[M&M3] The Greater Good!: an Emerald City Nightmare

[dream]

.

"There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct,
or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things."
- Niccolo Machiavelli

"THE GREATER GOOD!"
An Emerald City Nightmare

Emerald City
September 29, 2015
11:43 p.m.

Can streets laugh in delight?

If this is true, then "The City of Destiny" is howling in merriment. From the electricity of downtown's party crowd, to the magic of the Yellow Brick Row's shopping-spree tourists, to Malory Bay and the Ablian where boats of various size coast the cool waters, the city's college masses kicking up dust at ice cream shoppes and theaters, citizens of all neighborhoods, despite wealth level, gathering outside for festivities, Overlook Park filled with spectators enjoying a local carnival of family activity, buses and taxis packed to bursting with eager nightgoers, aircraft from BJI cruising across the night sky, foot-traffic everywhere there's things to do, and a moderate Emerald City police presence overlooking all of it.

Emerald City glows like her namesake, with all the technological and philosophical potential of a metropolis on the edge of greatness. But, in the words of Israel Zangwill, "Everything changes, but change". Some look at the city and see a ripe harvest of transformation. They see the bosom of sociological exploration awaiting ... demanding stimulation. They see opportunity. It is they who gather from around the globe, here, on this night, drawn by an insatiable itch lightly-touched by a kindred soul ...

Spoiler: Papa Legba:

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In the deep beneath, the Undercity near-hidden from the tourist trails and footfall of oblivious stranger and citizen, the master of Death itself watches his children wander. A teaming horde of dead-but-not - Undead - shuffled about in the darkness of Emerald City's forgotten underground labyrinths. High above from where the rich used to rule the city, Papa Legba eyes the cavalcade, semi-consciously controlling it all. If only the world knew what the dead say ... if only they could grasp the true Heart of Darkness as he had ... the last great Japanese Samurai spoke of the eternal sadness that cloaked a warrior. Legba was the both beginning and end of this: perfect sadness, drenched in despair and misery, propelled into the light - if only to extinguish it. Forever!

Legba listened inside his mind to the whispers of lost souls staggering in the depths as he eyed the card. It had simply appeared in his home far from Emerald City. How ...? Who was this that so easily penetrated his defenses and left a butterfly on his doorstep? Papa drew the card eye-level and reread words that echoed high above the chanting mumbles of his zombie congregation ...

"Cause & Effect. Circumstance has afforded you a most unique opportunity, if you have the wisdom to see it, the courage to grasp it, and the audacity to see it to it's ultimate conclusion.

~ Emerald City Transit, Royal Hills Platform & Terminus, 0000 hours."

Spoiler: Supreme:

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The Bank of Emerald branch manager howled like a stuck pig. Of course. Hanging upside-down thousands of feet above Emerald City's glittering lights would make an impression on most humans. Especially this stock. They weren't what he remembered. Humanity was once a species of relentless tenacity and personal drive. They were family and community focused, to the Nth degree. An unshakable beast. Creatures of destiny. But now, mankind had become docile. Errand. Submissive. Will-less. Commanded by the tokens of other, equally weak-willed humans.

Money.

Supreme had no quantification for capital and its impact on humankind. So, he presumed to 'interview' one of them close to the matrix of domination, looking to gather the proper formula - a code he needed in order to break this psycho-social spellcraft and bring mankind back to itself. If it were possible.

"Nonononooooo!!! Pleeeaase!! I ...!! I don't want to die!! What do you want?!?! I can ... what ... pleeeeaaaase!!! What do you want?!?!?" the manager cried, the echo falling helplessly on the winds high above the streets, as Dar-Vik held Mitchell Garden, by the heel, dangling, high-winds washing him to and fro!

In his other hand, Supreme held a simple card of simpler stock. A harbinger of a sort which drew the man-god to Emerald City from his Hyborean homeland hidden in the Arctic wilderness. He turned his head to regard the message posted on the card ... something of a puzzle daring calculation. While the words were simple, the communication was wet with complexity,

"Cause & Effect. Circumstance has afforded you a most unique opportunity, if you have the wisdom to see it, the courage to grasp it, and the audacity to see it to it's ultimate conclusion.

~ Emerald City Transit, Royal Hills Platform & Terminus, 0000 hours."

