Hemalurgic Headshot

Amen to this statement. You have my appreciation.

Wait... Corvallis? Dang, I need to check to see if I accidentally duplicated an Epic. EDIT: Yes, Euphoria is from Corvallis. That's unfortunate, because that's a really good name. Gonna have to change it now... ANOTHER EDIT: How do you all feel about Jubilee? Elation? Any other ideas?

I thought humans bonded to cookiespren were Inquisitors... But welcome to the Shard!

Hardhat is a technopath(? is that the correct term?), meaning he has an intuitive understanding of all machines and can enhance them. He has many different devices all around Haven. If it is something mechanical, it is safe to say that Hardhat did it. The Bands are a special project that Covenant and Hardhat worked on to find a way to imprison Epics. It seemed that the best way to do that is through stripping their powers away. The headband emits a frequency that has an acute psychological effect on Epics that makes using their powers extremely difficult, nigh impossible. Hardhat has to make each headband personally, and it takes quite a bit of effort. The manacles are just extra-strong handcuffs that have no power suppressing ability. I really don't want to have to scrap the Bands, since I have already wrapped so much of the story around them. It wouldn't make sense to have imprisoned Epics if there wasn't a way to hold them. Due to the nature of the Bands, certain Epics are immune and can destroy them or disable them.

Haven/Coober Pedy - Day 9 Seismometer lay face up in his room, back pressed against the stone floor. The ceiling was fashioned after old caves, stalactites hanging everywhere. A pipe leaked water through the roof, which dripped from the stone in the corner. Drip, drip, drip He closed his eyes and felt the earth. Faint vibrations, steps on stone... a heavy grinding. Hardhat must be drilling a new tunnel somewhere. Seismometer extended his mind, deeper into the crust. There it was, the colossal shift of the earth, of such magnitude to overwhelm the mind and senses. He lay there, just comprehending a slight portion of the gargantuan movement. He focused in the opposite direction, sifting towards the surface. The ground was silent there, but he strained. Only then could he sense the scratching of the animals in their burrows. There were no steps, no large thing that lurked in the sun, no human being that roamed the twice-cursed sands above. Seismometer breathed, a slow deliberate motion that sucked him from the lull of the earth. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK The vibration raced through the stone, much clearer than sound. Seismometer's eyes snapped open. "NO! WHO DARE DISTURB ME! WHO? SHOW YOURSELF!" He bellowed. The door creaked hesitantly open, and a servant, perhaps a cleaning maid? peeked in the room. Seismometer glared at her and began to rise to his feet. The maid whimpered and slipped away from the door. "Don't you dare move, woman," he growled. A shockwave erupted from his feet, and the maid tumbled to the ground. She cried out, and Seismometer raised a fist. Suddenly, Covenant was there, gripping Seismometer's arm. They locked eyes, and in the space of a second, a silent battle was waged. Covenant won. Seismometer dejectedly backed into his room. Covenant offered a hand to the maid, who with wide eyes thanked Covenant and rushed away. Covenant watched her go, stone-faced, then walked into Seismometer's quarters. "Guess you were right about monsters," Covenant said. "Particularly yourself." Seismometer stared at him. "You're not innocent either, Covenant. Don't try to be so high and mighty to us. You're an Epic, you know what that means, what that entails," Seismometer said, hard and flat as slate. Covenant eyed him, a muscle twitching on his face. "That maid is lucky I was nearby. As a member of the Council, you know better than to attack a civilian! I don't want to hear excuses from you," Covenant stated. "For all her good luck, she happened to come at a very unfortunate moment. I was meditating." Covenant knew what that meant. He glanced to the side. "Seismo, don't out step your bounds. Good day to you," Covenant said, and exited. Seismometer stared at the closed door long after he left. As he walked down the corridor, Covenant tapped his earpiece. "Webmother." "... *crackle* Yes, Covenant." Her voice was deep and smooth, as one would imagine the night sounding. "I'd like you to keep eight eyes on Seismometer. Sixteen would be even better. Do you understand?" ".............. Yes, Covenant. I'm sure I can devote a few of my children to your task. "Cuvvie..." The channel cut, leaving Covenant silent in the corridor. He shook his head and briskly walked away.

I just finished reading the entire webcomic, all within four hours. Man, that was intense. And a great webcomic. Now I feel properly situated with the game environment. But rather unnerved about how a player switches from the Woods to the Court.

