The start to another exciting mission!

With this mission meant to ramp up the threats of both the Sinister Six and the space bearbugs, it might not surprise you that things get dire rather quickly.

I don't want to spoil any of the story here, though. That's what post-piece comments are for!

 
I'm going to let you in on a little secret.

Brawls were nothing new to the shack known as, well, that was the actual name of the place. "The Shack."

But this, this was something new. Normally, this was a small village, this Las MexiCaliVada. But that was before Uncle Crimbo swooped in with the help of the Renaissance Giant. The two transformed it into a honest to goodness Renaissance Fair and invited adventurers from around the Kingdom to participate in the fun and celebration.

Of course, Father Crimbo was suspicious and requested adventurers check out the party to find out what Uncle Crimbo was really up to. All of that came together to lead to a massive brawl in the bar, somehow.

That's where our story picks up now. The bar had never been devastated to anything close to this degree.

The martial arts duo Blackeagle were here, but they'd been split up. John had followed Blake Cutler outside to chase him off, only to find the evil necromancer Bones there waiting for him.

Meanwhile, his partner and wife Sherri was inside, dealing with a giant toad and a Pokeelbeast trainer. Luckily for her, she had Becky Joy and Luna by her side. Already the fight had split up, with Sherri's battle with the giant toad splitting into another room while Luna and Becky continued to fight the Pokeeltrainer's beasts inside of the bar.

SnowCatCuties had been dealing with the barroom brawl when suddenly a figure, hidden in the shadows, pulled her through a hidden passage in the bar. She was surprised to see who the figure ended up being.

The group of five had been quite effectively split up, however, and the real danger to the heroes was just about to start unfolding elsewhere.

---- Section by J (Dash/ Becky/ Wildfall) ----

The three figures- Sebastian Dash, Aleena, and Jen- made no movements as the collars were placed around their neck, nor did they move when tiny needles sunk into their skin unexpectedly.

The large figure standing over them seemed quite pleased; the total lack of reaction proved that they were, indeed, already well controlled. The collars, however, would ensure that obedience without the need for him to be there in person.

He thought a single command to himself, simply to test his control. "RISE."

The three figures rose in a single movement, unnatural in its unity. The bugbear still towered over the three, who betrayed no emotion although not by choice. He was certainly more ornately dressed then the bugbear guards which Dash, Jen and Catrina Whiteclaw had encountered on the ship.

Another figure walked up with a strange looking device in his hand. He smiled as he looked the three over but it was a smile with no humor or warmth in it. As young as he looked, he had an unmistakable air of confidence and experience to him. Decades or centuries of experience, if Aleena had to guess.

"PATHETIC HUMAN COMPANION!" called out the bugbear. "SPEAK!"

 
"So you have them under your control," said the companion, for current lack of a better name. He again checked his device. "Ah, yes. As agreed, I can control them too. You, the blond one. Speak."

Aleena narrowed her eyes. "Flee to whence you've come. If you cannot, then surrender now and I will spare your life."

"From now on," the lone figure responded calmly, "you will only speak freely when I specifically ask for it. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Aleena said simply. Her blood boiled. She had more threats she wanted to hurl, like how the Morlencir fleet was even now underway.

"Ahhh, yes," the figure said, raising an eyebrow as he looked to the bugbear. The two were speaking but Dash, Aleena and Jen were unable to hear them. "Cancel your reinforcements. No, wait. Warn them to stay away from the planet under your direct order, or they'll face your wrath. That should keep them away for the time being."

Aleena gave the man a confused look. She dutifully set up the message, encrypted it, and transmitted it, but she didn't think about how it would never be received. Her crypto keys were undoubtedly revoked again.

Even so, the man smiled. "Ah, the message is sent. You three are firmly under my control. You are not to reveal the nature of your servitude to anyone. You will continue to act as normal until I order you to do otherwise. Your thoughts are open to me, do not seek to defy me."

The man then turned his attention to Sebastian. "Ahh, I sense it. You have a dozen ways in which you could let your companions know what you're experiencing. To let them know something is wrong. But tread lightly, my slave swordsman. It would be a shame to have to order you to kill them prematurely."

Dash's eyes narrowed. Then his face went blank, almost like he fell into a waking sleep.

The strange man in the fez turned to Jen. "You. Tactician. Answer honest, true and in full. What is the best way to go about killing your allies and followers?"

"With what resources?" Jen asked. "Use a knife, perhaps."

The bugbear shaman twisted his hand in a strange gesture; Jen fell to her knees in agony. Towering over the two who still stood, the shaman pulled Jen to her feet. The agony subsided. "Try your answer AGAIN! If I DISLIKE your response, I SHALL turn my attention to your QUEEN."