Spoiler: Red Rose:

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The low echo of chains dragging across a pristine tile flooring whistled across the Maximillian M. Mars Scientific Institute. In a gloved hand, the Red Rose walked casually towards "Web City", a new showcase displaying the finest technological innovations related to the world-wide web. WorldOil, a petroleum mega-giant based in Texas, wanted the 'Jarden Quantifiers', a set of 1980's-era digital couplings they hoped to research allowing them to crack the 'backdoor anomaly' of the internet ... for their own corporate expansion. They thought they were the only ones to crack the mystery, BUT, Omnitech Ltd., a banking and investment holdings firm based in New England, outbid them.

The Rose was here to collect $20 million. In a bag purchased from Hermès.

The security is invincible: four perimeter guards with law-enforcement experience; eight interior guards with a combination of law-enforcement and military experience; the state-of-the-art Daviels 'HoloChrome Display' that reads site temperatures, motion, and sonic variance with 'organic' random surveillance; the standard laser-field projection ... all disabled or deactivated. The Rose tossed the chains at the foot of the electro-dynamic display case and eyed the quantifier coils. Uncharacteristically, there was a pause ... and then Red Rose reached out, producing a card on simple grain stock. It hung in the air between gloved fingers as the sound of pedestrian passage traveled inside from the street. Eyes older than perhaps the world itself caught the card's inscription - again - and a faint smile nearly escaped the Rose's face,

"Cause & Effect. Circumstance has afforded you a most unique opportunity, if you have the wisdom to see it, the courage to grasp it, and the audacity to see it to it's ultimate conclusion.

~ Emerald City Transit, Royal Hills Platform & Terminus, 0000 hours."

Spoiler: Knightmare:

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Towering above Emerald City - very high above - in a skyscraper named after a man too dead to enjoy his wealth, a knight once famed and feared across the land stares at ... an alien world. He feels a hand rub his incorporeal back and turns to gaze at the Fey, Morgana: part-human, part-spirit, part of a species that no longer exists on Earth. In any noticeable capacity anyway. Presently, she dwells in the form of a young woman named Jasmine Hills, but her sorcerous nature ripples an aura of what should be identified as warmth. But, to any other than him, her touch burns the soul.

"I feel your worry, M'lord. Why do you let this trouble you so? Time is all, to digest this age and its frailty. Time is all to master its ways and methods. Time, for us. I was so alone. Now that you have returned ... " A kiss on the shoulder radiates power across his being, intangible as it is. Only she could contact a spirit so impregnable and ignorant to the world. He couldn't even feel the earth around him, all the while trying to remember the sensation. Morgana Le Fey was his only link to what he was ... and mayhap, what he would become.

"You came here for THAT purpose, leave us not forget as the time draws nigh. This 'caller' of yours that has so vexed your perfect will. I do not trust it. I sought him out and found NOTHING ... does this not alarm you yet? It could be a trap of some sort, to bottle your forces back to oblivion. I ... " Her hand and warm body leaves him as she walks away, back across the cybernetic carpeting of Hills' office. "Your silence offends me, lord! Speak! Tell me what to do that I may never again lose thee ... you spoke of 'beginnings and endings' and I know the fruit of it; I know this kin of age will plant you in a cellar of fire - forever! I'll slay 10,000 men before I let them imprison you again." Her voice grows weak and low, as she does to sink her teeth in unsuspecting prey, "Tell me not to wary this. Tell me we will be together unbroken along the eternal cord THIS time. Tell me you wont even bother with this riddle ..." she tosses the card she'd been holding into the air and it sparks into a sudden flame, then to ashes ...

... the light of the flame reflects in his window pane and suddenly, the words return to him, like the curses of a Pict shaman,

"Cause & Effect. Circumstance has afforded you a most unique opportunity, if you have the wisdom to see it, the courage to grasp it, and the audacity to see it to it's ultimate conclusion.

~ Emerald City Transit, Royal Hills Platform & Terminus, 0000 hours."

Spoiler: All Players:

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Introduce your PCs to the world. When you're done, we'll move towards the meeting. Elderand, you can RP the bank manager, if you like, as it moves us along faster. Tekhad, take as long as you like with Morgana. You can just arrive at the scene, or I can add fluff, but once there, Volthawk takes charge of the scene with Carver's perimeter plan. Then, we flow to the meet with Novak/the Architect ... music in the title link.

