Scene #6448: Welcome To Brockton Bay

Owner	Pose
Spring Breeze	On both sides of the first known natural warp gate to appear linking this particular Earth to the Multiverse, and no doubt not only not the last, but already simply one among multiple others, things have changed in the pace of only a couple days. A large ring-shaped structure on a platform surrounds the gate. In Hypertopia, the streets and buildings surrounding it have been simply >moved< somehow, the terrain reshaped to accommodate the 1000 square foot courtyard surrounding the portal. Presumably this was accomplished through powers, and a lot of the designs and materials look similar to what a parahuman by the name of Triumph was working with two days prior. On the other side is a nearly identical structure, only the ground underneath it has been hollowed out, eliminating the streets, sewers, and other infrastructure in favor of a large chasm with all openings sealed behind a white plastic or enamel of some kind. It looks like facilities are being constructed underneath that can handle vehicles, offices, laboratories, or whatever one would stick underneath a newly formed portal. A thick column glowing with light and circuit patterns supports the platform the portal ring rests upon. And all around the portal, is Brockton Bay. Buildings that would not be out of place in most 21st Century U.S.-based cities stretch out in every direction. The sky is clear and relatively blue, the temperature hovering somewhere between warm and mild, and the streets in chaos as costumed characters straight out of a comic book do battle with each other. It's unclear how long the fight has been going on, but no one has been taken out of it yet, so it might be near the beginning. Explosions of concussive force go off periodically, sounding more like fire crackers than bombs, though there's no visible indicator of fire or smoke as a result. A gray blur is zipping around engaging multiple people in the kinds of colors one might associate with heroes more than villains, but they don't seem to be able to keep up. Someone in black cape and reflective full-coverage steel helmet that seems to lack eye holes is spreading black fog around the area and disappearing into it. And right next to the portal for those just arriving is a figure in a skintight body suit, with a scarf flowing from around her neck, a full face mask and hood. Pastel colors, doesn't really seem to be doing much one way or the other, but will turn her attention on new arrivals once she notices them. Basically, there's a lot of chaos happening. Welcome to Brockton Bay.
Sheriff Marti	Marti arrives to this newly unified world wearing his Sheriff's uniform, with the coat left unbuttoned to show the white t-shirt beneath. His motorcycle putters along beneath him. His messy, curly hair blows in the breeze somewhat as he arrives, drawing his attention to the girl standing over there, here to greet new arrivals. He gives her a two-finger salute. His badge is on a necklace today, and he has a shoulder holster as well as a waist holster, armed with what looks like three different revolvers, as well as plenty of ammunition. He isn't the type to wander off into the Multiverse unprepared, apparently. He pulls his bike over to the side to stay out of the way of the gate, and sets down the kickstand to sit and observe the chaos. He pulls a bottle of water out of the drink holder in his motorbike. He doesn't seem to be in any particular rush to get in the middle of all of that violence. "So, what the hell is all this?" he asks the customed gal, "Some kind of gang war?" He grins toothily, smiling at his own bad joke.
Staren	Staren steps through in the same armor he was wearing the other day. He's impressed with the relocation of Hypertopia's buildings, and finds what they've done on this side to isolate the portal prudent. Well, there sure are people fighting. But he can't tell what they're fighting /for/ -- there isn't much of a clear 'right side'. "So." He looks at the local standing and waiting for them, and makes a fingergun gesture with one hand. "Nice scarf. What are they fighting over?"
Note	Fights have a tendency to attract Note. Call it something in the blood. Or growing up surrounded by people who value nothing but showing off their skill. Whatever it is, she emerges from the warp gate with hands on her hips, brown and furry monkey tail swaying freely behind her. "Aha! Got the right one this time! That power was coming from here!" She sounds excited, which is the exact opposite of a sane person would be in the face of shockwaves and explosions . "... Bad place for a real fight, though. Someone could get hurt here... which means something bad's going down..." Having long learned that standing RIGHT IN FRONT of active warp gates is a bad idea, Note vaults away from it with a spring in her step, easily sailing twenty feet as if she weighed no more than a feather. And looking back over her shoulder when the warp gate crackles to life with others... "Oh hey! Did you guys pick up on the action too?" While waiting for a response, the girl excitedly focuses her attention on the fight that's happening in the streets! "Whoah. Look at 'em go! This is my kinda show!"
Rhongomyniad	A new world to welcome and a new cadre of heroes to ascertain. The portal's latest flash of light produces a relatively ordinary woman in a blue suit, a fur-lined white mantle draped about her shoulders. Blonde hair. Green eyes that glow with their own inner light. Oh, she's not so ordinary after all. The Goddess Rhongomyniad comes to a stop several paces from the portal's exit point, lifting her impassive expression to the sky. That same gaze lowers, following the activity between the costumed factions in the streets. Eventually that even gaze rests on the cape nearby who is not currently embroiled in the melee. Someone whom has already been addressed twice over by those who are also arriving. And therefore, the Divine Spirit simply lifts a hand to indicate herself, "I am Rhongomyniad. It appears that some trouble has arisen on this most auspicious of occasions."
Silica	Silica's here! She comes through the warpgate astride a sinuous looking wyvern, pulling up sharply on exiting, and taking up a hovering position near the gate, her eyes looking across the massive brawl engulfing the city. "This is bad... are the civilians safe?" she wonders aloud, then with a few gestures, starts summoning her other pets, a winged serpent, a small blue-white feathery dragonling, a hawkbat and a swarm of wasplike insects. She gives them a simple tongueclick of command, and they arrange themselves around the wyvern defensively.