Haven/Coober Pedy - Day 9 The Council was assembled. Nine key Epics that ran Haven: Diva, Hardhat, Greenhouse, Stellar, Seismometer, Mirror, Webmother, Euphoria, and himself. They stood around a large steel table in the Council Room, which was built above Justice Plaza, a large cavern filled with plants and fountains, and a statue of Covenant in the center. The floor of the Council Room was reinforced glass nearly a meter thick, so they could observe the Plaza below. Covenant placed his hands on the table. "I have called this meeting to discuss the new Epic in the city. I apprehended him last night and is currently in a holding facility. The Epic has time manipulation powers, specifically the ability to make time fields around himself." Euphoria raised her hand. "How much of a threat is this new Epic? Would it be better to just lock him up?" Covenant shook his head. "None of his abilities are directly lethal. And no, I will not lock him up. He hasn't broken any laws yet, and I'd prefer a just process." Euphoria rolled her eyes. "Fine, you and your laws. How can we use his abilities?" She glanced around at everyone else. "Covenant, you said you fought with him. What are the effects of the time field?" Greenhouse asked. "Everything within the field moves extremely slowly. It is not a complete freezing of time, but very close to it. The Epic himself is immune to the effects, or can compress the time it takes for him to do things, essentially giving him superspeed when viewed from the outside," Covenant replied. "Could he remove the effects of the field on other people?" Seismometer asked. "I would suppose so. We have not further tested his abilities," Covenant said. The members of the Council glanced at each other. "Well then, looks like we'll just need to test them out! Let's do it now," Hardhat said. Seismometer and Euphoria nodded. Stellar shrugged. "Fine then," Covenant said. "The meeting will reconvene at the Training Grounds in the Basement in ten minutes. Dismissed." The Council dispersed and filed out the exits. Two Lawkeepers escorted the Epic to the center of the Training Grounds. All of the barricades and targets had been removed, leaving just a flat area. The Council stood in the control room overlooking the grounds. Covenant stood on the field facing the Epic. Mirror gasped. "Look, he's just a child!" "Oh," Euphoria breathed. Seismometer stared out the window. Covenant called out to him. "Hello, boy." "Hello!" The boy shouted back. Diva giggled. "Oh, he's so cute!" Covenant shouted again. "What's your name?" "Timmy!" Covenant considered this. "Well, you can chose a proper name later. We are going to do some tests, Timmy. Some parameters first. Do not try to escape or harm any of us. We will be forced to retaliate. Do you understand?" Timmy glanced at the two Lawkeepers standing beside him. He nodded. Covenant smiled. "Good! Lawkeepers, you may remove his--" "What if I don't want to use my powers?" Timmy's voice interrupted. Covenant blinked. "They're scary," Timmy continued. Diva swooned. Stellar joined in. "He's so adorable!" They chorused. "Timmy, please work with us. You're going to have to use your powers, and that's an order. Lawkeepers, remove his Bands," Covenant commanded. The Lawkeepers proceeded to do so. After removing the manacles and headband, they backed away to the perimeter of the Training Grounds. Timmy stayed in the center, glancing around. Covenant stepped back towards the control room. He shouted to Timmy. "I would like you to make a time field! One of those pink bubbles! Do you understand?" Timmy nodded, and large, slightly pink sphere formed around him. Covenant tapped his earpiece. "Hardhat, take measurements." "On it." Covenant cupped his hands and yelled. "Can you make it any larger?" The small figure in the center of the field tilted his head. Hardhat buzzed in the earpiece. "It's the field. Sound can barely penetrate the field because of how slow the air particles are vibrating. He might not be able to understand you." Covenant tapped his chin. He tried to motion the field getting larger with his hands. Timmy remained motionless. Covenant frowned, and pushed his hands in, miming the field getting smaller. After a second, Timmy nodded, and the field began to shrink. Covenant clapped his hands. "Did you record that?" Covenant said into the earpiece. "Can manipulate the size of the field," Hardhat said. Covenant walked closer to the field. Timmy watched him. Covenant stepped right up to the exterior of the field and pointed to himself. He then made some fast movements, then pointed to the inside of the field. Would Timmy understand? Timmy stared at him for a moment, then nodded. The field swelled, engulfing Covenant. He froze. Then, everything sped up again. He could move freely inside the field! He gave Timmy a thumbs-up, and Timmy smiled. It was a hard expression, as if he was battling the anger inside. Covenant nodded. Tough kid. Covenant mimed the field again then made a burst with his hands, signifying the field breaking. He repeated the gesture, and Timmy nodded. In a second, the field disappeared. "Impressive," Covenant said. Timmy grinned. Covenant glanced around the Training Grounds, then turned to Timmy. "We're going to set up some obstacles and targets around the Training Grounds in a moment. I want you to make your field as large as possible and try to destroy all of the targets as quickly as you can. They will be scattered around. Do you understand?" Covenant asked. Timmy looked around. "I guess," he said. Covenant smiled. "Great. Wait a moment." He walked up to the control room. Hardhat nodded to him when he entered. "I made notes of everything. It's all right here, S.P," he said, handing Covenant a notepad. "Well done. Could you put in some obstacles and scatter some targets around? We're going to track his speed and see if he can distort time to move faster. Got it?" Covenant asked. Hardhat nodded. Stellar and Diva walked over. "Oh, he's just adorable! I want to keep him," Stellar gushed. "No, I want to keep him! Right, Covenant?" Diva protested. Covenant shook his head. "He has parents. You will not be kidnapping the boy. Please stay professional during Council meetings," Covenant said. Euphoria shrugged. "Oh, we are always professional," she said sarcastically. Covenant glared at her. Hardhat broke the conversation. "Ground adjustments are complete. All ready, just give the signal," he said. Covenant shouted into the Training Grounds. "The timer starts in three, two, one, GO!" Immediately, Timmy's field went up and he began to dash around. Within the pink sphere, his figure was a blur. He leaped over obstacles with ease. "One target down," Hardhat reported. Timmy continued to race around the Training Grounds. "Two targets," Hardhat said. "Three targets. Four targets. And... five targets! That's all of them." He glanced at the timer. "Twenty point two five seconds! Quite fast for the little guy," Hardhat noted. Covenant tapped his chin. Diva and Stellar, Timmy's obvious fans, applauded. Euphoria joined in, Covenant suspected just to annoy him. Covenant went out to talk to Timmy. "Twenty point two five seconds, Timmy. That was quite fast," Covenant told him. Timmy shrugged. "I could have done it faster if I had something to hit them with. It was hard to break them," he said. Covenant examined him. "Do you think you could do it faster if you had a weapon?" Covenant asked. Timmy gazed up at him, his eyes a little too eager. Covenant ignored it. He went over to the weapons rack hidden in the wall and retrieved a metal rod, which he handed to Timmy. "We'll set up the grounds again, and this time use this. Okay?" Covenant asked. Timmy nodded, still staring at the rod. Covenant walked back to the control room, and Hardhat reset the Training Grounds. Covenant leaned out the door. "Ready, three, two, one, GO!" He shouted. Timmy's field sprang up, and he raced around once more. "One, two, three targets, oh, now four, and... five! Twelve point oh one seconds! Wow!" Hardhat exclaimed. Covenant nodded, clearly impressed. "I would consider this a success, then," he said. Hardhat nodded, along with Stellar and Diva. Seismometer continued to stare at Timmy through the window. Greenhouse was quiet, and Webmother seemed to be in a trance. Covenant raised an eyebrow. "Seismo, is there something on you mind?" Covenant asked. He jerked, startled, causing the ground the rumble. Then he glanced around and nodded. "Yeah. That's a child out there. The powers make monsters out of people, Covenant. It's something I've been thinking about lately, that we're monsters... not good for the mind, is it?" Seismometer sighed. "Timmy's going to be a monster too. He didn't ask for it, but that's what life's dealt him." He stared Covenant straight in the eyes. "We are going to help this boy out. Make him a good person." The control room was silent, all eyes on Seismometer or Covenant. Covenant thought back to how Timmy stared at the metal rod. He pushed the thought away. "We are doing that, Seismo. But we are not monsters. We saved this city. It is a place of peace and order." Specifically order. "Don't get philosophical on me now, Seismo. Anyways, I declare this meeting a success. Dismissed," Covenant said. One by one, the Council filed out of the control room. Seismometer made an effort not to make eye contact. Covenant tapped his earpiece. "Refit the Bands on Timmy. He still has some training to do before we set him free." The Lawkeepers stepped towards Timmy. He shifted. Covenant raised a hand to stop the Lawkeepers and jogged over to the boy. "Hand me the rod," he said. Timmy glanced down at it, his hand shaking. Finally, he dropped the rod. Covenant retrieved it. "Timmy, I'm going to put these cuffs on you again. Please do not resist," Covenant said. Timmy glanced at the Lawkeepers, and Covenant saw a flash of desperation in his eyes, watched him tense. "Timmy," he cautioned. The boy glanced at him, breathed, and relaxed. The Lawkeepers clamped on the Bands and led Timmy away. Covenant called out to him. "I'll see you tomorrow, alright?" They disappeared into a corridor, leaving Covenant alone in the Training Ground.

