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Talya had never really thought she'd miss English weather but the unseasonably warm December really had begun to cut into the Christmas mood, in her opinion. Still, that hadn't deterred her from enjoying the season, especially with the Espadas children to shop for. Although, to be fair, it wasn't like the ex-spy needed an excuse to shop but the season was more magical when there were children to spoil and Eden was right at the right age for that. So, it wasn't unusual for Talya to try and coax Min or Erik on a holiday shopping trip once Thanksgiving had passed. Nor was it unusual for Talya to turn up in the dojo when she wasn't scheduled to teach and knew Erik's classes were light, but she wasn't dressed to spar and her expression lacked the coaxing smile that usually accompanied Talya's suggestions to play hooky. Still, things couldn't be all that terrible as she waited for things to finish up before twining her arms around his waist and offering him an affectionate kiss. "And good morning to you, handsome. I don't suppose you have time in your busy schedule for a quick errand?"
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Talya's directions had them parking well away from the school. The racy sportscar was more suited towards the life that went with the high end apartment building than her West End activities so she never parked it in the same place and never close to the school. Walking wasn't exceptionally onerous, after all. When she stepped out of her car, she pulled a different jacket over the top of her blouse, modernizing the pencil skirt enough to distance it from the tailored retro style she favored in public appearances. As Talya's quick changes went, it was relatively minor on the spectrum of what Dimitri had seen before as far as Talya's efforts went. There was no wig and only very minor make up and clothing adjustments. He was well aware that there was probably no less than four or five very different disguises in the trunk of her car. She threaded her hand through Dimitri's parka covered arm, her Russian still flawless despite the definitely loose swing of her hips and the roll of her steps. She wasn't sober, but it would take a discerning eye to notice such things. Talya put on a very convincing facade of sobriety, aided by the fact that she could probably still scale the building in her heels and narrow skirt without missing a step. Fortunately, that wasn't necessary as she fished a key out of her pocket to unlock the closed door to the front of the dojo, "We ought stay down here. If the girls are asleep, I don't want to wake them." Talya said as she opened the door and then locked it behind them, "But, I can show you where I'm spending my time, nonetheless. You can tell me what you think of the very minor addition I made."
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September 5, 2015 It started with a wave of car thefts from the edge of the West End, all of them parked, secured vehicles in the parking lots of the many strip malls and other commercial areas that took up space between the West End and the growing suburbs of Ashton and Grenville. Then came the dumpsters, emptying out without a trace, and then finally vanishing themselves. When store owners put out security cameras and caught glowing lights surrounding their missing property before it vanished, they called their local superheroes for help. This meant the Interceptors - this meant stakeout. A little investigation revealed what looked to be a regular pattern to the thefts; and suggested the next place the thieves would strike. The team was currently occupying the next location on the list; a strip mall adjoining a small stretch of scrub woods that had for the moment escaped the growth of the city all around them. This late, only the all-night liquor store anchoring one end of the complex was open; the rest of the businesses, like much of the neighborhood, were sleeping. Luckily, Steve had a face for customer service, and so behind the counter he sat in the uniform of Al's Liquor Store, his scarred face and brusque demeanor making him seem 'like the kind of person who would work at a liquor store late at night." He wasn't entirely sure he understood what that meant; but he'd been given a mission by his team and he did his job. He knew the other Interceptors were on the case too. Of course, they weren't the only people out tonight trying to solve the mysterious disappearances...
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June 8th, 2015 The citizens of Freedom City tended to be a politically active sort, as keen to hold protests as rallies, to throw parades and circulate petitions. There was something about taking to the streets to make a spectacular demonstration that was simply baked into the city's core. Even so, there was only so much of the specific mechanics of actual government that the average citizen was honestly willing to wrap their head around so it would be understandable if the name Stewart Bench didn't ring any immediate bells. If he'd emerged with surprising speed as the front runner to be the new city councilman for one of the western wards in the next election, well, who had really heard of any of the candidates before the campaign signs started going up? If his poll numbers indicated a noticeably higher voter turnout rate than previous terms, well, it was just nice to see the youth of today exercising their democratic rights. It had only taken Ellie Stein a little bit of digging to realize that those numbers simply didn't add up and while creative use of statistics might have been a way of life for politicians it was enough to convince her to investigate further. The more she looked into Bench, the less she like what she found. Eventually it was the blue and silver clad heroine Echo who peered down at his campaign offices, the lights still on at this late hour, ready for some more hands-on research...
