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Main : Obsidian Total:680

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Photo No. 271-300 (out of 680 photos hit)
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Conlcusion

ConlcusionPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2017/1/15 15:41
Hits1450  Comments2    
It's all over but the shouting, and I'm awed by how with the proverbial snap of the fingers all of the damage is simply gone. The Black Scorpion and I are the only ones standing. He walks over to the pedestal still glowing brightly waves his hand over it and it stops glowing.

"What is that?"  

"This is called the elder crystal, it's how I prevented Mantis from using his eternity crystal.  In it's presence all of the eternity crystals feed it's power.  I'm really not sure how to use it I just know that it stops eternity crystals from functioning."

"That explains why he wasn't using his cosmic powers.  You simply turned them off."

"Yes.  I imagine you have a lot of questions.  I'll try to answer them as best I can."

"Yeah, A few" I say a bit reluctantly.

"To start with: Who are you?"

"Hahahaaa   I guess that would be the most pertinent one.  As the black Mantis was known by his Elven name Squirrell Longarrow I decided to take a name of my own and let him keep that one.  As a joke I took the name Karr.  I felt it appropriate since I was going to kill a Squirrell. '

I try to choke back the urge to laugh hysterically but it's no use , that's too damned funny.  He killed a...a squirrel with a car ahhh that's rich.

As soon as I catch my breath I ask

"You said you weren't a clone or an alternate version from some other reality like me apparently.  So how did you come to be then?"

"Much of the technology you use comes from us right?"

"Yes?"

"Including your EMT transporters?"

"Yes until recently. I had them replaced from something a bit more  efficient."


"Well the EMT relies on a beam of energy, and during an expedition to another dimension the beam we were using was somehow split. Recon had reported that the dimension nullified magic and our eternity crystals only work in parallel dimensions. So our only choice was to EMT in. I haven't had time to figure out how the beam was split but it resulted in creating two of me and Reaper."

"And only one came back with the others."

"Exactly, it took hundreds of years to get to a position where we could return but eventually when we did escape I found my empire in the sad state that it was.  I had become some power hungry tyrant who didn't care about life, not even the lives of those closest to him."

"So you set to depose yourself."

"The hardest part was getting past his advanced knowledge of the future."

"You mentioned he had a "...Deal with Death..." what the hell was that bout?"

We head to the imperial throne room and he explains as we go.

"Death as you know it is not just a state of being.  Like all things cosmic there is an overseer who we simply call Death.  There are legends that say if you can beat Death in a game of chance then you cannot ever die. In my youth I had decided to test that theory, but I never could beat Death...Lots of Draws...but no victories. Since Death could not defeat me nor I Death, I was granted a special privilege born of respect.  I would be allowed to know when my death was coming and given and opportunity to avoid it.  I would even know how I was going to die. Quite the advantage yes?"

"I'll say.  One hell of an advantage."

"Because of the circumstances bot versions of me had this power.  I approached Death with a final game, and using our combined power and our eternity crystals Reaper and I defeated Death with Reaver assuming his mantle. As death Reaver absorbed his doppelganger and the two became one."

"Why didn't you try to do that with Mantis?"

"The two Reapers had no conflict and agreed mutually to merge. BUt by this time Mantis had well established how he dealt with his duplicates...by slaughtering them."


"So...there was only one choice left."

"In truth I didn't want what he was as part of who I am.  I wouldn't have want to have merged with what he was no more than he."

"So you had this master plan then, why steal Parata's head...that's the part I don't get."

"Parata was one of the few enemies that almost destroyed us.  I knew if Mantis thought he would be facing him he would be on his guard for Parata's tactics and be preparing to fight Parata."

"It was a distraction?"

"Then he hired you.  I didn't understand who or what you were until you started poking your nose around and at first I thought you were some poor misguided mortal.  I revealed my presence to Raven and explained everything to her, and she agreed to help, the first thing she did was fill me in about you.  I must say for a mortal being with low grade immortality, I'm impressed."

"Low Grade Immortality?"

"Hahaha Yeah I suppose that came out  wrong.  YOu are mortal despite your longevity and can be killed by mortal means, you cannot become sick except by magic but otherwise your life can be taken.  We cannot. ergo Low Grade."

"So what do we do now?"


"I don't know Storm God, what do we do?"

I look at Karr a bit confused, and then it hits me.  Mantis was a god, the God of Storms and Chaos actually, and killing him bestowed his power upon me. However, I don't want his power anymore than I wanted Moonshaddow's and there's only one choice for what to do with it.

'Yeah speaking of that...I really don't want the job...would you be willing to..."

"I assumed that would be your choice.  We really aren't very much like him are we?"

"No I guess not."

I bestow my divinity upon a being far more capable of handling it than I. I bid my farewells and head back to the Sable. Once aboard I go and see the wonderful women who I am certain were waiting on pins and needles for the final outcome.  I am not dissapointed and the five ladies tackle me, smothering me with affection. It's good to be home.

"Shadawar, lay in a course for the Solar system...I think we all need some time off."
 
"Aye sir!  Helm plot course and engage.  As soon as we have clearance."

I turn to the helmsman and ask

"What's the holdup?"

"I have a message coming in that says the imperial council wishes to board."

"Okay."

"They say they want to meet you in the shuttlebay sir."

Arriving in the shuttlebay I am greeted by the entire council save for Norjaguar.  Kar  gestures to the rest of the council and says.

"In all of the confusion we almost forgot.  We have yet to pay you for your services to our empire.  You may ask your want..nothing is forbidden."

Raven still without her mask walks up placing her hand upon my arm and I'm render incapable of making words form. I hear laughing and I vaguely notice a pinkish hue in Raven's cheeks.

"I think I know what he wants Raven the massive Beast says with a chuckle."

Then Raven smiles and it's back to the wonderful world of unable to think coherently.  I start to wonder of she's doing this on purpose but I'm telling you if she asked me to do anything right now I wouldn't be able to stop myself. I just know I need to be with her and have her.  There's length I wouldn't go to for her...just for her to notice me. I realize I am not alone...and then suddenly, I can think again. She's wearind her mask and my mind is my own again.

"Sorry, I forget I do that to mortals."

You are very cute Obsidian, in another life ...yeah.  But I don't think you'd truly want me among your harem...nor even my avatar."

"No I think my harem is quite large enough thanks and honestly I'm kind of a one woman guy anyhow.'  The truth is what I could use is good crew, My bridge crew is awesome and I wouldn't change them for the world but the ship crew is Sathari and they need to go back to that empire."

"Done new crew, and honestly...this ship doesn't suit you...We can give you back the lillun or rather her sister ship."

"Seriously?  I really miss that ship."

"Then it is done. Your ship will need a new name, and as soon as you speak it it will take it as it's own.  As  bonus Obsidian, you are welcome wherever our flags fly as one our people. Thank you for all you have done. We cannot repay you enough."

Karr walks up to me and whispers,

"May we never need to call on you again...I think you've saved the universe enough times."


"If you need me, YOU can call and I'll be there."

"I'll send Raven hahaha."

In a blink we're in the Solar system and they're gone. It's gonna take a month to process all of this. I'm in one piece, and there's way fewer dead bodies that I had feared. I guess I'm good with this and if I don't see another god for a million years it'll be too soon. I drop spydra off and than her for everything, she turn to leave, and then turns back she runs back over to me a kisses my cheek then she drops a bomb on me.

"To be honest Obsidian...that fight your wife and I had...she wasn't exactly wrong."
And just like that I'm standing at the airlock with my jaw on the floor as she simply walks away.


Revelations

RevelationsPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2017/1/14 0:02
Hits1405  Comments2    
At this point I have as much clearance in the Mantis' empire as any council member and nobody bats an eyelash when my fighter comes screaming through the main starport on a bee line trajectory for the palace. As I look down I see the place is surrounded but that the troops are holding their advancement. I leap from the cockpit and land just at the command station outside. Troops move aside as I make my way tot the palace entrance.  The sounds of battle ring from inside and and the earth beneath my feet rumbles.  As I reach for the massive palace doors I take note of dozens of dead bodies strewn about like debris in a storm. They never stood a chance against whatever is inside and I may not either but I have to try.  I make a mad dash to the wards  the explosions and gunfire and the closer I get the sicker I get bodies are strewn everywhere.  Every defense in the place is torn to shreds.  At the very moment my fingers touch the throne room door there's an explosion and my suit registers massive overloads in energy. My armor takes it bur it's not good enough. I feel the impact of the explosions  even through this updated armor and I'm sent hurtling backwards.  I'm stunned even if only for a few seconds but it's enough. I hear the muffled monologue of the Black Mantis.

"Yeah you got the skills , but I have done this dance before. Being who you are you know you're not the first to try this stunt. Though I will say you're definitely the most devious."

As I focus my visions I see the shape of another man dressed in the Imperial Black and Gold and when he speaks I cannot believe my ears.  His voice is that of the Black Mantis himself.

"You know all too well what I am capable of and I have over a millennia to prepare for you, and believe me I have prepared well. Today you die and I WILL take back my throne!"

What? As I rise unsteadily, and my vision clears the scene is ghastly. The council members, each nearly as powerful as the Black Mantis himself have been tossed around like rag dolls.  They all lay unconscious, but alive. Had this man killed them they would've simply moved their essences to a new body and been right back to battle completely refreshed. This way however, he has taken them out of the fight.  In the center of the room on a pedestal is a large glowing blue gem roughly the size of a man's head which appears to be the source of whatever is keeping them down.  It doesn't take much to figure out this is the guy who attack the Black Mantis the first time.  However, now he's has everyone down. As the two combatants circle each other I can little else but watch. I look around for Spydra and find her not far from where I landed after the explosion.

"Kid, wake up.  WE have to move back."

A quick scan of her injuries reveals a severed spinal cord and a several broken bones. Her wounds are serious but not life threatening, she'll be fine in a couple of days if we survive this. I start to lift her up and that's when I realize that the servos in my armor are about shot. She's not exactly heavy though so I manage. Returning to the room I am witness to one of the most epic fights any man has ever had the privilege of seeing. The form an grace of the Black Mantis and his foe move are something I will never forget. A thousand times I have wanted to knock that smug attitude from his face and only do I realize how insanely ridiculous that thought has been. As the two gods do battle the whole building shudders as does everything for miles. The palace itself must be very specially made otherwise the foundations would've gave under the first attack and we'd all be standing in a crater.  My armor begins repairing itself and I start to feel a tad safer but I'm still hiding behind what remains of the massive pillars of the palace hall. Fire, Lightning, and magics more ancient than the Elven races themselves flies furiously, along with sword blows and martial arts skills I can't begin to describe. The two men are so evenly matched it's no wonder I thought The Black Mantis was behind everything. Then the monologue starts and I realize..he kinda was.

"You are a shabby imitation of the real thing pretender."

Yells Mantis smugly

"...and you're not the first to try this, I have put down clones, and shapeshifters, Magical mirrors and even versions of me from other realities you'll be no different?"

"Because I am none of those things. What separates us is not a dimension, or an inferior genetic code, or even an entire reality...what separates us is that YOU made it out of that worm hole and I didn't.  Not for a thousand years, both Reaper and I both were trapped there and left to rot. But now MY Reaver, stands before you, master of death."

I'm not sure of the significance of Reaper, or Reaver or whatever name he's going by but what the new guy said has Mantis taken aback a little.  Then the Black Mantis himself make the significance all too clear.

"What? Impossible. No one can defeat Death, I know I've tried. It's how I got where I ma today."

"You mean your Deal, where you know when the time of your death is coming? That's little arrangement was the first thing I took care of.  It's why Reaver stands there silent and waiting.  He's waiting for one of us to die!  I took away your, MY greatest advantage and it was well worth it."

My greatest advantage? Clones alternate versions...By the gods...Is he?  The Black Mantis? Some twisted version of himself?  It all makes sense sure but how?

"Black Mantis you will die here today.  There will be no more Black Mantis only the Black Scorpion will remain and I will be rid of you once and for all.  I watched you for centuries, running this empire like a spoiled child...I couldn't believe that was me I was staring at...so at the very least I want to thank you for opening my eyes.  I never realized how precarious my sanity was until I watched you lose yours."

"YOu think me insane pretender? I have made this empire strong, quadrillions upon quintillions of ships hundreds of whole realities are under my command.  The powers I can bring to bear on any single reality..."

"Are ridiculous!  Who needs that much power?  Why? You're a power hungry madman and you play with lives lives as a child playing with toys.  How many have killed for the sake of your power?  How many lives were simply thrown aside so you could be the greatest?" billions, trillions?  You stand on a blood stain that stretches across infinity. I ma here to end that."

Beneath my helmet my jaw is agape. I had never truly contemplated the level of Mantis's brutality.  I never knew his lust for power.  Sure I knew he had ungodly amount of resources and raw power but I never contemplated the lengths which he must have gone through to get it all.  Surely he had to have killed people even billions which I was vaguely aware of, but trillions?"

"Hah!  I have wiped out entire realities! You are hardly a match for me."

Magic flies from their fingers and erupts from every direction as they battle, my sensors are very nearly overwhelmed by it all and I realize I'm in a very bad place to be. It takes almost no time for my systems to reboot and I start making my way to the council members while these two try intently to kill one another.  As I begin dragging the others to safety it occurs to me that they haven't unleashed any of their legendary cosmic powers.  Power I know fort a fact they possess.
The battle continues to rage above and around me and while I'm sure it's not the case they seem oblivious to my presence.  Either they don't care, or they don't think me significant enough to bother with...probably the latter.

I get the last of the council out and start to go back in then I feel a hand on my shoulder.  Raven has come to.

"Obsidian, the Black Mantis.  He's the one who attacked us."

"Saywhatnow?"

I am of course totally stunned by her words.

"He's completely lost his mind.  Karr knew this and confided in us."

"Whadafug?"

"The Black Mantis has been dangerously unstable for countless eons.  But recently, he's just lost it.  It all started with you."

"Um...what?"


"You were like a prize...he wanted to see if he could get  you to be like me and Karr."

"Who the hell is Karr?  That guy in there going toe to toe with the self-proclaimed "Multiverse's Greatest Assassin? Is that who you mean?  Why the hell does the Black Mantis even care about me? I have never understood that."  

Raven removes her mask revealing a beauty I forgot she possessed, at once I forget where I am and can only see her eyes. She reaches up and removes my helmet. Her gentle hands are warm as she touches my cheek, and the pain from ten thousand years memories that comes next is so intense. I feel my head will shatter.  Raven shows me the entire history of the Black Mantis and herself and the entire empire. I barely feel the tears roll down my face and I watch the atrocities he's committed in the name of POWER. I see time and again, the black Mantis fighting versions of himself that were often much weaker than he. He even somehow unlinked himself from time and killed his parents to assure no one could ever go back in time and destroy him, he has killed every alternate reality version of himself that he has ever encountered...save two.  The woman who now holds my face in her hands...and....me?  As violently as this vision began so too does it end as I  recoil in horror at the revelation that he and I are the same person.   With tear filled eyes I stare back at yet another version of..me?  Raven, Black Mantis, Karr, and myself...all the same person?  NO wonder, all these years, he was just using me as a game? That bastard, that complete wretched bastard!  Save the universe? Of course he thought I could do it...over and over, and over....because with a little help I could be just like him.  Or worse yet, was he just trying to see if I could become a threat to him?  Was he weighing my fate...my very life in his hand?

"NO...no no no no no  NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

I grab my hemet and put it back on...I may not be the one to kill him but I can watch ...him...die!.

As I walk back into the palace with renewed purpose the two men look exhausted...and are breathing heavily. It's a stalemate. Black Manits looks back at me and laughs.

"Well, Black Scorpion it seems there's one last card for me to play.  Obsidian, do me the honor of finishing off this upstart."

"What?"

How the hell does he think it's even remotely possible?

"You have always been able to hide from anyone, and I have given you the power to destroy gods.  use it and destroy this fake, pretender."

Mantis is right...as I walk towards the two nearly exhausted assassins...assassins...like me. In a blink I'm invisible, no one can detect me, by any means, I am the master of shadows with this armor, you can't see me, or hear me, no one can sense me, no danger sense works against me, no psionics, not even magic will give me away. Even mighty cosmic beings cannot detect my presence...Absorbium is wonderful.  And as I plunge my sword through the Black Mantis's demonic, unforgiving, manipulative, wretched, evil, psychotic heart. I am pleased to say I'm the man who killed the Multiverse's greatest assassin.  

"It's not murder when you kill yourself I say...it suicide."

Blood spews from beneath his mask, and he and I both know what comes next but I ca't let him die without knowing why. As I feel his divine power flow into me I lean close and through clenched teeth born of decades of him manipulations, and the loss I have suffered as a result of his whims I simply say

"Whatever made you think I would not turn my blade on you?  I heard your exchange with this man...I know what you've done to get where you were..Raven was kind enough to show me everything you sonofabitch..Rot in hell.  Just as the last of his divinity enters my body he lets out a chuckle.

"I always get the last laugh." He says as his body begins to fade away.

""NO!" Karr screams as he tosses me aside,
"I won't let you do it!"

But as he grabs hold of the Black Mantis's  costume it's too late and he simply kneels there holding the empty suit in his hands.