I went back and edited my posts to fit the powerset. Everything that wasn't directly his powers I can leave to compulsive surveillance. I still need to tweak some of his personality points, but so far he is pretty much an oxymoronic mess.

Okay, I see the issues with my Epic. Let me modify a few things. @Blackhoof, that sounds good, to leave it as the ability to detect harm dealt within a certain radius. 5km? 10km? and be able to track the individual that caused the harm. I came up with this character as some sort of personified justice? Thus I tailored his abilities to become anti-criminal. That's why his powers increased as crime increased, but he'd have an overwhelming urge to go deliver justice to all of them, which usually meant killing them all. However, as a person, he hated killing people, and hated himself for doing it, so his Lawkeepers can do it for him and satisfy the law without the need for a bloodbath. I see all the problems with this. So yes, new ability layout: Covenant: Primary ability: Can detect physical harm dealt to another person within five kilometers of himself, and can track the perpetrator of the harm within ten kilometers. Secondary ability: Can fire energy beams. Can gift secondary and passive abilities to others. Passive: Super strength, super reflexes.

Haven/Coober Pedy - Day 8-9 Why don't you come stay at my place? Diva asked. She had such a charming smile. He smiled too. Sure. Let me make one stop first. She rolled her eyes. Oh well, as long as you aren't back too late. Back too late. Back too late. Back too Late ... Covenant jolted awake. The room was dark, and he could hear Diva's soft breathing beside him. And also a beeping. He glanced around with groggy eyes. The earpiece! He fumbled for his earpiece. Where was it?! There, on the nightstand, vibrating wildly. He hastily put it on. "Sir, sir, this is Optic team. Surveillance has disruptions at Locus 2-9478. We contacted Hardhat, and he confirms something's amiss. We suspect it's an Epic." Covenant's eyes widened, sleep forgotten. But it hadn't hurt anyone? "Thank you. I will deploy Lawkeepers immediately. Good work." Covenant quickly switched channels. Epics acting out of line? "All Lawkeepers! All Lawkeepers! New Epic! Report to..." Covenant paused, concentrating. "Locus 2-9478! I repeat, new Epic, all Lawkeepers report to Locus 2-9478! Be prepared for anything. Target is stationary, prevent civilian access to red zone! Move out!" He quickly switched channels. "Hardhat! Hardhat! Please, please, please have your earpiece on..." Sometimes he forgot to have it with him. "Aye, boss. Hear you loud and clear." "Hardhat, we have an Epic situation. We need the Bands. Do you have any?" "I know, was just there with the Eye Boys. Err... let me check. Been a while since any Epics shown up. Sent out the Lawkeepers?" "Already on the go. They'll be there when you arrive. Help them out, will you?" Beside him, Diva shifted. Covenant tensed. "What, you won't be there on the scene? I mean, it's an Epic and all..." Covenant glanced at Diva's sleeping body. "I'm a little busy at the moment. I'll keep watch on the situation. If it gets hairy, I'll intervene. The Lawkeepers are trained well, I think they can handle it." "Alright. Over and out, boss." The connection closed. Covenant sighed, and sank back into bed. He stared at the ceiling. Raymond charged off the Lawkeeper rail with the rest of his squad outside Locus 2-9478. He set his heavy rife to tranquilizer mode, in unison with his fellow Lawkeepers. They all knew the drill. Get in, neutralize the target, lock him, or her, up. Be precise, be efficient, be effective. More Lawkeepers would be arriving momentarily, but they had arrived first. The situation was a new Epic, according to the Supreme Protector. Abilities were unknown, identity was unknown. They were in this with just their instincts and training. Raymond grinned. It was just the way he liked it. Locus 2-9478 was a residential structure, cut directly into the stone except for a small exterior porch-like area. No other entrances except for the main front one, which they were currently surrounding. The Lawkeepers moved in sync, sneaking silently across the ground mid-crouch. Raymond trained his ears on the house. No noise. Odd, he thought. If there was an Epic, surely there was to be some sort of commotion. He glanced at his squadmates and approached the door. With a solid kick, he knocked it down with a thud. The rest filed in, filling the small front room with their thick armor. Raymond whispered, "They must all be sleeping." Gomez nodded. "Yeah, no wonder. Get ready," he said. They raised their rifles and dispersed, checking rooms. A kitchen, dining room, a bedroom with sleeping inhabitant. Soon all of the rooms on the main level had been searched. They met back in the main room, just as another squad arrived. "Where's the Epic?" The foremost Lawkeepers, Williams, it sounded like, whispered. "There's an upper level. Must be up there," Raymond replied. "I'll go first. Follow close." He walked over to the stairs and looked up. There was a door at the top. He glanced down at the Lawkeepers assembled in the front room, and ascended. Readying his rifle, he slammed into the door, knocking it down. And stopped. The room was almost entirely engulfed inside a large field, marked by a slight pinkness to everything within. It looked as if a tornado had swept through the room, knocking everything around. Yet everything within the field was suspended in the air, as if caught in a single