[Elderand]

Supreme held the mewling wretch firmly, vaguely shaking a,d subtly heightening his terror and willingness to cooperate with a simple psionic manipulation from his cosmicly endowed mind.

"It may not be strictly necessery" thought the hyperborean "a simple quiet word and use of my powers would easily convince any man to tell me all I wish to know but I must confess I simply enjoy scaring these pathetic degenerates"

"Stop screaming, or I shall let you go to your doom."The Ultiman spoke softly."Now you will tell me why humanity is so engrossed with this thing you call money, and why they would crush one another for it rather than share ressources for the good of all"

And so over the course a long conversation that is relentlessly interspread with sobbing from the banker Supreme learns a little of why humans value money. The foolish spawns of the greatness that gave the world the sorcery and science of atlantis now embroiled in petty conflict with each other when so near in the past they faced anhiliation, and of the lazyness of humanity who rely on it's heroes to defend it.

After learning all he can from the feeble mind of his hostage Supreme touches down upon a rooftop and wipes out the memories from the banker's mind before setting course for the adress given on the card, using his mental illusions to clad himself into an appearance that would allow him to meddle easily.

[The_Admiral]

She allowed herself a small chuckle as the tiny card vanished into her sleeves.

Standing there for a minute she considered, looking at the coil and outside, and as the small grin grew on her face, she vanished, the only evidence of her being there was a single rose.

She arrives at the location with much time to spare, blending into the shadows of age and ruin.

Spoiler: OOC

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Welp, take 10 on a hide check

[BelGareth]

Papa Legba frowned at the piece of paper, he was curious how someone, or something had gotten so close, and better yet, found him in this dark and dreary area.

True, he spent a lot of time looking through his pets, distracted at the double vision, he usually closed his yes when doing so, but the gang of bashers around him should have sensed anything and protected him.

Not that he needed protection from a piece of paper.

He was intrigued, and his plan to sow dissent and test the city was only really coming to the surface, maybe this would be a distraction from his failures?

He had already sent some of his pets over to the location, and he was going to show in fashion, but all he had was drab and dank, as if he lived underground, surrounded by zombies and the spirits of the damned.

Ah well, ki se lavi, he thought to himself as he put on his finest dark purple formal attire, and checked in the mirror one last time, making sure he had nothing stuck in his teeth.

He traveled to the spot, having almost a grip of pets in place all around the area, not expecting to use them, but you never know.

1145, he was always early, it made for a good work ethic, and helped him manage surprises. He found a dark alley and leaned against the cold wall, hidden by the shadows and watched.

[TekHed]

The cadaverous wraith stared through ancient eyes at the luminous towers of glass and metal, and the river of steel carriages streaming through the canyons below. What could only be sorcery and yet was not. He barely registered her rippling touch. As the centuries had waned on, she had become more real, as Guinevere had faded only into the idealized phantom that fueled his rage. In truth he was tired of his long vendetta with the Order. As he had grown tired of her company, her capricious fawning. Yet he could not escape her. Not truly. Not ever. Oh Arthur would pay for his tyranny, but something stirred in his restless soul. Perhaps it was his ling sleep, or perhaps the alien landscape that sprawled before him, but Lancelot of the Lake felt something stir in him that he'd not felt since life still coursed through him...curiosity.

"I must go.", he replied, his voice hollow, low, and with a rasp like grinding metal. "The terrors of this age will not render me your housecat le Fey. Even were I a coward, the sender has proven there is nowhere to hide. Whomever they are, they are well-informed enough to find us, and powerful enough to shield themselves from even your scrying. If they meant to capture, they'd have already made an attempt."

His defiance would not make her happy, he knew, but he had learned in turn how to manipulate her. He floated over to her, translucent shadows cloaking his ghostly glowing corpse. He reached for her, his luminous skull leaning down to brush her mouth with a lipless kiss.

"Wary not, for soon I'll be returned."

*****

Silent. Unseen. He floated down through marbled layers of concrete, ductwork, and steam. Silent. Unseen. He observed.