Solty Revant	Solty had returned to the area out of curiousity more than anything. She hadn't seen many other worlds yet, and she wanted to know what they were like! She is lucky in that a few of her friends apparently had the same idea. Or were responding to calls about those weird explosions and clouds of fog. She comes to a stop near the small gathering just outside the warp gate, her eyes wide with concern. She looks around at the others, noticing Silica and Marti and Staren. She waves to each, but then looks toward the town again and huffs. "What are we waiting for?! People could be getting hurt down there!" she says, and without really waiting for more information or any sort of plan, the over-eager girl starts hopping her way quickly toward the chaos.
Spring Breeze	The girl says, "Hi." awkwardly in response to the salute from Marti. "Um. Some of the local villains are assaulting the portal. I assume they want to try to take control of it or use it for something illegal. They didn't exactly announce their intentions before attacking." Some of the awkwardness goes away as she starts talking business, even as she watches people continue to arrive. "The professional heroes, the Protectorate, are split up dealing with other problems, and a guy named Hollow tackled the only experienced hero on-site down the hole that's underneath us. I'm with the Wards, and so are my team mates out there." She gets awkward again when Staren compliments her scarf, sounding more embarrassed than anything. "Uh, thanks. The one keeping our whole team pinned down is Silver Bullet, a big-name super speeder who can transform into liquid metal and propel himself. The one in the cape and helmet with the darkness is Grue. He can suppress sight and sound in the radius of his blasts and I think there were two or three others I'm not seeing anymore. That's probably a bad sign." She looks at all the clearly not-civilian people filtering through, in all their outlandish attire that is probably not dissimilar from what powered people wear on this world too. "I really hope you all are reinforcements of some kind." With names being offered, she seems to remember she hasn't offered one, and mutters, almost inaudible in conjunction with another of those concussive blasts going off, "I'm Spring Breeze." The question about civilians has Spring Breeze putting a hand to the side of her mask. "Everyone nearby should have had plenty of time to escape by now, but I can ask one of my allies if she can detect any people or pets in the area. Hardware? Is everyone in the area cleared?" She gets a very brief, high-pitched reply. "Well, can you check?" A longer reply, though just as high-pitched. Breeze turns back to Silica, realizing that one of the new arrivals has already taken off towards the bridge that links the portal platform to the city street a couple hundred yards away. "She'll let me know when she gets the chance. But no one is going to hang around during a super battle if they can help it, so just try to keep collateral damage and area-of-effect powers to a minimum like my team mates are, and you should do fine." Solty enters the battlespace. There's either a young girl or a very short teenager in forest green attire crouching behind a car, popping up to take pot shots with a finger snapping gesture that doesn't seem to produce sound, but coincides with the concussive blasts that are going off in Silver Bullet's path. The speeder is so fast that he seems to be dodging the brunt of the attacks at the last second even though he's basically dodging sound itself, and if that liquid metal power of his provides resilience then the sound waves probably aren't doing much to him regardless. Meanwhile, a handful of other young heroes are trying to pin him down and keep getting bashed, kicked, tripped, or just missing entirely with their own attacks. Grue projects a cloud of darkness towards the redhead behind the car during a break in his battle with a guy in body armor who is throwing various gadgets that curve wildly to account for evasive maneuvers by the enemy. Redhead immediately starts running so that she's only in the cloud for a second or two before she breaks out of its perimeter. Two villains are keeping a team of junior heroes completely locked down.
Silica	Silica nods. "If there is anyone trapped, let me know, for now, I'm going to see if I can't help pin the speedster down." she says, gently tapping her heels into her mount's sides, and clicking her tongue. The mount and her entire retainue of pets all wing over, and move to a predicted point where Silver Bullet is likely to be. With another non-verbal command, the dragonling and winged serpent launch a combined attack, needles of paralyzing venom, and bubbles of stunning gas combining to shower the area where the speedster is most likely to run through, just before he arrives.
Staren	Silica arrives and deploys all(?) her beasts for the first time Staren can remember. "Holy crap, you're a pokemon trainer!" The comment about civilians gets a nod, "Actually, that's a good point..." But, apparently the civilians have already evacuated. Staren strides towards the battle and turns up the speakers on his suit. "HEY!" Staren shouts. "This portal doesn't belong to anyone! Let's talk about this. Why do they call you 'villains'?"
Rhongomyniad	"Mm," Rhongomyniad turns her gaze from Spring Breeze to the battle before her once more, "So they would seek to seize this place, for unknown and assumed nefarious purposes. I shall lend my strength in securing the peace." She nods once to the lady superhero, then turns away. Gleaming divine light gathers around her right hand, elongating into a lance-like shape. Metal straps materialize at the tip, braiding together in an intricate pattern until the light is contained. Her clothes shine with light, dispersing, instantly replaced with gleaming armor and a flowing white fur-lined mantle. The unmistakable visage of a knight in shining armor-- the Lion King, Arthur Pendragon, the King of Knights and ruler of Camelot has made herself known here in Brockton Bay. Someone has already rushed blindly in, and others are coming into the fight proper. Rhongomyniad focuses her attention on the foe who is causing the most disruption, per Spring Breeze's briefing, eyes tracking the silver blurr. And when Silica strikes, the King of Knights is ready. She raises her lance and the streets erupt. Castle walls rise in a box formation, closing in at the top, in an effort to trap the offending speedster while he's also contending with the Beastmaster's hazards.