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Here we go
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The OOC!
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Date: September 19, 2015 Taylor hadn't exactly given Elis all that much choice really. Oh, she'd promised that it was a nice, normal meeting with nice, normal people who just happened to have super powers. Other than that it was just a barbecue with friends who happened to be super parents, at least that was what she'd conveyed on the phone. In Taylor's defense, she really did feel that it was important for the relatively new super hero to have something like a support network. She certainly would have appreciated having had more of a network when she'd first started. Also, her definition for 'normal' might have gotten steadily skewed over the years. After all, Stesha was the most normal person that Taylor still knew - she just happened to be a goddess running her own nature planet preserve these days. Taylor's lack of sympathy for any attempts to cry off might have also been in part in her expectation that it took some strong arming to get people to attend parties. Jack certainly wasn't ecstatic about Taylor's 'we're all going as a family to this barbecue on Stesha's planet before dark hits. No, really. It's important to me' explanation for why everyone was being rousted on a Saturday, side dish in tow. With a soft 'pop' of displaced air, Taylor showed up in Ellis' living room. Huang had his after school job to keep him busy and Taylor didn't think that he'd enjoy a barbecue with mostly adults and the under ten crowd in attendance. Jack and JJ had already been dropped off with Jack entrusted with delivering the side dishes of potato salad and a cooler full of steaks for the barbecue. That she showed up inside the house rather than on the porch was in difference to Ellis secret identity but he might not see it that way. Except for the sudden appearance, Taylor looked normal enough - at least she wasn't in costume. With her hair pulled up in a bun and in a light shirt and denim shorts she could have been any fresh-faced college student. Well, except for the fact that she was still translucent.
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October 18, 2015 Summerhill Street Farmer's Market Only a two block stroll from the Espadas School, every Sunday farmers from the area surrounding the city along with more local bakers, brewers and others set up stalls to sells their wares along either side of the winding path that could somewhat generously be characterized as a park. The fountain in the center of the market hadn't had working water in years but the trees provided pleasant shade and the benches were kept in good condition. The main draw was in-season produce but there were homemade jams and preserves for sale alongside fresh breads, beeswax candles next to knitwear in time for the cooling weather. The bustling path was full of West Enders looking for bargains and loud with the sounds of haggling. "I want to grab some apples, corn and sweet potatoes for sure," Erik was explaining as he led the way, having finally relented to the season and put on a light sweater under his wool-lined jacket. With a pair of reusable shopping bags stuffed unceremoniously stuff into his jacket's pockets he was already craning his neck to see what was on sale. "Other than that, what were you thinking?" After another playful conversation about whether or not Talya could actually manage an uneventful grocery shopping trip he'd agreed to let her take the lead in gathering what they needed for dinner that evening. It had quickly become clear from the way he animatedly talked up the market that he was taking this as an opportunity to show the blonde Englishwoman around the neighbourhood where he'd been born and raised as much as anything else.
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Between working at the dojo and... other things, Talya was clocking an awful lot of hours at the Espadas School of Self Defense and Swordsmanship(!). Today was no different, except that the dojo was currently empty of students - and most other bodies - save for the blonde currently standing in the main work out area with a decent size ring in hand as she examined the ceiling. Talya was almost always in the 'do what you want, beg forgiveness after the fact' mindset so this indecision was new. New and unpleasant! It was a good idea, Talya told herself firmly. One couldn't have students practice hanging upside down and doing things without having something sturdy to hang FROM. If Erik had only been her employer, Talya would already have had this installed in a joist and been ready to smile prettily when asked about the new addition to the workspace. It was even designed to fold up when not in use. It was a good plan. Muttering under herb breath, Talya resolutely turned towards the wall and within a few seconds had scaled the wall to balance with one foot on top of the stand of practice swords and her palm flat against the ceiling as she began running the stud finder over the ceiling. She was going to be perfectly normal, darnit!