[Volthawk]

Carver had a rather interesting situation to plan defence for - namely, that a fair number of the people coming in would be able to ignore it to some degree or other, and in any case they'd likely not be put into actual danger by his boys - as well as he's trained them and respects them, they are still men with guns against gods. Still, there were other things to keep in mind - other Undercity denizens could turn up, and you didn't want those lot with their prying eyes and ears anywhere nearby; the location was hidden well and low-key, but there was still always the risk of attack, whether by the law or enemy factions; finally there was the matter of securing escape routes - he already had one planned for himself and Novak, taking advantage of his vehicles' autopiloting systems. The rest of his Havocs had planned escape routes as well, although they were mostly on foot - the local terrain made using larger vehicles inadvisable, and while Carver had his Marauder to get him and Novak away from the meet site, he couldn't provide the same thing for all his men. He was confident that they'd be able to escape and evade capture if the worst happened, though.

Carver had opted for a mixed approach to defending the meeting site, using both the Havocs at his disposal and the sensors he was able to rig up. He had a kind of layered plan in mind - the outermost layer was just covered with sensors, an early warning system that allowed his men to detect and get an idea on what was incoming. This helped with the next ring, where anyone heading in would come across actual Havocs, albeit ones trying to stay hidden. These gave a more hands-on identification of potential threats, and could interact if need be. Anyone figured to just be random wanderers were approached, challenged (name, reason for being here, that kinda thing - the text of the card they were given was the main thing determining further passage) and, if the initial assessment of a random person held, subdued here - nonlethal methods were preferred, as there was no need to agitate the denizens of the Undercity more than necessary, they just needed to be kept for the duration of the meeting, lest anyone else get alerted. Anyone determined to be legitimately invited were brought to the point with a Havoc escort (just in case). Once you got past, you had a more standard setup, with guard patrols and sensors scattered around to give best coverage, although by this point they were more ready for an actual assault or determined infiltrator than random people, so these Havocs were willing to use lethal force (people cleared by the earlier rings were described to these guards to prevent friendly fire, although the Havoc escort usually conveyed this fine).

Finally, an invited villain or particularly successful infiltrator would find the meeting point. Here was the greatest number of Havocs, including a few dressed in heavier armour and hefting larger weapons, and Carver himself. Located off to one side of the meeting point, Carver currently next to his Marauder (a heavily customised motorbike, for reference), various portable computer and comms systems set up, as he listened and assessed the situations his men and tech were flagging up. A couple of unidentified humanoids that appeared undead upon closer inspection...that was likely the necromancer's minions, so he ordered to leave them be for now, but to keep a close eye on them. A few more apparently normal wanderers...they were all to be treated as per standard, but the men were to keep in mind that some may be invited, just in low-key guises. The proper challenges, using the card's text, was necessary to distinguish the two groups. He had no doubt that some invitees would just ignore all this (Rose in particular had a long history at laughing at much more entrenched and sophisticated security systems), but that was fine. It wasn't them he was concerned about. It was everything else that could go wrong that he had to prepare for (Novak's talents helped with planning contingencies for sure, but Carver was still concerned that they could be blind-sided by something). Another factor he was concerned about was that this really wasn't his group's specialty - more than anything, they were offensive in nature, hired to attack and destroy than guard and protect.

[The_Admiral]

Rose chuckled at the defenses as she easily slipped past them, they were rather lackluster. If impressive for how quickly they were set up. As she approached the heart of the web of defences, she finally spots Carver, at the center of a web of electronics, from where he was probably coordinating the defences.

She snuck up behind him, sneaking the invitation into his pocket as she pressed her coat against his back, "hello handsome, so you're the one who sent the invitation?" she asked at a whisper.

Spoiler

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taking 10 sleigh of hand.

[Elderand]

Supreme could have teleported into the meeting chamber if he had desired to do so, folding the very fabric of space was a rare but not unheard talent amongst his people but he decided to come by foot, his prodigious frame and unusual clothing clad in an illusion of a smaller, less imposing and casualy dressed twenty something in jeans and t-shirt.

When confronted by the havoks he showed them his invitation. Despite their formidable equipment he doubted they would prove much of a challenge for him and so he reasonned that they were there to keep the rabble away.

Finaly he reached the main chamber and adressed the people already there.

"I hope you have a good reason for this riddle of an invitation" his tone imperious, quite at odd with his apparent looks.

Spoiler: Illusion

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DC 13 will check to see through the disguise

[Volthawk]

Carver shakes his head in response, appearing rather unexpected by her presence - after all, she was expected to turn up unexpectedly, as paradoxical as that sounds. "Ah, there you are. No, the man you want is over there." He waves a hand towards the center of the room, before tilting his head to one side, nodding to himself. "Ah, the apparent mundane that turned up was him. Obvious, really. Wouldn't be you and the rest aren't quite that subtle."