"He's gone."

"Good riddance."

"NO mortal, he's not dead, he's done the one thing I was certain he wouldn't."

"What is that exactly."

"He ascended his consciousness and became one with the universe."

"That's a bad thing?"

"It means some day he may return, though no one ever has."

Well at least it's over...for now.







 



The Autopsy

The AutopsyPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2017/1/10 21:22
Hits1448  Comments3    
Returning to the colony where we first began our little mystery I make my way to the local coroner. They've kept the murder victims on ice since their wounds were like nothing they'd ever seem before and technically the case is still open. I meet with the local authorities and I'm surprised at how connect Black Mantis really is when they  hand be a passcard to investigate as I see fit. Next thing you know Mantis will have me hooked up with Sentinel status...that'd be nice heh, "Above the law" status. But I digress, the coroners office is a massive white building with few windows and heavy security.  As I approach the guards wave us in and I assume they were told to expect us. I am greeted by a local woman, her name is Zerie, chief Medical Examiner and she is quite the professional. Her mannerisms are controlled and precise suggesting she takes her work and her life way to seriously. She's pleasant enough and seems genuinely curious as to my investigation.

"This is most unusual mister..."

"Obsidian, just call me Obsidian."

"As you wish.  As I was saying, it is very unusual to have anyone who is not with law enforcement examining any corpse in our facility. I only ask that you follow our procedures and use proper protocols when examining the bodies you came here to see."

"I am well acquainted with standard forensic procedures, but it's your show. I just need to see the corpses, and take some measurements, nothing too invasive."

"Very well then, right this way."

Spydra has never seen a postmortem to my knowledge and yet she doesn't seem nervous in the slightest. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised considering how many corpses she's put on slabs during her career. Still, these ones are going to be something unusual from the standard disemboweling, and severed heads, she's familiar with.  Having one of my very own, I have seen first hand what a mono-molecular blade can do to living tissue. the cuts are so clean and the blade doesn't stop just because some bone got in the way. It's ugly and bloody.

We enter the exam room and the 4 bodies are laid out on 4 different tables...or should I say, what remains of 4 bodies. I know several martial arts forms but there's one that teaches a very special technique they call "Lightning Fist" and it allows the Martial artist to unleash a massive flurry of attacks on his opponent and when combined with a weapon...let's just say it isn't pretty. These guys are victims of this type of attack with a mono-molecular weapon. For the most part meat cubes are all that's left of what was formerly a torso.  Their heads are severed but intact, the waist and everything below it are as well. Even the arms are relatively untouched except for some defensive wounds. Whoever did this was brutal but effective, no wasted effort.

"Computer, scan each of the bodies and their remains and reconstruct. Leave a diagram of the cuts themselves. As a the holographic projector on my wrist displays the four men, I am stunned to see just how thoroughly they were cut up.

"Computer, based on the number of incisions, how many strikes were made on average?"

The computer's answer is appalling.

""Approximately 60 strikes per victim."

The coroner looks ill, and honestly even Spydra seems a bit uneasy.

"Computer, what kind of weapon was used? Assuming the the attacker was using a single edged weapon such as a sword?"

Then the computer confirms a suspicion

'Wounds are inconsistent with a single weapon."

"Computer can you determine what kind of weapons were used?"

"A single edged weapon approximately 36 inches in length is responsible for 33% of all wounds. A second weapon approximately 12 inches in length with two blades is responsible for the remaining injuries."

The ME looks horrified. I think she was hoping it was some kind of machine.The thought of one living being doing something like to another by hand...not something that sits well with her.  What has my interest is the computer stating that there were only two 12 inch blades.

"Computer, based on the angle of the wounds how tall would the attacker have to be to make them?"

Again I'm left with more questions from my computer's response.

'The attacker would be approximately 5'3" and 5'6" to have made these injuries.

"The Black Mantis is barely 4 feet tall, he would not have been able to inflict these wounds." Spydra says puzzled.

"I know and he has 3 claws not 2, everything else is consistent with his skills, and M.O. the angle of the cuts, the sheer ferocity, and the absolute precision.  Notice how none of the cuts are even slightly wavy? The speed and sheer power to cut this well...I was sure it was him. I mean everything fits...I need to get back.  I ahve a horrible feeling."

"We can be back in an hour...why? What's do your think happened?"

"I'm wrong, as often as I'm right and honestly I pray I'm wrong as hell right now. Doctor, thank you for your time we appreciate it."

We have to get back to the council before it's too late.

The Prime Suspect

The Prime SuspectPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2017/1/9 23:11
Hits1424  Comments3    
After discovering, that the guard was innocent and apparently did have a conversation with apparently the black mantis, I am worried about just one thing. If it was an impostor, how did it compel the guard to obey the order to allow the thief inside. The fake would have had to have current authorization codes and, (this is the real kicker) been able to wipe the records of said transmission clean.  The more I dig, the more it looks like the Black Mantis is behind everything.  He's the only one capable of this.  I have to meet with the council, and explain my theories to them. But there's something in the back of my mind that keeps trying to tell me something, I just can't hear it.  I'm missing something but what? As I wrack my brains thinking about it I feel a gentle pair of very delicate fingers on my temples.  The circling motion easing the tension that has been building since this whole thing started.  The touch is sublime and I feel calm like I used to when I was with-   MOONSHADOW!

I leap from where I'm sitting and spin on a dime, and sure enough there she stands in all her splendid loveliness.  God I miss her, but...

"Hello lover."  She says with a seductive purr.

"Yeah, hey there.  What are you doing here?"

"Oh as soon as you started looking into this whole mystery I have been near.  It is after all in my domain."

"Right Goddess of intrigue.  This situation would certainly fit the bill.  So are you here to seduce me or lend a hand?"

"To lend a hand lover  I would require and act of worship."

"I'm afraid my wives would most likely not approve."

"You're married now?  To mortals again I presume?"

"No actually they're not mortal kin, they're Sylvanari Elves."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Do you know something I don't?"

"Darling..." she says moving closer until my back is against a wall and her lips are tantalizingly close to mine. "Of course I do?"

I can feel her breath on my skin, and I remember so much of our time together, but she's playing with me.

"What, um do you know?"

"Ah  ah ahh lover, I am a goddess and I expect my due."

"Exactly what is your due?"

As her clothes vanish in a mist I want only to indulge her, but I just can't."

'No." I say calmly.

"No? Are you so loyal to your WIVES that you won't have me? I know about the little concubine demoness you keep.  That is permissible but this isn't? Talk about hypocrisy."

"Aini, has my wives' approval.  If you get theirs then I will happily indulge your every whim, but know this: They have the final say.  It is that simple...and believe me I wish I could just give in."

"Now I know why my father has pursued you for so long. You can't be bought or bribed, you are honorable to a fault.  It's a very rare quality, and he's an admirer of it."

"Honorable? No offense but your father doesn't strike me as honorable."

"But he is. He has kept every bargain he has ever made with you has he not? Keeping his word and obeying his rather twisted code is the very definition of honor."

"Okay, fine he IS honorable.  Now if it's not too much trouble would you mind letting me get back to my dilemma?"

"Sure. In the meantime, maybe I'll have a talk with your harem."

"What?"

Instantly she's gone and I'm left with an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

The next morning I ask the council members to assemble in closed chambers.

With Spydra at my side, I am understandably intimidated by the level of cosmic power in the room.  I clear my throat and addressed the six assembles council members.

"I have nearly completed my investigation."

"Do you have any suspects?" Norjaguar asks.

"Only one."

They each look at one another and then Raven asks the inevitable.

"Who?"

"I can divulge that information right now but if my suspicions are correct you may all be in much greater danger than any of us first realized."

"How so?"

"I can't divulge that at this time, I can only say that you all need to remain together, no avatars, no simulacrums, no clones. No traveling of any kind and you must remain together at all times until this investigation is complete."

They all nod in agreement. I leave with a glimmer of hope and pray I'm wrong about what I am almost certain I am not. I have to return to the colony where this whole investigation started.



Inside Job

Inside JobPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2017/1/8 23:50
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On a hunch I ask the Black Mantis to let me take a look at the vault where Parata's head was kept. I am given the passcodes and various other necessities required to enter without getting killed. I am also given free access to the security tapes. However, there's a stipulation...the imperial grand inquisitor known as "Shadowblade" has been assigned to accompany myself and Spydra during our investigation. He's a hot head but scary....reminds me of a movie sub-villain...he doesn't say much to anyone as we enter the vault but they're visibly intimidated by his presence.

"I am not sure what you hope to find that my investigators could not. I assure you we were very thorough."

His tone is derisive, and it's clear he's offended by our presence but he won't disobey the emperor, not if he wants to live very long anyway.

There's no prints, no trace of  bypass equipment none of the standard tricks of the trade that professional thieves use.  What amazes me the most is the sheer quantity of magical wards in place, with an equal number of passwords to get through them.  There's no way anyone could get the passwords necessary to get through here without inside knowledge.

"Who was the guard on duty?"

"That would be Tarar, he is awaiting summary execution until YOUR investigation is completed."

"I'd like to question him please."

"I'll arrange it."

As soon as the inquisitor is out of earshot I grab hold of Spydra's arm and pull her close to me. In a hushed tone I tell her what my worst fear of this investigation is, and the only conclusion I can come to based on the evidence.

"Spydra, as much as I hate to say this,  I think this is an inside job."

"The empirical evidence, or lack thereof,  would seem to support your conclusion but who do you think could possibly be a prime suspect?"

"Hell I have no idea, but if I'm right, and they catch on to what we know the situation could prove very....dangerous."

"Then we keep our suspicions to ourselves?"

"Yes, and I know this goes against your faith, but I need you to keep your mistress in the dark as well.  No one can know what we suspect."

Some time later, we're brought into an interrogation room with Tarar. We leave our weapons at the door as Tarar is something of a well trained killer as is the norm with all of the citizens of Mantis's empire.  Tarar is not what I would call stupid or corrupt.  His dossier is so clean it squeaks.  he has no money issues or any family problems, in fact his life here could not be more ideal.

The Inquisitor brings me a small box which contains a shiny gold ring.

"What's this for?"

"This ring will vibrate whenever anyone within 50 feet speaks falsely."

"It detects lies?"

"Yes."

"What's the fallibility level on this thing?"

"Zero."

"Really? What if he believes what he's saying is true even if it isn't?"

""Well, yes I suppose that could be a problem."

"So 99 percent then?"

With that he storms out.  Sometimes I'm a jerk just to bring down some smug ass a peg or two. I ask the standard questions and even have the Tarar lie a couple of times on purpose just test the ring, which works fantastically by the way.  But it's not until my sword teleports to my hand that he starts to look nervous. he knows who I am and that my blade is much like the emperor's in every way...and he keeps his hands very still. He won't dare touch the thing for fear of death, but I have no intention of killing him.  No I focus the magic of the sword on a little known spell that compels a subject to  answer 5 questions truthfully regardless of whether or not they want to. The  subject is immediately aware of the presence of the spell. Which should have this guy quaking in his boots but he doesn't seem nervous at all.

"Question one: How is your family life?"

"No things are fine at home."

Question two: Any financial problems at home?

"No sir, the empire provides for all that we could ever want and I make an excellent wage here, enough to live rather luxuriously actually."

Question three:  Anyone have blackmailing you?

"No."

Question four: Were you otherwise  coerced into allowing an unknown person into the vault?

"No sir, the lady knew all the passcodes and had all the right credentials.  She seemd shady so I called for authorization and she was cleared.  I told the Inquisitor the same thing."

Question five: Who authorized the suspect to enter into the vault?"

"The order came from the emperor himself, I spoke with him on the comm."

"An inspection of the comm records shows there was not communication at the time you say you spoke to the emperor."

With each question the ring remains still, not so much as a twitch.  If he's lying he's got some kind of powerful magic backing him up.  I thank him and send him back to his cell. After some time I return to the vault to check the communication records myself.  I'm looking for traces of unrecorded communications.  The communications system on a vessel (I use the term loosely)it's tough to completely erase those kinds of records completely.  A voice from nowhere just about scares the holy crap out of me.

'How can I assist you Obsidian?"

It's the damned computer.  The realization brings my heart rate back down as I realize it's a simple AI interface.

"Computer, can you show me all communication records for the day of the theft, for the entire ship?"

"There were approximately 1,234,946,647,342 transmissions at that time."

The numbers are astronomical, but then I have a stroke of genius.

"Compute can send me a copy of the guard's fingerprints?"

"What do you need those for?" Spydra asks.

"I'm hoping that I'm right but I'm playing a hunch.  Computer which consoles are used to check in."

The computer indicates a console near the door.

"Excellent, and which console is used to get authorization should a visitor be suspicious?"

As the panel lights up I smile wide and proud. They're not the same console. The one lit by the computer isn't the same as the one used for daily security logs. This means if he did in fact have a conversation then he'd have to have left behind his fingerprint on the screen...and sure enough...

"Bingo!"

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Indeed I did, food old fashioned detective work wins again."

A thorough check of the security logs reveals that while there was no transmission that day, there hasn't been one in over a century. So why would the guard's fingerprints be on the screen, Video records up until the day of the  theft show he has never stepped foot over at that section since being assigned this post.  Somebody with top level access altered the records, and deleted the transmission. Only six people have the access level required to do this and It's up to me to find out where each and every one of them was at the time and possibly beforehand.  Looks like everyone is gonna be stuck here for a while.  I'm not looking forward to telling them the news.

Dragon, Lava

Dragon, LavaPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2017/1/5 23:37
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The Mining colony of Tenaera 7 was the first to record the presence of a type of dragon that dwells within molten lava. It was thought that only great red dragons could withstand such temperatures of a volcano, but even they do not dwell within the lava itself. Lava Dragons however, can and do make their nests within the molten stone and are unharmed by the intense heat which is enough to destroy anything that isn't an earth elemental. For this reason it is believed that the Lava Dragon mat be an elemental of some sort. They are massive creatures and even a hatchling is no mere thing at roughly 14 ft in length, but the adults have been recorded at up to 185 feet in length. Sadly the mining colony did not survive their encounter as the dragons are highly aggressive towards lesser creatures. The planet has thus been quarantined, and other molten worlds are being scrutinized for the presence of Lava Dragons. Should they prove to be as prolific as their other cousins mining companies may have to find new worlds to excavate.

Synthetic Pets

Synthetic PetsPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2017/1/2 0:24
Hits1355  Comments2    
In a rare moment of serenity, we see Obsidian mask having a simple exchange with his newest pet. Truthfully he's more of a dog person but he's worried of offending his first mate Shadawar so the synthetic Wyvern will have to suffice. Wyverns are notoriously hostile towards other creatures and rarely, if ever, tamed. This synthetic pet however, is another matter entirely. Synthetic pets are typically smaller than 5 feet in length and rarely grow beyond that. They are Synthezoids, a type of organic android capable of doing nearly everything their living counterparts can do.  They are however, 100 percent reliable and generally safe to be around unless programmed otherwise.  They can grow like many living creatures or be purchased as full adults and are completely legal to own in nearly any system. In the case of this Wyvern however, many laws have been broken, it is lethal, poisonous, and breathes fire, it has an on board computational capacity of a small supercomputer capable of 75,000 computations per nanosecond. it is incapable of speech but can patch into Obsidian's transmission frequencies to send text messages in an emergency. It is essentially immortal (Highly illegal) and possesses a full surveillance package exceeding many modern handheld models. It also possesses one superpower (also highly illegal) the ability to transform into organic steel, making the creature nearly impervious to nearly any conventional weaponry. Like any dragon it possesses natural optical camouflage complete with texture adaption. This Wyvern is a gift from the Black Mantis and has been specially engineered by The Black Mantis personally.  Needless to say this little winged lizard is far  more than it's outward appearance would suggest..When asked Obsidian simply tells curious people that the dragon is a hatchling that simply bonded with him when it's mother was killed (presumably by  him)...this is of course a baldfaced lie.    

Night Terrors

Night TerrorsPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/12/24 6:13
Hits1375  Comments3    
Always wanted to do this but until I found a client who wanted something similar I just never found the right incentive...now My client's idea and mine, while similar, are still different in many ways...and honestly....neither is that original. So without further adue...

The giant black bats of Debras 4 also known as "Night Terrors" are unique for a singular reason...they're the most massive ever recorded. With a wingspan of nearly 45 feet they are as large as some aircraft. They possess all of the normal abilities of their diminutive cousins such as excellent night vision and a remarkable sense of smell, but unlike other fruit bats they also possess echolocation which scientists believe help them navigate the colossal caverns where they dwell. What truly sets them apart is how docile they are. These bats are a variety of fruit bats although due to the nature of their diet they have similar facial characteristics (including fangs and incisors)of vampire bats. They subsist almost entirely on the giant Loardra fruits which grow on massive towering trees that reach nearly a thousand feet in height, the fruit of which must be coaxed out much as vampire bats cause blood to flow. They have also been knwon to feed upon the various giant, half meter long, insects that frequent those very trees. With literally no competitors to speak of and virtually no natural predators save fort Dragons who find them particularly delicious, this natural order prevents their numbers from skyrocketing out of control. It is possible to tame them for use as a mount but the care and feeding of these great beasts make that an expensive endeavor. In combat they are not particularly fierce having no real natural weapons of significance, but like all animals they can bite and have nasty claws but for the most part prefer to flee from combat. As mounts they can be trained to tolerate weaponry and combat conditions but are best suited for less dangerous roles such as reconnaissance especially since they can fly without making hardly a sound. They are otherwise identical to their non-marsupial cousins in every other way.