Note	"The name's Note!" Says the girl in simple red and yellow clothes, her tail still swaying about excitedly, tip curling this way and that as if she really wants to just hop in and DO something! But with Rhongomyniad here, her attention's briefly drawn to the blonde warrior who's giving off some of the fiercest energy she's ever felt. A SHIVER runs down Note's spine, and this only serves to heighten her excitement. But still... "Pleasure to meet you... uh, I guess." With all the fighting on out there, niceties aren't a pleasure, but she DOES try to show a few manners. And as the story's explained, the girl snorts. "Am I reinforcements?" One inhale later... she tightens her hands into fists, raises them slightly, and focuses her power. With a sharp kiai and a thunderous CRACK golden energy swirls up around her body and ignites into a vibrant blaze. Her smooth black hair - ponytail include's - swept upwards, shifting into an array of golden spikes and eyes shift to a light green. "Yeah. Yeah I am! So the silver guy and the darkness guy are up to no good? I'm on it!" She takes off like a rocket, leaving a short-lived trail of dispersing golden Ki. There's no mistaking that aura for anything other than what it is - a MASSIVE OUTPOURING of sheer wasted energy. The girl swoops low over the streets, over the hole, and towards Grue. "Hey you! Ready for a beating?!"
Solty Revant	She might have rushed in, but when she gets there Solty realizes...she doesn't actually know who is badguy and who is goodguy. But, some overheard snippets from Breeze point her in the right direction. The girl with green hair skids to a stop beside the girl in green, then crouches beside her. "Hello! I'm Solty, and I'm here to help. That guy is the Silver Bullet?" she asks, then stands up again. "Okay..." Solty's fists clench and in a blink she is gone. In that same blink she appears directly in front of Silver Bullet, already mid-kick aiming for his midsection. Of course, if he was dodging -explosions- he is pretty likely to dodge Solty, but if he does she displays her own super speed to give chase. As she sees those walls forming she tries to herd Silver Bullet toward them.
Spring Breeze	Silver Bullet comes to a stop right in front of the cloud of gas and the needles, the area they span too broad for him to just dodge around. It's like a line of silvery fluid just fills in empty space in the shape of a man. Once he finishes solidifying he streaks away, apparently not wanting to test himself on whatever the heck that monster breath is. Liquid metal or not, for all he knows that's acid or something! It has spooked him enough to throw him off his stride, at any rate. But before he can get anywhere, walls start rising around him, forcing him to change directions repeatedly, but very quickly. When Solty appears in front of him and kicks him, he again has to stop and reverse direction, this time getting his silver-fluid head splattered before he can flee. Whatever else he is, he doesn't seem to be tough or to hit very hard. He does reform his head, but as he's staggering around he seems to be moving more sluggishly than before even as Solty takes off in pursuit. Maybe he didn't get away from Silica's attack as cleanly as it seemed. And maybe liquid bio-metal is more susceptible to poison than one would imagine. The redhead in green tried to answer Solty in a thick Irish accent that is simultaneously panicked and angry for some reason. "Well 'e's th' only fokkin' one wot's speedin' aroun' like a fokkin' bullet, i'nt he!?" But by the time she's done answering from behind her new cover, the other girl has already started chasing Bullet down in what looks like it's going to be a short competition. With Silver Bullet on his way out, the rest of the Wards manage to team up on Grue, though he starts spreading darkness everywhere around him, shooting it in bursts at the heroes coming for him, and generally just making the entire battlefield a murky maze of near-inaudibility and not being able to see any further than one's hand in front of one's face. Though it seems to be dissipating as the winds pick up and start blowing whatever that weird wisping dark matter is further down the street. The super villain turns towards Note as she yells at him, raising a hand, the image of a skull hovering in front of his helmet, but suddenly out of nowhere a gust of wind blows his cape up and over his head, concealing his helmet's face plate, and obscuring his vision of his target. Spring Breeze, seemingly staying out of the fight, is staring intently towards Grue from her position back near the portal. Staren's yelling at the villains doesn't seem to get much of a response from them at first. They're outnumbered, increasingly outgunned, and probably not in a position to answer basic questions about the dynamics of super heroes and super villains. Silver Bullet, for example, is about to be quite trapped as the lid on his box closes over him, chased into the tight confines by Solty's dogged pursuit and the paralyzing effects of Silica's poisons. But Grue yells out in a deep voice, menacingly echoing and distorted (and muffled by his cape), "Get them off of us and we'll talk!"
Rhongomyniad	Rhongomyniad lowers the Divine Lance, glowing eyes narrowed. She has difficulty following Silver Bullets trajectories, even with a relatively big picture of the space he's moving in. It's not until Silica's debilitating efforts and Solty's intervention slowing him down that she really has the right place to pinpoint and trap the speedster. Unaware of his molten metal capabilities, she leaves cracks and gaps-- air is the intention. She only wishes to contain him, after all, not kill him. Her attention shifts to the band now focusing on Grue, shifting her stance with a swish of her mantle. The metallic noises of her metal armor is unmistakable, and as she draws close, the King of Knights raises her empty hand. A commanding voice sounds out: "Hold!" An order given to the heroes focusing on Grue with their powers and weapons. The command of the King of the Britons. There's no mystical force behind it, but it's a tone that usually at least commands attention of those who hear it. She does not stop until she stands before the darkness-powered supervillain. The Divine Lance held at her side, her cape closing in around the other, such that only her weapon-carrying arm is visible. Glowing green eyes fixate on the man while he corrects his cape and his vision: "I am Rhongomyniad, The Tower that Shines at the End of the World. Speak your piece."