moment. Raymond looked closely at everything in the room. He groaned as it dawned on him. This was a child's room. He hated when this happened. Child Epics. He sighed. He had a job to do. He fired several shots into the room. Immediately after they entered the field, they froze, caught mid-flight. Raymond frowned. Then something in the field moved. It rushed forward, snatched the tranquilizer darts out of the air, and leaped towards him, as fast as one could blink. As it came towards him, the field moved as well. Raymond turned to run, but the field caught him. In the space of a second before he lost consciousness, he felt his helmet be ripped off his head and his neck stabbed by every tranquilizer dart. Then blackness closed in. Covenant slid out of bed. The Epic had attacked someone, now two someones... he switched on the earpiece channel. "Any Lawkeepers at Locus 2-9478, please report. One at a time, please." "Lawkeeper Upton, sir. The Epic caught Lawkeepers Raymond, Ramaro, and Stuart in a bottleneck. We can't get in to evac them." Covenant tapped his chin. "What are the Epic's abilities?" "It's hard to tell for sure, but there is definitely some sort of field around it that is preventing us from making a proper attack, that and the stairs." "Is there any way to lure it out into the open?" "Perhaps sir, but I'm not sure it will be successful. I haven't yet seen the Epic, it's still upstairs." "Has Hardhat arrived yet?" "No, not yet sir. Perhaps you should come to assist..." "Can you not handle the situation yourselves? If you can get the Epic out into the open, try to find a way to stop it. Box it in. Once Hardhat gets there, he's sure to have something at his disposal to further the situation." "Alright sir. Lawkeeper... Wait, fi--.................................." Covenant waited. He focused. The Epic had increased its victim count. It must have attacked Upton, and... it was now mobile. Several more attacks... Covenant shut his eyes. It seemed he would have to intervene. Thankfully, no casualties. Let's hope it doesn't get a weapon. Those Lawkeepers are hard to replace. He moved for the door when he heard rustling behind him. "Cuvvie? Going somewhere?" Diva whispered? Covenant sighed. "I'm sorry, love, but there's a situation I have to attend to," he explained. "Just go back to sleep." Diva looked at him, then sank back into the pillows. Covenant snuck out of the room and quietly shut the door. He took a deep breath, then channeled the justice that willed to be satisfied. He sped down the corridor with super-powered legs. The Epic was moving towards the Tube Rail. Covenant tapped the earpiece. "Hardhat! Redirect Tube Rail! Now!" "Wha--" Covenant shut him off. He sped to the Lawkeeper rail, but didn't wait for a car to arrive. He ran down the tunnel. He was nearing the Epic now... He exited the tunnel and spun around. Just down the corridor was the Epic, surrounded by a pink field. Covenant charged it-- and slowed when he hit the field. He didn't stop; he was moving much to fast for that, but it was like trying to run through molasses. Realization hit him. It was a time field. That's why everything slowed, and understandably why the Lawkeepers were having such difficulty. They must have been using tranquilizer, which the Epic then turned on them. The Epic sped at him, much faster than him inside the time field. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the field boundaries shift. The Epic was the center of the field, which made getting it out of it difficult. Suddenly, the Epic was on his face, smacking and pounding him as hard as it could. Slowly, he lifted his arms, the blows to his head coming incessantly. The palms of his hands began to glow. No, don't roast it! Just enough to lose its focus and shut down the field... It was hard to keep his eyes open as the attacks showered down. The little thing wouldn't let go! Finally, he gripped the Epic's back and pressed his palms in. The Epic's shirt began to sizzle, and it cried out, causing the field to flicker and fade. Able to move freely, Covenant tackled the Epic to the ground and finally got a good look at it. It was a little boy, eight, he seemed, but Covenant had always been bad at judging age. The boy glared at him, and the time field flared up again. The boy Epic struggled, but couldn't break free from Covenant's grip. Covenant looked up to see Hardhat and a squad of Lawkeepers run up. He pressed his glowing palms into the boy's back again, causing the field to flicker down. Quickly, Hardhat fit the Bands onto the boy before he could set up his time field again. The boy struggled as two Lawkeepers took him away. Hardhat shook his head sadly. "It's always a shame to see the little ones like that. Cruel world," Hardhat murmured. Covenant nodded, but not about the child. Cruel world indeed. His parents would have to be taken care of, and the child will have to be educated in the rules pertaining to Epics. With time, he could work to assist Haven, under Covenant's direction. Covenant would pardon the child's several attacks as under mental impairment, so no further charges would be pressed. He yawned. How much sleep had he gotten? Three hours? He checked his watch. "Well, good night Hardhat. I'm off to bed again. Good work there," Covenant said. Hardhat smiled and tipped his signature hardhat. "You too, S.P," he replied.

Err... Coober Pedy is inland, over a hundred miles from the coast. And what's more, Haven is underground. I don't think that will allow Sandstorm to get out in any way.