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It took two passes over the West End for Raina to find the Espadas School for Self-Defense, mainly because the first time around, she'd discounted the building covered in plants without a second thought. Why would a dojo have a rooftop garden? On the second time around, Merlin and the GPS colluded to convince her to at least make a landing and check it out. With a much put-upon sigh, Raina landed and dropped her invisibility as she slung her broom over her shoulder, not willing to admit aloud that Merlin had been correct. The laughter coming from inside her backpack was galling enough. The school looked sort of like a business and sort of like a house, to the point where Raina wasn't sure if it was okay to just go in or not. Better safe than sorry when it came to just barging into somebody's house, she decided, with only a thick hint of bitterness, and knocked loudly on the front door.
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The blond slipped in as the most recent class was just starting to wrap up, rather like she'd timed it that way. Talya had paused outside to admire the facade and the rather bold sign choice. Of course, she really hadn't expected anything less. Letting the door shut behind her, she glanced at the front desk before slipping between the students currently filtering out towards the entrance. Crowds were really always the best cover one could ask for and old habits died hard. Although, Talya really wasn't up to any nefarious purpose today. The students didn't spare her a second glance, really, not beyond the occasional appreciative glance an attractive twenty-something blond might usually garner. Perhaps her boots fell a little too softly on the ground as she skirted the training area, working her way around to the professor. "Uh, Mr. Espadas?" She pitched her voice higher, the accent soft and vaguely mid-western. Hesitant, apologetic. "I was wondering if you might have an opening in one of these classes?" The woman asking the question was blond, pretty - certainly, but Talya was well aware that with softer, subtler makeup and her hair pulled back up into a loose ponytail, she presented a very different picture than her normal attire. That, really, was the point. Gone was the tailored 40's clothing in exchange for a soft turtleneck and a pleated skirt and tights that would have looked entirely normal on a woman her apparent age. The only real give away was Talya's laughing blue eyes, which crinkled around the corners as she added, still in the softer American drawl as there were still students about, "Hullo, Erik."
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Location: Freedom City Museum of Fine Arts, Liberty Park Date: September 23rd, 9 PM Museums, in Bombshell's never to be humble opinion, were best enjoyed after hours. It really was the best. No crowds. No rules about getting too close or not touching. And no security guards giving you suspicious looks when you stepped out of line. At this point, Bombshell had memorized the guard rotation of her favorite haunts to enjoy them at her leisure. Sure, sometimes she might have had to disable the alarms on a window or two - like tonight - but she always put them back. "Hello, beautiful," Bombshell murmured from where she dangled upside down, eyeing the John Collier painting with a judicious eye. Glad she'd caught the exhibit before it was cycled out, Bombshell moved to unwrap her leg from her swing-line to drop to the ground when faint noise caught her attention. Noisy. That was never a good sign. Dropping soundlessly to the floor, a little tug released the hook on the edge of the line and it coiled back into the hilt of her baton. Stealthy and silent, Bombshell went to see what sort of ham-handed smash and grab might be in progress. No one has any appreciation for the art these days, I swear. Bombshell rounded the corner quickly, but not as quickly as the underpaid security detail arrived on the scene. She, after all, had made it a point to be on the opposite end of the anticipated route so her boots hit the doorway just as the nervous, "Stop, or I'll shoot!" echoed out. As her gaze swept over the scene, Bombshell had enough time to notice the five masked men speedily dismantling an exhibit of some sort between her and the security guard detail. Not masks. Gas masks! "No, get back! They've got-" Whatever else Bombshell's warning might have contained, it was lost in a fit of coughing as several canisters opened with several respective bang-hiss sounds around the room. She might have been able to come back from a bullet to the head but her lungs needed air just like anyone else's. Worst. Bloody. Luck. Wa-THUMP. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Freedom City National Museum of Art was situated right along the scenic Liberty Park and abutted affluent Parkside. Which is not to say that Freedom City's finest responded quicker, per say, to the wealthy areas than the poorer ones - but the response tonight was both swift and plentiful in the amount of black and whites that drove along 64th street with their lights blazing. In their defense, though, it had been a rough month for the museums along Liberty Park what with the cultists and the monster-statue. Situated where it was, Grimalkin and her assistant and sidekick were just finishing up another relatively quiet but rewarding day at Silberman's when the first cop car streamed past. When Shrike went to turn the lock, the second and third followed shortly their after, heading towards Liberty Park. Crimson Tiger had already been on patrol and from her rooftop vantage, she could see the flashing lights of the cop cars converging on a small museum abutting Liberty Park. Turning her patrol in that direction, it was clear from her vantage point that one of the skylights was sitting open. As for Jack of All Blades, he had been enjoying a relatively pleasant evening at home when Vince's smooth voice spoke up into his ear, "Ah. I think you might, perhaps, want to hear this..." before relaying the most recent chatter on the police radio bands from the ongoing situation developing at Freedom City's Museum of Fine Arts.