Note	Note hits the BRAKES on her flight when Grue starts doing some kind of weird magic, unwilling to charge in headlong into a technique she's never seen. So she just halts five feet in the air, pondering her approach -- and it's then that the man's own cape turns troublemaker on him. "...." Well it's awful disappointing that her opponent isn't so into fighting. Note takes the opportunity to swoop BEHIND Grue and zip in to loop her arms under his and HOIST THEM into the closest thing to a full nelson she can manage with her little body, legs likewise latching around his chest and squeeze. She wants to make it hard to breathe, but not impossible! "Got you!"
Solty Revant	Solty waits by the last opening to make sure Silver Bullet can't escape, then in a blink she slips through at the last second and appears on the other side. Her strange furry ears twitch as she hears the redhead, then her eyes widen and she quickly covers her ears. "Y-you shouldn't use bad words like that!" she shouts back at the redhead, then jumps her way toward Grue. She hears the exchange between Staren and Grue and comes to a stop herself a short distance from the apparent villain. "If you give up we can talk without anyone else getting hurt! One of your friends is already caught, so it's better if you give up now! If you didn't do anything bad then you have nothing to worry about!" she says, following Rhongomyniad's example. She blinks in surprise when Note takes more direct action. "Oh...uh. I guess that works, too?"
Staren	Rhongomyniad suggests they can investigate the two below later. Staren thinks maybe he should investigate NOW, while everyone else is fighting. Just as he turns to go, though... Grue is asking Staren to solo the wards AND the other elites if he wants to talk? If he were willing or able to do that, he'd have interfered in the fight. Staren turns back around to face the group. Just as he opens his mouth to explain, though... Rhongomyniad and Silica take an interest in talking. "...Well. If more of us are willing to talk now... let's hear it. ...I am Staren Wiremu, Hand of the Concord-- hey!" Staren points at Note. "Hey. Hey. We're talking now! Down! You can be ready to blast him if he tries anything funny!" if Note lets Grue go, he opens his hand palm-up and continues, "--You haven't heard of me yet, so there's not much point in me going on about myself, but know that I'm in a position to be skeptical of morally judging people as 'heroes' and 'villains'. What do you want, and why do they call you a villain?"
Spring Breeze	Grue pulls his cape off his head with as much dignity as he can muster. He's still pretty intimidating, and the lack of a face to read hides whatever he may actually be thinking and feeling. With his broad-shouldered stature, height, and overall menacing appearance, he can afford to stand as though an equal with a king, because whatever he may actually be feeling about doing so is utterly hidden. Though when Note restrains him, he lets out only a slight noise of discomfort before answering. "Before anything else, my ally is very suspectible to poisons and toxins in his Breaker form. He doesn't have an immune system or defenses against contaminants, so if large volumes seep into his body, even something that would be non-lethal to a human could become deadly. Let me check on him while we talk." He turns his head as much as he can with Note clinging to him, to indicate who needs to remove herself from him to facilitate that. Making good on his word to talk, he doesn't wait to be released before answering the question that Staren has asked twice now. "Heroes, Villains, and Rogues are descriptions of different types of parahumans, assigned based on how we use our powers, both by ourselves and by others. If you have more questions, I'll answer them when I've verified Silver Bullet's condition." Spring Breeze is staying back, so aside from those using speakers or with particularly booming voice, she probably can't quite hear what's being discussed, but she does seem to have her attention on the lingering clouds of darkness, even as they increasingly become thinner and thinner, thanks to some strange wind that is selectively blowing through only certain areas at a time. The redhead pops out from hiding, groaning something about 'Oi, not another one' still after Solty's protest against the language she uses. Then she sees Grue restrained and the castle-box that holds Silver Bullet, and says, "Wot's th' hold up? We've still got nasty arseholes down under t' stop!" she jerks a finger repeatedly back towards the cavernous hole beneath the portal platform. "This ain't th' time foir tea 'n' biscuists ya' bloody wanks!"
Silica	Silica sets her wyvern down, the beast settling onto the two little pseudo-talons at the 'elbow' of its wings and its powerful but small hind legs. The Cait Sith pats its neck gently, then dismounts, calling her pets back to her. "If need be, I do have healing spells... and Pina can breath a healing mist as well as the stun bubbles." she says to the conversation, her ears twitching as she listens in, and uses the radio to project her voice so the others can hear.
Staren	"The world has changed." Staren states to the redhead, and takes a step forwards towards Grue. "I have nanomachines that can seek out and remove poison, if you speak the truth. If you take advantage of my desire to talk... Well, I suppose you'll find out. You don't want to piss off someone from another dimension, though, do you?" Once Silver Bullet is seen to, Staren continues. "Curious. You accept the title of 'villain' then? I've always heard noone believes themself to be one. What were you trying to achieve here today, and why?"
Rhongomyniad	The supervillain Grue conceals his face and intentions behind a mask. The goddess Rhongomyniad wears no such mask, and yet her face is equally unreadable. That flat, emotionless, unblinking stare as she absorbs the man's words. Her head inclines, casting those eyes in shadow and making their inner glow that much more obvious. "I stay my hand and those of my compatriots in the understanding that your defeat at this juncture is a foregone conclusion. I much prefer conversation to violence as a form of resolution. Understand that you treat with a Goddess of Justice, and acts of treachery shall receive due response." It could very easily be read as a threat, but the impassive tone of her voice gives it more of a statement of fact than anything else. Her free hand moves, shifting her mantle aside. This hand is held out in a plain fashion, "However there is the matter of your second companion. I understand the name to be Hollow. Recall this person at once. Once all fronts of this engagement have ceased hostility, I will release your companion."