Singapore - Day of Calamity KABOOMSHHHSHHHCRRASH! The office building across the street collapsed in one terrific cloud of dust, the rumble like a million drums in a thunderstorm. Steven Lao stared breathless from the window of his small office, eyes wide in terror. A crimson blur sped past the window, and Steven ducked. There was a flash of green outside, followed by a loud explosion. The street was a mess of smashed cars and rubble. Frantic civilians fled for cover. Some were trapped under slabs of concrete or inside cars. It was a scene of absolute destruction. Steven's office was too far up for him to hear the screams, which was good. He didn't want to. He backed away from the window and grabbed his mug of coffee. His hands were shaking so much he spilled it all down his shirt. Oblivious to that, he set the mug aside and fumbled with the door handle, then stumbled into the hallway. This had to be a dream, a very bad dream. He was just an accountant with a tidy office job. He paid the bills, followed the rules, was friends with his boss, Mr. Xao. It just couldn't be happening, couldn't be... RUMMBBLEE.... crrrcCRAAASSHH!!! Steven leaped to the side just in time, snapping into focus. The upper floor caved in, sending down a shower of dust and concrete. There were screams upstairs, the IT department. Steven gazed up into the hole in the ceiling. The dust settled. Then someone was flung across the gap and disappeared from view on the other side. Steven gave a silent gasp. He pressed himself up against the wall, glanced around, and pulled the decorative plant in front of him. Heavy footsteps sounded up above, shaking loose dust from the ceiling. They got closer, louder, until a massive figure appeared at the edge of the hole. Twice the size of a normal man with hulking arms and a beefy torso, the being scanned the wreckage. Steven stood completely still, too scared to even think. The thing smiled gruesomely and chuckled, a terrible rumbling sound. Bloodlust glinted in its eyes. Then it smashed through the wall, sending a shower of dust and disappeared from sight. Steven waited, lungs yearning for air he wouldn't dare breathe. Seconds passed, and he sighed in relief. He glanced down the hall; he had to get out of here. The elevator was out of order, so Steven took the stairs. Down and down the steps spiraled. Occasionally, sections of the wall were missing, chunks of it scattered on the steps. Steven carefully walked around them. He sped down the flights of stairs, all the way to the parking garage in the basement. The garage was dark, the electricity shorted out. Steven fumbled in his pocket for his keys, then pressed a button. Far across the darkness, his car's lights blinked. He dashed for the car. As he ran, explosions sounded on the surface. The ground shook. Now and again, he would blink the car lights to check where he was. Finally, he reached his vehicle and jumped inside. He turned the ignition and backed out, carefully navigating out of the parking garage. A tunnel led to the street on the other side of the building, he just hoped it was clear. Sunlight poured into the tunnel up ahead. It took his eyes a second to adjust, and then he gasped. A chunk of stone was blocking half of the exit. There was a possibility that he could get through, but it wasn't likely. Another explosion rumbled overhead. Steven made up his mind. He slammed down on the accelerator and charged the gap and the light. The stone approached, faster and faster. Steven braced for impact. With a screech of metal, the side mirror was ripped off. Steven expected the side of the car was trashed as well. But he was out! Quickly, he scanned the road. Most of the lanes were blocked by rubble or totaled cars, but there! Third lane on the left was clear. He swerved for it. The road was blocked up ahead, so he turned into a side alley. A chain link fence blocked the way, but he just charged through it. The alley ended up ahead, and he turned right. Several cars were piled up in front of him, but there was a concrete median. He pulled onto it and maneuvered around the crash. People ran past on the sidewalk, some of them surprised to see a bright yellow Prius zooming down the street. Steven looked up ahead. He had to get to the expressway. There was an access ramp up ahead on the right, hopefully it was clear. He rounded the corner and yes, the ramp was clear. He pressed on the gas-- KABOOM The road beside him exploded, rocking the car. He swerved to avoid it, but crashed into a parked car on the side of the street. It smashed the other side of his vehicle, but it could still drive. Steven checked the rear-view mirror. An angry, red-suited figure floated behind him above the street. A violent red orb began to form in his hands. The figure prepared to throw, and Steven gunned the accelerator. Behind him, the parked car exploded in a plume of flame. The figure swooped towards him, and Steven swerved onto the access ramp. The figure flew past, faked-out by the abrupt turn. Steven grinned triumphantly, but the red figure was still in pursuit. The expressway was a mess. Abandoned cars were everywhere, and gaping holes pocked the road. Steven weaved around some cars and onto the median, which was thankfully clear. A car to the right exploded. Steven glanced out the window to see the red figure preparing another orb. There was a clear section up ahead, and he swerved towards it. The orb left a smoking crater on the median where he would have gone. Steven glanced up ahead. The expressway entered a bridge across the river. In the distance, plumes of smoke drifted into the sky. He had to lose the red freak somehow... A large chunk out of the railing was blasted off beside him. Steven pulled the car back onto the median, just in time to avoid a large pileup of cars. He glanced in the mirror. The red figure was still following him. The bridge was up ahead. Steven pushed the car harder. The speedometer needle wobbled into the red zone. He glanced back. The red figure was preparing another orb. Steven checked the road... just in time to swerve into the lane as the median abruptly ended where the bridge started. He dodged a smashed car and glanced back at the red figure. Why hadn't he thrown the orb yet? Steven gasped. The orb was enormous, cackling above the figure's head. With a tremendous heave, he threw the orb. Steven swerved, but it flew past the car. Right into the bridge in front of him. KABOOOOSH! In a bright crimson flash, the section of bridge crumbled, temporarily blinding Steven. He slammed on the brakes, but he was going too fast. The car careened over the edge and plummeted towards the river. Steven closed his eyes. So this is how it all ends... ... A bright red sphere, suspended in a sea of black. Look into the sphere. And it spoke to him. Humans... foolish, disrespectful, disobedient. Vermin. Justice yearns for its price. Destroy them. Steven's eyes shot open. It was blinding, everything! He could see, sense... he knew where they were. What they had done. Murder, murder, murder, destruction, murder... It gave him strength. In a second, everything happened. He smashed out of the car, tearing it apart like tissue. He was still falling, so he leaped. A great arc, powered by his legs, through the air. Criminals everywhere, he could spot them. The red figure was near, murderer. He would feel justice. Steven charged towards him, becoming a blur. The red figure didn't see it coming. Steven deliver a crushing punch to his back, sending the broken corpse sailing across the skyline. So many crimes pounded at his head. 800 meters. 1000 meters. Kill Kill KILL. He ran towards them, the cowering criminals staring up at him as he vaporized them with beams from his hands. They were all guilty, all guilty. He punished them all. He sensed his office building. 1500 meters. Mass murderer. The hulking figure that wreck the IT department was going to pay for its crimes. Steven sped towards the building, jumping through the window and through a couple walls. It couldn't hurt him, nothing could stop justice. Steven smashed through the wall, the beefy monster turning to face him. It smiled. "A challenger for Benchpress? I will crush you like a bug." Steven frowned. "You will pay for your crimes," he said. He raised his hands and shot blinding white light at Benchpress. It screamed, and the smell of seared flesh. Steven growled, and the beams of death intensified, melting through muscle like it didn't exist. Soon Benchpress was a pile of ash on the floor. Steven focused. The city was crawling with criminals. They all had to pay. He jumped up, smashing through the building, and began to prey on the guilty. ... Hours later, Steven regained consciousness. Or maybe he had been conscious the whole time. He didn't like to think about it. He sat near the pier, watching the waves. It was night. He needed to get away, away from here, away from what he had done. How? He glanced down the waterline. There was a boat docked nearby. Excellent. He walked towards it. As he walked down the dock to the boat, a man scrambled out and pointed a gun at him. "Don't come any closer! I'll shoot!" The man shouted. Steven held his hands in the air. Owning a firearm was illegal, but Steven tried to ignore the nagging in his mind. "I just want to escape. I won't harm you. I noticed you had a boat. Could we use it to get away?" Steven asked. The man lowered the gun, but didn't put it away. "It's not my boat, I was just hiding out in it. I don't know how to drive, err, sail it anyways. Tough luck," the man said. Steven stepped closer. The man's grip tightened on the gun. "Maybe I can take a look. If we can get out of here, all the better. May I come aboard?" Steven suggested. The man narrowed his eyes, but relented. Steven walked down to the cabin and considered the controls. The man came over and pointed. "The thing is, I don't have the keys to this thing. So we can't start it. If you can come up with a genius way to get it going, then say goodbye to Singapore. Tell me if you come up with anything," he said, and walked out. Steven looked over the controls again, then searched through the compartments. There was a screwdriver in one, so he removed the panel under the dashboard. Theoretically, if he did this... After a few attempts, the engine sputtered to life. The man rushed back in. "You did it?! Amazing! Well then, you take the controls, you certainly know what you're doing." He looked back at the city. "Goodbye, Singapore!" he called. Steven smiled. It was time to get away.