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March 20, 2015 It wasn't that Erik Espadas was expecting trouble, not really, but he subscribed to the idea that it paid to be the one carrying the biggest stick. Or to be friends with the people carrying the biggest sticks, anyway. When they'd worked out the rough schedule for Min's pregnancy nobody had been particularly surprised to find her due date landed on the vernal equinox. After the unexpected 'visit' by his extended family in the House of Swords for the birth of his first daughter, though, a whole different sort of planning had seemed in order this time around, just to be safe. Stesha had offered to host them on Sanctuary, of course, but even with one or two super-powered healers on hand the idea of being in a whole different reality from the closest modern hospital made Erik a little nervous. If he were being completely honest with himself there was also the fact that he wanted his second child to be born in Freedom City's West End just as he had. If was their home and he wasn't about to let anyone chase them out. That said, even if they weren't going to an earth goddess, the earth goddess could still come to them. A good section of the first floor of the Espadas School of Self-Defense and Swordsmanship (!) was covered in toys where Stesha was keeping watch over Eden and Amaryllis laughing and playing, chatting amiably with Gina. Nearby Mara and Liz were engaged in an animated discussion of tweaks and improvements to the building's security over a folding table covered in computer equipment including a laptop displaying Vince's neon-green suit wearing avatar. They'd sent Chris out to get food mostly because it seemed like the only way to keep him from standing watch on the top of the building in full costume while Steve had insisted on standing guard, gargoyle like, outside of the second floor apartment where Ellie was making her sister-in-law comfortable. Yolanda had taken up a position across from Steve, solemnly following the taciturn bald man's example. It was, all told, a small army of love and support. Not that that stopped Erik himself from pacing back and forth with nervous energy, his gaze jumping back and forth between the stairs, the clock and Eden, hands clasped behind his back.
