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>>5457786

Before you do anything else, your first priority is to comb the scene for clues and highlight anything that sets off your instincts.

Even the most minor of details can play a critical role during the course of information gathering.

You do your level best to clear your mind of all its doubts and fears and focus instead on dispassionate analysis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byaqLE39ajc

One of the first details that catches your eye is in regards to the equipment scattered around the room; cots, discarded trash, empty water bottles, a dirty chemical toilet sequestered in a far corner, etc.

You had previously pegged this room as a command post, but that might not be entirely correct. On closer examination, this area seems to have doubled as a temporary barracks; like a staging post for expeditions deeper into the catacombs.

It makes sense in a coldly clinical way; send the cannon fodder into the depths while the lucky ones hang back and ensure that lines of communication stay open and that nobody tries to back out midway through.

And should nobody return, send in the next batch to do it all over again.

Sure matches with Intergang’s human resources policies.

The next fact of import is how all of the deceased still have their rifles slung over their shoulders, their pistols in their holsters, and their knives in their sheathes.

Whatever killed these guys not only pulled it off without anyone letting off a shot, they did it without alerting a single soul.

It tracks with some of the environmental details you had already noticed; like how if a weapon had been fired in an enclosed space like this, the tell-tale smell would still be sticking around.

A quick and dirty examination of the floor proves that there isn’t any spent brass, further lending credence that they were all taken by surprise.

Overall, your deductions have raised more questions than answers.

Perhaps a more arcane touch can provide the details you seek.

To that end, you switch on Magesight and examine the scene once more, on the prowl for any magical anomalies.

It’s not easy to pick out specific details over the veritable sea of interference, but you manage to adroitly power through it.

One fact which quickly apparent is that something spectacularly awful happened in these tunnels. You’ve only felt a similar power in places like Slaughter Swamp and Rockwell’s library; all of which have a truly terrible provenance.

You don’t probe too deeply into the source, mostly because you are physically unable to handle the strain.

The sensation it causes can be compared to nails slowly and fastidiously scraping against a chalkboard. Except instead of your ears, it’s your ability to think and process.

If you weren’t on your guard before, now you certainly are.

That heightened alertness guides you to another morbid discovery; there are similar pockets of foul magic surrounding each of the corpses.

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>>5457788

As you had both suspected and feared, the cause of death is definitely paranormal in nature. If you had more time to conduct a proper examination, you’d be able to draw a more exacting conclusion but generalities will suffice for now.

Most importantly, you pick up on a faint trace of magic that seems relatively fresh when compared to the other samples in the room. After a bit of fine-tuning with Magesight, you should have a solid lock on it.

Whatever is behind this, you’ve got its scent now.

Before you can celebrate the triumph of your unexpected edge, the harsh fluorescent lights rumble and flicker before dimming completely; leaving you in complete darkness.

Luckily, this time you’re prepared; after the last blackout, you took the liberty of clipping your emergency flashlight onto your chest rig. It’s one of the WW2 issue ones, the type that you can use to beat a man to death without busting up the internals.

This bad boy can take a licking and keep on ticking.

But when you flick its switch, not even a single mote of light is formed.

That’s not right, you know for certain that the battery should still be fresh.

After a few gut-wrenching moments of silence while you fiddle with the flashlight, it finally activates; revealing a room that is now completely and utterly barren.

No furniture, no equipment, no bodies, not a single trace of human presence besides you.

Even worse, the door through which you had previously entered through has completely vanished; replaced instead by a stone archway with a Latin script stenciled above it.

Can’t quite make out what it means, but that’s potentially for the best. This place has you on edge enough already.

You steel yourself and head through the archway. As you do so, your thoughts are bouncing around at breakneck speeds.

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that the only way out is forward.

As you walk, an errant idea pops into your mind that you’re unable to quash; it’s almost starting to feel like something is toying with you.

Not long after, you reach a three-way crossroads.

>>5457789

On instinct, you duck back around the corner when greeted with the staccato sounds of automatic small-arms fire. Given that the gunshots don’t match with anything you’ve loaned Pandion or Bobo, the source is most likely Intergang.

Judging from the way the shots echo, it seems to be coming from the passage to your left.

Meanwhile, the magic that you sniffed out continues to wind through the passage directly in front of you.

Lastly, the passage to your right has nothing noteworthy about it, aside from the fact that there is a worryingly fresh trail of blood winding through its corridors.

In the end, you decide to follow…

> The passage to your left. You need to know what Intergang is up to, and shaking down any survivors is the easiest way to go about that.

> The passage directly ahead of you. You’ve already got a lead to chase, stick with it; otherwise you risk it going cold.

> The passage to your right. Maybe there’s somebody in need of assistance. It could very well be a trap, but that’s a risk you’re willing to take.

> Other?

>>5457791
>> The passage directly ahead of you. You’ve already got a lead to chase, stick with it; otherwise you risk it going cold.

>>5457791
> The passage directly ahead of you. You’ve already got a lead to chase, stick with it; otherwise you risk it going cold.

>>5457791
> The passage directly ahead of you. You’ve already got a lead to chase, stick with it; otherwise you risk it going cold.

>>5457795
>>5457801
>>5457803

Go ahead and roll me some 1d100+20

DC: 85

(Your Luck Drain bonus of +7 is still in effect)

Rolled 52 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5457821

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>5457821

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>5457821

Rolled 33, 15 + 70 = 118 (2d100 + 70)

>>5457824
>>5457838
>>5457841

That's a failure.

Give me some 1d100+50

Rolled 72 + 50 (1d100 + 50)

>>5457842

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>5457842

Rolled 14 + 50 (1d100 + 50)

>>5457842

>>5457843
>>5457845
>>5457846

That's a success, writing.

>get caught by evil ghost demon thing
>just punch it in the fucking face
Classic failure-success combo.

>>5457847

You proceed into the passage directly ahead of you. There’s little sense in straying from such a solid lead.

As the trail grows more and more fresh, you become acutely aware of an ominous sound in the distance.

It’s hard to categorize at first, but you eventually recognize it as the creaking and squealing of an old cart being pulled.

Your unease spikes as you grow closer and closer to your quarry, almost as if it were being magnified somehow.

After what feels like ages of walking, you turn a corner and catch your first glimpse of the being that stalks these halls; a tall figure in a long black cloak and pointed felt hat pushing a wooden cart filled to the brim with bones.

From behind, it looks normal enough; if a bit unsettling. However, the bones in the cart would be an instant red flag to anyone not already at defcon one, given that they’re still speckled in fresh blood.

As if it has eyes in the back of its head, as soon as you clock its presence, it slowly turns around, revealing its face; a half-rotten skull and stringy white hair.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZBtVN63eVY

The eyes are the most striking of its features (beyond the obvious necrosis). They blaze with a quiet intensity, not quite rage or hate, but of inevitably.

Those are eyes that have seen generations perish, and genuinely believes that it will see countless generations more.

With little warning, the figure suddenly discards its cart and produces a scythe; charging towards you with a wordless scream that threatens to give you a splitting headache.

Thanks to your quick reflexes, you are able to adeptly backstop and dodge the arc of the scythe by a country mile.

Note to self, the scythe itself seems to actually exist as a physical object; it’s not a projection or something incorporeal.

And despite its decaying, emaciated frame, it moves with a certain amount of vigor that you can’t help but be surprised by.

Despite your experience with the supernatural, you can’t quite put a finger on what this one may be.

Unlike some of the other cases you’ve encountered, this one doesn’t seem to fit neatly into one box.

Guess it’s time for some trial and error.

You…

> Attempt to locate weak spots or vulnerabilities using Magesight. It’ll be grueling even if you succeed, but the information may be worth the price.

> Open fire on it with your carbine. Might as well see if you can end this the easy way before resorting to something less conventional.

> Blind with a flashbang grenade. The logic is simple enough; if it likes dark places, maybe it really hates bright lights.

> Get in close with your KABAR. It’s going to be hard for it to properly swing the scythe in the confines of the tunnel, getting up close will make it even harder.

> Bring out the Claw and blitz it. Magical problems call for magical solutions.

> Hit it with a spell. (Specify)

> Other?

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>>5457871

(Forgot to attach the related picture)

>>5457871
>> Open fire on it with your carbine. Might as well see if you can end this the easy way before resorting to something less conventional.

>>5457871
> Open fire on it with your carbine. Might as well see if you can end this the easy way before resorting to something less conventional.

>>5457871
> Open fire on it with your carbine. Might as well see if you can end this the easy way before resorting to something less conventional.

>>5457871
> Attempt to locate weak spots or vulnerabilities using Magesight. It’ll be grueling even if you succeed, but the information may be worth the price.

Rolled 21, 48 + 45 = 114 (2d100 + 45)

>>5457875
>>5457880
>>5457887

Alright, looks like we're going with a classic.

Go ahead and roll me some 1d100+20

> DC to be determined.

Rolled 34 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5457893

Rolled 14 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5457893

Rolled 18 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5457893
Boom boom!

>>5457894
>>5457895
>>5457897

That's a failure.

Go ahead and give me some 1d100+30

> DC: 75

Rolled 63 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>5457900

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>5457900

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>5457900

Rolled 82, 10 + 65 = 157 (2d100 + 65)

>>5457901
>>5457904
>>5457905

That's a success, now give me some 1d100+50 for some evasion.

> DC to be determined

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>5457910

>>5457913

That's what we've all been waiting for, anon.

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>5457910

Rolled 13 + 50 (1d100 + 50)

>>5457910
>>5457913
our luck has turned once more

>>5457913
FUCK YEAH

File: 2109226330.gif (1.9 MB, 380x214)

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>>5457913
Get fucked, ghost.

>>5457913
>>5457915
>>5457916

That's a critical success, which (in this instance) earns you a free counterattack that's guaranteed to hit.

I'll still have you roll for it in case anything wacky happens, so how would you like to go about it?