But Covenant is Asian. From Singapore, to be precise. Could he also have minor Gifting abilities for his Lawkeepers? I'm not sure how far I can push the limit.

Haven/Coober Pedy - Day 8 The sky lamps in the plazas had dimmed hours ago, simulating night. Covenant walked to a lift and punched a code into the key panel. Slowly, the platform sank down. He leaned against the wall as the lift descended, the low whirring of the motor filling the small compartment. At last, there was a quiet ding, and the doors opened. Covenant stepped out. This was the Basement, the lowest level of Haven. Secretly lying beneath the city, it was the heart of the Council's operations. A secondary conference room was located down here in the case of an emergency, along with the massive farms that fed the city, courtesy of Greenhouse. The tunnels connected with the water table here too, so pumps and pipes were scattered about to control the water systems. Most importantly to Covenant, the Lawkeeper barracks and prison was located here. That was where he was headed. He strode down the hallway, starkly lit by a line of lights in the ceiling. Occasionally, signs directed where facilities were located, but they were infrequent. Anyone that came down here knew exactly where they were going. Covenant took a left at a crossroads and continued down the corridor. Eventually he reached a door, made of thick steel. He pressed his hand onto the pad beside it, and with a whoosh, the door slid open. Air rushed out of the opened space. Covenant strode through and the door closed behind him. The prison had three levels, five aisles to a level, and twenty cells on either side of each aisle. Most of the prisoners were from the first year of Haven, when everyone was still transitioning to a peaceful society. Two Lawkeepers patrolled each level, but there hadn't been a breakout in over a year. The consequences of that quickly extinguished any thoughts of escape. The Lawkeeper, in his proud blue armor suit, saluted as Covenant passed by. He nodded. He strolled down the aisle, glancing at the cells. He remembered them all, each crime, each criminal. Diva sometimes mentioned that she thought it was sad that the prisoners had to spend their days in paradise in chains. Covenant supposed it was unfortunate, but justice cannot be avoided. Besides, most of the prisoners on this level were due to be released in a year or two. Their crimes weren't as severe as others, but they had caused discontent in the city. A few of the cells were vacant; they had been released a few days before. Covenant had seen them wander off into Haven, the halo of freedom glowing on their faces. He took the stairs down. He skipped the second floor, there was not much to see there. Most of the were revolutionaries and rebels, terrorists from the first year. Any others on that level were either murderers or had accumulated several serious crimes. They wouldn't be seeing much of the world for many years yet. The scene changed as he descended to the third level. He passed a layer of lead set into the stone beside him. It covered the entire prison, and the walls too. The walls were plated with metal. When Covenant reached the bottom of the stairs, two Lawkeepers stood in front of the blast door. Covenant pressed his hand to the pad on the wall and punched the several digit access code. The light above the door flashed green, and the Lawkeepers saluted him, stepping aside. With a whoosh, the blast door opened. This was the Epic level. There were forty cells on this level, each heavily armored and under constant surveillance. No Lawkeepers patrolled past the blast door, but mounted guns moved through the aisles on tracks in the ceiling. A little treat of Hardhat's. Any false move, attempted escape, and the guns would open fire. No High Epics were kept here, so death was a certainty. Covenant strode down the narrow space that ran between the cells. Meter-thick walls separated him from each prisoner, and a reinforced window about the size of a piece of paper allowed him view. He recited their names in his head as he passed. Cartwheel: extraordinary gymnastic abilities. Relatively weak Epic. Detained for murder by strangling, trespass, and use of Epic powers without official consent. Whetstone: Can give anything a sharp edge. Definitely more dangerous than Cartwheel. Detained for mass murder, trespass, evading the police, breaking and entering, grand theft auto, and use of Epic powers without official consent. Teapot: Can make a "perfect" cup of tea, can shoot boiling water from hands. Weak except for water. Detained for aggravated assault, evading the police, and use of Epic powers without official consent. Amperos: Electricity manipulation. Quite powerful. Detained for terroristic acts, murder by electrocution, evading the police, trespass, and use of Epic powers without official consent. ... Covenant stopped by every cell. Usually, the Epic gave him a disdainful look before turning away. Other times, the look was pleading. Covenant ignored it all. He assigned them all to community service according to their abilities. They do fine work. Covenant came to the final cell, the first Epic to refuse the pact. Sandstorm. Covenant gazed through the small window at the cell. Bare floor, cot in the corner, self-cleaning toilet in the other. That was an ingenious invention of Hardhat's. Sandstorm sat on his cot, twirling his fingers. Covenant knew he was trying to make a breeze. He also knew he was failing. The band on his head restricted his powers. Even if he did manage to do anything, it would be extremely weak. It would also be illegal. Sandstorm scowled and dropped his hands, frustrated at another failure. He turned to see Covenant at the window and sneered. Covenant shook his head. He activated the speaker in the cell through his earpiece. "Still resilient, I see," Covenant's voice came through the speaker. Sandstorm folded his arms. "Only way I'll keep my head in this place. How's your crazy plan coming along?" His voice was picked up by the mics hidden in the cell. "Swimmingly. It is a shame you refused to join us." "And lose my freedom? Pah!" "You don't look very free to me." "... but I'm still my own man. All the others in your plan are just slaves." "No, they are free within the law. I assure you, I did not strip away their choice." "Lies! Ugh... doesn't it seem we have this conversation every time?" "Sure does. I'd think that'd change if you agreed to the pact--" "Which you know I won't." "It was worth a try. Goodbye Sandstorm. Think it over." Covenant shut off the speaker and walked away. Sandstorm was too stubborn, but that will change with time. He still has nine years left to think it over. Covenant punched in the access code, pressed his hand, and the door opened. He turned to the Lawkeepers as the door shut. "Don't forget to change the code. Good work," he said, and climbed the stairs.