Like it or not

Like it or notPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/12/12 1:53
Hits1443  Comments3    
The thief was a bust so now I need to get hold of the Black Mantis and give him the bad news.  Worse yet there's an assassin with mono-molecular weaponry taking out all competitors and leads.  The Sable is at full burn to the Solar system when there's shudder and every alarm in the place goes off.  

I hit the intercom on the nearest hallway panel and contact the bridge.

"Bridge report! What the hell is going on?"

Shadawar responds immediately.

"We're  caught in a tractor beam."

"At full warp?"

Just then Sabrina cuts in

"Yessir we're completely locked up and the engines are beginning to overload. We're gonna have to shut down!"

"Fine! Sabrina shut down engines and transfer all power to defensive systems."

The reply from the bridge has me aggravated to say the least

"All defensive systems are off line! We're sitting ducks."

Just then it hits me, and I ask a question I already know the answer to.

"Bridge, in what direction are we being puleed?"

"Um straight up 0  mark 0 degrees...straight upward."

I'm no longer feeling defensive...no , now I'm just pissed off.

"Bridge this is the Captain, stand down from alert status."

"Aye sir."

I flash on my armor and head to the bridge. Just as I step in the entire bridge crew simply vanishes. I look around quickly, in dismay and suddenly I'm face to face with...

"Black Mantis...."

"Hey there...Grab a seat."

He says cheerfully, gesturing to a comfortable looking chair. I ignore the invitation then ask curtly.

"Where's my crew?"

He sighs, and then walks to a nearby window.  Looking out on a vast city he says.

"They're here on board.  They're being attended to and are being treated as honored guests."

"Whether they like it or not?"

"Indeed."

"And my ship?"

"Docking bay 2."

"Are you serious?"

There are millions of docking bays aboard the massive mothership of the Black Mantis, and the first few are nearest to the Imperial palace and those few have the best technicians in the empire.

"What gives? You know you nearly tore my ship apart right?"

"A necessary risk, besides your ship wasn't in danger you're no idiot and neither is your chief engineer."

"That's beside the point."

"Ugh you act like one of those...mortals.  Fine...I'm sorry, and next time I promise to use more courtesy."

"Yeaaah....ummm....who are you and what have you done with the real Black Mantis?"

"Hah, yeah I can see why you'd ask that..  I have been a complete ass to you over the years haven't I?"

"That's a loaded question."

"No I'll admit it, but now things are different, and I ....we... need your help.  I know of your failure and the fact that not only has Parata been freed but he is presumably back to his full strength."

"Crap."

"Exactly and precisely."

The voice comes from behind as the doors open, it's Norjaguar and his mood is quite dour.

"The council has already convened and since you are our best chance at defeating this maniac, you're being held here for your protection."

"Fine.  Not going to be too many places  safer than this."  

"Right now, " Mantis adds, 'That's debatable."

Suddenly I don't feel so safe.

"The Black Mantis was attacked, and severely injured a few days ago.  Our island was also destroyed. To that end we are remaining at warp indefinitely until we have this matter resolved."

"I'm sorry, I thought I went crazy for a minute and heard you say someone hurt him?"  Pointing at Mantis I am more than a little taken aback.

"I knew Parata was a badass but he did what now?"  My question goes unanswered as we exit the elegant quarters and into the hall.

"We are going to reoutfit your ship with the usually powerhouse options and then we're going to equip some new tech as well."  Norjaguar says calmly.

"I like my ship the way it is thanks, I designed it myself."

Mantis scoffs and in no uncertain circumstance adds

'Your ship is woefully under-powered for your current contract, and less will NOT be more in this situation. "

I stop mid stride and in a moment of complete indignant defiance, I let these bastards know exactly where we stand.

"YOU WILL NOT TOUCH MY SHIP!!!                     Because if you do I walk and and you can find someone else to take on Parata for you  but I'm betting he knows everyone else you'd go to and is plenty prepared for them. So don't screw with the Sable!"

The two of them say nothing in response to my out burst instead the simply nod and say....

"Done."


"However, " Mantis replies..."You'll need something better for this."

"You mean like the Drake?"

My words sting a little bit and it was completely intentional.  The last time that bastard "Gave" me a ship he was trying to recruit me via his daughter.  he doesn't reply to the jab at all instead he very calmly says.

"No, you need something powerful and sleek, something closer to the Wraith.  Consider it part of your payment...along with whatever else you need."

"Okay fine, how fast can you have a new design ready?'

They both laugh like I just asked the dumbest question ever.  Knowing them I probably have.

"You design it." Norjaguar says..."We'll have it ready in a day."

"Really?"

They both look at me and without missing a beat simultaneously answer back.

"Really."

"I can upgrade your loaners from Harley if you like, as well as um...what's the word....Update...your harem?"

"What my what?"

'Oh let's face it they're primitives and lack skills and abilities despite all they've done with your technology at their disposal."

"No.  What the hell is wrong with you?   I'm not gonna let you do ANYTHING to my wives!!!"

"I simply meant education."

"Are you sure? None of that mutation chamber or anything freaky like that?"

The speed and power of Norjaguar is unearthly as he pins me by the throat to a nearby wall.  I struggle as hard as I can but the servos in my armor are no match for that kind of raw physical power.  So....in a panic...I run him through.  Quickly, as he grasps  at his wound, I cast spells to increase my strength, speed, and agility to what I hope are levels powerful enough to at least get me close. Then, in a place  where I could be hilariously out numbered  and outgunned I stand my ground.  He chuckle for a sec and quickly winces in pain.

"Agh...You're right about one thing Mantis, he is definitely the right guy for the job.  Did you really cast a Ant-regen spell?"

I'm not sure what to make of this...I just ran this guy through with what is possibly the one weapon in the universe capable of killing him and he thinks it funny?  Oh man what have I gotten myself into?

"Um...I figured it was appropriate considering who you guys are."

Norjaguar removes a spray canister seemingly from nowhere, and sprays the wound which immediately begins to heal. He looks back to me and asks..

"How do you know about the mutation chamber?"

"I've been working for you guys quite literally for centuries, I have more information about you guys than just about anyone."


"That is why we hired you now.  Jag, don't sweat how he knows about the chamber.  I told him, and I've told him a bunch of other stuff nobody knows about too.  IN the meantime...the  ladies?"


"if their okay with it fine if not don't."

"Good now we have a special gist for you...something special..."

Emergency Council.

Emergency Council.Popular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/12/9 2:47
Hits1404  Comments3    
The Black Mantis has assembled his Empire's high council and all are in attendance.  The mood is grim because it is believed their old adversary Parata has been freed from the prison in which they placed him.  The Black Mantis touched a button on a nearby panel and in the center of the table around which they have gathered, a small hologram of their enemy appears.

"If you're wondering why we are assembled just focus your gaze to the center of the table.  As we all know I was attacked by someone who could only be  Parata, My indestructible ship is sitting in our docking bay in a mangled mess.  I've never seen anything that can do that to Infinitium, and there are no known weapons that should be able to.  I have summoned you all here to our remote island base because it is the safest place I can think of. We have taken the extra precaution of landing this mobile base on the surface of a sun.  Hopefully this will conceal our presence until such time as we can formulate a plan to stop Parata once and for all."

Beast, a massive lion faced man of nearly 9 feet in height looks a round the room at the assembled pantheon. He lets out a deep sigh and says.

"We beat him once before and honestly, I don't see the problem.  Surely he knows we have to power to destroy him."

Reaver peers  up through  hid golden mask and adds

"He MANGLED Mantis's ship, and very nearly killed him." to which Raven adds

"He somehow stopped us from using our Eternity Crystals...There's no power in the universe that should be able to do that, we've destroyed whole galaxies with them, uninhabited but galaxies nonetheless."

Norjaguar Slamming his fist in the table yells

"How do we stand up to that?  He mangles Infinitium, and can stop Eternity crystals!  He knows our every tactic. I mean he knew where Mantis would be and was waiting for him.  So how do we combat that."

They each look to one another, but to no avail then the Black Mantis speaks, slowly and calmly.  

"I have taken steps to see to his defeat.  I have an unknown element that we can use.  Someone who has the element of surprise, but he's gonna want to get paid, and paid dearly.  I am confident he can do the job, so the only question is...where do we draw the line? What are we willing to offer?"

As they stare at one another, their lives on the line for the first time since they donned the mantle of divinity they quickly reach a consensus.  Without so much as a word they all agree that no request will be off the table up to and including their fabled crystals...Obsidian Mask need ask his want of them and he shall have it.  As they adjourn their meeting Raven stops Black Mantis.

"Is there something I can do for you Raven?"

Removing his cowl he smiles softly and there's s light twinkle in his eye.  Raven has seen him do this before and smiles knowingly under her own cowl. She can'e help but think to herself "He doesn't think that smooth grin is going to work does he?   However, Raven is no swooning mortal and while the Black Mantis is pretty to look at he will certainly have to try harder.


"How do you know Obsidian can do this?  Spydra informs me that he has a hard enough time keeping his house in order."

"He defeated Dominion, a  man who was a hair away from possessing the power of Infinity Man, He's intelligent , resourceful, and highly skilled. More importantly, he has one of our blades, and his stealth gear is unparalleled.   If he put his mind to it no one could detect him."

"I hope you're right because we're placing a lot on one elf."

"Hey, I'm an elf."

"So you are."

With that Raven saunters out of the room her backside deliberately swaying seductively. The Black Mantis takes note and very quietly says to himself "So...game on then."

Suddenly the entire island is shaken violently.  An attack?  The Black Mantis thinks to himself in disbelief.  There's no way anyone found us. Activating a nearby viewscreen his worst fears are realized.  A massive ship measuring miles in breadth and width, one identified as belonging to Parata's empire.  In seconds the whole pantheon is asembled in the Command Center.  The face of their long time enemy is displayed on the master veiwer:

"Greeting, Long time no see."

"Parata, something I can do for you?" The Black Mantis asks smugly.

"Yes Mantis, you can die!"

"The last time you tried that your head ended up in a box.  Care to repeat the performance?"

"You were very fortunate last time we battled, that good fortune is at an end."

With that the island shakes yet again and it is clear that the island is in great peril

"I leave you all with this:  Today I take your island, soon it will be all you hold dear, until you are begging me for death."

With that the massive warship turns and jumps to warp. The island however is in complete meltdown.

"Eject the core !"  Mantis shouts in a panic.

Reaver shouts back "The hull's been warped, We can't eject!"

"What?"

"He  only damaged the power core hatch! That son of a...it had to be on purpose.  We have to abandon the island!"

"Damn it! Send the signal, all hands abandon ship!"

In mere moments the island that gave them refuge explodes with enough fury to cause the sun it was on to go super nova.  Using the power of their Eternity Crystals they bind the life pods together and await for rescue, a rescue that will take the form a a vast armada of ships whose number cannot easily be counted.

Critical Conditions

Critical ConditionsPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/12/6 15:29
Hits1385  Comments1    
Raven and Norjaguar make a mad dash to the medical facilities where they see their resident healer frantically working on their ally who is for all practical purposes, the most powerful of their pantheon.  Viewing the monitors they can see the extent of his injuries.  Injuries that should have healed in the span of a heartbeat.  The healer has used every magic in known including the fabled eternity crystals and even their power is no match for whatever is happening.  Raven, now a bit more emotional due to her recent transformation, is visibly upset, a fact that does not escape the attention of The sky god Thunderbird.

"Raven, are you alright  man?"

"I'm fine, it's just who could've done this?  I mean who could have done this to him??!!  I mean it's the Black Mantis for crying out loud!"

Norjaguar notices the frantic Healer and opens the intercom

"Doctor, what seems to be the problem? Is everything okay?"

"No, no it isn't no amount of magic is working and he's not regenerating. At this rate he won't last much longer. It's like something is topping him from healing."

Suddenly Raven understands, pushing Norjaguar to the side she yells into the intercom.

"Doc, it's a spell.  I know of at least three that can stop a creature from healing, but they only work against supernatural healing...Use nanites!"

"Of course, they're technology not magic and wouldn't fall under the parameters of such a spell."

The doctor reaches into a nearby cabinet and removes a single spray canister.  Spraying the wound generously with surgical nanobots and a formula of stem cells and protein she is relieved to see the damage being rapidly repaired.

"It's working!  His vitals are stabilizing and the wound is closing."

The friends gathered breath a sigh of relief but that is quickly replaced with the dread of pondering who could've accomplished a monumental feat such as this.  Raven is visibly shaking, and tears begin to stream down her face, and now both of her companions have taken notice.

"Ray, what's wrong with you?  You're crying?"

"I don't know Jag it's just ...I don't know.  I was thinking about what this all means.  How if someone could hurt him like this, what could they do to the rest of us?"

"She has a point Jag." Thunderbird's words are met with only silence until.   There's a blinding flash of light from the surgical table and the glass that separated the three friends from that room shatters and explodes as if made by mortals.  A  single voice booms in a deafening roar with the words...

"SOMEBODY DIES!!!"

The Black Mantis is revived and is angered and he wants answers.

"Calm down Mantis, you're safe with friends." Ravens voice is soothing and gentle and there is not a man in the room who doesn't stop everything they're doing when they hear it.  The words and the tone completely foreign coming from their source.  The Goddess of war blushes at the sudden attention.

"Did I say something wrong?"

The men assembled stand stunned at her very appearance, her posture her mannerisms all have changed, and while it would seem that such a thing is unimportant, the reaction of the Black Mantis would say otherwise.  Leaping across the room with his infinitium claws at full extension the immortal assassin pounces on his one time friend with savagery.  As the claws sink into her shoulder Raven cannot help but scream in pain.  Instantly her own metal talons are unsheathed and find their mark in similar fashion.  As the Black Mantis takes note of the injury, unable to feel pain as the others do he hurls Raven bodily through the nearest wall. IN an instant he is straddled atop her with his claws once again extended one on either side of her face he reminds her.

"You know there's three, now start talking. Who are  you?"

"It's me you psychopath!  Did your injuries rattle your senses?"

"Raven you unfortunate pretender is a man transformed into a woman, without a single spark of femininity in his body...Next time you impersonate one of my allies do your homework. Now once again...WHO ARE YOU!!! Keep in mind I can wring the answers from your corpse as well as your living body."

"First of all, since when was I EVER a man? Secondly, you need to get the hell off of me before we have a real problem."

"Wow you really have no clue do you? Fine your corpse it is then!"

As his hand draws back the Black Mantis catches a glint of something in Ravens eyes...conviction, determination...no her eyes are different..they're the eyes of...A  dragon.   Retracting the deadly blades in his hand The black Mantis, takes  a deep breath and helping Raven to her feet he says

"My apologies oh Mistress of Battle, my injuries left me somewhat shaken.  I was not myself, please forgive my outburst."

Both Norjaguar and Thunderbird stand mouths agape with disbelief at what has just transpired before them.  Their silence further enforced by the change in the Black Mantis's tone towards their female companion.  He's being almost...charming...NO he wouldn't...he couldn't With a single glance towards one another the two gods realize ...he would and he most certainly could...by all that is he probably will.  It is at that moment that Thunderbird interjects even as raven turn and walks away.

"Mantis, you wouldn't"

"What? Oh her? I most certainly would."  

Tilting his head to the side the eyes of the Black Mantis are transfixed upon the posterior of the Goddess of war taking in every curve and every move. Again Thunderbird interjects.

"Have you taken leave of your every sense?  That is a Man."

"No my friend, that USED TO BE a man, and when he was such I left him alone, but do you see that?" Mantis asks gesturing to Raven's very exquisite posterior.  "That is not a man's ass.  However, there  are more important things to deal with right now.  We need to know who attacked me and how the managed to stop the power of the Eternity crystals from healing me. Assemble the others it appears that Obsidian has failed to prevent Parata from being released from his prison.  Things will only get worse from here."

The Pantheon

The PantheonPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/12/5 10:29
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Before you are the 6 deadliest and most overpowered characters I have ever created. Mostly they operate quietly from behind the scenes, manipulating events to suit their needs and making others do their bidding. Every so often one or two of them will step out from behind the shadows to reveal their existence, most notably the Black Mantis. A being who cares little for the lives and day to day activities of mortals and seeks only his own ends. depicted here are the remaining members of his pantheon.  From left to right

Raven aka Spydraxis: Goddess of War, Mistress of Honor, the Spider Goddess.

Reaver: God of Death the Undead, lord of the underworld

The Black Mantis: God of Storms and Chaos and Multiverse's Greatest assassin.

Lord Beast: God of Beasts, God of the Hunt, The blood god.

Norjaguar: Lord of Shadows and Cat God of Stealth Knower of secrets and all things hidden.

Thunderbird: God of the sun and skies and all things that dwell in the sky.