> Disarm it and attempt to slash it with its own scythe. Shouldn’t be too hard to wrestle out of its hands, given how it’s overextended itself.

> Nail it with a full-power Lightning Bolt. Time to see if you can shock it back into the grave.

> Bring out the Claw and bulldoze it through a wall before whaling on it. Might risk some structural damage, but who cares?

> Outmaneuver it and affix some thermite to the back of its head. Let’s see how much he likes some industrial grade firepower.

> Other?

>>5457924
> Nail it with a full-power Lightning Bolt. Time to see if you can shock it back into the grave.

>>5457924
>> Disarm it and attempt to slash it with its own scythe. Shouldn’t be too hard to wrestle out of its hands, given how it’s overextended itself.
thats some dante inferno's shit

>>5457924
> Disarm it and attempt to slash it with its own scythe. Shouldn’t be too hard to wrestle out of its hands, given how it’s overextended itself.

>>5457927
>>5457951

Alright, go ahead and give me some 1d100+30

> No DC on this one, unless you critfail or something.

Rolled 21 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>5457953

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>5457953

>>5457956
Where were you earlier?

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>5457953

>>5457954
>>5457956
>>5457962

As expected, that's a success.

Writing.

>>5457953
What we get the last critic? It was a magic one right?

>>5457969

I don't quite recall. I want to say that last thread was pretty sparse in terms of hundos.

>>5457969
the one we just got was a spring-heeled jack roll so that's getting a boost.
If you mean before that there was the Magesight roll with Delrio which did give a boost to magesight

>>5457970
>>5457971
Thenks man

>>5457966

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective ones. After all, why fix what ain’t broken?

That’s the justification humming through your mind when you unsling your Apokoliptian Carbine and take aim towards the figure.

The shots momentarily shine like a light in the darkness as they fly towards the figure and connect with its torso and lower body, only for it to shrug off the damage entirely. Eh, you figured it was a long shot but it’s always nice to get a confirmation.

Curiously, instead of trying to shishkebab you with its scythe, the figure instead opens its mouth and unleashes a billowing cloud of putrid yellow smoke in your direction.

A quick glance with Magesight coupled with your own amateur research on poisons leads you to conclude that the smoke is some kind of slow-acting paralytic. A creeper that silently builds up in your system before suddenly acting and disabling numerous major bodily functions.

Doesn’t seem to do anything to numb the pain though, which is a hell of a nasty way to go out; feeling your organs shut down without having the benefit of shock to cushion it.

A trick that nasty would also explain how it was able to dispatch a room full of hair-trigger thugs without alerting a single one.

Thankfully, you’re too fast on your feet to be caught so easily.

After ducking around its first burst of poison, the figure retaliates by spitting concentrated jets of its insidious breath your way.

Unfortunately for it, your footwork is immaculate as you dodge each and every cloud with contemptuous ease, inevitably culminating in a running strike that allows you to wrestle the scythe out of its hands.

As soon as you manage to break its hold on the scythe, you know immediately that you’ve made a wise call.

Even though Magesight is off, you can still practically feel the mojo pumping through the thing.

Before it can regain any of its lost ground, you nail it with a bonecrusher of a sweeping blow that knocks it ass over teakettle.

You’ve well and truly got it on the ropes now.

As it struggles to get back to its feet, you attempt to finish this via…

> Decapitation. A mighty swing that’ll take off everything from the neck-up. It’s a classic for taking out the undead.

> Bisection. A curved swipe from the side should be enough to cleave right through his chest cavity; like a hot knife through butter.

> Impalement. An upward flourish into a straight shot through the heart; nothing quite right a sturdy hit through center mass.

> Dismantlement. A low sweep to chop off the legs, followed by a pivot that leverages gravity to force him to fall onto the blade.

> Other?

>>5457989
>> Decapitation. A mighty swing that’ll take off everything from the neck-up. It’s a classic for taking out the undead.

>>5457989
> Decapitation. A mighty swing that’ll take off everything from the neck-up. It’s a classic for taking out the undead.

Wonder what this guy's classification is? We should find out and write it down once we find Jack. Kind of like a pokedex :D

>>5457989
> Decapitation. A mighty swing that’ll take off everything from the neck-up. It’s a classic for taking out the undead.

Rolled 96, 59 + 10 = 165 (2d100 + 10)

>>5457990
>>5457994
>>5457995

Calling it for decapitation, go ahead and give me some 1d100

> DC to be determined.

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>5457999

>>5457999

That's a mistake on my end, I was trying to do a -10 and messed up the weird nomenclature for that.

Always trips me up.

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>5457999
fucks sake, we need >92 or so

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Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>5457999
>96

Rolled 19, 41 = 60 (2d100)

>>5458001
>>5458003
>>5458005

That's a failure, go ahead and give me another round of d100.

> DC to be determined.

Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>5458006

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>5458006
Dice are bipolar today.

Rolled 48 (1d100)

Curses.>>5458006

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>5458006

>>5458009
>>5458012
>>5458013

Alright, looks like you manage to pull it off on the backswing.

This feels like a reasonable place to stop (especially because I'm not sure I've got another update in me), so we'll call it quits for tonight.

Session will resume at 5:00 PM EST on Friday, as usual.

As always, thanks for playing and I hope to see you all there.

I'll be hanging around a bit in case anyone has questions, concerns, or just wants to shoot the shit.

And as an aside; how did you like the horror stuff I tried to incorporate in this thread and last? I thought I did an acceptable job at setting the tone, but feedback is always appreciated.

Doesn't necessarily have to be about that specifically, just realized that I haven't plainly asked these kinda questions for a while.

Big fan of Horror. Am hoping that we get to explore more of the mature elements of DC like the Lucifer, Metal, White Knight, and Endless comics. Love your work and dedication. >>5458020

If anything it should be scarier like when we battled our mental demon ghosts or that demon. The only downside we had was our time on the squad which I found a little boring but necessary to fortify our foundation and rep.

>>5458020
>I'll be hanging around a bit in case anyone has questions, concerns, or just wants to shoot the shit.

I am really late but we still have the others Horus sigils? Could we do that ritual to reach the three doors room?

>>5458032

Thanks for the feedback and compliments, anon.

As for your most recent bout with the paranormal, I tried to keep it a bit brief, mostly because it doesn't have quite as much gravitas as the other examples you provided.

This was meant to me more of an optional encounter, so to speak, rather than something important to the main story.

By the way, feel free to speculate as to the nature / identity of the entity you just finished skirmishing with. I'll give you a hint, it's not as obvious as it would look at first glance.

>>5458976

Don't worry about the lateness, anon.

As for the Horus talismans, the pair currently in your possession are made of bronze. To crack open another portal of such power, you'd likely need another golden one.

That'd mean either finding one in the wild somehow, or tangling with another band of Horus cultists.

To say nothing of the fact that using it brought a divine expression of Horus' wrath down on your head in the form of an angry chicken with a sword.

But hey, experimentation is the name of the game.

In the vein of a much more accomplished writer than I; "All power is the same. Magic. Physical strength. Economic strength. Political strength. It all serves a single purpose-it gives its possessor a broader spectrum of choices. It creates alternative courses of action."

And before I forget to mention it tomorrow, have a good Veterans Day.

>failure, success, failure, success, success, success, failure, success
classic Sean luck, praise Set for His blessings

My best guess is some manifestation of a fragment of the Anti-Life Equation or some sort of manifestation of restless dead disturbed by the actions of intergang.>>5459118

>>5459118
Shade, Wraith, Reaper, Death, Ghost, poltergeist, Mr. Bones

>>5459282
Oh god, not a never ending wild ride AAAAHHHHHH I WANT OFF MR. BONES

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>>5459287
There is no option, hop in.

>>5458020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy4HA3vUv2c

Before the entity can regain its balance, you lunge forward with the scythe, aiming for a quick and clean decapitation that’ll hopefully put it down for good.

There’s a meaty thwack as the blade slides neatly into the neck and carves an ugly line through the long-dead sinew and tissue before reaching a stop about midway through.

Unfortunately, it looks like you weren’t lucky enough to sever the whole thing in one swift blow.

The figure lets out a low, mocking laugh as you struggle to push the blade through and finish the job, but it’s just no use; the blade is stuck in there like you had driven it into a concrete wall.

Suddenly, you have a bolt of inspiration.

Rather than try and fruitlessly move the blade through the neck, what if you tried to instead move its neck across the blade?

In that vein, instead of trying to dislodge the blade, you abandon all hopes of unfucking the scythe and focus on acquiring an iron grip on the entity’s head.

It takes some doing (and a few close calls with its poison gas), but you’re able to manhandle it into a position whereby you can leverage both your weights against it and manually saw its neck along the blade.

It’s brutal and messy, but that’s the only way to fight.

As soon as the head is removed, a burst of black ooze spews out of the jagged wound; you retreat as the headless body futilely flails and spasms before abruptly collapsing and melting into a shadowy pool of tar-like substance.

At about the same time, the oppressive presence which has been lurking in the back of your mind ever since you entered the catacombs disappears.

A quick examination with Magesight shows that the bulk of the previously impenetrable magical interference has vanished as well.

Magesight also allows you to notice that the scythe is pulsing with some kind of strange energy; maybe this weapon was Intergang’s objective the whole time?

>>5459963

A mental buzzing interrupts your pondering; seems that Jack is finally able to get a sigil ping through.

“Sean, are you quite alright!?”

> “I’ll live. Glad to hear that you’re alright; what the hell happened to you?”

“I’m not entirely sure. One moment all was well, the next… not so much. It was as if I had been sucked through a portal and spat out elsewhere in the catacombs. Ever since, I’ve been wandering the tunnels in an attempt to find you or an exit. Luckily, I’ve followed a passage to the surface. How have things been in my absence?”

> “Eh, so-so. Found some dead Intergang guys, turns out it was because of some kinda Grim Reaper wannabe that I had to put down. It was carrying this old scythe that stinks like magic. Think it may’ve been behind all the weirdness down here. Have you seen or heard anything about the others?