No, it's totally fine. It will be more interesting this way. I was just wondering. If you have a legit reason, I can roll with it.

Ooh, all the little birb babies have their faces like MURP!

Aye.

@Majestic... a quick question. How does Nature know about Sandstorm? That event was three months after Calamity, and IIRC, the current events of the RP are two-three years post-Calamity. Those would be some pretty old rumors, and Sandstorm hasn't been released yet.

Coober Pedy - Three months after Calamity "Are you willing to come under the terms of the accord?" Steven Lao, or Covenant, as he decided to call himself, sat across the circular table, hands folded on its surface. Facing him was Sandstorm, a wind-specialist weather Epic that had been roughing up the outlying settlements of Coober Pedy. Hardhat stood near by, monitoring the various weapons systems of his own design that lined the room. All of them were trained on Sandstorm. Sandstorm scowled. "What do you think you're trying to accomplish? There is no law now, the world's in shambles! There's nothing you can do to stop it." He spat. Covenant frowned. Taking a handkerchief, he wiped the spittle off the table. Sandstorm continued, "If you think that you can rope me or any other Epic in his right mind into this crazy pact, you're dead wrong." Covenant regarded him stoically. Sandstorm sneered back. Finally, Covenant sighed and turned to face the wall. "Unfortunately Sandstorm, the law will not go away if you ignore it. It is very real, and exists here in Coober Pedy. Your neglect will not make it any less potent." Covenant spun around to stare Sandstorm in the eyes. "Rather, it will make it all the more potent. You are guilty of trespass, assault, breaking and entering, verbal harassment, littering (on multiple occasions), property damage, leaving the scene of a crime in all of these accounts, use of Epic powers without official consent, and evading the police. Do not think that you will be let off with a mere warning." Covenant leaned closer to Sandstorm's face, with the intensity of a mountain. "You are held at the sword of justice, Sandstorm. And you are looking at its wielder." Sandstorm gulped. Covenant backed away. "Fortunately for you, none of those are capital offenses. However, the frequency of your violations does not warrant any mercy. I'd much prefer that you work with us, but justice must be fulfilled. Perhaps your mood will change after you've seen prison. I sentence you to twelve years of prison under constant surveillance, generously punctuated with community service. My judgement stands indefinitely until further notice. Hardhat, please escort the prisoner to his cell," Covenant said. With a nod, Hardhat produced a set of thick manacles which he set around Sandstorm's wrists. He then placed a band around his neck and led Sandstorm out of the room. Covenant remained motionless until the sound of their footsteps had disappeared down the hall. With a sigh, he sank into his chair. He ran his fingers through his hair and gazed at the ceiling. There was just so much to do and seemingly not enough hours in the day. His resources were stretched to the limit trying to break down crime, and it didn't seem to be getting any better. Even worse (or at times it seemed), flocks of refugees appeared every week, dragged on rumors of a promised city of order. The poor folks hailed from across Australia, and beyond. It was exhausting accommodating them all, but with the extra help, the tunnel system had seen great progress. It was just too much for one man to bear. There was a knock at the door. "Come in," Covenant called. It opened, and Stellar walked in. An energy Epic, Covenant had set her to work on developing a sustainable power source for the new city underground. If his plan worked, and he hoped it would, then Coober Pedy would be an oasis of peace in a desert of chaos. If only he could keep it together... "Sir, I just came to inform you that the project has been going along swell. I take it that you're unoccupied at the moment?" She asked from the doorway. Covenant nodded and gestured to one of the seats at the table. Stellar sat. "So sir, I found some engineers among the refugees and put them into my team. They're really brilliant; so far we have a system to capture and store energy and use it as electricity. Don't ask me how it works, I have no clue. Um sir, I was wondering, did you intend for me to be the power source?" Stellar looked very concerned. Covenant tilted his head and glanced at the ceiling. "Yes, that was my intention... is there a problem?" "Oh, um, no... not really... It's just that for a second I felt used, exploited, et cetera. But I guess that's alright. I guess. How would you handle the power rage?" Stellar asked. Covenant spread his hands. "Simply keep yourself within the confined space of the energy collector, or whatever contraption your engineers have cooked up, and make sure workers are a safe distance away from you. Hopefully we won't need you to constantly be generating energy, so the effects will be minimized." Stellar nodded, understanding. She stood and headed towards the door. She paused and turned back. "Oh, one more thing, sir. There's an Epic waiting for you outside." Covenant gaped. "WHAT?! I- I mean how did I not detect him? How--" "It's a she, sir. She hasn't broken any laws, and didn't trespass because she claims to be a refugee so we treated her as such," Stellar explained. Covenant ran his fingers through his hair, shaking his head. Stellar left the room, but peeked her head back in. "Her name is Diva, by the way."

I am literally freaking out over these cards!!! I NEED MORE!!!

But I suppose someone accustomed to unconventional instruments would have a greater variety of random things at their disposal. If they can jam with a buzz saw, then a drill, chair, chandelier, no problem!

Ooh, interesting! I always like signing up for interesting and/or unique games. I'll be Marv, but schools starts up for me very soon, and it might get in the way a little. But you know, anything for SE?

I saw that... why a coffee Epic? Why? Coober Pedy might be weaker that you offensively, but defensively, it's definitely stronger. I'm not sure how it would stand against some of the larger cities.