Note	With everyone so intent on talking to Grue.. note huffs out a disgruntled noise but releases Grue and backs off him. But she's clearly watching him while he talks. One way of stopping the fight's as good as another in her book.... and a troublemaker who's talking open-handed isn't causing further problems! An intrigued eye is aimed towards Rhongomyniad while the supposed goddess speaks. A smile of interest? Approval? Something? For whatever reason Note seems impressed by this approach.
Solty Revant	Solty gives the redhead a frown at the continued not only rude language but belligerent attitude. But, she is right in that there are others to subdue. She had other worries, but it seems the others up here have those things under control. So, Solty turns to Lady Explosive Snaps and nods. "I'll go with you." she says, then hops down and heads toward the area under the gate that was indicated earlier.
Spring Breeze	"It's a job that I was hired to perform." Grue answers once he is released. "I have no personal investment in the outcome, but I have a reputation to uphold, and we play a very careful balancing game between Heroes and Villains. Killing, endangering bystanders, exposing someone's secret identity or using that information to go after their family or civilian associates, are all lines that we don't cross, because it endangers that balance. Those who break the unspoken rules tend to get ganged up on by both sides. What we do here could be considered, to borrow a friend's words, a 'grown-up version of playing cops and robbers'." He rolls his shoulders and says, "I can't just accept your word that he'll be alright due to your technology and your... Magic. You can keep an eye on me the entire time, but I am going over there to check on Silver Bullet. I have a responsibility to my people. I'll communicate your instructions to Hollow along the way." Unless someone physically stops him or interjects themselves between him and his pathway, he then proceeds to walk at a measured, purposeful pace that can not be mistaken for running towards the box where the speeder was contained. He has a hand to his helmet as he speaks quietly. Solty should be able to pick it up, at the very least, but he's not speaking quietly enough that normal hearing can't make it out either. "Team 2. We've lost the fight and are negotiating our surrender. If you are still fighting down there, withdraw." A woman's voice on the other end, very much not audible except to those with super hearing, says, "Donezo. Center. Baker. Twenty-two." Some sort of code? The angry Irish girl has her arms down at her sides, fingers ready to snap, presumably glaring daggers at Grue despite her lack of visible facial features. The street is almost completely clear of darkness now, but there doesn't seem to be any sign of the other heroes so far. Perhaps they became lost and wandered in the wrong direction? There's only one part of the street with significant amounts of Grue's darkness remaining.
Spring Breeze	Since she's unable to do anything in this situation with all these people overriding her, when someone actually listens to her, the redhead nods firmly and, still glaring over her shoulder, heads towards the portal platform, "There'd best be 'n elevator or summin'. There's no ways as I'm climbin' all th' way down. Name's Ginger Snaps, by th' by."
Staren	Staren nods at the comment he can't be trusted, and stays back "I see. So a 'villain' has lines they don't cross, and you'd team up against anyone /really/ bad. It's not unlike how things used to be in the Multiverse... Although we've got more than two sides now and they aren't as all-powerful as they once were." He wonders how much he can trust Grue's word, but it seems like the Wards would speak up if there was a disgreement about how bad villains are. "And none of us think of ourselves as villains." He alllmost draws paralells to the Concord, but remembers before opening his mouth that that would be bad PR. "So. You've lost, but you're not fighting to escape. What happens to you now?"
Rhongomyniad	"Mm," Rhongomyniad measures Grue's answer. So heroism and villainy are less moral choices and more...like a job, or a sport. With rules that are maintained for fairness. This is an unusual, mostly alien concept to her. And yet. It seems an awful lot like this is preferable to the alternative. She turns, following him with her eyes as he approaches the castle wall prison containing Silver Bullet. After a moment's pause, she falls into step beside and behind the supervillain. "Then my apologies if I have broken any rules that you and yours adhere by. I am a newcomer to this world. Your culture is strange to me. I will, for now, take you to your word." No sooner has the villain issued his order via his communicator, the goddess reaches out. With a rumble, the stonework castle walls surrounding the trapped villain recede back into the ground, their component materials returning from whence they came-- which was not the street or anything below it, as there is no damage to the pavement once they have disappeared. Aspects of the Divine Lance. "See to your companion. My only intention was to bring an end to the fight, I should prefer to avoid death." Staren asks the other important question here, and so she does not voice her own version of it.
Note	"Uhhh..." This huge explanation about rules makes Note blink a few times as it sinks in. "Well, that makes this situation a whole lot less serious than it looked... as long as everyone's FOLLOWING the rules." Assuming that GRUE is telling the truth... but since Note's yet to see evidence to the contrary... "If that's right though, it means I can hold back and not worry too much about it!"
Solty Revant	"Oh! I can carry you!" Solty volunteers quickly as Ginger Snaps speaks up. And without really asking, Solty hops over and offers Ginger Snaps a spot on her back, but then...stops. "...wait, there's no real badguys here?" she says as she hears Grue's explanation, the very trusting girl apparently taking him at his word. Still, after a moment of thought, she takes off again whether Ginger accepted a ride or not. The green-haired girl runs fast enough that her form blurs a bit, and each step kicks up dirt and rocks and possibly bits of roadway behind her until she reaches the entrance to the underground. But, just when it looks like she will hop down, Solty's ears twitch and she comes to a stop at the edge of the pit. "...that sounds like...Mr. Triumph..?" she says quietly, then looks to Ginger Snaps. "Is Mr. Triumph one of your friends?" she asks, lowering down into a defensive stance just in case.