They have faced foes that would make mortals tremble in fear and until recently lived in peace, but an adversary has arrived and will not be taken lightly.  

The Curse

The CursePopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/12/5 10:15
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There was a time when The being known as Raven Silverspear was mortal, yes mortal, but moreover Raven was...a man.  Dragons are dangerous creatures, even in death their magics can be devastating.  Raven has fought one long ago and it left a curse alright, a form of lycanthropy.  Not controlled by the phases of the moon like some common werewolf, no this would be far more insidious.  Passion was the trigger be it rage or love, even lust, and yes fear. In those moments Raven would lose control and transform into a massive dragon-man of incredible power.  However, after a time one can learn to control such power and Raven had done just that...with a single side effect.  The dragon spirit that possessed him was female and had a mind of it's own.  She tried to take over as often as possible constantly pressing to be set free.  But Raven was a man and a manly man at that and the few times the dragon won the transformation spread to his human form making him a very beautiful woman, albeit a very manly woman.  Time and again he would best this curse and the dragon spirit would find new ways to assert itself. Today however is the last of those battles, the dragon has won.  Raven's memories would be the final victim as the dragon within replaced those precious moments and transform them so that every memory would seem to be from the perspective of a female. One by one minute by minute the struggle would be futile until all that remained was of the man Named Raven was the tear he shed at the loss of who he was. With the transformation complete Raven and the dragon would be merged forevermore into one mind, and her true power would be realized. Now a god can defeat a simple dragon curse but when one is born mortal all aspects of the mortal coil become enhanced to godly levels, and had Raven been aware of that she certainly would have been rid of this curse a long time ago.  Unfortunately what is done is done.

As she gazes at her reflection in the water a loud chirp of a communication badge startles her from her quiet contemplation.

"Raven, I said can you hear me? Is everything okay? You've missed your watch."

The voice belonged to Norjaguar, her long time friend and confidant she remembered she was supposed to relieve him at the watchtower and heavens, she was very late indeed.

"I-I am sorry I don't know what came over me I'll be right there."

"Is everything okay? I was getting a bit worried for a second."

""No I'm find I'll be right there."

With less effort than it takes a mortal to breath Raven is instantly teleported hundreds of miles to the Watchtower, Norjaguar's massive 7 foot felinesque frame is hunched over looking at monitors, diligently scanning for anything that might wish them harm...and woe to any such being for the would surely rue the day they were born for any such foolishness....there are things in this universe far worse than death, and they knew all of them well. Security had been tightened following the theft of a very important relic and now the once complacent beings found themselves on edge awaiting the return of an enemy that nearly destroyed them all.  Clearing her throat the lithe form of the now sultry goddess walked into the room, were his eyes not glued to the monitors Norjaguar would surely have noticed the change in body language and motion. However, something had his full attention, something distressing.

"What're you looking cat?"

"I'm not sure.  Sentry give me a magnified view of sector 13971.9 mark 881.2 and place it on the main viewer."

"Aye sir."

"What is that Jag?" Raven was truly puzzled by the image before her and couldn't make heads or tails of the twisted and deformed object before her but something about it seemed....familiar..

"Enhance the image!"

"Aye sir."

As the blurred image cleared it became frighteningly obvious what it was and a wave of terror raven had not felt in centuries washed over her.

"Is that-Is that the Black Mantis's ship?"

"It can't be, his ship is constructed of pure infinitium.  It's indestructible. What could do THAT to infinitium?"

The twisted and mangled form of the tiny fighter floated lifelessly through the emptiness of space it's lone passenger barely clinging to life.  There is no mortal weapon that could possibly harm the indestructible metal that the ship is composed of which means only one thing...There old enemy has returned.

"Thunderbird, are you there?"

Thunderbird is the lord of the skies and all the things that fly pay homage to him and pray for safe travels, but today...today he will be fulff

"Yeah I'm here. Wassup?"

"Rescue, now, urgent."

"Give me the coordinates, I'm at the airlock now."

"Transmitting."

In the blink of an eye the lord of the skies screams through the vaccuum of space to the wreckage that was once one of the most fiersome craft in the galaxy, now however, it is a twisted coffin holding his friend fast.  removing him would be child's play however, the twisted metal is mangled together in such away that it cannot simply be opened and worse yet it is still very much indestructible. despite being strong enough to move mountains none  of these powerful beings are strong enough to bend Infinitium leaving only one choice.

"I'm going to break the windshield!"

"You're in space, doesn't he still needs to breathe?"

"NO he has more than enough magic to sustain him for now.  Here goes."

The canopy caves under the full might of the eternity crystals Thunderbird uses to enhance his power and he carefully removes the severely injured body of the most powerful of their number.  A large gash in the Black Mantis's side is deep enough to expose several ribs and he is losing blood rapidly.  

"He's not healing at all guys, and he should be healing faster than a troll on steroids."


"T-Bird get him back here as fast as you can."

"No I'll teleport him to the Doctor, she'll be able to do something."

IN an instant the tiny figure of the Multiverse's greatest assassin is aboard their massive starship, and the pantheon of gods remember true fear and doubt for the first time in centuries.

More Questions than Answers

More Questions than AnswersPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/12/1 17:01
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"Ahhh the spoils of a job well done" Shanara thinks to herself as the  pulsing music of the live band playing at the very exclusive "Emerald Cup" pulses through her ears and the alcohol courses through her body gently numbing her cares away.  The job had been worth every ounce of terror and trouble. Perched on chair she stares intently into the pleasure drone's blue eyes and it dances a swirls around the simple pole on the stage, it twists and writhes to the exotic rhythms. The mul;ti-colored lights play off the mirror almost hypnotically. Pleasure drones are expensive but she had more than enough to buy one of the really good ones...besides relationships are hard and there's nobody she trusts..."Yeah, I'll get one of those...a really hot one too. Yeah"

2 hours earlier....

I have been hunting this thief for days now and I have had informants try to kill me, Cops harass me, and even one guy who tried to run me over.  Someone has been doing there damnedest to see to it I don't track this thief whoever she may be, At this moment however I'm running full steam after a Gobelian named "Neezle" who is apparently a marathon runner, and when I catch him I'm gonna break his thrice-damned legs.  Down alleys we slip and slide a fresh rain making the wet streets slick with freshly loosened oils, I fall as I turn a corner I'm not hurt but I am pissed.  "I don't want to hurt you Neezle, stop running!!" My words fall on deaf ears as he tears off again but I'm done with this cat and mouse crap.

"You ready for some help, Mister "I got this."? Spydra's tone is rife with sarcasm and I'm not letting this guy go for the sake of pride.

"Okay fine you're a go."

"I'm sorry what?"

"I said you're a go."

"You can do better. What's the magic word?"

"Please."

"Good boy, there's a cookie with your name on it waiting for you at home."

"Ha ha very funny just catch the little.."My words fall short as I clear a fence and round the corner to find the Gobelian in a cocoon with only his face poking out and Spydra perched upon the Street light the little bastard is suspended from.  With my hands on my knees I gasp as I try to catch my breath, I'm covered in street gunk and oil and whatever the hell else was in the various puddles I fell into.  As I catch my breath I remove my right glove and...Punch that bastard dead in the face, as hard as I can under my own power...the suit's servos would've killed him and we don't want that do we?

"I though you said you weren't gonna hurt me?  The Gobelian complains as blood runs from his nose.

"You didn't stop did you?"

"Good point."

"Now all I want from here on, is the answer to a simple question."

"Depends on the question."

Spydra hoists him up so that they're eye to eye, to eye, to eye, to...she has a lot of eyes...it's creepy actually. Her voice is grating and the mandibles on her mask flex as she says.

"Don't be coy, you can either profit from your cooperation, or your refusal to cooperate can be the last stupid thing you ever do."

Acid drips from her mandilbes only a hair's distance from his face, and it's clear he's intimidated. Spydra knows her business boy, I usually have to shoot them in the leg...or tentacle...or whatever, before they talk.  Not her though, she's got a fearsome presence and a creepy shtick.  Spiders are normally creepy anyway and most folks are scared to death of them anyway. This one is man-sized and stands upright...nevermind the fact that it's a costume.  

"Alright,"His voice cracks as he speaks, "What do you want to know?"

"A thief came here a few days ago."

"We get a lot of those, you'll have to be more specific."

I project a hologram of our culprit and the green little troll turns ghost white. Jackpot, he knows everything.

"Spill it."

"O-okay b-but you didn't hear this from me."

"Hear what?"

"This chick calls herself "Raptor" she flew in a couple days back with a big gold colored orb, there was a lot of bets about what was in it or that the case was worth a ton of cash by itself."

"More." Spydra adds tightening her grip.

"There was a bunch of professionals who let it get out that they wanted a piece of the action."

"...and..."

"And they all ended up dead, not just dead but cut into tiny little pieces."

"...and?..."

"The cut's were cleaner than a laser, even their weapons were cut clean through...No one has ever seen anything like it."

I have.  My sword is very capable of making mono-molecular cuts, but it's very special.  Could the Black Mantis have an traitor in his in midst? I hope not, the mere thought of that is horrifying.

"The thief, where is she?"

"Word is she took her payday and is living it up, in the rich side of the colony. She spends her nights hanging out at the "Emerald Cup".  That's all I know, now can you let me down?"

I give Spydra the nod and she drops the little worm. I pull out my sword and with a precision slice I cut Neezle loose.  He looks at the mono-molecular cut and to my amusement, loses control of his bladder. In an instant he's off like a shot having jumped to the wrong conclusion. Ah that's some good funny right there.

In moments we arrive at the "Emerald Cup".  The bouncer steps up to stop us and I flash my bounty hunter license at him.  He dismisses it with the words

"That ain't gonna get you in buddy."

It's the last coherent thing he says for the rest of the night as I toss a Neuralizer pack at him and he begins projectile vomiting.

As Spydra and I step through the doors all eyes are on us. Quickly and silently folks start shuffling out, leaving their food and drink where they they sit.  These folks are hip to trouble, except for a couple of brave souls who want to see some action. The thief is in the members only area perched in a chair intently watching the sexy little lady droid shaking it's ass.  I draw my pistol and level it to the base of her head. Just then the manager comes up to object and Spydra wrenches his arm in a "Chicken Wing' and he lets out a yelp. The thief never takes her eyes off the dancer, who is now frozen in mid movement as if frozen.
"I knew it was to damned easy.  Everything was just going way too smooth."

"I have some questions and you can answer them here or..."

"Or what you'll kill me?  I don't think so.  I'm no good to you dead."

"That's where you're wrong, I can have you resurrected repeatedly. That means I can kill you over and over in all new exciting ways each time."

A bead of sweat trickles down the side of her face as she contemplates the darkness of that last statement.

"You want to know who hired me?"

"That's as good a place to start as any."

"Too bad, I never saw his face, and he didn't give his name."

"Where's the case?"

"I gave it to the man in black."

"And?"

"he'll kill me if I tell you."

"I thought we already established what I'd do if you didn't?"

"You don't scare me as much as he does." Without warning I grab the her by the hair and slam her face onto the stage with enough force to do some real damage.  She just looks at me smugly and spits out several of her teeth.

"You'll have to do better than-"

Her sentence ends abruptly as her body slumps to the floor, her hair, still held firmly between my fingers, now pulls taut under the weight of her severed head. The droid looks terrified but remains motionless. Without a word Spydra flings the club manger to one side and we both begin looking for the assailant but to no avail. I draw my blade and attempt to resurrect her but nothing happens...nothing happens?  The magic contained in my sword has no mortal equal in the galaxy, even the best mages would be hard pressed to come close to it's power, yet I get nothing.  There's only one spell that can destroy a soul and it isn't known in this universe.  Every clue keeps leading me to the same conclusion: This has been an inside job.  I need to tell the Black Mantis, worse I need to report our failure to retrieve Parata's head. We'll take the body to our ship and see what clues we can glean from it.

The Package

The PackagePopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/29 12:25
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Steam rises from the hot floor as Shenara makes her way to the rendezvous point. The job was as easy as it the man in black had told her it would be...the passcodes were all up to date, and the package was right where it was supposed to be. Not one alarm tripped, easy in easy out. The golden container was heavy but in her magical pouch it weight nothing. The medallion he had given her kept her presence concealed and the ring she wore made her invisible to just about all kinds of technology. She couldn't help but feel a constant sense of dread, and maybe even just a tad bit of terror. Something about this job was all wrong and she couldn't wait for it to be finished.  The man in black had offered an ungodly amount of credits and she just couldn't pass this job up.  It was the score of a lifetime and she was going against her instincts but this kind of opportunity comes along only once. The risks didn't matter she was tired of scrounging from job to job trying to peddle the exquisite pieces of art she could get her hands on. The risks had never been worth the reward. But this score, this score was different.  She wouldn't have to fence the goods, the client was paying and his credits were clean.  As she entered the factory floor the coming from the molten metal below made it unbearably hot. But the client said something about avoiding thermal scans.  Her gut feeling was that this may be a setup so she came armed, so a long range machine pistol was at her side. A weapon purchased with the down payment for this job ironically...Her hand squeezed the grip of the cold metal and her finger rested gently on the trigger.

"Nervous?"

The voice seems to come from nowhere and everywhere at the same time.

"A little" she answered back

"This job has put me a bit on edge and to be honest I just wanna conclude our business and be on my way."

"Let's see the package."

Shenara carefully removed the large golden orb-shaped container from her magical pouch and set it on the ground before the black clad figure.

"Perfect" the man chuckled "...simply perfect. here you go. You're every bit as good as my sources said you were...keep the magic items, and as here's fifty million credits"
Shanara couldn't believe what she heard, the payment was five times what they negotiated.

"We only agreed to ten, what gives?"

"Hahahaha, I'm feeling generous and besides, with this I have something worth much more than simple money.'

The man in black reaches down and lifts a nearby grate exposing the liquid metal underneath. The scary part is the ease at which he removes a grate    that must weigh several hundred pounds yet in his hands looks like it weighs but a few ounces. he then simply kicks the container into the white hot liquid below.

"What did you do that for?"

Shanara exclaimed in disbelief.  The degree of risk was astronomical.  The man's actions made no sense.

"My dear, I don't need the contents of the package and I have no intention of opening it but I simply needed you to relieve the previous owner of it."

"heh you guys have some kinda beef? Yeah I get it now, you just wanted to take something he enjoyed a bit of revenge. I can dig that."

"Ah small minds and limited comprehension, That's what I love about mortals.  No dear it was nothing so petty, it was just a spark to light a flame.

Shanara had no idea what he meant bu his tone and the fact that he had called her "Mortal" was enough of a Que to get the hell out before thjings got weird, but there was one lingering question she couldn't resist.

"Say, how did you know that wasn't a fake?  I had more than enough credits to get one. Not that I'd do ANYTHING that stupid."

"Please child, I know Infinitium, and there's no way you could get your hands on enough to pull that off."

"Infna-what?"

"Exactly my dear, it's been a pleasure, don't let the door hit you on the way out."

This job just gets weirder and weirder still Fifty million? She was set for life!  Now to get as far away from this mudball planet as that kind of money can get her.  Thank the gods this job is over and the best part: There's nobody looking for her or that stupid sphere. The down side she could never tell anyone about the score of a lifetime.


Spat

SpatPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/27 13:17
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Three corporations have the capacity to possibly remove Parata's head from within it's casing. Techimo, Niles Corp,
and Ildragitech, Of the the three only one has the resources to build such a device...Ildragitech.

They're a huge company spanning three of the five galaxies, and they sell just about everything from soap to software to space gate parts.
Their main factories on the colony Draza 4 specialize in Transport technologies.
We'll arrive in only under an hour, and I'll have to figure out how to stop the thief from getting what she wants.
 Of course we're all assuming that she infact wants to remove the head from the casing. I'm not taking any chances...
My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of shouting in the hall outside my quarters I step out and I'm
nearly decapitated by the business end of a very sharp sword.  

"You're out of your damned mind woman!!!"

"I see how you look at him do not deny it!!"

"Four the fifth time I am not after your husband!!"

There's a brilliant flash and suddenly Gloria Bannon becomes Spydra and my wife Ai is in mortal danger.

"What sorcery is this? Do you think to frighten me like some child?"

Another flash of light and my own body is instantly armor clad. I know I have to step between them or Ai could be seriously hurt.  
Why am I so worried about Ai?  
First: Both women are trained warriors which would make this a fair fight but Gloria is now garbed in her mystical
spider armor which tips the odds considerably in her favor, she's as strong as I am and ten times as agile.
Both are lethal combatants meaning their fights are usually to the death.  I don't want this on to escalate so
I step between the two of them.

"Okay what is this about?" I shout at the top of my lungs.

Sina inyahuan seeks a' replace amin vee' yeste' verne'" (This bitch seeks to replace me as first wife)

Even with a translator Ai still manages to spit elvish, now that's a trick. Unfortunately Spydra's enchantments
allow her to understand and speak all languages. So she knows what Ai just called her.

Spydra's silken bands envelop me and she pushes me to the side with force. My armor absorbs the impact but I'm bound
and stuck to the wall.  The next thing I know she's on top of Ai with two of her deadly, sharp, spider-legs placed
firmly under Ai's chin.  A single drop of her corrosive venom lands on the floor near Ai's head and hisses audibly
as it burns the floor.