“They’ve already finished sweeping their assigned zones and are waiting for us up above. It would seem that the majority of the Intergang operation was centered on our search area. Set wouldn’t stop complaining about how boring it was. Are you ready to conclude our search?”

After spending another few moments examining the scythe, you decide to…

> Call it quits and have Jack pick you up. This Intergang operation is obviously a bust and the scythe is reward enough for your labor.

> Search the catacombs further in search of loot. You’ve made it this far, might as well ensure that you leave no stone unturned.

> Other?

>>5459966

Search the catacombs further in search of loot. You’ve made it this far, might as well ensure that you leave no stone unturned.

>Search the reaper

>>5459966
>> Search the catacombs further in search of loot. You’ve made it this far, might as well ensure that you leave no stone unturned.

>>5459966
>> Search the catacombs further in search of loot. You’ve made it this far, might as well ensure that you leave no stone unturned

Bring Set. Show him the scythe if we dont get more loot or if he get bored

>>5459976
>>5459977
>>5459980

Roll me some 1d100+40

DC: 90 / 120

Rolled 21 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5459987

>>5459966
> Search the catacombs further in search of loot. You’ve made it this far, might as well ensure that you leave no stone unturned.

Rolled 68 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5459987

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>5459987

>>5459989
>>5459991
>>5459993

Alright, that's a regular success.

Thus concludes your exploits in France.

I'm assuming that Italy followed by Greece are next on your list of destinations, given their proximity and the decisions made up to this point, but I'll go ahead and formalize it.

Where would you like to head next?

> Italy / Greece. You owe Pandion and Gaius one last look at their homelands.

> Other?

>>5459997
>> Italy / Greece. You owe Pandion and Gaius one last look at their homelands.

>>5459997
> Italy / Greece. You owe Pandion and Gaius one last look at their homelands.

>>5459997
> Italy / Greece. You owe Pandion and Gaius one last look at their homelands.

We can learn about the invention of the orgy, and how the Romans improved upon the concept by adding women

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>>5459997
>> Italy / Greece. You owe Pandion and Gaius one last look at their homelands

>>5460004
>We can learn about the invention of the orgy, and how the Romans improved upon the concept by adding women.

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>>5460004
>pic related

>>5459998
>>5460001
>>5460004
>>5460008

That’s what I figured; just wanted to ensure that I didn’t railroad anything.

While you’re in Italy, which locales would you like to visit? (Choose 2)

> Ercolano. It’s been ages since you’ve been able to check up on the library there. Hopefully that scribe spirit still remembers you.

> Rome. It’s considered the gold standard of tourism for a reason; there’s no way that you won’t find something to keep you occupied.

> Vatican City. There’s a certain irony inherent to visiting Catholic central with a couple of Egyptian gods in the backseat.

> Venice. Nessie would probably have a good time playing in the canals.

> Other?

>>5460017
>> Rome. It’s considered the gold standard of tourism for a reason; there’s no way that you won’t find something to keep you occupied.
>> Vatican City. There’s a certain irony inherent to visiting Catholic central with a couple of Egyptian gods in the backseat.

>>5460017
> Ercolano. It’s been ages since you’ve been able to check up on the library there. Hopefully that scribe spirit still remembers you.
> Rome. It’s considered the gold standard of tourism for a reason; there’s no way that you won’t find something to keep you occupied.

>>5460017
> Ercolano. It’s been ages since you’ve been able to check up on the library there. Hopefully that scribe spirit still remembers you.
> Rome. It’s considered the gold standard of tourism for a reason; there’s no way that you won’t find something to keep you occupied.

Scribefren :)

>>5460017
> Ercolano. It’s been ages since you’ve been able to check up on the library there. Hopefully that scribe spirit still remembers you.
> Rome. It’s considered the gold standard of tourism for a reason; there’s no way that you won’t find something to keep you occupied.

>>5460018
>>5460019
>>5460023
>>5460030

Alright, looks like we’re locked in for Ercolano and Rome.

How do you spend your downtime during the drive to Ercolano?

You…

> Do some stealth training with Jack. It never hurts to get some extra practice in, especially when it comes to moving quietly.

> Do some knifework sparring with Bobo. Even though it hasn’t been your most important skill lately, keeping up with fundamentals is crucial.

> Test your magical precision against Thoth. If you can figure out some way to hit your marks more consistently, that’d pay dividends down the line.

> Test your magical strength against Set. It probably won’t end well, but that’s often the case when it comes to learning magic.

> Do some sword-and-board sparring with Gaius. He’s been getting a little cocky lately, and you could use a bit of help with shaking off the rust.

> Do some CQC sparring with Pandion. You still owe him that Pankration match, and you could benefit from a bit more hand-to-hand expertise.


(This'll be my last question before I start working on the update)

>>5460017
>> Rome. It’s considered the gold standard of tourism for a reason; there’s no way that you won’t find something to keep you occupied.
>> Vatican City. There’s a certain irony inherent to visiting Catholic central with a couple of Egyptian gods in the backseat

Mission: Befriend Pope.
Ask Ghostdad if he want to try reach for haven

>>5460042
> Test your magical strength against Set. It probably won’t end well, but that’s often the case when it comes to learning magic.
> Do some sword-and-board sparring with Gaius. He’s been getting a little cocky lately, and you could use a bit of help with shaking off the rust.

>>5460042
> Test your magical strength against Set. It probably won’t end well, but that’s often the case when it comes to learning magic.

>>5460042
>>5460045
> Do some CQC sparring with Pandion. You still owe him that Pankration match, and you could benefit from a bit more hand-to-hand expertise.

>>5460042
> Do some sword-and-board sparring with Gaius. He’s been getting a little cocky lately, and you could use a bit of help with shaking off the rust.

>>5460044
>>5460045
>>5460048

I'm willing to mix the Set and Gaius trainings since there seems to be a tie.

Writing, feel free to float me any questions or conversation topics for Set / Gaius.

>>5460058
I want to ask Set if he was surprised that we managed to convince Thoth to come with us on the trip and I would like to see Gaius's reaction to returning to Italy/Rome after so many years.

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>>5460058

> “Not quite yet, Jack. Gonna nose around a bit first and see what I can see. Think I’m due for a little bit of good luck.”

“Just be careful, Sean.”

> “Hey, when am I not?”

Despite being separated by metric tons of stone, gravel, and bone, you can practically feel Jack staring at you for that one.

You resent that implication, it’s not like you’re that reckless or anything. Sure, you pick fights with international crime cartels for fun and profit immediately after escaping unsanctioned federal custody, but how else can you be expected to unwind?

Hell, unless you catch the attention of the JLA or something, you’ve carved out a nice little professional niche for yourself. Turns out that nobody cares overmuch if you save the rough treatment for other scumbags.

Anyhow, back to more important matters like looting.

You had briefly considered searching the reaper wannabe, but given that its been reduced to a rapidly putrefying puddle on the floor, you’re doubtful that you would accomplish anything other than getting your armor dirty.

Instead, you continue to follow some of its previous tracks, which eventually guides you to a small room dug into the side of a tunnel.

Judging from the antique wiring and dust coating every surface, this room hasn’t had a human being inside for decades at the least. The identity of the previous occupant quickly becomes clear when you notice a grimy, moth-eaten flag sporting a swastika.

At first glance, the room looks like a listening post of sorts, probably established after the occupation during the early days of WW2.

You were ready to write the room off as a curious oddity, before an old safe stashed in the far corner catches your attention.

A bit of thermite and some elbow grease is enough to crack the mechanism, revealing its hidden contents; half a dozen gold bars bearing the stamp of the 3rd Reich.

Now that you’ve got a bit more info to work with, you conclude that this might’ve been some kind of emergency bolthole for Vichy French or Nazi occupiers in the later days of the war. It would explain the stockpile of gold at least, as well as the busted up radio equipment.

Well, their loss is your gain.

As for the bars themselves, you can barely believe your luck with such a find.

Even if you discount their historical providence, it’s still a kilogram of nearly-pure gold per bar. It’s not going to make you fabulously wealthy or anything, but it’ll be a welcome addition to your personal war chest. Hell, there were time when you would’ve done much worse for much less of a payoff.

You nose around the immediate area in case there are any more hidden caches, but come up short. Guess you’ll have to make due with only secret stash of gold bars.

> “Jack, you’ve got the green light to pull me out. I’m all done.”

Rolled 10, 29, 86 + 25 = 150 (3d100 + 25)

>>5460080

It only takes a minute or so for Jack to locate you and pull you back up to the surface.

The mid-morning sun and fresh air are a godsend after traipsing around the catacombs for hours on what could’ve been a wild ghost hunt.

The others are already packed up and waiting for you; the scythe (and the gold) are loaded into the back of the Set-Mobile, positioned tastefully with the alien rifles you swiped in London.

Thoth immediately begins fiddling with the scythe, seems to have really grabbed his interest. You’ll have to get with him later to see if he can find out anything new about it.

Once everyone is strapped in, the Set-Mobile lazily meanders its way out of Paris.

Overall, looks like you’ve got another successful Intergang takedown to stick in your win column.

Some unlucky capo is probably tearing his hair out about all the losses you keep delivering to their doorstep.

Hopefully they aren’t organized or intelligent enough to start stepping up their security. So long as you’re careful enough to avoid leaving any obvious patterns or calling cards, they won’t be able to trace it back to you.

Besides, once you get the Steel Wolves firing on all cylinders, you’ll be able to really put the hurt on anybody who tries to take a shot at you.

There’s a brief discussion about the next destination on the docket, but it’s practically a no-brainer. Since it’s right next door and has a special significance to Gaius, Italy is the logical next place to visit.

From there, it should be a simple enough matter to hug the coastline and skirt the Balkans on your way to Greece.

You spend the first leg of your journey to the Italian border with Set, trying to further refine your raw magical power.