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Jack of all Blades Playlist Placeholder Text History Placeholder Text Costume and Appearance Placeholder Text Powers Placeholder Text Allies Placeholder Text Sidekick, HQ, Etc Placeholder Text Timeline 2009 Fall The Days of High Adventure: Jack is unexpectedly transported to a medieval version of Freedom City full of swords and sorcery! Not surprisingly it takes to his new surroundings fairly well and impresses the similarly displaced Dr. Archeville.This is a Stick Up: Patrolling the Fens, Jack happens upon a convenience store robbery being perpetrated by the showboating Captain Knievel! Our swashbuckling hero intervenes and gets a bruised rib and a pounding headache for his troubles.West End Warriors: Jack teams up with a couple of other heroes to take out some of Captain Knieval's growing army of thugs and criminals.Training in the Wharton State Forest: Jack is invited to a gathering of martial minded heroes in a secluded glade for some training and sparing. He meets the shovel-wielding zombie Dead Head and the secretive teleporter Blink among others.The Big Guns: A malfunctioning flying motorcycle from an alternate dimension deposits the high-tech but old fashioned cowboy Colt in the streets of Freedom City and Jack is there to greet him. The disagree on choice of sidearms but share an appreciation for fine coats.The Interceptors: Issue #0: Jack receives an invitation from Dr. Archeville via the gregarious AI VINCE to join a new team of heroes: the Interceptors! Colt and Blink are familiar faces but most of the team are new to Jack: the enthusiastic Grimalkin, high-profile Velocity, sullen Razorwing and arrogant All-Star, the latter of whom inspires an immediate dislike in the swordsman. Still, Jack is cautiously interested and agrees to sign up.Carnival in the Park: Erik and his sister Ellie head to the carnival for a rare night off but run into Dead Head and a number of other heroes when things inevitably get a little more interesting than a fun house and ferris wheel!Ghoulies and Ghosties and Long-Legged Beasties: Lynn insists on hosting a Hallowe'en party at the Interceptors' brownstone and Ellie insists on tagging along with her brother. He agrees on the condition that she adopt the uninspired alias 'Jill' around his teammates, still reluctant to reveal his secret identity to them.Interceptors: A Chance Meeting: Jack and Blink try to hash out some of their differences but with both of them being evasive they find they can related better though sparring. Unsurprisingly this turns to borderline cheating and various states of undress almost immediately.Interceptors: Setting Up Shop: The Interceptors begin to settle into the brownstone in earnest, with Colt setting up a workshop for his equipment. The friction between Jack and All-Star continues to cause the team grief.Invasion! - West End: Freedom City is overrun with demons! The Interceptors rush into battle to save as many civilians as they can but are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and power of the monstrous horde. Jack gives his life holding the line only for a spell to undo the day's events and restore him to life. He can't quite loose the nagging feeling that he didn't come back quite right, however...2010 Winter Interceptors: New Recruits: In the wake of the demonic invasion the Interceptors attempt to replenish their numbers but none of the prospective new members really stick.Fisticuffs Fundraiser!: The remaining Interceptors are invited along with several other heroes to participate in a charity boxing match. After meeting Ace Danger, a personal hero, Jack manages to beat Grimalkin in their bout with some showboating and sneaky tactics but get his comeuppance when his super-senses react badly to Fulcrum's radioactive powers.Geiger Gal: After the Fisticuffs spectacle Jack tracks down Fulcrum and realizes that they have a shared history. Mona is concerned by the changes in Erik's personality but he's more worried about the terminus radiation she's leaking and decides to ask Dr. Archeville about a solution.Surely You Jest: Jack teams with Jester, Breakdown and others to stop a warehouse robbery. A telepathic attack nearly causes him to loose control as he falls back on the hellfire powers he's developed since the demonic invasion.Interceptors: Intervention: Colt and Grim have had enough of the angry, aggressive shift in Jack's personality and confront him. Although he's initially hostile they eventually convince him to reveal his hellfire corruption and they begin working on a plan to remedy the situation as a team.Interceptors: Liquid Therapy: Jack and Colt head out to grab a beer and end up in a bar fight with an entire college football team. It turns out to be a great way to blow off some steam!The Witch Doctor is IN: Lynn calls in a favour with a friend on the police force who also happens to have penchant for studying the occult. With her help Erik travels deep into his own soul to defeat the demonic corruption that has taken root there once and for all!Life's Bazaar: Jack and several other heroes find themselves in an unfamiliar fantasy city. Colt needs to find some pants. Jack wonders if this is becoming a habit.One of These is Not Like the Other: Dark Star is one of Freedom City's most powerful heroes so when a malicious alternate version appears with ill intent his friends recruit Jack to the cause as one of the few heroes capable of injuring the energy being! Jack doesn't