Note	"There's something WEIRD going on in that dark patch over there, guys!" Note points out - literally. She waggles a finger in its direction, looking increasingly disturbed at whatever she's sensing.... but she freezes in the middle of that antic... and... bites her lip. "... We've... GOT INCOMING! From above!" Her aura had bgun to calm, but it flares back to its full rage as she flexes her whole body and summons a surge of strength in preparation. Only then does she take a gaze up at whatever's coming their way, tail thrashing about in a lively and agitated fashion!
Note	And as soon as she does that... Note clenches a fist. "Also from below... some of the power signatures disappeared, I THINK it's Hollow's things. Someone's coming this way from there too! Good thing or bad thing?"
Spring Breeze	Grue nods, somewhat curtly. He has to exagerrate the motion for it to be obvious with his helmet and mantle and everything, so it may not be how he intended it. "I respect your principles and that you keep your word. I don't know much about the Multiverse beyond what's been reported on the news and the rumors myself. I can't say that I would know with certainty who was on what side without being told if I found myself in the middle of a fight between all of you." When the wall drops, a puddle of liquid metal seemingly too weakened to even hold human form anymore is lying on the street. Grue kneels down next to it, and asks, "How are you holding up?" The puddle gives a ripple and extends a thin pseudopod towards him. Grue extends his hand towards it and turns to look over his shoulder to answer the question of 'what's next'. "If we are arrested, we will be taken into custody, held in containment cells while we're processed, and then put on trial. Depending how the judge feels, we may get off with prison time, community service, or send to a place called the Cooler, where the worst of the worst are held, with no oversight, no rules or laws, and no way out. No one knows what's happening in there. It could be total chaos. They could all be dead. There's usually a three-strikes policy for capture and processing in the court system. But if a judge feels like it, usually if someone has committed heinous crimes, they can just send someone to the Cooler on the first strike." Maybe the system isn't all that fair after all. It certainly sounds like the villains get the short end of the stick. "Given how long I've been a villain, they might make that decision even though I've never killed anyone. 'Lost cause' cases tend to get that result, as well as those responsible for accidental deaths. 'Negligent use of parahuman abilities'. Even if they only just got them and had no control over them." There's no masking the disdain in his voice. Silver Bullet slurps up onto Grue's arm as the super villain stands and turns to face the others, looking around for something and then seemingly finding it in the form of a bakery across the street. He takes a couple careful steps away and orients on the bakery, still making no move to flee or distance himself from Rhongomyniad as she closely follows him. Snaps says, "Triump? That old fart's wit' a differen' group, but he 'ent a villain, tha's fer damn shur! That Hollow dickhead tackled 'im roit off th' ledge o'er here--" she starts to say as she squints at Solty dubiously when she realizes she was offered a ride. Note's revelation, however, changes the whole situation. That wind that's been methodically clearing out the darkness finally exposes the last part of the street, and what is revealed there is a quartet of figures lying on the ground, thrashing around while covered head to toe in insects and bugs of all description. The only one who seems to be half-way functional is a someone in a bodysuit and face visor who is trying to crawl their way towards where everyone else is.
Spring Breeze	There is a whoosh of displaced air, and very much NOT the wind, as a massive nightmarish creature lands on the street. A mix of protruding bones and twisted flesh in all types of patterns from leather to tiger stripes. it's the size of a truck, and when it hits the street, it ROARS loud enough to shake the windows of store fronts up and down the street. "The negotiations of my surrender were being made on the basis that my defeat was a 'foregone conclusion'." Grue says as the monster tries to muscle into the space between the two pairs of Staren and Note, and Rhongomyniad and Grue. "But it seems it wasn't as foregone as it appeared." Another pair of monsters descend the side of a building, leaping from wall to wall as they make their way downwards. The rider on one is a woman in a mask, dog collar, and leather jacket. The ride on the other is a woman in a gray and black bodysuit with carapace-like armor plates, and yellow, insect-like lenses in her mask. "We're not continuing with this job given how it's gone. Both sides have injured. To make sure everyone gets the help they need, we'll withdraw and end all hostilities on our end. Unless you'd like to continue fighting and risk lives? You can probably defeat me before I can do anything at this distance. Though there would be consequences." The slavering monster backing Grue up probably wouldn't take it well.
Staren	"You sound awfully calm about it." Staren observes. The Cooler sounds like a problem. "That sounds like something we need to talk to the government about. The Multiverse can probably help people who have trouble controlling their powers." Then monsters show up! They're... Grue's escape route? Staren makes a fingergun gesture again. "Well played! I'm fine with letting you go, the way things are."
Rhongomyniad	The Goddess Rhongomyniad narrows her eyes as beasts defying description insert themselves into the conversation. She does step back, reflexatively liftin the Lance's tip from its downward angle to an upward one. The braided metal strapping containing the weapon's divine light loosens, that light shining through as those impassive eyes behold the chimeras and their riders. "You have taken advantage of the trust I offered you. A conclusion I had hoped would not come to pass. And a mistake that will not be repeated." Her eyes travel sidelong towards Solty, "Tend to the soldiers." When her gaze returns to Grue, specifically, the metal straps containing the Divine Lance unravel at this point to expose a glowing core of pure, divine light. Of anyone here, Staren should have little trouble recognizing what she's doing. This weapon is raised, but not aimed at the supervillain or his cohorts-- it's aimed at the sky. Rhongomyniad's mantle billows up around her, as the clouds darken, and that same divine light begins gleaming through the cracks. "Leave. Or receive your fate from the Light of Judgement."
Note	"Oh, come on!" With more weirdly dressed oddballs dropping in on Grue's side... and the specifics of what's happening in the patch of darkness revealed, Note curls her right hand's fingers tightly into a fist. "If this is how it'd turn out, I should've just beat you black and blue earlier...." Once again, stupid things have happened that deny her the fights she's so eager to prove herself in! But she dooesn't press the matter further. Why? The bug-covered unfortuantes have probably something to do with it. One glance over there and she just SHIVERS with disgust.