> Roll me some 1d100

(DC to be determined)

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>5460083
Rollin’

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>5460083

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>5460083

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>5460083

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>5460080
>fucking nazi gold
We can't give it all away. One of them bars is going in the trophy room. It simply must.

>>5460083

>>5460085
>>5460086
>>5460087

Alright, looks like Set outmuscles you.

Roll me some 1d100+20 to see if you pick up anything interesting.

DC: 100

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>5460093

Rolled 58 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5460093

Rolled 11 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5460093

Rolled 7, 22, 33 + 25 = 87 (3d100 + 25)

>>5460095
>>5460096
>>5460098

That's a failure, and I'm guessing that nobody wants to burn Roll the Die for a training do-over.

Let's see how your training with Gaius goes; roll me some 1d100+10

(DC to be determined)

Rolled 27 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>5460100

Rolled 38 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>5460100

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>5460100

>>5460101
>>5460104
>>5460105

That's a success, writing.

Probably going to be the last one of the night.

>set once again proving he never got his teaching degree
Well there's one thing for Thoth to be smug about.

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>>5460106

During the occasional rest stop, you ask Set if he’d be willing to help with improving your fundamental magical strength and technique.

To your surprise, he agrees without any hint of persuasion or bribery required.

This should’ve been your first warning that things were not going to go as planned.

You had originally envisioned it as a cooperative venture whereby you would cast a spell, Set would heckle you a bit, and then show you how to do it better.

Instead, Set demands that you do it “the traditional way.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcByktP-mdE

As it turns out, “the traditional way” generally consists of Set choosing a random piece of magic you know and throwing it full-strength at you. In return, you are intended to “block” it with a spell of equal or greater potency to avoid being struck.

In theory, you are being “encouraged” to pick up some good habits that’ll allow you to better utilize your baseline magical strength.

In practice, Set uses it as an opportunity to throw spells at you and laugh whenever anything embarrassing happens.

On one such occasion, Set’s chosen spell is Lightning Bolt. Despite it being one of the more powerful options in your arsenal, Set easily overpowers it and purposefully nails you in the face with it.

Thanks to the Xenothium infusion, it doesn’t hurt; but that doesn’t prevent you from spazzing out a bit from the excess current.

It also makes your hair point straight-up, a fact that Set attempts to document. He ceases when you threaten to direct Thoth his way for a lecture about the dangers of playing with primordial natural forces.

And seeing how it’s on-topic, you ask him an offhand question.

> “Are you surprised that I managed to convince Thoth to come with us? You know him better than pretty much anybody else here.”

“Do I? Maybe not as well as I’d like. The Thoth I knew would only leave his books if it were a matter of life and death. I thought you were kidding at first when you said he might be tagging along, but that’s what I get for doubting.”

Set’s trademark smirk loses a bit of its strength for a moment.

“Maybe he’s changed. Maybe I’ve changed. Or maybe it’s just you, kid. As much as I like to mess around, you’ve gone and done something that nobody’s managed to centuries; having Thoth and I in the same room without anybody killing each other. Don’t think I’ll ever forget that. What I’m trying to say is thanks, kid.

Now, where was I? Oh, that’s right…”

He claps his hands together to form a burst of red lightning.

“I hope you noticed how I did that, because it’s coming your way in three seconds.”

Five seconds later, you find yourself flopping on the ground, bitching to yourself that you should’ve been a tad more attentive.

>>5460130

Once your party crosses over into Italy proper, you spend the majority of your spare time practicing with Gaius. Knifework is all well and good, but sometimes you need something a bit longer to get the job done.

And who better to educate you on the art of battle than a bonafide prime legionary.

In the beginning, Gaius freely admits that he thinks you’ll be a pushover when it comes to swordsmanship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFdKbIswz6k

But your limited experience back in Belle Reve allows you to hold your own, a fact that surprises Gaius more than a little.

He quickly begins to up your training, and begins exactingly hammering the proper forms and instincts into you as best he can.

Unsurprisingly, Gaius is a stern taskmaster. You haven’t had anyone bark at you like he does since you were in boot.

Between your natural determination and his unwavering commitment to excellence, your skills quickly improve.

During one such mock battle; in between the relentless clashing of sword and shield, you take the opportunity to speak with Gaius about personal matters.

It’s partly as a way to get to know him a little better, and partly to potentially disrupt his concentration.

Hey, you’ve gotta take your advantages whenever you can.

> “So, what’s it like being in Italy again, after all these years?”

He pauses for a moment to consider it, assuming a pose you’ve been catching him in quite a lot lately. Not that you can blame him or anything, considering that he’s reaching ever closer to his final act of dutiful absolution.

You probe his guard a bit, only for him to idly swat you away.

“It’s been…difficult. Knowing that everything and everyone I held dear is now just a story in the pages of someone else’s history.

When I look at the people, I can no longer see myself in them.

Our empire is gone, our traditions are gone, our very way of life is gone. And that is not something I can ever accept.

When I gaze upon the lands of my youth, I feel no fondness. Instead, all I receive is a reminder that I am but a relic surrounded by things I have little hope of ever understanding. The Greek has been helpful in that regard, but there is still so much that feels alien to me.”

Gaius looks more animated than you have ever seen him before.

“But perhaps I can pass my ways onto you, so that you may carry the torch of civilization into this barbaric future. I only ask that you learn from my mistakes.

My story is reaching its end while yours is only at the beginning. Make the most of it while you can, but remember that nothing is eternally certain.

I gave my very being in service to something greater than myself, and for what?

Honor?

Duty?

Fight instead for yourself and that which you hold dear. All else will be rendered pointless by the winds of time.”

A surprisingly heartfelt speech, coming from the generally utilitarian Gaius.

You almost feel bad when you trounce him in the bout next.

Almost.

>>5460128
>Well there's one thing for Thoth to be smug about.
>Just one thing.
Is a wonder that Thot animal morphi is not a cat.

How is Bastet in DC? Is she loving-wellsome/bloodlust-feral or something like that?

>>5460134

That's all for tonight, anons!

We'll pick up with the Ercolano stuff on Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST. I'm getting dangerously close to completing an interlude, which I'll hopefully have done and posted on Monday.

As always, thanks for playing! I'll be hanging around for a bit in case anyone has questions, comments, etc.

Have a good weekend!

>>5460137

Considering who you hang out with, you'd probably fall on opposite sides of the fence.

>>5460142
Thenks for the run Axie.

And I say it because in the books say that she is a bit bipolar but nice in general

>>5460134
If Gaius were alive he'd be throwing up so many death flags right now. Poor guy.

Good news, I finally finished the interlude I was working on.

It's a long read, but I hope you all enjoy.

Thanks again for your patience.

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>>5463473

MEANWHILE, AT MOUNT JUSTICE

It’s always nice to have the team together and getting along.

It wasn’t easy to get Connor to play along, but the lure of free pizza and a slight amount of guilting on your part was enough to ensure his presence.

Red Tornado is still out on his super-special mission, but Hawkman has been doing a good job. A bit more disciplinarian than strictly necessary, but you can see where he’s coming from.

Besides them, you also managed to wrangle Jamie, Kaldur, Cassie, and Wally into participating.

As far as you’re concerned, everyone just needs to slow down and chillax a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48VEaxqI8HM

Cassie hasn’t been in the best of moods for a while, and you had been hoping to brighten her spirits a bit.

Kaldur is starting to let the pressure get to him, and needs to just be a teenager for a day.

Jamie seems normal, but you can tell that he’s starting to chafe under all the micromanagement that the JLA is subjecting him to.

And Wally’s jokes have been getting worse and worse; a telltale sign that he still blames himself for what happened in Keystone City. In his mind, if he hadn’t accompanied Flash on his mission, he could’ve been on-site to prevent you from being injured.

The afternoon had been going reasonably well, up until Kaldur made the mistake of informing the team that they may be tasked with the investigation and future apprehension of the criminal known as Gunsmoke.

The previously lighthearted mood evaporated in an instant, leaving an awkward tension that’s impossible to defuse despite your best efforts.

Upon hearing the news, Connor just shrugs, radiating a mixture of apathy and annoyance that doesn’t require telepathy to notice.

“What’s the big deal? From what I’ve heard, he’s just some guy; we could easily take him in a straight fight. Just need to find him first.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, big guy. Cassie isn’t exactly a lightweight and he managed to wipe the floor with her. No offense intended.” Wally says, quickly adding an addendum when he notices the death glare shot his way by the blonde Amazonian.

> “Can we please just talk about something else?”

You don’t like talking about Gunsmoke.

It brings back memories that do more harm than good.

You’ve totally recovered from your injuries, but you’d prefer to put the whole incident in the past and focus on the future. Picking away at old wounds won’t help anyone feel better or accomplish anything.

But Wally and Connor refuse to let things go (as usual), and Kaldur has to step in when the argument shows no sign of abating.

You try to telepathically nudge him that it’ll only egg them on, but Kaldur just can’t help himself.

When the infighting refuses to abate, his solution is to hold an impromptu planning session.

Not quite what you had planned, but you’re a good enough sport to play along with it.

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>>5463476

“Alright, let’s just try and focus on the facts as we know them. What would be the best place to start…?” Kaldur muses, still munching on a slice of pepperoni pizza.

“Is there any security footage to review, something that might shed a bit of light on his MO?” Hawkman asks, evidently deciding to throw the team a bone.

Jaime shakes his head.

“Nada. All the security footage at S.T.A.R. Labs was throughly purged before they made their escape. The cops practically swarmed the place and couldn’t find a thing.

If we hadn’t been there, they probably would’ve gotten away without anyone the wiser.”

“This is getting us nowhere!”

Cassie slams her fist onto the table, causing it to wobble slightly and earning herself a warning glare from Hawkman.

She does her best to restrain herself, but is obviously failing.

“You’ve had the most experience with his fighting style, what can you recall?” Kaldur probes, gently.