make the best first impression but does prove effective in the resulting fight.S.H.A.D.O.W. Over Freedom: With a little luck Edge is able to lead Ace Danger and Jack to a hidden SHADOW base in the heart of Freedom City itself! The trio dismantle the evil operation with extreme prejudice.Spring He Fights Meta Than You: With the Atom Family unavailable Jack takes on the mighty Meta-Grue with the assistance of wisecracking teen hero and ace pilot Geckoman in a spectacular, widely televised smackdown!Furry Fracas - Mythological Creatures: A number of heroes from Ani-Earth arrive on Earth-Prime to help defeat their version of the Factor Four! Jack meets his own counterpart, the antler-wearing rabbit Jackalope of all Blades!Green With Envy: Mind controlling plants turning suburbanites into zombies?! That just won't do!Public Service: A new gang is proliferating a wickedly addictive drug on the streets of the West End and Jack and Avenger are in agreement that it ends that night. Taking down a warehouse of product first, they track it back to its source.The Dragon Wakes: Dracula lives again! Avenger, Phantom and their friends fight to protect their infant son while other allies, the Interceptors included, are kept occupied with hordes of rats and other minions!Monsters in the Streets! - Greenbank: With massive monsters wreaking havoc across the city the Interceptors engage the closest of the gargantuan foes alongside Fulcrum.Fisticuffs 2: The Opening Credits: An informal underground tournament for heroes is organized for fun and to hopefully teach everyone some new tricks. Irked by Wander's treatment and harsh words for Dead Head, Jack sticks with an old trick: alienating and upsetting young people.Fisticuffs 2: Dynamo vs. Jack of all Blades: Jack squares off in the ring with the fast-talking speedster Dynamo and finds himself in the strange position of telling someone else to dial back the banter and smack talk.IN SPAAAAACE!: When an alien starship on a rescue mission is shot down over Freedom City, Jack and a group of heroes volunteer to take the place of the crew and rescue a Lor princess from nefarious pirates!Summer Bananaphone: Jack and Taylor Faretti call a meeting with Erik in their civilian guises to discuss the Interceptors and their infant son. Erik has a hard time imagining anyone trying to hurt a baby, half-vampire or not, and doesn't take their concerns as seriously as they would have liked.Of Martyrs and Men: Erik encounters out-and-proud metahuman Alex Albright having trouble with a group of West Enders and lends a hand. Alex has plans to invest her company's considerable resources in the community; Erik does his best to convince her that she can't make decisions for other people just because she thinks she knows better.No Mercy: The alien Grue have launched a new invasion on Freedom City and the Interceptors team up with Young Freedom to protect Freedom City Medical Center from their assault! With massive monsters among the enemy ranks, Jack creates a larger energy sword than he's ever previously attempted!Interrupting Cow: At Dr. Archeville's request Avenger infiltrates the Interceptors' brownstone to test their security systems, finding them lacking. The Interceptors themselves don't appreciate the home invasion, however.A Case of Mistaken Identity: Jack runs into someone he initially mistakes for Avenger atop a West End rooftop. Seeing through the imposter's attempted bluffs he tires to learn who the dark figure really is!Me Like Hockey!: Erik and Ellie attend a Blades game but when the Crime League appears and holds the spectators in the Liberty Dome hostage Jack teams up with the Scarab and Valkyrie to save the day, though not before taking a nearly fatal bullet wound from Orion the Hunter's sniper rifle!Troubleshooter: Natalya Browning, the immortal sometimes-thief, sometimes-heroine known as Bombshell meets with Jack to discuss public relations and self-branding, though in practice they get considerably more flirting done than anything else.Interceptors: The Sweet Science of Stabpunching: Jack leads him teammates in a training exercise with power dampeners forcing them to rely on their skills rather than their special abilities. For a chance at punching the swordsman right in his smug face, how can they say no?The Legacy of Al Kazar: Happy Grimday!: Lynn's birthday party is attended by a veritable who's who Freedom City's heroic community. Jack hits on and is hit upon by a cavalcade of gorgeous, immortal women but ends up being kissed by the last one he expected."Concert Auditions. Second Floor, 2B.": Estelle de Havilland puts out the call for performs among the hero community with eye toward holding a charity event. Jack follows a winged figure in through the window and ends up belting out a tune with the aid of a creative use of his powers.Giant Dragon Bees: It falls to Jack and Wander to deal with a trio of semi truck-sized, talking, fire-breathing bees left over from the Bee-Keeper's latest scheme. Ultimately they find a solution that works for everyone and more or less bury the hatchet themselves, inventing a new move: the Dartboard Special!Crisis of Infinite Jacks: When a villain rips a whole in the barriers between dimensions Jack ends up meeting a number of different versions of himself, some familiar and some disturbingly different.Fall The Church of Swordology: The Espadas siblings attend Sunday mass with their mother only to wind up helping Freedom Angel fight of a supernatural menace!