[The_Admiral]

"That's a disappointment I thought coming here might have been worth it after seeing you, and you didn't even consider me just being that good? I'm wounded," she replied with a tone that made one wonder if she was joking or did she truly mean it.

Spoiler: Roll

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Will
(1d20+10)[30]

[Drakeburn]

From the dark alleys of Emerald City, a figure emerges out of the shadows. The figure wears dark blue jeans and a dark blue hoodie, with his face hidden under his hood. He's not sure what to expect once he arrives in Royal Hill, or why the card choose it out of all the places to meet in Emerald City. But there is no way Tyler is going to turn back. If whoever this guy is, has this opportunity the card promises, than it wouldn't hurt to check it out. If it turned out to be one big hoax, then Tyler will teach the punk why nobody makes a fool out of him. The hard way.

The thought made Tyler smile as he continued walking towards his destination.

[TekHed]

Lancelot noted the sudden appearance of the Rose, she who had inadvertently freed him from his long imprisonment. Still he remained hidden, biding his time. It had been all too easy to bypass the network of sensors and sentries girding the approach. Thus far, a trap it did not seem, but it would not be prudent to put himself in unnecessary risk. Possessing one of the heavily armored minions near the central terminal was all too easy.

The heavy Havoc turned it's gaze towards Carver and the Rose.

"Why hath thee summoned me to this decaying oubliette?"

[Honor Guard]

The Architect, Novak Stanislav
Condition: Normal.
Villain Points: Zero.

Novak sat, precariously balanced on the edge of a bench on the abandoned platform, he watched as the pieces began to fall into place. He had set the events in motion, and it all hinged on his ability to convince these individuals gathered on this abandoned platform to begin to act towards a common goal. He half smiled as he lifted a lighter to the cigarette dangling from his lips, the spark providing a brief flash of his face as Carver indicated him to the others, the under glow of his cigarette shadowed his face, his cold, calculating eyes concealed by the shadows cast from his high cheek bones.

As he walked forward through pools of darkness and dim light, he didn't hesitate, didn't flinch. Even as one of his guests spoke,

"I hope you have a good reason for this riddle of an invitation" his tone imperious, quite at odd with his apparent looks.

He nodded in the man's direction, and took another deep inhale from his smoke, letting it burn in his longs before exhaling, the wisps of smoke curling around the collar of his jacket. He made an elegant bow, arms extended, "The invitation was mine Lord Dar-Vik, you humble us with your presence." He stood from his bow making eye contact with the man, and not the illusion, "My reasons will become clear, to you, and all of our assembled guests in short order my lord."

"There are certain events in play, that when they reach their culmination will result in a tragedy of state wide proportions. The specifics of this event will result in a significant percentage of the citizens becoming empowered and transformed on a genetic level by the events of that day. I believe that this affords an opportunity if you but have the temerity to seize it."

He began to pace as he spoke, his nervous energy infecting his every word, "With the appearance of Centurion and the formation of the Liberty League in the 30's, the entire concept of the hero has been balanced on the knife's edge of public perception and expectation. Their arrival in public perception began the so called age of super man, and this age has continued through to this very day, during that time iconoclasts, pedagogues, conquerors and madmen have always attacked their nemesis', in an attempt to remove them from play, what has never been tested, what nobody has had the vision to do, is to give the entire paradigm of the superhero a push, to unbalance it's precarious position, to place our worlds heroes in a position where they must balance their ethics and morality against an ever increasing cycle of violence, retribution and public expectation. With the events that are being set in motion even now, we have an opportunity, an obligation, to slay the very concept of the superman, to create a cycle of violence, and retribution so great, that the very concept of what these heroes are trying to protect becomes so twisted, so far from their own world view, that the entire mythos shatters under it's own weight."

[Elderand]

Supreme looked at the other that were present, he ildly wondered if they were similar in power to himself. He doubted they were similar in outlook however.

His mind quickly saw the potentital of the operation, if heroes and villains were to become both highly destructive, highly amoral it would certainly make taking over in the name of safety that much easier.

Still, there was the matter of how to do it.

"And how do you propose we achieve this ?"