“He’s quick on his feet, nowhere even remotely close to Wally, but still above any regular athlete. I’d probably outpace him in terms of raw speed, but he has an economy of motion that’s difficult to match. It was hard to pick out an overall style, but it had a kind of military precision at its core. Don’t let that fool you though, he fights dirty and he’s really good at it.” Cassie admits with a kind of grudging respect.

“So he’s had some fancy training, I’m telling you; I can take this guy!” Connor interjects, infuriating Cassie.

“Either contribute something useful or-“

Kaldur defuses the argument before it can get any worse.

“I think we’ve accomplished all the we can on this front. Let’s move on to the psych profile and his known associates.

From what we’ve seen, he’s not a lone wolf. He operates with a partner at least, maybe even a full team. Furthermore-“

“Where are you pulling all of this from, anyhow?” Connor bluntly interjects.

“Batgirl was kind enough to provide us with sanitized copies of official reports involving known crimes perpetrated by Gunsmoke and his accomplices.” Kaldur says, gently chiding Connor for not keeping up-to-date with his briefings.

Wally, completely oblivious to this byplay, skims over the collected documentation with his customary speed.

“Y’know, the key words in that that sentence are ”known crimes”. Do we even known how long this guy’s been active? What if he’s got some bag of tricks that he’s purposefully hiding from us?”

Jamie laughs.

“You’re starting to sound like Batman.”

Wally crosses his heart in mock horror.

“That may be the worst thing you’ve ever said to me. As for his goons, at least there’s one mystery solved. If he’s got some kind of hacker savant in his corner, that might explain where all of that security footage went.

Cassie, M’gann? You remember anything else noteworthy? Anything that might help us get a handle on this guy?”

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>>5463479

> “He had a partner that kept Cassie busy while Gunsmoke focused on me. He seemed to almost enjoy the fighting, like every movement and reaction was all a part of a wider game.”

Cassie grits her teeth but plays along.

“Yeah, I remember that guy. As soon as I gave him a love tap, Gunsmoke went completely off-the-rails. Back me up, M’gann; he’s obviously got a screw loose.”

> “He seemed…erratic?” You offer, not knowing how to describe the true feeling properly in words.

The best you can do is that he felt like a sinkhole filled with tar. An endless void spiraling around a fathomless sense of loss and rage. But at its core, the tiniest fragment of hope and joy still remains.”

Oblivious to your internal turmoil, Wally continues on.

“That only leaves their infiltrator. Did any of you get a good luck at him.

> “I was more concentrated with Gunsmoke at the time.”

A sentiment that Cassie wholeheartedly agrees with.

“That might’ve been their goal, to keep the pair of you tied up while their burglar ransacked the place.” Jamie theorizes.

“It’s a distinct possibility.” Kaldur agrees.

“Alright, enough poring over boring old mission reports. I demand wild and unsubstantiated theories, stat!” Wally demands.

Jaime instantly chimes in with his favorite pet theory.

“Maybe he’s some kind of bionic super-soldier? Half-man, half-machine, all business.”

Connor’s theory is much less sensational.

“Sounds like just another dirtbag coward to me. Rolls in, snatches a quick payday and moves on before anyone can corner him. He’ll fall apart if we can corner him. Mercs always get greedy, that could be our angle.”

Wally claps his hands like a magician about to present a trick.

“I like what I’m hearing, but let’s kick it up a notch. Since nobody else seems willing to say it, I guess I’m your huckleberry.

What are the going odds that Gunsmoke is a metahuman?”

“Slim to none, given his reliance on conventional tactics and equipment.” Kaldur cuts in, deflating Wally just a tad.

“Then what’s his secret? You think he has any of your mojo, Cassie? It might explain how he was able to push through your lasso.”

She shakes her head.

“Impossible. There’s no way that somebody like him could ever be blessed by Olympus.”

Wally turns to the rest of the team, faux-pleading for their input.

“Kaldur? Penny for your thoughts?”

“I tend to believe that Batman is correct to avoid speculating needlessly until hard evidence can be acquired.”

Connor yawns and stretches, seemingly bored of all the bickering.

“Are we done here?”

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>>5463480

“Just a sec, big guy; there’s just one last thing that’s eating me.

His client list doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, no matter how you look at it. Even though we all have our own theories about the guy, we can all agree that he’s no pushover, right?”

Everyone except for Connor nods.

“So then why hasn’t he branched out? It says here that he’s only been seen working for Bane and some D-lister named Gentleman Ghost. A guy like this, I would expect to see him on the payroll for Black Mask or Penguin, maybe even Deathstroke or Lex Luthor. That’s gotta be where the real money is.”

You can see Hawkman’s eyes narrow and fists clench at the mention of Gentleman Ghost. Perhaps there’s some kind of bad blood there?

“Where are you going with this?” Cassie questions.

“C’mon work with me here! In my mind, that leaves 3 distinct possibilities; none of them good.” He holds a finger to punctuate each prong of his theory.

“First, he’s been operating under our radar and we only have a fraction of his contact list.

Second, he’s incredibly cautious in regards to his employers and isn’t willing to associate with anyone reckless enough to leave a traceable connection.

Thirdly, and arguably worst of all; he may be pulling these jobs in pursuit of some kind of larger goal, be it physical or emotional.”

Wally flushes a bit when everyone looks at him.

“You don’t need to look so surprised, you know. I can have good ideas sometimes!”

“Why is the last option the worst one?” Hawkman asks, in a manner that suggests he knows the answer and is simply looking to test him.

“Cowards and opportunists can be predicted, but fanatics? They’ll burn the world down rather than let their visions fall by the wayside. Gunsmoke has hit S.T.A.R. Labs a couple of times now, what if these things are all connected by something other than just profit?”

There’s an awkward silence as everyone ponders Wally’s final theory.

You try valiantly to shift the mood back in a more positive direction, but the atmosphere is well and truly shot once people start making excuses to head out.

An ugly part of you whispers that you must not be much of a mind-reader if you couldn’t see this coming.

For once, you’re inclined to agree with it.

>>5463481

FIN

That's all for the JLA interlude, let me know what you think!

This is probably the longest scene I've done with established characters, so it was a bit of a bitch to write.

Hope you all enjoyed, and that it'll help tide you over until Wednesday.

>>5463481
Oh shit wally is actually onto us, when this shit flips to a head and people learn about the rabbit hole they dug themselves into that'll be a thing.

>>5463485
Good shit Axis! Oh I'd love to show Connor a thing or two. Only a fool goes for a straight fight.

Seems like we'll definitely face the Young Justice team, sooner or later. It'll be good fun, but we ought to make sure we're prepared. And Hawkman makes his first appearance! We have to beat him up eventually out of principle.

>>5463485
Wonderful as always Axis, I really enjoy seeing the name we're making for ourself, and how what we do affects the world. Makes the quest feel more alive.

>>5463605
Today in Gunsmoke adventures:

Gunsmoke punches a child

>>5463704
Hands truly rated E for everyone.

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>>5463704
>Today in Gunsmoke adventures:
>Gunsmoke punches a child

>Sir, I trained in the army, under unlikely friends and foes. Even a greek ghost. "Punch" is an understatement.

>>5463481
>some D-lister named Gentleman Ghost.
Oh now this is personal. Nobody disrespects Jack under our watch

>>5463798
Its a fair assessment
Jack pretty much just steals shit and does research
If he was in the streets punching children he would get a higher rank

Can we ask seth or thoth about disguises, two gods ought to know a thing or 2. Also isnt set a shard of the main god? Im under the impression shard set and regular thoth were hanging out.

>>5464413

You can ask, but anything beyond simple obfuscation is most likely beyond your abilities. It's an interesting idea though.

As for Set's deal, a long time ago Horus finally had enough of Set's shit and had him split into a whole bunch of pieces, with each piece being squirreled away.

The Set you've become familiar with is one of those aforementioned fragments, a singular part of a divided whole. He hasn't mentioned it much, but it's reasonable to assume that his frequent disappearances are so that he can locate and recover his other parts.

Thoth is still whole, albeit a bit disconnected given his overall personalty.

As an aside, Set is still able to recall the majority of his memories, but is nowhere near his original power.

>>5464604
Question: The original alone Seth vacational trip was originally a mission for recolecting Seth's Divinity Pieces or it was like it's already playing out?

>>5464614
Knowing Set, the two. But not in the way you though so.

>>5463798
>>some D-lister named Gentleman Ghost.
>Oh now this is personal. Nobody disrespects Jack under our watch

Don't bully the childens, or Powergirl wont breed us.

>>5463481
I was waiting for a good ol fashioned interlude for a while and I ain't disappointed!

Great world as usual Axis. Can't wait to cold clock these children someday

>>5465322
>>5463481
*work

The pains of phone posting are common and often. Either way, good shit.

>>5463704
It would be pretty funny if we just never actually fight Connor. The rest of the team sure, but we always find someway to avoid him. Just to drive him crazy.

>>5463485

Now that you’re back in Ercolano (the former resting place of the Lost Scrolls of Herculaneum), how would you like to spend your time in the ancient library?

You decide to... (Choose 3)

> Work with Set to bolster the library’s magical protection. Intergang may have given up on this place, but that doesn’t mean that they’ve forgotten about it.

> Accompany Bobo as he wanders around and snaps pictures of the library. Apparently, he’s something of a shutterbug.

> Look through the general section in search of gifts for Jack and the others. It’s sure to be a good memento of the trip.

> Introduce Gaius to the Scribe and have his life’s story officially chronicled. He’s sure to appreciate the gesture if nothing else.

> Trawl through the restricted section with Thoth. You’ve never really investigated the stacks in there, but Thoth ought to be in his element.

> Try to locate an artifact or two for Pandion. There was a metric ton of Greek items in here last time, maybe you can find something that’d be of value to your long-time companion.

> Other?

>>5464614

I'll go ahead and spoiler my answer just to be safe.

If you had gone on the trip with just Set, the option to hunt for soul pieces would've been an optional side plot, kinda like the Intergang stuff now.