"Spydra Don't"

She turns her head to me then back to Ai.

"I don't want to have this conversation again do you understand? Come at me again and I may forget your husband and
I are friends."

Ai's eyeballs are like saucers, she knows she's bit off more than she can chew and simply nods in agreement. Spydra
waves her hand and the webs holding me simply vanish. She helps Ai to her feet who then runs off in tears.

"You live in a zoo. What the hell is her malfunction?"

"I have no idea. What were you two going on about?"

"I was on my way to see if you had made any headway in our search and Ai marched up and accused me of wanting to
replace her, and having a thing for you, and then she attacked me."

"I have no idea what that is about but her people have some strange customs. I have to go see to her I'm really sorry about all this."

"yeah...whatever, it's cool. Just talk to her okay sheesh."

With that I tear off to catch up to Ai and pass Aini in the hall.

"Aini did Ai  pass you inthe hall here?"

"Yes master, she seemed pretty upset did you have an argument?"

"No, it's a long story. Just did you see where she went?"

""Maintenance closet, she told me she didn't want to be disturbed."

"I got this."

I open the door and find Ai, a deadly warrior princess, curled up with her knees in her chest sobbing. I know she
couldn't have been shook up that much. She never shed a tear when we fought so why now?  I close the door and
place my hand gently on her shoulder. Kneeling beside her I pull her close so she can cry on my shoulder.

"Shhh darling, what is all this about?"

I ask lovingly lifting her chin so I ca see her face I wipe the tears from her eyes.  

"I am a good first wife my darling, but I fear I am jealous.  I looat Spydra and her eyes follow your every
movement.  She thinks I do not see but I do "

"Sweetheart there is nothing to be jealous of, there's nothing but friendship between me and her and quite frankly
I have my hands full with you and your sisters not to mention Aini."

"You do not understand, our ways which we learned from birth are not some mere superstitions, we are bound to them
by our honor. What has been done cannot be undone. I am so sorry my husband, I have failed you."

"You haven't failed me. Spydra isn't hurt and neither are you and she is willing to let the whole thing go. It's okay."

"No, it is not okay! How can I remain first wife if I cannot protect my position? First wife is not just a matter of
order. The first wife commands respect and leads the others.  I do not merely give orders I take care of the others,
like a queen.  How can I do that now?"

"It'll be okay, I promise."

"NO! IT WILL NOT!!!"

She pushes my hand away and storms off again presumably to her quarters.  I really wish these batty ladies came with
an owner's manual.  Women are hard enough to understand but their tribal customs make it nearly impossible.  If
there's nothing I can do to remedy the situation I'll have to let it play out.  That's a good way to handle this
right?  Yeah, right...I get the feeling I'm going to regret this.
The next morning we arrive at interstellar customs, my ties with the Sathari empire grant me diplomatic immunity in
the IGFW jurisdictions. This means I do not get inspected by port authorities which saves me a royal headache. My
vessel is considered a military craft in this area and they subtly warn me not to start anything or else.
Teleporting is only allowed in certain areas and they have inhibitors to make certain it's enforced so I have to
teleport down in controlled areas. A cursory scan with magic reveals that they're stopping magical teleportation
too,  I look around for the telltale signs of psionic dampeners, and sure enough they're all over the place.  Whose
really in charge around here? I mean you don't see real security like this except in rare circumstances.
I think it's time to get nosey but first...a hotel room, something swanky just to keep up appearances.   I never get
to wear disguises and these guys don't really know who I am except for what data records they can get, which are
woefully inaccurate by the way. So it's gonna be me, the Lunari, and the Spydra, costumes for everybody this is
gonna be fun.

 

Superion

SuperionPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/26 12:19
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In an ages old tradition of comic companies stealing from each other, I introduce the newest addition to my universe (and a complete ripoff of a much more famous Ble clad hero with a red cape)....SUPERION!!!

Powers include: Invulnerability (Type 1), Hurricane breath, Super-speed (Land based), Super-speed (Flight), Energy blast (Heat via eyes), Vision. X-ray, Enhanced Senses (All), Enhanced Reflexes (Super-speed control), Super Strength (Cosmic category 3), Telekinesis (Limitation: Must be in physical contact allows him to lift massive objects without them crumbling apart), Molecular regeneration\Healing (even when severely injured Superion can heal himself rapidly by recharging in photonic or nuclear radiation.  

Vulnerabilities/Weaknesses:
Nuclear Battery (Superion must replenish his power in either nuclear or photon radiation (typically being outside on a sunny keeps him well charged)
Magic and magical weapons of any kind including weapons with something as simple as a Light spell cast upon them.  
Torbernite a radioactive, green mineral, found in uranium-bearing deposits is far more lethal to Superion than it is to most other life. Simply being in the same room with the gasses it produces weakens him instantly, while being within a few feet of it will render him unconscious, and is fatal to him with hours of exposure.  It is interesting to note that he has no vulnerability to the Uranium that produces Torbernite.

Overcharge: Superion can enter a nuclear reactor or fly high into orbit and absorb greater amounts of energy albeit temporarily. During this overcharge he is completely invulnerable to physical injury (even from magic) and all of his powers double. The overcharge dissipates quickly however lasting only about 5 minutes.

Superion has Solaran parents and while it is known that he is not a GenAb,  His planet of origin is as yet undiscovered.  

Allies:  Infinity-man who he considers a kindred spirit.
The Black Scarab
Dora Chang a reporter for TMM  news.
Batmaster who he knows is a true vampire and admires for his indomitable will in conquering his bloodthirst.


Now before anyone asks Superion is actually an analog of not just the Blue guy but also the ripoff by marvel, aka the guy in red and yellow. I like to have some originality but this guy...not so much LOL. I did take aspects from both characters and cram them together.

Enter the spider

Enter the spiderPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/23 17:51
Hits1780  Comments3    
Her mistress has summoned her, and the goddess of war will need her champion during this tumultuous period.  There has been a theft, someone has stolen from her goddess a relic of great importance, and her mistress bids her to join the mercenary Obsidian mask in his quest to recover it.  As instructed Spydra makes her way through the city's skyline on the magical threads of silk woven from her fingertips. Diving between buildings and around the fast moving traffic high above the streets. In no time she reaches the Hall of heroes where the the Scions of Justice make their home. High above the towering building she can see Obsidian's fightercraft approach and she is exited at the opportunity to prove herself to her Goddess.
Spydra plummets from the sky and with a spring and a somersault she lands deftly at the entrance.

She takes the lift to the conference room to find obsidian waiting.

"Obsidian Mask."

"Spydra, what's up? Hey have you seen Panterra?"

""No I haven't but I was looking for you."

"Oh?"

"My goddess has instructed that I should accompany you on your quest."

"Um two things first: One: Who exactly is your goddess? Two: What do you know of my quest?"

"I worship the goddess Spydraxis, and she has bid me to hep you find and retrieve the relic that was stolen from her realm."

"Yeah,  I was hoping the cat would join me but you're more than welcome.  I just wish "someone" would've mentioned it."

"Do you know of the goddess?"

"That's actually a long story, but let's just say I'm informed.  I didn't know you were one of her devout though.  You can load your stuff aboard the Wraith, and you should prepare for a lengthy stay, we'll be traveling off world to practically the other side of the galaxy."

"I have all I need. We can leave right away or at your earliest convenience."

"Let me just leave a message  for Panterra and I'll see you on the Wraith."

Spydra has seen many wonders in her life but nothing quite prepares anyone for a ship whose interior dimensions are vastly larger than it's exterior. She is understandably impressed. The technology to create such a vehicle is beyond anything in the known galaxy.

"Obsidian, your ship is...I don't have the words.  How did you come by such a thing?"

"Don't be too impressed Spydra, 4d technology is rare but it's available on the open market. It is however, awfully expensive."


"So, you're a billionaire like Panterra then?"


"No but my mercenary jobs aren't always paid in money. Sometimes I trade for services or items. This fighter was one such payment."


The small fighter darts through the atmosphere with grace and speed that would make any fighter pilot jealous, and in a burst if brilliant light it make a seamless jump to hyperspace, and screams towards the Sable's current location.  In no time the two ships are reunited and the Wraith slowly enters the shuttlebay of the small frigate. Once aboard Spydra is escorted to her temporary guest quarters, a room more ample and elegant than her own downtown apartment and for just a second she thinks that perhaps the mercenary work is a bit more lucrative than her own job.  They crew of this ship want for nothing and there's no constant struggle to balance bills. The ship is clearly built for war but luxurious at the same time, powerful but elegant. To live here, to be part of this crew must be a truly wonderful experience, but she goes where her mistress bids, and her faith will never waiver or such amenities.

"Enjoy your quarters Spydra I'll be in my office.  If you need anything just tap this panel here and someone will assist you okay?"

"Thank you, and it is my understanding that you are  now married?"

Yes, I have 4 wives, and  a....um...consort.  I'm certain that once they find out you are aboard they will want to meet you. How about we all have dinner tonight and we can get better acquainted. Say 9ish?  You'd like them, you all have a lot in common."

"That would be nice, I look forward to it."

With that, Spydra invokes the magic that alters her armor's appearance and returns to her alter ego Gloria Bannon, but somehow mild mannered archaeologist doesn't seem to fit in here, "For once," she thinks to herself, "I can just be me, with no pretense." a truly foreign concept.  Joining this quest is much more than just the adventure.  

"What a treat this will be." She says while peering at her her reflection, "Thank you, goddess."

Her heart almost stops when she hears a voice say "You are quite welcome chid, but remember...our lord has a purpose for this one."

Gloria bows on one knee and replies "Of course my lady."

In my chair

In my chairPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/21 8:38
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it's been a great morning, breakfast was delicious, and the coffee was perfect. My wives are a real blessing.   I have to remember to get them each something nice.  I walk to the bridge and into my office and that's when the day goes to complete crap.  He's just sitting there all 4 foot 3 inches of him, multiverse's greatest assassin  . In actuality he's a cosmically powered killer, dressed in an infinitium nano mesh bodysuit.  it looks like spandex but there's so much magic you'd go blind if cast a Magic detection spell on it.  and technology in it you'd go blind casting coffee his feet are perched on my desk with coffee in hand and he's rifling through my star charts like he owns the place. At this point I realize I have nothing to lose so I may as well be a bit indignant.  

"You're in my chair."

he doesn't even acknowledge my presence.

"I said...!"

"No need to raise your voice Obsidian, I heard you the first time."

"Is there something I can help you with?" I ask while pouring another cup of coffee.  I brew mine fresh in a pot I keep in my office it's a little decadence I allow myself from the 21st century. The Black Mantis looks up from the hologram in front of him and calmly states

"I have a job that requires your skills."

"No."

"But you haven't even heard the specs."

"it's from you? No."

"It threatens the mulitverse."

"No!"

He takes a deep breath, sighs and then he scares the living hell out of me with one word.

"Parata."

"What...about...him?"

"He's gone."

"No." I chuckle mockingly "He can be gone. Because you have his head encased in infinitium, and locked in a vault on your ship. A ship I might add that is...480 MILLION MILES WIDE                               AND 240 MILLION LONG!!! So there is no way with the most powerful technology, magic and cosmic power that you could possibly have lost his HEAD!!!"        

By now he and I are nose to nose, and I realize I may be pushing my luck at this point.

he places a finger on my helmet then slowly and deliberately pushes my head back.

"I didn't lose it.  It was stolen, by someone with a lot of magic and well informed.  The thief completely bypassed everything and we knew she was coming."

"Wait, She?"

"yes we determined that it was a female and we have tons of video and images."

"Really? but you just said..."

"I have mundane backups for just such an emergency. Simple video photography late 20th century tech, laughable but few people ever think backwards when planning jobs like this. They're always prepared for the advanced systems but nothing like  simple camera."

"If she gets his head out of that casing.."

"You don't have to tell me I'm the one who put his head in there remember?"

"Then you already know you guys will be the ones he comes for first and he's a bloody genius not to mention powerful."

"His former resources are ours now and anyone loyal to him died centuries ago."

"Okay any leads?"

"Just one, she's on an Earth colony in the outer rim. I've been there and I can tell you there's no way to detect her by psionics or magic. So you'll have to do it the old fashioned way."

"Alright, I'll take the job, but it's gonna cost."

"Tell Tanaka and it's yours, I'll grant two requests one up front, and one on completion. I don't care what condition the thief is in but I don't need to tell you what could happen if Parata gets loose and resurrected."

"You really don't"

"Good then, do not fail."

"I never do. Now will you get out of my chair?"

With a snap of his fingers he's gone and I'm left with a ton of research. How would one get anything out of a case made of pure Infinitium? You can't hurt it or beam through it, and as far as I know the only one who has the etch to reshape it is the Black Mantis himself.  Quantum resolution EMT devices are still a millennia away by current standards and that really limits the number of people or organizations that could get that head out.

Parata  is singly the most fearsome opponent the Black mantis and his pantheon have ever faced. At one time he had defeated all of them and left me and my two friends Ray and Harley to stop him. he underestimated us and it allowed us to kill him. But gods don't die so easily and so the Black mantis had his head encased in indestructible Infinitium. He then had his body likewise and placed it on the surface of an unnamed star where it remains to this day.  

if the two were ever rejoined the rage of this very unbelievable powerful cosmic being would be unthinkable. I have a good idea of where to start searching but I'm gonna need help on this one. I think it's time I called on some old friends.

The thief

The thiefPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/17 7:07
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I have tracked her here, but, she is crafty and she has magic to hide her presence from me.  No matter, she will not evade my newest addition, assuming he takes this job. There's a lot of bad blood between us, especially after I tried to get my daughter to seduce him...heh, it was fun to watch though. He's such a sap. Always the victim, but never crying foul. As if being that way will balance out things in his favor somehow.  The fates have been cruel to that one, constantly stealing what little happiness he can scrape together. You'd think he'd be easy pickings for me, I can offer him everything but for some reason he wants to earn it..It's nopt like he'd be my lave but then again maybe that's not how he sees it. Oh well, I better find out what he needs most so I can have some leverage...hmm.

I can't believe I was so stupid, how could I have ignored the signs,  the spells went off just as they should and every warning  was there, one lone woman comes in and steals my greatest trophy.  Not just any trophy but the head of my greatest foe...Should she somehow figure out how to remove it from it's infinitium casing I and mine will have our hands full.  Parata was no laughing matter when he was alive and his return will be no laughing matter should he return.  Obsidian and the others defeated him before through deception, despite how much more powerful he was than them. They are the unknown element...still.  I'm hoping maybe Obsidian can recover Parata's head and save everyone from a clash of cosmic proportions.

It never fails to amaze me how every great once in a while there comes a mortal who can dupe even the most powerful and wise if divine beings, and while Obsidian may be immortal,  Maybe his lack of divine status, and lack of arrogance will give him the edge he needs to find this girl and save everyone I find it funny and just a bit ironic that it is what he lacks that will aid him most. I'll have to reward him well if he pulls this off.

Epilogue

EpiloguePopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/14 6:55
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We make it back yo Kryllia Prime without incident, and I arrange to meet High Crona Hirzhak to collect our payment.  I get to tell him his son is alive and well and the families of the fallen get some much needed closure. Hirzhak  invites me to meet privately and considering he and I just made his goverment look bad for not even attempting what I just pulled off,  I'd say it's a good idea to conclude this transaction out of eyesight.  

"Obsidian," Hirzhak says with tears welling up in his eyes. "You have returned my son to me and I do not know how to repay you for that.  20 million credits doesn't seem like hardly enough to me.  You and your courageous crew risked your lives bring back my only son. If you are ever need anything just ask and if I can make it happen I will."

"I was happy to do it, nobody ever wants to be given up on.  I am glad I could reunite you with your son"

"Many others were not as fortunate, and we will have to make sure that those families are compensated and their loved ones recognized properly."

"Good luck to you sir. I hope never have to meet again under these circumstances. If you should ever require my services again you know how to reach me."

With that I transport up  to the Sable and we head out for some much needed repairs. It looks like it's gonna be a quick trip to Space Station Nimbus and this time I hope I can get my hands on more Absorbium. I love being able to help others and getting paid for it is a real plus. However, I know that somewhere out there the self proclaimed "Multiverse's greatest assassin" has his eyes set on me, and it hangs over me like the sword of Damocles.

God Slayer

God SlayerPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/11 9:50
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I have teleported to the planet's surface. The divine being known as Gredienar is expecting me to kneel, bow, and scrape, to save my life and that of my crew but that's not why I'm here.  No I am here as a matter of defiance, I have pushed around by the Black Mantis, and enough so called GODS to last me my immortal life, and I have had enough of this place and I want to go home!!!  I summon my sword to my hand keeping the blade retracted, if this guy is an elder god he'll know what he's in for and he won't show his face.  This demonstrates he is clearly not an Elder god and and appears in giant form (a favorite of gods ruling through intimidation) he stands roughly ten meters tall and looks really menacing.  There are many tribes in attendance here to watch me grovel but boy are they in for a surprise.  In a booming voice they "God of the people" addresses the crowd.

