The Last Oddetsey

[andrewj]

"PTT Enterprises? What is the purpose of this organisation and where are they located?"

Cleo looked over towards Gaunt.

"I think that we should head over to that... flying castle. We might need to intervene if Eudial finds Vengeance... Bring the ketchup in case she already has though."

[steven_mcg]

EUDIAL

George, perhaps a little overzealous in his new duties, teleports Eudial to Doomforall's castle, as what had appeared to be some vintage wooden panelling slides down to reveal the Witch standing on a teleport pad a few meters from where Vengeance is standing. She looks like she wants to be sick again.

Aha! Company at last! George, send a memo to the cyber-chef that we've guests for tea and activate all hospitality protocols in Doomsy's databanks. If a slap-up dinner party doesn't lighten up this lot, I don't know what will!

Hm? Oh, yes, yes. Hello, hothead.

Now then, I swear I saw a file in this drive labelled Underpa...

GYAH!

George, you're supposed to let me know when you're beaming people in here! Honestly, does the universe want me to have a stroke in mid-flight? Really!

But wait. That thing in her hand...

Yoink!

...

Good lord. You actually did it, didn't you?

Hehe! What do you know? You did! My hat! It's all here! Barely a scratch or a scuff or a fibre out of place! Back on the bonce, you sexy thing! Heady missed you so much! Hehe!

My apologies, Ms...I'm sorry, how does it go again? You-dial? You-dee-al? You see, this is why I don't take on the magic heroes. I get so embarrassed when I can't say the names right!

At any rate, my dear, it appears that I have misjudged you. You could have melted my chapeau with a single grumpy thought anytime you wanted and either left me for dead in my own little adventure or done the job yourself right now. But you didn't. And you haven't. And to be honest, even I'm a little surprised by that.

I'm still not putting you any of you on the Christmas card list any time soon, but you at least have managed to win my trust. Congratulations.

Shake and make up? I won't even try and dig out the oven gloves. They are somewhere in these silly pockets, I'm sure.

[alex_holt]

THE CASTLE

It would seem that if nothing else, Doomforall had some high end catering options available in this place; before long a large spread of food accounting for all the individual species tastes of the group is laid out in the main dining hall, George informs the group that he detected a mechanism the sole purpose of which seemed to be to duplicate the mental patterns of any chef in the world in the cooking golem, allowing it to replicate any style of cooking imaginable, though at the minute it's seemingly just set to a custom mix of Doomforall's favourites.

However, as dinner comes to a close, George has finished processing data and informs you that the power levels of the rift emanating from Doomforall are increasing, and so the longer you put off confronting him the more dangerous it will be. If not done shortly (before Thursday night real world) the liklihood of major injuries or fatalities will begin to increase exponentially. Currently the power levels are as such where it should be achievable with a 5% chance for any one party member to be hurt.

CLEO

The Sucker responds

"They have a skyscraper in the Central City *an image is projected into the minds of both Cleo and Gaunt*, but what exactly they do in that is difficult to say - they are a technology company of some sorts, covering the whole spectrum from basic household items to military grade hardware. However, even beyond that, over 50% of their revenue is considered classified to the point where they managed to get a Murder-injuction against the Psi-corps, that being any psychic who intercepts the classified information has an entirely legal assassination order put out on them. At best from energy readings we can assume it has something to do with teleportation. The only real defining feature we can say is they tend to favour the use of various power gems in their products, and they are easily the most powerful pure Tech-company in the city.

[NWOWWE]

"Interesting," Gaunt mused. He turned to the cat. "Yes, I imagine we should join up with the others on the flying Castle. Who knows what kind of trouble Eudial could have already stirred up."

[kodster]

George, perhaps a little overzealous in his new duties, teleports Eudial to Doomforall's castle, as what had appeared to be some vintage wooden panelling slides down to reveal the Witch standing on a teleport pad a few meters from where Vengeance is standing.

"WHA - "

Eudial was teleported instantly into the castle. Lo and behold! suddenly there stood the man she hated... apparently.

Aha! Company at last! George, send a memo to the cyber-chef that we've guests for tea and activate all hospitality protocols in Doomsy's databanks. If a slap-up dinner party doesn't lighten up this lot, I don't know what will!

Hm? Oh, yes, yes. Hello, hothead.

Now then, I swear I saw a file in this drive labelled Underpa...

GYAH!

"NYAAAAH!!!" Eudial jumped back a few feet, at least, tripped and nearly fell over. There was no warning what-so-ever, and now Eudial was angry. She cursed.

George, you're supposed to let me know when you're beaming people in here! Honestly, does the universe want me to have a stroke in mid-flight? Really!