[Drakeburn]

Tyler finally spotted the meeting place, where he saw that he wasn't the only one invited to this meeting. As he approached the meeting, he could overhear only some of the things one of them was saying, who he guessed was the one who invited them here. This guy was saying something..... about something. He wasn't really paying much attention. Then he heard somebody else ask how they can achieve it.

"So, what's in it for us then?" Tyler asked as he stepped into the meeting.

[BelGareth]

Papa sent his minions in and looked around the area, it was not hard to find the exact location of the meeting, some security force was present, and found it fit to block his minions way.

Shaking his head outside in the under street as he leaned against the wet wall, slick with whatever water that sluiced down from the up top, he stood slowly, leaving his perch and walked with his cane and a smile of delight.

*something new, something bold, something needed something old!* he thought to himself as he strode through the shadows, a flock of his walkers following around him, gathering in a murder of deaders, as he liked to call them.

He barely gave the security guards a second glance, he knew they had noticed him coming, and either they would stand aside or he and his flock would push through regardless, if he was invited, then he would need to be let in, no?

Tipping his head to the guards, he entered the meeting, others had already come, so it was a team meeting?

Ah, Papa had heard of many of these people, his eyes and ears heard and saw much, but he had not met many of them.

He watched as the man who invited them came into view, and declared his idea...without as much as a how'd you do, or a thank you for coming.

He was not one to be summoned by someone so rude. So he piped up, holding both hands on top of his black cane.

"An hoo ya be, ta sum'un uss, to be her!" he declared, his thick accent making the words hard for some to understand. "I am not, sumwon ta sumun at ya wim, Wut yu be needin from Papa Legba?"

[Volthawk]

Carver didn't pay that much attention to the speech, since he had an idea of the general concept already, it was the later parts that he'd need to be attentive about, now that interactions were happening and more precise planning may occur. His attention was on the other attendees, watching their reactions and behaviour. There was a chance that this turned nasty, and he wanted as good a handle on the situation as possible. The fact that one of his men was apparently possessed was noted but not actively reacted to - this inner group of havocs was made up of the people he knew he could trust (hence them being allowed to be present here and able to overhear the plans - the outer groups would just know that there was something going on, but not much more than that), so he'd be able to sort things out with the guy. Carver did, however, make a mental note to discuss what can and can't happen with his men in the future, since part of how he got where he is was by respecting the men working for him, so it's basically expected of him to make sure that all this change doesn't violate that prior understanding. So while the possessed havoc looked at Carver, he just looked back, mask hiding his face as he just watched them all, occasionally looking at a screen and whispering a few commands (now that everyone expected had arrived, the men no longer had to worry about figuring out who's allowed to be here, and can just focus on defence).

[Honor Guard]

The Architect, Novak Stanislav
Condition: Normal.
Villain Points: One.

As his guests began to speak, he listened as they presented their questions, their challenges. Supreme was the first, as Novak had known he would be, questioning the plan, the tactics, his need for control ensuring that he had access to the specifics. Followed shortly by Tyler, a thug, but one who was to shortly become empowered by the event that would rock the city, and subsequently, the nation. He needed to know what was in it for him, driven by greed, by the need to provide stability, and meaning to his brutal life. And finally, Papa Legba, one of the more mysterious, even to Novak, of his guests, a man who spoke to spirits, loa in his culture, and worked through them, driven by his rivalry with Samedi.

He spoke slowly, first addressing Supreme, "We would select the face of this new heroic paradigm, here, today, and those whom most fit that role would aid the public, during the upcoming catastrophe. Ensuring their role as hero and savior, they would attract to them, a culture of idolization, and worship, twist public perception as they themselves train, from the pool of empowered persons, a new age of heroes to act as our proxies. Those others," with that he nodded to the hougnan, Legba, "selected for their ability to cause fear, horror, even loathing in the populace would use those self same abilities to commit atrocities upon the populace, to drive them reeling from the dark into the arms of our heroes. Our heroes, given increasingly powerful motivators by those of use acting against them, would be able to respond in kind, and with public support. Each side of this chess game, acting through empowered proxies, keeping the conspiracy, the collaboration hidden, until our ultimate and final endgame, where we expand the envelope of this chaos nationwide, creating an atmosphere ripe with fear, paranoia and dissent, and then present ourselves as the only logical solution, to provide control, and security, at the cost of only minimal personal freedoms. And then we establish our legacy, as the conspiracy that destroyed the age of superman, the Freedom League, the heroes and the system they represent would be washed away as the public clamors to support a system that works, that punishes those that would harm them, terrorize them. We shift the entire paradigm, and then we seize control, power, and absolute authority."