Haven/Coober Pedy - Day 8 Covenant stood over the glowing holomap, the blue light illuminating his face in the dark room. Shown in white lines, the city of Haven spread out before him. It was like a spider's web, every passageway and corridor that wove through the subterranean metropolis. Thicker lines, much more orderly, cut through the scramble. The Tube Rails, a high speed metro. It was the only reasonable way to get around the city, and it was always on time. Hardhat made sure of that. Covenant tapped the map, and blue stars appeared at various locations. They moved along the lines methodically, never crossing paths, efficiently covering ever inch. Covenant smiled. It was satisfying to see one's work perform as intended. The stars were his Lawkeepers, the peace and stability of Haven. They were his pride and joy, just as a mechanic treasures his tools. The lights flicked on. Covenant flinched and closed his eyes to the sudden brightness. "Just what are you doing in here?" A melodic voice said. The sound seemed to come from everywhere at once. Covenant sighed and smiled. He turned to see a woman posing in the doorway, wearing a glittery vermilion gown. Covenant spread out his arms. "Diva! How good to see you. You are looking quite fine today," he grinned. Diva rolled her eyes. "Come on, don't stay cooped up in that room. I thought the Atrium would be nice today." She glanced at him, the suggestion obvious. Covenant gestured to the holomap. "I have the security of Haven to attend to! I am the Supreme Protector! It's my job," he protested. Diva waved his cries aside. "You worry to much. There hasn't been a serious threat to our security in a year! All of the petty rebellions have been snuffed out, and the citizens have no reason to be angry! You can afford to spend some time away from that map before your eyes melt out." Covenant sighed. There was no use arguing. Besides, she was his consort. He glanced back at the map, saw the stars patrol in their natural order, and followed Diva out the door. They walked down the metal corridor. He had ordered the stone be plated over for "sanitation reasons". Honestly, he preferred the sleek, sterile look of the metal walls to the stone. Rows of lights on the ceiling lit the passage. Diva glanced at him, her eyes flitting over his outfit. "You need to change into something nicer," she said. Covenant examined his clothes. It was his S.P. officer uniform, a smart blue jacket with white accents over a white dress shirt. The hollow pentagon of Haven was embroidered in gold on the jacket's left breast pocket. He wore blue slacks to match. "There's nothing wrong with my uniform. It's a perfectly fine outfit," he said. Diva looked sidelong at him. "It's too professional. Stiff. Cold. Wear something that shows of the handsome side of you," she replied, laying a hand on his shoulder. Covenant nodded, relenting. Why did it always seem like he bent to Diva's will while he was the one that had a knack for persuasion? Covenant shrugged. "Alright, love, I'll dress up for you. Just give me some time to get my clothes." Diva smiled. "See you at the Atrium at--" she tucked her head down and lowered her voice. "-- sixteen hundred hours. Sharp!" Covenant raised an eyebrow, and Diva ran ahead, laughing. He watched her sparkling gown disappear down the corridor, and it was a second before he realized what happened. Oh, she was impersonating me, he thought. He smiled and shook his head as he walked towards his quarters. 4:00PM, Haven Covenant, wearing a fitted black tuxedo, walked into the Atrium. It was a massive space, the vaulted ceiling rising high above the citizens below. A large lamp set into the ceiling imitated the sun. Four large entrances, facing east, west, north, south, were set on the sides. The vast floor was caved in the center, and the space was filled with plants. Stone paths twisted through the foliage, and at some points in the garden, it seemed like you were in a forest far away, not in a man-made cave. Fountains spouted along the periphery, and all around were strolling families enjoying their day. Obeying the law. Covenant strode towards the center gardens, scanning the broad area for a glittering vermilion dress. He saw children playing by the fountains, a couple strolling through the garden, but his Diva was elusive as ever. He went and sat on one of the benches scattered about. Someone tapped him on the shoulder. "Boo!" He flinched and spun around. Diva laughed, like the tinkling of glass and windchimes. "You're too tense, as always. Come on, let's have some fun," she smiled. She pulled him up and led him towards the garden. As they stepped onto the stone path, the air changed. It smelled different. Covenant glanced around, but there was no Epic using his or her powers nearby. Then what was this difference? Diva pulled his head towards the plants. "Smell this flower. Isn't it gorgeous?" She pushed a bright blossom toward him. He inhaled, and the fragrance surged through his nostrils. He blinked, somewhat startled. The smell... was plants? He looked around at the miniature jungle. He must be spending too much time in the tunnels to forget what nature smelled like. He realized that Diva was still looking at him, so he said, "It's lovely, my dear." Diva smiled, and they continued their walk. The diversity of flora astounded him. He had never spent too much time in the Atrium, it was Greenhouse and Stellar who oversaw its completion and recent renovation. He wasn't in charge of the Public Recreation committee! How were they able to get so many different plants? Surely not from the Overlands. No one had been up in the past six months. Perhaps they had them pre-Calamity? But why? Greenhouse was a librarian, and Stellar was a rancher. Perhaps he would have to ask... His train of thought was broken as Diva tugged him down onto a bench. He glanced around. They were most likely in the center of the gardens. Lush green walls stretched out on every side. Diva leaned into his shoulder. "What were you thinking about?" She whispered. "Don't look at me like that, I know when you're lost in thought." "I was just thinking about the plants," he replied. Diva sighed. "Yes, they are quite amazing." She looked up at him, and he met her eyes. "Have you ever wondered what a real jungle is like? I never left Australia before Calamity, and there's no use now. Who knows what it's like up there?" "Slightly organized chaos. Most of the big cities have an esta--" "It was a rhetorical question, love. What do you think about jungles?" Covenant thought. He pushed aside the constant nagging of security that hung in his mind and pondered the question. "I guess..." he paused. "I guess it would be like this, but much, much more. Imagine towering trees, huge masses of green, so tall they block the sun. And there are animals everywhere, in the branches, on the ground..." He trailed off. Diva smiled. "Go on. I love it when you get like this," she said. Covenant looked down. "Okay... no, it's gone. My apologies." Diva sighed. The imaginative Covenant was gone, to surface another day. "It's alright," she assured him. "How about we get something to eat? I'm starving."

So just wondering, or just oblivious in general, is The Wastelands being revived? Because I got a little excited about that.