"You?! YOU have a stroke?! Damn it my heart's going that fast..." said Eudial in shock... before realizing she didn't really have one... well, not in spirit anyway. "Oh. Yes. Hello," she said reproachfully, but deigning to keep her voice light.

Yoink!

"Hey!" That wasn't very nice...

Good lord. You actually did it, didn't you?

Hehe! What do you know? You did! My hat! It's all here! Barely a scratch or a scuff or a fibre out of place! Back on the bonce, you sexy thing! Heady missed you so much! Hehe!

Eudial rolled her eyes; it was this kind of behavior that reminded her of Mimete. Fashion first and foremost... and not so much focus on the task at hand.

My apologies, Ms...I'm sorry, how does it go again? You-dial? You-dee-al? You see, this is why I don't take on the magic heroes. I get so embarrassed when I can't say the names right!

Wait, WHAT? Is he... APOLOGIZING?! Eudial shook her head rapidly to make sure it was still working. Catching the last sentence, she replied, mumbling, "Pronounce it whichever way you wish, it doesn't largely matter." God damn it, don't make a fool of yourself.

At any rate, my dear, it appears that I have misjudged you. You could have melted my chapeau with a single grumpy thought anytime you wanted and either left me for dead in my own little adventure or done the job yourself right now. But you didn't. And you haven't. And to be honest, even I'm a little surprised by that.

"Not for lack of wanting to... I'll admit I came close," growled Eudial. "But something held me back. No, not fear of death or suffering or whatever you'd like to call it. I just felt that there was no need for its destruction. Probably a reminder that there were certain things that were, ah... more important. Judging by your reactions, I'm sure you agree."

I'm still not putting you any of you on the Christmas card list any time soon, but you at least have managed to win my trust. Congratulations.

Eudial smiled, maybe a little sourly, but then again she was still feeling somewhat ill-disposed towards the Prof.. Interesting. So she'd truly gained his trust, yes? Just the thing a villain would try and convince her of. Still, the face of good will was better than nothing. So let's keep it that way. "Quite interesting..." said Eudial. "Even though I displayed psychopathic tendencies back down there, you would welcome me with open arms - though, not quite as much as either of us would like. I respect that, and I receive your hospitality well. Just remember not to be too friendly with the wrong sort. I expect you know that rather well, too."

Shake and make up? I won't even try and dig out the oven gloves. They are somewhere in these silly pockets, I'm sure.

"Oh very well, very well, though I don't expect such things would affect me much at all. There, now let's go."

It would seem that if nothing else, Doomforall had some high end catering options available in this place; before long a large spread of food accounting for all the individual species tastes of the group is laid out in the main dining hall, George informs the group that he detected a mechanism the sole purpose of which seemed to be to duplicate the mental patterns of any chef in the world in the cooking golem, allowing it to replicate any style of cooking imaginable, though at the minute it's seemingly just set to a custom mix of Doomforall's favourites.

Eudial stared. She had suddenly never felt so hungry. All dignity was thrown aside as she began to eat ravenously.

However, as dinner comes to a close, George has finished processing data and informs you that the power levels of the rift emanating from Doomforall are increasing, and so the longer you put off confronting him the more dangerous it will be. If not done shortly (before Thursday night real world) the liklihood of major injuries or fatalities will begin to increase exponentially. Currently the power levels are as such where it should be achievable with a 5% chance for any one party member to be hurt.

Oh, GREAT. Eudial hadn't given much thought to Doomforall since arriving at the castle, but now the thought was forced upon their minds again. So how are we supposed to stop this? She looked at the others.

[majinb]

"Is the status quo now pretty much that we'll ALL go to Doomforall?
Or have others got their own agenda?"

[playzooki]

"What is this doomforall? I dont really wanna do any fighting. Id be beaten easily"

[steven_mcg]

Well, I don't know about you lot, but I would so very love to get a sample of whatever that...thing is Doomsy has managed to get himself tangled up in. If I can be provided enough cover, George and I can slip around wherever its back is and take a little piece of it back here after the battle for analysis. With the advanced systems in this place combined with my own trinkets and expertise, I'm almost positive I'll be able to find a more permanent way to see the blaggard off.

After all, this would be our first little tête-à-tête with the cause of this mess. Who knows how much lasting harm we'll actually be able to cause? I say we swoop in, kick sand in its face, grab Doomsy and get the hell out of there before it realises what on earth just happened.

[kodster]

"Not too long ago, I wouldn't have agreed with you," said Eudial. "But you speak sense. We don't know what the hell that thing is, and this Doomforall fool is almost certainly the key here. The thing is..." she looked hard at Vengeance. "I am not sure if removing Doomforall from those rift things would cause the destruction to quicken. And if it does, well... I'd like to move quite faster, wouldn't you?"