[The_Admiral]

As Architect finished his sentence, Rose asks, "And? What then?" feigning a yawn.

[TekHed]

"It will not work.", the heavy havoc strode forward.

"What you propose...will only end in war. Not between supermen, but men and supermen. The nations and knights of this world will turn against us all. When it has escalated to such a sharpened point, the mortals will no longer put their trust in saviors. They will take matters into their own hands, and it will spell destruction for us all, or ash and ruin for the Earth..."

[Elderand]

Supreme turned to face the havok

"There are risk, but if the change is gradual enough humanity will not seek to fight back."

[Drakeburn]

"So what if a few saps get hurt? It is practically survival of the fittest pal." Tyler joined in on the conversation.
"If they aren't strong enough to survive, then we should leave them to die."

[TekHed]

"Nay. They will turn on all of us. I have seen the terrors which man hath created in my absence. When game is cornered and defeated, when it hath naught but despair, that is when it is most dangerous indeed. Humanity will spite itself to destroy us, if we force them to. Better to inspire devotion and fealty than fear. Fear will always lash out, and inspires no lasting loyalty." The heavy havoc countered.

"If they come to fear the super man thusly, they will ne'er submit to one's rule...and it is plain to see you covet that rulership for yourself. What have we to gain, should we help you claim this throne...?" he addressed directly to Novak.

[Honor Guard]

The Architect, Novak Stanislav
Condition: Normal.
Villain Points: One.

As the Havoc stepped forward and began to speak, Novak turned his attention to him. The manner of his speech rattled him, he took a moment to run through his mental calculations. Were Legba and his loa riding the Havoc, he would appear to be in an advanced state of decay, nor would he be so particularly eloquent, Dar-vik certainly had it within his abilities to mentally dominate lesser men, but the controlled Havoc was taking a point counter to his stance and so it was not him.

Awareness reflected in Novak's face if only for a second, "I presume I am speaking with Sir Lancelot du Lac, son of King Ban of Benwick. I am pleased to see that you received my invitation." He bowed his head graciously to the possessed Havoc.

"You seem to feel as though the populace will turn on us, that our actions shall bring an end to an age. In essence you are correct, but the age we seek to end is that of the superman, for humanity has placed it's faith in such being's, praying and hoping for a savior, rather than, in fact, seeking salvation. Were I to have witnessed the fall of Camelot, perhaps I too would hold such a world view, sadly, however I have not." He paused to stare through the Havoc's eyes, in an attempt to see the intelligence that was controlling them.

"The world has changed, and moved on since the time of virtue and valor. Today the common man places his faith in other, more tangible values, safety and security. If we shift the paradigm, if we show the people of this nation that wolves, howl at the door, wolves that are willing to drag humanity down in a shower of blood and viscera, and we present ourselves as those who can stand the wall, those who can drive back the darkness by any means necessary, then they will place their faith in us. When our actions, no matter how reprehensible the government will see them, is shown to drive back the wolves and keep the populace safe, their faith will shift, they will sadly sacrifice their freedoms on the altar of safety and security, for themselves, for their families. Our actions can, and will, prove that the heroes of the current paradigm are insufficient to keep the faith, and so we will supplant them, replace them, and throw them from their pedestals."

He smiled, thinking on the shade's last comment, "You say I seek the throne, that is not the case, there are others more infinitely qualified," he threw a respectful look towards Dar-Vik, "I seek to advise, I seek to give counsel, I seek to effect a change that shall outlast all of those gathered here today. I seek your aid to create a society that is safe, and secure, a nation that understands it's actions, and takes the steps necessary to protect itself from those dangers. We, as a race, have grown complacent, blind to the consequences of our actions, with leadership and vision, we can effect a lasting change, for the greater good."

[TekHed]

No eyes were visible through the opacity of the havoc's full helm.

It nodded, contemplating these words.

"And what will become of those of us who take on the roles of vile villainy? Once your plan hath been brought to fruit?"

A glowing specter, gaunt, nearly skeletal and wreathed in a clock of shadows separated itself from the hapless heavy, who suddenly doubled over as if with vertigo or nausea.

