want to come to the table and negotiate."

He looked to Sally and Sue, whose compassionate yet strong diplomacy had amazed him time and again. Backed up by the courageous Wade, Gwen, and Tigro, they'd already succeeded in stopping one calamity, and they could do it again in this universe. No doubt Swarm would find a role to play here, too.

"I know we can do this."

I don't know if *I* can do this... Sue thought privately, in response to Danny's words.

Maintaining her best poker face, while she mulled information and possible avenues, Sue was aware of a sense of stress building within her.

She was used to having a foot in two different worlds.   In a more than a single context.  A happy member of a fairly conservative, and fully human family.  Aside from herself, their sole adopted child.  Who grew up and went to Uni, put a career together, got married, and was (at one time) planning for the house with the picket fence.

And also a (mostly) full on flower-child -- a dedicated hippie and activist, playing a part in pushing for a more gentle, holistic, and healthy world.

And a mutant, who wished ardently to see the stigma removed from her kind; the prejudice reduced, if impossible to erase.     Yet also believed no less ardently that a mutant murderer was no nobler or better than any other sort.  And that there was only one way to deal with those who were powerful and wholly evil.

She took a few steps nearer Aragones and Betres. and addressed both; her gaze moving between them while she spoke:

"I cannot tell you just how much I dislike being compelled to play favorites!  With so little knowledge of this world, and no firsthand experience.   We would like to help both sides -- all the kind and good people.  Because there are surely those beneath both flags -- as well as devils.  Don't tell me it isn't so." She paused briefly, then added:

"For every piece of wholesome fruit has its worms.  It is true of every nation, every faction I've ever learned of, or dealt with. I would ask you to please sympathize with our situation, and bear in mind that we have to start somewhere."    Susan glanced down, briefly closing her eyes, and then back up at Betres.

"I am sorry.  A part of me wants so much to be introduced to your people; to learn of their culture, and hear out your prophet.  And I hope that one day I may. But, like the Lord Daniel --  I am casting my vote to meet with King Conan of Aquilonia."   
This message was last edited by the player at 20:49, Sun 10 Oct 2021.

To Wade, the decision was a simple one: which option stopped the violence? If they were to depart with the Stygians, the Aquillonians would simply have nobody left to fight... for the moment, at least.

If there was going to be fighting, Wade wanted to know which side deserved to be stabbed, chopped, and burned. He didn't know that yet, and he was not going to let random violence interfere. Targeted violence, against someone who was asking for it, was the way to go.

"I say we go hear out En Sabah Nur and his cohort," Wade said when it was apparently his turn to speak. "No offense to King Conan, but I'm calling for a time-out on the fighting, until we really know what's what."

"I've heard of Apocalypse, just his name resounding is a word of sorrow among most. En Saben Nur may not be the same man here as he was where I am from. I was born human. I've had a mutant lover who I wished to marry, but she died, because of our Apocalypse and his Horseman. I've no prejudice there and fought as willfully for mutant rights. But here I know none to trust but my you, my allies, and I hope friends." He says with clear intonation. "I do not wish to prejudge En Saban Nur, at the same time the thought of slaves in anyone's chains makes the tiger in my rage." He worries about this, hoping it's not the same man, but doubting it with every breath.

"My vote goes to Aragones and this Conan, you speak about unless we would seek peace and forge equality, even when others have yet to forge it even in the United States."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Sun 10 Oct 2021.

This message was deleted by the player at 21:23, Sun 10 Oct 2021.

“Why not let them come to us … if they wish to court our aid”, the Swarm spoke* across the mental link.
“What are we doing here, anyway?”  The Swarm was still very confused about what was going on; “What is it you all wish to accomplish here?”


* in physicality, the Swarm buzzed and bummed with a million mouths, wings and …. other bits.
But over the mind link, the others present heard his true voice:  male, and either German or German decent (perhaps Afrikaner?)

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Bugsy Malone, but we don't command kings." Wade rolled his eyes. Nobody was coming to them. "We don't have that kind of street cred."

Sue registered the accent;  "Fritz" - just like the cat... - she remembered (to herself), when the Tallus had iterated what it knew of him. She wondered if he still identified with the name at all, or if it might now be a source of pain.  She answered Swarm via psi-link:

Monarchs and sovereigns, especially those at war, usually don't leave their security to meet strangers.   And, even if they are really gutsy, they've likely still got king-size egos.

What are we doing here-?  We're damage control. If it's anything like the last one, then we're here to smooth things out, prevent a calamity, as best we can.  And try to work out what the hell's going on, while we do.   
This message was last edited by the player at 23:52, Sun 10 Oct 2021.

"So ..." Fritz's voice responded in their minds, "none of you know what you are doing here?
Or, what you might do to make 'it' better ... or worse?"
"Why not just let it play out?"

"We weren't sent here to do nothing," Wade replied. "We were sent here to do something that we don't know by a guy who won't answer a question with a straight answer. How hard is that?"

Let me give you something like a Readers' Digest version:   There are many realities and divergent timelines.  In some of them, things go badly astray, or are on the verge of going there.   It's our job to step in and prevent that.  To help with it, we get a super-groovy Beatnik poem, that we have to figure out on our own.  Sue did the mental equivalent of a shrug.