Solty Revant	With Triump being comfirmed as at least a friendly, Solty makes her way back toward the others. She hears Rhongomyniad and nods before hopping over to the group of bug-covered people. Her eyes widen at the sight of those creatures, though! "Wh-what are those?!" she exclaims even as she tries to remove those bugs with careful but forceful swipes of her hands. "And...why did you agree to play a badguy role when you could be sent to those bad places even when you don't actually do anything bad on purpose?!" Yes, Solty is very confused by all of this. Heroes and Villains that have careful battles with rules that ensure people are not hurt, yet villains are still sent to prison and even perhaps executed?
Spring Breeze	The display of power certainly drives the points home. Grue bows his head in respect and then climbs aboard the monster, gripping one of the bone spurs protruding through its skin to make sure he doesn't fall off once it starts moving. Though his methods were underhanded, he does keep his word, calling out to an ally, "Skitter." and gesturing at the bug-covered bodies in the street. The vermin start to withdraw as well, scattering to the air and the ground, some heading for nearby storm drains, others for alleyways. Grue nods to Staren and then to Rhongomyniad. He seems like he's about to say something, some final words, maybe an apology, but from the look he's being given, he apparently thinks better of it, and just encourages his mount to run. The woman with the dog collar calls out, "Brutus! Judas! Angelica! Home!" Then the trio of villains (well, quartet, since Silver Bullet is still hanging out on Grue's shoulder) take off down the street, more clouds of darkness being shot out behind them as they go to obscure their path. Ginger Snaps is cussing her head off as she runs towards her allies, fingers looking like she's ready to snap off a few sonic booms, but unable to get a clear target, so unable to risk it, just in case she hits someone she's not supposed to. So she instead joins Solty in kneeling down next to the other Wards, who are covered in bug bites and generally just dealing with the psychological trauma of being drowned in insects, and tries to do what she can to remove the gross critters. Around the same time, Spring Breeze is just crossing the bridge, pausing next to Solty when a figure in red and gold lion/flame-themed armor emerges from the pit beneath the portal, huge sets of mechanical hands made of glowing energy beams and poles and joints pulling him up to street level. Triumph takes one look around, and at the spectacle of Rhongomyniad, and sighs. "Please tell me who among you is friendly and who I need to put in a cage." A field-hospital tent is already assembling around the downed Wards, just phasing into existence as it constructs itself. Locking the villains in cages (or boxes, like the goddess did) is probably quite easy for him, and exactly why they targeted him first to remove from the battle. All else aside, those villains were smart. Spring Breeze nervously steps forward and says, "Uh, Grue and Silver Bullet got away. Everyone else here helped stop them. Except--" she starts to say then stops herself. Triumph looks towards her. "Except?" Breeze hesitates a moment, then repeats herself. "Everyone here helped." Triumph nods and says, "You have my thanks then. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help more." He pulls what appears to be a flattened mixture of a vine and a human hand off his shoulder and tosses it away. "I was a bit swamped."
Solty Revant	Solty helps make sure that all the bugs are gone before she finally wipes at her brow with one of her strange gloves. "Are you all alright?" she asks the Wards before blinking as her ears twitch at Spring Breeze. "Um...but..." She hesitates a moment. "...Mr. Staren didn't help stop the villains. He didn't help them escape either, though. He just thought he shouldn't get involved without more information, I think." she says, then smiles. "I'm glad you are alright, Mr. Triumph. It sounded like you were fighting a lot of things down there!"
Staren	Staren glances at Breeze, then watches Triumph warily. Solty speaks up in something that might be adjacent to his defense. "As she says. I had only one person's word that one side was 'good guys' and one side was 'bad guys'. It was made clear that no civilians were presently in danger and property damage was being kept to a minimum. So I saw no pressing need to engage." Staren faces Triumph and holds up his right arm, although the function of the beam cannons and micromissile launch tubes may not be immediately apparent. "Given that I usually fight to kill and I have just learned that that is not considered warranted against 'villains' on this world, it seems my caution was appropriate." He's ready to try and make a break for the gate if Triumph looks like he's gonna try to restrain him. Ready (as much as one can be) for a cage to start appearing out of nowhere...
Rhongomyniad	The villains depart. Rhongomyniad keeps her lance hoisted, the clouds overhead roiling with divine light shining through them in places. However, she eventually dismisses it by lowering her weapon. The metal straps reappear, braiding as they close around the light in her hand and recreate the iconic shape of a lance. That impassive, almost-murderous glower is fixed on the direction those villains and their mounts have run off to. After a moment, the Lion King turns away from the enemy's flight, surveying the field behind her. The hardness of her gaze disappears, and while she still has that impassive expression, the angle of her eyebrows doesn't make it look nearly as menacing. Seeing those present either aiding or being aided, those glowing green eyes fixate on Triumph. Her steps are measured as she approaches, but even when she stops at a respectable distance, she does not say anything. The living goddess seems more interested in examining his lion-themed armor.