>>5465451
>> Work with Set to bolster the library’s magical protection. Intergang may have given up on this place, but that doesn’t mean that they’ve forgotten about it.
> Accompany Bobo as he wanders around and snaps pictures of the library. Apparently, he’s something of a shutterbug.
> Trawl through the restricted section with Thoth. You’ve never really investigated the stacks in there, but Thoth ought to be in his element.
We haven't spent enough time with our favorite gods

>>5465451
> Work with Set to bolster the library’s magical protection. Intergang may have given up on this place, but that doesn’t mean that they’ve forgotten about it.
> Introduce Gaius to the Scribe and have his life’s story officially chronicled. He’s sure to appreciate the gesture if nothing else.
Can we also toss in Nessie and Bobo to have Nessie's life chronicled?
> Trawl through the restricted section with Thoth and Jack. You’ve never really investigated the stacks in there, but Thoth ought to be in his element.

>>5465451
>> Look through the general section in search of gifts for Jack and the others. It’s sure to be a good memento of the trip.
> Introduce Gaius to the Scribe and have his life’s story officially chronicled. He’s sure to appreciate the gesture if nothing else.
> Try to locate an artifact or two for Pandion. There was a metric ton of Greek items in here last time, maybe you can find something that’d be of value to your long-time companion.

Can we give the Scribe a computer with internet conection?

>>5465458
>>5465464
>>5465451
>Can we also toss in Nessie and Bobo to have Nessie's life chronicled?
This too. Is posible?

>>5465458
I don't think Nessie would have much to tell about being in a loch besides eating fish

>>5465458
>>5465464
>>5465466

I have no objections to throwing it in.

>>5465471
>"Chapter #96644: The light was dim this time, but that fat bastard..."
>Nessie hiss.
>"Yes, yes. The fat idiot don't suspect a thing."

>>5465475
Thenks Axie. The computer idea is just give him a normal (Or good, whatever) computer so he can shitpost or something. 2000 year of boredom is scary

>>5463485
Figures the speedster gets to the point before everyone else.

Alright, it looks like our winners are:

> Work with Set to bolster the library’s magical protection. Intergang may have given up on this place, but that doesn’t mean that they’ve forgotten about it.

> Introduce Gaius to the Scribe and have his life’s story officially chronicled. He’s sure to appreciate the gesture if nothing else.

> Trawl through the restricted section with Thoth and Jack. You’ve never really investigated the stacks in there, but Thoth ought to be in his element.

We'll start with Set; might take me a little while to get this one on paper.

File: Ercolano.png (488 KB, 600x400)

488 KB PNG

>>5465482

Since you’re the only person that’s even vaguely familiar with local area, you are quickly shuffled into the driver’s seat of the Set-Mobile.

Not that you mind, at least being behind the wheel helps focus your mind on anything other than the monotony of travel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoxQWFtqaYM

Besides, the old girl handles like a dream, despite looking like something a grass-fed hippie would drive to Woodstock.

Overall, your spirits are at an all-time high; after all, why wouldn’t you be pumped?

You’ve got old-school tunes on the radio, good pals in the back, and a hot wind blowing across your face.

Out of all the foreign places you’ve visited, Italy has probably been your favorite. Just can’t beat that Mediterranean charm.

As you wind the Set-Mobile up a multitude of dirt roads to the site of the hidden library, you notice some old strands of police tape waving in the wind.

Wonder what that was all about?

A second’s thought concludes that it’s probably because of the Intergang expedition you wiped out the last time you were here.

Another prime example of your habitual kicking of sand in Intergang’s face.

To be fair, you’ve killed so many of their guys in so many places that keeping specific details locked down isn’t exactly easy. It’s coming back to you though.

In fact, some of the intel you swiped from their operation here was critical to your locating and dismantling of other cells across Europe. They truly are the gift that keeps on giving.

After parking the Set-Mobile and going off on a little wandering to get the neurons firing, you locate the entrance to the secret library. The imposing slab of slate that blocks off the entrance seems to remember you, and freely shifts without any effort on your part.

Well, that’s gotta be a good sign for once.

As everyone files in, you take a closer look at the seal of Hecate that you attempted to empower the last time you were here.

Overall, the seal is looking kinda weak, either time or outside interference seems to be slowly breaking it down.

It’s a good thing that you stopped for a detour, otherwise it might’ve eventually failed entirely. You make a mental note to grab Set and have him help you lock it down further.

It wouldn’t be the end of the world if this place is compromised, but you’re not in the habit of throwing away resources without a damn good reason attached.

File: Scribe.jpg (18 KB, 236x432)

18 KB JPG

Rolled 86, 68, 96 + 20 = 270 (3d100 + 20)

>>5465514

You guide your party into the main atrium and patiently wait to be greeted.

Like clockwork, the guardian spirit that you befriended on your previous excursion emerges from its resting place and hovers towards you.

Instead of the naked threats and cold disdain that you had to charm your way through last time, this welcome is much more warm and genuine.

“Keeper of the Scrolls! These halls are always open to you and other petitioners in your company! Have you any new knowledge for our archives?”

> “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what I’ve managed to pick up since we last met. It’s good to you again, Scribe. How’s the place holding up?”

“The library is as quiet as humble as when you last visited. As you will hopefully tell, much of my time has been spent on maintaining our volumes and the grounds.”

Sure enough, the place looks a hell of a lot cleaner than it had previously. Not quite at the level of spit shine that you got it to, but i’s definitely not a dusty sty.

> “I can see. Looks like you’ve been keeping things spick and span; glad to see that you took my words to heart.”

“Dirty books and floors are an affront to the gods! But enough about my duties, how may I assist you?”

(Roll me some 1d100, I’m rolling for Set)

> DC: 60 / 80 / 100

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>5465516
Keeping whatever knowledge is here out of the wrong hands is a great idea. And more importantly, it keeps the scribefren happy

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>5465516
>Dirty books and floors are an affront to the gods!
He says in front of two gods.

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>5465516

>>5465522
>>5465526
>>5465529

That's an excellent success, writing.

>>5465526
>>Dirty books and floors are an affront to the gods!
>He says in front of two gods.

Egptian gods. He'll probably start mock them if he finds out.

Rolled 33, 12, 76 + 35 = 156 (3d100 + 35)

>>5465532

> “First things first, I need to head back topside and settle a security issue I noticed on the way in.”

You subtly elbow Set and gesture for him to join you.

>” In the meantime, would mind giving my friends a tour of the library and helping them get settled in?”

“Of course not. Seekers of truth, it is your best interests to heed my words!”

The scribe turns slightly to address the others and bombard them with a long list of rules about maintaining proper conduct while inside the library.

While you and Set backtrack, you can still hear it mustering everyone into an orderly line and issuing strict instructions not to touch anything unless told otherwise.

Goes to show that librarians can be vicious when they want to be.

Once topside, you briefly explain your concerns to Set, who is supremely uninterested. Something tells you that he’s just happy to get an opportunity to flex his muscles and dodge a lecture about academic ethics.

On the count of three, you both begin channeling your magics into the seal that keeps the outside world at bay.

You both manage a good showing, but Set has just a bit more gas in his tank than you do. But by your powers combined, the lock is practically bulletproof. Or at least as close as you can get via magic.

If something can bust through this easily, there’s nothing on the planet that’d hold it back for long.

As soon as you and Set finish confirming a couple tiny details haven’t been missed, you both head back inside to find that the Scribe has completed the grand tour and has allowed your companions free reign over the general section of the library.

The restricted section is off-limits to anyone that isn’t you or accompanying you, much to Thoth’s chagrin.

As soon as he spots you, he immediately gives you a pleading look, much like a child angling for an expensive toy.

Hell, why not? You could use some new reading material, and Thoth is basically the king of libraries. Might as well invite Jack along as well, he’s always been a man of words and letters.

(Roll me some 1d100+40; I’m rolling for Thoth and Jack.)

> DC to be determined.

Rolled 75, 62, 30 + 25 = 192 (3d100 + 25)

>>5465556

(Here's Jack's roll)

Rolled 78, 100, 12 + 60 = 250 (3d100 + 60)

>>5465557

(And here's Thoth's roll)

Rolled 32 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5465556
Learning is fun.

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>5465556
Babys

Rolled 37 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5465556

>>5465558

Well, that tracks at least.

>>5465558
Of COURSE Thoth gets a natty when books are involved kek

BEST bookworm.

>>5465558
What a fucking NERD

>>5465558
>100
Holy crap. You are a nerd, not Snake

>>5465558
L M A O N E R D G O D

>>5465559
>>5465560
>>5465561

That's a failure for you and Jack, but a crit success for Thoth.

I'm gonna need a bit of time to think up an adequate reward and get the next update done, so I'm going to go ahead and call it here for tonight.

On Friday at 5:00 PM EST, we'll pick up with Thoth's discovery, the memoirs of Gaius / Nessie and the culmination of Gaius' journey to Rome.

As always, thanks for playing!

I hope to see you all there.

Work's been eating me alive lately so it's gotten a little harder to concentrate, but I think I've hit a good tempo. I'll probably try to work further on the other pair of interludes I've been chewing on over the weekend; the JLA emergency meeting about the shitstorm in Venezuela, and a POV from Batman about recent events.

As an aside, it boggles my mind that it's been about three damn years since the first thread. Practically feels like it were yesterday.

>>5465574
>As an aside, it boggles my mind that it's been about three damn years since the first thread. Practically feels like it were yesterday

Rome was not built in a day and all that. Good job keeping this alive and growing Axie

>>5465574
>As an aside, it boggles my mind that it's been about three damn years since the first thread. Practically feels like it were yesterday.
Never forget that you are a legend in my mind and I am sure in the minds of many others!

>>5465574

After acceding to Thoth’s request to explore the restricted section of the library, you bring Jack along just in case anything weird happens.

This place has a nasty habit of hitting you with some powerful illusions, best to have somebody capable of pulling you back to reality should worse come to shove.