Eudial paused. "Where are the other two? The demon and the cat, I mean. I thought they were supposed to have followed us."

[alex_holt]

George responds:

"Only you requested transport - should I have transported the Feline and the Demon?"

[majinb]

"I think I shall be boarding the spaceship quickly... who will join me on my quest?"

[majinb]

"and my army shall come with me!"

[NFX]

"We were on the spaceship in the first place!" Twitch said, sounding a little exasperated. He really hoped this would all finish up soon enough, and he could get back to his old life. He would probably keep the stuff he'd found, though, that was definitely useful. Though where he could find a cassette player was beyond him. "And what are we going to do when we get there?" he continued, "Do we just blow him up, or is there some kind of quantum vector boson entanglement we have to do?" Twitch looked from one member of the group to the next, having absolutely no idea what he had just said. Flying headlong into the unknown with not much semblance of a plan had served him well in acquiring the spaceship, but something told him that when the fate of existence itself was at stake, it probably wasn't best to have the attitude of "We'll see how it pans out".

"We...we need to have a plan..." he mumbled, before retreating behind Eudial and making himself small.

[alex_holt]

Although Aurelia goes to read the relevant sections of the Doomforall biography, George is ahead of you and from his eyes begins to project a slideshow version of the document onto the far wall and narrates it.

POWERS

Doomforall currently possesses the power of the rift, which normally functions as a black hole of sorts with no gravitational pull, completely absorbing any matter it touches other than those who are rift touched such as yourself and Doomforall himself. He can activate the power at will and form it into any shape he wishes, though by far the most common is that of a staff.

Other forms he has been known to utilise include sprays of bolts, shields and beams.

He also possesses some degree of telekinesis tied to his rift use although it is an imprecise ability, capable of massive power output with little fine control. As such this is very rarely used in combat except in the form of concussion blasts.

Other powers exhibited include: immortality, agelessness, immunity to disease and poison, increased durability and flight via means of telekinesis - including supersonic via creation of localised vortex tubes.

TACTICS

Doomforall is not considered that highly trained a combatant, while he is certainly incredibly dangerous this is entirely hinging upon his power usage. He will tend to arrive at speed either via vortex flight or teleportation from the castle and quickly move to his objective rather than fully securing the situation properly. His melee and projectile skills are good but not remarkable, but coupled with the power of the rift this isn't needed.

WEAKNESSES

While very resistant to damage, he can be injured by sufficient force, and exotic magics or technologies have on several documented occasions proven capable of breaching his defences. If an opponent was resistant to his powers by being similarly rift touched he would be a significantly easier opponent, though he has taken steps to prevent as few other beings as possible reaching this status. Without the huge advantage the rift gives him he would be vulnerable, though best tactics would be to have a short sharp attack rather than a prolonged one as given the opportunity he can be very adaptable.

[alex_holt]

Vengeance, Eudial, Twitch and Aurelia board the ship, and are met aboard by Aurelias recruits.
As if sensing their purpose, the ship begins to thrumm and the walls seem to be adjusting ever so slightly as if to accomodate new systems gestating in the walls. By the time they have reach the bridge they find the whole place different to when they left, with special stations ready for each of them.

With a surprisingly soft noise, the ship is away, the great hangar doors of the castle opening and the ship issues forth like a ghost in chrome. The hazy bubble of the field rapidly approaches and then.... Pop. The ship plunges through the forcefield and with the slightest of noises the infinite depths of space stretch out before the group.

What takes much more of their notice however is the foreground. Ahead of them is a graveyard of ships - wrecked hulks of dozens of vessels drift through the night, and at the centre of them drifts the lifeless form of Doomforall - and the void staff he holds sprouts tendrils in across his form and down into the shield, like dread.roots trying to drain water, if the watter was the very matter of the planet.

The group, with very little effort head out to the body, the ship extending personallised fields around them go allow them to redist the effects of space. Like the complete lack of air and the crushing cold.

Aurelia manages to cut the fronds free from the body with her sunsword and they bring the corpse of Doomforall aboard, and it does truely seem to be a corpse, there are no signs of life whatsoever. They do notice however that while the tendrils seem to have retracted, they are also more.energetic, as if seeking for something to grab on to.

Vengeance attempts to harvest some rift but it cuts straight through every container he attempts tl use, though he has George scan it on every system he can, which the little droid informs him will take a while to process due to the astronomically high readings.

It's not until they reboard the ship that they are informed of the one person shuttle drifting in a broad orbit around the debris field, the single faint lifesign aboard and the titanic strength of the magics being worked from within...