Odd? Inefficient? Kinda koo-koo?  Check, check and check.  Let me ask you something, Fritz:   Do you remember dying, before joining us?  Or being about to?   Collectively, I guess, in your case?

This message was last edited by the player at 01:51, Mon 11 Oct 2021.

Gwen waits until they are able to talk amongst the group without additional ears listening.  She has Venom shift her clothing to the clothes that one of the members of the Valkyries wears onstage.  (secret identities are for your own universe)
It bears a close resemblance to the leather outfit worn by Valkyrie in the MCU, except probably sourced from a New York City secondhand store.  "Is this appropriate enough for this time?  This place was NOT covered in history class and I'm not wearing the chainmail bikini.  MJ said this place was real in her world, and some of you said that Asgard was a real place so maybe next time it's Atlantis or something else crazy."  Gwen has no awareness that she's literally wearing Asgardian fashion.

"I was thinking about what the Tallus said, about being born 5000 years early.  We probably need to send him to when he's supposed to be.  Charles Xavier would just be like 'Commander Data scan for temporal anomalies and beam him through' but I don't know anything that's not from fiction.  If none of you have any time travel ideas we could look for Sonja.  She went to MJ's time in the other world so maybe she knows a way."

Danny heard everyone out, nodding at the occasional point made by his teammates. He noted Wade's decision, and waited to hear where the other undecided cast their votes. At Gwen's mention of this "Sonja", he shrugged and said, "We could ask Conan if her whereabouts are known to any in his court."

"... If that's what we're doing, anyway. That's three for Conan, one for the mutant guy, and two undecided. Let's hear from Sally."

Edit: I originally had this as Danny looking to Polaris to give the team leader's speech on how we're going to end the conflict, but I guess that would be Sue's role and she already did a great job of that with her post. Anyway, let's hear from Sally.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:38, Mon 11 Oct 2021.

Danny and Sue argued persuasively for meeting up with King Conan. Of course, Sue didn’t surprise Sally in that regard. Sue demonstrated her eloquence from the moment they met. That’s why Sally voted for her to wear the Tallus. Perhaps a small bit of “Confirmation Bias” was at work. Of all the motley “Exiles”, Sally shared the most in common with Sue. Her fellow Flower Child was familiar, like-minded, but also levelheaded and fair. It always seemed so easy to roll with “Sister Sue” in group plans.

Except this time.

Surprisingly, Wade argued the point that spoke the most to Sally’s heart. She listened quietly, watching each person as they spoke. Sally felt torn over their best course of action. King Conan seemed like the most humane option…except for his General’s barely coded call for Mutant genocide. She didn’t trust Aragones.

However, the fanatical fervor in Betres frightened Sally. The singleminded devotion of the Mutant army reminded her of the slander too often lobbed at Magnus and their peaceful movement. That Betres served a man known as “Apocalypse” foreshadowed dire outcomes in Aquilonia, too.

Then, Danny put Sally on the spot. She sighed and  pushed her long hair back from her face. Her fingers clasped behind her head as she slowly paced. When she stopped she answered Danny, but looked at Sue. “I’m…with Wade on this one. Yeah, I know King Conan seems like the most reasonable of the two. You and Danny both made good points…but I believe in Non-Violent options first and foremost.”

Sally faced Aragones. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t trust you not to order the battle to continue if we go back with you. The soldiers you leave here will kill Betres and her people, but most likely die trying. Wade’s right. If we go with Betres, the fighting stops, at least for now. I choose the option that saves as many lives as we can this moment.”

Sue looked a little surprised, though she concealed the expression as quickly as she could.   She had been thinking this through from other perspectives --  and not at all in terms of immediate, military consequences.   Which might far too costly, as Wade and then Sally had pointed out.

She wasn't leader material -- especially not in this context -- but had asserted herself as though she might be.  She made a mental note to be more careful.

She was however, going to assert one last thing.  She addressed Aragones and Betres again, after glancing first at Sally. 

"The lady Sallyndra speaks from the depth of her considerable heart, as usual.   And indeed, make no mistake, on this point we are united."

"Either way, the fighting is over for this day. Both sides will cease and withdraw. If we must linger here to insure that it is done -- then that is what we shall do.   However long that may take.   If you wish us to meet with your king, Lord Aragones -- then this is a stipulation.  And, if you refuse to meet it --  then I at least shall recast my vote. There will be no more bloodshed this day."   

Sue was growing more intrigued by this Sonja that Gwen kept bringing up, and that Sally seemed to know too.  Another character from the novels?  She really should have read them, when Johnny had pushed them at her...

The Swarm was still ... distant.   Remaining on the periphery of the group.
It was considering the answers given to its most recent questions ... and wasn't sure that the answers made any more sense than this situation.

But he could tell that now was not the time to discuss his concerns further.
This 'team' was focused on involving themselves in this world's affairs, and for now, the Swarm would observe.
All the better to formulate his own thoughts, opinions and understandings.

"So, what is our plan ladies and gents?" Tigro asks. "You know I'd look wonderful as a swashbuckler, but this is more barbarian and knight's chic." He smiles dashingly "But I'm definitely more barbarian than anything else, can I be an exotic beastman? I definitely need a sword, maybe an axe."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:01, Wed 13 Oct 2021.