Thankfully, all your precautions were unnecessary; guess the Scribe may’ve tweaked the security not to interfere with “worthy supplicants of knowledge” or something.

Unfortunately, the stacks seem to be actively attempting to confuse you. You’ll pick something off the shelf, discover that it’s entirely blank, wander to another stack, select another book at random, and discover that it’s the same damn book.

Jack is having similar issues; in contrast, Thoth is practically humming a tune to himself as he casually retrieves a truly massive selection of books encompassing all kinds of topics; many of which are written in languages that you don't even recognize.

While you and Jack continue to futilely hunt for literature of interest, Thoth finds a quiet corner to start organizing his haul by subject and level of interest.

After an indeterminate amount of time spent searching, you and Jack are willing to call it quits and head back to the atrium. But before you can do so, Thoth does you both a solid by sharing some of his freshly gathered collection.

Jack is given a couple books on forbidden poetry, as well as a treatise on spiritual anatomy.

Meanwhile, Thoth has the faintest hint of a self-satisfied grin on his face as he presents you with a slim volume bound with a strange black leather.

According to him, it was written by “an author of legendary skill and talent” and that it “would surely prove useful in your academic pursuits.”

Before you crack it open, you mange to flag down the Scribe and formally introduce Gaius to him. As you do so, you make sure to hype him up as a wellspring of lost knowledge, tacitly encouraging the Scribe to interview him for his life's story.

And while Gaius is being peppered with questions, you retrieve Nessie and the kiddie pool from the Set-Mobile. It’s a bit of a long shot, but stories are stories, and Nessie’s are no exception.

By the time you locate Bobo and get him on board, the Scribe is finished haranguing Gaius.

He seems a bit exhausted from the intellectual third-degree that he was subjected to, but you can tell that he enjoys the idea of leaving behind a physical record of his experiences.

While the Scribe interviews Nessie (with Bobo serving as the resident translator), you find a quiet corner to begin reading through the book that Thoth gifted to you.

> Roll me some 1d100+40

(DC: 70 / 90 / 110)

Rolled 11 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5467397

Rolled 57 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5467397
Magic book :)

Rolled 69 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5467397
Bless you, you divine nerd.

Rolled 40 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5467397

>>5467407
>>5467408
>>5467409

That's a success, writing.

>>5467412

Upon opening the book, you’re suddenly bombarded with a highly concentrated burst of magical energy that feels strangely neutral in nature.

Doesn’t stop it from stinging like somebody is driving a thousand steel pins in your brain, but at least it's not intentionally hostile.

When the pain finally recedes and you regain full motor control, all you can think about is finding Thoth and kicking his ass for this idiotic prank.

Sonuvabitch, that hurt! Credit where credit is due, that’s the kind of hustle you would’ve expected from Set, looks like it must run in the family somehow.

The book itself is gone, as if it had never existed in the first place.

Strange. The only other magical text you’ve seen that did something like that was…

One of Thoth’s books.

Well, at least you’ve discovered the source of his unexpected smugness, he was hyping himself up the whole time!

Still, you can’t be too steamed at the guy, he did just gift you a powerful grimoire; just would’ve been nice if he had given a bit of warning about the side effects.

While you massage your throbbing temple, you try to figure out what you gained during from burst of magic.

The effects aren’t immediately obvious, until you notice something interesting stenciled on the wall of the library. The lettering itself has eroded due to time, but you can somehow recognize it as some kind of warning, scribbled in an Etruscan dialect.

Wait a second, you’ve never even heard of the Etruscans, let alone their alphabet! A few cursory looks at books written in random languages reveals that you’re able to analyze and process their respective languages with much greater proficiency that ever before!

Overall, you conclude that your ability to absorb and process linguistic nuances has been greatly expanded; it should now be much easier for you to learn or further hone your skills in that arena.

> Magical Ability Unlocked! Polyglot: It is now impossible to fail language training rolls (aside from critfails)

The Scribe is still busy interviewing Nessie (who has a surprisingly strong memory), so you have some extra time to kill. An idle thought quickly leads you back into Ercolano proper, in search of a gift for the Scribe.

The last of your French fight money goes into an old-school desktop computer and some network devices. It’s a pain, but you manage to locate and piggyback off an old telecom hardline that passes near the entrance to the library.

The connection is slow and the hardware is a bit antiquated, but the Scribe falls in love with it immediately.

You try to give him a crash course on Internet etiquette that it immediately ignores.

As you and your party depart, it cheerfully waves you off before returning to its newly-acquired terminal in the hopes of leveraging the Internet to further the spread of knowledge and educate a clueless public.

May God have mercy on its soul.

File: A Final Sunset.jpg (101 KB, 1200x600)

101 KB JPG

>>5467500

Upon nearing Rome, still deep in the fertile countryside, Gaius makes a quiet request that you stop the van and accompany him on an important matter.

Judging from the mournful look in his eyes, it’s obvious that he isn’t interested in experiencing the beauty of nature.

You pull the van over and inform the others that they should take a break and a leak while you and Gaius head out for a while.

As you finish parking, Gaius adorns himself in full armor, complete with ceremonial effects. He is also sure to retrieve all of his various weapons and pieces of kit.

When you go to arm yourself as well, he stops you; stating that it won’t be necessary.

Odd, but you’re willing to humor it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JiKUFWUJkk

As you step out of the van into the balmy embrace of another breathtaking Italian evening, Gaius carefully presents you with his most treasured possession; the banner of Legio Victrix and its lost eagle.

The aquila has been crudely but sturdily attached to the tip of the makeshift banner. In contrast, the eagle itself has been shined into a high sheen, like it had been freshly forged only days earlier.

To your surprise, Gaius requests that you be the one to carry the standard as he goes on one last march.

What else can you do but accept?

Gaius leads you into the rollicking foothills without ever once taking a look backwards, intent on hiking to the very top. Despite the weight of his armor and weaponry, it doesn’t seem inconvenience him in the slightest.

The aquila isn’t the easiest thing in the world to keep steady on a long ruck, but you’re determined not to fumble it and ruin the moment.

Upon reaching the summit, Gaius just sits and stares, watching the sun crest lazily over the lush fields and vibrant terrain; not even bothering to remove any of his kit.

After the sun begins to dip over the horizon, Gaius turns to you after what feels like hours.

File: Gaius.jpg (125 KB, 746x1000)

125 KB JPG

>>5467503

“It has been a very long time since I have stopped to watch the sunset.”

His impassive mask begins to crack with each word.

“The world has moved on.

My world has moved on.

Only the shadows of the past remain, and I can fight them back no longer.

I told myself for decades that all I needed was one more glimpse of Rome, that shining city on a hill; that my sacrifice would be worth all the pain and toil.

I was wrong. But maybe all things are doomed to fail.”

Gaius lets out a bone-weary sigh, like an ever-present weight has suddenly been lifted from him.

“There is no place for men like me any longer. You have my boundless thanks for helping a tired legionnaire regain his honor, but this shall be my final resting place.

I do not think I can go any further, not anymore.”

In that moment, as Gaius struggles to reconcile reality with everything he has ever been taught, you choose to…

> Encourage Gaius to make the choice for himself. It is not your place to dictate destiny, the decision must be his alone.

> Encourage Gaius to depart into the next life. He has given enough of himself to bloodshed and duty, he has more than earned his eternal rest.

> Encourage Gaius to remain in your company. There will always be a place for him and soldiers of any stripe in the Steel Wolves, should he desire it.

> Other?

----
(This one will be left open for 30ish minutes unless a clear consensus forms)

>>5467508
> Encourage Gaius to make the choice for himself. It is not your place to dictate destiny, the decision must be his alone.

In the end, we can't make the decision for him.

>>5467508
> Encourage Gaius to depart into the next life. He has given enough of himself to bloodshed and duty, he has more than earned his eternal rest.
See you on the other side

>>5467508
> Encourage Gaius to make the choice for himself. It is not your place to dictate destiny, the decision must be his alone.
It's your unlife, bro.

>>5467508
> Encourage Gaius to depart into the next life. He has given enough of himself to bloodshed and duty, he has more than earned his eternal rest.
We encouraged many of the Wolves to lay down arms and enjoy life. I see no reason to not do the same to Gaius.

If he really wants to stick around, he can ignore us. All this is ultimately is a push.

>>5467508
>> Encourage Gaius to remain in your company. There will always be a place for him and soldiers of any stripe in the Steel Wolves, should he desire it.
I want to at least mention it. Maybe if he is so disenfranchised with it all he can still find meaning in helping other soldiers.

>>5467508
> Encourage Gaius to make the choice for himself. It is not your place to dictate destiny, the decision must be his alone.

>>5467516
>>5467544
>>5467557

Alright, looks like the choice is up to Gaius.

Writing.

>>5467561

You stay silent, internally struggling with whether or not you even have the right to offer an unsolicited opinion.

If Gaius wanted you to weigh-in, he’d have surely said so.

Ultimately, this is his decision to make; the only person capable of steering his fate is himself.

Considering that your long-time goal is to help Jack achieve something similar, it’d be hypocritical for you to guide him away from an eternal rest.

Plus, you never begrudged any of the Grand Liberators their right to move on.

As much as you would like him to stick around, this isn’t about you.

In the end, men must choose the roads they choose to walk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQd3hQ92KvM

You watch as Gaius climbs unsteadily to his feet and draws the javelin he carries on his back.

He drives the javelin deep into the loamy earth before propping his shield and gladius against it. He rips off his helmet and comes within an inch of throwing it far into the distance.

Instead, he regains his composure and gently places it atop the javelin.

Gaius turns to face you, revealing an expression of both unfathomable age and curious hope. He gestures for you to hand over the lost standard, which he places directly next to the javelin.

“I will fight no longer.

I will be no longer.

My brothers, my family; I can hear them calling my name.

All that is left is for me to rejoin them.”