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From the album: Gizmo's Junk Drawer
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For making rolls as necessary!
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December 25, 2014 South Pole Basin Lunar Farside It is not true that Farsiders never leave their city, merely that such events are rare and usually for a purpose. The construction of the South Pole station by Farsiders had been one such purposeful occasion, one launched over a Terran century ago by a Farsider monarch concerned about a recent Terran visit to the Moon. (Some Terran visitors to Farside City have pointed out that the Apollo missions took place over six decades later, but the Farsiders have the records of earlier 'interlopers' to show skeptical visitors of today.) With its neutrino detectors and concealed telescopes, the South Pole station is well-placed to directly monitor doings on Earth. Or for that matter, as Lady Lunar proved in the early 1980s, to strike at it. A collection of intellects vast and furious on Earth had realized the station's potential not long after the Communion crisis began - concealed as the station was, it was the perfect place to strike at an enemy in Earth orbit by surprise. What had been a location for observation could become a location for misdirection; a notion that appealed to the ruling government of Farside City, which liked the idea of saving the world they orbit without their true role ever being known. (Farsiders do love their secrets!) And so, for much of the last two months, the greatest minds of Earth have come to its only natural satellite with a singular purpose. To build a machine to protect the planet from the Communion! Steve Murdock had offered what advice he could during its construction, but his experience with dimensional technology was all practical. It had come down to Dragonfly's specific genius and Miss Americana's vast storehouse of general knowledge to put the great work into practice. Caradoc, and the other non-scientists in the party of heroes guarding the weapon (as Steve was not allowed to call it around his employer) had rapidly found another role in the small lunar colony. Lunar soil ashy beneath his feet, Caradoc raised his gleaming blade to the sky, the shining tip above the heads even of the tallest Farsiders in their environmental suits. A new group of Farsider militiamen had been deployed that week - and their usual trainers were busy with an Earth-Prime holiday, an important one, but one that he could miss while Gina Evans was safely ensconced in the tiny pre-fab quarters that she had occupied for the last month. There would be time enough for celebration when the work was done. He spoke over the radio. "Your enemy will target your environmental suits first! They are not pirates, or conquerors, or enslavers. Your dead flesh will feed their ever-growing armies." He lowered his blade as the group shifted uneasily, and for a moment there was dead silence on the lunar plain besides the domed Farsider military base even on the radio frequencies they used to speak with each other outside the dome.
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Here is the OOC thread.
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December 5, 2014 2:00 pm Village of Mayberry, Sanctuary There was a light dusting of snow on the ground of Sanctuary as the visitors popped out of the hickory tree-shaped dimensional portal their host had conjured up for them, but the weather this afternoon was clear and cold. The place where they'd arrived looked like the edge of a large garden, with rows of berry bushes still fruiting nearby, and nut trees clearly ready for harvest all around them. Stesha was waiting for them as they stepped out, her cheeks pink despite the puffy brown fleece jacket with matching knit hat and mittens she was wearing. It looked a little like a cold weather version of her costume, if one squinted just right. "Hi guys!" she greeted them cheerfully. "It's so good to see you, feels like it's been forever! Ammy, come say hello!" There was a rustling behind a nearby tree, whose branches parted to allow Amaryllis to come rushing through them without so much as slowing down. She was bundled up like her mother, except all in pinks and purples, and her hat was askew on her green curls. "Hi!" she chirped, finally slowing down just before she plowed into Erik. "Merry Christmas!"