"Many of you know this man, and thought him a demon or a god.  I have brought him low and proved him false before you. I have made him tremble for his life and instilled fear in him and his people. His lies are laid bare for all to see and none will challenge my right to rule as your GOD!!!"

The crowd is in awe and fear as they look upon me, many of them are jeering and booing me while still other look dejected at the thought of my being a false god.

"Now he will confess before you of his falseness.  Speak to them false one and tell them the truth of your deception."

I take a deep breath and cast a spell increasing the volume of my voice so people on the other side of the world might hear me, okay maybe not that loud but easily enough to match this god.

"Good people, you have called me god, or demon, but I have never said I was these things.  I am not in fact either of these things.  I am like you save that you are mortal.  I  am untouched by time but fate and misfortune are my enemy as much as they are yours.  I am sorry if you have been misled it was not my intention and do not want you to worship me.  I cannot hear your prayers and will not be able to answer them. It was never my intention to mislead you"

It is clear from the look on many faces that my words have left them dejected and still others are smiling with a smug grin, I hate that but I don't say anything. In truth all I really want is for this god to leave me alone but then he opens his mouth one more time and says something that I make certain he regrets for the rest of his immortal life.

"he has taken from you wives for himself, and promised you eternal peace.  There will be no peace with him or his people!!!  I will demonstrate that I am the true god of the people and destroy them all starting with this one."

You almost have to laugh when someone says something like without taking even a second to figure out what they're up against.  Now at first you might think to yourself "But Obsidian this guy is a greater god, capable of rending the continents you're totally screwed right?"  and under normal circumstances you'd be right but I'm about to do something that will kind of even the odds.

"Gredienar!  Would you challenge me with your weak, pathetic, and feeble avatar hiding your true self far away?  Go ahead then show these people how much you truly fear me by hiding your true self away. Demonstrate the cowardice that is your true self."

Now I have basically just called this guy out and he has two choices: Eradicate me on the spot with his avatar or do the thing I just know he's gonna do.  Instead he surprises even me with the thing he says next.

"I do not fear you mortal, you stand before me in my true form already. I ma a god and have nothing to fear from the likes of you."

That's music to my ears. I release the blade from within the handle and utter the words.

"Wanna bet?"

The gigantic being laughs at my audacity, apparently someone has tried this stunt before. Well not the way I'm about to do it. His hand glows and he calmly says

"Begone insect."

As a blast of white energy engulfs me and vaporizes the ground I was just standing on. it takes a second for the dust and smoke to clear, but when it does the look on this guy's face is priceless.  Lo and behold, yours truly is standing defiantly before him without a scratch, although the power sinks in my armor read ten percent of full capacity, and to be honest that's pretty impressive considering a one megaton explosion wouldn't get half of a percent.  Still the armor won't take but a few more of those and I honestly think he was holding back because the look of confusion on his face is replaced quickly with rage.

"You live? No matter I will destroy you once and for all."

Another blast only this time I don't stick around to absorb the energy.  Again the smoke clears only this time he lets out a hearty chuckle and says to those watching.

"See now I have destroyed him.  Now bow before your...GAHHHHH!!!"

He creams as I take my enchanted blade across his back cutting a gash nearly as long and I am tall. he falls to one knee and the look of rage returns as he has just realized....I can hurt him.

The crowd screams and flees in a panic trampling over each other in a desperate bid to escape the onslaught of destruction they know will surely ensue. A bolt of fire screams past me and impacts not far away leaving a massive crater large enough to fit a bus in.  I toss one of my own via my sword and it hits him square in the face knocking his ornate headdress clean off. it disintegrates to nothing consumed by the magical flames.  he reels from the pain and a bolt of lightning screams towards me. it hits me in the chest and the armor again absorbs the power.  The sinks are now charged to thirty percent.  I guess he stopped holding back.  The earth beneath my feet cracks open in an attempt to cause me to plummet to my death and he is not amused to see me hovering above the newly created chasm.  he pulls out two odd looking crescent blades and I laugh out loud this time. and extend my blade once more.

"Who are you?"  He screams in rage.  "How do you resiste my power? How can you defy me?"

"I am Obsidian Mask, I am Luminesti, an immortal elf, and this is my blade God Slayer, want to guess how it got it's name?"

For just a moment I watch his eyes as he begins to comprehend the gravity of the situation.  You see there are very few ways to kill a god such as: Being and equally or more powerful god, or combining divine power to equal a more powerful god, or (as in my case) be an immortal being with a relic. What is a relic? A relic is a magical item of extreme power, so extreme that most  divine beings try to conceal them, unable to destroy them by any means. My sword is such an item. It's power is insane, it can cast spells many times more powerful than mortal spells, and I can slay anyone who wields it with but a word, and most importantly the damage it does is not even close to proportional to it's appearance. What does this mean to our friend Gredienar? it means that he has just realized not only can I hurt him, but I can actually kill him.  The only problem for me is that I don't want his power nor his obligations and they would all be mine just as Mooshadow's were when  I gained her divine power accidentally.

The divine giant attacks again and again and my power armor absorbs each attack again and again.  The power sinks filling more and more.  he tries to use his swords but my relic makes short work of them cutting them to pieces. I retaliate again and again cutting him a little deeper each time burning him electrocuting and even freezing him little by little.  Were it not for my armor he would've had made short work of me and he knows it.  Twice he tries to teleport my weapons and armor away and twice I recall them to me. He is in full out panic mode and unleashes raw energy from his hands in a desperate attempt to destroy me. My armor takes it and I can feel it shudder as it absorbs more energy than I ever though possible.  In a final bid to end this fight which has laid waste to everything for miles I take a flying leap at his head and transfer all of the stored power  to my kinetic gauntlet for one finishing blow. Under normal circumstances I can lift about twenty tonnes but my gauntlets add all the power he's been thrown at me and it's just too much for him to take. With a thundering boom  I connect solidly with his jaw and two of his divine teeth go flying knocking him cold.  When he finally regains consciousness he is much smaller in stature, and nearly powerless.  My blade is resting against his throat and he knows he's a dead man that is until...

"You know I could just kill you?"

"Then why don't you?"

"Because I don't want to."

"What is it you want?"

"What I want, is for you to do right by these people and let me and my people go home.  In return you can tell them you defeated me and I was destroyed."

"And if I choose not to?"

"I have placed enough spells on you to make you go away for a long long time. I will banish you to the freaking void never to return again.  Now you wasted a lot of power here today and I don't imagine you'll regain it any time soon without these people to worship you. So choose wisely."

'Fine so be it."

"My wives will leave with me, I will not turn my back on my responsibilities, and you will give them your approval.  I will not have them going through some kind of inner conflict between you and me.  Do this and I let bygones be bygones...refuse and God Slayer here lives up to it's name.  Deal?"

"Deal."

Gods are unlike demons in one very important aspect, they are somehow compelled to keep their word, well most of them anyway. Here's hoping this one is one of the former.

In the end he lives up to his word, he repairs the damage we wrought, even resurrecting the people who died in the conflict (that's costly to a god by the way) and gives my wives his blessing and his leave. The vortex reappears once more right where it should be and we are on our way home. We have been here only a few short days but at home it has only been a few minutes...all in all I would call this a success. assuming of course that we arrive at home on the other side. I have all stations report in and once ready we make the jump. The ride back is every bit as rough as the ride in but knowing what to expect has helped us better fortify our systems and the damage is nearly so bad as the first time. The debris field remains and the vortex is somehow smaller afar less intense. We leave this place "the ghost world"  behind and I hope I never return.

As we travel through the slipstream to Kryllia prime I find myself alone in my office with a moment of quiet contemplation. As I stare out into the swirling light of the stream, a voice speaks from out of nowhere, a famailiar voice I had hope to never hear again.

"You're welcome Obsidian."

I turn on a dime to see the diminutive form of none other than the Black Mantis himself. Fear and panic rise up inside me and anyone who has ever encountered this man knows both are well deserved.

"What?"

I ask trying to conceal the terror in my voice. I have known this being for centuries now and I would rather fight ten gods than be in his presence. Still, he just said you're welcome, and I need to know why.  He walks over my desk sits down and props his feet on my desktop.

"You didn't really think you defeated Gredienar, so easily all by your little lonesome did you?"

"It' didn't feel like easy to me."

"Well it was, Your armor isn't what it used to be is it? No you should never have been able to absorb that much power.  I mean come on he was a Greater god for crying out loud. Still I couldn't just let him destroy you.  No I have plans for you, so I just thought I'd let you know I'm looking out for you....Heh heh."

With that he vanishes, and I'm shaking in my boots. He and I were finished, but it's clear now he's neer gonna give up trying to make a minion out of me, and there's no way to defeat him and no one I know of who can challenge him.  What am I going to do?

Incoming Transmission

Incoming TransmissionPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/11 8:05
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The day off was something I really needed and I spent the majority of it getting to know my knew wives, biblicaly and intimately.  Aini has settled into her place as more of a maid than my girlfriend...I'm not exactly happy with the arrangement but I can respect the ladies' position on the subject and besides Aini seems perfectly happy to accommodate them so it's a smooth transition. My first wife Ai is a bonified warrior princess and understands the art of war and her position on my ship outside of our relationship is simple...she's a combat expert and I have placed her in charge of security. I make my way to the bridge and call all the senior crew to the briefing room to discuss our situation.  As the crew  assembles I note that there is some concern about my new choice for chief of security.

"okay everyone, I know you're concerned about my having chose Ai for the position of chief of security, but I did not make the choice lightly.  She has a great deal of experience with security with her her tribe and while she is not yet up to speed on our procedures Shadawar will be working closely with her to get her up to speed. That however, is not what I assembled everyone here to discuss.  Our source of greatest concern is the closed Vortex that initially brought us here.  We don't even know where here is or we could plot a our way home and it's entirely possible that we might be in a different dimension altogether, where the passage of time is not parallel to our own as we discovered when we encountered the Kryllian survivors."

"Our sensors haven't been able to locate the energy signature from the vortex but we are holding this position until we have ruled out it's reappearance." Shadawar adds.

"It is possible," Sabrina says while gesturing to a nearby computer screen, "That the vortex is being manipulated by an outside force.  This energy spike just before it's disappearance would indicate that an immense amount of magical energy was expended."

Caewon replies, "There are spells that can close portal like the vortex, but not on that large of a scale.  It would take divine power to force a vortex that size to close completely."
 
No sooner are those words spoken  when the whole ship shudders.

"Wat the hell was that!?" I exclaim as I spring from my chair.

We all rush out onto the bridge to find the ships alarms going off and the image of what looks like and Aztec, (or some variation thereof) chieftain on the viewscreen.

"I am known to the people of this world as Gredienar, God of the people.  You have taken my children from my world and this I cannot allow!"

The figure on the screen appears male with three eyes and an attitude. Great just great I'm not sure if this a real god or just some impostor but he's got enough power to close a vortex of cosmic proportions.  let me explain how this whole "God" really works. First thee are guys like me who are immortal and to a primitive society the magic and technology I possess would make me "seem" to be a god. Then there are beings of phenomenal power and technology beyond anything ever seen and they would be like gods too. But true gods, do not exist in our dimension and instead use avatars or remote controlled bodies, to interact with mortals.  These are true gods, and they are insanely powerful and come in four classes:  Elder gods, who possess power over life and death and can basically kill you with a though and are nearly omniscient, Greater gods who can control the elements and weather and just make life miserable for whole continents, Lesser gods who can control aspects like luck or crops and still have magic more powerful than mortals, and finally Demigods who are most often mortals who have ascended to divine status or (more commonly) are the offspring between a mortal and a god.  Elves are considered to be somewhat divine and the offspring of elves and gods are usually lesser gods. This guy looks like a Greater but only because my ship is still here and we're not all space debris.

"You will return the four you have taken and leave or I will destroy your vessel."

I'm not a fan of threats and I really don't like being accused of "Taking" anything that isn't mine.  Just as I'm about to object to is accusation Ai kneels before his divineness and says

"Great one, this man did not take us, we have been mated to him in the name of peace."

"A false peace child, brought by deception and fear.  This one has told your people he was a demon who would harm you if you did not make peace and give you four as his wife"

Hearing this I'm appalled, and completely insulted.

"Excuse me your worship but I did no such thing."

"You deny telling these people you were a demon-god?"

"I never said I was, they did. I only said I could destroy them and did not wish to."

"You did not clarify with my children this distinction?"

"No I didn't see the need."

"Even now below there are those that are worshiping you.  You have stolen these worshipers from me and I will not permit this affront to continue.  You will return these four and I will annul your mating, and you bow before me and tell my children that I am the one and true god of the people."

"Seriously? You must be out of your divine mind. I don't bow to any god and I won't make an exception now just beacuse you're butt hurt that your people have been exposed to new ideas. I'll make certain they stop worshiping me because I am no god, but kneel before you like my wife?  Ha! it'll be a cold day in hell."

The ship shudders again and this time he actually damages it.  Okay fine, no problem I know how to deal with this, he's not the first god to give me crap and he probably won't be the last. We'll settle this on the planet below.

"Okay your divineness, you win, I'll do as you bid, just don't hurt my ship and crew."

"A wise choice pretender."

the screen goes off and the ships remains still.  I turn on a dime and head for the lift. these people who have trusted me thus far loook at me with concern...they have no idea how  this is going to play out. I have had this dance before, three different times before, now there's no god of trickery, god of games, or god of festivals....and I'm about to Demonstrate how my sword got it's name.

A day off.

A day off.Popular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/9 9:22
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I have just been told we may not be able to return home, that the vortex that led us here is no longer detectable to our sensors and I have no idea what to do next. I have competent crew working on a solution. I'm standing in my office staring out the window at the planet below...I often find myself doing that.  This situation went from exasperating, to desperate. As I contemplate the situation my doorbell chimes:  

"Enter."

Shadawar comes walking in, a look of concern on his face, dear heavens don't let it be more bad news.

"Captain, I'd like to speak to you about a personal matter."

"Oh thank the gods."

"What?"

"Honestly, I thought you were coming in here to tell me the power core was overloading or something."

"No heh heh, nothing even close. I just have this crewman who is working himself to death and refuses to take any breaks. I wanted your input on how I should handle it."

"Is he becoming a danger?"

"no but I'm afraid it may be interfering with his performance."

"Well have the The chief medical officer issue a medical for 24 hours R and R. I don't want anyone endangering this mission."

"I already spoke to the doctor and I have the order here."

".......it's for me isn't it?"

"Yup 24 hours R and R. As per YOUR orders sir."

"You know this isn't a military ship right, and that I don't have to follow those orders?"

"Yeah but I think you're overworking yourself. You've handled every critical aspect of this mission personally and it's been a bit much. You should seriously take a day to sort it all out.  I can handle things for a day sir, get some rest...doctor's orders."

"Okay fine, maybe you're right. Just, keep the ship in one piece will ya?"

I turn the reigns over to my very astute first officer and head to my quarters where...five women are apparently waiting for me. I really hadn't been looking forward to dealing with this.  The second I walk through the door I am assailed by women catering to my every need. Aini removes my helmet, and she's apparently been telling the others how to remove my armor as they disassemble it like pro's. I'm tired so I don't protest as they lead me to a hot steaming bath.  I receive pampering the likes of which I have never known before. My mind becomes awash as these five ladies treat me like a king. They can cook their butts off and make a meal I won't forget any time soon.  I discover the sister's names are Iote, Ninniach, and Vanim. There are many customs among her people that are strictly between husband and wife and they each take turns observing them. Aini of course is eager to help and any trepidation I felt before is washed away in a haze of delight.  What's the old saying? "In for a penny, in for a pound?" I'm never gonna be good with this but maybe I can make it work.  The next morning the Ai is waiting for me at the foot of my bed on her knees and I nearly lose it.

"Aini!!!!" I shout.

Aini rushes into the room, and immediately identifies the problem.

"N'uma amin arwen, lle uma il- kawa n'ala lle verno'. ro irma ten' lle a' be ho companion il- ho mool. ikotane duna, ro naa sai- lovien. lle coia yassen lye ar' sina lye men, saesa Soora lye customs."

(No my lady, you do not bow before your husband. he desires for you to be his companion not his servant. So rise, he is very loving. You live with us and this our way, please follow our customs)  

Ai nods and I help her to her feet. She looks away, and all I can do is sigh. I lift her chin so that I'm staring in her ice blue eyes. I kiss her gently on the lips and she smiles. I feel warm and fuzzy and Aini is positively beaming. I can't look at this as a mistake anymore, I have to own this. I wanted peace with their people and this was part of the price for that peace. These women didn't ask for this but they accepted it. As for as Ai knows I am a demon just like Aini, or possibly worse. I have to do right by them and honor this arrangement in good faith. The ladies are a a team and a seamless one at that, they work effortlessly in the kitchen together. I call Aini over to me, she's gonna be my go to girl for managing this household, and as she approaches Ai speaks up.

"Aini, amin naa yeste' verne', whatever amin verno' quena, naa ten' amin ears. stay manke lle naa. verno', lle melar Lotesse sinta sut things moota sinome, nan' quel verno', ta naa amin yamen' san- acre en' lye eska. saesa quena a' amin."