Gaius’ voice suddenly has an edge of bitter steel to it.

“My entire life, I have only done only as I have been told.

I marched to war on far-away shores because my superiors commanded as much.

I watched men throw themselves to meaningless deaths because glory required as much.

I stood an endless vigil over a forgotten symbol because tradition demanded as much.

Yet, perhaps it was not all in vain. I was able to meet you and your companions, and for a short time I was able to delude myself that perhaps everything would return to the way I knew them.

But times have changed, and I lack the strength of will to change as well.”

>>5467628

He gestures towards the makeshift grave marker he’s constructed.

“These are yours now. Perhaps they will serve you better than they have served me.”

He grips your arm, tightly.

“The world will never remember your name or your deeds, only what you leave behind. Never forget that.”

With that, Gaius strides down the hill; slowly and unsteadily at first, but picking up speed with every moment.

You can hear him begin to laugh with an unfiltered joy as he races through the fields and countryside, finally freed of his worries.

Gaius’ very being begins to fade away as he’s slowly enveloped and consumed in a blinding display of colorless light.

When your eyes refocus, it’s like he never existed in the first place.

All that remains are the items he left behind, his final gift to you.

You want to say a few words, but what is there to say?

You only knew him for a few weeks, but he certainly made his mark in your memory.

He was an arrogant, standoffish bastard who was mired endlessly in the past.

He was also a man of honor; a skilled and dutiful warrior who never let you down.

He was also your friend.

In the end, maybe that’s all that matters.

Unbidden, an old saw leaps into your mind.

“Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”

So long, Gaius.

Hopefully you’ll find the life you deserve now that you’ve crossed the river.

Be sure to put in a good word for Jack.

As you stare at Gaius’ grave, you choose to…

> Take it all. It feels wrong to refuse an honest gift.

> Take the eagle standard and leave the rest. It’ll be a testament to his memory.

> Leave it all behind. Let Gaius’ equipment enjoy its rest.

> Other?

>>5467629
>> Take it all. It feels wrong to refuse an honest gift.
We can't just leave it here. Gotta make it into a proper grave otherwise some kids will fuck with it, or some history nerds will yoink it and make up some bullshit about it. Maybe we can give it to a museum. Or just make it into a memorial somewhere.

We're keeping the Aquila though. No one is gonna lock up the spirit of Rome or its legions.

>>5467629
>> Take it all. It feels wrong to refuse an honest gift.
The world may forget, but we won't.

>>5467629
> Take it all. It feels wrong to refuse an honest gift.
That's a nice ending for Gaius.

>>5467629
> Take it all. It feels wrong to refuse an honest gift.

>>5467633
>>5467635
>>5467639
>>5467646

Alright, looks like we'll be taking it all with us.

I've gotta head out for dinner soon, and this feels like a good stopping place for tonight.

We'll pick up from here on Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST; feel free to propose places you want to see / go in Rome because that's next on the agenda.

As always, thanks for playing! Hope to see you all again next time.

>>5467629
> Take it all. It feels wrong to refuse an honest gift.
It'll make a good standard and ceremonial armour for a company in the Steel Wolves.
I also feel that we should probably do something about that library, feels like a bit of a waste if we're the only ones who have access to it. We're starting a merc company, why not a magic academy too while we're at it?

>>5467629
> Take it all. It feels wrong to refuse an honest gift.

>>5467680
Sounds like a job for Jonah. Magical orphanage/boarding school. Yer a wizard, Larry.

>>5467651
>We'll pick up from here on Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST; feel free to propose places you want to see / go in Rome because that's next on the agenda.

Ask Ghostdad if he go to the Vatican City. Maybe is worthless try to reach heaven, but he could find help to free himself from the weight of his memories and to prepare to take the step to the great divide. Visit ruins and have fun on the city.

Maybe ask Nessie if she want to see the city from the top of an aqueduct?

>>5467651
Just want to echo other anons and say I appreciate all you do. You catch black Adam by any chance? I had a lot of fun with it.

>>5467651
I've been wondering, with polyglot does it extend to -all- languages or are there restrictions? Because wouldn't that mean we'd be able to figure out verbal only "languages" like caveman speech? But also "languages" that exist only in written formats like binary? And does it extend to other fantastical things like Bobo being able to speak to animals as a "language" or things from beyond the scope of Earth like alien stuff and wacko extradimensional things?

Or would most of the fancy stuff like that get locked behind the highest DC? Just being locked to codified earth-bound languages would still be huge for dealing with ancient spirits and the like or working no matter where we are on the planet. We could feasibly start spouting off in Sumerian and make modern linguists cry.

Or the pants-pissing moment where we suddenly understand Babylonian and feel a very old testament gaze on our back. The implications are vast. And I for one am excited to see exactly how it will manifest. Though it'll probably require an actual example of the language to start off of instead of just the idea of it. But man that'd be cool. I've just got new toy excitement.

Also tangentially related, omniglot would be the natural step up from polyglot wouldn't it?

>>5467651
Damn what an end. You did great Axis I loved it!

>>5468082
>Also tangentially related, omniglot would be the natural step up from polyglot wouldn't it?

The only thing that would make sense to me, beside lolmagic go brrrr, would be some sort of link to the other guy mind to know the meaning of what is spoken.

>>5468108
Telepathy OP pls nerf

>>5468340
If martians can do it, its fair play

>>5468491
Aliens always get the cheatiest abilities. We should ban them.

>>5468491
>>5468548
from what its been described I dont think its perfect telepathy. more like reading someones emotions.

Holy shit if jack ritual doesn't destroy his house, we could turn it into a museum, and employ some guys there and have it be a small hideout spot and training ground for our operations.

>>5469117
Even if it’s not destroyed, it’s still going to be ground-zero for some major mystic shit. I don’t think it’d be wise to touch it for a while since heroes will be combing it for clues.

>>5468082
We could probably retire right now and become a world famous ancient-linguist. People like Cullen would literally kill for a skill like that.

>>5469165
There's a nice side hustle for us. We use Cullen's academic credentials to get access to historic documents and manuscripts to transcribe and interpret so he can publish a proper dissemination of the language whilst simultaneously doing his mad historian nutter stuff.

We're probably his favorite person on the planet. We need to get him in touch with Thoth. His frantic pursuit of history and its hidden truths would probably be enough for Thoth to tolerate his borderline manic personality. Probably.

>>5469228
>We need to get him in touch with Thoth. His frantic pursuit of history and its hidden truths would probably be enough for Thoth to tolerate his borderline manic personality. Probably

Who need to be sane when you can discover ancient secrets? His disregard for social skills and status probably give him points.

Good idea.

>>5467983

Thanks for the compliment, anon (and all other anons). Ironically, I haven't watched much of the live-action DC stuff, I tend to prefer the animated shows.

>>5468082

I was anticipating a question like this and will attempt to answer it as coherently as I can; so long as the language is explicitly human (or descended from humanity), the bonus will apply. Therefore, computer code, alien languages, and non-human magical languages are not lumped into this group.

It’s hard to come up with a blanket statement that encompasses every possible use-case, but I’ll do my best to provide a couple examples and stay consistent.

Examples of languages that would apply: Latin, Sumerian, Russian, Atlantean, etc.

Examples of languages that would not apply: Kryptonese, Animal Speech, Binary, Martian, etc.

Thanks for asking, anon; let me know if there's anything else that needs clarification.

>>5470100
That's pretty rad. That means if we ever get transported to the future we can learn how to talk futurese.

Thanks for answering.

>>5463481
A bit late, but I must say this is setting up to be the great clash of morals/duty. The justice league is a shining ivory tower of the world. They are the big boy with all the sway and credit for heroism. However, so far from what I have read on this quest Gunsmoke is the foil to this, the hero/ villain of the desperate more than willing to get dirty.
Adding the bat family makes it all the sweeter, I want our gang and the bats to clash. We are everything they could have been and more, if not better. Imagine them swinging down to recruit us just to get the middle finger and suicide squad telling them to fuck off there game.

>>5470635
>justice league comes to recruit
>at the same time the squad shows up to nab us
>also intergang finally got their shit together and staged a hit
>and horus has a few of his cronies swing by as well for the salty runback
>while the court of owls has their people in to remove the thorn in their side that is us
>additionally the demons have finally managed to sneak through to ambush us at that very moment
>meanwhile fucking peta turns up to "free nessie" despite us having turned her loose months ago
Just how deep can the shitshow go?

>>5470686
You forgot about Camus, the Big Magic Swamp Evil guy, the Spectre ("All this is your fault! You could stop it, but chosen not to, like I know you would do, self-centered narcissist.") and the Army of Darkness lead by the Six Grim Reaper (former Seven)

>>5470686
Lets go ahead and add the penguin gang and scarface for stealing his look. Maybe even some STAR Labs mercs to even the tide of metas.

Then the "Not" mercs show up with the bio weapon.

>>5471003
>>5471060
>>5470686
The guys we fought on that secret Not-So-Mortal Kombat and their friends and the USA Army, plus the Venezuelan Drug-Lords.

>>5471155
This makes the Bat seethe. As there is no possible way to content with the other organizations without triggering what would be all-out war.

All according to plan

>>5471337
So, we essencially make a huge fuck up like Constantine selling his Soul to three Devils that will and have to fight for his Soul...

But in a even bigger scale with secret organizations, Latin American Cartels, Hell, an all powerful entity of Vengence, the criminal world and part of the Egyptian Pantheon by association with Seth.

Is there something more that I forgot? And how are we going to fake our dead (if we ever will) to make it so the only problem we have are the Specter ready for an excuse to un-being our existence?

>>5471337
We are the chosen of Set that legends warned the world about after all, even if Set himself dont know about it.

>>5471368
He is Vengance, Loneliness and Past. Things we know.

The only option to win is to go over these things, beyond.

Redemption, Brotherhood and Future.

>>5471368
I vote for the classic
Watch some theatre, take a shortcut through crime alley and get shot during a mugging