Jen described what she could remember of the strengths and weaknesses of heroes she knew of. "Their abilities cover each other's deficiencies. Divide and conquer is the strategy I recommend. I must point out that your magic is fragile. It would be best for you to refine your techniques before attempting to deploy them in combat."

"Very well," the stranger announced, even as the bugbear shaman turned. "I will allow you this one grace for now; you will not yet be required to kill your enemies. But you shall gather information, and you shall plan their demise. You shall keep your orders and involvement a secret, and if threatened, you shall treat the security of our plans as if your lives depended on it. Do you understand your orders?"

"Yes, sir!" the others answered as one. The stranger simply smiled a hollow smile at their obedience.

---- By Aleena and Dash ----

Chaos had fallen over the small village of Las MexiCaliVada.

Two lone, dead looking figures stood on top of one of the newer buildings in the village, giving them an ideal vantage point to view the chaos to the south. Tattered and ancient cloth, maintained by dark magics and ancient preservatives, covered the body of Lord Spookyraven although he also wore fine strands of gold and silk, ancient regal regalia on an outfit ravaged by the long years worn on the figure in its tomb.

The second tall willowy figure wore a menacing voluminous black cloak. The hood of which was currently down to reveal the weather-battered, almost skeletal skullish visage of Kwadin. Little was known about his current intentions but this meeting was sure to be informative. In his right hand was a long gnarled staff of some unidentifiable bone which he used as a support.

"The plan is progressing well. However, you need to have your forces take care to ensure that the meddlesome so-called heroes don't escape from this."

The voice of Lord Spookyraven sounded like ancient music and the howling of the winds. "They're of little concern to us. These simpletons are of no threat to us. Hardly worth our attention, don't you agree?"

There was a pause as Kwadlin watched the progress of the events below them before he replied in a strong and clearly menacing bass drum voice. "Do you remember the events of a few years ago in Honorburg? Quite a few of the heroes around then; they are still out there. Those who aren't have been replaced by equally meddlesome heroes. Besides, remember what our associates desire in this matter."

Spookyraven raised an arm, ominously. It seemed like it should have fallen off at any second but it didn't. "Then let us hunt the heroes. Yes. . . . my Somber Six will begin their sinister hunt today!"

"As will my forces." Kwadlin smiled, giving his face an almost devilish look before he gave a remind. "Remember that killing them should be only as a last resort. Taken alive is preferable."

Spookyraven gave no response other than a cold, chilling laugh that echoed into the night.

----- By Kris and Dash -----

Wildfall just tried to rescue his friend, Iris, from getting caught by the Somber Six who had Wildfall and Iris surrounded. Iris was blasting her fire blasts when suddenly she heard a voice behind her, turned around and came face to knees with the Renaissance Giant who proceeded to swatt her with his huge hand, which caused her to fly through the air and land some distance away.

Mary was so intent on fighting the remaining Somber Six that she didn't see her friend Koumori coming in to help. Mary already had Ratsworth on the ground and was wailing on Snow White when Koumori came at Boss Bat and the Giant. Just as Koumori got close enough to either of them, the giant raised his huge right hand and swatted Koumori away as easily as you would swat a fly. Koumori flew back and fell, stunned, to the ground.

Mary yelled to Wildfall, "Get your friend out of here and I'll cover as best I can." She ducked her head to avoid the plants that Snow White had released toward Mary. While Mary and Wildfall were falling back, attempting to get Iris to safety, Iris got separated from them and in the melee of the fighting, got lost. Wildfall hollered, "Iris, where are you? Mary, did you see where she went? I've got to find her," as he dodged another flying attack from Boss Bat.

Snow White kept the barrage of plants coming at both Mary and Wildfall, while Boss Bat and the Giant also attacked them.

Mary quickly answered Wildfall with a "NO, been a little busy to notice!" as she dodged another plant attack.

Wildfall yelled, "Go to plan B."

"What was that?"

"Run like HEY DAZE and don't look back!"

With that both Mary and Wildfall took off running like their lives depended on it, which of course they did.

---- Section by Mary Kate ----

See Mission Notice too!!

I'm writing this at the section where AIL fizzled out, so right now, I don't really know how or if we'll ever resolve the mission. We did manage to get about eight roleplays up, including co-writes, so that's a plus.

This mission starts with Mary Kate and Wildfall. In fact, other than a couple SnowCat solo stories, it's nothing but these two. But Maybe that'll change if we ever revive AIL. Who knows, though?