(Aini, I am first wife, whatever my husband speaks, is for my ears.  Stay where you are. Husband, your lover may know how things work here, but good husband, it is my place to take acre of our home. Please speak to me.)

I raise my hand towards Aini, and nod. With a look of concern she backs down.

"ai, lle quena sanya, Amin hiraetha. saesa nyara aini cael- ilye maa (exclamation)' lle report a' i' medical room ten' y' universal translator mauya. ta will halani lle rangw- i' dirthen lye ilye quena n'uma matter sut n'ataya ron naa."

(Ai you speak the truth. I apologize.  please tell Aini to have each of you report to the medical room for a universal translator implant. it will help you to understand the languages we each speak no matter how different they are.)

Ai looks at her sisters and Aini and they leave for the Medbay. They each kiss me goodbye in turn and head out. I smile and think how I couldn't find one love and now apparently I have 5 and to my disbelief it's not a competition and nobody is accusing me of cheating. As I look around my quarters I realize that they are too small to accommodate six people and make a call to Sabrina.

"Engineering, this is the captain."

"Aye sir?" Sabrina chimes back immediately

"As soon as its convenient I am going to need to see you in my quarters."

"Only so long as you're not planning to add me to your harem sir."

Smartass,.

"Ha...ha...ha." I say wryly  "You're close but not quite. I need to expand my quarters to accommodate my wives. As soon as you have time I need you up here to extend my living quarters if possible."

"okay captain, as soon as I'm able."

Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

The next thing I do is turn on my video equipment and watch and old tv show...I think I'm going to enjoy my day off...maybe even...make a sandwich and have a beer. Yeah.

Packing up

Packing upPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/9 6:55
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No, not just no but hell no! I don't need this, and when I say i don't need this it's only because I would rather walk through hell wearing a suit of ignited plasma than have one wife let alone four that that I didn't even ask to marry me.  To make matters worse I only know one of their names...this is not how you begin a relationship...then again this was really more of a business transaction wasn't it?  I despise primitive cultures...some of their practices are completely ridiculous no matter how much tradition and custom their steeped in. I have issues with a lot of aliens species that are like that too so I guess it's not exclusive to primitives. What am I going to do with 4 wives...and what about Aini? Dear gods I am so screwed. What's worse is I can't even spare the time to deal with it because of our current situation. We need to get out of here as soon as possible, actually it's not so much about getting out as getting home.  Landing in the shuttle bay I grab a nearby security officer and order him to "Escort" my new brides to my quarters, he looks at me like I'm some kind of deviant and before I can say anything to him about it who should walk in but Aini.  I take a deep breath and prepare for the backlash...that never comes. Instead what I get leaves more than just me wide eyed with surprise as Aini squeals with sheer delight.

"Oh when I got word that you had new wives I didn't think they'd be this pretty!  Or this exotic, oh my master you do have excellent taste."  

I'm practically speechless

"Huh say what now?"

"I am so happy you made this decision though I wish I could've been there for the wedding Master."

I'm very confused right now.

"Aini?"

"yes master."

"Are you screwing with me?"

"No Master. You look puzzled."

No.  Not puzzled dear, downright confounded would be more precise."

"About what?"

"You're not angry? That I have wives, not a wife but four of them? You're not upset that you're not one of them?"

"Master, I was never meant to be a wife." to which she adds her cute little giggle.

'I am only meant to be a companion, the perfect companion yes but not a wife."

What kind of psychopathic, lecherous, sycophant, genetically engineers the perfect mate without the intent of marriage? You're telling me you're just made to be some over agreeable sex toy? That's INSANE!!!"

'To be fair master, my creators never meant for me to bond with mortals or those of the mortal realm.

"Ugh, this is making my head hurt."

"Don't worry master I'll take your wives to your quarters and help them settle in.  I can't wait to find out all about them."

'yeah..okay...that'll be...great."

Aini takes Ai by the arm and speaking fluent Elvish takes her and the others away.  Now don't get me wrong I have encountered worlds where concubines and polygamy are a way of life...they're just not my way and usually even where it's acceptable there's often friction between the ladies..and honestly I don't think it's fair for anyone's life to be a thing to barter with...it's just...inhuman.  I don't have time to immerse myself in these moral quandaries right now though, I have to get us home.  Actually Sabrina has to get us home.  Hopefully the scavenging crews got some usable replacement parts and with the Kkryllian crew on board we have extra hands on board. Captain Drizna has been assigned to the wraith until we get home and while it's a small ship he is more than a little impressed with it's power and performance. The wraith can accommodate 30 or so of his crew  and the shuttles a few dozen more. We've cleared out our sickbay, and the cargo holds and made the best of things.  As I pass by crew quarters filled to capacity I ma relieved to see the integration going so smoothly. I make my way to Engineering to get a Sit-Rep from Sabrina who is hard at work with the retrofits. Despit the the caos she notices my entry even with her back to me.

"Welcome Captain, to what to do I owe the pleasure?"

"I'm here to get a status report. Whats running and what's not?"

'Well Captain we have our Shields and Warp Drive, as well as our Slipstream engines.  Our replication systems are  up and running but I have restricted their use to manufacturing parts for the time being until we're one hundred percent in the green."

"Were you able to salvage anything from the Kryllian ship?"

Definitely and with her crew here we have had almost no problems getting things adapted properly minus some systems that are just too different. Which of course is why we're not up and running."

"So how long before we can head home?"

"Id say roughly six hours."

"Finally some good news, alright six hours. I'll be on the bridge waiting on pins and needles."

"Yessir. Oh and Captain..."

"Congratulations." she says with a snicker.

"yeah thanks...smartass"

Everyone's a comedian, I thought I was done with the joke with Harley and Ray...seems that's gonna just follow me. Ah well such is life.  Back on the bridge my helmsman is tapping keys frantically, searching and scanning and even without being able to see his face I tell something is wrong. I walk over to his station to see what's going on.

"What's up? Having difficulties?"

"You might say that sir."

"What's the problem?"

"It's the Vortex sir, we've been tracking it since we've arrived in this system."

"And..."

"Well sir, it's not on my instruments."

"What?"

"I've tried everything sir, the entire spectrum of scans and its just...gone...to put it simply...we're stuck here sir."





 

Local Natives

Local NativesPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/6 10:42
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According to the Kryllian officer the remaining survivors are being held in the very ruins we first investigated. I am hoping to resolve this peacefully without unnecessary bloodshed but I on't think it'll  GO THAT WAY.  All too frequently tribal cultures have superstitions, rituals, codes, and customs that make even the simplest interactions an overly complicated matter. You usually have to find one member of the tribe who can influence the other to at least hear you out. We have no such person, so this is gonna be difficult at best.  We near the entrance to the ruins and survey the area scanning for ambushes and the like but this place is teaming with life so scanning for life signs is really super easy, differentiating one from another, now that's difficult. I'm too focused on the task at hand and I let my guard down, not paying attention to my surroundings. That's how you get blindsided like we just did.  She comes seemingly out of nowhere, I turn my head in time to see her land and in an instant she swept my legs from under me, it doesn't hurt but before any of us can react Omega, and Caewon join me flat on their backs.  Now don't get things twisted I'm fast so fast in fact that before my two companions hit the dirt I'm already regaining my feet with sword in hand.  The woman appears elven judging by her pointy ears alone, with a dark complexion darker than any sylvan elf for sure. She's armed with only a spear and a couple of daggers really no match for me straight up, but I need someone to speak on my behalf so she's going down.

"Lle naa sai- maite,  nan' ta will avail lle nothien.
(You are very skilled, But it will avail you nothing.)"

She swings her spear at my head, and with less effort than it takes to swat at air my sword's infinitium blade cleanly slices it to pieces. She's stunned by the sheer ease of which I dispatched her weapon but she is a fierce warrior. it will take something considerably more grand to shake her confidence which isn't a problem for me.

"Ai girl mani will ta sana a' convince lle?
(Little girl what will it take to convince you?)

Her twin daggers come at me with blinding speed, but as I grab her wrists and begin to squeeze her eyes open wide with shock.  In my armor I can lift just over 20 tonnes, and she's barely over 60 KG. Needless to say she's stuck, and I could rind her bones to powder if I chose to. Instead I squeeze just enough to wrest the daggers from her hands.  The two blades fall almost silently to the ground and I ask her:

"hin, uma lle dura amin sii'? amin can Ndengina  lle yassen ease nan' amin uma il- wish um- ikotane
(Child, do you believe me now? I can kill you without effort but I do not wish to do so.)"

She lets out a groan of pain and I ease my grip but hold her fast. The relief is easy to see on her face.  This whole time I have been speaking our language to her and I was beginning to doubt she was an elf...until she replies.

"lle caela glake amin vanya. yassen lle beleg lle naa ere' y' aute ri' y' rauko. amin naa ten' lle nai-  heru say ta ar' ta nauva ikotane?
(You have captured me justly.  With your strength you must be either a god or a demon. Iam yours to command my lord what would you have of me?)"

Now we're getting somewhere. Holding her by the wrist I reach for a neuralizer pack from my belt and place it on her necklace. I tell her from nopw on if she disobeys me I will make her ill, that she is cursed to my service until i release her.  The doctor and Caewon both start to protest but they don't even need to see the expression on my face to know what kind of bad idea that is right now.

"sii' hin nyara amin lle essa.
(Now child tell me your name.)"

"amin essa naa Ai Thoron heru
(My name is little hawk lord.)"

"tanya naa y' sai- vanima essa. amin merna lle san- amin a' lle i' dol en' lle hostar.

(That is a very pretty name. I want you to take me to your the head of your tribe. )"

"vee' lle irma heru
(As you wish lord.)"

With those words we are on our way. In no time the able warrior takes us through the heavily wooded, overgrown reaches of the ruins. As we travel I can't help but to notice her shapely figure, Strong women are a weakness of mine. She's well muscled, and very agile her hips sway a little when she walks and it's a sight to behold. Her backside is quite pleasant to look at not that she'd notice me looking mind you. her breasts are firm as one might suspect and not overly ample. In fact if I were on the prowl for a woman she'd fit the bill quite nicely indeed. Her animal skin bikini leaves precious little to the imagination but I'd bet my life that the few guys who tried to take a peek never tried twice. We reach the camp and find most of the kryllian captives to be in good health. A few are in rough shape but nothing a couple days in a med bay won't take care of.  Ai brings me before Chief whose name translates to "Laughing Lizard" (actually "Lizard" is whatever the name of those dumb dinosaurs that attacked us are called.).  he doesn't seem to impressed with me although after Ai tells him how I defeated her without effort and nearly broke both of her arms with my bare hands, he doesn't do anything stupid.  I ask them to tell me about their customs specifically greetings, peace offerings, and how to get the captives back. I hail the Wraith and according to their customs I have several sheep (or what passes for them here) transported in as a gift. The exchange of the prisoners costs us a great deal of gold though we can manufacture all we need. Next there is the matter of peace between our people the treaty for which requires my people to perform some act of loyalty. Apparently we have to perform some service that benefits the entire tribe. They ask me to slay some chieftain in a rival tribe and initially There's some disagreement about whether or not I should do it but after sleeping on it I find and eliminate the bastard because I need this to be over.  Finally we all have to attend a feast to commemorate the peace treaty between our tribes. The chief's wives (he has twelve.) prepare a feast of sheep-thingies and of course I am required to remove my helmet at which time they honor name me Nim Rauko (White-Demon). The night id full of fun and frolic and throughout the whole ordeal Ai is ever at my side, at one point (accompanied by her three sisters) placing a wreath upon my head, serving me wine, and dancing for my amusement. When all is said and done the Doctor is happy, well as much as one can be considering I had to kill a native to accomplish our mission, and more than half the crew saved. I call thi one a win...especially when I am greeted by none other than Captain Drizna himself. Oh this is gonna be one helluva payday.

"Obsidian Mask, Drizna says as if we're long time friends, "You can only be Obsidian Mask yes?"

"Yessir, that's me the one and only."

'I want to personally thank you for coming to our rescue and overcoming the many trials that lead to our salvation. In truth I had all but given up any hope of rescue."

"Well my crew and I may have done the work but it was at your father's behest, he paid a hefty sum for your safe return or proof of your demise. Still I was happy to do it>"

"I see, well no matter I am indebted to you on behalf of my crew, if there's anything I can personally do to repay you, you need only ask."
 
"I'll keep that in mind Captain. Now lets get out of here while he getting is good."

As we make our way to the ship a quartet of female warriors, one of which is Ai, head towards us with a large sack across their shoulders. Ai probably wants me to remove my "Curse" from her and I guess they have farewell rituals as well.  That is when The good, soon to be dead Doctor chimes in with:

"I was wondering when they would join us."

"Say what now?"

"Your brides dear Captain."

"yeah....WHAT!!!!????"

I spin around to look the Omega in the eye and there's not one giggle, not one snicker, not so much as one tiny chuckle, from anyone, and I'm not sure why...then I realize I have my pistol cocked and jammed firmly under the good doctor's chin. Seriously sometimes my reflexes get the better of my good sense.

"Do you intend to use that?"

He asks coldly, uncertain of my current mental state. I think better of it and ease the safety back on.

"No. At least not right now. we'll see what happens after I get an explanation. What exactly did you mean by "My Brides" and why did you say "Brides" like there's more than one."

"Remember when I told you not to harm these people?"

"Yeah, and I didn't."

"But you did. You defeated one of them in single combat. I tried to warn you against doing so. Yous see when you bested Ai, and proved your "Superiority over her and her people, you inadvertently acquired her as a possession, she as much as told you so."  

My heart sinks to my stomach and I remember her words she did say I bested her and something to the effect that she was mine to command.

"Okay doc, that doesn't mean we're married."

"You really weren't paying attention to any of the rites, were you? You exchanged gifts, you accepted the wreath, drank the wine and danced with your brides."

I think I'm gonna be sick.

"This tribe has a lot in common with many cultures I have researched, and I did try to take the lead on this one but you had to be i"In charge, so I let you. This is the consequence.  And before you ask, no you can't back out, it would be considered a huge insult and these four magnificent looking young maidens would have no choice but to take their own lives. Call it a ritual of rejection where they can only be accepted by their groom or the gods."

Yeah I'm gonna be real sick.  I have stuck my foot in it this time...I don't want four brides, and what about Aini? I-I can't undo this without sentencing them to death...they wouldn't be able to come to terms with it...in their mind they'd only have one option left. I hang my head and wave them over...I hope Aini can forgive me. The lot of us hop on board the shuttle and depart for the Sable, I hope Sabrina has some good news from the scavenging party.






Survivor camp.

Survivor camp.Popular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/11/2 2:41
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Using the data we gathered from the bridge of the Kryllian ship we manage to locate a small encampment of the surviving crew the sad fact s that there are fewer than 50 of the original crew left as far as we can tell. It's now late in the evening and we wasted a lot of time going through there ship but it appears it's time well spent. A quick flyby reveals automated defenses and at least one gun drone. We land nearby and approach with extreme caution so as not to provoke their massive sentry. A small campfire glows brightly in the center of several escape pods each serving as shelter for the surviving crew. Nearby is a generator transceiver, and water purifier. This group is well equipped to survive for some time. They have rations enough for months and all the tools necessary to carve out a life here if need be. like a mini-colony of sorts. IN a more hostile environment they would probably be screwed after a few months but in this land of abundance not so much. Of course most of the life we've encountered is incredibly hostile so life would be a challenge to be sure.  A male kryllian officer steps out to greet us and as he does I note that of all the 47 crew here he is the only male and under any other circumstances I'd say he was a lucky guy but he might not think so right now. The crew looks clean, well nourished and appear to be in their right minds. I approach the male ready to draw my pistil on a moment's notice. behind me Aini, Shadawar, and Caewon spread out taking strategic positions a fact that does not go unnoticed by the Kryllian crew.

"Hello, my name is obsidian mask and I have been sent to locate Captain Drizna by High Crona Hirzhak. We are here to rescue you and your crew-mates."

"I'm commander Nabrin.  It's a pity you could not have come sooner, so many of us were taken."

"Taken? By whom, or what?"

"The primitives that inhabit this planet thought us to be some kind of evil demonic creatures and acted accordingly , we had them out gunned but we're not allowed to interfere in their natural development so we could only stun them while they were outright killing us. Their wounded would revive unharmed in a matter of hours and we would be left with dead crewmen. We couldn't fight a war of attrition.' eventually they began raiding our camps, after the first couple of years it wasn't to hard to deal with but the became emboldened with each successful raid. eventually we had to seclude the women in camps like this with our best resources due to the savage nature of these primitives. A male would be killed but with a female they would do...other things."

"I see, um...did you say two years?"

"Yessir we've been here for four years altogether and we had just assumed everyone thought us lost."

"You guys have only been gone a few weeks at best."

"That's not possible sir we've kept perfect track of the days and the hours. We've been here 4 years 18 days and seven hours."

"Time must flow differently here Captain."

Shadawar adds, and I can 't escape the logic of his statement. Immediately I contact the Sable and fill them in one the apparent time difference, and have Sabrina keep track of both times so we are on calendar when we return.