Before Novak had the opportunity to reply, it spoke again, in it's own voice, deep, hollow,and filled with an enervating sorrow.

"Furthermore, there is one element you have not considered in your calculations. Arthur. Merlyn has awoken from his crystal cave. He seeks the return of the Once and Future King. He will raise Camelot, and muster all of his forces against us. He will present a new shining beacon of hope that will outshine all others, even while it blinds the people to his tyranny."

[Volthawk]

Carver now finally moves from his position, walking over to the havoc that was possessed and kneeling down next to him, making sure he's okay. As he does so, he chips in on the conversation. "Your King Arthur is just another problem. There's the League, who are the main target of all this, sure, but also other groups. I see AEGIS being a larger threat. They're good at finding out secrets like this. I assume you have a plan for dealing with them, Novak."

[Drakeburn]

"Arthur? Merlin? What is this, some kind of renaissance fair?" Tyler growled, raising an eyebrow.
"Can you nerds just get to with it already?!"

[TekHed]

Lancelot ignored the chiding of the mortal.

"Do not underestimate Arthur's ability to inspire. I too once feel deeply under his sway. And he will not repeat his mistakes of yore..."

[Volthawk]

Carver now walks over to Tyler, having satisfied himself that the havoc will at least be okay in the short-term. "Thing is, things like that are actual potential threats. You've got to know who or what the threats are so you can take them down, y'know? And given the world we live in, he says King Arthur's coming back from the grave to take over Britain, and will cause us trouble? Sure, okay, that's something we need to deal with. Gotta think these things through, play it smart. Gives you a better chance of winning in the fights to come."

[Honor Guard]

The Architect, Novak Stanislav
Condition: Normal.
Villain Points: One.

Novak observed the back and forth of the discussion, those that supported it, who seemed to share his vision, those who doubted, or were indifferent, and those who were opposed. Turning towards the dark reflection of the man who once was, he replied, "Those who choose to inspire a new breed of criminal, who shape and mold the villains of our piece so that they oppose our heroes with increasingly reprehensible tactics will stay in the shadows. Perhaps towards the culmination of the events, we may even be forced to have our heroes execute them in brutal fashion."

He paused, he couldn't help himself, given his nature he embedded bits of truth and misdirection in his discourse, "Given there are those amongst us with mastery over life and death, that one of us has a both corporeal and incorporeal state, it would not be difficult to create an illusion, a belief that their specific brand of evil had been eradicated once and for all. And the more the public clamors for it, the more we will want to give it to them."

"Saturday, October 3rd, at approximately 11:43 am, a vehicle will be travelling east bound along the Yellow Brick Row. That vehicle will be owned by a MarsTech subsidiary, and it will be carrying a weaponzied payload of nanites. These nanites, autonomous molecular machines, are extra-terrestrial in nature, a technology used in secret by Maxmillian Mars, discovered years ago. This explosion will create all the physical and environmental damage one would expect in a localized area approximately ten blocks in radius. Following the physical blast a wave of force shall distribute the nanites in spectacular fashion. The machines will bring change on a massive scale, infusing the bodies of those they come in contact with, making changes on a genetic level."

"This event shall provide us with an opportunity," he nodded towards Supreme and Havoc, "our heroes will respond in typical fashion. They will save lives, provide clear paths of entry into the afflicted areas for EMT's and other emergency services, they will aid local authorities, including an often overlooked and under budgeted AEGIS office in apprehending the rampaging nanite infused casualties. At the same time, Tyler will be co-ordinating operations on the ground, he must ensure that he is close enough to the area to encourage the afflicted to participate ever increasing levels of anger, in essence rioting in the streets. Legba and Knightmare will be doing the same, but avoiding direct confrontation with either Supreme, or Havoc and his forces, for now."

"After the immediate events are taken care of, Havoc and Supreme will encourage those afflicted to aid them, to mirror the formation of the League in Emerald City, and those heroes shall form the basis of our deception. Through them we will investigate the MarsTech angle, single handedly removing one of the most influential men from the city, and facilitating his downfall. Now, I will need Rose's assistance in ensuring that key incriminating evidence is in place that will ensure Mars' appears as guilty as we need him to be.From there we will manipulate the media, our coverage, press releases and public statements to ensure an ever growing support for the actions of our heroes."