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From the album: Gizmo's Junk Drawer
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The morning sunlight streaming through the window of the modest apartment above the Espadas School School of Self-Defense and Swordsmanship took on pale renditions of the vividly hued flowers growing across the window sill and up the sides of its frame. The plants were flourishing despite the lingering chill of early spring and the curtains were open to allow the cascade of light to gradually work its way across the floor, over rumpled bedsheets and finally across the eyelids of the slumbering couple. Ever the light sleeper, the leisurely way Erik Espadas opened his eyes belied the quickness with which he was alert, consciously choosing to luxuriate in the softness of the bed and the warm tangle of copper toned arms and legs wrapped around his own. Minerva's flowing white mane was practically a second blanket all on its own but with her lithe form pressed close against him Erik never would have noticed a draft anyway. He opened one eye wide enough to watch the familiar metronome twitch of her delicately pointed ear, in sync with the heartbeat in his chest and finally risked shifting from his immensely comfortable position to kiss the tip of the ear. Settling back down he rolled slightly to pull his wife further on top of his bare chest, lined and dimpled with faint scars, and murmured with feigned concern, "You know, Mrs. Espadas, I'm beginning to suspect this isn't a one night stand at all."
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Initiative time! Jack of all Blades Initiative.: 1d20+9 11 Jean Pique Initiative.: 1d20+9 14 Katanarchists Initiative.: 1d20+5 23
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July 14, 2014 "I'm just saying it's hard to believe the initials were an accident," the figure perched atop the three-storey apartment complex insisted. Keeping to shadows deep enough to conceal his high collared, royal blue great coat and matching bandanna mask, the West End vigilante known as Jack of all Blades spoke in a low voice as he peered down at the community center across the street, noting the comings and goings through the back door. "Hey, don't look at me, fearless leader," the smoothly cheerful baritone in his ear protested. "When it comes to acronyms, well! Those who live on glass hard drives, et cetera, et cetera!" VINCE, the Interceptor's artificial intelligence and dispatcher usually preferred to appear with his avatar when communicating with the team but for covert surveillance and earpiece beat commandeering an ATM monitor. Grunting noncommittally, Jack noticed and ultimately ignored a trio of youths starting up a pickup game of basketball on the center's court. The Vibrant Community Reclamation project had been the driving influence behind a number of similar centers throughout the city, focusing on the West End and Lincoln while making inroads into the Fens, repurposing unused buildings in what were diplomatically referred to as 'at risk neighbourhoods'. If the organization spent just as much time holding banquets and press events to pat its well heeled contributors on the back, well, the plus column still came out ahead. At least in theory. Jack had learned the hard way that looking a gift horse in the mouth was actually a pretty good habit to get into and the increased drug trafficking he and his team had been encountering in the area since the center opened had started to make the hairs on the back of his neck itch. VINCE had explained something about correlation and causation that the swashbuckling swordsman hadn't entirely followed but had agreed that the rising crime bore looking into. Without much more than a hunch to go on, he'd decided to stake out the center itself to see if a lead presented itself.
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Lynn's apartment over Silberman's Books. August 3rd, 2014. 7:54pm A letter had arrived at the Espadas School of Self-Defense and Swordsmanship from Lynn Epstein, with a familiar West End address. Inside, was a handwritten note; the penmanship was graceful, almost archaic, but the writer's voice was unmistakable. The changeling was pacing again; it was humanly impossible to prepare for an evening like this, but Lynn had given it the good old never-finished-college try. The furniture was warm, earthy and inviting, she'd been scooting back and forth between the shop and her kitchen all day working on dinner, and she'd cycled through looks for a good half hour finding just the right balance of relaxed and respectable: a nice understated green summer dress, open-toed wedges and small pearl stud earrings (her current thing). As always, the lanyard with its ring was around her neck, and she fidgeted with it more than usual. Her curly shoulder length hair was gathered up, showing off her graceful neck and the points of her ears. Lynn's eyes flicked over to the clock on the mantelpiece, where it dully ticked down the minutes. Soon. Very soon.