For myself, Aini,  and Caewon time differences mean very little but for these mortals this is a huge deal.

"Okay Nabrin, we'll need to know where the other camps are and where the rest of your crew have been taken.  We'll arrange for you crew to be taken aboard our ship and return home s soon as we have every survivor on board."

I call down the Wraith and have my crew begin evacuating the survivors, as Commander Nabrin is about to board he turns to me and asks:

"What will you do about the natives here if they resist?  We're rescuing your crew no matter what, I'll try not to harm any of them but I am not beholden to your non-interference policies...I'm not IGFW so I don't have to hold back, but I choose to because I'm not the bad guy. If I can spare lives I will but not at the expense of those I came here to protect."

"I don't agree with your decision but I can respect and in a way even admire it Captain. Good luck."

It'll take some time to get to each camp site and teleport each up to the wraith even so she's got limited cargo capacity so ther'll be several trips to the Sable to transfer the survivors. We'll remain in the shuttle for the time being.  I send Aini, Shadawar and Fred back to the Sable with the crew and have them help with whatever repairs and departure preparations they can. Caewon, and Dr. Omega will remain on the planet with me.  The Doctor claims he speak 7,00 languages which I have to admit is a lot by anyone's standards I use a translator myself it speaks over one million languages but it might help.   As the  Wraith departs Dr. Omega approaches me with a somewhat grim look on his face.

"What's up doc? (I always wanted to say that to a doctor.) Is there a problem?"

"As a matter of fact there is.  I heard what you told that officer and you may not understand this but you cannot kill these people."

"Doc, I have no intention of going in there guns blazin" and a firin, but I have no intention of letting them kill any survivors we find."

"I understand but you have to know in their eyes we're the invaders"
"Good point Doctor but the invaders want to leave, so we need to let them know that. Hopefully they're graceful winners. If this is gonna be too much for you to handle good sir, you can wait in the shuttle. Unless of course you have a better way to handle this in which case I'm all ears."

"Actually, I had thought..."


Ever say something you were pretty sure you were gonna regret, I think I just did that.




Captain's log

Captain's logPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/10/31 17:46
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We finally make it to the ship's bridge without any incident and Aini perches herself at one of the stations and begins attempting to access files. She patches in her suit's auxiliary power systems into the main console and provides minimum power to the ship itself (The armor's onboard generators could power a small ship for days but this massive beast would drain them in only a few short hours). Regardless, I note that there's simply no way that she can know all the things she knows and have learned it all in the short few months she's been with me. But unless it becomes and issue I won't say anything, still a well educated demon is just about unheard of. I get why a creature created to be a subservient concubine would need domestic skills, but she navigates the ships systems like she wrote them. Just when I start settling into the notion of her and me she does something like this and changes the game completely.

'Master, I have located the logs and have translated them, they are ready for your analysis."

"Thank you. Transfer them to the captain's console."

The files come up and something just isn't kosher. According to the Captain's entries the crew abandoned ship before it crashed planet-side. I never thought to check for escape pods, but at least we have rendezvous coordinates.

As I continue reviewing the files a Shadawar's voice chirps over the ship's comms.  

"Captian, this is First Officer Shadawar do you read over?"

A small button on the arm of the Captain's chair begins to blink, I press it quietly hoping it's not the self destruct or something like that and reply back.

"Obsidian here, what's your situation?"

"We were ambushed by someone or something, we didn't get a good look."

"Any casualties?"

"No, but it went after the doctor and we managed to wound it."

"Wait any blood traces?"

"Yeah, in fact we have an entire arm. Fred is a lot tougher than he looks and that's saying something he just grabbed the thing by the wrist and ripped it's arm right off."

Well Damn. mental note do NOT underestimate Fred.

"Where are you guys now?"

"We tried to gain access to the bridge but it's no use, every path is cut off. We were thinking of heading back to the entry point when the doctor noticed systems coming back on line."

"That would be Aini, it won't last long though she's using her suit's reserves to provide temporary power."

"She can do that?"

"Apparently.  Head back out as quick as you can we'll meet you back there, then we have to mount a rescue. Caewon got snatched up by something, probably the same thing you ran into."

"Damn. Alright we'll meet you guys at the entry point, Shadawar out."


With that I egin looking around the bridge for a room with a window, hopefully the captain's office has and nice view,  We're in luck as I pry open the door sunlight nearly blinds me and it's a gorgeous day. I take out my sword again and extend the meter long blade. The edge is mono-molecular and made from the indestructible metal Infinitium. meaning it will slice through ANYTHING and never break or bend. And that's exactly what it does to the outer hull of the ship. I pick a panel and open it up to the elements bending it down to make a small platform to stand on. I can see the others below and I ma finally getting a clear signal on my communicator. I give a wave and start to jump down when an earth shuddering explosion rocks the whole ship from within. I booming voice fills the air.

'You dare to think to make a meal of Caewon the great? Caewon of the twelve houses? Caewon slayer of the mighty Cragnar Dragon? Caewon the Immortal? then die by your own foolishness and reap the reward of a fool."

Caewon hovers just outside of a newly made hole half way up the 90 meter tall hull.  His explosion created a massive gaping wound nearly 20 meters wide and just as deep. Lightning begins to dance all around his coalescing at the tip of his staff several creatures emerge, clearly still reeling from the first explosion, they don't have time to regain their senses as a blast of lightning strikes the center-most creature and spreads out to the rest, instantly frying the lot of them to a crisp.  Caewon is very clearly no joke but he does have some questions to answer. Caewon floats to the ground and with a single leap Aini and I rejoin him and the others. Caewon's clothing it torn nearly to shreds and he has deep gashes on hi arms and legs as well as his back and chest. As I approach I start to make a comment s about how impressive that display was when he simply collapses in a heap, his staff clattering to the ground.  The Dctor rushes over to see to his wounds and it's only now that I wonder if he's a medical doctor. I have extensive medical training myself (out of necessity you see) but I don't know anything about this Dr. Omega.  Still there's no need to panic and I gain some insight into the Doctor as he seems oblivious to the fact that there's magic in my possession that could easily heal Caewon's wounds. Suggesting that the Doctor may come from a place or time where there is none. I  place a hand on the Doctor's shoulder and show him my sword.

"Relax, I got this."

I place my hand over  Caewon's chest, and activate the magic within the enchanted sword. My hand begins to glow with a soothing white energy and Caewon's wound simply close themselves fading away to nothing, another wave and another spell and his clothes are mended as if new. I normally don't like using my sword's spell abilities but this is an emergency. The Psi-Mage probably has some healing magic but most healing spells don't have the power the sword possesses. Caewon awakens a bit groggy but none the worse for wear.

"What happened?" Caewon asks wearily.

"You went completely apeshit on some monsters and fried em to a crisp."  Aini chirps having been obviously impressed by the vulgar display of power.

"It was impressive indeed." Fred adds

"it was all well and good but do you mind telling me why my magic couldn't locate you with a simple location spell?"  

My tone is a bit gruff but the small details are important. He might not have been so badly injured had this not been overlooked."

"It- it is a long story but through my adventures I have made more than a few beings agry. A ngry enough in fact to curse me quite proper actually."

"What-Kind_Of-Curses?" I ask through clenched teeth putting extra emphasis each syllable.  I am not happy about this turn of events since curses can take many forms including monstrous transformations. Transformations where the cursed one ills all of their friends, allies, and loved ones. Oh I am no stranger to curses but tat's a story for another time.

"Well, at one time the curse was so bad nobody could remember me. I would literally be erased from their memory the second I was out of their sight.  of course looking at me again restored their memory of me but It was an abysmal existence. I managed to barter with and elder demon to alter the curse since it was an elder god that gave it to me it was the best that could be done."

"Who eaxcly cursed you and why?"

"Um Zeus, and because I was sleeping with one of his daughters. He wanted all memory of me gone from her, but because I was very persistent..."

"He cursed you and put some stank on it."

"Stank? Well I suppose.  In any event he couldn't bring himself to curse her or make her forget so he cursed me, so she would forget me the moment I was out of sight. Unfortunately she had a plan and had Aphrodite curse her as well, a special curse that for some would be unthinkable but for her would solve our dilemma. She asked Aphrodite to burn the image of me into her eyes, it is an old an ancient curse and it causes blindness save for the one image. So she can never forget me. Diminishing the effect cost me dearly, a price I will not discuss, but now one simply cannot find me. I am sorry I failed to inform you, i usually work alone and so it doesn't come up very often."

"Is that why you relic hunt?"

"Yes, I'm hoping to free us both from Zeus's influence once and for all, but I need a relic for that."

"Relics can be very dangerous and often have their own powerful curses, It's not something I recommend. Regardless we need to be able to find you at least for the time being. Is it possible to tag you or place something on you that I CAN trace?

"yes the curse doesn't really affect my belongings, but to use a location spell you should use a very unique item for greater precision."

"Don't worry, I have just the thing."

I place a neuralizer in his staff and explain what it , does, and how to use it.  I don't want any slip ups.  Going over the data files we finally get coordinates for the escape pods I nonly hope we find survivors.
 


Searching the Carsh

Searching the CarshPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/10/30 6:09
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Entering the crash site we begin making our way to the bridge in the hopes of finding the ship's logs which we hope will allow us to figure out where everyone went and why.  I split the search party into two teams. I take Caewon with me and Aini so that Dr Omega has some combat and magic ability along with his man Fred.  Radiation levels are high and thankfully Caewon has some countermeasure spells to protect himself. Aini and I are well protected by our armor and mine is actively reducing local radiation levels by absorbing the ambient energy.   The place is eerie, and our every movement echoes throughout the corridors of the massive craft. A green fog  clings to the floors as thick as soup at about knee height.  I make take a little extra time to make sure everyone's life support is working because I'd rather be safe than sorry. Every so often as we make our way through the treacherous debris we see deep gouges in the walls the likes of which appear to be claw marks larger than a man's head.  What  we don't see are bodies, which is odd because there's should be more than a few casualties in a crash of this kind and with a crew this size. Every so often we can hear pieces of the ship clanging and clattering. We're startled more than a couple times by the suddenness of a ceiling beam or something similar falling nearby.  Most of our scanners are fouled up by the radiation making finding a clear path next to impossible.

"Be careful where you step"

I offer up, making note that the deck plates are heavily damaged, but no sooner do I utter the words when a massive section behind us simply falls away. I catch Caewon just in time and pull him up from certain death. However. now our way out is now compromised as we can't backtrack.  

"Shadawar This is Obsidian do read?"

"I-ead-etttin--atic---oevr"

The garbled reply is more bad news, the radiation is now interfering with communications. I'm not worried about the radiation hurting me but this ship is a death trap and despite all the things my armor protects me from. being crushed to death is no one of them.  I try to get through to the other team but it's no use, no signal is getting through.  I decide to attempt to boost eh signal and have my team stop while I make the necessary adjustments. As I fiddle around with controls I catch movement out of the corner of my eye in the shadows, I spin around and point my pistol in the general direction and begin scanning with every system I have but it's all useless. Now I'll tell you a secret, my armor is really great at protecting from most things but what it doesn't protect from is slashing, acid, crushing and freezing, arrows, swords, and claws, are serious concerns for me despite everything else the armor does so I'm not invulnerable okay?So when I see something move I tend to get a bit jumpy.  I feel like we're being watched and I don't take chances.  Radiation rarely interferes with magic so I have Caewon cast a spell to detect living beings.  He casts the spell and says

"There's nothing living that my spells reveal."

"What about undead?"

"What?" Aini asks with not just a little bit of fear in her voice.

"Undead can you sense undead?"

"I will try."

As he begins his incantation i am nearly impaled by a shaft of metal that goes screaming past my head, missing me by a matter of millimeters. The one 20 millimeter thick shaft is launched with enough force to penetrate the reinforced bulkhead behind me and bury itself nearly half a meter deep. We each turn to face the source and are stunned to discover...nothing. You ever get the feeling someone's screwing with you?  Yeah me too, just now as a matter of fact. I turn up the volume on my sound pickups so maybe I'll hear something my elven ears can't.   Without warning a last of steam explodes from behind a wall panel knocking Aini to the floor and filling the section of the corridor. Without sensors I'm basically blinded and I do the only thing I can do, I close my eyes and listen...I can hear three people nearby. i grab my sword and quietly extend the metal blade from within it's extra-dimensional sheath.  I have to listen for Caewon's cape, so I don't hit him by mistake. I use my free hand to hold Aini down and instinctively she stops moving and offers no resistance. God I love how she does that. I hear a thud from an unfamiliar step and swing my blade with all the skill I have and hit...nothing?  Dafuq? As suddenly as it began the smoke clears and the first thing I notice is that Caewon is missing. Great it's pick off the heroes time in the spooky alien ship? I've seen this movie before, only one survivor, maybe two...yeah not today. I retract my blade back into the sword hilt and use the magic at my disposal, I choose to cast a location spell to trace Caewon.

"What are you doing master?" Aini ask out of concern.
"I'm trying to cast a location spell, but it's coming up with nothing."

"Any idea why?"

There's really only one possibility.  The mage's name is NOT Caewon."

"How can you tell?"

"There's only two things that would stop the spell from working, one is an "Amulet of protection from scrying" and the other is not knowing the subject's real name. I have a manifest of his magic items from when he joined us and there's no such amulet or other item listed, so no matter what he either lied about his magic items or he lied about his name."

"So what do we do then master?"

"We keep going. If we run into whoever or whatever it is that snatched Caewon we try to capture them or it."

I hope the others aren't having this hard of a time.



Storm before the calm

Storm before the calmPopular
SubmitterObsidianMore Photos from Obsidian   CategoryOriginal Characters    Last Update2016/10/28 0:28
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A herd of large reptiles rush us from the forest edge and I don't know if it's because there's a Psi-Mage here or what but I instinctively go for my sword and fire up the energy blade. It hums loudly as the intermix chamber fires up and antimatter and matter collide inside the two way forcefiled that makes up the blade.  A split second later and I hear a similar sound come from Shadawar,  With a speed that belies their size over half a dozen have closed the 200 meter gap between us in seconds, and are instantly mere meters away.  I spot the alpha of the group which isn't hard as it's the largest and I make a bee line for it.  I hear Aini shout  "No!" as I leap into the fray joined quickly by Shadawar. The alpha pounces launching itself into the air nearly fifteen feet off the ground.  This beast which looks something like a small Tyrannosaurus, with a spiky head probably weighs in at  nearly a ton, but against us it's not really that impressive.  As my sword reaches the beast's neck I hear the sound of searing flesh and a gurgle of surprise. The beast's massive body falls lifelessly to the ground followed immediately by it's severed head, the look of surprise frozen on it's face.   Out of the corner of my eye I see Aini with her twin pistols drop one, then another and another, I hear the familiar hum of a weapon powered by pure psychic energy and the sound of searing flesh yet again and another reptilian giant falls,  the remaining stragglers at the back of the herd think better of this fight and flee back into the dark forest the emerged from.

'Who else wants some!?!?" Screams Aini at the top of her lungs like some lioness unloosed.  More than a couple of us
are taken by surprise by her outburst but I guess that's what adrenaline does.   I don't think anyone was expecting the quiet little demoness to go ape like that, nor  did I know she was such a good shot.  Shadawar approaches me,

"Your skill with a Psi-Blade is impressive Obsidian. I was unaware That you were a fellow Psi-Mage or perhaps.."  he pauses staring down my firearms  "A Psi-Hunter?"

"Neither actually but I did receive formal training in the use of energy blades."

"I have seen every kind of energy blade in existence, and that weapon you wield is no energy blade.I have only ever seen it ilk in the hands of my brethren." he says examining the now blade-less hilt of his own deadly weapon.

"it's special, one of a kind...I don't know what I was thinking using it in .this situation anyway.  A gun would have been much more effective as Aini clearly demonstrated."

"Indeed, still I am happy we did not have to resort to spell-play."

"Me too and that reminds me..."  

I wave for Caewon to join our discussion and instruct both of them.

" I want you to refrain from using destruction magic as much s possible or at least refrain from casting lightning and fire spells, in this forest  environment it could become quite...problematic understood?

Caewon and Shadawar both nod in agreement, and we return to our investigation into the ruins where  possibly  the surviving crew took shelter.  Our earliest scans indicated that the ship had been flooded with radiation over time and would have become uninhabitable and the crew would've had to take shelter somewhere, this being the most likely place. The ruins are really a sight to behold still mostly intact and according to our scanners nearly 100,000 years old the materials the architects used are phenomenal and stand up incredibly well to weathering with almost no signs of wear.  Closer examination reveals that the stone work isn't stone at all but some kind of metal. How could such a primitive society manipulate a metal this resilient?  The stonework looks like a mixture of Roman and Mayan with a tough of something else. High pillars mark the front of dozens of buildings which dot the landscape. The thing that keeps bothering me though is the fact that everything is so pristine. Where did the people go and why leave everything behind?  We find traces of partially eaten meals and laundry that sits in what would have been the was, all over jobs half completed as if the entire population simply got up, dropped everything they were doing, and walked away.  Its very unsettling to say the least and I star making the rounds to make sure everyone has biological protective gear handy.  I know

Photo No. 271-300 (out of 680 photos hit)
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