Spring Breeze	Triumph hears Solty's correction and then turns from looking at her and Snaps, to looking at Breeze again. "Everyone, hm?" Breeze responds stiffly, "He helped in spirit, by aiding in a calm discussion, rather than giving Grue a reason to take more drastic action." Triumph sounds more amused (and tired) than anything else as he says, "Of course." Then he focuses back on Staren. "It wasn't your responsibility, or anyone other's than those specifically trained to, to do anything. And it's not my responsibility to report who was or was not involved to the Protectorate, since my group is independent. We do have a friendly working relationship, but I really don't think, 'civilian from another world doesn't risk complicating a situation further by taking violent action when he doesn't have a full understanding of the situation' merits mention. Do you?" He pauses as Rhongomyniad approaches. It's hard to tell with the lion helm, but he might be looking her up and down. Another admirer of lions!? "I'm called Triumph. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Thank you all for your aid. If you have any questions, I'll answer what I can, but I need to get this area locked down, and call for support. The Undersiders don't just cause problems for no reason. I want to figure out what they were really here for before they spring it on us at a later date." Ginger Snaps is doing what she can to treat the injuries with the supplies that popped into existence inside the tent, surprisingly skilled at first aid for one so belligerent and violent. Then again, it makes sense that those who regularly find themselves in physical conflict would be equipped with the training to treat injuries. One of the Wards, the one in the bodysuit and face-visor sits up, with help from Solty, and groans. "Not okay. Very not okay. All the showers in the world won't wash away that feeling." From her voice, and all the equipment strapped to her outfit, she's probably the one named 'Hardware' who Breeze was taking to before. Speaking of Breeze, she stands by awkwardly, being awkward. Because she doesn't have that training. No one asks what she contributed, and she'd probably find it even more awkward to answer such an inquiry with, 'I made wind to blow away the darkness.' Yeah, that's a conversation she doesn't want to have.
Staren	Staren tilts his head to one side at Triumph's summation of the situation. "Indeed. It sounds like we have much to learn about this world, though. How might we best find out about it?" Staren straightens up. "Also, the Concord... has an issue with the idea of sending people to the Cooler just because they can't control their powers. Who might we talk to to discuss... alternate arrangements for such cases?"
Rhongomyniad	When addressed by Triumph, Rhongomyniad's expression lightens a touch. So subtle is the difference that those unfamiliar with her might miss it. However when she speaks, her tone is that same even voice she's spoken in this entire visit, "I am Rhongomyniad, the Tower that Shines at the End of the World. I am known as the Lion King of Britain, King of Knights, and King of Camelot. My apologies, that my naivete permitted these villains to escape." She nods once, "It is a mistake that shant be repeated. However, some information was gained that I shall share with you." A hand is extended, a gesture as she speaks, "The one named Grue stated that he and his were hired for this mission. Therefore, these 'Undersiders' were guided by a greater power. Motivated by coin, it would seem. The true mystery lies in their employer, and that shall be the path to the bottom of this occurrence." The woman nods once, "That this should be useful in directing your investigation. I offer it freely."
Spring Breeze	Triumph looks to Staren and says heavily, "The matter of the Cooler is... A very controversial one. There are many who do not agree with it, particularly in other nations. But it also has international support from yet other nations. Ultimately, most people, when confronted with the threat of Monsters on the loose, would rather they be locked away, even if sometimes those who don't quite qualify as Monsters wind up locked up with them. 'Sacrificing the few for the many.' I have reservations about such a philosophy, because I believe that only those who choose to risk their lives each day should have a say in whether a sacrifice is called for." As the huge ladder of energy-constructs he rode up to street level finishes disassembling itself from the bottom up behind him, he notes, " A sacrifice forced on someone is no sacrifice at all. If you want to talk to someone about it, you're going to have to convince not only politicians, but the people who want to live safe from predation as well." He then begins marching over to help Snaps and Solty, but pauses when addressed by the King of Knights. He seems a mix of much more cautious and even more respectful than before when he says, "It is an honor to meet you, your majesty. And I am most gracious for your generosity in sharing such information. I will convey it to the appropriate parties so that justice can be brought to bear." He hesitates for a moment, and then adds on, "There is another Camelot on this Earth, with another King, who goes by the name Arthur. You might find like minds with the 'Knights of the Round' if you seek them out. Hopefully it won't lead to conflict over who is the 'rightful king' or anything of the sort, but... I don't receive that impression of your character from you." He bows his head and says, "With your leave?" Unless held for more conversation, he proceeds along his way. There's some kids who just had a rough evening who can probably use some support from an adult.
Solty Revant	Solty has been just listening and helping where she could since the 'badguys' went away, but she doesn't look entirely happy. "I'm sorry, but...I don't understand. How can the heroes and villains have an entirely agreed upon set of rules but...the villains still get in so much trouble? Badguys don't usually follow rules, so...what are they trying to do that is actually bad? Even that Grue guy said that if an actual badguy shows up that both heroes and villains try to stop it and that he was hired to be a villain. And neither side is supposed to actually hurt the other..." She looks entirely confused as she tries to work it out in her head. Finally she just sighs heavily and gets an exasperated look. "I guess I can try to find out later. Roy must be worried by now." She bows to the collections of heroes. "It was nice to meet all of you! Even you, Miss Ginger Snaps! Even though you use bad words!" With that, unless one of the heroes feels like trying to explain the situation, Solty makes her way back toward the gate.
Staren	Staren makes finger quotes after Rhongomyniad says 'villains'. He's unconvinced, when the 'heroes' allow such practice as is now being discussed, after all. Although he can at least appreciate that Triumph is clearly conflicted about it. "'Justice'. he echoes, muttering, and turns to leave. Then Solty asks a question. "It's a legal thing. Villains are criminals, but as long as they play by /some/ rules, they at least get a trial like a non-powered criminal would. If they break all the rules, they don't get that." Staren pauses. "...I suppose there are going to be a lot of misunderstandings as this world and the Multiverse adapt to eachother."